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neilsef's reviews
285 reviews
Charmed and Dangerous by Lindsay Buroker
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
One of the main things I like about Lindsay's books is the characters, which are always brimming with personality, couple this with the lively interaction that takes place between them, and plots that are imaginative, compelling and totally engaging, and you are guaranteed an entertaining and absorbing read, which this series has been for start to finish.
This time around Morgen has to deal with ghosts and curses while trying to start a new business with Amar selling his woodworking projects, including the popular cat condos, and her amulets and charms. Things also come to a head with the Loup's, just when she has a visit from members of her family.
This is an excellent conclusion to the series, with a satisfying ending that also leaves open the possibility for future adventures, which I would certainly welcome.
This time around Morgen has to deal with ghosts and curses while trying to start a new business with Amar selling his woodworking projects, including the popular cat condos, and her amulets and charms. Things also come to a head with the Loup's, just when she has a visit from members of her family.
This is an excellent conclusion to the series, with a satisfying ending that also leaves open the possibility for future adventures, which I would certainly welcome.
Queen of Storms by Raymond E. Feist
The book starts with Hatu, Hava and Declan settling into their new lives and the community of Beran's Hill, but they are aware that tensions in the barony are rising. This soon leads to attacks on both the barony and its allies, resulting in Hatu being separated from his friends and taken on a long sea voyage, while the remainder have to decide on what course of action they should take next.
This is a good mix of all the elements I like to see in a story making it entertaining, interesting and engaging, and a must-read if you have read the first book.
adventurous
dark
informative
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 great follow-up to "The King of Ashes", even more so because it did not go in the direction I had expected it to, with the result that there were several shocks and twists that took me unawares.
The book starts with Hatu, Hava and Declan settling into their new lives and the community of Beran's Hill, but they are aware that tensions in the barony are rising. This soon leads to attacks on both the barony and its allies, resulting in Hatu being separated from his friends and taken on a long sea voyage, while the remainder have to decide on what course of action they should take next.
This is a good mix of all the elements I like to see in a story making it entertaining, interesting and engaging, and a must-read if you have read the first book.
King of Ashes by Raymond E. Feist
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
Having read most of the Midkemia novels I was intrigued to read this series and discover a whole new world of characters, locations and events.
This story gripped me from the outset, with a prologue that describes events that destroy one of five kingdoms, and wipe out the royal line of that Kingdom in a brutal and savage manner, all that is except for one small baby. The story then jumps some sixteen years, and the child is now approaching the age of adulthood, having spent the formative years being cared for and trained in the islands that the Coaltachin, the invisible nation, controls.
This was instantly engaging, with a cast of mainly youngish characters who embody that mix of confidence, inexperience and naivete that only the young possess. The plot revolves around the surviving royal heir, ignorant of their heritage, and a young, newly elevated Master Smith, who seems to be more than he is. The events unfold in an interesting and mostly unpredictable manner, which kept me wanting to turn the pages to see what happens next.
If you have read any of the Midkemia novels and enjoyed them, then you are going to enjoy this.
This story gripped me from the outset, with a prologue that describes events that destroy one of five kingdoms, and wipe out the royal line of that Kingdom in a brutal and savage manner, all that is except for one small baby. The story then jumps some sixteen years, and the child is now approaching the age of adulthood, having spent the formative years being cared for and trained in the islands that the Coaltachin, the invisible nation, controls.
This was instantly engaging, with a cast of mainly youngish characters who embody that mix of confidence, inexperience and naivete that only the young possess. The plot revolves around the surviving royal heir, ignorant of their heritage, and a young, newly elevated Master Smith, who seems to be more than he is. The events unfold in an interesting and mostly unpredictable manner, which kept me wanting to turn the pages to see what happens next.
If you have read any of the Midkemia novels and enjoyed them, then you are going to enjoy this.
The Eleventh Hour by Mark Hayden
adventurous
informative
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? Yes
4.0
This is another well-paced adventure predominantly set in the Lake District and mentions many locations I have been to or know of, making the whole tale, that little bit more interesting.
In the first half of the tale, we get to know more about Mina, as she becomes eligible for weekend release which coincides with Conrad inadvertently setting off a series of events that lead to several murders that are connected to the local magical community, that he and Vicky end up investigating.
The mixture of magical and criminal investigations, combined with a good balance of humour and banter between the characters and the serious repercussions of the crimes they investigate, make these books addictive reading.
In the first half of the tale, we get to know more about Mina, as she becomes eligible for weekend release which coincides with Conrad inadvertently setting off a series of events that lead to several murders that are connected to the local magical community, that he and Vicky end up investigating.
The mixture of magical and criminal investigations, combined with a good balance of humour and banter between the characters and the serious repercussions of the crimes they investigate, make these books addictive reading.
The 12 Dragons of Albion by Mark Hayden
adventurous
emotional
informative
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? Yes
4.0
As with the first book, the pace of the narration is quick, and filled with interesting information, details and events, mixed in with lively dialogue, which, on the whole, I managed to keep track of and understand. I did, however, fall foul of how the dialogue between characters is presented on the page, with the text sometimes being contained on the same lines, with just a comma and speech marks to break it up, which is usually fine, but which I sometimes don't register, and so end up confusing myself when I lose track of who is saying what.
The characters are wonderfully written, and I was surprised to find I had developed emotional attachments to some of them when I found my eyes misting over with a couple of the scenes described in the latter half of the book.
This was a highly enjoyable read, with the plot's main thrust being Conrad trying to track down a Dragon egg, before it can hatch, which, if it does, could mean implementing the current procedure for dealing with a Dragon, a nuclear bomb!
The characters are wonderfully written, and I was surprised to find I had developed emotional attachments to some of them when I found my eyes misting over with a couple of the scenes described in the latter half of the book.
This was a highly enjoyable read, with the plot's main thrust being Conrad trying to track down a Dragon egg, before it can hatch, which, if it does, could mean implementing the current procedure for dealing with a Dragon, a nuclear bomb!
The Maleficent Seven by Cameron Johnston
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
As the name suggests, this is a reimagining of the classic western, The Magnificent Seven, but instead of cowboy gunslingers, this group is comprised of monsters, which for most is more a description of their past actions, rather than their physical appearance.
The group members are Black Herran, a Demonologist and the leader, Maeven, a Necromancer, Tiarnach, the war God of the Cahal'Gilroy, Amogg, the Orc Chieftain, Lorimer, a Vampire Lord, Verena, the Pirate Queen and Jerak, an Alchemist who can kill whole armies with his concoctions.
This is a glorious tale that is brutally descriptive while being horrifically entertaining, with characters that are cruel and as foul-mouthed as you could imagine but are utterly engaging. Each one is vividly portrayed with sparkling personalities. Still, my favourite is Lorimer, who is a vampire unlike any I have come across before and is a truly unnerving but charismatic character.
The action is relentless and fast-paced, with the little group of "heroes" trying to stop the mighty armies of the Lucent Empire, sacking a small town and killing all the nonbelievers of their faith. There are Knights who wield powers granted by their Goddess that can incinerate people from a distance, while their leader, the Falcon Prince, has powers to rival the old Gods, so the task of protecting the town requires the "heroes" to be both the best and worst, they can be, making this a great read that is enjoyable from start to finish.
The group members are Black Herran, a Demonologist and the leader, Maeven, a Necromancer, Tiarnach, the war God of the Cahal'Gilroy, Amogg, the Orc Chieftain, Lorimer, a Vampire Lord, Verena, the Pirate Queen and Jerak, an Alchemist who can kill whole armies with his concoctions.
This is a glorious tale that is brutally descriptive while being horrifically entertaining, with characters that are cruel and as foul-mouthed as you could imagine but are utterly engaging. Each one is vividly portrayed with sparkling personalities. Still, my favourite is Lorimer, who is a vampire unlike any I have come across before and is a truly unnerving but charismatic character.
The action is relentless and fast-paced, with the little group of "heroes" trying to stop the mighty armies of the Lucent Empire, sacking a small town and killing all the nonbelievers of their faith. There are Knights who wield powers granted by their Goddess that can incinerate people from a distance, while their leader, the Falcon Prince, has powers to rival the old Gods, so the task of protecting the town requires the "heroes" to be both the best and worst, they can be, making this a great read that is enjoyable from start to finish.
Art of the Hunt by Lindsay Buroker
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story continues with Jadora and Jak aboard a mage ship, with the Dragon Gate, heading for the continent from which it originally came. They are, however, being chased by General Tonovan and Zidarr Yidar, who are more likely to kill them, rather than capture them.
This book continues to build upon the characters' personalities, the events and the general Mythos surrounding the Dragon Gate, which were all started in the previous book, in a logical and natural progression, which keeps you both engaged and entertained as the story unfolds.
The Dragon Gate has many similarities to the Star Gate from the movie and TV series, which I am sure was an inspiration, however, how it is powered, operated, and functions as a gateway, are different, giving it a unique feel.
These novels are slightly different in tone from what Lindsey usually writes, being less light-hearted and more serious and darker, however, there is more banter in this second book, than in the first, which since the characters are more familiar with each other, feels like a natural progression in a relationship.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and a must-read for any fan of Lindsay's writing.
This book continues to build upon the characters' personalities, the events and the general Mythos surrounding the Dragon Gate, which were all started in the previous book, in a logical and natural progression, which keeps you both engaged and entertained as the story unfolds.
The Dragon Gate has many similarities to the Star Gate from the movie and TV series, which I am sure was an inspiration, however, how it is powered, operated, and functions as a gateway, are different, giving it a unique feel.
These novels are slightly different in tone from what Lindsey usually writes, being less light-hearted and more serious and darker, however, there is more banter in this second book, than in the first, which since the characters are more familiar with each other, feels like a natural progression in a relationship.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and a must-read for any fan of Lindsay's writing.
Dragon Forged by Dan Michaelson, D.K. Holmberg
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This started very well and I was looking forward to an engaging, interesting, fast-paced story, which to be fair, for the most part, it was.
The concept of gaining powers incrementally as you consume Firewater, which is water imbued with Dragon essence, and as such is a very rare substance, is fascinating, especially as the scope and range of those powers are revealed as the story progresses.
I liked the characters, especially Rob and his Grandmother, who are the most fleshed out. The plot is on the whole it is straightforward to follow, and even the limited world-building gives you a good sense of the environment where the story takes place.
However, it does have some serious problems in consistency and continuity, as well as a fair number of grammatical errors, and its over-reliance on several phrases, which are repeated every time certain actions are taken. The result is a story that gets quite irritating at times and baffling at others, which is a shame as there is a decent, interesting story underlying it all that has the potential to be highly enjoyable.
If the next book in the series came up in the Kindle monthly deals for 99 pence, then I would buy it and hope most of the issues listed above have been resolved, otherwise, I don't see myself reading any further in this series.
The concept of gaining powers incrementally as you consume Firewater, which is water imbued with Dragon essence, and as such is a very rare substance, is fascinating, especially as the scope and range of those powers are revealed as the story progresses.
I liked the characters, especially Rob and his Grandmother, who are the most fleshed out. The plot is on the whole it is straightforward to follow, and even the limited world-building gives you a good sense of the environment where the story takes place.
However, it does have some serious problems in consistency and continuity, as well as a fair number of grammatical errors, and its over-reliance on several phrases, which are repeated every time certain actions are taken. The result is a story that gets quite irritating at times and baffling at others, which is a shame as there is a decent, interesting story underlying it all that has the potential to be highly enjoyable.
If the next book in the series came up in the Kindle monthly deals for 99 pence, then I would buy it and hope most of the issues listed above have been resolved, otherwise, I don't see myself reading any further in this series.
Conqueror's Blood by Zamil Akhtar
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Though this is the second book in this series, it could be read as a standalone novel insofar as while this takes place after the events of the first book, the events are not linked other than a few names, places and events that happened in the first book are mentioned. One previous character who appears is Kevah, but his involvement is minimal and he is portrayed differently than in the first book.
The two main protagonists in this tale are Zedra, the concubine to the crown Prince of Alanya, and Cyra, who is the daughter of a tribe leader, who was kidnapped and then given to the Shar of Alanya, who subsequently became fond of her and ended up treating her like a daughter. Both wield magical abilities that draw from the same source but are utilised in different ways.
As with the first book this has a similar theme, with religion being the catalyst for the events, but in this case, it's the same religion, but with two different interpretations of the teachings that are causing the conflict.
Again the book has a brisk pace, swapping from one character's point of view to another's with each chapter, and is written in the first person. There are many additional characters, all with varied and well-written personalities, but quite interestingly, none of them are portrayed as evil or bad, except from the viewpoint of the other characters.
There are also several interesting plot twists and mysteries which are deftly handled, all of which enhanced my overall enjoyment of the story and kept me entertained right up to the last page.
The two main protagonists in this tale are Zedra, the concubine to the crown Prince of Alanya, and Cyra, who is the daughter of a tribe leader, who was kidnapped and then given to the Shar of Alanya, who subsequently became fond of her and ended up treating her like a daughter. Both wield magical abilities that draw from the same source but are utilised in different ways.
As with the first book this has a similar theme, with religion being the catalyst for the events, but in this case, it's the same religion, but with two different interpretations of the teachings that are causing the conflict.
Again the book has a brisk pace, swapping from one character's point of view to another's with each chapter, and is written in the first person. There are many additional characters, all with varied and well-written personalities, but quite interestingly, none of them are portrayed as evil or bad, except from the viewpoint of the other characters.
There are also several interesting plot twists and mysteries which are deftly handled, all of which enhanced my overall enjoyment of the story and kept me entertained right up to the last page.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
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
Like most of the books I buy, it is the cover that first draws my attention, and this is an eye catching cover. I had also seen several posts on Facebook from a Fantasy book club I am a member of praising this book, so when it was included in the Kindle monthly deals, I grabbed it.
The story draws from facets of various mythologies and histories to weave a wonderfully engaging tale that while not fast-paced, effortlessly holds your attention because of its fantastic characters, its world-building and the mysteries that are revealed and that it slowly unveils.
For Dragon lovers, this is a delight, as both Western and Asian dragon types, plus a host of Wyverns and related draconic beasts are weaved into the story.
The only flaw in the tale, as far as I am concerned, was the conclusion to the final battle, with the description of the climatic event actually being anticlimactic. If you read the story, and I certainly hope you do, when you get to this point you might see what I mean. Other than that, all the threads are tidied up in a satisfying manner, while still leaving scope for further novels.
The story draws from facets of various mythologies and histories to weave a wonderfully engaging tale that while not fast-paced, effortlessly holds your attention because of its fantastic characters, its world-building and the mysteries that are revealed and that it slowly unveils.
For Dragon lovers, this is a delight, as both Western and Asian dragon types, plus a host of Wyverns and related draconic beasts are weaved into the story.
The only flaw in the tale, as far as I am concerned, was the conclusion to the final battle, with the description of the climatic event actually being anticlimactic. If you read the story, and I certainly hope you do, when you get to this point you might see what I mean. Other than that, all the threads are tidied up in a satisfying manner, while still leaving scope for further novels.