Saturday 30 June 2012

Suffocate (Breathless Book 1) - S.R. Johannes



Title: Suffocate (Breathless Book 1)
Author: S.R. Johannes
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 2012
Formats: Ebook

"Suffocate" by S.R. Johannes is a 15,000 word novelette that is the first in a new series of short stories that will explore a dystopian future world. This novel follows Eria who lives within the Biome, a structure that has helped humanity survive over the centuries whilst Earth has grown hostile and barren. Like everyone else, she has never been able to leave the sanctuary of the Biome and longs to visit the world that has long been thought lost. This hope is fuelled by her own father, a brilliant scientist who has been working on a suit that would finally enable people to leave in safety. But, when one of his experiments ends in tragedy, Eria's grief leads her to uncover a secret and dangerous underbelly to the Biome that could threaten her own life.

The short novel length results in an incredibly fast paced read that I found myself rocketing through as I wanted to see what would happen next. Johannes has done a great job in ripping out every piece of filler you could imagine to ensure that she could pack so much into a limited number of pages, there is even a couple of plot twists thrown in for fun, one of which I didn't see coming at all. What I was really impressed with though was that novel also includes a fair amount about Eria and her past which I usually find missing in short novels like this. This ensured that it was possible to actually understand Eria and her actions so she appeared to be a believable and realistic character.

In Summary, this was an enjoyable and entertaining short novel that showcased the great possibilities within this form of literature. It was action packed, fast moving and included enough details to enable the reader to understand the main characters and form a decent image in their head about what was occurring. In all honesty though, there was part of me that actually wished this had been a full length novel as the story contains so many possibilities that could have been further explored. Either way though, I am now looking forward to the sequel and I really do recommend this novelette to any fans of dystopian fiction who are looking for a quick and enjoyable read.

Available at:
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Wednesday 27 June 2012

The Other Nereia (On Dark Shores Book 2) - J.A. Clement



Title: The Other Nereia (On Dark Shores Book 2)
Author: J.A. Clement
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2012
Formats: Ebook

"The Other Nereia" is the second novel in J.A. Clement's On Dark Shores series which follows on directly from the finale of the first novel entitled "The Lady" which I have previously reviewed here. As Nereia lies unconscious, recovering from the injuries inflicted by the nefarious Copeland, her mind is taken to another plane of existence where she meets a being that appears to looks exactly like her. This other Nereia wants help to restore the damage within her own world, but this help is based around taking control of Nereia's body. Whilst she tries to come to terms with this request, the other inhabitants of Scarlock are faced with their own choices as Copeland's increasingly violent fall into madness and the arrival of soldiers within the town threaten to end the lives they all had previously known.

I was happy to see that the Clement has tried to progress the development of Scarlock and the various characters that inhabit the town. I really found that both the town and characters to be interesting, believable and easy to imagine which really helped me relate to their troubles. Without doubt, the main push of this novel appears to be in developing the characters and their history which is good as it was lacking a little bit in the first novel due to its short length.

The only issue with this concentration on character development is that the plot suffers a little bit due to the novel's short length. The overall progress made is very limited and whilst we learn a lot more about the characters and how they think, it didn't really feel like any of their individual adventures moved forward much. Don't get me wrong, the story is still full of dark suspense and intriguing mystery to the point that it was still entertaining but just don't expect any real forward momentum.

One of my biggest issues with the previous novel was that it was rather unsatisfying as an individual story due to its sudden ending and concentration on developing an overarching plot. Whilst the ending this time does feel a little bit more refined in terms of the point reached in the story, I still think it struggled to stand as a satisfying novel in its own right. In fact, the first chapter in the novel is actually quoted as being "Seven" which follows on from "Six" which was the final chapter in "The Lady". This to me really shows me that the author had no real plan to make the book stand alone in some manner which disappointed me a little.

Overall, I found this to be a rather interesting, if rather short fantasy novel like its predecessor, however it once again didn't feel like a story in its own right. I do think that anyone who has read the previous novel should appreciate the character development even it did come at the expense of some of the plot's forward momentum. For those of you who haven't read the previous novel, then I have to warn you that if you are someone who dislikes unfinished stories, then it would maybe be best for you to wait on the series being completed first. However, if you are interested in following the progress of an intriguing and enjoyable fantasy world as it is developed then you should look at picking up this series now, but just be willing to accept that each novel is more like one chapter of some overarching story.

Available at:
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Saturday 23 June 2012

Crossing The Line (The Wess'har Wars Book 2) - Karen Traviss



Title: Crossing The Line (The Wess'har Wars Book 2)
Author: Karen Traviss
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 2004
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

"Crossing The Line" by Karen Traviss is the sequel to "City of Pearl" that I previously reviewed here as part of a Women of Sci-Fi book club. As this is a sequel I will warn anyone reading this review that there are some mild spoilers in relation to "City of Pearl" so please make sure that this doesn't bother you.

The novel follows the continuing adventure of Shan Frankland, a former police officer who has been infected with an alien organism that manipulates her DNA to the point that it is almost impossible to kill her. With the Earth's military now after her due to this infection, she has been forced to take refuge amongst an alien race known as the Wess'har. However the military can not let this stand and their meddling pushes the region into instability, increasing the tensions between the various alien species and risking the threat of war between humanity and the Wess'har.

I had been looking forward to reading this book for a while to see where the story would progress from the rather enjoyable cliff hanger of a conclusion seen in "City of Pearl". Therefore it was with a high level of expectation that I had put this novel on my kindle and settled down to read. I was happy to find that it exceeded these expectations and I found it even more enjoyable than "City of Pearl". Whilst I felt that the previous novel could get bogged down in its almost obsessive pushing of the vegan diet and the flaws of humanity etc. I found that this novel toned down these elements and concentrated more on developing the universe, aliens and characters themselves in a vivid and enjoyable manner.

I specifically loved the way in which Traviss has continued to build up and developed the relationships between humanity and the various alien species. There is no glorious flawless species portrayed in this novel, our flaws and some of our strengths conspire against us as we try to interact with species and cultures that are completely different to our own. At the same point however we also get to see the interaction between different individuals that showcased how we could work well with another species. I really enjoyed the exploration of these different levels of interaction and how the choices and actions of an individual can be so different to the way in which a species as a whole grouping would act.

All of this increased development did make the novel a little wordy in areas but I still found that the story moved a decent pace and kept me entertained throughout. Traviss builds up the tension masterfully until the reader is rewarded with a rather surprising but enjoyable climax and a rather intriguing cliff-hanger.

Overall "Crossing The Line" is a superb sequel that builds wonderfully on the previous novel and really develops the characters into people that I am able to find some real affinity for. Traviss does continue the overall portrayal of humanity as bad guys in the novel but this has been toned down a lot which makes it a lot easier to appreciate. Whilst you can probably follow this novel without reading the prequel as it provides all the information needed in the first few chapters, I still think this book will only really be appreciated if you have actually read "City of Pearl".

Available at:
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Wednesday 20 June 2012

Walker: London 2012 (Walker Book 3) - James London



Title: Walker: London 2012 (Walker Book 3)
Author: James London
Genre: Thriller
Published: 2012
Formats: Ebook

"Walker: London 2012" is the third book in a series of athletic based thrillers staring Walker, a scientist and athlete who has over the past two Olympiads saved the British team from ignominy and defeat. I have to admit I have not read the previous two books in the series but decided to read this book anyway to coincide with the Olympics in London this year. I had no real issue following what was happening though and who the characters were as the author included enough information on events and people from the previous books.

The story is based around three specific interlinked plotlines; the first is around an attempt to destroy the Olympic Stadium in London which damages the UK's reputation abroad and at home. The second follows Walker and some young prodigies as they train to take part in the London Olympics to try and help bring back some belief and pride in the British team. The final plotline is dedicated to the research being conducted into Walker's supposed longevity in the hope that the information can be used to help the world.

I have to be honest and say that the premise behind the story actually interested me a lot; I was looking forward to reading a sports based thriller as it had been quite a while since I had read one. However, I actually found that the thrills around the threat to the Olympic Stadium were in short supply and lacking in any real suspense. Then there were the sporting elements of the novel which seemed mainly dedicated to explaining the methodology and theory of how to do various athletics events. The actual Olympics themselves were completed in only a few pages without any real exposition or development. I actually found that most of the book seemed dedicated to discussing a sub-plot on longevity research that was being done by Walker's wife.

I felt that this concentration on the more dry and scientific aspects of longevity and sporting methodology created a novel that at times I found quite dull. I am normally more than happy to read hard science in novels but it is usually included in some sort of enjoyable and interesting plot element which seemed to be missing here. I think there are some genuinely interesting ideas present but the author has failed to detail them or put them across in a manner that can entertain and keep the reader hooked. I have to admit that for the first time in a while I actually found myself actually skipping large parts of the novel.

Another issue was the structure of the novel. I found that the book seemed to jump around everywhere which really damaged any chance of some suspense being built up. For example, one moment I would be reading about a shady meeting between a UK government minister and a contractor and the next it would be reading the intricacies of how someone should do a pole vault. The structure also led to the repetition of various points, I think I must have read about the threat to move the Olympics to Paris three separate times, one of which occurred after it had been confirmed in another section that it wouldn't move. The entire thing just began to irritate me as the novel progressed as it just felt very much like the author had just dumped his ideas on to the page in the order it all came into his head without proper editing or review.

All these plot and structure issues meant that I actually failed to engage with any of the characters. I found most of them to be quite shallow caricatures that were lacking in any real development. In regards to Walker specifically, it felt like his emotions were just generic description of what someone would supposedly feel like when in love or having a baby. This meant that there was no real individuality in the emotions and it just led to me finding Walker to be almost android like in regards to his feelings and reactions. I am more than willing to admit that it is possible that the issues I have with the characters may have been driven by the fact I haven't read the previous two books but there really was nothing specific in this novel that endeared any of them to me.

Overall, I was disappointed as I actually think there was an entertaining premise here that has been bogged down by the prominence of a rather dull sub-plot and a badly constructed writing structure. To be honest, I can't really see a reason for someone to pick this book up unless they have read the previous Walker novels and want to see what happens next.

Available at:
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Saturday 16 June 2012

Terminal Departure: A Cleo Matts Novel - Joe Crubaugh



Title: Terminal Departure: A Cleo Matts Novel
Author: Joe Crubaugh
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Published: 2011
Formats: Ebook

The best way that I can find to describe "Terminal Departure: A Cleo Matts Novel" is quite simply insane! It was one of the fasted paced novels I have read recently and it included elements from many different genres such as thriller, sci-fi and conspiracy. Then for an added bit of fun, Joe Crubaugh infuses the entire thing with enough humour to make even the grumpiest reader smile the odd time.

The plot basically follows Cleo Matts, a sort of secret agent that is trying to take on an international cabal who have infiltrated the United States government. The story follows him on a mad-cap journey from a bomb threatened plane, to being abducted by aliens and then onto trying to deal with a bio-weapon that could threaten all of humanity. Along the way he teams up with a Hollywood actress known Julia who he seems drawn to protect for reasons that neither of them really understand.

The whole thing is quite simply a quirky and original story that takes some of the standard situations most of us will recognise and turns them into something more unique. Crubaugh's tight plotting and witty use of language also serves to enhance what is already quite an enjoyable and entertaining novel. In regards to the characters, I found that whilst they all seemed to fall into standard archetypes, they still had their own unique eccentric personalities which kept me smiling.

There were a couple of issues however that I did have with the novel, the first of which was in regards to the action scenes. Due to the nature of the story there are quite a few of them spread throughout the novel but some of them just felt a little bit choppy which affected the flow. It wasn't a major issue as most authors have some form of weakness and I was able to read through it, but it was just noticeable as the rest of the writing and story flowed so well.

The final issue was in regards to the actual balance and detail of the story itself. Whilst it was fun and entertaining to follow, I felt that there was a little bit missing from the overall plot. In particular I found that the aliens came across as being a major element in the first half of the novel and then they seemed to pretty much vanish altogether and have no impact on the later portions of the story. I also found that the entire secret cabal in control of the government seemed a little bit under developed and even now I am not sure I understand what each side in this secret conflict are really trying to achieve. I can only assume that both these elements will be picked up in the sequel that I am sure will follow.

Overall, I am impressed that Crubaugh has managed to mix conspiracy thriller and science fiction in such an amusing and entertaining manner. In addition there really are enough laughs spread throughout the book to keep most readers happy. Personally, I am looking forward to reading the continuation of Cleo Matts' adventures in the future.

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

Wednesday 13 June 2012

The Democrat - Olly Wyatt



Title: The Democrat
Author: Olly Wyatt
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: 2011
Formats: Ebook

As a Scottish person who went to school in England, I received very little information on the history of Scotland beyond the main points such as Bannockburn, etc. However, as an adult I have done my own reading and tried to widen my knowledge of the events and people that shaped the country of my birth. Therefore, when I was give the chance to read "The Democrat" by Olly Wyatt which follows the life of Thomas Muir, a relatively unknown Scottish advocate whose life was dedicated to reform and progress, I couldn't help but put it at the top of my reading list.

Muir's life really is an adventure in itself which takes him from practising law in courts of Edinburgh to exile in far flung places such as Australia & America. However, throughout his entire journey, he holds on firmly to his beliefs and hopes that he could do something to help improve the lives and freedoms of those who remained behind in his homeland.

I didn't really know anything about Muir before picking up this book so I was pleasantly surprised to see how varied and interesting his life actually was. Wyatt seems to have thoroughly researched the various events that occurred and has done a good job in dramatising them in an enjoyable and at times, quite thrilling manner. In particular, Muir's travel upon a transport ship to Australia was quite memorable, and Wyatt could probably have written an enjoyable and entertaining novel just around this one element of the story.

In addition, I was quite impressed at the way Wyatt still managed to ensure that Muir's beliefs and passions in regards to reform and people's rights still came across. He even managed to do it with a narrative that actually felt like it belonged in the same period that the events were occurring. I will admit that all of this did cause the novel to sometimes feel a bit academic at times which caused the pace to slow. This was especially so in the earlier parts of the novel but I think it conspired with the more adventurous elements to create a story that I found quite moving in parts.

Overall, I found this to be an interesting story that does a superb job in portraying the life of a man who should be remembered fondly for what he stood for. I particularly found that Wyatt has done a great job in trying to dramatise the factual events and has even included some well known historical figures in a realistic and believable manner. I think that this book is well worth considering for any fans of the historical fiction genre, especially those who like to read about the lesser known heroes of our past.

Available at:
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Saturday 9 June 2012

Fires of Alexandria (The Alexandrian Saga Book 1) - Thomas K Carpenter



Title: Fires of Alexandria (The Alexandrian Saga Book 1)
Author: Thomas K Carpenter
Genre: Alternative-History
Published: 2011
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

"Fires of Alexandria" is the first book in an alternative history series by Thomas K. Carpenter known as the "Alexandrian Saga". I have to admit that I do have a soft spot for alternative history so I was looking forward to reading this book. This was especially so as it delved into a period in history that I have rarely read about in either standard historical fiction or alternative history fiction.

The story follows the adventures of Heron, a mathematician and inventor in Alexandria, Egypt during the Roman Occupation. Heron is actually a real historical figure; however Carpenter's first twist in the novel was to portray Heron as a woman who has taken up the identity and role of her dead twin brother. In the book Heron, is trying to overcome the various bad debts that her brother had built up. She therefore accepts a commission from a northern barbarian to create a mechanical army alongside another offer to investigate the mysteries that surround the fires that burned down the Great Library of Alexandria. These two objectives drive the story onwards with political intrigue aplenty until the satisfying and enjoyable finale.

I found the book to be thoroughly entertaining and I loved the way that Carpenter has managed to integrate real characters, both the well and lesser known into a coherent and believable story. The writing was clear, well-researched and paced in a manner that kept you hooked from start to finish. In addition, the entire novel was full of an enthusiasm that managed to infect me to the point that I was trawling the internet trying to learn more about the period and people involved. I really appreciated the interest that the book hatched inside me and it is times like this that I understand the power of a well written historical novel.

Overall, this really was an enjoyable book that has formed a solid beginning for a new series of novels. I found myself feeling sympathetic to the main characters and the story itself was a believable one that interpreted and altered history in an entertaining manner. It mixed action, mystery and intrigue well so that it was hard to put down at the end of the day. Without doubt, any future instalment will quickly appear on my reading lists.

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

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Star Trek Enterprise: The Good That Men Do - Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels



Title: The Good That Men Do
Author: Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 2007
Formats: Paperback/Ebook

I was looking forward to getting stuck into "The Good That Men Do" as part of my Star Trek Reading Challenge for a couple of reasons. The first was that it had felt like a bit since I last read a Star Trek novel and I was beginning to miss them. However, the main reason I couldn't wait to get reading was that the plot was centred on re-writing the travesty that was the Enterprise series finale and undoing the death of Commander Tucker. I don't normally support such blatant circumvention of established canon but I was more than happy to see Mangels and Martin try to undo the mess I had seen on television.

The novel is based around the premise that Commander Tucker has been growing increasingly worried about the threat posed by the Romulans. However, Starfleet is more interested in getting the coalition of planets up and running without incident and therefore don't take either his or Captain Archer's warnings seriously. However, through his friend Lieutenant Reed, Tucker contacts a secret organization within Starfleet known as Section 31 that does take him seriously. This sets in motion a series of events that result in Tucker's death being faked so that he can carry out a clandestine mission in Romulan space.

I actually found this to be a rather enjoyable novel, with a fairly well conceived plot when you consider what it was trying to undo. Whilst it did become a little bit melodramatic at times it still did a good a job in keeping me entertained from start to finish. It was also probably one of the most action packed Star Trek novels that I have read recently which helped to create a rather fast pace. However, as with most Star Trek novels it struggled to create any real feeling of tension as the reader knows that there is no real risk to the main characters or the Enterprise itself.

A minor issue I did have with the novel is to do with the framing story, the very same issue that many people had with the Enterprise series finale. This time the framing story follows Nog and Jake Sisko from DS9 fame looking over some newly uncovered history records that imply the events people believed had occurred are possibly a lie. It is a bit less in your face as what was seen on the TV show but I still groaned a little bit as it just felt all very irrelevant and I just wish Enterprise could .be allowed to be itself without feeling the need to link it constantly with other Star Trek franchises. However, the biggest problem I saw with this framing story is that it isn't actually confirmed anywhere that the records Nog and Jake were reviewing are true. Any author in the future could potentially just reset this and say the records were false which I felt undermined the credibility of the story a little bit.

Overall, I found "The Good That Men Do" to be an entertaining read that does a good job in trying to alter the events seen in the series finale. To be honest, I got the feeling that the authors were at times even mocking the episode which did bring a smile to my face. As with most Trek literature I doubt anyone who isn't a fan already is going to find any reason to read this book. However, if you are an Enterprise fan then this book should be a definite read, especially for those of you that hated the finale.

Available at:
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The Book Depository
Kobo
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Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (The Eclectic Bookshelf)
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)

Sunday 3 June 2012

Amped (Wired Book 2) - Douglas E. Richards



Title: Amped (Wired Book 2)
Author: Douglas E. Richards
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Published: 2012
Formats: Ebook

I enjoyed Douglas E. Richards previous novel "Wired" which I have already reviewed here. So I was really looking forward to reading its sequel, "Amped" which like its predecessor promised to be another fast paced sci-fi thriller. I was actually very curious to know where Richards would take the story as I actually felt that "Wired" had a relatively decent and complete enough ending.

The story follows Kira, David and the rest of the team who survived from the first book as they attempt to create a network of scientists that will use Kira's intelligence-increasing drugs to develop new ideas that will benefit humanity. However, even though they have been in hiding someone out there seems to be aware of their existence and is now trying very hard to locate them. As the tension mounts and the cat and mouse chase continues it becomes almost impossible to work out who is telling the truth and who actually are the good and bad guys.

I found that "Amped" felt very similar to its prequel both in style and plot which was fine by me as I did like "Wired" after all. Richards has once again written a thoroughly enjoyable novel that incorporates an incredibly fast pace with a thrill infused, roller coaster of a story that will keep most people glued to the book all night long. However, there is more than just action and thrills in this novel and I really enjoyed reading the conversations that occurred between the various individuals. These engaging and intellectual discussions could at times be quite enlightening as they covered philosophical, ethical, scientific and religious issues.

I feel that the biggest weakness of the novel is in regards to the similarities of the plot between "Amped" and "Wired". Once again the story revolved around a hidden mastermind trying to locate Kira and friends using governmental types that had been duped into hunting them down. The story also included the similar elements of mistrust between Kira, David, Matt, etc. I will add that there was a nice side story in regards to an alien encounter but I don't think there was much else new. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed "Amped" but most of it just felt like a re-hash of the same elements covered in "Wired" and therefore it didn't really offer me anything new.

Overall, whilst I found the plot to be a little bit too similar at times to "Wired" this is still a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting novel. The fast pace and action packed elements really complimented the various thought-provoking discussions that occurred between the characters and ensured the reader was both entertained and engaged intellectually. Both fans of the science fiction & thriller genre should find something enjoyable within "Amped" and I would therefore recommend that they add it to their library.

Available at:
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