Harry Dresden is back and taking on the most important cases to save humanity. His latest case? Saving a bunch of puppies from demons. Okay, so you take what you can get sometimes, as long as it pays. Fortunately, it leads into another case. A White Court vampire that has helped Harry out a few times wants a favor. Protect a friend. Setting aside that vampires and wizards are supposed to be at war, Harry takes the case. After all, he’s not a fan of the council of wizards anyway.

Oh and this friend, he’s an adult film producer. Wait, what? But when starlets start dying and nasty spells are the cause, Harry adjusts his pants and dives right in. Our fearless wizard comes up with no shortage of suspects, from vapid actresses, vindictive ex-wives, to, oh yeah, more vampires. It will take all of Harry’s skills to find the culprit. Even worse, The vampire friend is hiding something from him. A secret that will shake the Harry’s world to the core. Non-stop danger from the moment the director cries ‘action’.

Jim Butcher builds on his already rich world with this latest installment. Wizardry and wonton destruction abound. I especially liked this novel, because it introduces two new characters that become formidable allies in later books. The gritty world of the Dresden Files continues to engross urban fantasy readers as the monsters and wizards do battle in modern day Chicago.

#bookreview #fantasy #urbanfantasy #jimbutcher

Two-thirds the way through the first draft of Marque of the Son. Hit over 55,000 words today. I’m finding more time to write, so I should be editing by the end of the month. Then it’s off to the beta readers, artwork, then copy edit. Still on track to have the book out early this summer.

The war that started in Off Armageddon Reef is drawing to a close. The Church of God Awaiting’s attempt to destroy the tiny island nation of Charis has proven to be a disaster. Along the way Charis has defeated mighty foes against impossible odds. Along the way, they’ve acquired new allies and new technologies. As the church has lost more and more ground, they’ve become more brutal. People long loyal to the church have died under the direction of the very church they’ve supported.

As the war winds down, it becomes a bitter battle of numbers. Massive armies using civil war level technology grind each other into a bloody pulp. Unknown to the evil church, the enemy has a powerful ally. The cybernetic avatar of a long dead hero. Inside her electric brain, she carries knowledge that could destroy the church. Everything they believe is a lie. Humans once lived among the stars and the anti-technology holy commandments are meant to protect their last colony from a vicious alien enemy.

David Weber continues his epic saga. A enthralling mix of science fiction and fantasy. A technologically depressed world in the far future. Merlin Athrawes and his quest to bring humanity back from the brink of extinction. David tells an involved and politically savvy story about medieval kingdoms. Some will say that he gets too into the minutia, but he keeps readers involved and coming back for more.

#bookreview #fantasy #epicfantasy #sciencefiction #scifi #davidweber

When Remy picks up a book for Sam at a rare books store, she is unprepared for what follows. The book store owner dies the next day and their hotel room is ransacked. Questions arise. What’s so special about a cheap copy of a hard to find book on pirates? As the bodies start piling up, Sam and Remy are determined to get to the bottom of it.

Unfortunately, gunmen beat our favorite husband and wife team to every clue. That leads Sam and Remy to a hard to stomach conclusion. Someone on their team is leaking information to the enemy. Who is it? Why are they doing it? The answers lead them on a globetrotting adventure. One step behind a desperate millionaire with a billion reasons to want Sam and Remy dead.

Those who have read my reviews know that I am a big fan of Clive Cussler. Clive and Robin Burcell weave a pretty good story here, but there are some glaring plot holes in the early chapters. It goes against the tight style that I have come to expect of Clive Cussler collaborations, and took me out of the story. Um, wait, the Sam and Remy Fargo you’ve built up in prior adventures would never fall for so something so obvious. Fortunately, if you can get past the early plot holes, the rest of the book is well put together.

#bookreview #clivecussler #actionadventure

A wonderful collection of short stories, including one set in the Dresden Files universe. The theme is monsters. Every story has a monster as the main character. In true Jim Butcher fashion, every monster is the hero of his own story. A wonderful collection of tortured souls, each in search of some goal to make them whole.

As with any collection, some are good, some are just okay. Most of these stories fall into the great to better than average categories. A worthwhile read for any fan of gritty urban fantasy. And hey, A Jim Butcher short story. You can’t beat that for a fun read.

#bookreview #fantasy #urbanfantasy #jimbutcher

Sam and Remy Fargo are taking a break from treasure hunting. Sort of. A friend of theirs has made an archeological find and has come to them for assistance. The locals won’t go near the site. They believe it’s cursed. With crocodile attacks, civil unrest, and missing children, they may be right.

Things heat up when Sam and Remy start digging into the island’s past. What happened in the remote bay on the other side of the island? Is there any truth to the rumors of giants and monsters? What did the Japanese army do while they controlled Guadalcanal? The search will expose secrets long hidden and a vicious modern day power grab. A plot to seize billions in natural resources, paid with the blood of innocents.

Clive Cussler and Russell Blake do a good job of weaving an excellent adventure novel. Unlike many of Clive Cussler’s novels, where you see things from the villian’s point of view, that is not the case here. There are brief snippets, but the main bad guy remains a mystery until the very end.  A good read for any action adventure fan.

#bookreview #clivecussler #actionadventure

Magic is real, but only a few people have any talent for it. Quentin Coldwater is one of them. When he receives an invitation to study at a University he’s never heard of, he’s skeptical. Magic? Who believes in magic? On the other hand, he’s been reading fantasy books about Fillory for his whole childhood. What if it’s real?

Quentin embarks on a journey of discovery, and not just about magic. He’ll learn about love, relationships, corruption, and power. He’ll learn that there is a dark secret about his childhood fantasy world. Worse, the secret knows about him, and wants him dead. He’ll have to learn everything he can about magic if he is to survive.

I’d watched the first season of the series, The Magicians, prior to picking up the first book. I found the world as rich and intricate as the one depicted on screen. In the series, I found Quentin’s character to be a bit sad and depressed. A difficult main character to identify with. I had hoped that like many television and movies based on books, the written word would be better. Sadly, this is not the case. Quentin of the book is just as just as depressing as Quentin of the screen. Likewise, I found myself identifying more with the supporting characters than the main character. Still, the vivid magical world and engaging supporting cast kept me interested. As expected, much of the story is different between the two mediums. You can expect a few surprises, if you enjoy one before the other.

#bookreview #fantasy #urbanfantasy #levgrossman

Jason has had it rough. His mom has disappeared. His dad has given up on finder her and they are moving away from all of his friends. Things can’t get much worse. Unless, of course you count losing your mind. Jason has started seeing things, and those things can see him too.

Jason discovers a whole world hidden from most of humanity. A world filled with incredible and dangerous creature. Beings that wield such power, that a mere touch could incinerate the unwary. It will be up to Jason, his new friend, and a crazy black sheep uncle to unravel the mystery. Who is trying to destroy the barrier between worlds, and what does it have to do with his missing mother?

Wendy Terrien weaves a tale of discovery. A young boy learning what it means to trust himself and others. Life gives you challenges. Jason’s journey will teach him that what you do with those challenges determines who you are. A great story for readers of all ages.

#bookreview #fantasy #urbanfantasy #youngadult #wendyterrien

Liam and the crew of Loose Nuts have saved the lives of two stranded groups of humans. As a result, they are no longer welcome in the four star systems that make up human controlled space. The mega-corporation that has the monopoly on faster than light travel will stop at nothing to silence them. Profit and fear driving them to abandon their fellow man. Unfortunately, Liam has only scratched the surface. Other missing colonies and outposts are in need of rescue.

Their search will bring them face to face with two new alien races. One is friendly. Another wants to enslave all of humanity. The reason why will horrify Liam and his crew. The struggle will unite Liam with former allies and enemies. If the aliens don’t kill him, then the people who murdered his father surely will.

Jamie McFarlane continues his epic saga in this no holds barred sequel. The stakes have never been higher. The consequences of failure never so dire. Jamie continues to impress us with complex enemies and astounding space battles. Full speed ahead, fire all weapons, and give no quarter!

#spaceopera #spacepirates #jamiemcfarlane #bookreview #scifi

It should be the best day of Natalya’s life. Graduation from the galaxy famous Fleet Academy on Newmar. An exciting career in front of her, dashed to pieces. She’s accused of murdering a classmate. Another cadet who was really an undercover agent for the Trade Investigation Commission.

Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, Natalya must flee to the lawless fringes of human space. With authorities close on her heels, she’ll be forced to eek out a living doing the kind of things people don’t talk about in polite company. The latest job? Haul a load of illegal goods… directly into a TIC controlled port.

Nathan Lowell weaves an engaging tale of life on the edge of civilization. Smuggler’s Tales looks to be every bit as entertaining as Trader’s Tales. A world filled with complex characters, unseen foes, and life in the deep dark.

#spaceopera #spacepirates #nathanlowell #bookreview #scifi