Mitchell
Much appreciation to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for giving me a chance to read this early.
Locklands takes an unconventional risk, taking place eight years after the events of Shorefall. It's a trait that really pays off right away, for having not read the second book in The Founder Trilogy for a couple years, I was certain to be lost and unable to gain footing from the start. The pay off is dependent of the elements of the magic system and plot. We have a new perspective of this desolate universe that leads the reader in a new direction that feels invigorating.
The introduction of Locklands has one of the best openings I've seen in the genre and really brings the story into bloom. I felt book 2 was slower pace than 1, so the bridge between book 2 - 3 really kicked the conclusion in full gear. Characters are being fulfilled and the volume is past 11, a perfect recipe for a promising series of cruel events.
Overall, this series kicked ass and always one I will recommend.
Mark Lawerence is a master of character emotion, and in a story that shares a deep connection to him, it makes this story wonderful and satisfying.
My first ‘Wild Cards' story is about a severely disabled girl who contracts a virus giving her special abilities that gives her view of the outside life around her. I absolutely love stories that come from the heart, and in this case a beautiful portrayal to Mark's daughter.
The Visitor is currently free to buy on Amazon.
Finally got around to reading an audio drama. I understand why there is demand for these types of audiobooks for the past decade, but I still prefer your standard narration without all the shiny bits and soundy noises. Perhaps it's because I have misophonia and unnatural sounds are too much for me, or maybe I'm just boring.
The premise of Impact Winter is promising, although the writing is unfortunately not. The character arcs didn't seem believable to me and made them rather bland. One takeaway from all this is the casting. These voice actors are excellent, including the kickass Liam Cunningham and Bella Ramsey.
Side Note: I was completely surprised when they played a Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield song in the mix. Not only is Seth my favorite musician, but absolutely underrated.
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Audio read by: full cast, including - Holliday Grainger, Esmé Creed-Miles, Himesh Patel and Liam Cunningham
A quarter into Midnight, the strange and eerie evil that hunts in the night is revealed and takes away the mystery that hooked me from the start.
One of the cons of Koontz always writing the villains POV is situations like this. I just couldn't stand the baddies in Midnight or their plans of ruling the world or something of that magnitude. Damn, I would have been fine with the single POV of Chrissie, an 11 year old who kicks ass. She's the only part of this book that was worth sticking around for...
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Koontz Ranking:
1 - Lightning
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 - Phantoms
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 - Watchers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 - Last Light
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 - Devoted
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6 - The Neighbour
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7 - Nameless series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
8 - Odd Thomas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
9 - Midnight
⭐️⭐️⭐️
10 - Twilight Eyes
⭐️⭐️
What I throughly enjoy about Dean Koontz are his character arcs. Devoted is a coming of age story for an autistic kid and the story is at its best when it revolves around his journey and the ones that build around him. One of my favorite details of this book is the heavy references it makes to makes to Koontz's significant classic, Watchers, which makes this a sequel of sorts.
The story was turning out to be a great follow-up to Watchers. The pacing of Devoted was excellent, until the last quarter, the third act. At the pivotal moment at the story, we're looking through fresh eyes of various unlikeable characters in separate locations and break away from the significant POVs that built the story since the beginning. These jumps were sporadic and unnecessary. By the end of the book I was glad it was finally over.
I've always thought conclusions were more critical than the rest of the story. I will always leave appreciating the book based on its payoff and character's finished development. I'd even prefer a slower buildup rather than a underwhelming ending.
____
Koontz Ranking:
1 - Lightning
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 - Phantoms
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 - Watchers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 - Last Light
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 - Devoted
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6 - The Neighbour
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7 - Nameless series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
8 - Odd Thomas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
9 - Twilight Eyes
⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed Last Light right from the start. Kickass lead heroines like Makani are refreshing and really builds up a promising development between characters.
Again, we have another successful Koontz novella, and it seems each have their own thrilling elements and, in some cases, like Last Light, have interesting magic systems that we'd find in your usual Koontz stories. Each novella of his I've read doesn't seem to short to tell these characters stories.
____
Koontz Ranking:
1 - Lightning
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 - Phantoms
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 - Watchers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 - Last Light
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 - The Neighbour
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6 - Nameless series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7 - Odd Thomas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
8 - Twilight Eyes
⭐️⭐️
I started this book on a whim. After finishing Twilight Eyes I haven't been able to determine which Koontz book to read next, so I started this novella hoping to get back into the groove. The Neighbour was a pleasant surprise that brought Horror Koontz into light. Besides Phantoms, I haven't been able to find anything that could live up to that same horror in the Koontz catalog, until now.
With his newer and innovative mini series of novellas, Nameless, and now this book, it's easy to tell that Koontz can write some excellent short stories.
____
Koontz Ranking:
1 - Lightning
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 - Phantoms
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 - Watchers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 - The Neighbour
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 - Nameless series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6 - Odd Thomas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7 - Twilight Eyes
⭐️⭐️
Second book syndrome is always so bitter. The Rage of Dragons was an immediate favorite, and it was a pleasant surprise when I saw The Fires of Vengeance's stance amongst fantasy fans was just as good, if not better than the prior. Unfortunately for me, that was a nope.
Let me say, before I go into anything else, that the following criticism is my own and is in no way to downgrade this book, as 3 stars is not necessarily a bad rating for me. Just my own ridiculous opinion.
The first half of the book, excluding the first chapter and a few hairy details, was a great start, but by the time I got to the halfway point, I became frustrated with the Tau's narcissistic behavior that kept hammering my distress in him after each selfish decision. Having not learned everything from book one and still leading others into harms way, everyone seems to brush aside his ridiculous demeanor and follow him, which downplayed their own actions. In The Rage of Dragons, this flaw is what shaped the book, it was an obvious problem that other characters forced the protagonist to recognize, but in book two, it feels as if it's not a flaw, but magnified to overshadow other characters that made the debut shine. My favorite thing about The Fires of Vengeance was the side characters, unfortunately that's all they are and in the end, I lost connection with them.
What would have been awesome was seeing a second or third POV that would offset the arrogance and mature the development. It feels a little one sided when we're looking through one viewpoint, which is where my frustration lies. By the time the story settled in its conclusion, I've already made up my decision about a main character who's only flaw is being a pain in my ass.
The reason this hits me hard is because the excellent promise in book 1 just didn't pan over into book 2, which is a real bummer and just makes me second guess the series.
A new favorite!
I haven't read this excellent of a debut book from a new author since Senlin Ascends. This is the type of innovation I love to see in fantasy; a story that branches into a new scope of ideas with characters that breathe vivacious lives that are believable. Besides writing fantastic characters, which is the greatest trait any fiction author should have, Winters illustrates his fight scenes incredibly well, perhaps some of the best I've seen.
By the time I'm writing this, I'm already halfway done with this book's sequel. I'm absolutely looking forward to more Evan Winters.
I'm incredibly happy to be alive during the times where Brandi Carlile is writing music. Her power and growth shows in her music, but it shines in her memoir and gives an even better perspective of the inspirational and loving nature, that is, her fanfare. Carlile is one of the greatest singer-songwriter in history.
I remember seeing her with my wife back in 2014, opening for The Avett Brothers. Brandi held a beautiful fury in her performance that embraced the audience with compassion and awe. That was when both my wife and I shared yet another moment that'll go down in the books. We found love in her music which deepened our devotion to each other.
Broken Horses is now my favorite memoir and it's easy to see with the authenticity of Brandi's story.
____
Audio read by: Brandi Carlile
After finishing The Fall of Babel, I've been in a state of unrest. I haven't been able to distinguish the rights and wrongs of the story's conclusion. After The Hod King, it was clear that The Books of Babel has become my favorite series to date, and now that it's over, I'm having difficulties justifying if it was a good payoff. I'd say it gave one hell of a book hangover though.
I usually try my best not to spoil anything in my reviews and because of that, it's almost impossible to explain how this ending is like any other. I was upset, whether I'd be from the book or from the realization of having to give a farewell to the series, but there isn't anything I'd give to relive this entire series with fresh eyes.
Having a few weeks to reflect, The Fall of Babel has barely anything to complain about, because the series has has been held so high in my mind that almost nothing can tear it down, no matter what minor personal issues I might have with it's conclusion.
Sometimes a final reckoning is just swift punch to the gut, one with gusto.
____
The Books of Babel:
Senlin Ascends
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Arm of the Sphinx
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Hod King
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fall of Babel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️