5/5 Stars, Tense, gripping, unrelenting dark fantasy
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is quite a meaty tome, and thoroughly immersive but I must admit it was so intense by the end I was almost relieved to finish it. It was like coming up for air. Something a little lighter for me next, so I can reset before moving onto Silence book 2.
It is a LitRPG, but the kind I like (I am fussy). Deep lore, real consequences and edge of your seat thrills. The story starts in that genre specific way all litRPG’s (barring The Grand Game) seem to start, where we get a to see our downtrodden hero, Felix in the real world. Dead-end job, broken relationships, poxy apartment, life is staid and dull, oh but really Felix is a nice guy that just can’t catch a break. Yep, that kind of thing. I was not gripped at this point. However, as soon as he was whisked away to the continent and the System things got super interesting super-fast.
What would you do if you suddenly found yourself on a sand spit in an acid sea in the middle of no where with no explanation and no idea where you are or what to do and the very sea tries to eat you. Yep, welcome to the continent.
From this point on, Felix’s life is one of constant danger, where even the bugs are deadly and death looms around every corner (if nature had corners). He must figure out what is happening to himself, accept his new lot and grow stronger as quickly as he can.
I have to say, I was thoroughly invested in Felix and his story which just got more nuanced and layered the deeper into the story I got. Every encounter is a skin of his teeth survival moment, and he must somehow figure it all out and me too as the reader. For me the story really ramps up another level with the introduction of other adventurers, adding depth and creating a frame to hang the story on. All of the ‘new’ adventurers are distinct and interesting and noteworthy and are on their own journeys of discovery.
The pace is moderate to start but quickly ramps up and it feels like there is no room for a breather, it is so full on. The action scenes are many, varied, brutal yet fun (in seeing how Felix deals with each challenge with his burgeoning new skills and powers). It is grim and the world the adventurers are in is very dark and some of the creatures are truly horrific (NG’s mind has some explaining to do!). For me though the finale, if I can call it that was epic, both in the battle, the narrative and the length of it. The Maw can jaw. That’s all I’m saying.
I guess you can tell from my review that the book was okay, ah who am I kidding? It was freakin’ great. I will be digging into book 2 but as I said above, I just need to decompress a bit first. Well done, Nicoli, very good!
A belated Merry Christmas to you, I hope you have a fun New Year’s celebration but a safe one whatever you are doing. My New Year’s Eve will consist of a nice glass of something and a good book to read once my wife inevitably falls asleep whilst watching a serial killer documentary. Romantic times.
This year I received a book (yeah!) for Christmas. James Islington’s The Will of the Many and I am excited to dive into it in the New Year. There is nothing better than losing yourself in a great book.
I’ve been good this xmas as well, not too many mince pies and this year I did indeed try ‘Love Actually’ and I enjoyed it, though I visit hell and damnation upon Colin Firth, that dude always gets me a bit teary eyed? To offset the sap, I also watched the Grinch, the Jim Carey version, I mean it is the best right?
Still, another year is all but over bar the party and what a year it has been. A crazy year politically and around the world. Whilst I am fortunate that my little piece of it has been untouched it has been a difficult and horrid year for many others. I hope 2026 sees a turnaround and that things pickup but if not then at least there is always a good book to lose yourself in (mine… cough, cough).
You will have noticed that my newsletters have been sparse this year as have my book reviews. I offer no excuses but will try to do better in 2026.
RECENT BOOKS I HAVE READ BUT NOT REVIEWED.
Okay, I used a similar header in last year’s newsletter but whilst thinking it was not all that catchy back then, I have come to quite like it. It’s direct and to the point which I’ve been told I need to do more of 😊
So, this year I have read 37 books. Yeah, I know, I hear you, read less write more you lazy ass (that’s me not you – you should definitely read more). You will have noticed however that I did not send out reviews for 37 books. This is mostly because they were series I was reading or continuing. Of the first time books/series I have read but not reviewed I will give you a quick break down now of those that were okay(ish):
Loremaster – Ascension of a Street Rat Books 1-3 By M.E Robinson. Cover shown is from Book 2. The first two books are 4/5 stars whilst the third is a 5/5 for me. A proper review will follow shortly.
Ember Awaken Online -Tarot Book One by Travis Bagwell. 4/5 Stars. This book was okay, the writing quality was great but the story just did not do it for me. It never captured my imagination, and I think the reason for this was the immersion into the Awaken world was not absolute. Finn, a programming AI genius and the MC had to decant from the system regularly and it just detracted from the whole thing. I mean I know none of it is real, but I did not want to be reminded every few chapters of this fact by him waking up in the real world all the time.
Scorpion’s Fury (Metal Legion 1) by C H Gideon. 4/5 stars. Sci-Fi with mechs what is not to love. It was well written, the story was decent with loads of action and plenty of military jargon for the aficionados out there that was surprisingly easy to understand and those kickass futuristic weapons. I should have given this a full review, but my rating will have to do for now. I may well read book 2.
Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo. 4/5 stars. It’s a Zombie book. The characters were good, the writing was good, the zombies were good the action was good. There was a lot of good in this book. It’s just that well, other than the freaky ass Zombie queen it was pretty vanilla. A fun read on a rainy afternoon with no hint of a zombie apocalypse on the horizon…. But that’s when they usually start right? Oh and there is 10 books in the series.
The Path of Ascension by C Mantis. 5/5 stars. Orphan makes good, rags to riches LitRPG story that I really enjoyed. I should of given this a proper review rather than just a rating but life was busy back then. I kind of stopped on book 3 because these are long ass books and I was a bit meh after reading 2000 pages of it but I may well return for book 4 at some future date.
BOOKS I TRIED TO READ BUT DNF’d – Another catchy header!
Induction by Sean Oswald
Unexpected Healer by Jonathan Brooks. YA book.
Hellbreaker Book 1 by Unberogen Daboss – Daboss? Really? Just no bro, no.
Apocalypse Regression by R A Mejia.
Defiance of the Fall by Thefirstdefier
MY BOOK OF THE YEAR
This is an easy shout. I have read and posted my review of the Grand Game by Tom Elliot, a LitRPG for me that is as good as any I have ever read. It by far and away the best new book I have read this year and I have hovered through all 9 books in the series, each adding more nuance and depth. If LitRPG is your jam then this is masterful and you should give it a try.
So my Book of the Year Winner is…
The Grand Game by Tom Elliot. 5/5 Stars. Fun read, fast action, great story and brilliant characters. A masterful piece of story telling that I enjoyed way to much. I mean it should be illegal for a story to be this compelling in a sub genre of fantasy that is filled with well…. Fluff. It was nice to find a diamond in all that.
I am still deep into writing book four of the Morhudrim Cycle – Chaos Reign
I had hoped to have finished the first draft by now and my original intention of releasing at the end of 2025 is well and truly down the toilet. It has been a busy year for me and the time I would love to have devoted to writing is not what it should have been or what I wished for. This volume too has been tricky to write, getting the different story arcs threaded and plots coming together and it has taken a few more pages than expected. In fact, volume 4 is going to be the largest book yet (sorry!) but I am nearing the end of the first draft. Maybe… Hopefully….
There is not much else to report really. I have not done much marketing (any) or promotion (any) other than on my website, facebook author page and X. So, if you love my books then please help spread the love by telling your mates or even people at the bus stop, on the train! you know the routine.
As ever, thank you for your support. It means the world to me and I really, really appreciate it. May you find peace, love and a good book to read in 2026.
4/5 Stars, With a psychotic hero, this was a surprisingly fun read
First up, I enjoyed this book, more so as I got deeper into the story but I will say it did start in that rather cliched way of being in our world one minute and somewhere else the next with nobody any the wiser as to what the heck just happened or why. That is not a bad thing in this genre per se, long introductory openings are rare and let’s face it superfluous. Like all good action movies, you just want to buckle up for the ride.
That said and done Ilia, the story’s protagonist, came across as pretty shallow and two-dimensional and dare I say it, yes I dare, a little bit of a psychopath. Why is that? Well, I found for the first three-quarters of the book Ilia revelled in levelling at any cost, even torturing herself and taking on ridiculous challenges that should have crushed her. Self-absorbed, narcissisticly so and happy, almost gleeful at beating a creature or person to death without fear or consequence. I never felt her life was in jeopardy and that removed an edge that would have elevated this story from the beginning. She did not play well with others and was a lone wolf, another cliché but all good stuff, my criticism is it felt such an abrupt departure from her mundane life, she had a remnant of a moral compass left but let’s just say she didn’t check it that much. It wasn’t until the last quarter of the book that I felt some real emotion and anxiety from her for her fellow humans. To exhibit guilt and fear and a whole range of emotions that frankly she previously lacked. This to me is what saved this book along with the actual threat that yes, she could die here.
I also, as a long-time RPG gamer, had a somewhat difficult time accepting that Ilia could beat a mob or creature not just a few levels above her own but in some cases hundreds of levels higher. I mean comeon, I struggled to beat Hogger in WoW as a level 7 paladin, so a boss many hundreds of times higher than your own is going to pummel you with an AOE ground stomp you cannot escape. Rant over. Once I accepted this was not WoW but its own story and just went with it, the fights were pretty well done and plentiful. Very plentiful.
Her class was a battle healer and was, cliché alert, a nigh unheard-of talent that allowed her to battle with her fists in close-quarters combat but also heal herself and others. She was pretty badass and one great thing about LitRPG is that it is an instant leveller, literally so. A five-foot-five-inch heroine can outmuscle and outfight anyone regardless of sex, height, bone density, muscle mass etc. Hey, don’t look at me like that it’s magic, not physics. So as you can imagine, stats play a big part in everything and the stat and ability displays were excellent, easy to comprehend and follow.
The actual story was kind of like one big-level grind but without the ‘go kill ten sheep’ bit. In the beginning, Illia stumbles upon a temple unlocks her unique class and spends a long time learning her abilities and levelling. This was all fine, I like that time was taken for this part of the story but Ilia and her class were so overpowered I never feared she might die and neither did she!
I am not sure where this story is heading. There were the villainous elves but other than that no stereotypical bad guy or black agency lurking in the shadows plotting against her. No dark lord waiting in the wings to defeat. It felt more like a journey of discovery, she didn’t know where she was going or what she was going to do next until she got there and that is pretty much how it ended.
If you like LitRPG you will probably like this book. If you like a kickass female lead you will probably like this book but have patience with it because it is a long, though fun, read.
4/5 Stars Masterfully penned, vividly brutal, wonderfully unique fantasy
I borrowed this book from my son who recommended it to me and after hearing much about it I was intrigued to give it a read. I love Asian-inspired fantasy and historical fiction, R E Feists’ and Janny Wurts’, Daughter of the Empire Series and James Clavell’s Shogun being two of my favourites.
It is easy to see the parallels drawn in this book to ancient China. The Nikan Empire being China utilising the 12 Chinese zodiac signs for each province (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar). The Mugen Federation is Japan and Speer, Taiwan (maybe) but set to an obvious mythological fantasy theme.
It centres around our young hero, Rin, a dark-skinned peasant girl from Rooster province who is a war orphan. Rin passes the Keju – the test to find the most talented students in the Empire for training in the prestigious Sinegard academy in the capital and is set against the backdrop of a looming menace in the east, the Mugen, who are warlike and threatening an invasion and a third Poppy War. It’s the title of the book so you can kind of guess what happens.
First of all, the book is masterfully penned, you get a real sense of old-world China and the seedy underbelly that exists in big towns and cities, the crime and squalor of the poor. The corruption, aggrandisement and self-interest of the rich and powerful, wonderfully underpins it all. Rin is a young girl, smart and quick-witted but one with few choices of her own. At best destined to a servile life married to whichever merchant pays her bride price and at worse to a brothel, Rin forces her own path and chooses her own destiny. But with each decision she makes she is confronted with harder choices and newfound fears.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rin’s journey and the careful construction of events which unfold throughout the story. There are twists and turns, great protagonists and antagonists abounding, all with a mythical hint of ancient gods and shamanistic magics in play that felt wonderfully unique. This is not a book for the faint of heart though. Many scenes, especially from Act 2 onwards are very graphic and visually brutal, painting a grim and dark picture of war and the wickedness and gratuitous violence that one human can do to another. It is an allegory in many ways of what is going on in the world today.
However, as much as I enjoyed this book and as much as it was uncomfortable to read sometimes, which I mean in a good way (because it makes you think and feel) there was a tiny part of me that was unsatisfied. It stemmed from my expectation that this was a military fantasy and in many ways, it was and is. But I felt the military actions lacked in depth and execution, narratively speaking. Some scenes were imaginatively told but I could not square them in my head, they seemed unrealistic or out of scene. For instance, a street battle in a city at one point had troops retreating into the forest which made no sense. Likewise, I question the ability of some of the events to have occurred, especially given what was read and what transpired. The eradication of the Speerlies in a single day for example seems nigh on impossible when they had shamans and were the foremost fighters in the realm. A day seems rather fanciful at the least. Also, the martial arts scenes were peripherally told, nuanced rather than detailed and I would have preferred a bit more detail.
That aside though, and moving with the story, I enjoyed the tale very much. It is an easy read but serious and thought-provoking and the story and the immense consequences of Rin’s actions will stay with me until I read the next book. Surely it can’t get any darker?
This is a young coming-of-age book but there is not much light in the telling and consequently is not suitable for young readers in my opinion. I will finish by saying that R.F. Kuang is a supremely gifted storyteller in my eyes and very talented and if you like your fantasy dark then you would do well to give this fresh and original book a try.
P.S. A final footnote for my subscribers. The first three books of the Morhudrim Cycle (comprising Rivers Run Red, Shadows Fall and Darkness Resides are on a Kindle Countdown deal on Amazon.com and Amazon.uk for 0.99 each until the 27th of May. Please help me generate a few sales by spreading the news to friends and family who might be interested in my fantasy books. Thank you.)
Well, it has been a little while since my last review and it’s not my fault, really it’s not. I blame Tom Elliot because I have had my nose stuck in his Grand Game Series and I lost track of time. Sooo…. it looks like I have a new author to wax lyrical about. I blew through all 8 volumes in six weeks and I am thinking of doing it all again if my withdrawal symptoms get too bad.
Over the past few years I have, by and large, enjoyed my LitRPG but few of them have lived up to my first experience in the genre ‘He Who Fights With Monsters’ by Shirtaloon and many frankly have been repetitive, not very engaging past the first few books, overpowered, overhyped and fallen (for me) by the wayside. But my word, Tom Elliot knocked this series out of the park and thankfully he is not done yet.
The story starts with no fluff, no back story and no Mr Nice Guy with a sorry past, because other than his name, Michael, our protagonist knows nothing at all about himself or where he is from let alone the world he finds himself in. It begins with him falling through a void of nothingness only to awaken in a strange world he does not recognise or understand. So begins Michael’s journey in the Grand Game.
This is a portal adventure, that barely pauses for breath. The character levelling is typical but also quite nuanced and very detailed such that it can fill a few pages but at the same time is easy to follow. The opening book deals primarily with a dungeon crawl, a proving ground in which few survive the many challenges and whilst most of the players band together for strength in numbers Michael, not knowing anything or anyone and certainly not who to trust, goes it alone. It’s a harsh lesson but in the crucible of fire, you are tempered or you are broken (That is my line – I did not pinch it from the book, honest, in fact I might use it in myself in my own writing, it sounds like something Hiro would say or Keeper). Anyhow… back to the review… As Michael adapts to this new reality, the only one he now knows, he learns more about not just the dungeon he is in but the Powers that rule.
I found the story riveting. The books are one big continuous tale, indeed the chapters follow on from each book. As he progresses, Michael will learn a bit about the adjudicator, the mysterious entity that oversees the Grand Game and about the machinations of the many Powers that rule and the Factions of Light, Dark and Shadow that balance the world. He will navigate alliances, find friends in unlikely places, make many enemies and uncover along the way the hidden history of the Forever Kingdom and his purpose in it.
It has been a while since I have blown through a series as quickly as this one. I found it utterly compelling. The world-building is well done and gradually introduced as we see the world through Michael’s eyes and learn as he learns.
This is a LitRPG, and there are many nods to fantasy gaming, MMOs and the like so if that is not your bag then this book may not be to your liking. However, if you do, or if you are curious about LitRPG I couldn’t think of a better series to sink your teeth into. Be warned though, there is a lot of blood-letting along with our hero’s daring-do but it is more than just that. Trust me, give it ago and I think you might just find a new favourite too.
I haven’t read a paranormal Fantasy for a while and I was intrigued enough by the synopsis and the reviews for Sleight of Hand to give it a go. I confess my last binge into this genre was Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files which I absolutely loved, particularly the first 8 or so volumes and so Mark Henwick had a lot to live up to and I am pleased to say he did, pretty much.
No spoilers, but our protagonist is Amber Farrell a paranormal P.I. in Denver. She was bitten by a vampire but has not turned, yet, which creates a nice ticking timebomb throughout the story. Will she turn? If she does what does becoming a vampire mean? She is desperate not to lose who she is but at the same time, she’s got bills to pay and being half-vamp has its advantages.
I really enjoyed the story, our heroine is suitably badass and had the cliched ticks to start with, ex-special forces, a loner and a back story that teases and tantalises some of which is revealed throughout her adventures. This aspect of the book was very well done. I liked the reveals and the growing nods to her ex-military pals. It was well done. This though is all foundational and solid as it is it is the case she is on that is the main rider of this book.
Having just finished a tricky case that did not end particularly well for her client, Amber looks to be on her downs. A lack of money leaves her struggling to meet her obligations until a wealthy businesswoman walks through her doors and offers her a job she can’t refuse, not least because she can’t afford to turn it away.
The case involves a missing chef and a motorcycle gang-turned-drug cartel looking to ruin her client’s business and reputation but why and to what end? And of course, hidden behind it all is a plethora of supernatural perils; werewolves, warring vampire factions and magic. Somewhere in this new world, Amber has to not only survive but find her place in it.
It is well-written and edited. The story flows at a relentless and action-packed pace that kept me fully engaged. I think this may be my next paranormal fantasy binge! As an aside, I like that the editor Lauren Sweet gets a mention alongside the author’s name. It is a nice touch and good to see.
If you like paranormal urban fantasy books (Vampires, werewolves and all things magical set in a modern world) or you are intrigued and want to try something in this genre then I can highly recommend this book to you.
I hope this finds you well and that you had (as Bill and Ted would say) a most excellent Christmas. If you were really good and fortunate you got a book from Santa. Unfortunately, I must have been on the naughty list, no books for me ☹
I ate too many mince pies and had enough chocolate to fill a shoebox. I binged Squid Games and watched ‘The Holiday’ for the first time and I confess, it was pretty good. I balanced that out by watching ‘Zombieland Doubletap’ straight afterwards which I also recommend. I think next year I might try ‘Love Actually’, another Christmas classic which I have never seen. I must admit here, that my idea of settling in to watch a movie at Christmas usually consists of putting on Lord Of The Rings or something non Christmassy. Maybe I am mellowing.
Still, it’s over now for another year and 2025 is upon us. Here’s hoping for a joyful and prosperous year for all of us.
RECENT BOOKS I HAVEN’T REVIEWED.
Okay, I admit the above banner needs a bit of work, it is not all that catchy.
So I have been finishing installing a new downstairs toilet and basin, tiling etc, etc (that’s what happens when you’re married, you get jobs left and right) so I have not had much time on my hands to write many book review’s though I have posted ratings on Amazon and Goodreads.
Below is a list of books I have read but not reviewed along with a brief summary and my rating. You know the drill, click on the pic or link if any catch your eye and give them a try.
Saint Justice by Mike Grist– 4/5 Stars (Adult) An action Thriller in the mould of Jack Reacher. You know the drill, ex-CIA black ops, anti-establishment kickass guy with a strict honour code who has the obligatory colourful back story. It starts well, our protagonist Chris Wren is betrayed by his own in a drugs meet with a cartel. He exacts bloody and brutal revenge and that is just chapter One. The story is fun and non-stop action but I must confess I had to suspend my credulity more and more as the story unfolded. I mean, it got so implausibly big so quick. It’s like Hollywood got hold of the second half of the script and added lots of bangs and explosions. Not sure I will continue with the next book, I have a dozen Reacher books to read yet that will do it better.
The System Apocalypse Books 1-3: The Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG Fantasy Series (The System Apocalypse Omnibus Book 1) by Tao Wong – 5/5 Stars (Adult). Good Lord that is a chunky title. The winner of ‘How many times can you get apocalypse in your book title’ goes to Tao Wong. Title aside I thoroughly enjoyed this 3 book release. It is great value and an even better read. It is the fairly standard ‘world-gets-taken-over-by-technologically-advanced-aliens’ trope. Yawn. However, that aside it is a fun and brutal read. John (nice and simple) is camping out in the wild when the world as he knows it ends. Where he is, has suddenly become a high-danger zone of monster manifestations and he’ll be lucky to survive (Spoiler alert – he does). The story exceeded my expectations, it was well-written, the characters nuanced and engaging and the fight scenes intense. Give it a go – it is a whole lot of fun.
Unnatural Laws (The Whispering Crystals: A LitRPG Series Book 1) by H.C. Mills– 4/5 Stars (Adult, YA). I know, I know, another LitRPG but this one is pretty decent. The protagonist is female (which is a nice change from most) called Emma and the system is very well constructed and thought out. Emma and the other players are not OP (overpowered, come on keep up nerds) and it is a real struggle. I also read the second book ‘Unusual Enemies’ and rate it similarly. Emma is fun, wisecracking and a bit of a masochist truth be told. Well written and executed and overall very enjoyable but it just missed the mark for me for a 5-star.
He Who Fights Monsters 10 by Shirtaloon – 5/5 Stars (Adult) – Just catching up on a series I love. It is awesome although each book gets a little darker and grimmer. I appreciate the physiological toll it takes on Jason. The mental anguish as well as physical ordeals he goes through. Great characters, and great depth. Read Book 1 if you haven’t already.
MY BOOK OF THE YEAR
It feels like slim pickings this year. I can’t say there have been any out-and-out standouts vying for my arbitrary and ultimately pointless title of book of the year. I’m not even going to bother to tease you with a top 3. So I will get straight to it.
My Book of the Year Winner is…
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. 5/5 Stars. Good fun silliness, fun story, exciting and often gory action and different. Oh, and it has a talking cat called Princess Donut (As funny as that sounds trust me, it is not a Terry Pratchett esc humourist book but it has plenty of fun moments in it that will make you laugh). Check out my full review.
THE MORHUDRIM CYCLE
I am deep into writing book four Chaos Reign.
Book one Rivers Run Red is getting a re-edit – nothing major just a bit of fine-tuning.
There is not much else to report really. I hope to pick up my writing pace now the ‘toilet project’ is finished. I have not done much marketing (any) or promotion (any) other than on my website, facebook author page and X. If you love my books then please help spread the love by telling your mates or even people at the bus stop!
As ever, thank you for your support. I appreciate it. Cheers and may you have a great year!
I’ve had this book on my reading list for a while and I was overdue a sci-fi read so here we are.
It’s pretty softcore sci-fi, with the science and tech easy to follow with enough to it that it satisfied my itch. It is a coming-of-age tale that is well suited to a young adult audience and is set on Mars as the title suggests in a space naval academy. It was interesting because in a time where genetically engineered humans are the norm the protagonist Henry Gallant is not, he is a ‘Normal’ the only one in the academy. This led to many of his fellow cadets discriminating against him, despite his gifts and performance being more than a match for them. It was a nice allegory to life today in many respects.
The story itself is told in a fairly straightforward, somewhat perfunctory manner, moving from one scene to the next with very little jam in the filling. By that I mean the story moved from one act to the next which were sometimes months apart with nothing in between. Also, I didn’t get to feel Gallant’s emotions or thoughts other than in an overarching way, usually, a one or two-line sentence to indicate his feelings and I would have liked this to have been explored more. Despite that, however, Henry Gallant is still an engaging character. He is honourable and conscientious and not afraid to face every challenge. I rooted for him, I just wanted to feel a bit more.
There was a clear divarication between the good guys and the bad guys as well, making it easy to know who to root for. There was no swearing, the violence was peripheral with no gore or blood so it is suitable for all ages. There are 9 books in the series where you get to follow Henry Gallant throughout his naval career and I may well do so if only to find out more about the aliens. Aliens? I forgot to mention, there are aliens too although we do not see much of them in this opening volume.
All in all, it was an easy read, and the story ticked over at a good pace. If you like the sound of that why not give it a try?
A very enjoyable all-action thriller set in the United Kingdom. Connor Reed our protagonist is an interesting character not least because he comes across as a little psychotic at times. Quick-witted and intelligent Connor seems to enjoy causing pain to those who deserve it. What he does certainly doesn’t give him bad dreams and he doesn’t hesitate about doing what needs to be done. He feels a bit like James Bond if Joe Abercrombie wrote him.
I don’t think this book will be for everyone, probably a marmite kind of thing. It reeks of male testosterone. If you loved the Commando comics when you were a boy then you will probably love this since it is very alpha-male.
Connor is a Royal Marine with the marine code of honour running through him, however, he comes from a gentlemen-crook background, where his father runs a criminal enterprise but in a vaguely moralistic way which is designed I guess to make him sound like one of those nice criminals, it’s fiction remember! It reads better than I am making it sound but it did feel like there was a checklist of things that Connor had to be. Ladies man tick, badass tick, honour code tick, patriot tick, warrior tick, you get the idea.
The story itself is pretty good, although some may say a little unlikely but only as unlikely as say Mission Impossible is unlikely and who doesn’t like Mission Impossible? The characters were very credible and the dialogue between them flowed smoothly.
Overall I enjoyed the book. I am a Jack Reacher fan and this book has been compared by others to it but I disagree with them. Reacher is a lone wolf whereas Connor is the sharp end of a covert organisation so not the same, apart from the testosterone.
As I usually recommend, take a look inside and read the opening scene. It will give you a taste of what is to come.
It’s been a while since I last posted, I hope this finds you well.
Coming up in this newsletter:
Mindless rambling
Book News and Deals
Book reviews
Mindless Rambling
Thanksgiving is just around the corner for my US friends and followers, the starting gun for the run into Christmas, which over here in the UK has already begun in earnest in the shops and on the high street.
I like the idea of Thanksgiving. It sounds the most altruistic of the yearly holidays to me. The idea of spending the day with family and friends and eating a ton of food. It sounds a lot like my Christmas day but without the overbearing need to give gifts to people who don’t need anything just for the sake of it. As my mother-in-law likes to tell me, when she was a tiny girl she got an apple in a stocking and that was it. I’m not suggesting we go back to that… or am I? It’s nice to spoil the little ones, but it’s too much and too excessive these days it seems to me. (Ah, first-world problems.)
Anywho, sorry to wax on. This is a fantasy newsletter so up your game Greenie!
Book News and Deals
I am having a special, 0.99 Kindle Countdown deal from the 28th of November through to the 5th of December on all 3 books, released so far in the Morhudrim Cycle. This deal is only available in the US and UK, which is an Amazon restriction. Again, I must apologize to the rest of the world for this slight but I’m pointing the finger here at you know who.
So look, instead of giving an apple for Christmas (see Mindless Rambling above) why not give an ebook? It’s for life and makes a great gift and everyone is digital these days, right? (not for the kiddies though).
Click on the pretty books to get the links on Amazon.
As for book 4, Chaos Reigns, I am progressing steadily (slower than I would like but it’s complicated) and I am really happy with where I am at.
Books Reviews
I have been tardy lately with my book reviews. This is mostly because I have been catching up on some series I have read, like He Who Fights Monsters and The Bladeborn Saga. Series that I highly recommend to you all.
I have not been totally barren of new fantasy reads, I just wasn’t taken away enough with any of the books I read to write a full review. Here are a couple of honourable mentions:
Qing’s Quest 1: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure – It was an okay read. A little too obvious in the plot but the action was fun. If you like YA/Adult LitRPG take a look for yourself. I rated it 4 stars.
Wrong Divinity: Oh Sh*t! I F*cking Hate Spiders! – Okay I confess I picked this up on a whimsy because the title made me laugh. I mean comeon! It has Sh*t and F*ck in the title AND not one but two exclamation marks which seem to be a theme in the author’s book names. This is a role reversal LitRPG where the bad guys (goblins et al) are good and the good guys are not so much. It was kind of fun but it just wasn’t my thing. I feel a bit jaded with LitRPG at the moment. I rated it 4 stars.
Well, that’s it, folks. I might squeeze a Christmas/New Year newsletter out with my book of the year announcement so keep an eye out for it. Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it and Merry Christmas to All (Just in case this is it for the year).
Stay Safe, Be Happy. Love and Peace.
P.S. As ever, if you want to reach out and say hello or discuss my books (good, bad or otherwise) you can reach me or follow me on:
A D Green 