Mike Cahoon

A CALLBACK TO TRUE, HEROIC FANTASY

QUICK THOUGHTS

John Gwynne is one of those authors who has lived perpetually on my TBR for years, always just waiting in the proverbial wings despite many recommendations in his favor. That all changed when I ran my poll for which fantasy series I should tackle next and The Faithful and the Fallen won by a landslide. After reading it, it’s fairly clear to see why. Gwynne takes all the beloved but perhaps a bit tired and predictable story beats and tropes from classic fantasy and breathes new life into them. He instills his story with a certain energy and sense of uncertainty perfect for a modern audience, all while redressing the classic epic fantasy story in a new, viking inspired costume.

While Malice isn’t perfect and definitely suffers from some pacing issues, as well as the standard first installment in a fantasy series issue of throwing an absolute flood of information at the reader, it is a solid book. It kept me entertained throughout, delivered emotional moments with impressive force, established a new and interesting world, and planted the seeds of enough mystery to keep me invested in the story line going forward. I am definitely going to be continuing the series and highly recommend it to any fans of epic fantasy, especially if you love the idea of a Norse inspired setting.

For my FULL REVIEW, please visit;

https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-malice-by-john-gwynne/

I hope you all enjoy reading this prequel novella as much as I enjoyed writing it! It’s available to download for free for subscribers to my newsletter at;

https://mikecahoon.com/newsletter/

QUICK THOUGHTS

If you’re a big reader of the genre, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that modern fantasy just has a certain feeling. That sense of fantasy with the character focus dialed up to eleven, with action and dialogue that feels snappy and well honed. The sort of feeling you get from reading something like Sanderson’s Mistborn or Weeks’ Lightbringer. So when I say that Corbin Rook’s debut novel, Shadows of the Sundered Lands, evokes the feeling of modern fantasy in the right way, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Shadows is a character focused, action forward story that is driven by an interesting magic system, a cast that feels engaging and familiar and a plot that creates immediate investment. It is a compelling debut that establishes the world and makes big promises of what’s to come from this author.

For my FULL REVIEW, please visit;

https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-shadows-of-the-sundered-lands-by-corbin-rook/

QUICK THOUGHTS:

Despite hearing the name tossed about among my more literary friends for years, Dark Matter was my first Blake Crouch novel. I went into with somewhat high expectations, having heard the rave reviews and knowing that Crouch is popular enough to have had several adaptations of his work made, including Wayward Pines, Good Behavior and the aforementioned Dark Matter. Knowing that, I think my opinion on this book is a little skewed. I went into it expecting mind-bending Sci-Fi of the highest caliber, something that would really leave me pondering for days on end. What I got was a well written, well plotted science fiction adventure that was very interesting, but did leave me wanting more. Without going into spoilers, I can safely say that the central plot device was a fascinating concept with so many possibilities that I felt was ultimately under explored. While Crouch touches on some really interesting questions and crafts an emotional, fulfilling ending, if you’re the type of reader who loves exploring the weird and wild limits that Sci-Fi can take you to, you might be left a little underwhelmed. Despite this, I do recommend this twisty, action packed and surprisingly touching story to anyone who loves a good science fiction story.

For my FULL REVIEW, with SPOILERS, please visit:

https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-dark-matter-by-blake-crouch/

A good introduction into the series. Treads very familiar ground for anyone familiar with the fantasy genre but does it well and establishes an interesting world with lore unique enough to set it apart. Recommended for anyone looking for a classic fantasy story with an easy writing style and strong worldbuilding.

Quick thoughts

When one picks up a debut, it’s always hard to know what to expect. Often, new writers are still finding their footing, from a storytelling perspective. And confidence is one of those intangibles that can make a major difference in when it comes to writing a compelling story. The ability to commit to ideas and themes with unflinching conviction often yields a far more interesting and rewarding piece of literature than one with a tepid suggestions of an idea. In this respect, L.E. Garrison is hitting above her weight class as a debut indie author with Acts of Deicide. This book has some serious things to say about life, love, belief, redemption and the weight of humanity, and it says them without stuttering. Full of heavy themes, visceral worldbuilding and some truly dark and intense scenes, Acts is the type of story that is not for the faint of heart. Sufficed to say, the potential horrors of immortality are well explored within these pages. But for those with a strong constitution, there is deft balance of brutal darkness and inclusive romance for a story that delivers both action and genuinely touching moments.

For my Full Review, please visit;

https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-acts-of-deicide/

Quick Thoughts

We live an age where the metaphorical veil is easily pulled back on many of the darker sides of life for those who wish to peak behind it. In the age of the omnipresent and unrestricted internet, there is a raw, unfiltered confessional available for every walk of life. So it is that this biting and bleak story of self-destruction, addiction and the realities of life on the road that blurs the line between reality and fiction doesn’t feel quite as revolutionary as it might have a few decades earlier. But, despite this, the author lives up to his name as his talent for evocative and engrossing writing is on full display. An unflinching odyssey into the depths of depravity that will surely entertain those of strong stomachs and a worthy entry into the illustrious ranks of gonzo journalism style narratives.

For my Full Review, please visit: https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-running-the-light/

Quick Thoughts

We live an age where the metaphorical veil is easily pulled back on many of the darker sides of life for those who wish to peak behind it. In the age of the omnipresent and unrestricted internet, there is a raw, unfiltered confessional available for every walk of life. So it it that this biting and bleak story of self-destruction, addiction and the realities of life on the road that blurs the line between reality and fiction doesn’t feel quite as revolutionary as it might have a few decades earlier. But, despite this, the author earns lives up to his name as his talent for evocative and engrossing writing is on full display. An unflinching odyssey into the depths of depravity that will surely entertain those of strong stomachs and a worthy entry into the illustrious ranks of gonzo journalism style narratives.

For my Full Review, please visit: https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-running-the-light/