Running Wide Open (Full Throttle Book 1) - Lisa Nowak

Title: Running Wide Open (Full Throttle Book 1)
Author: Lisa Nowak
Genre: General Fiction
Published: 2011
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

"Running Wide Open" by Lisa Nowak is a YA novel that for once doesn't involve paranormal events, love triangles or female protagonists. I know that some of you are probably dumb struck that a YA novel like that could actually exist but this book honestly is different to the norm. Instead the book involves stock car racing, a troubled male protagonist and an emotional plot about overcoming the challenges of the past. I found the entire novel to be a refreshing change in addition to being an enjoyable and interesting read.

The story follows a 15 year old boy named Cody who does not have the healthiest of family lives. When, his rebellious ways leads to minor brush with the law he is sent away by his father to live with his uncle name Race, in order to avoid being sent to a military school. Cody is initially unable to take his uncle seriously as he eats Twinkies for breakfast, is dedicated to racing cars around in circles every weekend and has the most ridiculous name ever. Over time though, Cody learns to understand and respect his uncle and allows him to become the mentor and friend that he has been missing most of his life. However, when his uncle is involved in a terrible accident, Cody is suddenly forced to choose between reverting to his old ways or stepping up and showing loyalty and support to his uncle who faces the possibility that he may never race a car again.

In all honesty I am not a big stock car racing fan, I have never really seen the enjoyment in watching cars drive in circles. The only racing I really do follow is Formula 1 and it is pretty much in a different world to the racing portrayed in this book. However, Lisa Nowak has done a superb job in ensuring the reader is brought up to speed on the racing world as you get to discover the racing rules, car types and parts alongside Cody. I had no issue understanding what was going on and it was easy to get caught up in the thrill of the race.

The actual racing and car elements of the novel however aren't actually the main aspects of the book. There is a much deeper story here with the second half of the book really delving into Cody's growth as a person. It can at times be quite emotionally draining as Cody strives to accept both his past and current challenges and tries to become a better and wiser person. I felt that it was quite a complex area for a YA novel to enter, but I enjoyed the fact that the book did explore these elements amongst the backdrop of the racing world.

As this type of novel is based primarily around its characters, it was therefore not surprising to note that the characters were all quite vivid and memorable. I was able to gain a good understanding of most of them and could actually see things from their individual points of view which meant I was really able to get into the book. I think Cody himself was an interesting enigma, the regular bad boy aspects were all present but there was also an intellect and creativity that came out well. I did find it a little bit difficult to like him though due to his obnoxious streak but he did have an enjoyable sense of humour present and it was nice to see a deeper side present in this type of character.

One strange aspect of the novel though was in regards to it being set in the 1980s. I didn't really understand the need to utilise this period as all the issues that Cody faces are just as common today as they would have been in then. I had no real issue with this time period but I just found it to be an odd choice for a YA novel as I can't see many teens relating to the novel as much as they would have done had a current period been utilised.

Overall, I found "Running Wide Open" to be an admirable book that contained a complex and deep drama that many young adults should be able to relate to. Lisa Nowak has quite simply written an enjoyable and interesting story within a racing environment that has been depicted wonderfully so that anyone should be able to enjoy the book no matter their knowledge of stock car racing.

Available at:
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The Book Depository
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Amazon UK

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)
Free Reads Challenge

Sorcerer's Legacy - Janny Wurts

Title: Sorcerer's Legacy
Author: Janny Wurts
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1982
Formats: Hardback/Paperback

I have become quite a fan of Janny Wurts since reading her long-running "The Wars of Light and Shadow" series. Other than that series though, the only other books of hers that I had read were those that formed "The Empire Trilogy" and they were actually a collaborative effort with Raymond E. Feist. Therefore, I decided that I would try another of her books and picked up "Sorcerer's Legacy" which was her debut novel and is quite rare in today's world of fantasy writing in that it is a self contained story so I didn't need to worry about getting bogged down in another multi book epic.

The plot of the novel follows a heroine named Elienne who has recently been widowed when her husband, the Duke of Trathmere was killed in a war. Whilst languishing in the dungeons she is suddenly rescued by a Sorcerer named Ielond who hails from a distant land and is travelling through time trying to locate a wife for his ward, Prince Darion. Ielond reveals to her that Darion is apparently sterile and therefore will be forced to forfeit his throne to his cousin, who is nothing but a lackey for the evil sorcerer Faisix. However as Elienne is in the first few days of pregnancy, Ielond's hope is that her child can be passed off as Darion's should she agree to become a consort. Elienne agrees in the hope that her child will have a better future and so she is drawn into a world full of betrayal, conspiracy and sorcery.

I found that as with most debut novels it does have some flaws and to be honest there isn't anything that a seasoned fantasy fan isn't going to recognise. The plot just felt very workmanlike and average to me, with the regular medieval style setting and obvious good guys and bad guys utilising standard light and dark magic. Don't get me wrong, the book isn't a bad one and I found it to be well structured with a plot that did include some enjoyable elements of suspense and intrigue. However it just felt like it was missing some of the spark that I have seen in her later novels.

In addition, I really appreciated Elienne, she is strongly independent and has heaps of attitude. I couldn't help but smile as I followed her defiantly making her opinions known no matter the cost. The complexities and reasons behind her motivations and actions were all quite believable and really helped to endear her to the reader. Alas, the bad guy in the book, the regent and sorcerer Faisix wasn't as intriguing or believable. For someone who had supposedly been working behind the scenes for years to ensure his lackey could ascend the throne, he just seemed to act in a very ham-fisted way the moment Elieene came on the scene. He really didn't strike me as mastermind who could use his wits to work cleverly behind the scenes to get what he wanted; he actually just came across as a bit of a mindless thug who acted quickly without any real thought or cunning. I think this was probably the biggest let down in the entire novel as I just didn't consider him to be a character who I could really find threatening or believable as an evil mastermind.

Overall, I found "Sorcerer's Legacy" is a pretty standard fantasy novel that should be an enjoyable enough diversion for a rainy afternoon. In all honesty, if you are a fan of Janny Wurts then I would recommend you to try and pick this book up just to see how she started. However for someone new to her works, I would advise you to read some of her later novels first as they are a little bit more refined.

Available at:
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Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Speculative Fiction Challenge

The Princess Bride - William Goldman

Title: The Princess Bride
Author: William Goldman
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1973
Formats: Hardback/Paperback

Like many people my first introduction to "The Princess Bride" was via the movie of the same name. In fact until I decided to take part in a classic fantasy novel challenge I didn't even know it was actually based on a book. However, I am glad I have now read it as I think the framing story created by Goldman actually enhanced the story a little by giving a slightly deeper meaning.

The novel starts with an introduction relating a fictional account of William Goldman's childhood when his dad used to read "The Princess Bride" to him. As an adult he had decided that he wanted to find a copy for his own son, however when he read it he discovers that his dad had only been reading him the "good bits" as the rest of the novel was incredibly long winded and dull. He therefore decides to write an abridged version of the novel which is the story that he is supposedly presenting in this novel. As mentioned this is a fictional account and there never was an original novel nor an author named S. Morgenstern but it is a rather interesting plot device and he uses it to insert amusing, yet at times quite poignant side comments throughout the novel.

The plot line of the story that Goldman is supposedly abridging is about two young people called Buttercup and Westley and their attempt at finding love together. However, this is a cruel world and when Westley is lost at sea; Buttercup is left with no choice but to marry the rather unlikeable heir to the throne of Florin, Prince Humperdinck. Things go from bad to worse though when Buttercup is kidnapped in an attempt to start a war between Florin and its neighbour, Guilder. The various politics and espionage involved in this however all begins to unravel when a mysterious man in black shows up.

I found the entire novel to be very quirky and entertaining with lots of humour spread throughout both the side comments and the core plot. I found that this humour and Goldman's concentration on fun and adventure actually gave the book a little bit of fantasy parody feeling. However, it is definitely more than this and the story around Buttercup and Westley is fun, exciting and full of enjoyable adventures in its own right. In addition some of the locations created by Goldman such as the "Zoo of Death" and "Cliffs of Insanity". were very colourful and rather memorable.

The characters themselves were a little bit of a conundrum to me to be honest. Basically, the supposedly main characters, Buttercup and Westley just didn't really fill me with any empathy. I just found them to be a little bit dull and unoriginal; Buttercup especially just came across to me as being a rather vapid character. However, the supporting characters were the complete opposite; they were colourful, solidly developed and interesting in so many ways. Two of the kidnappers, Fezzik and Inigo are really fleshed out as the novel progresses and it was these two characters that I found myself supporting by the end of the novel.

Overall, this is a very quirky story that had me smiling from start to finish with both the core plot and the framing story being interesting and amusing in their own right. At times the framing story actually made it feel like the author was reading the story to me as a parent would a child in bed and I found this to be a rather enjoyable and quite novel experience. I think this story really is for everyone, although ironically I think a parent reading to a child may just skip the framing story and side comments as I don't think young children would really find them that interesting, in other words they would probably just enjoy the "good bits" version of this book.

Available at:
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The Book Depository
Amazon UK

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Speculative Fiction Challenge
Year of the Fantasy Classic Challenge

Wired (Wired Book 1) - Douglas E. Richards

Title: Wired (Wired Book 1)
Author: Douglas E. Richards
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Published: 2011
Formats: Ebook

"Wired" by Douglas E. Richards is without doubt one of the most fast paced and action packed novels I have read in quite a while. I found the entire experience of reading the book quite simply fun and it kept me hooked with thrills aplenty.

The plot itself is mainly focused around a scientific discovery by a gifted scientist called Kira Miller. When she uncovers the ability to enhance the human brain beyond all current understanding she unleashes a chain of events that results in her having to go into hiding as she has been branded as a dangerous terrorist. At this point David Desh, an ex-special forces soldier, is brought in to hunt down Kira and ensure that she doesn't unleash a biological weapon upon the world. However, as David begins to close in on Kira he begins to wonder if he is actually the hunter or the hunted.

I found the plot to be enthralling and it was full of wonderful plot twists and turns that kept me guessing from start to finish. I wasn't really sure who the good guys actually were until I turned the last page and confirmed it was all over. This enjoyable and complex plotline combined well with the non-stop thrills and action scenes in a way that meant I struggled to put the book down at night.

Due to the nature of the plot, there are some scientific elements throughout the novel but I didn't find any of it to be very heavy. Richards has used some skill here to ensure that the reader can grasp the principles of the enhancement of a human brain without becoming bogged down in technical issues. In addition, I think that the scientific elements that are present were woven into the plot quite well so that the pace of the novel didn't suffer at all. Basically, I think that as long as you are a fan of popular thrillers then the science fiction aspects of the novel shouldn't affect you at all.

One little issue I did have with the novel is in regards to the style of how the story is actually told. Quite simply more than half the plotline is probably told through discussions between various characters. This isn't anything major but I think I may have enjoyed it slightly more had I actually followed the events occurring rather than having them explained to me by the characters after the fact.

In regards to the characters, I don't think they elicited any real empathy in me as they just felt a little bit stilted in their overall development. I think this was probably one of the side effects of the novel mainly telling us a fair amount of the story rather than actually taking us on the journey with the characters. To be honest though, as the plot thunders along like a roller coaster I found it quite easy to ignore this and just enjoy the ride.

Overall, I found this novel to be an exciting and entertaining thrill ride full of complex twists and action galore. I really struggled to put the book down and this to me is the hallmark of any good story. There are some flaws without a doubt but anyone looking for a fun action packed thriller should find something in this book to enjoy.

Available at:
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Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)

An Epitaph for Coyote: A Novel - Bryan R. Dennis

Title: An Epitaph for Coyote: A Novel
Author: Bryan R. Dennis
Genre: General Fiction
Published: 2011
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

Available at:
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Amazon UK

"An Epitaph for Coyote" is a rather thought provoking read that I struggled to define as being part of any specific genre. Whilst it contains a slight romantic element it is without doubt centred on satirising corporate America and the consumerist ideology that currently drives most Western economies. It wasn't a fast read by any stretch of the imagination, but it still kept me interested and I always enjoy reading the odd book like this that is designed to make me think.

The story itself follows Henry Pluck, a quiet man devoted to his work who is happy enough living out a life that some would call mundane. The only rather unusual aspect to his life is around the fact that he spends his leisure time at nursing homes chatting with the elderly. His life however changes forever when he meets a rather atypical woman named Rosa. As he finds himself become attracted to her, he can't help but become influenced by her own views and slowly but surely he begins to see that the life he had previously held in such high regard was actually lacking in so much.

The start of the novel really presents Henry as a rather unsympathetic character, his obsession with his work and the over regulation of his life wouldn't win him many friends. However, as the novel progressed I could see his sense of humour and enjoyable sarcastic side coming through alongside the other small changes that were mounting up in Henry's life little by little. I especially found that Henry's rather amusing internal monologues really brought out these changes as well as being some of the most entertaining aspects of the novel.

One issue I had with the novel was in regards to the first chapter. This section of the book actually had me thinking that the novel was going to be based around some sort of supernatural premise when it really isn't. I actually spent the first half of the book trying to work out if Rosa was going to turn into some sort of shape shifting monster! I just found that this first chapter was a little bit disconnected from the rest of the novel and by the end of the book I still had no idea why it was even included. It wasn't a major issue really but it created some confusion and expectation that didn't need to be there.

Overall I found this book to be an enjoyable and interesting look at ourselves as a people that enables the reader to take stock and look at their own lives and relationships. The story isn't fast paced or action packed, but the characterisation is spot on and the journey itself is quite engaging. Due to this you do really need to be 'in the mood" for a novel like this but if you are looking for a thoughtful yet humourous novel then you should defiantly give this book a shot.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert A. Heinlein

Title: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 1966
Formats: Hardback/Paperback

Available at:
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The Book Depository
Amazon UK

"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is only the second ever Heinlein book I have read, with "Starship Troopers" being the other. In all honesty I only ended up reading this one due to a reading challenge but with so much Science Fiction out there I have always struggled to find the time to read some of the older novels. Either way, all I can say now is that this is another example of a reading challenge forcing me to read something I normally wouldn't and being rewarded with an enjoyable and complex novel.

The novel basically follows a revolution on the Moon by its oppressed people who can rarely ever leave and must live a life full of economic exploitation by The Lunar Authority. It is at its heart almost a retelling of the American Revolution and one of the characters actually uses various quotes and comments from that very war during their own revolution. The novel follows the carefully planned and executed conspiracy by the stories main characters from the beginning of their plot right through the claiming of the Moon as their own and the fight against Earth itself.

One of the most interesting aspects of this story is the fact that besides the economic issues and the lack of representation the government weren't necessarily treating the people of the Moon terribly badly. In fact those living on the Moon had an almost libertarian paradise where people didn't pay taxes yet people still got on and behaved well as those who didn't were shunned. In fact as the story progresses and the Moon sets up their own government they risk actually losing some of the very freedoms they had enjoyed. I am sure Heinlein was trying to tell me something there about the nature of man and all that but to be honest my mind was quite frayed by then trying to really follow all of his political points.

And it has to be said that politics really is the heart of this novel, I will admit it does have some rather enjoyable elements of action as the revolution occurs and the Moon tries to fight off the Earth but a large amount of the novel is quite simply based around the complex and quite dry subject of politics. The first half of the book almost seems entirely dedicated to discussions about political theory and debates about points that could have been ripped from any Marxist, Anarchist or Libertarian's handbooks. Now, I will admit that I actually quite enjoyed reading these political discussions as it made me think but by the end of the novel it just felt a little bit like Heinlein was trying to ram his opinions down the reader's throats. This wasn't helped by the ending which I found to be a little bit of a cop out in some areas such as what happens to self aware computer and revolutionary leader called Mike. This just reinforced my opinion that Heinlein was more interested in putting across his political viewpoints rather than ensuring the reading had an engaging and complete plotline to follow.

An issue I did have with the novel though was in regards to the style and language used by the main characters. Heinlein appears to have surmised that the people on the moon would use a form of English in the future that has altered from the one we all know and has decided to use this new style of English within the novel. The biggest change I found in the language was the lack of articles and whilst I suspect this may actually make for a good audio version, as a reader it really made for a tough read and I will admit that I almost just gave up on the novel. However, as the book progressed I actually found the rhythm in the language and almost stopped noticing it. Now looking back over it, I am actually quite impressed that Heinlein had the courage to create his own stripped back frontier version of English and then use it.

Overall, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is quite a dry and complex Science Fiction novel that at times seemed to be more focused on expressing Heinlein's political ideology than on having an entertaining plot. Now don't get me wrong, personally I did still enjoy the novel but this was more on an intellectual level in regards to the society Heinlein has created on the moon and in the political discussions that made me think. However, if you like your Science Fiction full of action, drama and thrills then you will probably want to stay clear of this book.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Speculative Fiction Challenge
Sci-Fi Reader Challenge

King of Paine - Larry Kahn

Title: King of Paine
Author: Larry Kahn
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2011
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

Available at:
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The Book Depository
Smashwords
Amazon UK

When I saw the cover of "King of Paine" I really wasn't sure about it, a woman who appears to be on a leash and a synopsis about kinky internet activities left me a little bit wary. However, as always this is a good example of not being swayed by a title or a cover as I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable novel.

The story follows Frank Paine, a newbie FBI agent who has given up the glamour of being a Hollywood actor in an attempt to atone for actions committed in his secret past. However, when Paine is targeted by an email giving him information on a crime he is surprised to note that the sender has used phrases from his past that only one person is meant to know, the very person who he wronged the most. Acting on this information, the agents are drawn into a world of BDSM and internet chat rooms, the very world which Paine has been trying to escape. Now he must try and delve back into this world and find out if the only woman he has loved is in danger or is she really the criminal they are trying to hunt down.

I found the story to be an intense, complex and fast paced which kept me glued to the book every evening. The thrills keep on coming from start to finish as the novel takes your emotions on a enjoyable roller coaster ride of twists, turns and red herrings. The writing is also clean, concise and flows smoothly which really helps to keep the reader hooked. However, the novel isn't for the prudish as it does take you into a world of sexual games and role play. However this is all described tastefully enough and is actually a small part of the novel so don't let it put you off.

The characters were all very well developed and whilst they may come across as being rather jaded, they were all likable. In particular I found the charisma of Frank to be very visible throughout and I found that this really drew me in. I really wanted him to succeed in his quest for redemption and forgiveness. Although I will admit that when Jolynn, the woman he wronged appears to forgive him it does all seem a little bit too quick and easy but that was a minor quibble.

Overall this novel was an enjoyable thriller that had me hooked from start to finish with an interestingly complex plotline and engaging characters. Whilst one of the plotlines is focussed around some sexual issues, this is actually quite a small part and it shouldn't bother anyone reading the book. Basically, if you enjoy a good thriller/mystery novel then you won't go wrong by picking up "King of Paine" for a read.

The Vault - Huw Thomas

Title: The Vault
Author: Huw Thomas
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2012
Formats: Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
Amazon UK

"The Vault" by Huw Thomas is a rather interesting mystery novel that I wasn't too sure about initially. The synopsis itself just didn't really grab me and if it wasn't for the fact that the author was giving away half the royalties to a charity known as ShelterBox I may not have even read it. However, I am glad that I did as I found it to be an engaging and thoughtful read that I struggled to put down at the end of each day.

The story follows several different plotlines that are seemingly unrelated but are actually all part of one complex web. The main core of the novel is based around a young boy called Adam who has turned the wood near his town into a personal retreat. However, when the local council estate kids decide to invade the woods in an attempt to hunt him down Adam is forced to try and hide and finds that there are some secrets hidden in the woods that he knew nothing about. I found that the other plotlines were weaved around this core and are as follows; a professional robbery of a luxurious mansion, a police investigation into three dead bodies found in an ornamental lake and the journey of a paroled sex offender who has gone on the run.

Whilst all these plots seem unrelated, the reader of course knows that there is something linking them and the attempt to identify these links helps turn the novel into a rather compelling mystery. As with many mysteries the book was told at a rather slow pace and I still find it amusing that I got so engrossed in things like the antics of children in a wood but the mystery surrounding the whole novel just kept me hooked.

Personally, I was quite proud of myself that I worked out all the links between the plotlines bar one and I actually think that one was more of a red herring plot than one fundamental to the overall mystery that was being told. However that might just be me being grumpy because I didn't see the way it linked in coming. Either way though, I found that the plots came together and concluded in a rather enjoyable and satisfying manner. The one comment I would make on the ending is that I think there could have been a better epilogue for Adam himself as it just felt a little bit rushed and I was really curious to know what he actually did next.

I found that the town of Compton Fosse came across as very realistic and as someone that grew up in a small English town I could easily imagine the council estate, the woods and the other children that were depicted in this novel. I will admit that the four separate plotlines meant it was quite hard to see any real depth to the characters and most of them just came across as being names. Luckily, Adam himself was developed enough to make him come across in an engaging manner and I was always hoping he would triumph in his actions.

Overall, I found that this was an enjoyable mystery novel that is being sold for a good cause and therefore am happy to recommend it. I will admit that it isn't action packed although there are the odd elements here and there but if you enjoy a good, thoughtful, slow burner of a novel then this one should fit the bill quite easily.

Shadowing: A Henchman's Tale (Moonblind Book 1) - Kat Zantow

Title: Shadowing: A Henchman's Tale (Moonblind Book 1)
Author: Kat Zantow
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2011
Formats: Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Kobo
Amazon UK

“Shadowing: A Henchman’s Tale” is an intriguing fantasy novel which included all the usual hallmarks of epic fantasy, elves, swords, shape shifters, despotic overlords, etc. However, instead of focusing on the heroes, it is centred on one of the overlord's henchmen. It was this element that really piqued my desire to read the book and I am glad I did as Kaz Zantow managed to combine this unique viewpoint with some great humour, adventure and action that had me entertained from start to finish.

As I have already mentioned, the story is focused around one of the overlord's henchmen, who like all great henchman doesn't actually have a name. Given the ability to shape shift he quite enjoys doing as he is commanded, be it razing a village or killing a group of elven bandits. However, things begin to go wrong for him when a group of heroes sneak across the border and manage to hack down all his comrades. Now this lone henchman is left following the heroes across the frozen wastelands trying to work out what he alone could do to stop them.

I really loved the viewpoint that the novel took and it really reminded me of a few video games I have played in the past such as Dungeon Keeper and Overlord where you take up the role of the bad guy in a fantasy world. As with those games, this novel was also full of comic lines as the henchman viewed some of the rather generic heroic actions most people would recognise from many other traditional fantasy novels.

One element of the novel which does let it down a little bit for me is its length. I found it to be very short which meant there was little time to fully describe and develop some aspects of the plot, world's history or the characters. The length did help really keep the tempo of the novel up and this did a great job in giving some of the action scenes a realistic feeling of chaos and mayhem. Overall however I would still have liked to have known a little bit more about the world and characters that I was following.

Overall, I found the novel to be an amusing, engaging and fun novel that kept me smiling throughout. Its short length does stunt some of the development but there are some good elements there which can hopefully be expanded upon in any sequel. I found this to be a minor issue though and would still recommend it to any fans of the light fantasy looking for a slightly different viewpoint.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)
Free Reads Challenge
Speculative Fiction Challenge