tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32629925843814172732024-02-08T01:50:32.784-08:00Zafri MollonBook and Movie ReviewsZafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-61105129321970862462011-12-20T17:48:00.005-08:002011-12-20T17:48:39.092-08:00A+ for Ship BreakerA+ for Ship Breaker <br />
Great worldbuilding that makes you think about current affairs? Check. A setting that postulates a possible (bleak) future of mankind? Check. A great main character who is easy to root for? Check. Expressive writing with a complex, fast-paced plot? Check. Honestly, this book has it all. I might even have liked it more than I liked his adult novel 'The Windup Girl.' This is everything that a good SF YA novel should be. <br />
<br />
Better than: The Hunger Games, Graceling, Incarceron. <br />
Please read the first chapter and know that it only gets better from there. Highly recommended.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-63515647150957499132011-12-20T17:48:00.003-08:002011-12-20T17:48:27.744-08:00A for Among ThievesA for Among Thieves <br />
I'll keep this one brief. In between reading various novels by Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie, George RR Martin, Jim Butcher, and Patrick Rothfuss, I needed to find something to read. This one came highly recommended and man am I happy that it was recommended to me. Hulick has created a fantastic main character with difficult decisions to make, an interesting world with some good worldbuilding (especially loved the Thieves' cant), and a fast-paced plot just dripping with tension all the way through. Highly recommended if you like any of the authors mentioned at the start of this review.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-39112419324176781312011-12-20T17:48:00.001-08:002011-12-20T17:48:12.469-08:00C- for IncarceronC- for Incarceron <br />
The characters in the novel are basically fine. Sure, they are both living with very real problems and they are easy to relate to. But are they especially interesting? Do they feel especially well fleshed out? Not really. They fulfill the demands of the plot, and that's about it. I often didn't understand why a particular character would be thinking something or saying something (issues with character motivations) so that was a problem. Is the plot exciting and interesting and new? No. I figured out the gist of the plot after the first 50 pages. Not really any big surprises. Is the idea for the setting cool? Sure. Absolutely. Is the writing good? Sure, it's fine for YA. Is this the best YA novel on the market today? Absolutely not. Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigaulpi is much MUCH better. Heck, even the Hunger Games is better. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld and House of the Scorpion are also better choices. <br />
<br />
The pacing is good, the characters do their job adequately, the setting is interesting, and the writing is fine, but there are many other better books to read first. If you absolutely are in love with the premise, sure, go for it, but definitely read a few sample chapters and see if it hooks. Just thought it needed to be said based on what reviews are currently found on here (not many).Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-64105588370379306622010-10-03T08:12:00.000-07:002010-10-03T08:12:10.841-07:00C+ for Altered CarbonAltered Carbon started off well: an interesting, if semi-sociopathic, main character, an intriguing mystery, and rapid pacing. The pacing continues until about halfway through the novel where the twists and turns and added characters began to muddle things a bit for me. Perhaps it is because I tend not to read as much mystery as other genres, but I didn't have these kinds of feelings of confusion reading any of the Dresden Files novels or "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." There is a formidable use of language modification in giving the futuristic society its own edge and feel, but I still can't help but feel this novel is flawed in the ways previously mentioned. Many others seem to like it, so you might want to give it a try anyways, but it wouldn't be a recommendation from me.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-11955087711154055522010-09-29T18:10:00.000-07:002010-09-29T18:10:02.069-07:00The Town- Movie ReviewThe Town- Movie Review<br />
Anyone who has done any research online or watched the trailers knows what they are getting into when they go see this film. And it delivered. Flawed characters are always interesting as long as they have some kind of redeeming feature, and those with hints of wasted potential are doubly so. This was a great ride while it lasted and I definitely recommend seeing it if you get the chance.<br />
<br />
***SPOILERS TO FOLLOW***<br />
I appreciate the way this story was woven with clever foreshadowing and links between seemingly innocuous conversations and later events. A bit too clever, at times, but still nice regardless. The message at the end of this movie was that crime doesn't pay. Or, not really. The character who lived a life of violence died as he lived, and the character with lost potential redeemed himself in the end (although he has to sacrifice an important relationship and contact with the rest of the world to do so). You can't help but feel sorry for the guy as events conspired to keep him involved in crime. One simply has to recall the quote, as cliché as it is, by Corleone: "<span style="font-size: small;">Every time I think I'm out...they keep pulling me back in!" He is as determined as the FBI officer after him, but is confined by his upbringing and his circumstances. In any case, the point was that I enjoyed this movie. The action was great and it actually had a decent emotional range (unlike most movies that are made nowadays). Check it out. </span>Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-55672657795019146142010-09-19T15:15:00.003-07:002010-09-19T15:16:28.257-07:00B+ for "Best Served Cold" by Joe AbercrombieThis is typical fare for Joe Abercrombie fans. You can pretty much guess the end result of the novel (people will be brutally killed, people will be betrayed, etc.) but it was a fun ride while it lasted. For some reason, this novel seemed even more cold and depressing than the first law series. Perhaps it was the unerring cynicism of some of the characters, but I was left with a hollow, empty feeling after reading this novel. That is not to day that I didn't enjoy it, but you may well finish this book feeling more depressed than usual. The combat is, as always, fantastic and the characters are as interesting as ever. I enjoyed the use of secondary characters from his First Law series being reused here, and am looking forward to his upcoming novel, "The Heroes."Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-77263908034184091872010-09-19T15:15:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:16:28.257-07:00B+ for "Summer Knight" by Jim ButcherAnother highly entertaining read from Jim Butcher in his Dresden Files series. This book, while good, was less entertaining for me because more time was spent on unraveling the mystery and escaping baddies than on interacting with other characters. Murphy isn't in this book as much as some previous books, Michael is totally absent, and Susan is gone to South American (for spoilerish reasons). He brought a character from a previous novel into things a bit more, but I found that there wasn't enough character interaction between Dresden and friends. I'd still recommend this book as I've heard from other sources that the books really start to get good around book four. This is still a quick and entertaining read for fans of the series with a few surprises that I didn't expect (and a couple that I could see coming). Check it out, if only to see Dresden come through again after being hit with another impossibly dangerous mission.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-28967439132586116362010-09-19T15:11:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:08.897-07:00Inception + ThingsSo I saw Inception today. It was between that and the new Twilight movie (but not really, of course. Let's be serious.) Someone called the movie "a crushing bore." The movie is most certainly not that. I must consider the possibility that the reviewer went into the wrong movie theatre though, so I will forgive her. <br />
<br />
The movie, partly because of its foundation on new technological innovations, is jarring, especially in its opening scenes. But they are technological innovations that are so cool, so interesting, and so fun to watch, that all is forgiven.<br />
<br />
***SPOILERS TO FOLLOW***<br />
I'll start by saying that the opening hook didn't really work for me. The movie is framed by the same scene at the beginning and near the end, but because I didn't understand what was going on at the start (my eyes were just waking up) it lost some of its power. The introduction of the movie's technological concepts and the plot itself, however, were handled much better. See it for yourself though.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the acting in the movie in that they did everything they possibly could to bring live and vigor to the characters using what few lines the characters did have. My father said that the actor he appreciated least was Ellen Page. Why is that? Well, I think it's because, despite her profile as a well-known actress, she wasn't given that many great lines, her personality was ill-defined, and her role as part of a motley crew of dream-tresspassers wasn't especially well-developed either. Part of the issue is that the movie's mind-bending action scenes required a lot of screen time and, frankly, two and a half hours of movie is long enough.<br />
<br />
It did make me think of the novel I'm currently working on though, and how I'm trying to give characters one or two base personality characteristics and a well-defined role in a group. If it's too difficult to differentiate between characters, it's hard to connect to them, and a feeling of connectedness to the characters (whether its hate or empathy) is the most important part of storytelling.<br />
<br />
In any case, it's a movie that I enjoyed. There are a great deal of questions that remain unanswered for me, but as there are a great many questions regarding any semi-sf stories I've read or movies I've seen, I'll refrain from asking them outright. A bit too much exposition for my liking but the concept is one that can clearly be used again in future movies by Nolan if he wants to (although the eye-popping cinematography and special effects won't be quite as enthralling seeing them the second time round).<br />
<br />
Back to work now (reading Abercrombie's "Best Served Cold")<br />
Also, it's good to have the power back. You know you live in a small town when it rains hard for thirty minutes and the power goes out for an hour...Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-54327256613768682602010-09-19T15:10:00.004-07:002010-09-19T15:17:13.900-07:00C+ for "Better Days" by Joss WhedonI can recommend this for hardcore fans of Firefly only. The characters are still their lovable selves, but this book is much, much, too short for the amount of money you're paying. If money isn't an issue, then by all means buy this graphic novel as I enjoyed it as much as any other Firefly story out there. It seemed like at times they could have developed scenes a bit further or added dialogue or expanded the plot, but just wanted to get it over with. Still fun, but if money is tight I'd skip itZafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-3343029441573556462010-09-19T15:10:00.000-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.695-07:00B+ for "Goblin Quest" by Jim C. HinesB+ for "Goblin Quest" by Jim C. Hines<br />
<br />
This book was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Sometimes you have to take a break from the bleak desolation and horrific betrayal common in most fantasy stories (which I tend to enjoy) these days. If you've ever played dungeons and dragons, or even have an idea what that is, you'll find this book to be quite funny. Although There were a couple times where I stopped to ask myself, "Would that really have happened? Is that possible?" I kept going anyways. The main character, a near-sighted goblin constantly at-odds with his clumsiness, is a wonderfully realized character and his questioning of human motivations was always entertaining. <br />
Be aware that this novel isn't in the same vein as what I usually read and review, but it was an enjoyable departure nonetheless. <br />
<div style="clear: both; padding-top: 10px; width: 100%;"> </div>Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-26543426404125988932010-09-19T15:09:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.696-07:00A for "Grave Peril" by Jim ButcherA for "Grave Peril" by Jim Butcher<br />
<br />
This was another thoroughly entertaining story in the life of Harry Dresden, wizard. Butcher tends to start all of his Dresden novels with an immediate hook and then expands things as he goes. What I found to be remarkably well done is the fact that he alludes to previous events in other novels in a way that new readers will appreciate and isn't overdone for readers who have read previous books. Dresden is a fantastic character, and there are some new additions to the novel that lead me to believe that future novels will be even better. I look forward to reading them. Definitely a must-read if you're a Jim Butcher fan (or Dresden fan, or a fan of being entertained). Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-81565957895169571112010-09-19T15:08:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.696-07:00A- for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg LarssonA- for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson<br />
<br />
The book hooked me pretty early on with, basically, a riddle. As the mystery it unfolds and expands into something much more interesting, but I won't ruin anything by saying more. The main characters are interesting (especially Lisbeth) and the writing is well done. He often understates things, and this makes certain scenes much more powerful than they might have been if the melodrama had been poured on. The novel is basically a slow burn up until the end where everything becomes a little more frantic and is quickly resolved. Still very enjoyable, and I was hooked, but be aware that this isn't a fast paced thriller from page 1. <br />
This book has received positive reviews for good reason, and is a must read for anyone who likes mystery novels. I tend towards reading SF/Fantasy but this was a pleasant surprise and I'll be sure to check out later novels in the series. <br />
<div style="clear: both; padding-top: 10px; width: 100%;"> </div>Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-65809486347588559502010-09-19T15:07:00.000-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.696-07:00B- for "The Warded Man" by Peter V BrettB- for "The Warded Man" by Peter V Brett<br />
<br />
This book was an entertaining read for the most part. It starts off with a couple characters who all lose something to the corelings in the course of the novel. The premise is interesting, although I'm looking forward to future novels where the reasons the corelings can't be out in the sun are revealed. The concept of the warded man is interesting, although I'm not sure why no one thought of it before him... For me there were some issues with pacing and the plot arc, but in the end it is a decent start to a fantasy series with some original concepts. <br />
<br />
Still, don't read this until after you've read "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. I also still think that "Empire in Black and Gold" is a stronger opening to an alternate fantasy series. Read samples chapters online first.<br />
<br />
On another note, I read an interview with the author with Joe Abercrombie, and he seems like a super cool guy, which is definitely a bonus. Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-25265568123210795552010-09-19T15:06:00.000-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.696-07:00B+ for "Storm Front" by Jim ButcherB+ for "Storm Front" by Jim Butcher<br />
<br />
The first two books (the first being Storm Front by Jim Butcher) are great urban fantasy mystery novels sprinkled with bits of humour (of both dark and light varieties) and they come highly recommended for anyone who likes either fantasy, mystery, or urban fantasy novels. <br />
<b>Characters:</b> 9/10 (while some of the secondary characters are left undeveloped, Dresden himself and his self deprecating humour is a pleasure to read) <br />
<b>Pacing: </b>8.5/10 (The story keeps up at a good pace, although I didn't feel it was as tight as the first novel) <br />
<b>Plot: </b>7.5/10 (While events tied together nicely in the end, I sometimes find it difficult to question to motives behind actions that drive the plot as they are often hidden and/or explained sometime after they've occurred) <br />
<b>Worldbuilding:</b> 6/10 (The White Council is there, Harry's shop, the police station, but I've yet to see much in the way of long-term forecasting. Still, I've heard later books get better, so don't miss out based on this!) <br />
<b>Style:</b> 8/10 (Harry Dresden's style of narrating is great fun. He is a character used to getting into the worst possible situations and then squirming and kicking and blasting his way through to success, or at least some measure of non-failure. I enjoy Butcher's style). <br />
<b>Total:</b> 38/50 (Don't be fooled though, this is a fantastic read that will have you devouring the pages and having a great time of it as you go), mainly on the strength of the protagonist of the series...Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-68758570451706880402010-09-19T15:05:00.000-07:002010-09-19T15:14:49.227-07:00A- for "The Last Knight" by Hilari BellA- for "The Last Knight" by Hilari Bell<b></b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
The Last Knight was a fun read that I breezed through on the train to Ottawa. It was a fast read, with two interesting protagonists that were well suited to each other (despite the fact that they are nearly opposite in many ways). Here is the synopsis from the Harper-Collins website. <br />
<br />
Although there hasn't been a knight errant in over two hundred years, this young noble has decided to revive <br />
the trade. He's found himself a reluctant partner in Fisk, a clever rogue who has been given the choice of <br />
serving as Michael's squire or going to jail for a very long time. Now Michael and Fisk are on a quest to right <br />
wrongs, protect the innocent, and make the world a happier place. <br />
It's not going to be easy. On their first attempt at rescuing a damsel in distress, they break a lady out of a <br />
tower, only to discover she was there for good reason: awaiting trial for poisoning her husband. Now the <br />
would-be heroes must find Lady Ceciel and return her to justice or be condemned themselves. <br />
<br />
<b>Characters:</b> 8.5/10 You couldn't find a better suited mismatch of characters in the opening novel of this series. Fisk and Michael's (mis)adventures remain interesting based almost solely on the fact that they are so different and they are plunged into such terrible circumstances. <br />
<b>Pacing:</b> 9/10 The novel moves along at a brisk pace with lots of slippery situations that the characters need to get out of. Enjoyable from start to finish. <br />
<b>Plot:</b> 8/10 Although parts of the plot are fairly predictable, I couldn't help but laugh at some of the things that happened. There is a bit more melodrama (but remains minimal, in this novel at least) than I'm used to, but this is a concern of mine with regards to most of the YA genre). I definitely laughed and there were indeed a few plot twists that I quite enjoyed. <br />
<b>Worldbuilding:</b> 6/10 Although I'm not really sure that this is a fair grade for this portion of my rubric. I'm not certain that it should even be included in any of my reviews. However, I feel that having a sense of the world around the characters helps with regards to suspense and conflict, and keeps me hooked. The worldbuilding isn't the novel's greatest strength, but luckily the rest of the novel succeeds well enough that this isn't really an issue. <br />
<b>Style:</b> 8/10 Simple enough that readers of a wide range of abilities should be able to read it, but intricate and witty enough that it got some good laughs out of me. <br />
<b>Total:</b> 39.5 Definitely a solid YA novel, and I'm sure that the author will continue to deliver using the great mismatch of these two characters. The Last Knight is a solid read for kids and teens, and, as this is her target market, this book should be a resounding success with children of those age groups (although be aware, there are no vampires involved). I enjoyed this book, as it made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-25104267335597546322010-09-19T15:03:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.697-07:00B- for "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore B- for "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore<br />
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Graceling was an interesting novel set in a fantasy world where people are born with "graces" which are basically great aptitudes in a certain area. No one is shooting lasers from their eyes or controlling the weather, but you could be graced with fighting, for example. The main character is a standard "tough chick" who is being controlled but trying to make a positive difference in the world. The second main character is someone with a secret to hide, but I won't give away any spoilers. It was a quick read, and was fairly enjoyable, but I'm going to have to recommend this to a younger audience only. It's too much of a stock "finding your inner strength and finding love" story for my liking. <br />
<br />
Characters: 6/10. They seem a bit too much like "stock" characters to me, although with some modifications. <br />
Pacing: 7/10 Pacing was fairly good. Always some kind of mystery/conflict to keep you reading. <br />
Plot: 7/10 A bit simplistic for my tastes, but still very well done and I'm sure it'll keep the YA audience reading <br />
Worldbuliding: 6/10 I look for greater depth in worldbuilding. Some of the secondary characters are decently done, and the "magic" system is explained, I still wish I knew more about how the graces worked. I assume this will be coming down the pipes in later novels, but I still feel like the world was a playground for the plot to occur in, rather than a real, living, breathing, world. <br />
Style: 7 Very simple style, easy to read. Good at avoiding violence, sex, swearing to keep it tailored to the YA audience and younger. Not as much conflict as I would come to expect from characters in their circumstances, but well-suited to its target market. <br />
Total: 33/50 A fun read with some interesting, if not incredibly 3d, characters. Sure to please younger female readers with the tough little heroine, and a younger audience in general. On the other hand, it seems that many other people LOVED this book, so I'd recommend reading a few sample chapters first.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-39771492747513266562010-09-19T15:02:00.000-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.697-07:00A- For "Empire in Black and Gold" by Adrian TchaikovskyA- For "Empire in Black and Gold" by Adrian Tchaikovsky<br />
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I'm not sure where I was recommended these books, but they are good. I think that I am interested more because of the idea of the "kinden" than anything else (which are basically various races of humans that, basically, take on some of the characteristics of insects), but that's good enough for me. It's a great concept and it helps make some of the lines an author needs to navigate a bit easier, and that makes for a better novel in this case. <br />
<br />
I'd rate these almost on par with Joe Abercrombie's "First Law" series, but I'd recommend everyone to read GRRM first, as I always do. This isn't a bad place to look if you want some interesting fantasy though! I'm currently finished up to the fourth book.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-35882725918489151912010-09-19T14:59:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.698-07:00A+ for "The Sworn Sword" by George RR Martin<b><span style="margin-left: -5px;"></span> </b>A+ for "The Sworn Sword" by George RR Martin<br />
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Although I wish I could get this in the written format, it does still succeed as a graphic novel. GRRM's strength is his characters and his dialogue, but as I've seen from this and the first Dunk and Egg novella, his plotting is also masterful. <br />
<br />
There are a few surprises in this book, some great worldbuilding, and as always the conflict is potent. A highly recommended read. The information we learn about the Blackfyre Rebellion is worth the price on its own, but I'm quite happy to say a fantastic story is there to be enjoyed as well. <br />
<div style="clear: both; padding-top: 10px; width: 100%;"> </div>Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-76830453662661538312010-09-19T14:58:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.698-07:00B+ For "Dragonfly Falling" by Adrian TchaikovskyB+ For "Dragonfly Falling" by Adrian Tchaikovsky<br />
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This novel, like the first, has a strong cast of interesting characters and some well-crafted plotting. It isn't on the same level as GRRM, but then, nothing else really is. <br />
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I'd put it almost on par with Joe Abercrombie's First Law series, although both are strong in their own way. Point of view issues and a few other niggling problems could have been fixed, but still a tremendous novel. Occasionally I think there were extra scenes added from characters that are not exactly of the greatest importance, and thus I feel they could have been cut. From the looks of the page count in the third book, it looks like the tendency to add extra scenes has been curtailed, so I expect a tighter story in the next installment. <br />
<br />
As mentioned, there are a few POV issues still, in that sometimes the author will switch between characters without warning. Still, a well crafted universe, interesting characters, and a dynamic plot are enough to keep me reading. Well done.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-3299755062203150442010-09-19T14:56:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.698-07:00C+ for "The Way of Shadows" by Brent WeeksC+ for "The Way of Shadows" by Brent Weeks<br />
A decent start, but nowhere near as high as GRRM, Rothfuss, or Abercrombie. Here are a few of the issues:<br />
<br />
POV: some pov characters come in and then never have another one. It seems they are added just to beef up the story. They add little to the plot, and frankly I don't care about most of them. having a tighter story based on fewer central characters would have worked better, and random scenes from other povs could have been eliminated.<br />
<br />
swearing: as another reviewer has pointed out, the swearing is at times a bit bizarre. The times it is used I'm often surprised, and other times when I could see someone swearing, they don't. <br />
<br />
Plot: the plot seems to zig-zag and not in the way it should. There a bunch of small conflicts leading up to the end that don't seem to really do much for me. There are lots of mini climaxes and the story keeps on rolling. THere needed to much more foreshadowing of the main crux of the novel, and more dealing with it in the early chapters. Frankly by the time it comes around I was only reading to finish the book rather than out of interest. <br />
<br />
Brent Weeks is a nice guy, and I was impressed by his online battle with Joe Abercrombie, but I'd recommend GRRM, Rothfuss, or Abercrombie first. Maybe the series improves after this, but this novel could have used another draft with more feedback from an editor.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-75964606827414032802010-09-19T14:54:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.698-07:00C+ for "A Darkness Forged in Fire" by Chris EvansC+ for "A Darkness Forged in Fire" by Chris Evans<br />
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It felt like it dragged for a while, and by the end I was only reading to finish it. There were some problems in understanding the universe these characters live in and some more background information or world building would have been nice. Some interesting characters, and a plot that keeps moving. I feel like some greater foreshadowing of the monumental events going on behind the scenes and greater clarity would have helped. <br />
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Make no mistake though, this is not a five star book. This is not GRRM or Rothfuss, but it is still a good story and later volumes may improve upon this novel.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-55527849822565503542010-09-19T14:52:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.699-07:00A for "Job: A comedy of justice" by Robert HeinleinA for "Job: A comedy of justice" by Robert Heinlein<br />
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A bit weird, but his rich characters and their plight makes for a humour-filled ride. I enjoyed it as the funny novel that it is, but I think "Starship Troopers", "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", and "Stranger in a Strange Land" still stand as better examples of his work. This is a fun romp, with some interesting philosophical implications, but it is not his greatest work. <br />
Still highly recommended.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-76494576495168923512010-09-19T14:51:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.699-07:00B- for "A Shadow In Summer" by Daniel AbrahamB- for "A Shadow In Summer" by Daniel Abraham<br />
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As my title suggests, this is the beginning of a solid start to a fantasy series. Mainly my problems with the book are nitpicky. They concern the use of the phrase "took a pose" that negates the need to accurately describe what the poses actually are, although I'm sure he remedied this in future volumes. Similar sounding character names or names that begin with the same letter had me confused more often than should be expected even in a fantasy novel. The story is strong, and the prose is done well. I would recommend this book, but not before reading GRRM's song of ice and fire, or Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind. <br />
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Still, if you want to take a look at how good Daniel Abraham is as an author, google: "The Cambist and Lord Iron: A Fairy Tale of Economics By Daniel Abraham." Fantastic short story. He has what it takes, so later novels might be stronger, although I haven't read them.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-45357555783392535192010-09-19T14:50:00.000-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.699-07:00A for "Acacia" by David Anthony DurhamA for "Acacia" by David Anthony Durham<br />
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The pacing of the novel is fantastic; there is little wasted space, all most of the plot points interesting. Durham makes good use of events happening off-scene for dramatic effect, and fills in the blanks that he skipped over extremely well. The world building is where this novel shines. You learn it bit by bit and you always get the feeling there is some other mystery still be to be revealed. <br />
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A definite recommendation in the epic fantasy genre. If you have problems with swearing, sex, and violence, get this instead of GRRM's A Game of Thrones (although I would still point out that Martin's novels are some of the best fiction out there).Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3262992584381417273.post-73937136331490032752010-09-19T14:47:00.001-07:002010-09-19T15:14:34.700-07:00A+ for "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss.A+ for "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. <br />
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The author comes in as a relative unknown in the fantasy genre with this stunning debut. I was browsing message boards on the best (recent) fantasy novels and this was recommended to me. One of the best parts about the book is the ease of the reading. I couldn't book this book down. The prose was tight, and I think every chapter adds something to greater understanding of one of the main characters, or the interesting but still relatively unexplored setting. Despite its length, you will devour this novel if you like fantasy and character driven action.<br />
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A few other reviews point out that this book is LONG. That is most certainly the case, but I absolutely believe that the book is still well-paced and eminently readable. Full of love and loss and music, this book should not be missed by anyone who calls themselves a fan of fantasy.Zafri Mollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07380887894846335478noreply@blogger.com0