5 comments about Dust of Dreams: Book Nine of The Malazan Book of the Fallen.

1. Erikson is like a fine wine. You want to savor it, take in all its complexities and richness and revel in the bold flavor with the smooth finish. You don't want to drink the wine fast because then it would be gone, so you relish every nuance and take in every subtle flavor with joy. When I read Erikson I can't help but enjoy reading it slowly, taking in every bit, laughing and crying with the Malazans. Dust of Dreams is no exception. Although not the best in the series, it is arguably on par with the Erikson that we have come to know and love.
   
   I knew going in to this one that it would be a cliffhanger, that DoD is actually the first half of the final book and would be setting up a lot of what will be happening in the final book. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Malazans yapping at each other as they moved ever closer towards the final battle. In reading about the Barghast you aren't really reading about them, but more so of Onos Toolan as the warleader. We follow several threads out of Lether, namely that of The Shake, Sandalath and the Elder Gods. We finally follow the K'Chain Che'Malle and given a lot more insight in to their history.
   
   Finally, as with many of Erikson's books, this one joins up with the timeline about 500 pages in where the Toll the Hounds left off with Rake dying and you get to see the effect it had on the players that did not take part in Toll the Hounds. I always enjoy this about Erikson because everything is brought full circle and you get to see how the series is all connected. As always, the humor has you chuckling, if not out right laughing at some parts, and the sadness of some scenes has you shaking your head, and always Erikson is able to stir your righteous anger and make you love and hate characters. I thoroughly recommend both this book and the series. Although the book ended with a lot of loose ends I would have liked to have continued following a little further (i.e. The Shake and Sandalath) I am left satisfied and will eagerly await the 10th and final book.
   
   5 stars.



2. "Dust of Dreams", the ninth tale in "The Malazan Book of the Fallen" saga, adds a couple more characters to an already vast forest of individuals. As stated in the author's note, the novel does not follow the traditional arc and will not provide full closure but is the first half of a two-volume novel. Therefore several of the addressed character plots (many of the Bonehunters after a major battle) are not resolved. The clever Erikson superbly illustrates magical power and the strength of a charismatic presence. I especially enjoy the character names but the amusing banter can be a bit distracting.
   
   K'Chain Che'Malle and the Elder Gods are major focal points. After Draconus' entrance and his travels outside of Dragnipur, I'm eagerly anticipating his story in the final novel. Karsa Orlong and Captain Paran do not appear and Icarium is briefly visited in a rather confusing manner. However, I think I grasp what the author, who has been exceptionally resourceful in his narration, conveys in a mildly excessive metaphysical and philosophical approach. But a few dialogues involving a gibberish slang dialect are extremely difficult to follow and greatly reduced my reading flow.
   
   While I appreciate detail and depth, when a page characterization occurs I struggle to recall the description and nuances of a particular soldier from earlier in the series. The brief moments remind the reader the character exists, yet may not advance the plot per se. I am dismayed by the lack of appendix detail. Many names (which are very funny, such as Rumjugs) reveal an obvious gender, otherwise I must search the internet, hoping for any information without spoiling a character's outcome.
   
   The mediocre map and hopeless appendix provide little or no information. Given the abundant quantity of characters, an improved comprehensive appendix is necessary including racial characteristics, relating magical powers, and describing creatures.
   
   Thank you.



3. After reading -Dust of Dreams- I went back and reread the first novel in the series, -Gardens of the Moon-. I'm left wondering if these two pieces were actually written by the same author. -Gardens of the Moon- is full of action, dialogue and direction. There is a clearly discernable plot and three-dimensional characters that I actually care about. -Dust of Dreams- is the exact opposite - pages and pages, chapter after chapter of mind-numbing internal motivation, pointless exposition, and listless prose. I believe that Erikson handed this one off to an over-eager high school senior with a penchant for over-dramatization and an over reliance on a thesaurus.
   
   If you've enjoyed the previous novels in this series I suggest skimming this book. Don't feel guilty if you skip a chapter or two - you're not missing anything. If you haven't attempted any of these novels, don't start with this one! Pick up a copy of -Gardens of the Moon-.
   
   I'm left wondering - who were the children infected with parasites and marching across a wasteland, and exactly what did they have to do with the plot? Where did all the K'Chain Che Malle come from? Thousands of them? Where are they going and why? Where has the Crippled God gone? Isn't he the antagonist of this series? And for that matter, where the heck is Ganoes Paran? The more I read this novel the greater my frustration grew.
   
   I'm earnestly hoping that Erikson takes the reins back from that pimply-faced teenager and writes a discernable sequel with clarity and comprehension.



4. Steven Erikson, Dust of Dreams (Tor, 2009)
   
   If you are prone to forget Steven Erikson's dry humor, just check the foreword to this book, where he begins, "I am not known as a writer of door-stoppers...". Every main book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen has been a door-stopper, and this one, which clocks in at 816 pages, is no exception. Continue reading the foreword and it seems as if Dust of Dreams, in the original, was a true monster; he ended up dividing the thing into two books. (Whether this means the Malazan Book of the Fallen will now run to eleven volumes or not I do not know. But one can always hope.) Be that as it may, a new book from Steven Erikson is always a treat; he's the only author going right now for whom I will drop everything else I'm reading to concentrate on one of his books.
   
   We are coming to the close of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, and the myriad storylines that have woven through the series are all starting to come together. The final action, it seems, will take place in Kolanse, a previously-unexplored (by us, anyway) piece of the Letherii continent. The Bonehunters, when we last looked in on them, had just finished overthrowing Lether's government and installing Tehol Beddict as the new king. Tavore Paran, the top dog in the Bonehunters, knows something big is brewing, and calls together her top advisors, as well as ex-Bridgeburner sergeant Fiddler, for a reading of the Deck of Dragons. This turns out to be, shall we say, more eventful than expected, and also draws the attention of the Errant, one of Lether's elder gods who's not happy with the new pantheon (whom, we learn, are the offspring of the elder gods). The Bonehunters, as a result, end up readying themselves to march through the Wastelands to get to Kolanse, on the way meeting up with two old allies, the Perish Grey Helms and the Khundryl Burned Tears, who are on their way to Bolkando, a small, treacherous kingdom between Lether and Kolanse, as the book opens. Most of the action goes back and forth between the Bonehunters and the Perish, as expected, but Erikson is not done with some of those other old storylines, and we get those as well. The events of previous books have got everything in an uproar, after all. So we get Yan Tovis and Yedan Derryg, always at odds, leading the Shake across a Tiste Liosan warren to a long-dead city where they were supposedly born; we get the Snake, the rough equivalent of a Children's Crusade, traversing the wastelands to try and get away from the Forkrul Assail, who have massacred an entire continent's adults; we get the White Face Barghast, who have also found themselves in Bolkando, and who are unhappy with the way the Arkynnai traders have been treating them, leading to a war between the Barghast--now under the command of Onos Toolan--and the Arkynnai, which threatens to spill over into a war between the Barghast and the Bolkando. We follow the Elder Gods, on occasion, and find out what the Errant and his cronies are up to (and that can never be good). We get the final city of the K'Chain Che'Malle, presided over by an insane, dying matron, whose sole purpose in remaining alive is to try and carry on the K'Chain Che'Malle line, and has appointed a human destriant, whose goal is to find a Mortal Sword and Shield Anvil for the K'Chain Che'Malle. (Meanwhile, they're pursued by the K'Chain Nar'ukh, who would rather see the Che'Malle wiped out for good.) And what are those fourteen undead Jaghut up to, anyway?
   
   If any of that didn't make sense to you, then go back and start reading the series with Gardens of the Moon. It starts slow, as do all of the Malazan Book of the Fallen entries, but once Erikson gets going, he really gets going. Some of the books in the series (Memories of Ice, Midnight Tides) are among the best fantasy novels I have ever read. None of the books is less than excellent, and Dust of Dreams is no exception. Erikson's superlative worldbuilding and micromanagement of a true cast of thousands (and I'm not just talking extras here; we're talking at least a thousand speaking parts over the course of the uncounted millions of words making up the series so far) has made this the best martial fantasy series since Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion. And yes, I'm including George R. R. Martin in that survey. The only bad thing about the book is that it marks the beginning of the end of our decade-long relationship with the Malazan Empire, a place that feels as real as the ground outside your front door. **** ½



5. great book .. bringing back some old favorites.. a must have if you have read the rest of the series or even if you have'nt

5 comments about American Gods: A Novel.

1. A basic summary of American Gods:
   
   Shadow, having just been released from prison, is on his way to his wife's funeral when he meets up with a mysterious man who calls himself Wednesday among many other names. After agreeing to join up with Wednesday, who offers him a job as a sort "errand boy", Shadow finds himself immersed in a world of living Gods and Goddesses, all of which have been brought to America long ago by immigrants who believed in them, but have been forgotten and left to fend for themselves as their worshipers died away and people started to worship new things and create new gods (such as the God of automobiles and media). Wednesday and Shadow run around the country trying to rally the old Gods together to fend off the "coming storm".
   
   I was pretty disappointed. I normally like Neil Gaiman, but this wasn't his best effort. Although I like the idea he was working with, by the end of the book I was left feeling like nothing really happened at all. Yes, I got the plot twist and there was a resolution to the story, but it feel flat for me. Honestly, I couldn't have cared less about the main character, Shadow. He was so boring. Here he is, walking and talking with Gods for the very first time in his life, and yet he seemed like it was something he saw everyday. And throughout the entire book he seemed half-asleep, except towards the end during his "ordeal" (I don't want to give anything away) when he finally started to get interesting. Yes, I know the character is supposed to be a bit emotionally unattached, but this was more "bored" than "dead inside". Frankly, I was much more interested in the minor characters, as well as some of the side stories about how some of the God's came to America (especially the one with the African slaves).
   
   It was, for the most part, entertaining and a page-turner, but I think with a premise like this Gaiman had a good opportunity to delve deeper into the American psyche and pull out some really interesting observations, but instead all I got was random sex stories, a half-assed "war" (if you can even call it that) story, a main character who wouldn't care if a bomb went off in his face, and the idea that Americans now worship the TV and Internet mentioned on every other page (in case you forgot the first three hundred times it was brought up). So, although it was entertaining, it was shallow and gimmicky. I wouldn't read it again, and I wouldn't recommend it.



2. Excellent! Mr. Gaiman understands the United States in a way few native-born Americans ever manage to, even with their ready embrace of the common mythology of our nation's history -- pilgrims, freedom fighters, proud frontiersmen, etc.
   
   There is more to learn about America at Florida's Weeki Wachee mermaid attraction than in any of her mega-churches.
   
   (See also: Florida writer Irene Ziegler's "Rules of the Lake")
   
   (See also: [...])



3. I am sorry that I wasted as much time as I did with this pretentious, rambling, uninteresting, pseudomyhtologic "novel". I found myslef bored most of the times. I couldn't wait for bad things to happen to everyone in the book. And nothing really bad happened becasue none of the characters were believable enough to make me care. Good cure for insonmnia. Otherwise totally poorly spent hard earned money.



4. I really love this book. It stuck with me, I've re-read it several dozen times and every time it just amazes me how much I enjoy it. This is the first book I read by Neil Gaiman and since I read it I've read almost everything else he's written. I find this book to be engaging and interesting. I find the characters to be interesting and well rounded. The only thing I don't like is the ending, it was a bit of a letdown, the first time I read the book I was seriously disappointed, however since re-reading it I find it less irritating. It's a good read.



5. I really enjoy Neil's dark sense of humor. I've read most of his works and American Gods is no exception, it is most assuredly good fantasy, but with a great satirical feel to it that kept me going strong to the very end. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1).

1. While waiting for the next Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris to come out I decided to start this series. I thought every book after the Sookie Stackhouse Novels would seem boring in comparison but I was wrong. This is a great series to read. Never a dull moment!



2. Enjoyed the whole series and prefer them to the Sookie Stackhouse series. I can't get enough of Jeaniene Frost!!



3. I just discovered this series and author, and am loving them! Gotta get the next book and continue...



4. I have been looking for a new vamp/romance series and saw a lot of good reviews for this one so I bought it on my kindle and was hooked instantly! I have already read 3 of the books in the series in under 2 weeks...I love this series and can't wait to read the other books...I just don't know what I'm going to do when I have to wait for the 5th book to come out in 2/2011!
   
   If you liked Vampire Academy, Twilight (although very PG), or Almost Human (one of my favs!!) I would definitely recommend this series!!!



5. Bones is Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. It's a little odd to be reading this book (100 pages into it) and have every description of Bones and even his English accent and VERBATIM dialogue be taken from a TV show. I loved Spike so I suppose I shouldn't mind.... Check out a picture of James Marsters from Buffy and you will see Bones's chiseled cheek bones, blond hair and curls. Find a snippet of conversation from the show and insert into any page of the book. Wierd.

5 comments about Bound In Blood (Seeker).

1. Some readers of fantasy were swept away by Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind in 2007 and now chafe because there is no publication date yet for the sequel. Others prefer the grim world of A Song of Fire and Ice by George RR Martin and are vexed about that A Feast for Crows came out in 2005 and the next novel is nowhere near done. Pah! What do they know?
   
   In 1982 I was entranced by the most wonderful novel Godstalk, the first book in the saga of Jamethiel Priestbane and the Kencyrath. Little did I suspect how long I would be waiting! The sequel, Dark of the Moon, did not arrive until 1985. Even though Seeker's Mask was completed about the same time, Ms. Hodgell lost her publisher. Hypatia Press released the third book in 1994. Alas our torments were just beginning. Hypatia Press folded, and Ms. Hodgell was concentrating on her doctorate and her teaching career. Finally, Meisha Merlin produced a beautiful hardcover of a new novel, To Ride a Rathorn in 2006. Shortly after that, Meisha Merlin folded! Arrgghh! Well, now Ms. Hodgell has retired from teaching and devoted herself to writing and the result is before you, a 5th novel, Bound in Blood, from Baen Publishing. Goodness me it was worth the wait but I don't know if my ticker can take much more!
   
   Other reviews have discussed the plot. I will restrict myself to some other comments.
   
   First, there is no way anyone can come to Bound in Blood de novo and possibly sort it out. Ms. Hodgell's story telling is layered, and everything that happens depends heavily on everything that came before. Fortunately, omnibus editions of the preceding novels have been released also by Baen, so they are readily available for the interested fantasy fan. I urge you to try her world building, starting with The Godstalker Chronicles.
   
   Next, the cover art by Clyde Caldwell is very dramatic and depicts a scene from the novel quite well (although Jame often describes herself as flat chested, but maybe that wouldn't sell many books...). For me, the depiction of Jame on the roofs of Tai Tastigon in the original publication of Godstalk is how I will always envision her.
   
   Finally, I am always struck by how consistent Ms. Hodgell's prose has been, crafting an absorbing story, mingling scenes of humor and horror with great power. One of the things I find so fascinating is the varied, odd and sometimes unspeakable powers wielded unwillingly by the Shanir of the Kencyrath, very unique in fantasy worlds.
   
   If something has changed over the years, I think there has been a softening of Torisen's view of his twin sister; originally I was under the impression that he and Jame would come into mortal conflict for the souls of their people, but now it seems they need each other to accomplish that very thing.
   
   I believe Ms. Hodgell is now rather far along with her next novel so we won't have to wait four more years. She has a wonderful and evocative voice in the genre. You owe it to yourself to immerse yourself in her world. I do wish there had been a hardcover edition. I cherish my leather bound books from Hypatia Press and the lovely edition of To Ride a Rathorn. Maybe strong sales will encourage Baen to take the plunge.



2. If you've been reading the Kencyrath novels, don't stop now! And if you haven't been, why not? Start at once! (But definitely don't read this book until you've read the other books first, except for "Blood and Ivory", which contains "spoilers" for "Bound in Blood" and the previous book, "To Ride a Rathorn".) The world and characters created by P.C. Hodgell get more and more interesting with every book. It's not just "Yet Another Generic Fantasy Saga" (which the cover might have you believe). It's the opposite of generic, though you may not notice immediately because the books are just so much fun to read. It took awhile before I realized how astonishingly creative it all is in its detail, complexity, and unpredictability.
   
   Anyway, our unfallen Darkling heroine continues her training at Tentir, and it's an ongoing question of whether Jame will survive Tentir, or whether Tentir will survive Jame... along with a number of field trips back to her family's hall to remember the dead and to the hills to participate in odd but vital native rituals (She gets notes asking "Do you /want/ the world to end?") And the dead continue to not quite be dead, as everyone seems to talk to ghosts. But most of the Kencyrath are masters of the art of Denial, and it's an uphill fight to get any of them to face the unpleasant truth of their situation. And the more we see of them, the scarier the Shanir powers get...
   
   Minor quibbles:
   * This book felt a bit rushed at times. A lot happens in a short number of pages.
   * As I'd read "Blood and Ivory" first, which contained a number of "outtakes" from other points of view, I knew things as a reader that Jame and Tori didn't know yet, and it was a bit of a spoiler for me. It would have been nice to discover things together with Jame. However, there were still surprises about Greshan in this book! Luckily, "Blood and Ivory" mainly dealt with the past, so not many spoilers about the younger generation.
   * The Kencyr play a lot of mind games. It's frustrating to have Jame learn something, then lose her memory of it. Especially when she goes around thinking "I've forgotten something..." *headdesks* I suppose that means Hodgell's done a good job conveying what it would be like to have a leaky memory, but still!
   * Jame and Tori (and Kindrie and...everyone, basically) have so many Issues (and more keep piling on top of them with every book) that at times I felt I was in an IEP meeting and going through one of those interminable checklists for whether my kid had met the educational goals... ("Objective 1: Tori overcomes his hatred of Shanir and accepts that he is one himself. Progress Report 5: Progress Code: [] achieved, [x] Making sufficient progress to meet goal, [] Not making sufficient progress to meet goal (Team needs to address insufficient progress), [] Not yet introduced...") Luckily, they DO indeed make progress, and it's not one of those annoying series where you feel the characters go around and around in circles never getting anywhere. No, no, no, here, you feel they ARE getting somewhere...into a bunch of new problems!
   
   In short: I loved it. Now eagerly awaiting the next book!



3. I pre-ordered this (as I imagine all of Hodgell/Kencyrath/Jame fans did) and started reading it immediately. This isn't one of those books one can read sporadically - it's a miss lunch, dinner, & a night's sleep book.
   
   The story continues Jame's adventures in a warriors' school (I'll use normal English here & not Kencyrath terminology) as her brother's heir. Jame is a marvelous invention - she is interesting, has flaws, but is indomitable. She also has powers which are unique and wholly believable within the paradigm of the series. Hodgell has created a wonderful cast of characters, and a marvelous, unusual world (the lexicon at the end of the book is a huge help - esp. since these books started in 1982, thus it's easy to forget things like, say Tai-tastigon, when it's mentioned in this book).
   
   This novel is not one to begin reading this series - it is a continuation, and a new reader would be completely lost, since Hodgell is not one of those authors who spend an inordinate number of pages doing a data dump of what went one before (and bless her for that). Besides, the idea that one would miss out on the wonder of the prior books in this series is just sad. Start with "God Stalk" and "Dark of the Moon" (or the compilation "The God Stalker Chronicles"), continue with "Seeker's Mask" & "To Ride a Rathorn" (or the compilation "Seeker's Bane") and then this novel will make sense.
   
   For me, this novel was one that followed a series motif - it has sort of a cliff hanger ending, thus making one anxious for the next book.
   
   As an ardent fan, I'm torn between wanting to know what the heck is going to happen, and hoping that the end never comes. It's one of THOSE types of series.



4. Of course, like the other reviewers I'd suggest that if you haven't read this series yet to first start by reading the 'God Stalker Chronicles' (The compilation of the first two novels in the series) or you will find yourself reading a marvelously well written story that you are completely clueless about.
   
   Also, if you're new to the series, know that I'm a little jealous of you because, like everyone else I've ever introduced the books to, even non fantasy readers, you will soon become addicted to this story but you won't have to wait the twenty-five years I've had to wait to be able to read this fifth book...years spent digging through libraries and used book stores scanning spines between Herbert and Hubbard before the Internet finally came around and gave me hope that the series was continuing. Also if you're new, you are about to get to know one of the most fully realized, facinating, likable and self aware heroines in fiction. I hate using all these superlatives but there it is. (She's also really funny).
   
   If you have read the series, then you won't be disappointed in this latest installment of Hodgell's. Though we're five books in, the quality of story telling is still just as high if not better than the first novel. Threads and plotlines you may have forgotten, the author has not and she masterfully weaves them back into the story at just the right moment...(*Spoiler* "Oh, right the Wyrm! Cool!")
   
   Most of the action takes place at Tentir and among the Merikit (whose culture we discover a little bit more about). And, for those of us in love with Tori (though I often want to thump him on the back of the head) there was also just enough of him in the story to keep us happy...just barely. Some small progress is even made on making him less head thumping worthy. And about he and Jame and their intriguing, unconventional relationship...? Nah, you'll just have to read the book to find out.
   
   All in all, Bound in Blood was a wonderful-inhale-it-in-a-day read. My only disappointments being that this is the first of Hodgell's books that I couldn't purchase in hardback (I read and re-read her stories so having it only in paperback is a little worrisome) and also, if you're like me, then the story just wasn't long enough...none of Hodgell's books ever are even the one that's over 450 pages! You get to those last twenty or so pages and there's a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach because you know you're nearing the end and...well, you're just sitting there comparing the amount of pages left with how much more you want to know and....oh, I think I've just been traumatized by all those long waits between books! Time to re-read the series from the beginning again. Keep writing, P.C.!!!!!



5. I enjoyed Bound in Blood -- it is a very good continuation of the Kencyr saga started over 30 years ago. Ms. Hodgell is an inventive writer. She brings in characters logically. They also remain true to their voices.

5 comments about Boneshaker (Sci Fi Essential Books).

1. Firstly, what a versatile author! I read her "four & 20 blackbirds" novel some time ago which is a sort of modern day gothic ghost story and talk about night & day! These 2 books could not be more different in theme and genre! I had to check to see if it was really the same author.
   
   What can I say, amazingly fun book - perfect for a rainy weekend. I want to applaud the author for making this a single, stand alone novel. The fact that the author resisted the temptation to turn this into a 3-5 part series deserves merit! You can read it cover to cover and be entirely satisfied with how the story resolves. That is getting to be very rare today and I really am trying to avoid starting yet another never ending books series or one that ends in an abrupt cliffhanger.
   
   I won't go into the plot, suffice to say its very creative. Part alternative history, part horror, part steampunk - pure fun! This isn't a deep book, there are no life illuminating messages. Its about a single mother and her teen son overcoming the harsh realties life as thrown at them both. I respect that a lot. The setting is Seattle, but a Seattle in the 1860s that has been shattered by an amazing event. It reads a little like 'escape from new york' set in a steampunk world filled with zombies! I know, crazy fun!
   
   I would gladly welcome more books in this setting / world. I'd love to see a prequel frankly as there is a lot to explore. But keep them as single books please.



2. Boneshaker was the most disjointed read I have had the displeasure of undertaking. Cherie Priest is a joke, the woman cannot write, the only reason she has a publishing contract is because she is a woman. Need proof then read this,
   "Briar crept up and out of her hole on leather-soled feet that didn't make a sound to disturb the disturbing silence."
   Come on, what a steaming pile of dung. The whole book is loaded with lines like this and even worse. Entire paragraphs become impassable do to the disruptive flow of the writing. That is all I have to say, the story is meaningless if the writer cannot convey thoughts through the use of proper English.



3. Boneshaker is set in Civil War-era Seattle, or the city that would-have-been Seattle if not for Dr. Blue's Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine, which forces the evacuation of the city following a test-run. Poisonous gas is unleashed on the populace, and a wall has to be built around Seattle to contain it. Outside the wall: a heavily-polluted border town waiting for the war in the east to end. Inside the wall: a deserted city with collapsed buildings, no services, poisonous gas, and zombies. Oh, and the only way to get from one to the other is to hitch a ride with a pirate on an airship.
   
   As Boneshaker opens, Dr. Blue's son Zeke decides to head inside the wall to find out the truth about his father and his machine, and Zeke's mother soon follows in an attempt to get Zeke out. Of course, there is way more to it than that, and like Westerfeld says, it's made of irresistible. Priest manages to create an entire world without ever slowing the pace or sacrificing action. This is no small trick as many books of this type are forced to sacrifice pace to world building, which pays off in the end but can dull the enjoyment of a book. That is not the case here, however, as Priest builds her world right alongside the plot. She has also mastered the art of alternating between her two leads without losing momentum, and I liked the way that she used a cliffhanger for many of the switches.
   
   Perhaps the highest compliment I could pay to this book: It actually made me want to take the Underground Tour of Seattle again, something my middle school self would be shocked to hear.



4. Zombie book bites off more than it can chew: when I realized I'd been reading Cherie Priest's Boneshaker for over a month, I knew it had problems. Boneshaker isn't terrible, but it fails to deliver even as a popcorn penny-dreadful adventure--it's burdened with unnecessary exposition and monotonous movement from point to point. It's a 400-page story about walking from one place to another and back again.
   
   The premise: it's Civil War-era Seattle, in an alternate steampunk-influenced reality where the war didn't end, airships cruise the skies, and an eccentric scientist named Leviticus Blue built a gold-mining machine that raged out of control and uncovered a terrible secret beneath the city: a seeping gas called the Blight that transforms people into rotters--zombies. The poisoned part of the city is walled off, and life marches on...until Blue's estranged son, Zeke, decides to go on a quest inside the walls to learn the truth about his publically-despised father. The story revolves around Zeke and his mother, Briar, who follows her son inside the walls to rescue him.
   
   I was sold on the premise right off the bat: steampunk, zombies, poison gas, airship pirates--expecting an adventure full of wild characters, monsters, and machines, I descended on the book like a ravening revenant.
   
   The problem is one of both plot and prose. Plot-wise, there is nothing more to the narrative than a mother chasing her son through the quarantined city. Along the way, encounters with the gruesome rotters are few, and easily avoided. The airship pirates figure peripherally, serving as devices to get characters from Point A to Point B. Denizens of the inner city are mere guides, shepherding mother and son on their way, and explaining how life within the walls works. In a sense, it evokes a criticism of The Lord of the Rings: the action consists of Walking, With Occasional Running.
   
   In many ways, the rotters, pirates, and fanciful machines just feel like narrative fashion accessories--the rotters are such a non-presence that their inclusion merely functions as a disappointment. A brief, up-close encounter towards the end is snuffed short with a rifle blast. It becomes clear early on that this isn't a "zombie book," but neither is it really an adventure. The prose is flat, workmanlike, and marred with awkward descriptions and turns of phrase. In particular, the use of the word "proactive" was jarring to me. This word wasn't even coined until 1933, and wasn't in popular use till decades later.
   
   Of course, this isn't reality, but alternate reality--as Priest explains rather defensively, and almost condescendingly, in an Author's Note after the Epilogue. I happened to read that note first (I like to skim through bonus content in a book to see if it offers any insight into the text), and it put a sour, Blight-like taste in my mouth. This note was unnecessary--the book is categorized under fiction--and made the author come across as controlling of her audience, and insecure of her work.
   
   Interestingly, I noticed that same lecturing, defensive tone in the prose itself. There is much more Tell than Show--characters speak nearly every thought that pops into their heads, talking about rather than experiencing their feelings, and the world of zombified Seattle is largely described through dialogue that reads like an oral history. The end result is a strangely disconnected sense of being told about a story, rather than experiencing it through the characters.
   
   Ultimately, Boneshaker aimed for high adventure and considerably missed the mark. However disappointed I am with the actual product, Priest still did some fantastic world-building, and I want to see her try again with a more compelling narrative set in this alternate reality. If Boneshaker had been told from the point-of-view of the hard-bitten denizens of the inner city, rather than the hapless pair who stumble around inside for a couple of days, it might have lived up to its wild premise. Fortunately, Priest has a quirky cast of disused oddballs to draw from for future tales in Blighted Seattle.



5. First of all, I enjoyed reading BONESHAKER. Most of my complaints have nothing to do with the author or the story. More on that in a moment.
   
   BONESHAKER takes place in an alternate Seattle of the 1880s which includes zombies, gas masks, airships, pirates and an American Civil War that has lasted almost 20 years.
   
   Briar Wilkes survived the zombie takeover that claimed most of Seattle. A rift in the earth released a noxious gas that killed thousands of people, and several days after their death, they arose and began to attack and feed upon the living. Seattle built a 200 foot high walled around most of downtown Seattle which imprisons the undead zombies. Briar has dedicated her life to providing for her teenage son Zeke in a very bleak life outside the wall. She works 15-hour days cleaning the air to make it less dangerous to breath.
   
   But one day Zeke vanishes over the wall into the zombie-infested center of Seattle in an attempt to clear the family name. Zeke's father, and Briar's husband, may have created the disaster that destroyed Seattle, that ripped open the earth in which the noxious gas escape which created the undead zombies. Briar takes matters into her own hands, follows her son over the wall and confronts the horrific conditions inside. Along the way she starts to make peace with the demons of her past in the process. Briar is every inch a mother, but flawed, too. She reminds me of the character Ripley (from the Alien films) as she finds strength in surprising places and soldiers on, in spite of the mounting fear and horrors that surround her.
   
   My complaints about this book have to do with the publisher, Tor. What genius decided to print the book in a faint brown type that made it a chore to struggle to read? The book industry is struggling in this economic age, so why would a publisher purposefully make the book difficult to read? Hopefully, someone at TOR will re-format the book when it goes into another printing.
   
   Recommended ... if you like to squint.

No comments about Beyond the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity, Book 6).

2 comments about Harrowing Halls - Dungeon Tiles: A D&D Accessory (4th Edition D&D).

1. As someone who has multiple copies of almost every set made, I can easily say this is one of the best sets yet.
   
   Most of the non-3D tiles in the package have the wood floor pattern. It's similar to the wood floor that is on a few of the older large tiles of building interiors, but not exactly the same. Most of the tiles are plain wood on one side and a fully detailed room or part of a room on the other. With these tiles, you should be able to make the vast majority of any civilized interior space you need. I think the tile shown on the cover is a strange choice since it is not representative of most of the tiles in the set.
   
   There are two sheets of 3D tiles. Once you assemble them you get a staircase, a couple of 5' high platforms, a couple of 10' platforms, a double door, and a few tables. The beauty of these is that one side is wood and the other side is stone. Just take them apart and flip the sides to change texture. I see getting a lot of use out of the stairs and platforms with my old standard stone dungeon tiles.
   
   Overall, this set is great. You can probably make do with one set if you don't make anything too big, but with this being the only set with a lot of wood floor and having the 3D pieces I would get two.



2. The set is pretty nice, and the wooden textures can be useful for some campaigns. Most of the set is composed of wooden rooms (one side with furniture and the other just the wooden floor) and there are some 3D tiles that doesn't fit my gaming needs.
   
   This set would be a lot better if the room tiles were wooden in one side and stone in the other, and some of the 3D tiles (everything but the platform and the staircase) were furniture to customize rooms.
   
   Overall I thought this is the least versatile set, but it is still worth having.

5 comments about Sookie Stackhouse, Books 1-7.

1. I love watching the HBO True Blood, but the books are so much better! I can't wait to read the next 2 books in the series! This is a much more grown up vampire series and has good twists that keep you reading.



2. LOVE IT !! It is just such a good show I had to read the books . They are even better than the show. As always. I can't wait to get on to the next book after I finish one I am so ready for another. I hope Mrs Harris writes more!!



3. I love this series and I am anxiously awaiting the newest addition in May 2010. If you like Vampire thrillers, romance, lust, and surprises, this series is for you. The books are the basis to the HBO series True Blood. There is a difference; the books have a slightly different story line and will keep you hooked from book to book. I love this author, she has a great imagination!
   You cannot go wrong buying this series at all!



4. The books are so much better than the TV show. Not an educational read but great to just enjoy on public transportation or the beach. I started with this set and I now have the whole series and can't wait for the next book to come out.



5. I have said it before and I will say it again I love this series I read all of it (that is out) with in one month. I can not wait until the next book is out.

5 comments about Max (Maximum Ride, Book 5).

1. This book is awesome. Okay, so maybe it's not really a 5, more like a 4.5. It's not perfect, and the theme or conflict of the story is getting a little lost. The various books are starting to jump all around the space. Also, the way that the flock are suddenly starting to get new superpowers? That's kind of weird and requires some suspension of disbelief. However, this book still retains the humor and action of the pervious books. Max is still as funny and witty as before. Also, the whole Max-Fang thing is slowly picking up pace, which, in my opinion, is good. Awesome, even. So even though it's not one of the best Max books, it's still very much worth reading. Fly on!



2. Title: Max: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
   
   Pages: 309
   
   Time spent on the "to read" shelf: 6 months.
   
   Days spent reading it: 2 days.
   
   Why I read it: It is the next book in the apparently unending Maximum Ride series.
   
   Brief review: This fifth installment of the Maximum Ride series goes back to the heart of the first few books. It's style and content were more akin to the origins of the series. It was definitely an improvement over the last two books (Saving the World..., and The Final Warning), but it still does not quite recapture the magic of the first two books. I guess we can't have everything.
   
   The best part about this book, the EXCESSIVE talk about Global Warming has been dropped. Max and her flock still deal with environmental issues, but it's not as blatant or forced as it was in books 3 and 4. On the down side, I think Patterson still cannot quite figure out who his antagonist is in this series. Is it a faceless corporation? Or do we have a specific mastermind behind the scenes? And as he struggles to find a main antagonist he struggles with the henchmen that have been changing in the last few books as well. He just cannot seem to find the right kind of bad people because he keeps creating and discarding them. Although you won't hear me complaining that he did not bring back "The Uber-director" from The Final Warning (he was just plain silly). But I believe that if this series is going to change from mediocre to great, Patterson must find an antagonist worthy of Max and her flock. They are such great characters, there has to be an equally great foil to oppose them.
   
   This book almost makes me believe that this series could get better. I am almost convinced, but it just was not quite as great as I was hoping. Actually, I thought it was going to conclude the series, but it definitely did not do that. There is plenty of space to continue this series for a long, long time. Let's just hope it keeps getting better and not getting worse like The Final Warning.
   
   Favorite quote: "It's a real, living creature, and according to our telepath, it's full of rage and a desire to kill." We all looked around for a minute until we realized that the 'telepath' was Angel. Well, 'telepath' sounds better than 'creepy little mind-reading kid,' so I was cool with it.
   
   Stars: 3.5 out of 5.
   
   Final Word: Better.



3. in every book since this one i have been waiting for max and fang to finally really express their feelings and in every book i was dissapointed and finally in this book they did.So overall i thought this book was delightfull



4. I guess I am not really into the series. I didn't care for the book.



5. I read more than 20 novels from James Patterson, and i really like most of them.
   This is the worst one a waste of time, i will never read another Maximum Ride book.

5 comments about Desire Unchained: A Demonica Novel (The Demonica Series).

1. I love the stories of the Seminus demon brothers, but this one wasn't as good as Pleasure Unbound. While I found the dynamic between Shade and Runa totally hot, the storyline just lacked the flow the previous book. A lot of what went on was just plain odd, especially the BDSM scene - totally didn't get that. In any case, I was thoroughly entertained. Now I can't wait to read Wraith's story.



2. When I received my copy of Desire Unchained in the mail, I literally stopped, right on my doorstep, and did a dance. Yes, a dance! I know, that sounds so odd and childish, but ever since I read the first novel, Desire Unbound, last year, I've been hungry for more! And believe me when I say that Desire Unchained delivered on all accounts!
   
   In the first book, we were dropped straight into Ione's world, modern Earth, except for we're not alone. Shapeshifters, Witches, Demons, Vampires, and all sorts of other fantastical characters live in our world. For the most part, humans know about them, but they still don't flaunt themselves. Instead, they stick to the "Underworld's" of the area, tunnels and such below the city or hidden from the humans. The hospital that Shade and his two other brothers founded exist in one such area, hidden from the prying eyes of humans.
   
   While the plot line, the intriguing characters, and the complex story development are a great part of the book, it's not the only part that made my fall in love with the series. It's also the very intense, sometimes graphic, but always satisfying *no pun intended, of course!*, sex. Along with the equally tender romance. Don't get the wrong impression-- it's not ALL about the sex in their relationship, though that part is definitely a big part of it. Personally, I enjoy the more erotic touches like this in my romances, but I know that some do not. If you fall into the later category, I'm sure that you could still enjoy this book, even if you have to flip through a few scenes.
   
   The romance is fantastic, but it's not the only element that sticks out. There's a plot to it, a point besides just watching the H/Hr have hot sex 24/7. The suspense and action makes the reading interesting, not just sexy. I'm anxious for the next book, not only to find out Wraith's fate and story, but also to see what more could happen in this compelling paranormal world that Ione has created. I promise you-- just when you think that you have the story 100% figured out, nothing could possibly surprise you, a new twist in the story pops out, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. And even then, it will only let you go, but it won't leave you entirely. You'll still find yourself thinking about the story, the characters and the world, anxious to return to it, but upset that you have to wait until the next book to do so.
   
   4.5/5 stars! I can't stop raving about this amazing book! Heck, not just this book, but Ione's entire series! They're sexy, passionate, mysterious, action packed, humorous... I could go on and on! In short, they have everything you could possible ask for in a romance! I can't wait for her future books-- Ione is definitely an automatic author in my book!



3. I wasn't as big of a fan of Shade and Runa's story than I was for Eidolen and Tayla's story in book one. Shade is a little darker and more anguished than his brothers because of a curse placed on him that will trigger when he mates.
   
   The heroine Runa also was a little more complicated and conflicted and her relationship with Shade was not particularly smooth or universally happy. They were literally thrown together in a dungeon and tricked into the first stage of mating by the surprising villian that will loom over the whole story. Like Tayla, Runa has a little something extra in her DNA, although hers was the result of an attack.
   
   This entry in the series didn't take place as much in the hospital, it was mostly set in the dungeons and in a house Shade has in Central America. The couple seemed to bicker a lot and Runa's extra special new paranormal side is pivotal to Shade being able to mate with her and the unfortunate side effect he receives as a result of some particularly bite-y sex.
   
   The ending is a bit of a non-surprise and doesn't really set the next book up; the whole series can actually be divided up and each book can be read as a standalone, although it flows much better if you read it in order. After reading this, I think if you're thinking of skipping any one book, it should probably be this one. It's still a very good book and there are elements of it that tie in a moderate loose end from book one. I think my inability to really get into her head and really like Runa prevented me from giving this book five stars.
   
   The books in order:
   Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Book 1)
   Desire Unchained: A Demonica Novel (The Demonica Series)
   Passion Unleashed (The Demonica Series)



4. OMG!!!! The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because so far Eidolon and Tayla are my favorite couple as far as the chemistry, commitment, and passion they share. Plus not real big on the "wolf" lovin.. That being said, this book was an emotional roller coaster for me. (Kynan, totally did not see that one coming). I found myself screaming out loud in shock, happiness, sadness, and anger @ times. Plus the banter was hilarious as well :) I really liked this book. Gripping story. Sucks you in but in a good way.



5. this was a great read this book one of the brothers and romance with lots of twists and turns in this story. i kept wanting to push the two block headed persons together, because everyone around knew they belong together but them of course. great action and romance.