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afictionalescapist's reviews
49 reviews
ARvekt: Cyberpunk Techno-Thriller by Craig Lea Gordon
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was one hell of a ride. An actioned packed cyberpunk techno thriller full of amazing tech, a questionable AI connected to every human being on the planet and battle scenes to boot.
Starbinder by Mark Timmony
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Starbinder was a perfect little taste of Mark Timmony's world accessible to both those who have and have not read Blood of the Spear.
For those who have read book one, we are treated to a deeper look at some of the more sci fantasy elements that build up the history of this world.
For those new to the scene, you are welcomed to an intricate origin story, full of promise and possibility, practically begging you to pick up Blood of the Spear right away.
I had a great time with this novella and am eagerly awaiting book two!
For those who have read book one, we are treated to a deeper look at some of the more sci fantasy elements that build up the history of this world.
For those new to the scene, you are welcomed to an intricate origin story, full of promise and possibility, practically begging you to pick up Blood of the Spear right away.
I had a great time with this novella and am eagerly awaiting book two!
Voice of War by Zack Argyle
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Voice of war was a thrilling debut full of action, adventure and a great deal of heart wrapped up neatly in 380 pages.
Chrys Valerian has been given a task, to scout out bring to justice a group kidnapping and stealing threadweaver blood. As more and more threadweavers (those who can use threadlight to push or pull energies to their physical advantage) go missing the task becomes increasingly dire. During his investigations he comes across Laurel, a rebellious teen from the Fairenwild who has been captured by the blood thieves. Without thanks for him or his team she breaks free from the thieves and Chrys before he can question her further.
During his time on the hunt, Chrys discovers more than he bargained for and must get to his superiors before it is too late. Lines are crossed and not only does he need to worry about his own safety, but that of his wife and unborn child; all the while holding back the apogee inside his head, begging for release, to unleash devastation once more.
A few standouts for me here was the magic system, worldbuilding and scope of characters.
One last note, I listened to this book on audible and the narration of Adam Gold was outstanding. Normally the narrator and make or break a book for me but Gold absolutely nailed bringing this world to live in his performance (IMO).
I had a great time with Voice of war and am looking forward to the next two books!
Chrys Valerian has been given a task, to scout out bring to justice a group kidnapping and stealing threadweaver blood. As more and more threadweavers (those who can use threadlight to push or pull energies to their physical advantage) go missing the task becomes increasingly dire. During his investigations he comes across Laurel, a rebellious teen from the Fairenwild who has been captured by the blood thieves. Without thanks for him or his team she breaks free from the thieves and Chrys before he can question her further.
During his time on the hunt, Chrys discovers more than he bargained for and must get to his superiors before it is too late. Lines are crossed and not only does he need to worry about his own safety, but that of his wife and unborn child; all the while holding back the apogee inside his head, begging for release, to unleash devastation once more.
A few standouts for me here was the magic system, worldbuilding and scope of characters.
One last note, I listened to this book on audible and the narration of Adam Gold was outstanding. Normally the narrator and make or break a book for me but Gold absolutely nailed bringing this world to live in his performance (IMO).
I had a great time with Voice of war and am looking forward to the next two books!
Waking Ursa Minor by Helen Rygh-Pedersen
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? No
4.25
Waking Ursa Minor was an island-hopping adventure full of fascinating creatures, a rich history and a young woman learning to find her way to be the hero she deserves.
The islands of Riverda are suffering as the magics that once protected the world become unbalanced. Now divided, the islands only hope is for an ancient prophecy to bring them together once more. However, if the islands are to unite, the same prophecy promises an ancient evil will rise and stake their claim to Riverda once more.
Serakela is an orphan, sheltered from the dangerous past her parents left her. Her innocence is shattered suddenly when the woman who took her in guides her to the papers of her past. Within these pages is a message, one that would unite the islands forever.
Hunted by Brother Okrafkus, a trained assassin monk of the Separamus, Serakela must tackle a new life on the run, full of found families, learning to both trust and keep on her guard and maybe find love along the way.
Waking Ursa Minor was an epic, adventure filled coming of age story that provided just the right amount of interesting plot with childlike whimsy.
The standouts to me here were the prose, plot and worldbuilding.
I had a great time with Waking Ursa Minor, it was a solid debut and I cannot wait to see what the author does next. I can already see Helen Rygh-Pedersen becoming an auto buy author!
Check out my full review over on EPIC INDIE and my Channel in the coming weeks!
The islands of Riverda are suffering as the magics that once protected the world become unbalanced. Now divided, the islands only hope is for an ancient prophecy to bring them together once more. However, if the islands are to unite, the same prophecy promises an ancient evil will rise and stake their claim to Riverda once more.
Serakela is an orphan, sheltered from the dangerous past her parents left her. Her innocence is shattered suddenly when the woman who took her in guides her to the papers of her past. Within these pages is a message, one that would unite the islands forever.
Hunted by Brother Okrafkus, a trained assassin monk of the Separamus, Serakela must tackle a new life on the run, full of found families, learning to both trust and keep on her guard and maybe find love along the way.
Waking Ursa Minor was an epic, adventure filled coming of age story that provided just the right amount of interesting plot with childlike whimsy.
The standouts to me here were the prose, plot and worldbuilding.
I had a great time with Waking Ursa Minor, it was a solid debut and I cannot wait to see what the author does next. I can already see Helen Rygh-Pedersen becoming an auto buy author!
Check out my full review over on EPIC INDIE and my Channel in the coming weeks!
Moroda by L.L. McNeil
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-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? No
4.0
The Second edition of L.L. Macrae's debut novel was excellent!
This is debut writing at it's finest. The plot, while it wasn't the most complicated in the fantasy genre allowed Macrae to stretch her character and worldbuilding abilities creating an addicting land.
As the reader we are introduced to a multitude of creatures which build the world seamlessly through their stories, layering personal and past history throughout the text.
If you are a character or worldbuilding driven reader, you will feel at home in the world of Linaria. Not to mention, do you like .. air ships, sassy, morally grey pirates and dragons? Count. Me. In.
Moroda was extremely approachable for new readers of fantasy but had enough for those a little more seasoned to be entertained. I cannot wait to carry on with book two sooner rather than later!
This is debut writing at it's finest. The plot, while it wasn't the most complicated in the fantasy genre allowed Macrae to stretch her character and worldbuilding abilities creating an addicting land.
As the reader we are introduced to a multitude of creatures which build the world seamlessly through their stories, layering personal and past history throughout the text.
If you are a character or worldbuilding driven reader, you will feel at home in the world of Linaria. Not to mention, do you like .. air ships, sassy, morally grey pirates and dragons? Count. Me. In.
Moroda was extremely approachable for new readers of fantasy but had enough for those a little more seasoned to be entertained. I cannot wait to carry on with book two sooner rather than later!
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was devastating in the best possible way.
It was a near perfect read for me, slow burn, emotionally impactful with plenty of deep conversations to be had throughout the pages.
Full review to come on epicindie.net and my YT channel :)
It was a near perfect read for me, slow burn, emotionally impactful with plenty of deep conversations to be had throughout the pages.
Full review to come on epicindie.net and my YT channel :)
The Fangs of War by E.J. Doble
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Tarazzi forces have killed Provenci’s King, making way for a new and brutal government to take over. New leader Alverez is hell bent on the destruction of Tarraz, building an army bigger than the world has ever seen and sending them to war against the foul creatures and populations of a feral enemy land.
Believed to be dead for the last 25 years the Iron Queen lies in wait, to take revenge on those who put her in her suspected grave. Striking a deal with the All Mother, a God like entity and force to be feared she dreams of revenge against all those who terrorised her land decades before.
Cavara has been betrayed by her people, left for dead after the discovery of the king far from home, she is rescued by a stranger and taken to a brighter land where she is deemed as an outcast and is suddenly on the run. She must remain hidden while putting together pieces of her past orders and coming to terms with her new life, before she faces the great feared Alberdane.
This book was very, very dense but beautifully written. Each time I picked it up, it would take a little while for my brain to catch up to the writing style but once I did it became an addiction. I would just want more. The imagery portrayed in these pages is nothing short of stunning (and terrifying as we are in a world full of God like beasts which I would NOT want to come up against). It took a little brain power to get through, but this author certainly has potential to create one heck of an epic series.
Rated 3.5 – Rounded up to 4.
Watch for my full review on epicindie.net and over on my YT channel at A Fictional Escapist!
Believed to be dead for the last 25 years the Iron Queen lies in wait, to take revenge on those who put her in her suspected grave. Striking a deal with the All Mother, a God like entity and force to be feared she dreams of revenge against all those who terrorised her land decades before.
Cavara has been betrayed by her people, left for dead after the discovery of the king far from home, she is rescued by a stranger and taken to a brighter land where she is deemed as an outcast and is suddenly on the run. She must remain hidden while putting together pieces of her past orders and coming to terms with her new life, before she faces the great feared Alberdane.
This book was very, very dense but beautifully written. Each time I picked it up, it would take a little while for my brain to catch up to the writing style but once I did it became an addiction. I would just want more. The imagery portrayed in these pages is nothing short of stunning (and terrifying as we are in a world full of God like beasts which I would NOT want to come up against). It took a little brain power to get through, but this author certainly has potential to create one heck of an epic series.
Rated 3.5 – Rounded up to 4.
Watch for my full review on epicindie.net and over on my YT channel at A Fictional Escapist!
The Socialite's Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Socialite's Guide to Murder was a fun little ROMP of a murder mystery that didn't take itself too seriously.
We follow Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy, a spoiled yet oddly charming in an innocent, extremely naïve about the world sort of way; as she oversees the comings and goings of the pinnacle hotel. Never wanting for anything, never having to leave the safe haven of the hotel, her every wish is someone's command (and she loves every minute of it). Evelyn prides herself on her ability to find even the toughest things, including a murderer.
Her world is turned upside down when famous artist Billie Bell turns up dead, unfortunate since his painting was just stolen. Evie (as she is affectionally referred to by her is he or isn't he boyfriend Mac) takes it upon herself to crack the case. Buddying up with a number of sidekicks, including an eight to ten year old girl, Mac, the famous Mr. Fox and of course, her little bear like dog, Presley Evelyn is off to solve a mystery.
Priding herself on Marilyn Monroe looks and dedication of Hercule Poirot will Evelyn be able to crack the case and face her fears, before time runs out?
If you're going into a historical murder mystery for tension and drama, this is not the book you are looking for. If you are looking for something a bit silly, a bit tongue in cheek to break up the monotony than this is the book for you. This over the top, positively outrageous, and will leave a smile on your face whether you were expecting it to or not.
We follow Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy, a spoiled yet oddly charming in an innocent, extremely naïve about the world sort of way; as she oversees the comings and goings of the pinnacle hotel. Never wanting for anything, never having to leave the safe haven of the hotel, her every wish is someone's command (and she loves every minute of it). Evelyn prides herself on her ability to find even the toughest things, including a murderer.
Her world is turned upside down when famous artist Billie Bell turns up dead, unfortunate since his painting was just stolen. Evie (as she is affectionally referred to by her is he or isn't he boyfriend Mac) takes it upon herself to crack the case. Buddying up with a number of sidekicks, including an eight to ten year old girl, Mac, the famous Mr. Fox and of course, her little bear like dog, Presley Evelyn is off to solve a mystery.
Priding herself on Marilyn Monroe looks and dedication of Hercule Poirot will Evelyn be able to crack the case and face her fears, before time runs out?
If you're going into a historical murder mystery for tension and drama, this is not the book you are looking for. If you are looking for something a bit silly, a bit tongue in cheek to break up the monotony than this is the book for you. This over the top, positively outrageous, and will leave a smile on your face whether you were expecting it to or not.
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Ever wondered what it would feel like to have one last show? Strap in to the King's of the Wyld to find out just what that entails for a band of retired mercenaries as they brave the dangerous heartwyld to save the one, the only Bloody Rose.
Called upon by an old band mate, Clay Cooper must choose whether he will give up his relatively cosy life for one final curtain call. Initially turning down the opportunity, his darling daughter gives him the push he needs to make a comeback. It looks like the band is getting back together after all.
This is fundamentally a fun adventure tale of some middle aged mercenaries joining together in banter, rock references and the ability to get mugged by the same bandit group multiple times.
While no one aspect of this book really stood out to me, parts of each element certainly had their moments. In terms of characters, I adored Moog. I would read a book entirely about his ridiculous antics, but was fairly middling on the rest of them. In terms of the world, it felt fairly small in comparison to other things I had read by oh boy was it rich in beasties that our crew had to dodge. When it came to the prose and plot, both of these things were fairly formulaic but at times had a lot of heart that I couldn't help but smile at .. or despite myself chuckle.
This book is full of mythical creatures, glorious battles and more d*ck jokes than you can poke a stick at. It was a fun time and a good pallet cleanser.
Side Bar - Jeff Harding did an excellent job of bringing these characters to life through his narration of the audiobook.
Called upon by an old band mate, Clay Cooper must choose whether he will give up his relatively cosy life for one final curtain call. Initially turning down the opportunity, his darling daughter gives him the push he needs to make a comeback. It looks like the band is getting back together after all.
This is fundamentally a fun adventure tale of some middle aged mercenaries joining together in banter, rock references and the ability to get mugged by the same bandit group multiple times.
While no one aspect of this book really stood out to me, parts of each element certainly had their moments. In terms of characters, I adored Moog. I would read a book entirely about his ridiculous antics, but was fairly middling on the rest of them. In terms of the world, it felt fairly small in comparison to other things I had read by oh boy was it rich in beasties that our crew had to dodge. When it came to the prose and plot, both of these things were fairly formulaic but at times had a lot of heart that I couldn't help but smile at .. or despite myself chuckle.
This book is full of mythical creatures, glorious battles and more d*ck jokes than you can poke a stick at. It was a fun time and a good pallet cleanser.
Side Bar - Jeff Harding did an excellent job of bringing these characters to life through his narration of the audiobook.
Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The last instalment of the Night Angel trilogy did a decent job of bringing all of the foreshadowing from books one and two together in my opinion.
The reader follows all of the characters we have come to know and want more of as their relative storylines overlap to become on fairly epic conclusion. I had a lot of ohh moments in this last book particularly with Solon and Dorian (I can't go into detail because spoilers). It was great as a reader to have those things start to piece together and become clearer as we neared the end.
While this was my least favourite of the three and the very end felt a little rushed for the amount of build up, I had a good time. This entire series was very easy to read. It was fast paced, with enough character development that I wanted to see what happened to them and where they had all ended up, a plot that kept me entertained and interested in the outcome and a magic system that seemed to continue to grow with our main protagonist.
I'm glad I finally ventured into the world of Brent Weeks and am very interested to see what the Lightbringer series has in store for me.
The reader follows all of the characters we have come to know and want more of as their relative storylines overlap to become on fairly epic conclusion. I had a lot of ohh moments in this last book particularly with Solon and Dorian (I can't go into detail because spoilers). It was great as a reader to have those things start to piece together and become clearer as we neared the end.
While this was my least favourite of the three and the very end felt a little rushed for the amount of build up, I had a good time. This entire series was very easy to read. It was fast paced, with enough character development that I wanted to see what happened to them and where they had all ended up, a plot that kept me entertained and interested in the outcome and a magic system that seemed to continue to grow with our main protagonist.
I'm glad I finally ventured into the world of Brent Weeks and am very interested to see what the Lightbringer series has in store for me.