Hanzel
Throne!!!!! Since discovering the Warhammer Universe, two years ago, I was totally hooked, imagine enhanced humans in armor, crusading in the deep space against, space orks, eldars, their opposites or chaos legion/marines and etc., imagination to the extreme, combining science and magic.........I can go on and on.................this omnibus was one of the best example of this humongous universe!!!!
Such a cast of characters, points of view, beliefs,............oh well..................
Night Lords one of the first generation Legiones Astartes, a force for good yet uses fear to achieve its end, when the betrayal came, what comes after?? Terror and death, but even as they betrayed the Emperor, they still held on to their ideals although in a skewed way.........
As the story begins, we are introduced to the 10th legion's First Claw, led by their leader Talos “the Soul Hunter” or “the Prophet” because of his ability to see some of the future, Xarl, Cyrion, Uzas, the tenth Legion's captain Vandread or “the Exalted”, as the story progresses, we are treated to a fine space opera, full of danger, excitement, drama and treachery, sadly my only complaint on such a fine, fine story, must villains truly be untrust-worthy??!!!!
Truly a magnificent adventure, unfortunately He would...........Now that will be telling...........I pride myself in never giving any spoilers.....Ave Dominus!!!!
Thirty years ago, this was how fast, I read novels, but during those times, I was still unemployed, therefore I had to slow down, books then was so expensive, I had to wait for booksales to get my favorite ones, and if a book is popular.......well your trilogy ends up as a duology......
Fast forward, current time, books are still expensive, but there is another way to get books.........DOWNLOADS, so before I sum up this one, please let us give a big hearty applause and THANK YOU to those who tirelessly upload, so US less fortunate ones can read and discover all the other universes!!!
Mr. McClellan meet the late Mr. Eddings, Kressimir, Adom, Brude meet Belgarath, Polgara, Belgarion and etc. Etc, etc.....as I finish the third one in this trilogy, that came across my mind, wherein beings of unimaginable will and strength surpass their mortal shell and become something else, in Mr. Eddings world, magic or the Will and the Word, while in the Powder mage universe, well gunpowder derive magic and elemental magic, but both introduces their Gods and Goddesses to mere humans, but this is where they go their seperate ways, while The Mallorean and Belgariad series (by Mr. Eddings), showcases gods versus demigods and more powerful adversary, the Powder mage universe deals with humans versus gods....and what a wonderful read...believe you me, that is why it took me just two weeks to finish it, because you can not put it down, there is no pause, the story strings you along faster and faster, then slows down.....and just when you thought everything is mellowing down, just like Tamas using his ability to push bullets, Mr. McClellan, pushes you to keep on guessing and guessing!!!!
Truly a wonderful wonderful story, again fellow book lovers, feel free to dive into the powder mage universe, but once you read.......you might not want to STOP!!!!!!
P.S. I love it and hate it.........Mr. McClellan.........Sabon, Vetas(YES), and others......
For every New Universe/Reality/World, the first book always deals with world building, cast of characters and the physics that runs that particular universe, now the second book as far as my choice of genre almost becomes laid back, but that is not the case with this series, at the start of the page until the last, you just can not put this one down.......truly a really really well written book. I was already captivated with Book one, with Book Two, I threw away the key to my real life and finished it as soon as possible, even at work!!!!
Hmmmmmmm....again like my first review of this particular series, I will just let YOU, fellow book readers, to discover Mr Mcclellan's Powder Universe!!!! Tamas, Taniel, Olem, Vlora, and the rest one more book last one.............Persevere!!!!!
Interesting!!! An original concept, never have I imagined using gunpowder as the source of magic, normally during this period, gunpowders are used scientifically, in Mr. McClellan's Universe/world, gunpowder for powder mages is the source of magic and used scientifically too......
A continuous moving storyline, no boring parts, where they describe this and that, reminds me a bit of Mr. Raymond E Feist, wherein action from the start until the end of the trilogy!!!!
Further discussion might spoil the story for people who would like to read it for themselves!!! Oh by the way, did I mention gods??????!!!
Chthulu, Chthulan Mythos, The Ancient Ones...........whenever I try to read regarding this genre, my eyes closes itself of it's on volition, the gods be they the earlier ones (Greek, Roman, Incan and etc..) or the more popular ones in this era (Christian/Roman Catholic, Hindu, Islam and etc.) are a joy to read......such human-like passion, actions and decisions......as if mirroring the humans who worships them.........but the chthonic powers these so called Ancient Ones, evil/good, love/hate.......these human concepts....they do not exhibit such, perhaps that is the simple reason why my attempt to understand such beings fail miserably, for is that not what reading is for........??????
The Lovecraft Code has the beginnings of a great story, espionage together with conspiracy who does not love such things and yet by page 10, my bed looks a lot better than finishing the book, as a book lover, never have I in my reading habits “did not finish a book”, always I would finish whatever I have started that is my principle, there have been two books that have tested my so called principle, first was Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams, it took me two years to finish 2/3 of the book and second was this!!!!
2016 was the best for me in terms of reading, I had too many books to choose from, the popular ones Brian Staveley, Mark Lawrence, Brian Anderson, Steven Erikson to the unfamiliar ones Patrick Sheane Duncan, Ferret Steinmetz, Jacey Bedford, yet I chose to end 2016 with Peter Levenda's, unfortunately that was not the icing in my cake........
Story, story, story.........sighhhhhh......I will let my fellow book lovers, write their thoughts on this.......for me all I can think about is CHTHULU..........AND MY EYES HAVE CLOSEDDDDDDD.......
Dracula, among the scariest of all monsters made by man, a popular character that everyone had to try to write him, but not always successfully........
The premise was truly captivating, Hitler was a firm believer of the power of the supernatural, sadly in our reality, he died and his belief died with him......ahhhh but on this reality, maybe, just maybe, fate will have a kinder hand on him!!
World War II, the Nazi's brilliant offensive has been able to completely destroy Europe, France, Italy and United Kingdom, all trapped within their own borders, unable to help each other!
Our story begins in Brasov, during the height of Nazi offensive going into Russia, the only country left aside from America that has a real chance of stopping Hitler, Abraham Van Helsing together with daughter Lucille Van Helsing, leads the local resistance handing out defeat after defeat to the German invaders, unbeknowest to both, a change in leadership is in order, for the Germans, Major Reikel one of the more sadistic SS officers, upon arriving he was able to completely undermine The Van Helsings work, days later saw the arrival of Jonathan Harker, through parachutes....
With Reikel in command, the local resistance lost every single battle, never have they seen such brutality and inhumaness, nearing capture Abraham Van Helsing was unable to hold back his decision, to fight a monster you need a monster too.......and with Brasov so near the birthplace and final resting place of the so called monster..........all he has to do is travel............travel to the only place he has feared to return.........Transylvania, Vlad Tepes' kingdom........Dracula's domain........
Hmmmmmmm.........again premise magnificent, but reading and finishing, I felt the author powered down Dracula's abilities, his ruthlessness, cunning, everything that describes him......making him into a blood sucking Wolverine(Yes, the X-man).......and so I shall stop my story here and let you readers discover how this book ends, maybe some of you will be elated, but unfortunately I was not........
Whew..........finally done with a trilogy, before doing that, I was really thinking if I would like it............so pardon me Ladies and Gentlemen.........and here we go..............
Book one (forgot the title),
We are introduced to the Dark Eldar (think of them as Drow living in space), a race so advanced, haughty (they even brought down their own pantheon/gods) and merciless, anyone not their kind is considered game even their own!!!!
The story starts with Yllithian archon of the White flames, planning the downfall of Supreme Overlord Asdrubael Vect, tyrant of Commoragh the greatest planet/city of the Dark Eldar, together with Kraillach and Xelian, they attempted to resurrect one of Vect's notorious rival El'Uriaq.......with the help of a renegade haemonculus Bellathonis, they succeeded in gathering the necessary components( a worldsinger and the essence of El'uriaq).......I have omitted some of the more colorful chars, some of which I feel are irrelevant and some that I feel have become larger than the main protagonists!!! I leave the journey to you readers..........to embark on your own!!!
4 stars
Book two Path of the Incubus (do correct me if I am wrong)
The journey of two characters into their own brand of redemption........Morr and Motley and furthering the story........an incubus who will not bend, no matter the consequences and one of the enigmatic Harlequin, eldars who have agenda entirely their own, unwelcome to both Eldars and Dark Eldars......Morr, Morr more Morr, unfortunately the ending was not to my liking, the whole book rotated on this headstrong, stubborn(any difference between the two words......siiiggghh) but steadfast character, a paladin of the darkest sort......but still a paladin........
Writing further would destroy any future readers enjoyment.......I leave it to them........to satisfy their own curiosity..........
4.5 stars
Book Three Path of the Archon
Last book of the trilogy, wherein all roads converge.......unfortunately, this third book did not work it's charm, After finishing the second book, I tried to look for anything to look forward too, Yllithian was still alive and kicking, Bellathonis......ahhhhh the ingenious haemonculus......Xagor, the hardworking wrack, and a lot of more....well like my writing, the story became convoluted...? Suddenly we have the appearance of two Chaos gods(or rather their hands/presence/prompting???)........
3 stars
Overall, a really wonderful read since I truly do not have any idea of any sort for this evil race, even comparing them to the Drow, I can say they do have their own uniqueness.........honestly Morr, Morr and more Morr!!! But his story has ended, but Dark Eldar's have more to come!!!!
Magic comes with a price!!!
With that, time to throw the dice, Paul Tsabo an unassuming man, an everyday man, nothing to make him stand up in a crowd, and yet a married man, but soon to be divorced with a beautiful child named Aliyah Tsabo.....
They are the primary and secondary characters in this novel, in a universe where a person's obsession turns into magic or mancer as they call the person. So in this world you can become a bookmancer obsessed with books, and maybe be seen walking around with Tarzan, Conan and etc, or a pistolmancer with the ability to fire anyone, anywhere or maybe a pornomancer with great big.........ummmmm you know the picture, this universe should be the best anywhere in the multiverse of books(we should have a map of the whole fantasy universe, from Dragonlance's niche at the lefthandmost corner to Clive Barker's Imajica in the lowermost right hand corner), except with the magic comes a serious drawback called FLUX, that is this universe's way to balance what you do with your magic.....and it is always comes out negative, the bookmancer wants to travel with the aforementioned trio, FLUX comes in and those three starts fighting one another, killing a score of bystanders, the pistolmancer shoots an unbelievable shot to halt a sniper, and in doing so the recoil hits him in the head, accidentally breaking his nose and etc.......in short the larger the magic, the stronger the FLUX and it can kill, that is why the ‘mancers in this universe are abhorred!!
In comes the unassuming Paul Tsabo, with the wierdest obsession/mancy.......and well you have to read the story, as for world building, well same earth, different magic system........this sounds like karma........wonder if others will see it as it is........
Ok time to go.........in the end, what really drove me is the interaction between Paul and his daughter
the mancy and the hope of seeing how they portray an exhibitiomancer.......hihihihi.......
Such a wonderful book, I was immediately captivated with style of writing, loquacious, eloquent and no slang, even cussing was a joy to read......
The 1800's, Victorian London, as science emerges, ensconced within the British citizenry is their supernatural counterpart, vampires and werewolves live in palatial residences, no skulking to find human victims.......
In comes our heroine, Alexia Tarabotti, the last known preternatural(a person that negates the supernatural ability by simply touching them, but removing her touch, brings them back to their supernatural state), who helps solve a mystery plaguing it's supernatural community.
Action, adventure, comedy.........and S E X, this book is a teaser, and what a way to tease, think of it as Sean Connery, in an R-18 movie!!!!
Stormdancer..................................what to write, what to do, what am I thinking!!!!!
If this is a YA, Mr. Kristoff you just made me eat my word, I don't like YA, never did never will, upon the first 100 pages or so REDEMPTION!!!!! Ha!!!! Take that YA, I knew you would be so full of endless descriptions, monotonous storytelling Yucky Adolescent!!!!
Then Buruu the arashitora arrived, and upon Buruu's flickering lightning ability, everything changed, the story became faster, characters evolved, and the story!!!! Suffice to say I can't stop reading!!!!!
This one is like a lightning bolt, takes forever to come, but once it arrives, you better be ready!!!!
On to book two!!!!
P.s. your characters truly have short lifespan............ehhhh, Mr. Kristoff!!!!!
Sitting down, staring at the screen, 15mins of battery left, warning like crazy........yet I can't seem to order my thought exactly...........Book Two by Mr. Sebastien de Castell.............you almost made me cry in public(shielding your face with the left hand so nobody would notice you finidhed your cup of coffee almost an hour ago)........THAT! my dear friends is how a book is written!!!
What makes a human truly HUMAN??? This book made me realize that the characters were more humane than me!!! Tortured, broken, bereft of hope, and yet Falcio Val Mond still fought............Readers please do read the book........if Book One was good, this one WAS WAY WAY BETTER(notice the constant capitalization of some words??? Suffice to say my humane side came out to play after reading this, but afterwards..........”snicker.....heee heee heee in you go humanity back to your beautiful cage”)..........
The Greatcoats are coming!!!! Book Three you better be worth this...........................................
Starting this one, it quickly caught my attention, I really like science fiction that goes in a linear path, one that doesn't try to explain all the nuances of that universes' technology and etc. i.e a particular engine how it runs, how it is built, who built it and etc.
Story, story, story............ok as simple as it is, this universes' foundation rest solely on individual having the psi ability whether it is psi tech/mech/engineer and all forms of ability and profession....it further classify you according to your strength in that particular ability (ie psitech 1 the best and psitech 5 the lowest but it also has its strength and weakness ie. {Lord help me this review definitely taxes my ability to repeat the word ie} you might be a psitech 1 but your empathy level is nonexistent......bah sci-fi how can I love it, yet can't write properly about it........
Anyway got a bit side tracked, (dang ie's), aside from the psi ability, the story is straight forward colonizing planets for megacorporations and how it's characters interact, of course not all characters are goody two shoes, there will always be the greedy boss.......
Why do you need to read it??? Well aside from the story running in a straight line and no explanations of the more mundane techs, it's a space drama on how humans no matter how high their technology, no matter how numerous the planets colonized, It will never be enough to satisfy human need and greed!!!
I will not recommend this one to those who are looking for the more serious stuff, it's like reading a tv series with a low budget!!
At first glance, I thought it was a retelling of the Musketeers, with the abusive nobles, the poor people who work for them, upon reading further, well there is still that lingering thought, but because of the way this is written, there is no time to compare, you are immediately dragged into the story!!!!
The heroes of this one called Greatcoats most notably the First Cantor Falcio Val Mond and his companions Kest (the best swordsman of the land, you will get to know the truth as you read further) and Brasti (best archer), as I've said Three Musketeers, although the choice of weapons is different, same scenarios fighting for the downtrodden, those evil nobles plotting against the rightful King......oh wait, the already succeeded in killing their King.......so nobody dares to go up against them, see same story but the bad guys have won already!!!
Don't get me wrong, even if there are some similarities, Mr. De Castell in my mind was able to pull it off, always something same but he writes it differently, that you seem to forget the sameness, instead you become engrossed!!!
You need to read this because as simple as the plot, through reading and finishing, the story beckmes deeper and more heartfelt!!! Three Musketeers, bah old group, instead using Mr. De Castell's words K'hey k'hey k'hey Greatcoats!!!!!
Kaiju, aside from super sentai and kamen rider, these are my favorites growing up in the 70's, seeing Godzilla, going up against Mothra, Ghidora and the other rubber monsters, well back then even knowing that, to me it was the best movie experience.......remember the betamax????
Reading Mr. Robinson's Project Nemesis, it brought back those bygone years, the rising tension that you feel, knowing there is a monster(why can't anyone see it???), numerous reports of something huge coming and going and leaving a path of destruction, and finally our first glimpse of the Kaiju......(in comes Godzilla's entrance music).......
I will stick around and read more of this series.........Thank you Jeremy Robinson!!!!!
Book 1 of Shadow Ops Myke Cole's Fantasy Military series, wherein the question is.........What happens if magic is real and only the government can use them????
The action never lets up, from the start, until the end, its full throttle go go go.....even during boot camp for the Latents(term use for those who manifests abilities, fire control, water working and etcetera.......naturally these abilities are further divided into the good magics(aforementioned fire control or pyromancy, water working or hydromancy) and the bad magics (negramancy or decay dealers, portamancy or gate makers) training is a b*itch.....
In comes the series protagonist Oscar until he manifested was one of the elite soldiers who accompany these Latents, against Selfers/probes (individuals who don't work for the government) to capture them.....
The story relates Oscar while he was a human and when he manifested.....and the topsy turvy life of latent agent ............
The human race treated like a guinea pig, placed in a planet, where it is not in the top tier of the food chain, placed there by a race of superaliens(bigger, faster and deadlier)....to evolve into a race that will give the aliens good solid opponents.....
The story starts with the protagonist Captain Mirikami of the Flight of Fancy, flying into the Rim worlds, to look at a planet that is undergoing it's own evolution of life........here they were attacked by an alien race called Kralls, super aliens that can rip a human in half, a superPredator sans the mask and love of camoflaging, these aliens superior in every way.......captured the human race.....forcing them unto a planet, hostile even to the Kralls, to evolve and be the adversary that can defeat them.....
Here we get to see human ingenuity and ability to outthink a superior opponent, adapt to its environment and hopefully defeat the Kralls(after all, this is Book one!!!!
Sitting up, finally I've finished it............5 minutes later, I am scratching my head, thinking, thinking, thinking..........where are the emotions, the excitement, the feeling of words bursting right out of my mouth..........
Very strange for me to just, well think of nothing to write, THIS IS IT, villains, monsters, demigods of evil..........and yet all I can think of is BLAH!!!!!
A book that I have always wished for: Evil at its best.......and it doesn't even compare to Nagash's origins omnibus............Copsys Bule PlaqueLord, Ushkar Mir Khornebestowed and Zivius(goes to show how really disappointed I am with this book........sigh!!!!!! Can not even remember the last prime antagonist).....a lot of plots and stories and they took it and ran it to the ground!!!!
After a year of waiting, finally finished this magnificent trilogy!!! Mr. Byers you are truly a genius, when writing any villains viewpoint!!!
Thay -an empire ruled by wizards called the Red Wizards....ummmm yeah, they really call themselves that, anyways for a lot years, they were the antagonists of a lot of people/organizations/country/empire.........you get the idea, you would think those going up against them would fear these Red Wizards, unfortunately as I've said they were relegated to the lowest rung of villainy, evil yes but comedic evil, where a bunch of so so goody two shoes could vanquish them without batting eyelash........sighhhhhhh poor poor Red Wizards!!!
Now here comes Mr. Richard Lee Byers, wherein once these guys, were described as wizards mumbling spells, he added a lot, you read about their debauchness(is there such a word), the evil that goes on in an empire run by necromancers, people sold to slavers to be either experimented upon or as food to the various denizens of the night/demons or devils........
One of the prominent figures in Thay is Szass Tam, the zulkir of necromancy, under Mr. Byers nurturing hand this second rate villain has been reborn, where once he was just described as a shadowy figure, here his might was seen and tested!!!!!
To appreciate the story, please do look for it.........and I'm betting you will also fall under the grasp of the Master...........oh ummmmm......Mr. Byers.......
Even after all this time, and again countless authors, universes, characters, once I start reading your work, I can not stop, you bring new light to your characters, at best Szass Tam was a forgettable villain and the Red Wizards of Thay, a mediocre grouping of wanna-be mages. A plaything to such characters as The Blackstaff, Storm Silverhand and Mystra's other Chosen, including the great Elminster.........
The second book of the Undead Land trilogy, fleshes out characters Aoth Fezim Captain of the Griffon legion, Bareris Anskuld one time bard, but becoming something else, the love of his life Tammith a vampire captain in Szass Tam's army, the other Zulkirs opposing Szass Tam, one by one plans, counterplans reach fruition, fail, all for each factions dreams on being the one on top!
Aside from that, this is the first time I'm reading who is supposed to win in a battle between the undead and demons/devils unfortunately, the conclusion left me hanging........drat and double drat!!!!!
If you want action, well you read the right book, comedy, we have that too, romance, oh wow!!!! A downtrodden bard and an angry vampire, a lovely pair......horror, undead, demons, devils.......check.......all in all truly a wonderful book!!!!!
Oh did I mention, it's written by Richard Lee Byers!!!!! Now to the last book...........Szass Tam wonder who's better????? You or Azalin??
Mr Byers........first time I read your work, you were writing for White Wolf, maker of Vampire the Masquerade, your vampires were different then, more bloodthirsty, more “humane”.......years have passed, I've been able to read some vampire fiction, still yours was the best!!!
Seeing your name on Faerun, it got me so excited that, I waited 1 year to read this masterpiece, and what a story, before some authors would gloss over this particular empire/kingdom......and here you are again, undead, vampires and all those that go bump in the night.......finally the true denizens of the dark has arrived all thanks to you Sir!!!
Oh story.......ummmmmm guess you need to read it.............
Another wonderful story, I really really love this series, everything seems to have it's own pace, reading it, sometimes I would be antsy, looking for action, after a couple pages, here comes what I've been looking for, not enough, just not enough pages.....and you'll be surprised, you are done.......sighhhhh........
Ok..., now comes the story, after what happened to the imperial fleet on book three, the story starts with Dev ship jacking, not getting into a ship, but actually shipjacking the whole ship, with the disparity in everything between the Imperials and the newly recognized Confederation, the answer is to have as many ships as the Imperials, whether by building or stealing.
As for what happened between Dev and the planetary naga, I was really hoping for something, since the nagas can do virtually anything, I was thinking along the lines....since the title of this particular book is symbionts.....maybe just maybe a hybrid man/naga pilot, or a spaceship ran by a naga component, but wishes are that wishes.........
Suffice to say another satisfying read.......oh yeah, something happened in the end......and see yah on book five!!!!!
A vampire romance set in a steampunk world, where the strongest country is not the United States of America, but Equatoria, the place where the remnant of the once proud and powerful Europeans fled to, when the vampires attacked en masse and conquered Europe.
Here we are introduced to Princess Adele the heir to Equatoria, and Gareth one of the vampire princes of the European vampire nation, their story as they meet, each characters dreams and hopes and the question is there a happy ending for a human and vampire.....
As a first in a trilogy, I think it's a good opening, not a lot of action but when it comes, it sizzles, a lot of questions especially the magical aspect, since technology has usurped it...
On to book two then.....
Another day, another author, another universe.................
BUT what a universe, I may/may not have read/watch/heard about Mr. Tchaikovsky's version, it was a splendid read, imagine walking spidermen/women, scorpion (male/female) and so forth and so on.......they are called kinden(hybrid between human and insects), aside from the inherent characteristics of individual insects, they are further group into the Apt and Inapt. Apt ability for a kinden to use the ANCESTOR ART(much like magic) and the Inapt your garden variety logic/science driven individual.......
With lots of going on since it is the first book........good thing modern technology is here......just got the entire set.......
Mr. Tchaikovsky sir!!! Collegium awaits us!!!
A very very good first book for a space opera!!!
Captain Jack Geary, or as he is known by every person in Alliance World or Syndic World(stands for Syndicate) Black Jack Geary, became legendary as a result of his death when the Syndics declared war on the Alliance, not only that, he saved a lot of his crew, when he ordered them to abandon ship and stayed behind to see to it!!!!
Fast forward a 100years, much has changed and suddenly, a ship was able to pick up a errant escape pod, inside was the legendary Black Jack Geary Hero and Legend!!!
The story open up right at the moment as the Alliance fleet was supposedly on it's way to winning the war, as they have penetrated deep into the Syndic homeworld, unknowingly closing the trap against themselves!!!
Well, what follows is the Legend's efforts(seemingly effortless), ideas(a lot happens after 100 years) and attitude......suddenly an astounding secret.......
Book two please!!!!!