I really enjoyed the first book. It was the right mix of absurd, hilarious and sci-fi tropes. Sadly, what was once charming and unique has taken too far. Something closer to slapstick. The main character also seemed to be less of a character and more a handy device in which to hang all the insanity.
It’s also entirely possibly I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I can accept that. Whatever the reason, I’m done.
Robert
Hi Jared,
….
Did you hear that?……That was the sound of my mind imploding.
Title: Oathbringer
Series: The Stormlight Archive; Book 3
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Cosmere, Magic, Big Swords, Epic Battles
Synopsis: Dalinar Kholin’s Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified. Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar’s blood-soaked past and stand together–and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past–even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.
Recommendation: This book (& everything Sanderson) is highly recommended!
Continue reading “Stormlight Archive – Book 3: Oathbringer – By Brandon Sanderson”
Hey Robert,
I’m glad you recommended this book even though I couldn’t find it as an audiobook it only took like 5 hours to read and I don’t even read that fast.
So Murderbot is definitely the most interesting character. That is interesting, not likable. Relateable but also not likable. Murderbot has an interesting perspective of being non-gendered as well as being a slave to humans. It is actually kinda funny that with the freedom it has it chooses to watch tv with. So basically Murderbot is a millennial.
The rest of the characters are just kinda there, a backdrop for Murderbot’s feelings. Most of the plot is also just kinda there, not all that interesting or important.
The world could be amazing, but we just get this snapshot. More hints than many real details and I hope book two really lets us sink our teeth in and learn about this world. Could it continue with Murderbot, maybe? I’m just not sure if they can really bring around the change in its attitude to make it have some kind of interesting plot. Could we have a new character and Murderbot be a secondary character? Definately.
All in all, I look forward to seeing where this series goes.
Jared
Hey Jared,
It’s good to see you finally writing, both reviews and some of your own projects.
This review has been really difficult to write. I was generally OK with the book, but steadily became more dissatisfied as time went by. Thus the super late timing of this post. Sorry, not sorry.
Title: The Axe of Sundering
Series: Adventurers Wanted; Book 5
Author: M. L. Forman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU/AU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Whalen Vankin is the world’s greatest wizard, and he has only ever personally trained two other wizards. One is Alexander Taylor, a young man who has earned a reputation as a brave adventurer, a warrior, and man of honor. The other is Jabez, Vankin’s nephew and a man whose choices have led him down a different, darker path. Dark magic has covered Westland, and evil is stirring. Whalen and Alex must journey together into the heart of danger, confronting a sea serpent, battling their way through a goblin army, and facing down more than one dragon. Alex must find the legendary Axe of Sundering the one weapon that offers a chance to defeat Jabez and protect the land from the dark wizard’s plans. But finding it will be an adventure of its own as the only pathway to the Axe leads through the underground tunnels and secret passages of Castle Conmar. But Jabez has one final weapon at his disposal: the powerful Orion Stone, which could spell the end to Whalen and Alex both.
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series (just not the ending). Great for younger and older readers alike.
Continue reading “Adventurers Wanted – Book 5: The Axe of Sundering – By M. L. Forman”
Hey Robert,
Like you I really liked the Martian by Andy
Weir. You talked about it being a good or great book I argue it was just a fun book. I have already watched The Martian film starring Matt Daemon. The movie was really interesting and funny and honestly now having read the book I feel it was a pretty faithful interpretation of the book. The book just goes into more detail and expands the story more I was totally prepared to find the book boring because I already knew what would happen but it was just as interesting and exciting as I expected. I liked how dark the book was in some parts. Like when the crew it talking about what they would do if they missed the resupply rocket. How they would kill themselves and just one would go on eating the rest of the crew to survive and rescue Mark Watney.
You are right the plot is a weak point. But not as bad as other books, I didn’t feel cheated by the Deus ex machina surprise Chinese rocket. What shocked me was that there was no epilog. “Yep, we’ve got Watney” The End. Nothing about the trip home or even what was going on a year later nothing.
Of course, because science Mark Watney would never have survived there are chemicals in soil that would make growing potatoes impossible.
So I found this book on audible and it looked kinda interesting, what really sold me was the Sample of the book which talked about Bob who waking up can remember being hit by a car but nothing after. He attempts to talk with a shrink who was waiting for him to wake up. Unfortunately, he is talking with a synthesized voice. What happens next is amazing.
Title: We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
Series: Bobivese; Book 1
Author: Dennis E. Taylor
Genre: Sci-Fi
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: Future
Synopsis: Bob Johansson has just sold his software company and is looking forward to a life of leisure. There are places to go, books to read, and movies to watch. So it’s a little unfair when he gets himself killed crossing the street. Bob wakes up a century later to find that corpsicles have been declared to be without rights, and he is now the property of the state. He has been uploaded into computer hardware and is slated to be the controlling AI in an interstellar probe looking for habitable planets. The stakes are high: no less than the first claim to entire worlds. If he declines the honor, he’ll be switched off, and they’ll try again with someone else. If he accepts, he becomes a prime target. There are at least three other countries trying to get their own probes launched first, and they play dirty.
The safest place for Bob is in space, heading away from Earth at top speed. Or so he thinks. Because the universe is full of nasties, and trespassers make them mad – very mad.
Recommendation: I would definitely recommend this book.
Continue reading “Bobivese – Book 1: We Are Legion (We Are Bob) – By Dennis E. Taylor”
Hiya Jared,
Due to the unfortunate deficiency of the local library system (and me being too cheap) I’ve been forced to skip the 3rd book of this series, Tomb of Albrek, in my reread of the series. The only reason I chose to do this is because I had actually already read it before, and relatively recently. (Within the last 2 and a half years.)
On the bright side, you can expect my review of book 5, Axe of Sundering, this Friday.
Title: Sands of Nezza
Series: Adventurers Wanted; Book 4
Author: M. L. Forman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU/AU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: A call for help draws wizard Alexander Taylor into an adventure that he knows nothing about. To save a friend, Alex must travel to the land of Nezza, a land where war is part of daily life, where adventurers are imprisoned, and where all magic is believed to be black. Chance brings Alex into contact with young Rallian, a prince who might just be the true king of Nezza, and Alex s desire to do good sets loose a spell that could drive the land into all-out war. Alex must find a way for Rallian to be crowned king while also bringing peace to the land, but his magic and wizardry alone cannot make peace happen. His task is made more difficult when he learns that a group called the Brotherhood is actively working to keep the people of Nezza divided. Join Alex and some familiar friends in their search to unite the land of Nezza in this new adventure that will test their courage to the very core.
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series. Great for younger and older readers alike.
Continue reading “Adventurers Wanted – Book 4: Sands of Nezza – By M. L. Forman”
This is a monthly recap to help keep people up-to-date with what we’ve been doing, with handy links. It also serves as a visual representation for us and what we’ve accomplished in the month.
Total Posts: 5
Book Reviews: 3
Hey Jared,
Ok, I don’t really know what to do for this review. Either my experience was reflective of the material or…….I’m just completely unfocused.
Title: The Tyrant’s Law
Series: The Dagger and the Coin; Book 3
Author: Daniel Abraham
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Dragons (Extinct?), Magic
Synopsis: The tyrant Geder Palliako had led his nation to war, but every victory has called forth another conflict. Now the greater war spreads out before him, and he is bent on bringing peace. No matter how many people he has to kill to do it. Cithrin bel Sarcour, rogue banker of the Medean Bank, has returned to the fold. Her apprenticeship has placed her in the path of war, but the greater dangers are the ones in her past and in her soul. Widowed and disgraced at the heart of the Empire, Clara Kalliam has become a loyal traitor, defending her nation against itself. And in the shadows of the world, Captain Marcus Wester tracks an ancient secret that will change the war in ways not even he can forsee.
Recommendation: Adult, but mid to late teen could probably read it too. Series is highly recommended!
Continue reading “The Dagger and the Coin – Book 3: The Tyrant’s Law – Daniel Abraham”
Reading Over The Shoulder 