A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

Tag: Book Review Page 7 of 13

Read Kubrick’s Game, You Will Love It

Read Kubrick's GameKubrick’s Game by Derek Taylor Kent
My rating: [rating=5]

Have you ever finished reading a great book that you enjoyed so much you have to tell everyone about it? The problem is you don’t know where to start. It was a problem I faced after reading Ready Player One, and it’s the problem I am facing after finishing Kubrick’s Game. Coincidentally Kubrick’s Game has been compared to Ready Player One, and rightfully so. It’s another puzzle-adventure novel whose clues and characters will keep you turning the pages.

Kubrick’s Game is about a brilliant UCLA film student named Shawn who receives a very unusual package. The contents will take him on a quest to solve a puzzle left behind by the late Stanley Kubrick. The answers he seeks are buried in the legendary filmmakers movies and his life. A prize awaits the first person that completes the game; a prize that will “change the course of history”. Shawn’s task isn’t going to be easy, there are other nefarious groups also on the quest and trying to stop him.

A Book For The Movie Nerd

I am a huge movie nerd and I love a great movie so I appreciate Stanley Kubrick’s films. Granted I haven’t seen all of them, but just a couple of chapters into this book and I was ready for a marathon! Many times I thought about popping in 2001 or The Shining just to see the clues for myself. Throughout the whole book I was trying to anticipate how it will end and what the prize will be. Just when you are convinced that you know what is going on the author throws in a twist as clever as Stanley Kubrick himself, and your mind is blown. A part of me was waiting for the cliché reward at the end but instead, it’s perfect. It’s a prize worthy of the puzzle and the man who created it.

Kubrick's Game Audio Book

Narrated by Jonathan Frakes (aka Commander Riker)

I had the privilege to read Kubrick’s Game before the publish date (on September 26th) and it’s definitely comparable to Ready Player One and other great puzzle books like The Da Vinci Code. The author uses a perfect balance of fiction and non-fiction similar to writers like Ernest Cline and Dan Brown. He collaborated with the founders of The Fantastic Race to create the film-based scavenger hunt. By the end, Kubrick’s Game easily claims a spot in my top 5. If you love movies, and especially if you love Stanley Kubrick’s films, then this book is a must read!

If audio books are more your speed then the treat gets even sweeter. Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek’s Commander Riker, provides the narration with Yvette Nicole Brown providing the voice of Desiree Jackson. The audio book will also be available September 26th on Audible and iTunes.

Additional Links

diablo3-readingThe more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
– Dr. Seuss

Book Review: Mistress of Masks

Mistress of Masks (Catalysts of Chaos #1)Mistress of Masks by C. Greenwood
My rating: [rating=4]
(Click here to go to Goodreads)

Honestly, I was struggling for a while to write a review since I finished Mistress of Masks. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the book, I just didn’t know what to say because I’ve been reading several fantasy novels lately. In fact the fantasy novel I finished just before this book was written by the same author. So there isn’t more I can say that I haven’t already said.

Obviously I enjoy her work so far since I jumped right into another book and I will be reading Betrayer of Blood next. The read feels connected quicker with Eydis, Geveral and even Orrick than I did with the protagonists in Magic of Thieves. Keep in mind the Dimmingwood books are a much longer series than Catalysts of Chaos, and I intend to read both series in their entirety. Eydis’ powers are more intriguing than Ilan’s, although the elusiveness of Ilan’s powers also makes for a compelling reason to continue reading. In fact I can even see some parallels between Geveral and Ilan. My suggestion would be to read both books to better understand what I mean.

Mistress of Masks is a good, old fashioned fantasy novel, much like the others I have read. Greenwood is in good company when you consider the fact that the other fantasy authors I have read are Christine Golden, R. A. Salvatore, etc. If you are not receiving her newsletters, I would strongly encourage you to sign up; I’m glad I signed up for her newsletter so I will continue to receive opportunities to read ARC copies of her books and learn more about the plans she has for future novels.

View all my reviews

diablo3-readingThe more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
– Dr. Seuss

Book Review: Magic of Thieves

Magic of Thieves (Legends of Dimmingwood, #1)Magic of Thieves by C. Greenwood
My rating: [rating=4]
(Click here to read this review on Goodreads)

I really enjoy reading random fantasy books by authors that are either up and coming or I’m not extremely familiar with. C Greenwood has been writing books for, what appears to be, 4 years. Magic of Thieves was her first book published back in 2012.  I started following C Greenwood on Twitter and I signed up for her newsletter which is how I acquired a copy of her book.

I’ll admit that it took me a couple of chapters to get into the book. I should make an effort to read the brief description of books just so I have an idea of where the story might take me. The more I learned about Ilan as she adapted to her life with The Hand and his band of thieves the more I became intrigued by the destiny that awaits her. I have to admit that I think my favorite flavor of fantasy characters is sorcery.

Once I reached the end of Magic of Thieves I had decided that the Legends of Dimmingwood would be making it into my book budget. If you are interested in a great story, this book is a quick read. As of the time of this review it is available for free as a Kindle ebook on Amazon.

View all my reviews

diablo3-readingThe more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
– Dr. Seuss

Empire (In Her Name: Redemption)

Book Review: Lady Midnight

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, #1)Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
My rating: [rating=3]
(Click here to see this review on Goodreads)

So with Jace and Clary’s story done, Clare takes us a new direction. We are now following Emma and Julian, whom we met at the end of the previous series. The book takes place 5 years after Clary and Jace defeat Sebastian and his twisted army. In fact this is the first book in a new series of books Clare is writing which does have Emma and Julian as the main protagonists.

It’s strange, reading a book that is only a few years after the end of a previous series and the main story has new character’s as the focus. As I’m writing this I’m trying to think of anything else I have read has followed a similar pattern. The closest thing I can think of is Shadow of the Hegemon which, coincidentally, I just finished reading as well.

Thus far, I enjoyed Mortal Instruments more. I felt more vested in the future of the characters. Despite the fact that I’m not really much into romance novels, I did find myself rooting for Jace and Clary, as it were. In fact I was even rooting for Simon and Isabella (who doesn’t root for the nerdy underdog??) The barrier to Emma and Julian’s love seems too political and less organic. I kind of get an idea of where Clare might be taking the story and how it will likely be resolved. My current expectation is a far less dramatic resolution.

The antagonist, however, was interesting and I really enjoyed the fact that they even incorporated some of the details from the Shadowhunter Academy books. My interest as to how the story will continue is piqued but I’m not clawing at Cassandra Clare’s blog page screaming “GIVE ME BOOK TWO!” Although we will likely see book two before we see book 6 of Game of Thrones.

View all my reviews

diablo3-readingThe more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
– Dr. Seuss

Book Review: Shadow of the Hegemon

Shadow of the Hegemon (Ender's Shadow, #2)Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card
My rating: [rating=3]
See the review on Goodreads

Ender’s Game is a top 3 book for me (right up there with Ready Player One and Moby Dick). I’ve read Ender’s Game more than once, I’ve read Ender’s Shadow and I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for a couple of years. I don’t know why I waited so long to read it. I knew it wouldn’t be anything like Ender’s Game, and it wasn’t, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good book.

Shadow of the Hegemon reads kind of like a Tom Clancy novel. It’s as if the author took all the battle school kids and put them into a Rainbow Six novel. I’m not saying that is a bad thing, Tom Clancy is a fantastic author, however I just enjoyed the other two books more.

Bean was probably my favorite character from Ender’s Game, which is probably why I enjoyed Ender’s Shadow too. I think that is also why I did enjoy this book. We get to see Bean’s prowess, without Ender. We get to see that potential in him that Graff and Ender knew he had. We also get to see an interesting side of Peter and Ender’s parents. It also answered a lingering question I had after reading the other books. What happens to these children once they have returned to Earth.

View all my reviews

diablo3-readingThe more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
– Dr. Seuss

Empire (In Her Name: Redemption)

Book Review: Empire (In Her Name: Redemption)

Empire (In Her Name: Redemption, #1)Empire by Michael R. Hicks
My rating: [rating=4]
(Click here to see this review on Goodreads)

Empire is a classic example of trying out a book that I haven’t heard of before, written by an author I haven’t read before and enjoying every page. Fantasy books can often be a hit or miss but I think Empire is a definite hit. I follow Michael R. Hicks on Twitter and happened to notice he had a newsletter which I signed up for and that ultimately lead me to three free ebook downloads. Empire was one of those books.

Earth is all but destroyed. The humans are at war with an alien race of female warriors. Reza Gard survives an attack on his family, is transported to a planet for orphan children where he begins to emerge as a born leader and warrior. Then he is abducted by the same aliens that killed his family. Now he is on their home planet, where they are training him for combat, but to what end?

When you reach the end of this book you will be hooked. You will want to read more because you need to know the answers to all the questions in your mind.

The three free downloads were the first books of three of his trilogies. It was a great marketing idea because, after reading Empire, I will be picking up the two remaining books in this series. I will also, eventually pick up the other books as well (I only have so much money budgeted for books). He also just published a new book, Vulcan’s Fury: The Dark Lands, which is already getting 5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon. I think Michael R. Hicks will be another author that will be on my “read more” list.

View all my reviews

Page 7 of 13

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén