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neilsef's reviews
229 reviews
The Quantum Curators and the Fabergé Egg by Eva St. John
adventurous
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I had assumed this would be similar to "The Chronicles of Saint Mary's" novels, which it is, and isn't. They both have a time travel aspect to them and they both have an institution that sends people back in time to retrieve lost artefacts, but that's where the similarities end.
In these novels, the time travelling is done in the history of Beta Earth (Our Earth) by people who come from Alpha Earth, which is an Earth with an alternative timeline, which has much more advanced technologies.
The plot revolves around the Curators of Alpha Earth endeavouring to retrieve a Fabergé egg before it is destroyed, but the only information they have is the time it will be destroyed. Meanwhile, on Beta Earth, an antiques collector has found a clue to the possible existence of a Fabergé egg and sets about tracking it down.
The resulting adventures make for a fascinating tale that combines mystery and intrigue with engaging and likeable characters in a tale that is fast, packed with adventure and drama, humour and emotion.
This was highly addictive reading and a great start to the series.
In these novels, the time travelling is done in the history of Beta Earth (Our Earth) by people who come from Alpha Earth, which is an Earth with an alternative timeline, which has much more advanced technologies.
The plot revolves around the Curators of Alpha Earth endeavouring to retrieve a Fabergé egg before it is destroyed, but the only information they have is the time it will be destroyed. Meanwhile, on Beta Earth, an antiques collector has found a clue to the possible existence of a Fabergé egg and sets about tracking it down.
The resulting adventures make for a fascinating tale that combines mystery and intrigue with engaging and likeable characters in a tale that is fast, packed with adventure and drama, humour and emotion.
This was highly addictive reading and a great start to the series.
Balthazar's Bane by Kat Ross
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Balthazar has been a minor but intriguing character so far in this series, that took more prominence in the last book, but who is the centre of attention in this one.
He is a complex character whose multifaceted personality is brought to the fore here in a tale that sees him indulging in his normal pleasures, but this time things work out a little differently than he expected. Things go from bad to worse when he is captured by Jinn and ends up in a hidden city full of Daēva, and the only way to leave is to defeat a demon.
This is a highly entertaining tale that is beautifully written with wonderfully characters and a well paced, engaging plot laced with action, mystery, tension and humour. A must read if you have read the previous books.
He is a complex character whose multifaceted personality is brought to the fore here in a tale that sees him indulging in his normal pleasures, but this time things work out a little differently than he expected. Things go from bad to worse when he is captured by Jinn and ends up in a hidden city full of Daēva, and the only way to leave is to defeat a demon.
This is a highly entertaining tale that is beautifully written with wonderfully characters and a well paced, engaging plot laced with action, mystery, tension and humour. A must read if you have read the previous books.
Verge of Darkness by Ollie Odebunmi
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a genuinely interesting and enjoyable story that moved along at a nice pace, with an engaging plot and mostly likeable characters, however, the writing style was a bit variable, being stilted or choppy in places. There was also a fair bit of exposition at times, and several plot points that seemed forced or contrived.
It is also quite obvious that the plot draws inspiration from other authors, both for its characters, settings and philosophies, which is not a bad thing, but in this case, it is just a little too obvious that the author is trying to emulate his favourite author's.
This, to the best of my knowledge, is the first book written by this author, so a lot of the points raised above I am willing to overlook, especially as I did enjoy reading this book, and I will continue with the series in the hope these rough edges get smoothed off.
It is also quite obvious that the plot draws inspiration from other authors, both for its characters, settings and philosophies, which is not a bad thing, but in this case, it is just a little too obvious that the author is trying to emulate his favourite author's.
This, to the best of my knowledge, is the first book written by this author, so a lot of the points raised above I am willing to overlook, especially as I did enjoy reading this book, and I will continue with the series in the hope these rough edges get smoothed off.
The Scarlet Thread by Kat Ross
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book sees us back in the company of Harry and John, who are wonderfully written characters with sparkling and captivating personalities.
The plots of the stories containing these two characters have, so far, been like a mixture of Sherlock Holmes and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and this one falls neatly into that bracket too, especially with the opening chapter.
It's a lively fast-paced adventure filled with mystery, intrigue and humour, as well as being laced with creepy and scary aspects and more than a few thought-provoking moments that make this a highly engaging read that I, unfortunately, zipped through far too quickly.
It also further develops the relationship between Harry and John in a very natural and enjoyable manner that fits nicely into the overall story.
The plots of the stories containing these two characters have, so far, been like a mixture of Sherlock Holmes and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and this one falls neatly into that bracket too, especially with the opening chapter.
It's a lively fast-paced adventure filled with mystery, intrigue and humour, as well as being laced with creepy and scary aspects and more than a few thought-provoking moments that make this a highly engaging read that I, unfortunately, zipped through far too quickly.
It also further develops the relationship between Harry and John in a very natural and enjoyable manner that fits nicely into the overall story.
Elven Doom by Lindsay Buroker
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This, as with the previous books in the series, was a pure delight to read, being an engaging mixture of all the elements that make a good story, action, mystery, humour, tension, magic and of course, Dragons.
All the characters have wonderful, if a little quirky, personalities, that continue to be developed, together with the interactions between them.
The story continues with Val trying to find the Dark Elves and work out what they are planning while also figuring out just what her relationship with Zav is, which is further complicated by his sister, Zondia's distrust of her.
This is another fast-paced, highly entertaining and engaging read that has only one problem, it's too short 😁.
All the characters have wonderful, if a little quirky, personalities, that continue to be developed, together with the interactions between them.
The story continues with Val trying to find the Dark Elves and work out what they are planning while also figuring out just what her relationship with Zav is, which is further complicated by his sister, Zondia's distrust of her.
This is another fast-paced, highly entertaining and engaging read that has only one problem, it's too short 😁.
Darien by C.F. Iggulden, Conn Iggulden
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a fascinating tale with three main characters, all of whom possess a different type of magic, who through circumstances end up in the city of Darien at the same time. The magic possessed by these characters is totally different from each other and how they use their abilities is a key feature of the plot.
The main plot revolves around plans to depose the current king of Darien, a plot all three characters are drawn into, but in vastly different ways, and then how they try to survive the aftermath.
In the beginning, this was a little confusing to follow, as it kept swapping the POV between various characters, but unlike other books which generally change the POV with the chapters, this one, however, changes at paragraphs. The story is very well crafted, setting up events and characters that slowly develop and combine in ways that surprised me more than once.
This is a story that grows on you the more you progress into it, with characters that you want to know, what happens to them next.
The main plot revolves around plans to depose the current king of Darien, a plot all three characters are drawn into, but in vastly different ways, and then how they try to survive the aftermath.
In the beginning, this was a little confusing to follow, as it kept swapping the POV between various characters, but unlike other books which generally change the POV with the chapters, this one, however, changes at paragraphs. The story is very well crafted, setting up events and characters that slowly develop and combine in ways that surprised me more than once.
This is a story that grows on you the more you progress into it, with characters that you want to know, what happens to them next.
The Written by Ben Galley
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I found the prologue to this story to be quite the attention-getter, which besides setting up the main thread of the book, also introduces a character who has a major influence on the events to follow, but who is not identified, which of course has you trying to figure out who it is, something that is not easy due to how the characters are introduced and written, plus how the clues to their identity are obscured.
The main story took me a couple of chapters to get into, but from that point on it was addictive. The plot revolves around Farden trying to find out who stole an ancient book of magic and recover it if possible before the power it contains can be unleashed. This leads him to approach the Sirens, a race whom his people have gone to war with, in the recent past, and whom they currently have an uneasy truce with, but whose help they now require.
The characters, which includes several non-humans, are all well-developed and written with engaging personalities. The world-building is also well done, with an interesting history and fascinating societies which are slowly revealed as the events unfold in both dramatic and tragic fashion.
Overall this is a great start to a series that has a lot of potential to be outstanding, and thus well worth reading.
The main story took me a couple of chapters to get into, but from that point on it was addictive. The plot revolves around Farden trying to find out who stole an ancient book of magic and recover it if possible before the power it contains can be unleashed. This leads him to approach the Sirens, a race whom his people have gone to war with, in the recent past, and whom they currently have an uneasy truce with, but whose help they now require.
The characters, which includes several non-humans, are all well-developed and written with engaging personalities. The world-building is also well done, with an interesting history and fascinating societies which are slowly revealed as the events unfold in both dramatic and tragic fashion.
Overall this is a great start to a series that has a lot of potential to be outstanding, and thus well worth reading.
Beyond Hades by Luke Romyn
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I had been looking forward to reading this book due to the combination of the cover art and the synopsis firing up my imagination, and to a reasonable extent it lived up to what I expected.
The story could be described as Indiana Jones meets Clash of the Titans, sprinkled with a bit of Doctor Who. There are two main characters who we follow, one being an archaeologist, while the other seems to be the embodiment of all the action figures played by Arnold Schwarzenegger but wrapped up in the persona of Crocodile Dundee.
It's a very entertaining fast-paced read, as the characters escape from one life-threatening predicament, only to land in yet another, as they encounter beings from Greek mythology and travel between the realms of Hades, Tartarus and Olympus.
It's a fun book, that would probably make an excellent action movie with its numerous mythological figures and action pieces, and as such there are a few times that the internal logic of the story becomes torturously strained, at which point it's best just to stop thinking and enjoy the ride.
The story could be described as Indiana Jones meets Clash of the Titans, sprinkled with a bit of Doctor Who. There are two main characters who we follow, one being an archaeologist, while the other seems to be the embodiment of all the action figures played by Arnold Schwarzenegger but wrapped up in the persona of Crocodile Dundee.
It's a very entertaining fast-paced read, as the characters escape from one life-threatening predicament, only to land in yet another, as they encounter beings from Greek mythology and travel between the realms of Hades, Tartarus and Olympus.
It's a fun book, that would probably make an excellent action movie with its numerous mythological figures and action pieces, and as such there are a few times that the internal logic of the story becomes torturously strained, at which point it's best just to stop thinking and enjoy the ride.
The Hand of the Sun King: Book One by J.T. Greathouse
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Due to the title, I had assumed this book would be set in a culture based on the Inca civilization and mythology, so I was surprised to realise it is a more Asian-orientated culture.
I was immediately gripped by the story, which is narrated in the first person, by the main character, Alder (Foolish Cur), and is written in a style that is both engaging and easy to read.
The plot follows Alder from a young age, as he is being tutored to pass Imperial exams so that he may gain a high governmental position in his father's culture, while also secretly being tutored in the magic's and mysticism of his mother's culture, by her mother. It then follows him after the examinations as he pursues his desire to learn magic while also trying to reconcile his conflicting cultural identities.
The plot is a fascinating mixture of ambition, political intrigue, friendship and betrayal, with wonderfully crafted characters in a world that is beautifully brought to life.
I was immediately gripped by the story, which is narrated in the first person, by the main character, Alder (Foolish Cur), and is written in a style that is both engaging and easy to read.
The plot follows Alder from a young age, as he is being tutored to pass Imperial exams so that he may gain a high governmental position in his father's culture, while also secretly being tutored in the magic's and mysticism of his mother's culture, by her mother. It then follows him after the examinations as he pursues his desire to learn magic while also trying to reconcile his conflicting cultural identities.
The plot is a fascinating mixture of ambition, political intrigue, friendship and betrayal, with wonderfully crafted characters in a world that is beautifully brought to life.
Blood of the Chosen by Django Wexler
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The first book in this series took a while for me to get into, primarily due to the setting the story takes place in, which is a dystopian world with its own naming system for items and positions of authority, but once I had gotten used to that it was a fascinating read.
This book kicks off more or less just after the events of the first book, and much to my delight, it had a recap at the start to remind you of what had happened. The events that unfold, again centre around Gyre and Maya, and swap between them in each chapter, as they both follow paths that are diametrically opposed, but which will eventually collide in a spectacular manner.
The main characters from the first book all return with the various relationships and interactions between them being explored in more detail and depth, while we also start to learn more about the Ghouls and the Chosen societies.
I found this to be much more immersive and interesting than the first book, while also upping both the tempo at which the story unfolds and the stakes which are being played for by the opposing groups, all the while building to a stunning finale that sets up the last book in the trilogy to be epic.
This book kicks off more or less just after the events of the first book, and much to my delight, it had a recap at the start to remind you of what had happened. The events that unfold, again centre around Gyre and Maya, and swap between them in each chapter, as they both follow paths that are diametrically opposed, but which will eventually collide in a spectacular manner.
The main characters from the first book all return with the various relationships and interactions between them being explored in more detail and depth, while we also start to learn more about the Ghouls and the Chosen societies.
I found this to be much more immersive and interesting than the first book, while also upping both the tempo at which the story unfolds and the stakes which are being played for by the opposing groups, all the while building to a stunning finale that sets up the last book in the trilogy to be epic.