Michael Cummings

Enjoyed book two, though it could probably have been a hundred or three pages lighter. If you get to book two, pay attention to the vignettes between parts - they all come back at some point to be relevant again. If you sloughed though book one, you should keep reading book two, Sanderson does a decent job of keeping the story going. My only complaint was I felt like there was a little too much foreshadowing/obvious outcomes. Then again, this is Sanderson, so book three will probably turn all of that over on its head and prove everything we thought we knew was wrong.

Let's see if I can do this without spoilers.

Some reviewers have complained that there were characters who's arc's were too predictable. Sit back and ask yourself, why are you reading an epic scope fantasy novel? Is it because you expect arc's to break the mold? Or because you're looking for a fresh story that follows certain guidelines and then runs wild? Epic fantasies garner certain expectations, and this book is no different.

Sanderson's first book in the series isn't necessarily the best piece of fantasy out there (sorry), but it plays to your expectations perfectly and with enough excitement to keep the pace going throughout the book. It took me a bit longer than normal to slough through this 1000 page behemoth, but I finished it happily and asking questions that we all know the next book won't answer.

Well played, Mr. Sanderson.

Fantasy readers preferring large scale stories (though not necessarily with large casts) will enjoy this book.

I always want to like Brooks' books more than I do. Yet another novel where he tells us far more than he shows us. The polished bits are full on 5 stars, but the rest of the novel drags it down considerably. The story is interesting, the execution is lacking in my opinion. And yet I keep reading them...

Brooks continues to tell instead of showing, but this was actually consistent in quality. One of the better Shannara books that I've read. 

The first time I tried reading this book, I DNF'd at the time jump. The me that read it this time enjoyed it from start to finish. 

This was far better than I expected it to be. I couldn't help but wonder if this influenced Sanderson at all. Just saying there's some similarities between spren and furies, both use Knights...

I picked up the first book of the Dresden Files mostly because I was tired of friends - even people I respected - who said the books were really good. I'd seen the SciFi channel adaption, and frankly, hadn't been impressed. As it turns out, for good reason, since the SciFi channel version paled in comparison to the real thing, except for some names and professions. The book was a fun, quick read. Butcher's no Tolstoy - but then, when you're reading about wizards in Chicago, do you really want a Tolstoy telling the story? I intended to read the rest of the series now, and would even go so far as to recommend it :) So thank you Dan, E, and anyone else that said I should give it a whirl.

As with the previous three volumes, I feel like Brooks spends too much time in the first half of the book just telling us things. It's not until the midpoint that he begins to show and use dialog more effectively.

I was not overwhelmed by the Sword of Shannara, but wanted to give the original trilogy a solid try. The first fifth of Elfstones was...clunky. Chunky. I am glad I pushed on. Once we got past the initial introduction of the quest, the book was fairly fast-paced. Still awkward in places, but a fun/quick read.

It's not a flawless book. There were parts that were barely three star worthy and parts that shone at five stars. In the end I read half the book in an afternoon, a sure sign I must have eventually gotten hooked and overlooked the parts that didn't work for me.

It's been years and years since I last tried to read these books. I know criticism abound, but I find the texture of the language to be just what I needed.

Really, really enjoyed. Will be picking up the next volume.

I could not do this to myself. When halfway through the book I still felt no interest in any of the characters or even the scenario as it was being portrayed, I decided to walk away. Based on the other reviews of this book, it looks like you, fellow reader, will fall into one of two camps (and only TWO!) - you will either enjoy this book, or you will question the Bram Stoker award, the publishing industry, and what passes for well-written horror these days.

For myself, I'm in the latter camp.

I feel like this was the victim of the pandemic. I read the first issue just before lockdown started, and it was great - corny, maybe, but that kind of science fiction corny you enjoy. A spaceship is found buried in the ice, the final panel of the issue ending with WHAT, NEANDERTHALS ON ICE?!?

That first issue would have earned a five-star rating because it scratched all the right, fun itches. Every other issue of this miniseries knocked it down a star. Storylines left unfinished, the mystery of the spaceship undramatically resolved with some handwaving “the aliens created us - we're their failed experiment!” I'd like to believe that this series had more going for it, but the restrictions and restraints of a pandemic gripped world stifled this project. I'd like to believe that. It's more believable than what this storyline turned into.

I can't believe I didn't read this until I was in my 40s. But perhaps it is a book that is best read when you're ready to hear the laughter in the stars.

Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came.

Rounded up to 4 because I read the whole thing in 24 hours, which has to mean -something-

Commala-come-come
I can't imagine reading this without reading the previous books. That said, a fun meta read.

A quick read, this first George Smiley book is fast to hit the action and then roll like an episode of a modern thriller/mystery. Thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to reading more in the series.

Having watched the Sissy Spacek movie all my life, I thought I knew this story. Sure, I knew the highlights, but the book was so much better.

I'm trying to read these in publication order, so broke away from the main line at the start of Bonehunters to read this. I enjoyed Esslemont's writing and thought the story did a great job of fitting into the shared universe while also filling in a few gaps along the way. Highly enjoyed.

I've been on a King run of late, I admit, but this was the one I appreciated the most. A spiritual successor to books like Firestarter, and a reminder that sometimes King really knocks it out of the park and past the parking lot.

I admit: I thought I was spoiled when I started reading. After watching almost ten seasons of the TV show in a month, I thought it was time to read the books that inspired it.

From the start, I recognized the episode that was inspired by this novel. And yet despite that, I quickly learned that screen and page aren't a mirror. The source material was just as robust and full bodied as I had hoped. What did surprise me was that Vera doesn't make a full appearance until half way through the book, and even then is not the dominant character.

Fans of the show should be aware the book loosely picks out details from the book, enough that you will remember the salient points. And yet it was still a great read with far more depth than the show could give it.

[Slow clap] Well done. Fans of Hamilton will recognize the reuse of old mechanics - instant portals, neural augmentations, at least one character is an investigator of some sort. Salvation reminded me a lot of the first Commonwealth book with the StarFlyer. A fun read, recommend at 4.2 stars.

I had tried reading this years ago and had a hard time with it - this time I read it in three days :) This sequel to Dune takes place not long after that seminal work, with Paul and Alia at the head of the new Imperium. I was surprised when reading this how tight Herbert's writing was. It was a quick read because Herbert didn't waste time on details that weren't germaine to the moment, which might put off some readers. If Kyle MacLachlan pops in your head when you think Paul Atreides, approach with caution. This Maud'Dib is a ruler, stuck with all of the problems and dilemmas a super powered emperor with a wife, mistress, and a back from the dead friend would expect to face.