Walkabout Thoughts

Title: Nevernight Author: Jay Kristoff At first, I had no idea what kind of adventure this book would bring. Though to my surprise, this was one of the best assassins fantasy novels I have read that was not YA. Though the character Mia Covair and Celina from the Assassins Blade are the same age, that thought is for another post. The Story of Mia is a sad one, her father hung for treason. Her mother and infant brother tossed in a hellish prison, and she her self is lost and wandering in the dangerous slums of Godsgrave. There she finds her mentor and teacher in the art of assassination and is then thrust into the teachings of the Red Church an order of assassins who are feared in all the known reaches of that world. This book has its humorous points with witty banter, that tempers this dark world (metaphorically due to the world having 3 Suns). The lore that was part of the world building made it very alive and the other characters were well rounded and had more to...

Title: The Assassins Blade Author: Sarah J Mass This is the backstory of the famed assassin Celina in her first of many adventures in a collection of novels for the popular YA book series The Throne of Glass. It is an interesting and very thrilling collection of stories showing a background for the first book in her Throne of Glass novels. As well as the first book I have read by Ms. Mass, and all I can say is I can't wait to dig into the first book. This is due to how alive the characters feel when reading, each has their own thoughts and motives and are more than there to prop up the main character. Does not help that there was a budding romance, betrail and murder (last one, not much of a surprise as it is about an assassin). Who to trust and where to find the knife in the back, like a fantasy Noir (I love noir so much, just as much as I do SFF). In her travels, she manages to piss off a Pirate Lord, her master and a few people of notoriety as well as to endear her ...

Title: Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries) By Martha Wells What can I say about this book that has yet to be praised? It is a fun and wonderful romp in a dystopian future with everyone's favorite SecUnit Murderbot. Is it odd to feel attached to a construct with little to no human emotion? I say no, as it shows us how horrible we humans can be and how odd it must be for logical machines to make sense of us. In this book, Murderbot is looking into his past as to why he went on a killing spree in the past on an assignment in a mining facility. With the Help of his new "Friend" A.R.T, just don't ask what the A stands for and some humans he happens to get some work from. I say to everyone that we need more Muderbot, #Murderbot2020. Rating: GO READ IT NOW! YES NOW WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Title: The Root: A Nove of the Wrath & Athenaeum Author: Na' Amen Gobert Tilahun Genre: Urban, Modern Fantasy Synopsis: This story takes place in two different realms Zebub and San Francisco, there is something going on in both areas. Hungering Darkness waiting to devour all creation is attacking the Zebub where we find Lil a holder apprentice, in San Francisco, we find Erik a former child star with a scandal that ended his acting career. Both find out about the power they have hidden in them and how they act to take on this darkness. Review: This is a great book, I really enjoyed how the author used each chapter to use a character's voice and POV for what was going on, I am reminded of Theodora Goss' The Alchemist Daughter in some ways of this. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good story with well-rounded characters that are not flat. I enjoy books that have great characters and the antagonists in this book are ju...

Title: The Devouring: A Billy Boyle WWII mystery. Genere: Mystery, Noir, WWII Author: James R Benn Synopsis: Billy Boyle is at it again this time in a neutral (but not so neutral) Switzerland. Billy and Kaz must find out what is going on when there is not one but two murders in Bern. Filled with intrigue and espionage. The age-old motive, greed. Nazis, murder, and gold in the alps is a good way to summarize this wonderful example of Noir. Review: This being the first Billy Boyle novel I read, it did not feel like other books in which you would have to have read the others to get an idea of what is going on. I like that, where I can pick up and read where I want and not feel lost. So if you want great detective book, this is one of the best I have read in a long time. If you love noir like me, then this is a great read and I will be looking for more Billy Boyle novels in the future. RATING: GO OUT AND READ IT!

Title: Terminal Alliance: Book One of the Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse Genere: Sci-fi Author: Jim C Hines Synopsis: The Crew of the EMC Pufferfish finds themselves in a heap of trouble after coming to the aid of a merchant ship. The captain is dead, 90% of the crew has gone mad and it is up to the cleaning crew to get to the bottom of all this. Lt. Mops and her band of space janitors go off on an adventure across the galaxy to cure the crew, find out what happened and in the process find out a secret that can jeopardize the Alliance that helped humanity after a virus mad humans go feral. Review: This book was fun to read, the characters and the alien races, the hijinx from the crew of the Pufferfish all to find out what made the rest of the crew go feral. Never in my mind would I have thought to make the heroes to be the cleaning crew, the janitors, after reading this book, why not, they have to clean up other peoples messes all the time. So why not let the...

Books: House of Shattered Wings, House of Binding Thorns. Author: Aliette De Bodard Genere: Historical Fantasy, Gothic. Synopsis: House of Shattered Wings: In this introduction to the Dominion of the Fallen series we are introduced to a Paris filled with ruin, due to a war between the houses. These houses are ruled by fallen angels, who have a great attitude and power in magick. The house known as Silverspires lost their leader Morningstar (Lucifer) some time ago. While rummaging through the trap-laden ruins in Paris, Phillipe and his fellow vagabonds stumble on a newly Fallen Angel. This leads him to painful memories and his own history as well. In the end, he overcomes it and sets on his own path once again. Phillipe is a great character, not a native of Paris but from Vietnam, and is written with such care that the history and culture were represented by him as a strong character. Not to mention the wise aunts did bring some humor to the book. Hosue of Bindin...

Book: The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart Author: Stephanie Burgis For a Middle-Grade book, this was well written and the characters well developed, not a flat character in this book. From what I can recall from my own childhood, most characters were flat in the books I read. Anyhow, this would be a book I would recommend to any child 10yrs up or even 36 in this readers case. It is a heartwarming tale of a Dragon Girl named Aventurine and the misadventure that ended up in her finding herself in Chocolate. (No Spoilers) This is a must-read for a child trying to find their sense of self. Rating: READ IT!

Hello fellow wanderers. Here is my review of Jeannette Ng's first book Under the Pendulum Sun  this romp into a Victorian-era fantasy is at first a slow start. The story does not start to really pick up until chapter 7, but each chapter is paced rather well and keeps you wanting more, leaving off on tense moments. The way she hinted at one plotline while weaving in the deeper narrative like a well-made tapestry (as I will not spoil the book for you). The main characters Catherin and Loen Hellstone are well fleshed out and do not fall flat, the same can be said about the Pale Queen and the other fae that inhabit the chaotic landscape of Arcadia. She did keep me guessing on the true nature of the main protagonist, but I won't tell you as that would be spoilers. Rating: READ IT Next reviews will be It Devours a Welcome to Nightvale book by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor, The First two books of the Dominion of the Fallen House of Shattered Wings & Ho...