Gautam Surath

I guess I just liked this because we finally have an origins story that is different. Not only does this mean that Hal is not the chosen one but also that each character is slightly different from what we know of them. Some parts of the story though suffer from poor writing and messy art. Am not sure there is enough meat there for a successful series but there is a slim chance it could happen. Let's wait for the ratings.

So Jonathan still has it. So does Joe it appears. The pain, angst and anger that Jonathan can deliver is so real it leaves a metallic taste in your mouth. You want to physically pound someone and help Joe ledger and his team. People talk about how writers can fall in love with their characters but the ledger series apart from its main cast has gone through a complete transformation with significant part of the team all getting sacrificed in the “game”. Its now time for a new chapter and personally I am a bit sad to see the DMS go. G.I.Joe time I guess!

Finally a book this year that hits top marks. Sean does a fantastic act with Jack and I say this it takes a lot to convince a Batman reader that even the joker can find redemption. This is a brilliant track which almost seems like an Elseworld but its not. Harley Quinn (both) are well constructed, Batman is conflicted and Gordon is bloody brilliant. Just cant wait for the next installment. Go get it!

And Scott draws me back to the world of the Bat once again. Dark, gritty and bloody it may be but the core essence remains. And despite the over abundance of batmen of different ages and realms there is no confusion about who is who. If I had to nitpick, I would say that vol 7 was not needed. It felt stretched too thin. Anyways another great addition to the annals of Batman. Highly recommended.

Well that was rather abrupt but nice closure on the series. I know there is another book coming but for me this was the end of one story line and while it was satisfying, the end felt a bit rushed. It could have done with a bit more epilogue and some rebuilding. After having journeyed this long with Xavier, I would have liked a little more time with him and Miles catching up and re-discovering their lives. Maybe, there is a future for this. Lets see shall we.

Nice tight end to the series if a bit too simplistic for my liking. Things get closure and I guess that's what the purpose of the this book primarily was. Don't this it would stand very well as a solo book. I quite enjoyed Murderbots journey. Onwards

Not bad effort for a second book but its a big chasm to Kings of the Wyld. The pace remains fast and the choice to go with a new POV goes very well. Tam is a nice addition and while this Band makes it work its missing some ingredients. The monsters continue to be intriguing and the humor well spread if a bit over the top. All in all I am surprised to say I would not recommend reading this if you loved the first one.

It's important not to benchmark an author with his hey days. Especially if his wife has asked him to stop traveling to dangerous places. What we get with The Fox is therefore an ok book which could be read if you were on a flight but would be put aside at most other times. There is still a fair understanding of Russia to be gained so if that's up your alley go for it. Else avoidable.

This is like the POV of Link in BOTW. Interesting but no loss if you give it a miss

As good an ending as we have come to expect from Stroud. You can't help but admire the simple writing and neat ending as opposed to Grand finales that usually abound in fantasy. In the end a very easy going series with some nice highs and a few lows with one or two goosebump points. Can't ask for much more. A definite series to read in one go.

This was ardous. There were parts that were superbly written but many that were too complex. It probably requires another read but maybe just before the next book comes out. The world building is top notch and the characterisation excellent so let's now wait for the finale.

If text books were written like this I would have stayed in college. Nice fact based if repetitive hammering of a few points but totally on the money. Byron gives us a view of marketing rarely glimpsed and wets the appetite for more. A must read for a practicing marketer and a stepping stone for future one to come. Kudos.

Pretty basic but I liked the world so far. The protaganist is pretty fierce and the narative gritty. The fast pace ensures you get through this quickly and are just waiting to leap to the next iteration. All in all nothing special but it kills time which is more than I can say for plenty of books. Onwards

And with that we reach the conclusion of the Mafia Wars. And what a ride it has been. Mack Bolan is the Jack Reacher of the 80's of that there can be no doubt. Don weaves in the nature of each city and you get a glimpse of the american way of life at that time. Albeit a very tiny glimpse. The series always will strike a chord for the direct approach it takes to solving the mafia problem and the capability of one man to be an engine of change. I have always read Bolan as a random pickup and now going through 40 repetetive books has not really diminished my appetite for more reading. I will probably pick up the new war sometime sooner or later. Farewell to the Don though. Thank you for one of the more memorable characters in Fiction.

Highly avoidable. Amateur translation and no attempt at making it more palatable. If a story can get lost in translation then this is a prime example.

Read this only because I have begun the journey with Jack all the way back as the ancient wonders. Matthew is clearly struggling here. The pack remains hectic and the imagination of the ancient history is still up there. But the story line is now really stretched thin and the writing is pretty amateur. The entry of the dark Knight is the only real value. I wish Reilly would go back to his elaborate trap systems which were really interesting and give the high octane last minute stunts a break. But in the end I guess I will finish the next two books when they are out. Onwards

Oh I like this one. When threatened attack and that's exactly Bolan. Onwards

That was a fun ride. A different side to Bolan as he uses the chameleon approach to stack the mob in Chicago against each other. It's been fun so far catching up with Bolan from the very start. Onwards

By happenstance i picked up a book that I had assumed myself to have outgrown almost 20 years ago. Mack Bolan reminds me of my teenage days and fantasies of going out there and changing the world all by myself. So when I decided to go back to his world, it made sense to explore it from Don Pendleton's viewpoint and not the many other writers who have followed. Which brings me to this book. To put it simply it was extremely refreshing. For the people who are going ga ga over Reacher, Mack Bolan has been there and done that. Mack's logic is simpler and his task even more so. Also, Pendleton's understanding of the Mafia is not some fluke so if you are looking for a western based in the heart of Mafia owned america, its time to ride with The Executioner.

Everything you come to expect from a Bane feature but maybe a bit over the top? Having said that volume 3 is a solid effort and ticks many boxes. Here we have a solid back story for Bane contrasted with Batman's and for once the Bat comes out with having had the better of it. The Cat provides an excellent finale. But it's also the finale which is the weakest part of the book. The ease with which Bane dismantles all the other roadblocks and beats up Batman is rather simplistic and could have used some thought. Recommend reading this Tom King adventure starting from Volume 1.

Another reboot and given the history not all that great. The stories of boy and girl are interesting enough but do not pull you in. A tad disappointed overall

It's been a while since I have visited Jordan's world. This book I missed in my first reading of the series and it made sense to start with it in my second reading. Having done so, I would recommend skipping this if you are a new reader to WOT. Not because it's a bad book. It's just that it's a very slow start and deals with protagonists who while important are not the Crux of the story. Also too much time here gets spent on the setup of the white tower and it's political intrigue and while it is a good read now it would be a poor way to start. Reading it after the series gives me sense of completeness and the series would be poorer without it but not so much.

Hmmmm. So close to a 5 Tom. If the comparison between Bat and Bane was well written, the inner ramblings of Bat and Sup rose even above that. The night out with their women and in their alter ego costumes is just brilliant and something us DC comic fans have been waiting for ages without even realising it. Tom caps it off with a Bat and Cat love story for the ages and it's so out of place in a Batman book that it tugs all the right strings and provides a happy ending to Batman that you know can never happen. Kudos

Getting better and maybe because we get a mix of the squad and Bane. What spoilt it for me was Batman's easy recovery after getting beaten badly as though that too could be planned. A lack of strong emotion makes this as an under achievement.

Thoroughly satisfied. That pretty much sums it up. Riddler and Joker with a twist. Instead of Batman and Robin partnership, this one is a Superman and Lex type of war. And Gotham the battleground. Narrated by a bystander but not exactly. Brilliant story, superb riddles and an excellent climax. Highly recommended reading