Gautam Surath
Super stuff especially the way the Denarian was handled. But if there is any book that embodies the crux of the series its this one simply because it brings out “free will” the best. Being a second read it also is an important book for the rest of the series as the network is created here. I love the way small pieces from each book make their appearances across the series. Onwards
Ok so I upgraded this one to 5 stars after reading it the second time. This book is totally iconic and if anything of Dresden makes it to the movies it should be this. The climax itself is awesome but its also the build up that sets the stage so beautifully not to take away from the introduction of Mouse. Onwards
Maberry steps into a new space while staying within the confines of the old one. And if that confusing then reading the book will clear it all up. Some of the stuff in this book is even more scary than the standard virus/medical fallout scenarios. Its Skynet but at a more real scale. At the same time Maberry is crossing over into fantasy to add some flavor and continuity to his series. No complaints though. Happy to follow Joe albiet with a little less preaching:)
Well if you want to read a diary of a guy living during the zombie apocalypse this is what you need. It records the daily life of Berry as he lives a solo existance and then bumps into some survivors off and on. The pace is good enough to zip through the book but not good enough to get me to read the next book in the series. One of those soap operas based during the Zombie times ala “the walking dead”
A fitting end to an interesting series. Overall, given that it is set in an age which is quite recent in history and not a lot is known about this series is a tremendous piece of work. The merging of fantasy is done seamlessly with the reconstructed history with the required exaggeration thrown in for good measure. Excellent read and highly recommended as long as you have the stomach for it.
Damn if that was not a long book. And while it is essentially as long as the first iteration for some reason it feels too long. But it still ticks most of the boxes of a follow up book by moving the story along nicely. It also covers a much larger scope and introduces some very interesting characters the least of which being Ragnall. But the climax of this book is the most dramatic and tough to swallow. Maybe that's one of the reasons it seemed too long. Onwards
This book creeps all over you. I mean in the creeper way. And by the end of it you are totally covered from head to toe. The characters are raw and the writing more so. Protagonists shift from black to white and then settle into a rythm. But they stay with you. But what captures your imagination is the setting. While there is a fantasy element to it, the age of iron is exactly what it pretends to be. A look at what might have been. And if you live in britain it might be a must read in schools. Might need to tone down the sex & voilence though. All in all a very nice start to what promises to be an interesting series.
This is a very strange book. It never reaches a point where you really like it but somehow you cant seem to put it down. The best I could describe it is “matter of fact”. The pace is fast, the characters shallow and the plot totally ambiguous. Add to that there is no logic whatsoever to the world building which is consigned to a couple of cities. Despite that you can't seem to put it down till completion. So I completed it quickly and am moving to the next one in the series.
The series just gets stranger and stranger. Characters and monsters of all kinds pop out of nowhere and suddenly what was a simple sorcerer story now becomes a truly random one. There are psylings, minotaurs etc etc spread liberally through the book. And Brock does not even try to stick to a path creating other powers that the ones drawn from the source. But strangely, like with the first book you can't seem to put this book down midway. I went through it in a couple of days and am already on the third installment. Not recommended but if you have read the first one then its too late
Some new characters are introduced and time is spent on them for a bit. Plot continues to confuse with the search for the armor drawing to a close. Rook returns and there is a nice twist to his tale. And Azerick goes from solo act to a gigantic family all in the space of a few pages. All is as expected from Brock. Read on
Not a single book moves past the 2 stars mark and yet I completed this series in remarkable time. It either says something about the books or something about me, I am not sure which. But I do know that this is as far as I intend to travel with Azrick. Maybe its the fifth dimension that did it for me. Maybe its Hati. Maybe its just that I am finally tired of reading the biography of a fantasy character. Thank you Brock for proving an exception.
For the first time I in reading a Sanderson story, I am thoroughly confused. Confused both with the way a snapshot works (primarily with the inception type situation) and confused with the actual story on why the crime was committed. But it still does not take away from the story telling capabilities that we expect from Sanderson. The snapshot is awesome and the knowledge of being in a snapshot is a brilliant twist. The two detectives are so very human and the end fitting. Its the moments where Davis meets his kid is truly heart wrenching. Highly recommended!
While some part were mildly interesting this tale has begun to get muddled up. The magic system is more confusing and while interesting new characters are introduced, there is nothing that endears a reader to them. Lindon continues to progress and Eithan is a nice addtion. But I was most disappointed with the handling of the disciple of the sword. All in all I am in no rush for the next book to come out
If you needed a template for an underdog fantasy novel this is where your search can stop. Unsouled is a typical underdog story. The magic system is well thought out albiet a bit confusing at times. Multiple characters abound and so do multiple POVs. All this just about makes it par for the course. What raises the bar is the world building. The sacred valley is beautifully imagined and so infinitesimal in scale once Suriel is introduced. The scope of the book changes from that point on and you are transported into the iteration. Its fast, its fun, its predictable and its meant to be a graphic novel. Enjoy
Normally I am not a Marvel comic reader. I prefer DC simply because of my childhood exposure and have not ventured out of that space. If there are two characters that would make me want to they would be Hulk and Wolverine. And so here I am thoroughly satisfied with my first Wolverine comic. And this is as raw as a wolverine book as I could have hoped to sample. Logan has only one agenda and that's to restore the world to what it was and though he may be old he is no wiser. Onwards!
From far left field comes a fantasy novel that mixes war with magic effortlessly. To top that off, Django also gives great background to each character rooting them in their past to provide believable reasons for each plot in the book. The story is told primarily from 2 POV's and is very well managed allowing the writer to impart enough mystery without impacting the narrative. But for me the center stage is taken by the battle formations harking back to an era of muskets, powder & Bayonets where squares and wedges are used to outwit cavalry or Zombies. Onwards
Technically you could stop with this book and feel that you have completed the journey with Alex. You have seen all the horrors a prison can hold and you have gotten out having achieved what was seemingly an impossible dream. In the course of things you have been tortured and changed but you have retained your core and given hope to many. You have beaten the prison, the warden and your own doubts and beliefs. You are free. However, if there are unanswered questions gnawing away in your head, then lets continue our journey with Alex
In some ways this book was a disappointment after the high the first installment delivered. But in some ways ending it with an escape in the first book would have been shortchanging the reader. And so Solitary seems necessary. And solitary is by no means a bad book. It is a must for a prison novel and AGS ticks all the boxes but does not make being in the “hole” as scary as it should be. We spend way to less time with our friends in there but the rest of the plot moves at rocket speed. We meet new players and get to know some more about the old one. We say goodbyes to a few more and many of these are tear jerking. The writing remains strong as ever. Onwards!
Frankly I would struggle to put a Genre label on this but it does not matter. The plot is not so uncommon and pretty much par for the course for a prison novel. And like its most successful (arguably) elder sibling (think Shawshank), its not the plot that makes it a good book but rather the telling. AGS has the gift. The gift to make you feel a part of the plot. You live as a prisoner, you taste the slop and your mouth waters when its inmates cook something special. And while its narrated in first person its the other people in the narrative you love. So if you love story telling and don't mind some gore and cruelty, take some time to experience life in one of the worst prisons ever. Welcome to the Furnace!