A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

Category: Fantasy Page 4 of 5

Empire (In Her Name: Redemption)

Book Review: Darkfever

Darkfever (Fever, #1)Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
My rating:[rating=3]
(Click here to read this review on Goodreads)

This was another one of those books I snagged for free, probably from Book Bub. The book starts kind of slow. I had a hard time with the main character ultimately having some kind of supernatural abilities. She seemed like such a plain Jane/fashionista, which may have been the author’s intention. When Mac was described as having pink fingernails and ostentatious clothing, I started envisioning Reese Witherspoon from Legally Blonde.

I never stop reading a book; once I start it I intend to finish it no matter how horrid I think the book is. This book was not horrid, just slow to get started. By the end, however, I was starting to get hooked. In fact, under the right circumstances, I may even be inclined to pick up the next book to see what happens next.

While I may be off to a slow start with this author, that doesn’t mean I would turn away from anything else Moning has written. On the contrary, I would probably feel quite compelled to read it.

View all my reviews

Empire (In Her Name: Redemption)

Book Review: Blood and Masks

Blood and Masks (Neva Cora, #1)Blood and Masks by Alex Ziebart
My rating: [rating=4]
(Click here to see this review on Goodreads.)

If you’re a gamer, specifically MMOs like World of Warcraft, then you will enjoy this book. If you happen to read Blizzard Watch frequently then you should know this author. Alex Ziebart is the Editor-in-Chief and owner of the Blizzard Watch blog site. This book was his debut novel as a fantasy author.

I’d say, for a newbie author, his first book was well done. I haven’t read a lot of fantasy novels but the world he created in Blood and Masks seemed pretty unique to me. That’s not to say he didn’t borrow from the vast world of fantasy races, but he doesn’t violate any canon rules (i.e. elves). He does create his own class of fantasy race called “minari”, which does have some “demon hunter” influence but still remains unique. The minari world Ziebart creates is intriguing and I hope to learn more about their kind in future novels.

I hope this novel brings Alex success and motivation to continue writing fantasy. I think, with Blood and Masks, he is off to a great start.

Recommended for any fantasy reader.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Fairest

Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles, #3.5)Fairest by Marissa Meyer

My rating: [rating=4]
(Go to goodreads to see this review there)

Although fairly short, this book was well worth the read. It gives you an interesting look into the confused mind of Levana. It also provides a little bit of interesting backstory to other characters from the series as well as some of the plot elements critical to the story.

Reading about Levana does create an emotional dichotomy for the reader because you almost want to feel bad for her when you realize why its so critical for Lunars to use their “gift” more wisely. Unfortunately by the end Levana has pretty much gone as mad as Ahab and will stop at nothing to get her “white whale”.

Reading this book does make me excited for Winter (which doesn’t come out until this fall). The chronological value of this books is 3.5 so I would read it in that same order. It’s not really a book that needs to be read as a prequel.

Oh, and if you haven’t read any of the Lunar Chronicle books, you need to get right on that now!

View all my reviews

Book Review: Clockwork Princess

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

My rating: [rating=3]
(See this review on Goodreads.)

I’m glad that I read this series, especially after having read all of The Mortal Instruments books. Honestly, the epilogue in this book is what really wraps the series up nicely. I think my biggest criticism about this book is there was a lot of the mushy romance, which isn’t really a theme that appeals to me.

I did enjoy discovering the source of Jace’s charming disposition and even the origin of Isabella’s necklace and Church the cat. Tessa’s use of her “gift” during the climatic standoff was pretty epic in-and-of-itself. It actually had me saying “wow” out loud; I love it when a book elicits an involuntary, audible reaction.

All-in-all I like the author’s integration of her “Shadowhunter” lore with the mythical lore of warewolves, vampires and fae. Again, as a guy reading these books, I didn’t find the sentimentality as appealing which I found was more what these books focused on. Needed more action, less romance.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Clockwork Prince

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

My rating:[rating=3]
(See this review on Goodreads.)

I’ll admit that I was a little concerned about reading the second book since the first one was a little slow and the writing hardly held my interest at times. I honestly enjoyed this book more than the first one, however the writing still seems a little sub-par compared to The Mortal Instruments. I am finding myself feeling more vested into the fates of the characters regardless of the fact that I know some of the genealogical links to the characters in Mortal Instruments.

I still suggest that you read the latter before the former. There is still some mystery as to how certain relationships come about (although one relationship in particular seems to be a very familiar dynamic to Clary and Jace … in fact I might even go so far as to say its practically identical). In fact I think the knowledge you have from Mortal Instruments is probably what compels me to continue reading.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

My rating: [rating=3]
Click here to go to this review on Goodreads.

It was slow at the start but eventually picked up, however I found the story in The Mortal Instruments to be a much more compelling story. Granted Mortal Instruments was set in the modern world and Infernal Devices takes place some time in the 1800s, so perhaps the setting made it easier to enjoy the former.

Obviously, chronologically, Infernal Devices takes place long before Mortal Instruments but I would recommend reading the latter first. Infernal Devices does contain some origin stories and the main characters are the ancestors of the characters from Mortal Instruments, but I found this book far more interesting after having read the other series first.

I do hate to say it though, the writing seems a little weaker in this book than it did in the other series. Perhaps it was the slow start to the book.

View all my reviews

Page 4 of 5

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén