ramsfan1963's reviews
322 reviews

Translation State by Ann Leckie

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dark emotional mysterious 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

The return to Radch space was well worth the trip. I wasn't expecting this to be as good as the Ancillary trilogy, but it was just as good. Leckie's books leave me a little disoriented at first, her alien cultures are truly alien with a capital A, but once I got into the characters and their various lifestyles, I found the book hard to put down.
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

3.5

If this was my first exposure to James Bond, if I hadn't seen any of the movies, then I don't think I'd be a Bond fan today. Besides the racism and misogyny of the time it was written, its brutal and Bond isn't a likeable character at all. The last line of the book made me want to throw the book across the room.
Bang! by Matt Kindt

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

First to Fly: The Story of the Lafayette Escadrille, the American Heroes Who Flew for France in World War I by Charles Bracelen Flood

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informative inspiring fast-paced

3.25

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

Funny, lighthearted adventure, involving typing cats, foul mouthed unionists dolphins, and a cabal of villains who profit from the world's woes. 
Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient World by Mary Beard

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

No one, in my opinion, writes about Roman history better than Mary Beard. Her books are always informative, enlightening and extremely detailed. If the reader is looking for something gossipy and lurid, full of orgies and sadistic violence, they're reading the wrong book. Beard is showing the reader the day to day lives of the Roman Emperors, how they lived, what they ate, how they associated with the common people, fellow dignitaries and their gods. It can be dryly academic at times, but overall it's an engrossing view of the ancient Roman world and its people.
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard

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adventurous dark informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

An amazing adventure, a grueling struggle for survival. Looking back, with 20/20 hindsight, the expedition to explore the River of Doubt was full of red flags, ill-conceived, ill equipped and hopelessly optimistic about the voyage. Was it simple arrogance or hubris that lead the ex-president to take the journey that almost ending both his own life and that of his son?
From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi by Mary Kenney, Fran Wilde, Saladin Ahmed, Charlie Jane Anders, Mike Chen, Olivie Blake

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

Much like the three movies in the original Star Wars trilogy, this book covering Return of the Jedi is the less satisfying of the three. Maybe it's because the movie didnt made a lasting impression on me that A New Hope and Empire did, or because I don't remember the story as well. This doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable, wasn't well written or a good read for Star Wars fans, just that I didn't enjoy it as much as the first 2 books in the series.
The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin

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adventurous mysterious 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 was a pleasant surprise, exceeding my expectations in both the quality of the writing and the development of the characters. You can tell the author knows his martial arts, the fights are very detailed and realistic.
Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth by Warren Ellis, John Cassaday

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Planetary comes to Gotham City searching for a man who has gained superpowers from government experimentation. His powers cause himself and the Planetary team to shift to various versions of Gotham where they meet various versions of the Batman, like the 60s TV version and the Dark Knight from Frank Millers stories. It's a quick read, only 48 pages, but entertaining. The artwork by John Cassaday is the best part.