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sterling8's reviews
2145 reviews
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
4.0
This one moves faster than the first book. There are three main plot threads, and I was impatient whenever the threads switched because they were all so compelling. I've got the last book of the trilogy lined up next.
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie
4.0
Last book of a trilogy. It's been quite a while since I've had a chance to take a run at a whole trilogy at once- usually I'm champing at the bit for the next one to come out. But I waited long enough for these that I got to read them all within a week.
This is a solid fantasy series. The feel is dark, the characters are flawed and realistic. The action does not disappoint. My favorite character, the torturer, is possibly the best anti-hero I've read since Jeffrey Lindsay's Dexter. He is smart, perceptive, pessimistic, paranoid, does horrible things, and yet you end up rooting for him.
I'm still trying to decide whether to keep these books or turn them into the used bookstore- I don't know whether I will read them again or not. But definitely good for an action fix.
This is a solid fantasy series. The feel is dark, the characters are flawed and realistic. The action does not disappoint. My favorite character, the torturer, is possibly the best anti-hero I've read since Jeffrey Lindsay's Dexter. He is smart, perceptive, pessimistic, paranoid, does horrible things, and yet you end up rooting for him.
I'm still trying to decide whether to keep these books or turn them into the used bookstore- I don't know whether I will read them again or not. But definitely good for an action fix.
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
5.0
This is one I recommend, and have yet to have anyone disappointed by it. It is reminiscent of "Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman. Two sisters, both with some supernatural abilities. One wild, one staid. The difference is that the story is set in a little southern town where most of the inhabitants have some sort of special ability. An apple tree is one of the characters. If you eat an apple from it, you will have a vision of the most important event of your life. However, it's not always good to know your fate.
This is a diverting, well written novel. Will it change the world? Probably not. But if you need a good beach or by-the-fire book, this admirably fits the bill.
This is a diverting, well written novel. Will it change the world? Probably not. But if you need a good beach or by-the-fire book, this admirably fits the bill.
The Shanghai Tunnel by Sharan Newman
2.0
I love Sharan Newman's medieval series featuring Catherine LeVendeur, a Jewish merchant's daughter. I had high hope for this series as well. However, after reading about 60 pages I ended up skipping to the back of the book to see how things turned out. The pace was slow, the characters seemed to lack depth. I know this isn't the current trend in literature, but I do like an author to give me some basic physical description of the main character, and I got nothing from this book to give me a mental picture.
Maybe it's partly that I enjoy medieval history more than American history. Maybe I was just wanting a faster read and didn't have the patience to wait out the plot development. But I don't think I'll read more of this particular series.
Maybe it's partly that I enjoy medieval history more than American history. Maybe I was just wanting a faster read and didn't have the patience to wait out the plot development. But I don't think I'll read more of this particular series.
Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom
4.0
Really liked this one. C.J. Sansom is a British author who deserves more attention in the States than he is getting. His previous series (3 books so far) stars Matthew Shardlake, a crippled lawyer who works for the Cromwellian government ferreting out secrets and squeezing out money from the Catholics. I've enjoyed those books too.
This book takes the reader to a very different time and place- WWII era Spain. The reluctant hero is drafted as a spy after being invalided out of regular service after Dunkirk. He is tasked to spy upon a childhood friend from public (or boarding) school who seems to be making good in Franco's Spain.
The plot is intriguing, the setting is fascinating, and Sansom uses the story to meditate on loyalty and morality in time of war.
Minor annoyances: the stiff-upper lip style of British speech left me feeling that mostly the characters tried to avoid revealing themselves in any way through their dialogue. But of course, probably accurate. Barbara, the main female character, came across as rather brittle and weak, although she improved by the end of the book.
If you enjoyed this book, I would also recommend "Farthing" by Jo Walton. Similar examination of wartime and how it alters character set during WWII, plus a classic English country house mystery. Only this book is set in an alternate timeline in which Britain made peace with Germany.
This book takes the reader to a very different time and place- WWII era Spain. The reluctant hero is drafted as a spy after being invalided out of regular service after Dunkirk. He is tasked to spy upon a childhood friend from public (or boarding) school who seems to be making good in Franco's Spain.
The plot is intriguing, the setting is fascinating, and Sansom uses the story to meditate on loyalty and morality in time of war.
Minor annoyances: the stiff-upper lip style of British speech left me feeling that mostly the characters tried to avoid revealing themselves in any way through their dialogue. But of course, probably accurate. Barbara, the main female character, came across as rather brittle and weak, although she improved by the end of the book.
If you enjoyed this book, I would also recommend "Farthing" by Jo Walton. Similar examination of wartime and how it alters character set during WWII, plus a classic English country house mystery. Only this book is set in an alternate timeline in which Britain made peace with Germany.
White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison
3.0
Kim Harrison is part of the vanguard of good urban fantasy writers. Despite her covers, the books are not about just sex and shoes. Her characters are young, flawed, and fighting loneliness while dealing with issues of deadly importance. They're good, and I like visiting with her characters in each book to see how they've changed.
That said, this is a weak book in the series. The first problem of the book, finding the main character's boyfriend's killer, is shelved for most of the book while Rachel (the main character) has to deal with a banshee loose and wreaking havoc in the city. Rachel spins from crisis to crisis, few of which really lead anywhere plot-wise. It makes the story move at a quick pace, but it's a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. I hope Harrison starts avoiding the cheap emotional thrills and gets back to working through a plot instead of distracting the reader with drama.
There's also a new love interest for Rachel in this book. His character originated in a short story that Harrison wrote for an anthology. Guess Harrison never wrote a character that she didn't like or want to see more of. I have nothing against the character, but it felt like one more random thing thrown in there to generate drama.
Even though this is a weak installment, I'll give the series another chance or two. Harrison is starting a new series- the first one is supposed to be out in hardback in June. Maybe more of her energy is going into that new series.
That said, this is a weak book in the series. The first problem of the book, finding the main character's boyfriend's killer, is shelved for most of the book while Rachel (the main character) has to deal with a banshee loose and wreaking havoc in the city. Rachel spins from crisis to crisis, few of which really lead anywhere plot-wise. It makes the story move at a quick pace, but it's a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. I hope Harrison starts avoiding the cheap emotional thrills and gets back to working through a plot instead of distracting the reader with drama.
There's also a new love interest for Rachel in this book. His character originated in a short story that Harrison wrote for an anthology. Guess Harrison never wrote a character that she didn't like or want to see more of. I have nothing against the character, but it felt like one more random thing thrown in there to generate drama.
Even though this is a weak installment, I'll give the series another chance or two. Harrison is starting a new series- the first one is supposed to be out in hardback in June. Maybe more of her energy is going into that new series.
What We Eat When We Eat Alone: Stories and 100 Recipes by Deborah Madison, Patrick McFarlin
2.0
I was hoping for some off-the-wall, interesting, original recipes and/or thoughts from this book. I've already read "Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant", another book on individual eating patterns, and enjoyed some of the funny essays in that book.
This book did not have the depth of "Eggplant", nor did it give any startling revelations. Men eat more steaks and burgers, women eat more salads, as a general rule. Lots and lots of southwestern recipes, which was kind of intriguing. Maybe those types of foods are easier to assemble and eat, have a comfort food aspect, and have some spice to make it interesting. (Those are my observations; the book doesn't go into "whys" very much.)
There are some recipes I'll try (a breakfast burrito recipe coming up soon) but this book could have used less reporting and more insight and introspection.
This book did not have the depth of "Eggplant", nor did it give any startling revelations. Men eat more steaks and burgers, women eat more salads, as a general rule. Lots and lots of southwestern recipes, which was kind of intriguing. Maybe those types of foods are easier to assemble and eat, have a comfort food aspect, and have some spice to make it interesting. (Those are my observations; the book doesn't go into "whys" very much.)
There are some recipes I'll try (a breakfast burrito recipe coming up soon) but this book could have used less reporting and more insight and introspection.
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
3.0
Not a bad book, just not a stand-out one. The fact that the main character grew up Amish is interesting, but it comes down to your basic thriller. It is more thriller than romance, but definitely romantic suspense elements.