Crowtower has potential. The pacing is a little slow. It takes a while to get going and there is a discovery inInteresting first person fantasy story
Crowtower has potential. The pacing is a little slow. It takes a while to get going and there is a discovery in the reading as the reader unravels the real story. The main character, who is the storyteller, begins unaware of what is going on around him. He has died before. He begins with no memory of his past and spends time learning who he was and who he is to become. If that were the story I would have given The book a higher rating but the story meanders and becomes a first person tale of self-discovery. In this odd and dark story the author attempts to create a conspiracy and that is a bit ambitious. I like all the layers of the story. Again, I just wished that the author considered paring down all the elements to the core and allowing the peripheral storylines to be just that. All that being said that isn’t what makes the story slow and plodding. The story is told in first person and it, the attempt to describe and hold my attention as a reader in first person, becomes a little rocky. There is a lot of internal dialogue. There is a lot of dialogue and I wished for more showings than the heavy desire to tell in this story. That telling heaviness takes away from the action and attempts to build suspense. When I initially picked up the title I had high hopes that this might be a macabre and creepy story. There is a darkness and blood and milk but the violence and murders lose their punch as a report or documented event. My biggest disappointment is that for all the potential blood and gore and edge of your seat suspense in the story it is documented in a matter of fact kind of way that seems without emotional buy in from the main character and so as the reader I was not horrified or stunned or more importantly invested in the main character or his victims. I think the hardest part of the book is that the characters are not likable. I wanted to emphasize with the main character, the High Priest, but he offered nothing to care about. I think this is a book for people that read trying to figure out things and just like to read unusual books....more
The story begins one way and is filled with twists and turns as the reader learns about black power, wealth, real estate all with the backdrop of Sin The story begins one way and is filled with twists and turns as the reader learns about black power, wealth, real estate all with the backdrop of Sin City. The story challenges the idea of love, family and loyalty.
Merged review:
The story begins one way and is filled with twists and turns as the reader learns about black power, wealth, real estate all with the backdrop of Sin City. The story challenges the idea of love, family and loyalty....more
This is an ambitious effort. It is a fun and interesting story. It has a little bit of everything in it. There’Great Entry to a Fun Fantasy Adventure
This is an ambitious effort. It is a fun and interesting story. It has a little bit of everything in it. There’s a little bit of mythology sprinkled in the story as well as a familiar hero’s journey through a mythical land. It’s a very familiar story and plot but Xiang makes the familiar engaging and spellbinding. Really enjoyed the world building. The writing is at times poetic and beautiful in a good way. The various characters in the story are interesting and believable. Definitely a great fantasy series that will make you think about the desire for a perfect world. Enjoyable....more
I liked the book. It has a lot to offer. This is the third book from the series that features Philodendron, the deEnjoyable Mystery and Bit of Sci-fi
I liked the book. It has a lot to offer. This is the third book from the series that features Philodendron, the detective. This is my first time reading this book, out of order, and it was a good mystery. The premise of the story revolves around the death of a young actress who is found dead on the outskirts of the city. The story is straightforward but what makes the story interesting is the rogues gallery of potential killers who all stand to gain from the actress’s death. There are classic red herrings and as the story moves towards its conclusion we learn that the dead actress’s life is tied up in lies, corruption, and dangerous involvements with criminals. Lots to enjoy. The book could benefit from a light edit. There’s just a ton of stuff going on. There are five main suspects involved in this murder. There are some formatting issues but it doesn’t take away from the whole story. Good job. Fun story. Loved the noir feel of the story. There are some clever twists in the story that are unexpected. Really enjoyed the characters. If you’re looking for a good mystery story with a standard noir feeling check this out....more
This is a good travel guide of Japan. It hits most of the places any tourist might want to visit. It concentrates on the big cities,Good Travel Guide
This is a good travel guide of Japan. It hits most of the places any tourist might want to visit. It concentrates on the big cities, cultural, historical and nature sights that should not be missed. What was nice was the author’s advice on length of trip, itinerary, basic Japanese phrases and cultural references to avoid as an outsider. The phrase guide was really helpful as well as the ways to avoid cultural differences. The entirety of the guide has no maps of any of the cities. That is a big oversight. Would have appreciated pictures of some cities or sites. Good information but would have been better with maps or illustrations to guide or help guide new visitors to Japan....more
This is the first book of the book series. There is a bunch of world building. Enjoyed the writing and The Beginning of a Fantastic Sword and Sorcery
This is the first book of the book series. There is a bunch of world building. Enjoyed the writing and the story. This is an ambitious project. There’s so much to enjoy. The characters are interesting and believable even though it is set in Versa. Brezlin is on a quest and the trip is filled with troubles. Really enjoyed the twists and turns of the story. Again, the story is clear and very familiar if you’ve read quest novels like LOTR, Wizard of Oz or a hundred other stories where the protagonist faces a challenge. There are some moments when the story is overwritten but it’s expected as the first story in a series. A little proofreading and editing would help. There are a bunch of characters. Sometimes I found it hard to keep up with who was who. Again, understandable, but the pacing was a little uneven at times. Liked the overall story and the fight scenes in the fantasy world of Borrion. If you pick this book up just be prepared for some grammatical errors and minor annoying word choice issues....more
This is an interesting historical fiction tale about a man who gambles on his own life. Set in the 19th century,From Baseball Diamonds to Monte Carlo
This is an interesting historical fiction tale about a man who gambles on his own life. Set in the 19th century, it is a surprisingly good story about a man who decides to change his life. What I enjoyed was the view of 19th century America compared to the French Riviera. It felt like being there in all of its dust choked streets and the opulence of Monaco. The gambler, Bill, goes from a midwestern baseball player to a high stakes gambler. That part of the story and character development was handled well. It makes the gambler and the people he interacts with feel real. It is a wild story. It has a lot to appreciate. There is the historical context of the story, the gambling, and of course there is romance to keep you turning pages. Hard to believe that this really happened. Imagine. There has only been one American who was able to break the bank in Monte Carlo during the 19th century. Really enjoyed the research. Recommend to fans of historical fiction....more
Very ambitious effort. 452 pages. Lots to enjoy. Loved the world building. The characters were believableGreat Beginning to a New Dark Fantasy Series
Very ambitious effort. 452 pages. Lots to enjoy. Loved the world building. The characters were believable. There were real stakes in the story. Very creative writing. The pacing was a little uneven but the overall story held together nicely. Lots going on. Truly appreciated the dark fantasy elements. Liked how the problems each character faced was addressed differently. A very fresh dark fantasy story with some new ideas to explore this Uber rich society where people lie and cheat to steal from the rich. The story of Lax is the main story but the minor characters have weight as well. Here, I was reminded in the storytelling that there is a way to break away from the overused fantasy tropes. Well done. The play of light and dark was inventive. The idea of five fates of the various characters being entwined held my attention. I was particularly interested in the idea of finding lies as a a skill was intriguing and inspiring. Very clever writing and storytelling. Favorite part of the story is where Alaina decides to fight Arachne and realizes that things aren’t what they seem. Again, a fresh view of sword and sorcery. Really interesting read. Lots of well thought out characters that drove the narrative. Don’t want to spoil the first story but very compelling. Really liked the adventure and danger within the story. The fight scenes were great. The descriptions were very detailed. Again, hard to say anything bad about the book. Enjoyable read....more
Like the recipe elements of the book. I like the idea of a RV cookbook but the book recipes are not specific to RV liviA Cookbook But Not RV Specific
Like the recipe elements of the book. I like the idea of a RV cookbook but the book recipes are not specific to RV living. It is a good cookbook. The food choices are generic in that the meals could work for any place. The issue with the recipes are that they cannot be made easily in a RV. Space is a real issue in an RV. Yet the author suggests that RV cooks can bake cakes and create and use small or compact refrigerators to store charcuterie. The grilling section of the book was interesting but again doesn’t fit in a typical RV. Confusing cookbook. Disappointed in the delivery but still good cookbook for outdoor cooking....more
Enjoyable and Interesting Unofficial Guide for Dungeon Masters
As a long-time D&D gamer I picked this book up because I was curious about the UnofficiEnjoyable and Interesting Unofficial Guide for Dungeon Masters
As a long-time D&D gamer I picked this book up because I was curious about the Unofficial Dungeon Masters Rulebook. It is a light version of the original Dungeon Master’s Rulebook. It is a general guide using the original creators of Dungeons and Dragons as reference. It is a good general overview of the game, playing system and the story behind the game. I like the character design elements mentioned here. The guide is just that, a guide. If you want to know how to set up a D&D game, generally, then this is an okay resource. This is not a deep dive into D&D but it is a helpful look at how Dungeon Masters make adventures. Again, good overview and basic knowledge of the game but in no way the definitive guide to what it takes to be a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons....more
As a long-time D&D gamer I picked this book up trying to understand how it would be better or different from thThe General Information for Playing D&D
As a long-time D&D gamer I picked this book up trying to understand how it would be better or different from the game books and instructions offered by Gygax, the original creators of Dungeons and Dragons. Well, honestly it is not better. How can it be? It is a good general overview of the game, playing system and character design but there are just so many things that this beginner’s guide doesn’t consider. No shame. There are so many hybrids within the playing system. The guide is just that, a guide. If you want to know how to play the game, generally, then this is an okay resource. The elements of magic alone in D&D is not complete in any fashion as the creators deal with magical items, creatures, and characters. Again, good overview and basic knowledge of the game but in no way the definitive guide to Dungeons & Dragons....more
This book is a great resource for anyone unfamiliar with business idioms that are used daily in most businesses. Really likeMastering Business Idioms
This book is a great resource for anyone unfamiliar with business idioms that are used daily in most businesses. Really liked the alphabetical structure of the idioms. The book is ordered from A to Z and has a simple guide definition and examples. Just a clear and straightforward resource for anyone looking to learn the business idioms. Enjoyable read....more
Really enjoyed how this story began. Love the mystery elements. The introduction of Kai, the main character and theGreat Story but Too Many Timelines
Really enjoyed how this story began. Love the mystery elements. The introduction of Kai, the main character and the subsequent characters was strong. The mystery plot moves from mystery to a more predictable storyline later. No spoilers. The fantasy element of the story is handled well and is surprisingly enjoyable. Wished that the author held the same energy throughout the whole book. There were some slow points. Now, the parts that annoyed me in the reading stood out like a sore thumb. The pacing of the book is bogged down with a little bit of the writer trying to be clever using flashbacks to fill in gaps in the story. Would have enjoyed less exposition and more seamless storytelling. This could have been addressed when the human helpers appeared. Having read a lot about witches I know there are no witch kings. Minor annoyance. There is a lot of world building and setup that goes nowhere. There is talk of the Hierarch and it seems pointless. There are throwaway names that the author mentions but without pay off. Despite all this I still enjoyed the book. The story is still compelling and interesting enough to overcome the challenges mentioned before. If you are looking for a fun sword and sorcery tale and like witches and demons and not caught up in logical problem solving this might be a good read for you....more
A fun and imaginative story that hints of old westerns and a post- apocalyptic world. Set in the American West this iConversational Dystopian Western
A fun and imaginative story that hints of old westerns and a post- apocalyptic world. Set in the American West this is a great read as the protagonist dodges enemies and makes fast friends while trying to find his mother. Really enjoyed the pacing of the story. Fast-paced read. Well-thought out characters that strengthen the story as Coyote moves through the dystopian frontier story looking for his mother. Just a fun story that has echoes of “A Boy and His Dog” with a great imaginative story. The conversational tone of the story is enjoyable but can see how it might be a little grating if you are not a fan of that particular type of narrative. A good edit would help the structure issues that slow down the story halfway through. Still enjoyed the complexity of Coyote and his humor as well as the vision of the author. Good read. Fun story that is very descriptive. Wish the dialogue was a little more interesting and less predictable. ...more
Lots of world building. Here’s a new old world of magic created by dragons and pixies full of old races, creatures, andA Sword and Sorcerer Adventure
Lots of world building. Here’s a new old world of magic created by dragons and pixies full of old races, creatures, and monsters. This is a story about what happened to magic and how magic and the legends of magic have become myth. The stories here focus on swords and sorcery. The story is well told and imaginative. The novel has moments of attempting to better classic sword and sorcery tales. Those moments are brief and excusable as the author offers more situations that make the story fresh and exciting. This is a gamer’s tale. It is great fun. There are a few formatting issues that take away from the story’s pace. ...more
An interesting book by someone intimately familiar with narcissistic tendencies and abuse. It is a book that is grRecognizing Narcissistic Tendencies
An interesting book by someone intimately familiar with narcissistic tendencies and abuse. It is a book that is grounded in personal experiences. Very relatable. After reading this book and understanding that narcissists do not care about anyone more than themselves it is the Then Me part of the book that suggests any relationship with narcissists is all about survival. Enjoyable read. Really enjoyed the practical advice and tips from someone who had to escape a narcissistic relationship. Definitely worth a read....more
The ex-marine Maya Hartwell transformation to attorney is interesting and a twist on the idea of heartless attorneys. The protaEx-Marine Maya Hartwell
The ex-marine Maya Hartwell transformation to attorney is interesting and a twist on the idea of heartless attorneys. The protagonist’s background and perspective allows the story to be fresh and entertaining as the author tightrope walks the reader through a suspenseful courtroom drama. Maya Hartwell is a great character. Her transition from civil law to military law seems almost impossible as she attempts to defend a friend and make sure justice is served. Enjoyed Maya’s self-doubt as she comes face-to-face with a rigid military system that makes her victories more satisfying. The only dings aimed at the book lie in editing. The pacing of the book is a little uneven. There are some weird phrasings that took me out of the story and made me wonder do people really talk like that? There were some typos that need to be cleaned up. Overall, though, good read if you like a military courtroom story....more
This is not a historical read. This is historical fiction. That said, it is an interesting story about Farinas moInteresting Historical Roman Fiction
This is not a historical read. This is historical fiction. That said, it is an interesting story about Farinas moving from ancient Africa to the gladiator schools of Rome. The story is well written but hoped for a little more depth and pushing against stereotypical medieval histories. There are some good moments in the story that held my attention. I liked the relationship between Farinas and Keitha but even that relationship was not surprising or unexpected. Most of the dialogue is pretty ordinary and at times wooden, unfortunately. There are moments that the author tells when the story would have benefited from showing. Lastly, there a few jarring editorial and formatting errors that pulled me away from the story. Footnotes or a glossary of all the translations and meanings of the foreign words and phrases would have been nice. I liked the idea but the final product was not my favorite....more
This is an ambitious project. It is also a sequel to A Stellar Purpose. The author rolls in a bunch of storylines. ThiA Weighty Eco-Friendly YA Novel
This is an ambitious project. It is also a sequel to A Stellar Purpose. The author rolls in a bunch of storylines. This book as well as the first tries to address animal rights, social responsibility, as well as environmental protection. Avery, a fifteen year old girl given a weighty purpose to protect animals and help save the planet. Nothing too hard. The second book begins with a recap of the first novel. That is a good touch. Here, in the second book Avery continues her eco-fantasy adventure. We, as readers, find her on a secluded island in a five-star resort with a bunch of other people trying to continue protecting the planet and visiting the alternate parallel dimension. Enjoyed the pacing. It’s nice that the author tries to roll in real life world concerns. ...more
This is a good idea that takes the fascist beliefs of book burning and destruction of education and makes Futuristic and Youthful View of Information
This is a good idea that takes the fascist beliefs of book burning and destruction of education and makes those villains truly villains and makes the heroes children and others in this dystopian world who discover the power of books champions. Imagine a world where books are banned. It is a refreshing read even though it is not unique. Really thought the author had a good sense of balance as she tried to convey the message of the story. The pace was good. There were two digs against the book overall. The first is the sometimes wordiness of the author. A good edit would help to focus on showing more than telling. That heavy exposition and longer paragraphs slowed the reading at times. Small issue but noticeable. The second issue is the few nagging formatting issues but the story is solid as it shows the value of books....more
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