RATING: THREE STARS
Left for dead in the ruins of a desolate world, Richard B. Riddick is alone and wild. He is little more than a child who survives in the brutal rainforests of Furya. His people would not be cowed by the Necromongers and fought until the last, until nothing remained except a newborn babe who was strangled by his own umbilical chord during his birth and left for dead.
Riddick was alone, until Waters and her team managed to find him. An elite squad of marines sent from Earth to investigate the rumours surrounding Furya's fall, they decide to bring Riddick back to their home when they finally return. Riddick is quickly pushed into the marines by Waters, whose unparalleled physical abilities quickly turn those he trains with against him . . .
The Good
Angela B. Marcala-Guajardo has done a fair job with this work of fan fiction and has created an interesting story into Riddick's origins, although I'm not sure whether these are her own ideas or if she has merely pieced a story together from what the creators of the Riddick franchise have already established. Regardless, the story paints an interesting picture of the Furyan's early life and I enjoyed reading about a man who, after watching the films, has become my favourite anti-hero protagonist.
The story is far from a long one and it probably didn't take much more than an hour for me to read on and off, but it has a good pace for a novella and Marcala-Guajardo has a good balance between descriptive prose, dialogue and events so the book was never stale.
The Bad
Sadly, Ghosts of Furya falls into the classic pitfall of many indie books and is riddled with grammatical and spelling errors. While this isn't a major issue, there were too many to be overlooked. I am an indie writer myself (publishing works under the name of Taylor P. Davidson), which may have made me a little pedantic about this and I found the mistakes subtracted from the story at times.
Another aspect with the book I didn't like was Marcala-Guajardo's use of words such as 'gonna' and 'gimme' in her normal prose. I'm not really a fan of authors doing this and, although I hate to say it, believe it makes for bad writing. It's reflective of how people speak so I can see why it's used, but Marcala-Guajardo over did it and I think such a technique has no place in descriptive prose, which quickly became old and irritating.
My Thoughts
Despite a few flaws that affected my enjoyment of Ghosts of Furya, it was a good read and provides an interesting look into Riddick's early years. It's a short book that is quick to read, making it perfect for any Chronicles of Riddick fan who's looking to kill a bit of time.
Friday 14 August 2015
Sunday 9 August 2015
The Path of Daggers - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOUR STARS
Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, The Lord of the Morning, the storm prophesied to bring doom to the Dark One, to reseal him in the accursed prison Shayol Ghul. But he has grown arrogant and cold in his power. Gone is the carefree and modest boy he was when his life was that of a simple farmer, before Ishmael touched the world for the first time since the Age of Legends. He sheds no tears now and thinks nothing of dealing judgement and death. He is a ruler, wearing stolen crowns upon his brow. He is a general, leading vast armies that fight and die in his name. He is the Dragon Reborn; the world will both weep and rejoice at his passing.
Sitting upon the throne of Ilian, Rand seethes at the Seanchan invasion of Arad Doman. He has a war to prepare and can't continue to fight it on so many fronts. The Shaido Aiel are everywhere and are as insidious as ever. Many of the Forsaken still make their plans against him and the White Tower, even divided, is determined to use him. Too many fronts and too little time. So Rand decides to strike out at the Seanchan and drive them into the sea in a repeat of his victory at Falme. Legions of damane, shackled women who are powerful in the One Power, walk with them and Rand seeks another trump card should his Asha'man fail. He looks to use an artefact of legend to his advantage, not understanding its power or the strange illness that's afflicting all those who can touch the Source. He makes his first mistake, one that may shatter the Black Tower and breed him more enemies than allies. Worse still, the Bowl of Winds has been used. The unnatural long summer that has afflicted the lands has broken into storms and blizzards that leaves whole armies shivering in their wake. Winter is coming and the Dragon Reborn is more alone than ever . . .
The Good
Once again, Robert Jordan has created a seamless masterpiece of high fantasy. His world and characters are rich and detailed to the point where I'm beginning to understand his major protagonists as people. It's interesting how each character and faction have their own relatively selfish goals and dilemmas in their various storylines, which all work to defeat the Dark One, yet have very different mechanisms and outcomes. They work with Rand because it suits their end rather than blindly following him, which is redolent of real life where people work to benefit themselves as much as others and adds a real edge of realism to The Path of Daggers and Wheel of Time as a whole. With the notable exception of George R. R. Martin, this is something many authors overlook and fantasy protagonists are often simply just amazingly altruistic.
I also like how Jordan's been developing Rand's character throughout the series and just how much he has changed has become evident in this book. The events Rand has survived through, along with the burden of saving the world and fulfilling the Karaethon Cycle, have taken their toll. Add that to the insanity that stems from using saidin and nobody could remain the same, which creates one of the most fascinating and deepest layers of the story.
The Bad
Sadly, the last few books in The Wheel of Time have been following a trend where nothing much really happens for large parts of it. The Path of Daggers has fallen into the same pitfall and is predominately telling a story of people walking around and talking. Once again, it seems to be laying the ground work for future events rather than carrying the story forward itself. However, it's worth noting that the story picks up towards its end and I have the feeling that Jordan is going to break this mandate soon, allowing The Wheel of Time to grow as exciting and addictive as it was in its early books.
My Thoughts
The Path of Daggers is a fantastic read and don't let my criticism of it being slow put you off it or The Wheel of Time as a whole. Set against a stunning backdrop that even rivals New Zealand as Middle Earth, the book is full of epic struggle, betrayals, failure and success. It's got swords and battles and users of magic, being a masterful work of fantasy. I can't wait to continue the series with Winter's Heart, its ninth instalment, and can't stress enough how anyone who likes fantasy needs to begin their adventure into The Wheel of Time.
Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, The Lord of the Morning, the storm prophesied to bring doom to the Dark One, to reseal him in the accursed prison Shayol Ghul. But he has grown arrogant and cold in his power. Gone is the carefree and modest boy he was when his life was that of a simple farmer, before Ishmael touched the world for the first time since the Age of Legends. He sheds no tears now and thinks nothing of dealing judgement and death. He is a ruler, wearing stolen crowns upon his brow. He is a general, leading vast armies that fight and die in his name. He is the Dragon Reborn; the world will both weep and rejoice at his passing.
Sitting upon the throne of Ilian, Rand seethes at the Seanchan invasion of Arad Doman. He has a war to prepare and can't continue to fight it on so many fronts. The Shaido Aiel are everywhere and are as insidious as ever. Many of the Forsaken still make their plans against him and the White Tower, even divided, is determined to use him. Too many fronts and too little time. So Rand decides to strike out at the Seanchan and drive them into the sea in a repeat of his victory at Falme. Legions of damane, shackled women who are powerful in the One Power, walk with them and Rand seeks another trump card should his Asha'man fail. He looks to use an artefact of legend to his advantage, not understanding its power or the strange illness that's afflicting all those who can touch the Source. He makes his first mistake, one that may shatter the Black Tower and breed him more enemies than allies. Worse still, the Bowl of Winds has been used. The unnatural long summer that has afflicted the lands has broken into storms and blizzards that leaves whole armies shivering in their wake. Winter is coming and the Dragon Reborn is more alone than ever . . .
The Good
Once again, Robert Jordan has created a seamless masterpiece of high fantasy. His world and characters are rich and detailed to the point where I'm beginning to understand his major protagonists as people. It's interesting how each character and faction have their own relatively selfish goals and dilemmas in their various storylines, which all work to defeat the Dark One, yet have very different mechanisms and outcomes. They work with Rand because it suits their end rather than blindly following him, which is redolent of real life where people work to benefit themselves as much as others and adds a real edge of realism to The Path of Daggers and Wheel of Time as a whole. With the notable exception of George R. R. Martin, this is something many authors overlook and fantasy protagonists are often simply just amazingly altruistic.
I also like how Jordan's been developing Rand's character throughout the series and just how much he has changed has become evident in this book. The events Rand has survived through, along with the burden of saving the world and fulfilling the Karaethon Cycle, have taken their toll. Add that to the insanity that stems from using saidin and nobody could remain the same, which creates one of the most fascinating and deepest layers of the story.
The Bad
Sadly, the last few books in The Wheel of Time have been following a trend where nothing much really happens for large parts of it. The Path of Daggers has fallen into the same pitfall and is predominately telling a story of people walking around and talking. Once again, it seems to be laying the ground work for future events rather than carrying the story forward itself. However, it's worth noting that the story picks up towards its end and I have the feeling that Jordan is going to break this mandate soon, allowing The Wheel of Time to grow as exciting and addictive as it was in its early books.
My Thoughts
The Path of Daggers is a fantastic read and don't let my criticism of it being slow put you off it or The Wheel of Time as a whole. Set against a stunning backdrop that even rivals New Zealand as Middle Earth, the book is full of epic struggle, betrayals, failure and success. It's got swords and battles and users of magic, being a masterful work of fantasy. I can't wait to continue the series with Winter's Heart, its ninth instalment, and can't stress enough how anyone who likes fantasy needs to begin their adventure into The Wheel of Time.
Tuesday 4 August 2015
Waterstones Releases the Ending of A Song of Ice & Fire!!!
What?! Waterstones has released the ending to A Song of Ice & Fire?! I probably thought exactly the same thing as you when I saw the article's headline pop up and could barely contain a sense of terrified, confused excitement. I'm a huge fan of the series and, since discovering George R. R. Martin, he has become one of my favourite authors. But should Waterstones have released the ending ahead of GRRM's books and HBO's television series?
My answer is 'no,' although, in all fairness, I don't know if Waterstones actually have. After a moment of weakness that I nearly acted on, I decided not to read the article and plan to wait for the upcoming books and series to have the story told properly. I did read the article's description though and apparently Waterstones have released the original outline of the epic series, which GRRM made when he was trying to sell his idea to publishers. The description said the storyline has since diverged somewhat, so who knows how similar the ending will be to GRRM's original idea now ASoIaF has matured.
I guess you have the choice to find out for yourself and can read the article here. To read or not to read? The choice is yours and only one thing is certain, there's no turning back if you go through the looking glass . . .
My answer is 'no,' although, in all fairness, I don't know if Waterstones actually have. After a moment of weakness that I nearly acted on, I decided not to read the article and plan to wait for the upcoming books and series to have the story told properly. I did read the article's description though and apparently Waterstones have released the original outline of the epic series, which GRRM made when he was trying to sell his idea to publishers. The description said the storyline has since diverged somewhat, so who knows how similar the ending will be to GRRM's original idea now ASoIaF has matured.
I guess you have the choice to find out for yourself and can read the article here. To read or not to read? The choice is yours and only one thing is certain, there's no turning back if you go through the looking glass . . .
Sunday 2 August 2015
The Obsidian Key - Eldon Thompson
RATING: THREE STARS
When Soric, an insidious and conquering sorcerer, declared war on Alson less than a year earlier, Jarom was forced into a birthright he had never asked for. Torn from his quiet life as the Farson of Diln, he soon found himself floundering as the new king following his father's brutal assassination. Jarom's quest to defeat Soric and an awakened demon queen from a bygone age drove him to seek out the fabled Crimson Sword, the magic of which promised to be Alson's salvation. But the talisman was more than just hidden away and served as a key, locking a more dangerous enemy than anyone could imagine in the astral plane they come from.
The Illysp rose on mass when Jarom took the Crimson Sword and began, in secret, a new invasion of Pentania. It is not long before the new king learns of the Illysp and he embarks upon a dangerous quest to the distant shores of Yawacor. Legends say that the remnants of Finlorians, elves who are ancient and wise in the use of magic, fled to the most inexcessible regions of the far continent after their civilisation on Pentania collapsed. The Finlorians, who had once pervailed over the Illysp and locked them away. Jarom must find them if he is to save his country and friends. He must speak with their elders and learn their dearest secrets,
The Good
The Obsidian Key is fast-paced and exciting, being full of the same gripping danger and strife that made The Crimson Sword so exhilarating. Many of the enemies Jarom made in the first book resurface and Eldon Thompson has managed to end many of the story arcs that were left open in favour of new ones that should develop interestingly.
The Bad
Once again, Jarom's character was one of the worst things about the book and he was understanding and docile to the point that it wasn't plausible or reflective of real life. No matter what happened to him, he never became angry or hurt over events or betrayals and worked things through logically so he could emphasise with that person. Even the nicest and wisest people in real life aren't that understanding and forgiving, which added an unbelievability to an already bland character, Furthermore, it rendered Jarom's acts of violence slighty absurd when he suddenly dove into battle and began hacking down enemies left, right and centre.
As in the series first book, The Obsidian Key is full of extremely stereotypical villains and cheesy mannerisms. They 'snicker' and 'smirk' over the 'evil' things they do at every chance, which, again, is slightly unrealistic. Criminals in real life commit crimes and hurt people because it works to benefit them in whatever way, rarely because they enjoy being 'evil.' A man doesn't 'smirk' and 'snicker' when he robs or store or shoots someone dead, and I find it a bit unplausible when Thompson's antagonists do this.
My Thoughts
Overall though, The Obsidian Key was a good read and was a nice instalment to The Legend of Asahiel. I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to finishing the trilogy in The Divine Talisman sometime soon.
When Soric, an insidious and conquering sorcerer, declared war on Alson less than a year earlier, Jarom was forced into a birthright he had never asked for. Torn from his quiet life as the Farson of Diln, he soon found himself floundering as the new king following his father's brutal assassination. Jarom's quest to defeat Soric and an awakened demon queen from a bygone age drove him to seek out the fabled Crimson Sword, the magic of which promised to be Alson's salvation. But the talisman was more than just hidden away and served as a key, locking a more dangerous enemy than anyone could imagine in the astral plane they come from.
The Illysp rose on mass when Jarom took the Crimson Sword and began, in secret, a new invasion of Pentania. It is not long before the new king learns of the Illysp and he embarks upon a dangerous quest to the distant shores of Yawacor. Legends say that the remnants of Finlorians, elves who are ancient and wise in the use of magic, fled to the most inexcessible regions of the far continent after their civilisation on Pentania collapsed. The Finlorians, who had once pervailed over the Illysp and locked them away. Jarom must find them if he is to save his country and friends. He must speak with their elders and learn their dearest secrets,
The Good
The Obsidian Key is fast-paced and exciting, being full of the same gripping danger and strife that made The Crimson Sword so exhilarating. Many of the enemies Jarom made in the first book resurface and Eldon Thompson has managed to end many of the story arcs that were left open in favour of new ones that should develop interestingly.
The Bad
Once again, Jarom's character was one of the worst things about the book and he was understanding and docile to the point that it wasn't plausible or reflective of real life. No matter what happened to him, he never became angry or hurt over events or betrayals and worked things through logically so he could emphasise with that person. Even the nicest and wisest people in real life aren't that understanding and forgiving, which added an unbelievability to an already bland character, Furthermore, it rendered Jarom's acts of violence slighty absurd when he suddenly dove into battle and began hacking down enemies left, right and centre.
As in the series first book, The Obsidian Key is full of extremely stereotypical villains and cheesy mannerisms. They 'snicker' and 'smirk' over the 'evil' things they do at every chance, which, again, is slightly unrealistic. Criminals in real life commit crimes and hurt people because it works to benefit them in whatever way, rarely because they enjoy being 'evil.' A man doesn't 'smirk' and 'snicker' when he robs or store or shoots someone dead, and I find it a bit unplausible when Thompson's antagonists do this.
My Thoughts
Overall though, The Obsidian Key was a good read and was a nice instalment to The Legend of Asahiel. I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to finishing the trilogy in The Divine Talisman sometime soon.
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