Wolfy's Wanderings with the Written Word (2013 Edition)

This year, my reading aims are to hit some of the (too) many ongoing series that I have and to try and reduce the number of books that are on my tbr shelves (yeah, that's about as much use as a New Year's resolution). My Category Challenge thread is up which lists a lot of my potential reads if you're curious. I will post reviews in both places so for those that are in both groups my apologies for the duplication and feel free to ignore whichever (or both) threads as desired. With the aid of some restructuring at work, it now seems like I might have some more reading time as I'm now able to read ebooks while on the day-shift as long as I'm not too obvious about it that is. That being the case, hopefully, I can read more than I did last year.

So that's the plan and although I've not completed any books so far this year, I've made a start on two book which are 2nd books in their respective series:
The Poison Ape by Arimasa Osawa, the follow up to Shinjuku Shark which I read last month, and The Guns of Avalon from the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny.

Not enough posts to continue from last year but thought I'd add links to my previous journals just in case I want to look back.
2011 Edition
2012 Edition

As usual, comments, discussion, recommendations and general ramblings all welcomed.

Well, I'll certainly be lurking :)

I'll lurk! Plus, I've read The Guns of Avalon at least 2 or 3 times.

Yeah, I'm reducing Mount TBR this year too, especially by looking at the interesting things that others are reading .

I too am trying to read more Tbr books and buy fewer new ones, but suspect I'll fail as badly as I did last year ... oh well! Looking forward to reading your reviews.

Surprise! Have lurked all along...

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Here's the first read of the year:

The Poison Ape by Arimasa Osawa

Inspector Samejima is once again patrolling the mean streets of Shinjuku in a second outing in the popular Japanese police series. This time around there's a notorious assassin who is reportedly after a Taiwanese Mafia boss that has fled to Japan to escape retribution after betraying the hit man and costing him the woman he loved. The killer, known as Du Yuan (The Poison Ape), will stop at nothing to reach his target even if he has to go through all of the Yakuza to get there. There also seems to be a renegade Chinese cop after the assassin too and it all adds up to big trouble for the Shark. Can he prevent a bloodbath occurring or will he just have to stick around to mop up the pieces when the dust settles?

This episode in the life of the Shinjuku Shark seems more of a pulp novel than noir/police procedural of the first instalment. It takes a few chapters for the main story arc to get going but when it does the body count rises freely. This is much more violent than its predecessor and involves the rape and torture of a club hostess (prostitute in all but name) who becomes attached to the hit man. There is very little in the way of continuity from the previous book with subsidiary characters only appearing briefly, which in the case of Sho (Samejima's girlfriend) is quite a shame. This is definitely a stand-alone novel with no development of the back-story for the Shark's career stall so anyone who feels inclined can read this without picking up the first.

While Samejima is a good character the story didn't quite grab me as much this time around. Maybe it was that there was more time spent away from the main character while the others were fleshed out. The reliance on a medical condition, which could have easily been resolved, for a plot device always seemed to jar unnecessarily when it reared its ugly inflamed appendix. If the third in the series ever gets translated then I will pick it up as the relationships of the main character are interesting and I find the setting appealing also. 3½★'s

The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld

This is the 2nd book of the Peeps duology and so this review will probably include at least minor spoilers for the first book.

Rather than just offer up the continuing adventures of the same characters that survived until the end of the last book, this sequel instead focuses on 5 new characters who meet and go on to form a band. These 5 are all around the age of eighteen. Moz (Guitar) meets Pearl (Keyboards) when they manage to save a Stratocaster when it has been thrown out of a window by someone who seems intent on getting rid of everything in their life. Moz is one of those directionless and unfocused teenagers who spends his time jamming with his friend Zahler (Guitar/Bass) in hope of one day forming a band. Pearl, a Juilliard student, suggests they get together to see if they can do just that and if things go well she may even know a singer she can being in. Zahler may even be able to find a drummer. Alana Ray (Drums), who has a form of autism and also has visions of what music actually looks like, busks in Times Square, playing her own unique music on paint drums, but when Moz agrees to pay her for her time she agrees to join in with the others. Minerva (Vocals) is one of the infected but with the help of an esoterica has passed through the worst and is on her way to being able to function almost normally again. Right from the get-go they realise they have something special but can they get their music out there before society crumbles and fame is no longer an option.

More and more people are succumbing to the new disease, there are places that city officials are no longer willing to go. Garbage is piling up on the streets and hordes of rats scurry openly above ground as well as below. The temperature is soaring and the rumblings underground are no longer the sole property of the subway trains. Can the newly formed band hit the heights before everything crumbles around them. Will what they play have an effect on whatever it is that's causing these events to transpire or will they just help bring about the end of days?

While not being a straight sequel in the traditional sense, the story of the previous characters had been told so it makes sense to have new leads this time around. Those wondering what happened to Cal & Lacey needn't worry too much though as they do re-appear in the later part of this book. The five different viewpoints could have been confusing but as each has their own distinct voice it was not difficult to know who you were with at the time but each chapter heading includes that character's name at the beginning anyway. While this book is a self-contained story and you don't have to have read the previous one to understand what's going on, I would still recommend that you do so to gain the full understanding as some aspects are treated as though the reader already has a familiarity with them. A fast-paced, enjoyable story that fits squarely in the young adult bracket. 4★'s

The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny

Picking up where Nine Princes in Amber left off, this second instalment from The Great Book of Amber sees Corwin recuperating and plotting revenge on his brother Eric. Corwin decides that the best place to do this would be in a shadow of the land he loved in a previous lifetime. While en route to his chosen Avalon he encounters a stricken Lancelot and as he counted him a friend Corwin is unable to leave Lancelot to his fate and so carries him to his destination to receive aid. While doing this he is also set upon by the same adversaries that injured Lancelot but manages to dispatch them readily enough. Thus he learns of a threat to the shadow worlds and possibly even Amber itself. A devilish horde besets this realm and their route through seems frighteningly familiar to Corwin. It bears a striking resemblance to what he left behind with the curse he cast at Eric. It seems like he will have to clear this mess up after he’s dealt with his brother.

The conscience that he seemed to discover during his memory lost time on Earth though will not let him abandon this Avalon to the invading force so he helps the defenders to overcome the threat and discovers an old acquaintance is now commander in chief of the home side. Ganelon, a former trusted lieutenant, betrayed Corwin and so was exiled to this land as punishment. They renew their former friendship and once the threat is over Ganelon joins Corwin on his travels. They journey on to the intended world and discover a similar scenario there also. In this case though, the defenders are led by Benedict, another of Corwin’s brothers. Neither brother wants to divulge too much information to aid the other’s plans. Corwin doesn’t want to warn Eric and Benedict is loathe to further potential strife in an already dire situation for Amber and so they dance around each other until Corwin gets what he wants and leaves though not without encountering a previously unknown relative that Benedict has been protecting. Though is she more than she seems?

The final part of the book sees Corwin put his plans into action and return to Avalon for the final confrontation with Eric. Will he be able to claim the throne as he so desires or will ongoing events deter him from his chosen course?

The style of this book is again akin to the pulp adventure stories without an abundance of detail and rushing from one event to the next without much recovery time in between. The hero of the tale has his own interests very much at heart and so is a little less easy to like than when he was trying to find out who he was in the previous book, though you do understand his motivations. The signs were not too unobtrusive so the twist towards the climax was not unexpected and as there is an overriding arc to these books, neither was the cliff-hanger ending. They are easy reading and the concept of the shadow worlds is still interesting, as is the direction of the story, so I will be continuing on to book three. 3★'s

Vicious Circle by Mike Carey

Felix 'Fix' Castor is still struggling to make ends meet and with his conscience still pricking him, he's even gone and changed the sign on his office from Eradications to Spiritual Services. Now all he has to do is wait for the client load to increase and he'll be raking in the cash and it's not long before he gets his first customer's. The Torrington's want Fix to look for their daughter who returned to them after dying in an auto accident and her ghost has now been kidnapped by one of Felix's fellow exorcists. When his initial attempts at contacting the spirit are thwarted, Fix sets about finding out what he can about her abductor and doesn't like what he hears, Dennis Peace is not a likeable chap. Meanwhile, Juliet, the succubus who's trying to make her way on the mortal plane, wants a second opinion on a commission she has and asks Fix to help her out. It seems something has possessed a church and Juliet seems to think it's something big. It also seems that there's an increase in violent crime happening in the city too but will that have any bearing on Fix's investigations?

This is the second book in the hard-boiled urban fantasy series from an author who is generally better known for his graphic novels (Lucifer & Hellblazer to name a couple) but who does a fine job as a novelist also. Both books that I've read in the series are self-contained but you do get a recurring character set so probably best read in order to see the developing relationships between them all. Along with Felix and Juliet, we also get to see more of Nicky the conspiracy obsessed zombie who still cares about his appearance, Fix's best friend Rafi who's still locked away because of his demon possession and Pen, his landlady who seems to be embarking on a new romance with a doctor. As Felix is still being beaten up on a regular basis that latter might come in handy.

I'm liking the way this series is heading. The background characters are developing nicely and Felix is still the misunderstood, wise-cracking, put-upon individual that we learned of in The Devil You Know. I would place this book closer towards the Nightside series, though infinitely better, rather than The Dresden Files as it has more of a mystery feel and darker edge to it than the latter though certainly has a British feel about it being set in a recognisable, apart from the proliferation of undead, version of London. 4★'s

I have The Devil You Know in the TBR buried somewhere. Perhaps I ought to dig it out.

It's looking like it could be a very good series. Hope you like it when you do get around to it.

Love Remains by Glen Duncan

The writer is a sadist and his book is horrible. You really must read it. So says the blurb on the front and so you are forewarned that this is not going to be an easy one to read even by Glen Duncan's standards. Nick and Chloe are the perfect young couple. Almost from the moment they meet they know they will spend the rest of their lives together. Yet the story begins with Nicholas in an almost catatonic state fleeing to New York, alone and seeking numbness in a bar described as the place drunks go to die. The preceding six years of his life with Chloe are described in flashback while being interspersed with momentary glimpses of his current time falling prey to the debauchery of wealthy heiress Mickey and her cronies and meeting fellow barfly and expat Lancelot. It's not until halfway through the book that we get to the event that changed everything. Not just an infidelity that could possibly be worked around but something much more brutal that leaves Chloe in hospital and near death and sets Nick on his downward spiral.

The first part of the book deals with an idyllic relationship where nothing matters but each other, mostly seen from Nick's perspective. The second half then shifts more towards Chloe as she has to find a way of dealing with what happened and Nick's subsequent abandonment. This is probably the darkest in tone of the books I've read from this author and there were times that I could have been reading it that I didn't feel like picking it up again and although less than 300 pages in length it took a while to reach the end. Does that mean it's a bad book? No! Just not a light and fluffy one. 4★'s

Preacher Book Two by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon

Volume two of the hardcover editions of this series picks up where the last one left off with the reverend Jesse Custer enjoying some r&r with his girlfriend Tulip and arranging a meet-up with his best buddy Cassidy, the vampire. Cassidy is not feeling too charitable on account of burying his one-time girlfriend (drug overdose), so when he discovers a large stash of heroin he vows to dish out some punishment to her supplier. Jesse agrees to tag along. Meanwhile, there's an organisation that has become aware of Jesse's power and want to make use of it for their own ends. Known as The Grail, they have protected a certain bloodline for almost two thousand years (these books were written in the 1990's) and the culmination of that protection is almost at hand. But there's a group within that organisation that aren't too happy with the chosen messiah, all the in-breeding has had an effect over the years, and want someone else to represent them when the time comes. Everything comes together at a party held by Jesus de Sade (yes, it's one of those sorts of parties where anything goes and the large amount of heroin was to help things along). Cassidy, pretending to be Jesse in order to protect Tulip, is captured and transported to The Grail's headquarters with Tulip being held hostage for his good behaviour. Jesse manages to rescue Tulip along the way and then they set off to free Cassidy. But there's one little snag, the Saint of Killers is once again on Jesse's trail. Who will get to who first and what'll happen when they do?

For mature readers only, this series features copious amounts of violence, sex, foul language and a good deal of poking at the underbelly of religion. Stay far away if you think you might be offended by any of these topics. Personally, I enjoy it for the dark humour and pathos that exists between the three friends which is beautifully illustrated in the closing chapters where we get to learn of Cassidy's origin. The artwork continues to gel with the story and the original cover illustrations by Glenn Fabry which head each chapter are simply gorgeous. Looking forward to carrying on with further adventure of the Preacher. 4★'s

This thread could be really bad for my wishlist!

Most of what I'm concentrating on this year are ongoing series. I've read a lot of starter books and never continued onwards so hopefully trying to rectify that this year. So maybe some of them will already be on your radar. The major exception to that will be the three unread books I had of Glen Duncan who has become a favourite of mine over the last couple of years. The first of those is the one reviewed above.

Nymphomation by Jeff Noon

Trying to describe this one is going to be difficult but I suppose I should try and give it a go. This book is a prequel to Vurt and Pollen a cyberpunk series set in and around Manchester. The economy is in ruins and only large corporations thrive. So much so that even the cops are sponsored by the biggest burger chain and have to wear bright yellow fluorescent W's on their uniforms (they make a lovely target). But Manchester is also home to the trial run of a new lottery style game based around dominoes and run by the AnnoDomino company. Every Friday night at nine o'clock the city comes to a standstill when the draw is made, everybody clutching their bones hoping to win big or even become the next Mr Million (the anonymous ruler of the game) if chance permits. But there are some winners ending up dead, jealousy murders committed by others that have not been so lucky. Max Hackle, professor of mathematics at the University of Manchester, thought there might be more to it all than just a game. He has recruited some of his best students and set them the task of breaking into the game and finding out what the score really is.

This is more of an ensemble piece than either of the other books and I think the characterisation suffers for it. You spend time with each of the group's members but not enough for them to grow on you and they hardly develop throughout the story. There are still plenty of ideas and imagination thrown into the mix though so all is not lost. Take for instance blurbflies, bio-mechanical flying bugs which stream out advertisements, even by their name you could probably tell what they were. There is a little bit of Greek mythology mixed in with elements of chaos theory but thankfully you don't have to understand to let the story carry you along. Even though this book does provide the basis of some of the events in Vurt I still think that if you're planning on reading the series then start with that one and not this prequel. The story and characters are more engaging and you will hopefully become immersed in the world enough not to even think about what you don't know about it. 3½★'s

Rebellion by James McGee

The fourth book in the continuing adventures of Matthew Hawkwood finds our hero being seconded from his normal London beat to an agency for the Home Office. They have a mission that requires his unique talents and want him to go to Paris to see if the planned operation is feasible and to provide assistance if it is. When he finally gets to the French capital, let's just say that his travel plans were a little disrupted, he discovers that his contact is an old colleague that he thought never to see again. The plan of action? With France at war in Spain and Napoleon planning to invade Russia the time might be right to stage a coup and install a new regime that might be more favourable to a peaceful co-existence with England.

When you pick up a book to continue a series you, as a reader, have certain expectations of what you're going to get. By the fourth book in that series those expectations are pretty much set in stone. So what happens when the latest book takes things in a new direction is that it gives the reader a feeling of being let down. No matter how good of a story the writer provides there will always be a sense of disappointment over what has been altered. So what has changed in this new instalment? The first three books were fast paced action/adventure stories set in or around London that follow the former soldier turned Bow Street runner with occasional assistance from recurring subsidiary characters. This one, while there are some elements of this early on soon degenerates into a slow building political intrigue that doesn't centre around the titular character of the series and being based upon actual events (with most of the featured characters being real-life people) so if you already know the outcome of the event then the majority of the suspense has already been removed.

All that being said, this is not a bad story. Just not the one I quite expected. If it had been written with a different lead character then I would probably mark it a bit higher. The historical research by the author is once again very good and he does give examples for further reading for those that may be interested to learn more of the period and events portrayed. 3★'s

Hmmm. Looks like Ratcatcher has been renamed Hawkwood. Maybe? Sounds right up my street.

Yes, it looks like it's had a repackaging. Lots of unhappy people on Amazon have voiced their displeasure when they found out it wasn't a new book in the series.

The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

The 2nd book in The Dark Tower series picks up straight after the events of the first, The Gunslinger, with Roland following the fate laid out for him by the man in black. He encounters trouble immediately when awakening on the beach he is attacked by mutant lobster-like creatures. He manages to escape but not without serious injury, losing two fingers, a toe and also being poisoned in the process. Managing to patch himself up, Roland sets off on his quest for the three and it's not long before he encounters a strange doorway with the words The Prisoner written on it. This being the first of his three Roland knows what he must do but what will he find when he opens the door?

Although this is a second book of a series it still feels very much like a setting up book as Roland gathers his companions before he can really set off on his quest for the Tower. It is much deeper than the first though with more depth to the characters and more vivid scenery for them to occupy. I'm now looking forward to book 3 and hoping that it answers at least some of the questions and we learn more of Roland's world and the Tower itself. 4★'s

Jeff Noon - I've always enjoyed pixel juice which is sort of set in the at universe. Ish. But a collection of short stories. I've never quite felt I'm ready for the novels.

Dark Tower - no you don't learn any more about that until the eponymous book. You've a lot of meandering to go through yet!. I found this series to definately suffer from series bloat. The 10+ year hiatus in the middle didn't help the writing style either.

I think the Jeff Noon books are quite a bit different to the norm even within SF&F but I have enjoyed those I've read so far (the local setting probably helps too) and will definitely be reading more in the future. Still have a couple on the tbr shelves but not Pixel Juice though.

I've heard the Dark Tower series doesn't end that well so hopefully I'm prepared a little on that score but hopefully the journey to get there is still mostly an enjoyable one.

Bloody Mary by J.A. Konrath

Lt. Jacqueline 'Jack' Daniels second outing delivers pretty much more of the same provided in Whiskey Sour. Relationship problems both at home and in work, check. Humorous banter between colleagues even while the body count rises, check. A serial killer that seems to have a personal grudge against Jack, check. The killings are discovered when a dismembered pair of arms are found at the morgue. Well, where else would you expect to find them? Only this pair don't seem to belong to anyone currently residing there and can't be accounted for. They also appear to be wearing a pair of Jack's handcuffs. So, a killer with access to the morgue and also to Jack's personal belongings. Could it possibly be one of Chicago's finest and if so then who can she trust in this investigation?

This a tautly written, thrilling police procedural (definitely not of the cosy variety) and while the identity of the killer is not too difficult to work out the suspense isn't over even when he's caught. This is not a wholly original story and there are a few clichéd elements to it such as Jack's partner going through a mid-life crisis and an ex-husband who re-appears in her life when she might have found the most eligible bachelor still left in Chicago. But with all that it is still a very fast-paced read and quite a page turner. 4★'s

Ah, I'm glad you enjoyed the "Jack" Daniels books. I've been buying them for my Kindle, based on the fun of the titles, but haven't had a chance to read one yet.

They're not light and fluffy books but there is an element of humour to them. The actual crimes are usually of the quite gory and brutal kind so hope that won't put you off.

Well, one can only try! :) It's weird what puts me off, I think it is more the overall mood or tone I'm sensitive to rather than gore.

Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch

Detective Inspector Stephanopoulos thinks there's something a little off about the death of an American senator's son and requests assistance from the Folly and so Constable (and apprentice wizard) Peter Grant once again swings into action. Finding magical trace elements (vestigia) on the murder weapon Peter is than conscripted into part of the murder investigation team which is once again being lead by Detective Chief Inspector Seawoll. As the murder took place in the London Underground we get to meet another potential recurring character in the shape of Jaget Kumar who is a sergeant in the British Transport Police. We later learn that he seems to handle all the weird stuff for his particular department. Also assigned to the case as an observer is Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds of the FBI. Seawoll doesn't want anything unusual to get back to the Americans so warns Peter that he should be on his best behaviour or else...

This is another excellent addition to this urban fantasy/police procedural series and now that we've reached the third instalment, the characters are more relaxed and their interactions flow more easily. It's great that Lesley makes more of an appearance in this one as the dynamic between her and Peter is excellent. Although technically still on indefinite medical leave she does take more of an active role in the murder case and also receiving tutelage under the auspices of Nightingale then this bodes well for even greater future involvement. As well as this self-contained murder mystery there is also the over-arching plot of the Little Crocodiles as there are a couple of potential leads to follow up on that score too although there really isn't any great advancement in this plot strand it still creates a feeling of continuation for the series as a whole. Not a place to start the series but for those who've read and enjoyed the first two then this is a no-brainer to pick up and it's good to know the next book is not too far away from release. 4★'s

The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi

Sequel (of sorts) to Old Man's War where the only character that makes a re-appearance from the first book is Jane Sagan who is not the main protagonist in either book. A top ranking scientist has turned traitor and gone over to the enemy but as humans have accumulated quite a few of those across the galaxies the top-brass aren't sure which one. They manage to narrow it down to the three that appear to be on the verge of forming an alliance against them and so hatch a desperate plan in order to track him down before the impending annihilation of the human race. This plan will utilise what the traitor left behind, his DNA (via the body of the clone he used to dupe those around him) and a copy of his consciousness that was imbued into the clone. Using the technique that they make the special forces soldiers they create a new soldier from the DNA and attempt to overlay the consciousness into him and hopefully learn the whys and wherefores from the newly awoken version. Unfortunately the transfer doesn't take and so the freshly minted soldier is handed over to the special forces for training and then deployment into Sagan's squad who is none too happy to have a potential traitor in her midst if that other consciousness should ever wake up.

This book is split into two parts. The first deals with the creation of the new soldier, his training and early deployment. The second deals with what comes after. This book features more actual science than it's predecessor and also has less of the natural humour that was so prevalent from the narrator of the first book. It is still there but as this story is of a much darker tone then I think that is to be expected. We do get to question more of what it is to be human and about individuality and identity and there is a more linear plot this time around too. Will be very interesting to see where the author takes the next book. 4★'s

Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Six by Bill Willingham

This volume contains 2 two-parter's (The Ballad of Rodney & June and Wolves), one longer story (Happily Ever After) and a one-shot (Big and Small) which makes this the smallest book in the series so far. Rodney & June is a love story with both protagonists being members of The Adversary's wooden army. Rodney is a lieutenant currently helping to defend a captured town from the Arabian fables who keep insisting on trying to win it back. He meets June after one such attack leaves him wounded and in need of repair. June is a woodcarver and is currently serving with Rodney's unit as a temporary replacement to cover the leave of the regular woodcarver. He keeps making excuses to go and see her and thinks he might be falling in love and maybe June feels the same way. But what do two of the wooden folk know of love and surely it can't end well for the two of them?

Wolves follows Mowgli's search for Bigby, as he has a proposition for him from Prince Charming. Mowgli follows the trail to Russia but seems to meet a dead end when he reaches the Bering Strait but Mowgli has a few tricks up his sleeve but will it be enough and what will he find at the end of the trail? Happily Ever After follows on immediately after this and as I don't want to give anything away I'll just say that a plan of action is put into play which could see the beginning of the end of Fabletown's war with The Adversary. Finally, Big and Small sees Cinderella doing something she'd rather not, a diplomatic mission in the Cloud Kingdoms. Much more at home with cloak and dagger, can she keep her temper and impatience under wraps to get a treaty signed?

Filling out the volume are the full script for Happily Ever After (always interesting to see how a comic book is put together), maps of Fabletown and The Farm and a gallery featuring full page posters of some of the Fables characters by various artists as well as some pages from the sketchbook of Mark Buckingham and finishes off with the biographies of those involved with making this particular edition.

The illustrations are once again gorgeous and really suit the glossy paper format of these deluxe editions. It was hard to read some of the letter/journal entries that abound in the first tale as they portend to be actual excerpts from the actual documents themselves. Overall it does add something to the story though and differentiates between that and other text formats used. A little on the short side perhaps but still a very good read. 4★'s

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

The 2nd instalment of the Percy Jackson series sees our eponymous hero joining a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece in order to save Camp Half-Blood. He's also been getting strange dreams which indicate that his friend Grover, the satyr, is in serious trouble. Are they real and if so can he survive one quest in order to help his friend or will helping his friend derail the quest?

I didn't find this one quite as likeable as the first and I'm not quite sure why as all the elements from the earlier book are included. It's a fast-paced, action-orientated story with a dollop of Greek mythology thrown in for good measure. Perhaps it's that there is no character development whatsoever whereas at least with The Lightning Thief those same characters were fresh. Percy just seems to reel from one action set-piece to another, often surviving by just the skin of his teeth. Annabeth seems only there to provide pointers of what to do next as she is the smart one and this time along the unusual member of the group is supplied via a juvenile Cyclops in the shape of Tyson. I guess there just wasn't the same sense of adventure about things this time around being just a case go here to do this and then go there to get that and return in time for tea. Ah well, maybe the next one will be better though I'm not sure I'd carry on if the next in the series wasn't already on the tbr shelves. 3★'s

I felt the same as you about the Percy Jackson series. Five books over several years, and Percy and his gang didn't change much at all. They seemed the same age to me all the way through. I couldn't help comparing the to the Harry Potter books in which we see Harry and his friends mature through the series.

Destroying Angel by Richard Paul Russo

The first book in the Carlucci trilogy doesn't really feature him as a main character. This one has retired cop Louis Tanner realising he'll have to deal with some unfinished business before he'll be at peace with himself. Set in a future San Francisco, this is very much a cyberpunk detective story. Tanner watches as two bodies chained together are pulled from the lake and realises that his past has come to pay its respects. Two years earlier Tanner was one of the cops helping to investigate the serial killer known as the Chain Killer. He'd just received a tip-off but the source, Rattan, was not a nice man and he wanted an awful lot. But as suddenly as the began, the killings stopped and other things happened in Tanner's life and he never followed up on the lead. Now, even though he's no longer a cop, he might have to and that would mean going back into them# most disreputable part of the city, the Tenderloin and perhaps even worse, into the Core.

This short novel tries to marry up the best elements of cyberpunk to a noir thriller but doesn't really succeed that well. The story is okay but nothing special and I lost count of the number of bad cups of coffee that were drunk but the atmosphere and a couple of quite likeable characters go a long way to redeeming what would otherwise be an instantly forgettable effort. Hopefully book 2 will be better. 3½★'s

Sign of the Unicorn by Roger Zelazny

Will contain spoilers for earlier books in the series

Continuing my crawl through The Great Book of Amber, volume 3 sees Corwin trying to consolidate his hold on the throne and set about dealing with the intrusion by the black road and all it brings with it. The first order of business is to find out as much information as he can and so calls a family meeting to gather his remaining brothers and sisters and get what he can from them. Unfortunately, trust is at a minimum and this is not helped by another untimely death in the family. It seems that Brand, one of the missing brothers, has been captured by this mysterious enemy and Corwin thinks a rescue mission would do a lot for his credibility as well as perhaps learning more of the foe. With the help of his family the rescue is made and Brand is returned to Amber but has received a severe wound in the process. Stabbed! And the only one who could have done it was one of the rescuers. More intrigue when Corwin himself is also stabbed but managing to escape back to the shadow world he spent so much time on he learns some vital information about his original predicament. Returning to Amber, Corwin finds Brand recuperating and wanting to talk. What will he have to say and who will the finger of suspicion be pointed at?

This book was probably the best of the three in the series so far for me. Although there was less action, the plot seemed more cohesive and we get to learn a lot more of the overall goings on of the whole thing. Even though it was a short novel there seemed to be more fleshing out of some of the characters as well as providing motive for previous actions. It does end rather abruptly with an intriguing reveal and I see book 4 picks up immediately from this point. The women is this story are not exactly treated well, very little screen time and when the line of succession is brought up they are dismissed as being too stupid to rule. Hopefully this was just a throw-away line from the character and not actually indicative of what's still to come in the story. Still not brilliant but it's doing enough to hold my interest and is on an upward climb. 3½★'s

Carlucci's Edge by Richard Paul Russo

This is the second book of the trilogy and is set three years after the events of the first (see Msg33 for that review) and not much has changed. Lt. Frank Carlucci knew he'd reached as high as he was ever going to get in the police force, he'd rubbed too many people up the wrong way to go any higher and had only made it this far because of what he knew about the Chain Killer case. His latest investigation was giving him a lot of heat from above but that's something to be expected when the Mayor's nephew ends up on the wrong end of a meat hook. Then a friend of Mixer's (someone he knew from the Chain Killer case) asks him to look into why nothing is being done about the murder of her lover, a fellow musician that would get involved in low-level dodgy dealings who expired due to the three extra holes in his head. Intrigued as to why he hadn't even been aware of the killing, Carlucci agrees to take a look only to find that the case is being officially buried and that the officers in charge of it are also being screwed because of it. As that doesn't sit too well with him, Carlucci starts an unofficial investigation all of his own and when links begin to emerge with this and the other case then things only get more complicated.

Once again we get the fusion of murder/mystery with cyberpunk only this time the two parts are melded much more cohesively. I'm sure the world building from the previous story having already set the scene allowing this one to just build upon it made a difference but there are also less generic elements to how the story unfolded. Still only a fairly short novel but there is more space for the character's to breathe and for the story to be pieced together. The mystery element isn't too hard to untangle as the hints aren't exactly subtly dropped into the reader's lap but you want to follow this to the conclusion to see if those responsible get their just desserts Still copious amounts of bad coffee getting drunk but this time around there's also some bad scotch to accompany it with. 4★'s.

Carlucci's Heart by Richard Paul Russo

Lt. Frank Carlucci is a rarity in a future version of San Francisco. He's an honest cop who's still trying to make a difference in a world that's increasingly less so. In this, the third of the trilogy, he's investigating the murder of Naomi Katsuda, daughter of New Hong Kong's representative on Earth, while also looking into the death of a friend of his own daughter. Both cases seem to have links to Cancer Cell, a group of medico-terrorists that offer experimental treatments to the terminally ill who agree to be used as guinea pigs in exchange. Are Cancer Cell also behind the release of a new disease that seems to be spreading outwards from the Core and is almost 100% fatal to those who've contracted it?

This is the longest of the three Carlucci stories and also the most complex. There are many threads woven throughout and we follow a few strands to get to the heart of things. Not only do we follow Carlucci himself as he struggles to make sense of what's going on but we also have his daughter Caroline as she tries to infiltrate Cancer Cell on her own. Then there is Cage, a doctor who gives most of his time to a free clinic, who is one of the first to see the seriousness of the outbreak of this new disease. Will these threads come together to form a clear picture in the end and who is the one really pulling the strings?

While I have been labelling these books as cyberpunk there really isn't that much in the way of technology to justify that tag. Maybe future-noir would be better as these stories are more detective novel just being set in a mid-21st century world that seems to be mostly unpleasant. The setting does draw the reader in though but what really makes these worth the read are the characters. They are all quite believable for the world which they inhabit and the motivations for their actions. You really want the bad guys to get their just desserts in the end but you're always unsure that they will and that is what ultimately kept me reading and overall enjoying these books. 4★'s.

Have Mercy On Us All by Fred Vargas

Chief Inspector Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg has got what he really wanted, a murder squad to lead in Paris. The only problem now is that he has to learn 28 new names of the members of his team so it's a good job Danglard, his trusty no.2, has come along with him to help him out. While they're getting their new offices kitted out a woman comes in to report a strange case of graffiti, someone has been painting backwards 4's on the doors in her apartment block. Thinking nothing of it, Adamsberg fobs her off with some vague reassurances but is then more intrigued when the woman returns reporting other instances around different districts in Paris. Danglard has a fuzzy recollection of the symbol and Camille, Adamsberg's lover, also remembers seeing it in a history book of a friend. While all this has been going on, there's a town crier who's been getting some very strange messages, which seem to be snippets of old history books left for him to read. One of his friends manages to trace where the texts are coming from and what they portend they realise they should inform the police and as the friend in question has had dealings with Adamsberg before that's who they arrange to see and advise him that someone may be planning to release the black death at any moment. When he hears the tale, Adamsberg decides to track down the meaning of the backwards 4's and contacts Camille's historian friend, who turns out to be one of The Three Evangelists so if you've read that book it's a nice little cameo, and that also relates to the plague being used as a talisman to ward it off. Is someone seriously about to unleash the Black Death or is it just fear mongering or perhaps there's something else behind it all. Whichever, it's not long before the first victim is found and the pronouncements left for the crier are getting worse.

Adamsberg is not a typical detective, often following gut instinct even when there's no logic behind his feelings. He's somewhat absent-minded, especially with names and dates but he often sees more than even he realises at the time with pictures of events returning to him with a vital clue as to what he may be looking for. The author manages to use her knowledge as an historian to really help set the scene and ramp up the tension with each step. The story does meander along for a while at the beginning but Vargas' characters are so bright and varied I didn't mind one bit. Last time I visited this series I found the translation to be a bit clunky but even though it was done by the same person I had no problems this time around. An original voice in a genre that is increasingly difficult to find something that bit different, recommended for those looking for a more off-beat police procedural. 4★'s.

This was the first novel by Vargas that I read and it hooked me on the series. I agree that even when they seem not to be doing very much the characters are still interesting to follow.

I have a question for you about J.A. Konrath's books. Are they all about horrible serial killers and sexual torture? Because if so, I won't try any others. I couldn't finish Whiskey Sour.

@Sakerfalcon, It's the characters that really make the stories stand out for me.

@MrsLee, of the 2 I've read so far, it's looking like it might be a pattern. If you couldn't get through the 1st one then I'd say cut your losses and avoid the rest.

Wolfy, what is your secret to reading so much? You make me feel like such a slacker.

I'd actually say we're pretty much on a par so far this year. Of the 19 books so far for me, most have been reasonably short with no difficult reads and also includes a couple of graphic novels (albeit hardcover collections) so I think maybe your page count might even be higher than mine.

Thank you! It is hard enough for me to read right now without getting bogged down in stuff which doesn't appeal.

I'll have to look for more Fred Vargas, I've only read one so far.

@NorthernStar, that was my 4th of Vargas' works and am looking forward to reading more. Hope you enjoy them if you manage to pick up some more.

Preacher Book Three by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon

This collection starts off with a couple of specials with the 4-part origin story of the Saint of Killers kicking things off and then a 1-shot of Cassidy called Blood and Whiskey in which the Irish vampire finally meets one of his own kind in New Orleans. Any huge Anne Rice fans might want to give this one a miss. And then it's back on the main story arc with the reunification of Jesse and Tulip and catching up with Herr Starr and Arseface before Jesse sets out to try and gain access to the information that Genesis has stored inside his head. Cassidy makes things tough in these episodes though, firstly telling Tulip that he loves her and then with his past catching up with him. Can the trio manage to survive each other let alone everything else that's arrayed against them?

Once again I'll state that this series is intended for an adult audience with copious amounts of violence (including torture), sex and foul and abusive language. It's a very dark story, especially the origin for the Saint of all killers, though there is also plenty of humour to be found here too. The artwork is great and the cover, titles and closing poster gallery are superb. I will say that if you already own this series in another format it will not be worth replacing them with these hard cover editions. In this issue there is a slight (but noticeable) dip in the quality of the paper used from previous books. No dip in the storytelling though and I'm continuing to look forward to carrying on in the not too distant future. 4½★'s

Sovereign by C. J. Sansom

With the death of Cromwell, London lawyer Matthew Shardlake has fallen out of favour. Many of his clients have taken their business elsewhere. So it's a bit of a surprise when he's offered a job by none other than Archbishop Cranmer. He's to go to York and meet the Royal Progress and help prepare the petitions that will be handed to the King. Needing the money to pay off his late father's debts, Shardlake has no option but to accept and is far from delighted when Cranmer adds another task to his duties, the welfare of a prisoner that will need to be returned to the Tower of London for questioning. So it's off to York for Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak.

The death of a glazier and the attempted poisoning of the prisoner set off a chain of events that may lead to another rebellion that threatens to overthrow the Tudor reign. As well as being caught up in the middle of these events, Shardlake also has to deal with Sir Richard Rich who wants to get Shardlake to drop a case that they are on opposing ends of. How far is he willing to go to get Shardlake out of his hair?

This mystery is woven into a well researched historical account and the author spills the beans at the close of the book as to what he's embellished or where he's taken certain things from. It's a fairly thick book but as it reads very well you don't really notice the size. The series is improving with each book and as it started out good then this third instalment is very good indeed. Looking forward to continuing with the next at some point. 4½★'s

The Hand of Oberon by Roger Zelazny

The fourth in the continuing adventures of Amber and I wonder if Corwin's head is spinning as much as mine. Every step brings a new angle on who is doing what to whom. Each of the participant's has a different story to tell and it's impossible to tell where the truth lies. Can Corwin trust anyone but himself as he tries to find an answer for repairing the pattern or stop anyone from making it worse?

I just wish the author would stop with all the nonsense descriptions of the hellrides (moving from Amber to the shadow worlds). Yes, we get that it's not just a case of moving smoothly from one place to another but is there really a need to describe them each and every time? Oh! and while I'm on things I don't like, if you're going to have a surprise ending then don't foreshadow it so much that it's no longer a surprise and the only ones that don't see it coming are the characters themselves. Other than that then this was another reasonably enjoyable tale in the series. Events are progressing towards their climactic conclusion and more is being learnt on the way. 3½★'s

#47 - OOOH, the third in the Shardlake series. I have read the first two and I enjoyed them quite a bit. They're very atmospheric. Glad to see you gave it such a good rating.

The Courts of Chaos by Roger Zelazny

Will contain spoilers for earlier books in the series

The fifth book in the Chronicles of Amber completes the first arc of the series. With the return of Oberon and the gathering of what remains of his sons and daughters a plan of action is set upon to stop the incursion of the forces responsible for the black road and the eventual destruction of the pattern and thus Amber and its shadow worlds. Each of the family is given their own tasks and for Corwin that means taking the long way through shadow to reach the place of the big battle to come. That means another long-winded hellride which is still not my favourite part of these books, even when they are interrupted with philosophical debates with a coyote or a talking tree. And when this particular journey takes up about half the book then that doesn't leave me predisposed to writing a good review.

While the other books have never been what you would call long this one is even less so, barely being above novella length and with this being the final book I felt there could have been so much more done with it. The series so far has been generally enjoyable but this one just feels like a cop-out with maybe the author being bored and wanting to move on to something new although he did leave the ending open for further adventures just in case. I still have 5 books to go to complete The Great Book of Amber but I'm hoping the next story improves otherwise it's going to be a long ride. 2½★'s

Johannes Cabal the Detective by Jonathan L. Howard

The second book in the series finds our favourite necromancer having to rely on mundane means to improve his skills so he's travelled to Mirkarvia to purloin a very rare book on the subject. Only problem is, he gets caught in the process and there's only one sentence for a necromancer and that's death. It comes as quite a surprise when when he's offered a proposition instead. Mirkarvia is once again considering thoughts of expansion but the emperor, who was supposed to deliver a rabble rousing speech to the general populace, has upped and died beforehand. So what passes for government in the area want Cabal to bring him back to complete the job. Having previously dealt with the devil, Cabal knows that agreements like the one he's just made generally have a habit of not ending well and so makes a few alterations in the plan and manages to escape on the first airship out of town. Unfortunately for him though, his leisurely flight out of the country does not go as smoothly as he hoped when he runs into an old acquaintance on board and one of his fellow passengers is murdered with an attempt to make it look like suicide. To satisfy his curiosity, Cabal decides to investigate and is almost killed himself. So, not wanting another attempt to succeed, he tries to uncover just what is going on. Not only does Cabal have all this to contend with but he's also getting an odd strange feeling every now and then. Could this be what is referred to as a conscience?

With the first book there was a feeling of the author finding his feet but no such problems with the second. The pacing and plot are pretty much spot-on and this allows for the humour to flow more naturally and there are some very funny moments indeed. Cabal himself, although his character hasn't changed, is a much more likeable hero than he was in his first outing. Also included in this book is a short story told from the perspective of a member of a gentleman's club to his fellows detailing an encounter he had with Cabal at the conclusion of the main story. Definitely worth a read. Although this is a second book in the series you don't necessarily have to have read the first to enjoy this though I would've enjoyed the first as much if I read them the other way around. 4★'s

The Man Who Went Up in Smoke by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo

A Swedish journalist, Alf Matsson, has gone missing in Budapest and Martin Beck is asked to go and investigate and try to locate or discern what happened to him. Having only a month long vacation on a remote island with his wife and children to look forward to, Beck readily accepts the case and after a quick investigation of the events prior to the journalist's departure he's soon following in Matsson's footsteps by jetting off to Hungary. Initial enquiries seem to lead nowhere and it's not long before it all seems like a complete waste of time. But why is someone following him around everywhere he goes?

Budapest gives a great setting allowing the reader to dissect the character of Martin Beck while he struggles to be enthused by this new investigation. Later in the story we get to see more of the teamwork and camaraderie that was shown in the first book, Roseanna, as well as the dogged nature of the policework involved in actually solving a case like this. It's quite a low-key, almost meandering, plot and those who want a wham! bam! thank you, ma'am approach to their crime novels will probably be disappointed but for those looking for a series that develops it's leading characters as it progresses then you could do a lot worse than this one.

My copy of the book came with a nice little introduction by Val McDermid and and features about the book and on the authors (including a Q&A) and an if you liked this then you might like... snippet too. Well translated by Joan Tate. 3½★'s

Shriek: An Afterword by Jeff VanderMeer

A fictional biographical account written about a fictional person by his fictional sister which also includes history and anecdotes about the fictional city of Ambergris in the form of an afterword to a fictional book. With me so far? Then I shall endeavour to fill in the details to make it more clear. Let's start with the narrator and her subject. Janice Shriek is our guide and while not being entirely likeable she doesn't skip the parts which show her in a bad light. We first met Janice and her subject, her brother Duncan, in City of Saints and Madmen though you don't really need to read that one to understand what's going on here. Duncan is a historian whose thoughts and theories have been vilified to the extent that he's no longer welcomed at the publishing houses anymore and would probably have become a forgotten part of current events if it wasn't for his former student and lover, Mary Sabon, who has become his greatest critic and who is currently the toast of the town.

The first part of the book details the history of the family Shriek. The death of their father at an early age, the subsequent move to Ambergris, the rise and fall of both Duncan and Janice within society's movers and shakers and Duncan's research including trips underground into the world of the Grey Caps and the subsequent invasion by the spores into his body. The second part chronicles the internecine war between the publishing houses and the aftermath of that catastrophic event for Ambergris and its survivors. What really makes the book stand out though are the comments and revisions provided by Duncan himself. They add colour and insight into what would otherwise be a one-sided view of historic events for the family and the city itself. Not what I would class as an easy read as the narrative jumps through events haphazardly and if it wasn't for Duncan's interjections I would probably mark at least a half point lower. 4★'s

Re #53: sounds like a book where we'd expect Charles Kinbote to put in an appearance.

I had only one little quibble about Shriek and it's fairly petty: I wished that Duncan's remarks had been printed in italics, or a different font. Being put into parentheses didn't make it clear enough that they were not part of Janice's narrative, to me. I still like City of saints and madmen the best of the Ambergris books, but they will all be reread in the future.

@54, I had to look up who that was as I've not read Pale Fire.

@55, I had no problems distinguishing between the two voices. Thought the author did a great job differentiating between the two narrators.

Predator's Gold by Philip Reeve

Second book from the Hungry Cities Chronicles series picks the story of our two young heroes, Tom Natsworthy and Hester Shaw, two years after the climactic events at the conclusion of Mortal Engines. After spending those years away they're now back in the familiar environs of the Great Hunting Ground but there are some people who remember them and others who're willing to pay for the information that they've returned. After an encounter with a hunter for the city of Arkangel they decide it's time to leave Airhaven and as they've not secured a cargo agree to take a passenger with them as they depart. The passenger, the renowned historian/explorer Pennyroyal, also seems in a hurry to leave and so off they set. It's not too long into their journey that things start to go wrong as they are set upon by three gunships from a fanatical arm of the Anti-Traction League. Barely managing to escape and with their own craft severely damaged they just manage to find a city travelling the icy wastes where they can touch down and hopefully make repairs.

The city of Anchorage has seen better days though. Most of it's citizens have either left or died of plague but those who have stayed are devoted to the young Margravine, Freya, who has found herself in charge. Freya has set a course for the Dead Continent and it seems the gods have approved by delivering Pennyroyal, author of America the Beautiful, into her lap at just the right moment. Freya has also set her sights on Tom as well and much to Hester's chagrin, Tom seems to enjoy the time he's spending with the Margravine and Hester thinks she might be travelling on alone when repairs to their ship have been completed. With the repairs barely completed, Hester spies Freya kissing Tom so she flies off in a jealous rage and comes up with a desperate plan to win Tom back. She sells the location of Anchorage to Arkangel's hunters but refuses the normal predator's gold for agreement that she will rescue Tom from the impending destruction of the city and enslavement of its people. But plans have a habit of going awry and this one's no different as Hester is kidnapped before she can set off to rescue Tom. Strange things are also happening back in Anchorage with odd items going missing and the chief engineer keeps thinking he's seeing the ghost of his dead son. Can Tom get to the bottom of the mystery or will the mystery get to him first?

This is an entertaining action/adventure story designed primarily for early teens (or just a little younger) but there is enough here to enjoy for older readers. There is enough character development and the promise of an ongoing story arc to continue through later books in the series and I will be more than happy to read the next one in the series at some time. 3½★'s

Temeraire by Naomi Novik

The first book in an ongoing alternate history series set around the time of the Napoleonic Wars and dragons are very much part of the conflict. When Captain Will Laurence and his crew capture a French ship, they find something quite unexpected in the hold - a dragon egg. One which appears to be from one of the rare larger breeds and is due to hatch before they can return to land and hand it over to the air corps. So someone from among the crew will have to attempt to harness the hatchling and give up on any semblance of a normal life if the dragon accepts him. But the dragon, when hatched, ignores the chosen applicant and talks directly to Laurence instead. The dragon accepts the name bestowed by the captain and also allows himself to be harnessed. Part one of the book deals with the initial encounter of man and beast, part two with their transfer to the air corps and training and part three with early encounters with the enemy.

This was a very easy book to read and while there are reminiscences of other stories (most notably the Pern series markedly with the hatching process and communities the dragons & riders live in) there is enough here to differentiate between them especially as the main focus of this tale is the relationship between Temeraire and Laurence. The dragons are not just horses with wings, they come in all shapes and sizes and with differing abilities and intelligence levels as well as the capacity for learning as they grow. Each of the dragons featured has their own distinct personality and there are some fun moments mixed in with the action/adventure scenes that cover most of the story. This will be another series added to my incredibly long list of those already ongoing but one which I'm pleased to add. 4★'s

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Having reached her sixteenth birthday, this is the year that Beatrice must choose which faction of the city she will spend the rest of her life with. These factions represent five basic qualities of the human condition: Abnegation (where she grew up) is devoted to selflessness, Candor to honesty, Amity to peace, Erudite to intelligence and Dauntless to bravery. Beatrice is having a hard time fitting in with the ideals of her faction and when her aptitude test brings up a surprising result she will have to make a choice whether to quell her natural instincts and try and fit in with the rest of the selfless or turn her back on her family and upbringing to join one of the others. Making the choice though is just the start of her ordeal as she has to go through an initiation/training schedule which is brutally challenging and if she is not selected at the end of it will find herself factionless and forced to live on the streets as best she can. Being one of the smallest and weakest of the initiates this is a real possibility. Can she make it through and why is she so drawn to one of her instructors?

This young adult dystopian story is a fast paced action oriented novel that is very easy to just carry on reading. Usually on a first night shift I will only read for maybe a couple of hours but I stayed with this book all night and finished the last couple of chapters in the morning when I got home. It's no great literary feat but it is engaging and the world in which it's set is interesting enough for me to want to learn more of. Hopefully we will do so in the sequels as this book doesn't get out much into the other areas or explain a great deal about the world around it. While there are obvious similarities to be drawn with other works out there, this book asks different questions of its readers with alternative views and moral dilemma's to overcome. Will be fascinating to see where the story continues. 4★'s

If you liked Uglies, Pretties, and Specials by Scott Westerfeld, then Divergent is for you. Or vice versa! You might also try Skylark by Meagan Spooner if you like those.

I really liked Temeraire. The mistreatment of one of the dragons made me cry which was the point at which I realized how it had sucked me in. The series continues to be pretty good though the last couple have been less so. Suspect Novik isn't sure where to go with some of her developments.
And I am eagerly awaiting the concluding book of Divergent as I thought that series was pretty brill too.

@reconditereader, I've read a couple of other series by Scott Westerfeld but not the Uglies one as yet. Might have to change that situation at some point. Skylark was something I was totally unaware of so thanks for that recommendation too.

@infjsarah, even if some of the sequels aren't quite up to par it's nice to know they're not bad enough to avoid. Thanks for the heads-up on that as I will definitely be continuing the series at some point.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I'm glad I picked this one up straight away after finishing off Divergent as it throws you straight back into the action with no reminder of what has gone on previously. The reason behind the attack becomes more clear although the whole truth is not revealed until the conclusion of this book. The story is still an action extravaganza but I felt less invested in the characters this time around and at times they seem like wholly different people than those from the first book. That said, it's still very readable and the pages fly by as the story unfolds and I did get my wish to learn more of other factions and how they go about life in their world. The final reveal also offers further expansion for the impending conclusion to the trilogy

I do feel this one suffers a little from second-book syndrome and could have been a little tighter given a bit more care and attention. Probably rushed to capitalise on the success of the first. Still a worthwhile read but only if you've read the first and one where I'll be happy to pick up the concluding part of the story when book 3 is released. 3½★'s

Like you, Dave, I'm hooked on the Divergent/Insurgent series. The third one, Allegiant, is supposed to come out this October.

Hi Joe, not only do we have the 3rd book to look forward to but there is also the Divergent movie due out next year which looks to have a pretty decent cast.

Glad to be of help!

>65 AHS-Wolfy: Yes!

Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Cay Project is close to coming to fruition and so the company who owns it have sent Leo Graf to oversee the training of the engineers to be. Given virtually no details about the project itself Leo is shocked to find that his students have been genetically engineered to better work in zero gravity. Instead of legs they each have an extra pair of arms. The old adage of many hands make light work definitely applies here. Nicknamed Quaddies, they have been bred from human stock but without the rights of humans (belonging solely to the company) they have been conditioned to accept their lot which to Leo's eyes looks to be slave labour. But just as they are reaching a stage where they can be put to work a new technology becomes available which makes them obsolete. The company decides to terminate the project and dump the Quaddies planet-side and dismantle the orbital habitat to reclaim what they can from the materials. Leo is not too enamoured of this solution as by this time he has become quite attached to his students so he sets about trying to formulate a plan to save them from what is tantamount to a slow death. Can he succeed and will the normally placid Quaddies join his revolution?

This is a fast-paced space opera / adventure story that looks into the morality of genetic engineering as well as the political side with human rights and indoctrination being prevalent topics throughout. The science is not too heavy and definitely adds to the plot rather than just get in the way of it. The only real problem I have with the book is that the characters are quite one dimensional. The good guys have always got their white hats on and the baddies are all dressed in black. Despite that, this prequel story to the Vorkosigan saga is still an enjoyable read and knowing this was an early book in the series I'm sure I have lots to look forward to with the series proper. 3½★'s

Fugitive Prince by Janny Wurts

This continuation of the epic fantasy series sees the start of a new arc of the story. The time Arithon had bought at the end of the previous book is rapidly dwindling as Lysaer attempts to trap his half-brother by forming alliances that cross the country so that he will have nowhere to hide. Lysaer has also re-introduced the abhorrent act of slavery for those that seek to aid Arithon and put a bounty on the head of any clansmen that can be found. He wants them to man the oars of the newly built fleet of ships to be used in blockade to stop anyone escaping by sea. And even though he opposes the use of sorcery, Lysaer is willing to receive aid from the Koriani if it will serve up Arithon to justice. Will Arithon be able to untangle the web that the Koriani Prime Matriarch is spinning to ensnare him and what actions will the already beleaguered Fellowship of Sorcerers be able to manage to ensure his continued existence?

Being the first part of a new arc there is a lot of set-up in this book. Not only does it provide the background for potential new readers it also introduces new characters galore and fleshes out those that carry over and come more to the fore this time around. The books in this series are not quick and light affairs. They are complex and at times heavy going but are so worth the effort in the end. The world-building, character development and their actions and consequences are all superbly handled and you can't help feel for them as the cursed half-brothers draw closer to confrontation and how this affects those that are drawn in to these events. 4★'s

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

Will contain series spoilers (how can it not after the ending of the previous one?)

So what's it like being dead? This is what Harry Dresden is about to find out but before moving on he's given the option of returning to find his killer. If he doesn't, he's informed, 3 of his friends will come to great harm. So for Harry that isn't really a choice and so his spirit is returned to Chicago to see what he can do. Unable to physically interact with the world, Harry will have to come up with something different this time around. No blundering into situations and then just blasting away until all the bad guys are dead. Time has moved on since his departure and now that Chicago had lost a protector it seems some big nasty's have moved in. Molly, Harry's former apprentice, has tried to stem the tide but at what cost to her? Murphy, the werewolves and the Para-net have joined forces to also hinder the evil tide but things are so bad that they're even forced to ask Marcone for help on occasions. Harry turns to the one person he knows that will be able to at least offer interaction with his current incorporeal self but it seems that Mortimer Lindquist, the ectomancer, has problems of his own. Can Harry work out a deal to get Mort to help him out or will he have to go it alone and try and find his killer by himself?

This didn't feel quite up to par with a lot of the previous books in this series. Because he can't generally interact with his friends this one seems less fun this go around and gets quite bleak at times and perhaps because of this the pacing seemed a little off as well. It was also fairly predictable and the ending was certainly no shock. But having said all that, it was still a Harry Dresden novel and not everything is as bad as I've seemed to describe up until now. It gets quite touching in parts and there are signs that Harry may develop more as the series continues because of his actions in this instalment. Is Harry actually growing up? I'll certainly be carrying on with the series when I get around to it. 3★'s

Three of my favourite series' one after another! If you've not read much of the Bujold before you've got lots to look forward to!

I agree that Ghost STory isn't the best in the series, but I'm glad it reset things a little. I quite liked the next one!

The Bloodstone Papers by Glen Duncan

Another different than what's come before novel from my current favourite author. This time around he draws from his own family history and takes a look at the Anglo-Indians when the Raj was crumbling in 1940's India while also examining what it means for that minority in the present day. Owen Monroe (the narrator) is a teacher, bartender & occasional porn novelist using a pseudonym of Millicent Nash. He wants to write The Book telling the life-story of his parents (Ross & Kate) going back to those troubled times and what it was like for them then. The story is split with alternating chapters detailing Owen's current life and then telling his parents' story. Owen is also carrying on an investigation for his father trying to find a man named Skinner who is a recurring character in Ross' history usually to the detriment of his current fortunes.

While I said it was different to his other work, there are a few of Glen Duncan's usual themes running throughout the dual narrative. He looks at death, sex, fate, lost love and relationships but never lets any overpower the story that he's telling. It is an intelligent, sad, funny, insightful story that examines what it means to belong to a minority people while never beating you over the head with it or sending you on a guilt-trip. While I think this is somewhat toned down from most of his other books there are still some graphic depictions of sex and sexuality, quite a lot of profanity and some scenes of violence. So those put off by such things should probably be forewarned before picking up anything by this author. 4★'s

That sounds really interesting. I might have to give it a try.

I've now read 8 of the 9 books he's written and enjoyed each of them. It has always surprised me that when I add a review it's only one of just a handful at most. Definitely deserves a wider reading public and I hope that with the success of his ongoing werewolf trilogy more people will check out his back catalogue. Hope you enjoy it if you do decide to give it a try.

Purity of Blood by Arturo Pérez-Reverte

The 2nd in the Captain Alatriste series picks up the story not long after the the 1st with our heroic Spanish captain contemplating re-enlisting to avoid possible repercussions from his earlier adventure. But before he can his friend don Francisco de Quevedo, poet, swordsman and highly celebrated wit at court, requests his aid in another dangerous escapade. An acquaintance of Quevedo's has asked his help in rescuing his daughter from a convent where illicit practices are being performed by the priests. A daring rescue plan is set in motion but no sooner do they storm the convent but soldiers and agents of the Inquisition appear and it seems as though they have walked directly into a trap.

This tale is again narrated by Inigo Balboa, son of a dead wartime companion currently being cared for by Alatriste, and continues to be beset by the same problems as the earlier book. Told from after the event and including reference to future times any possible suspense to the outcome is rendered obsolete. Even when Inigo falls prey to the Inquisition you know that nothing too serious will happen to him otherwise he would be unable to fight in future battles that he recounts. The major plus continues to be the scene-setting where cultural excess is balanced by political disaster which will lead to Spain's downfall. I won't be averse to continuing the series but it's not one that I will go out of my way to pick up. 3½★'s

The Unbearable Lightness of Being in Aberystwyth by Malcolm Pryce

Third in the Welsh noir series sees gumshoe Louie Knight and his partner Calamity embroiled in some monkey business. Quite literally as it happens as there's one sat in the clients chair when Louie enters his office one day. Cleopatra, the monkey in question currently works with an organ grinder and it's he that wants an old mystery looked into and as he's willing to part with £500 up front then Louie can't say no. It's a hundred year old murder where a stable boy was accused and found guilty of murdering the lady of the manor and intending to steal her jewels. Gabriel Bassett, the organ grinder, doesn't think he did it and wants to clear his name but wants it done in the next fortnight. Louie dumps the case on Calamity so she can earn her detective's badge. Something more important crops up for Louie though, as when taking Myfanwy (his girlfriend) out on a day out from the nursing home he finds himself drugged and Myfanwy kidnapped. Who has taken her and why? Louie will stop at nothing to find out and rescue the love of his life. And along the way we might even find out what happened to Mr. Bojangles, Cleopatra's son.

All the usual characters make their appearance so while the book is self-contained it's still probably best if you read the series in order to pick up on the relationship dynamics. While the style is all Chandleresque the humour is straight out of the likes of League of Gentlemen where all the people have secrets of their own and the place gets dirtier and seedier the more you dig. Still an enjoyable series that I will at some point continue. 3½★'s

Trautmann's Journey: From Hitler Youth to FA Cup Legend by Catrine Clay

Probably best remembered as the goalkeeper who played on for 15 minutes of an FA Cup final after suffering a broken neck but obituaries and remembrances written after his recent passing sparked an interest for me to learn more of the remarkable life of Bert Trautmann. This is truly an amazing story of how a young German boy was indoctrinated into the Nazi way of life through his love and aptitude for sports. From life in the Hitler Youth to volunteering before being conscripted so he could pursue his unrequited dream of being a pilot. Fought on both the Eastern and Western Fronts in WWII first as a radio operator in the Luftwaffe and then as a paratrooper. How he was captured, first by Americans and then the British, became a POW and found a new way of life in England. Playing football, first in the camps and then for local club side St Helens before his performances attracted interest from scouts of all the big clubs of the time and then signing for Manchester City and all the furore that brought with it (Manchester had a large Jewish community who were quite vocal in their disapproval of City's latest acquisition). His first game in London where the bomb damage was still highly evident and despite initial hatred from local fans how he ended the match receiving a standing ovation from the other players and all the fans in the ground when he left the field. The book concludes with the aforementioned FA Cup final and touching lightly on his work fostering Anglo-German relations with the Bert Trautmann Foundation for which he was awarded an OBE. I doubt many people have been awarded an Iron Cross and then gone on to be given one of those.

The author has produced some documentaries for the BBC and that style is quite prevalent in this book. It doesn't delve too deeply on his life as a footballer, concentrating more on his formative years and what it was like for a fairly typical boy growing up in the times between the wars and during his life as a soldier. It doesn't gloss over the faults in his character and how his hot temper would often land him in serious trouble or how he left a woman carrying his child leaving only a letter saying that he couldn't marry her. They were later reconciled as he was with the daughter that she bore him. I've never been a keen student of history but I found this account fascinating and I learnt a lot about how life was in those days. It was also interesting to see things from a German's perspective. I wouldn't have minded a bit more detail on his actual playing career or his life after he finally hung up his gloves to be included but this is a book that I'm definitely glad I read. 4★'s

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan

Laurens Bancroft committed suicide but doesn't buy the verdict that the police seem readily to accept. After all, he would've known he'd be re-sleeved and just lose the time since his last remote storage backup so why would he take the trouble? A bungled murder attempt seems more likely to him so he hires Takeshi Kovacs to investigate for him. Kovacs was a member of the Envoy Corps (basically super-soldiers) until a mission went bad and he got out and now uses his abilities to earn a living for himself. Before being hired by Bancroft he was serving a long sentence in storage and part of the contract will see the rest of it annulled. Not being left much choice he sets off to see what he can find out. It's not long before he finds his first clue when a hitman tries to take him out while he's checking in to a hotel. He also wants to know why one particular police lieutenant has taken such an interest in him too. If she thought it was an open and shut case why does she seem to show up quite so often.

This is an interesting melding of cyberpunk and hard-boiled detective fiction with a fast flowing action-packed pace with only a few moments along the way to catch your breath. It's not just a case of dropping a Philip Marlowe type character into a technology rich environment and seeing what happens. The tech is essential to the plot and isn't just used to form set-piece action spots. Like all good science fiction this story manages to ask some big questions especially on the nature of identity (with all the body-swapping it can't but help it) and a possible means of immortality and what that could signify for the human race. But it doesn't spend too much time wrestling with these concepts before moving on to the next gunfight, sex scene or poking around in someone's innards (whether physical or mental) to get some vital information. You might guess at that last statement that it might get a little gory and you'd be at least half right. But these scenes, although somewhat gratuitous, don't stray too far from the plot and with this being a debut novel I'm willing to cut it some slack. Overall an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to continuing the series even if the sequels are not so well regarded as this one. 4★'s.

I remember liking this one a lot, Dave, when I read it a number of years ago. The re-sleeving was interesting and the story had all the positives you mention.

#75

Arturo Pérez Reverte is one of my favourite authors but I have stayed away from his Captain Alatriste novels. I think part of my attraction to his work is the diversity of his other novels and I have a sense that a series about a single character would diminish that for me.

I am looking forward to the publication this month of his next non-Captain Alatriste novels, The Seige (which appears to have no touchstone yet).

I do have the first Captain Alatriste novels so am equiped to venture in that direction.

Joe, that's the 2nd of his that I've read so far and enjoyed both. The Steel Remains being the other. Both action-oriented but quite dark and brutal.

Peter, I've only read the 2 Alatriste books so far. I do have a couple of his other books sitting on the tbr shelves which I'll have to get to sometime.

My first introduction to Perez-Reverte was The Dumas Club which I enjoyed a lot. Next was The Flanders Panel which was also enjoyable. The others were The Seville Communion, The Queen of the South, The Nautical Chart and The Fencing Master.
I think my favourite was The Dumas Club, but The Seville Communion was a good second.

The Dumas Club was the basis for Roman Polanski's film, The Ninth Gate.

I discovered this author while browsing in one of the few remaining independent bookshops in Dublin (Books Upstairs). The cover blurb caught my attention and I bought it on the off chance that I might enjoy it. Ever since then I have used that bookshop for picking up authors who are new to me and whose work has been translated into English, and so far I have not been disappointed.

Dead Men's Boots by Mike Carey

Third in the Felix Castor series. A fellow exorcist has committed suicide and then gone geist. His widow wants Fix to try and find out why the departed is staying around. His conscience pricks him into agreeing as John Gittings had asked for his help on a case before his death and due to a bad incident on their last case together Fix ignored the calls. He also gets a new client when Jan Hunter asks him to look into her husband's case. He went full psycho on a rent boy and it seems like the MO of a long dead serial killer. Could it be something the exorcist community had thought impossible? A ghost possessing a living human? All this and then there's Jenna-Jane Mulbridge who wants to take Rafi, his demon possessed friend, to her institute and probably won't treat him quite so well. Fix has got to stop her so he can get back in the good books of his former Landlady, Pen.

The rest of the usual gang of recurring characters, Nicky the information gathering zombie and Juliet the succubus turned exorcist, also make welcome appearances. Although this is a self-contained story I think the series is best read in order to fully appreciate the who's who and the rules of the world it takes place within. This is a fast-paced tale set firmly in the hard-boiled detective end of the urban fantasy market. The writing is descriptive but never flowery, actions have consequences and moral dilemma's faced. An excellent continuation of the series. 4½★'s

Preacher Book Four by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon

More profane, irreligious and downright fun adventures featuring Jesse Custer, Tulip & Cassidy. This book has volumes 34-40 bookended by some back-story specials. First up is One Man's War, the tale of how Herr Starr was recruited by the Grail and his rise to prominence within that organisation. Then it's on to the main story with the starring trio heading into Indian Country so that Jesse can commune with Genesis. But it seems like Starr knows where they're headed so lays in a little surprise a a welcoming party but things don't go as planned when the Saint of Killers is once again added to the mixture. Who's going to be left standing at the end? Two more specials close out the book with The Story of You-Know-Who filling out the past life of Arseface and a side-story featuring The Good Old Boys back in the swamps of Louisiana from before hey were dead.

If you've enjoyed the story up till this point there's no doubt you'll continue to do so here. The artwork is still perfect for the story and the colours really stand out especially when the action takes place in Monument Valley. The full page prefaces to each chapter are superb, Glenn Fabry should be commended. The image gallery at the end of the book seems to be getting smaller though with just 4 pages this time around but the inclusion of the 3 specials mean you're not short-changed. 4★'s

Lullaby Town by Robert Crais

Elvis Cole is your modern day(ish) equivalent to Philip Marlowe with the exception of having Joe Pike, his partner, to call on in case of emergencies. In this, his third outing, Elvis will once again need Joe's help as a case of a missing person escalates into confrontation with the Mafia. Peter Alan Nelsen, current bigshot direct du jour, hires Elvis to find the ex-wife and son he left 10 years ago and hasn't seen or heard from since. Despite a distinct lack of information at the outset, it's not long before Elvis finds out where they are and flies off to New York to go say hello. That's when the trouble really starts.

Another fast-paced action thriller told in small chapters which are used to build tension to good effect. Cole is an easy to like detective of the wise-cracking variety and his taciturn partner almost manages to crack a smile this time around. I doubt I could read too many of these in a row but good to visit with every now and again. 4★'s

Hmmm, nearly 4 weeks since my last review. Shocking neglect! I blame my new toy and contemplating a plan for next year’s reading challenge. Here’s how it goes: Next year I plan on reading a lot more comic books/graphic novels but as I don’t really have a lot of space to keep them I thought I’d take the step and go digital. To accomplish this I bought myself a new tablet. “Which one?” I hear you all declare. A work colleague/friend let me try out his old one and as it pretty much fit the bill and was quite comfortable to hold I plumped for the new and improved version of that. So here it is.



The new Nexus 7 from Google.

Downloaded a free app called Perfect Viewer and away I went. Was looking for something to fill in the gap for category 1 of my challenge after my aborted attempt to get through Grimm’s Fairy Tales and thought I’d give American McGee's Grimm a try. This is a 5 issue series based on a game that I’ve never played. Got to say didn’t really like it much at all but read the whole series anyway. You can get a taster for it here if you feel so inclined. 2★'s

As some of you may be aware, I’ve been reading the Fables series and have reached the point where Jack spins off into his own series so that was what I thought I’d try next. Read the 1st 2 volumes of Jack of Fables. Volume 1, The (Nearly) Great Escape covers issues 1-5 and deals with Jack’s time immediately after getting booted out of Hollywood by Beast. While trying to hitch a lift he gets abducted and taken to the Golden Boughs Retirement Village. This is essentially a prison to keep fables so the Mundy world can forget about them and their magic will dissipate. Jack has no intention of taking this lying down (well, he does when he meets an old friend but best not go there as this is a family friendly thread) and sets about planning an escape. 3½★'s

Volume 2, Jack of Hearts, is bookended by a two-part tale of how Jack became Jack Frost before moving on to his time in Vegas as he looks to recoup some cash with the help of one of his companions from the escape. He also ends up getting married to a hotel heiress and encountering Lady Luck and the Belgian mafia.

The Jack from these books is a much more likeable character in the lovable rogue type but that’s because he is the narrator for these stories. He’s not without his faults but you can’t help rooting for him in his mad-cap escapades. I will be continuing with this series but will be waiting on Fables Deluxe Book 8 to be issued first as the next Jack is a companion story to that. 3½★'s

Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 1 combines the first six issues of this long-running series. We get the tales of Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel, Rumplestitskin, Sleeping Beauty and The Robber Bridegroom. The format for each of the stories is pretty much the same: A teenager facing difficulty in their current life is shown an equivalent situation from Grimm’s Fairy Tales and realises what they are getting into if they keep on the road in which they’re headed. The tales have been adapted from the original Grimm stories rather than the cutesified Disney versions and the artwork is certainly aimed more for an adult market. Perfect reading for the early hours when working the night-shift and am too tired to read a proper book. 3½★'s

A Dance With Dragons: Part 1 Dreams and Dust by George R. R. Martin

It’s been a while since I read book 4 but didn’t really have any problems sinking straight back in to this series (the TV show has probably helped with this). Books 4 & 5 run more or less in tandem following different groups of people in each tome. This one deals with what happens to Tyrion, Jon Snow, Daenerys, Bran, Stannis, Reek and a few other subsidiary characters. Each chapter is headed by character name so you know who’s up next and as some chapters end on cliff-hangers you want to jump ahead at times to see what happens to that person/group rather than returning to somebody else’s tale.

Considering this is a fairly sizeable book (624 pages without the appendix) the overall story arc isn’t greatly advanced. It ends with a lot of people still in the same place they started. As this is not really a complete book the ending isn’t really a conclusion, it just stops and of course some of the characters face imminent peril so I guess I’ll just have to move straight on to Part 2. 4★'s

Hope you enjoy the tablet. I have the first version of Nexus 7. It's a good little tablet.

A Dance With Dragons: Part 2 After the Feast by George R. R. Martin

This volume continues on from part 1 but also integrates returning threads from book 4 and it's good to have some old favourites back with us once again. This is still very much a middle book in a series (albeit a long one) and as such it's still characters jostling for position without much headway being made in the overall plot. The ending is typical GRRM but as he's done it before I'm not entirely giving up hope as yet. There's probably a few too many characters and I'm sure the overall book length (if you combine parts 1 & 2) could have been cut down significantly without anyone crying too much about it. For instance, do we really need to know what's going on in Meereen when Dany isn't there? Still an excellent series though but best not ask the dread question otherwise you know what'll happen...



4★'s

Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Seven by Bill Willingham

This volume contains a four-part story (Sons of Empire), a one-shot (Jiminy Christmas), a two-parter (Farther and Son) and two more one-shots (Burning Questions and The Birthday Secret). It is rounded out by some art and designs by Mark Buckingham and biographies of the main contributors.

Sons of Empire has the adversary calling a council of war to decide what to do about Fabletown and the Mundy world in which it is based. The imperial elite gather and put forward proposals for all out wall and the possible repercussions of such an act. Meanwhile an envoy is sent to Fabletown and they're not going to be happy over who is selected. Jiminy Christmas is a Yuletide tale involving Snow, Bigby and their wolf cubs and leads directly into Father and Son when the Wolf clan pay a visit to Bigby's father. Burning Questions answers some reader queries in illustrated form and finally The Birthday Secret sees the introduction of Ghost to his brothers and sisters.

There are quite a few different artists used within this book and the quality varies tremendously and shows huge disparity in the way characters are drawn making them all but unrecognisable in some instances. Thankfully, the part which deals with the main story arc is still being produced by the main contributors and continues to be top notch. I'm still very much enjoying the core storyline although some of the side stories didn't do too much for me this time around. 3½★'s

Haunting the Nightside by Simon R. Green

This omnibus edition from the Nightside series contains books 3 and 4 of the ongoing adventures of John Taylor.

The first story, Nightingale's Lament, starts off with Taylor upsetting Walker, representative of the Authorities who want to keep things in the Nightside running smoothlly, so he's hiding out in Strangefellows, his favourite bar, when he is approached by a new client who wants to make sure his daughter is ok. Rossignol is potentially the next big thing™, a singing sensation that has been wowing audiences ever since she appeared on the scene. She has recently attained new management and severed all ties with her family and friends. She has also dramatically changed her style and now solely sings sad songs which seem to be causing some of her fans to go off and commit suicide. After the first encounter with the Cavendishes, Rossignol's new management, Taylor decides he needs some help so enlists Dead Boy, the Nightside's resident expert on death, to help track down the Cavendishes previous protégé.

Hex and the City sees Taylor being hired by Lady Luck to investigate the actual origins of the Nightside and as rumour has it that his mother was involved somewhere along the line he accepts despite all previous attempts failing with no-one ever returning to say what they'd found. Taylor decides he will again need some help and seeks out Sinner, the only man barred from both Heaven and Hell who brings along the succubus demon he's in love with, and Madman, who can distort reality just by his very presence. They will need to visit some major players to find the answers they want and will have to be very wary with others looking to use any knowledge they come up with or stop them from finding out altogether.

For me this series sits somewhere in between the Harry Dresden and Felix Castor books. Take the action sequencing from the former and add in the darker tone of the latter throw in a touch more horror and you'll get the general idea. Unfortunately there's no real affinity built with the main protagonist. John Taylor is very much the clichéd private investigator with power who's generally on the side of good but he's not averse to using the people around him in any way that's necessary to get what he wants. Reasoning that anyone who's in the Nightside knows the risks and that makes everything ok. The stories themselves are fast-paced but somewhat predictable with none of the big reveals coming as much of a surprise. While the previous three books have all been self-contained the fourth does seem to offer something more to come at its conclusion and seeing that I did buy the first three omnibus editions I will be continuing to find out where it leads. 3½★'s

Some more e-reading on my tablet has also been going on...

I've made a start on The Walking Dead and have got up to issue 18 (which I think is the equivalent of the first 3 TPB's. Wasn't too sure about reading B&W comic books to start off with but I'm really enjoying this series. While most of the basics are the same there are enough differences between the books and the TV series to keep you on your toes. Reading the letters page can also throw up some interesting nuggets as well. The series has some famous fans almost from the get-go. Simon Pegg and Simon R. Green (see previous post) have both had letters printed.

Headstone by Ken Bruen

One of the few ongoing series that I'm almost up-to-date with is the Jack Taylor one about an Irish private investigator set mostly in Galway. This is the ninth instalment in this violent and hard-hitting sequence of books which sees the protagonist receive almost as much punishment as those he goes up against. Wondrously, the opening of this book sees Jack in a happy place. He'd been to London, met Laura, spent an idyll week in Paris and she was due to visit him in Galway in a few days. But anybody who's been following this series knows that it won't be long before a spanner gets thrown into the works and sure enough it's not long before Jack hears that Father Malachy has been attacked and left in a coma. Soon after a Down's syndrome boy is killed and Jack, along with Ridge and Stewart (the two people he can call friends) receive packages in the mail each of which contains a headstone. Obviously a warning but for what? Jack also gets a new case where he's asked to locate a missing member of a church group who's absconded with rather more than this week's collection plate money. So can Jack solve the case while avoiding the danger from the warning and get ready for the arrival of his new lady friend?

Another fine addition to an already wonderful series. Not one I'd recommend as a starter book if you haven't yet tried Mr. Bruen's work as Jack Taylor is not an easy person to like unless you already know him from earlier adventures. Well worth starting from the beginning with The Guards. The writing style is somewhat unique, using cut-up sentences to form a character's thoughts before they are then put into speech but it's not difficult to get to grips with and the short chapters make for a fast and exciting read. 4★'s

Homunculus by James P. Blaylock

There's an airship that's been travelling the skies for many a year in a Flying Dutchman kind of way. A skeleton tied to the while seems to be the only crew. It's circumnavigations have seemed to be getting lower and looks like it's due to land in the very near future. Various people want to get hold of some of its rumoured contents and will do just about anything to get their hands on what they believe is there. Millionaire, Kelso Drake, is interested as is Narbondo, the mad hunchback who re-animates the dead with his assistant Willis Pule who also has plans of his own. Then there's the Trismegistus Club, a disparate group of scientists and philosophers of which Langdon St Ives is one such member. He's currently building a rocket-ship and wants to learn the secrets of the dirigible's engine. So who can thwart who's plans and what is really on board the airship? Some even say there's a little man inside a box that's behind it all.

This is supposedly a fun, early steampunk romp but I had real trouble ploughing through the first half of this book. Cardboard cut-out characters and confusing plot (is there one?) didn't endear me from the outset. This is a shame as I had high hopes of this winner of the PKD memorial award and with the author being generally regarded as a forerunner of the genre I came away with a big case of the let-downs. It does pick up somewhat in the second half of the book and builds to an action-packed finale but by then I really couldn't care less who survived, who didn't, who came away with the prize and what that prize actually was. It's probably not quite as bad as this review suggests and could actually be a case of wrong book/wrong time as there are some elements that I would usually enjoy and there are moments of humour which did have some appeal but I guess this is one series that I don't feel inclined to continue. 3★'s

Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

The third instalment of The Olympians series featuring young hero Percy Jackson. The Satyrs have been sent out searching for new half-bloods to bring up the numbers at Camp for the impending war and it seems Grover has managed to find a couple at a boarding school in Maine. Percy, Annabeth & Thalia are sent to pick them up before the other side can make a grab for them. Events obviously don't go according to plan and off we set on the all-action ride that dominates this series. They end up needing help to survive an initial encounter which is provided by Artemis and her Hunters but not without some cost. The remaining companions and the Hunters are sent to Camp Half-Blood while Artemis goes off to Hunt a new evil. The oracle makes an appearance and it is time for a new quest. Percy almost misses out but manages to tag along anyway as the mad-cap thrill ride continues. Can he rescue his friend, save the goddess and prevail over the forces of evil once again?

A better story than the second, Sea of Monsters, and greater character interaction too. Readers with a higher degree of understanding in Greek mythology than I possess will certainly get a lot more out of these books than I do but they are quick and easy to read being aimed primarily at the younger end of the YA spectrum. The ending sets up the next book in the series and I will, at some point, continue as book four is already on the tbr shelves. 3½★'s

Dark Star by Alan Furst

The 2nd in the (non-)series of espionage novels set just prior to and after the commencement of WWII. André Szara is a foreign correspondent working for Pravda. Like all such travellers he has been asked to perform small services for the NKVD and is once again tasked with one such on his trip to Ostend to write a story on the Belgian dockworkers. He's asked to find out where a fellow passenger is staying which he does but then finds this task escalating into something more and is actually recruited into the Russian spy network itself. His first assignment sees him running an agent in Berlin who is providing production figures which enables the estimation of how many aircraft Germany are churning out in preparation for the obviously upcoming war.

This is a very atmospheric and evocative read. Szara is a masterful creation as someone who is plunged into an incredibly difficult situation but manages to survive working for his two masters when one misstep would result in his demise. While there are a few contrivances which see the reluctant spy being placed in a position to witness critical events in the unfolding drama, the plot is tight and focused. While the reader is aware of the bigger picture, the story remains centred on the protagonist throughout. The only thing that stops this from being a five star read is the ending, it's just a little too pat. 4½★'s

Sweet Silver Blues by Glen Cook

First in a series of books written in the early years of urban fantasy as a genre. The majority of those that I've been reading recently have been set in a recognisable world with just magical elements or creatures added in to make the difference. This one takes a different tack by adding the hard-boiled private detective, a la Sam Spade, to an altogether made up world which contains those aforementioned magical bits. Garrett, the PI at the heart of the series, is a hero of the long-running and still active Cantard war (i.e. he survived his tour of duty) and provides the narration for this tale. He's hired by a gnome called Willard Tate who's son, Denny, had died in an accident and has left a fortune in silver in his will to a woman that his father had never heard of. Garrett knew Denny from his time after he got out of the army with both of them frequenting ex-servicemen establishments and a friendship was built which had somewhat lapsed over the years since. He also recognises the name of the woman having had a fling with her in his teenage army days and still holds a candle for his early crush. It soon becomes apparent that the hoard of silver has not been obtained by legal means and so there will probably be other nefarious types interested in its disposition so Garrett's first order of business will be to hire some protection. Morley Dotes, a half-elf of the dark variety fits that bill and as they're heading into the Cantard suggests taking along some grolls (human/troll hybrids) instead of mules. They can carry twice as much for twice as long and they're a lot more handy in a fight. Garrett also enlist some help from the Dead Man, a Loghyr killed some four hundred years ago but they tend to stick around a while even after they die. A deductive genius who also happens to have psychic powers but because of his condition unable to leave his current locale so Garrett turns to him for advice and any pointers he might be able to supply. So then it's time to gather up Morley and the grolls along with a couple of unexpected tagalongs and set off on his investigation and try to find the missing heiress.

This is much more aimed at the fantasy end of the spectrum than the majority of the genre. I'd say it was more of a quest adventure than a true detective story though the lead character is a very typical hard-boiled private detective type. The tone of the narration is very straightforward and matter of fact. The world-building is there but the point of focus never strays far away from the main plot. Characters are fleshed out through interaction with each other rather than extended descriptive passages though anyone wanting strong female characters should probably not look here. Those that do feature are treated as the typical dames that the genre is famous for. There is enough humour to lighten the mood when the tension rises as the investigation uncovers much more than a simple missing persons case. I wasn't transfixed by the story and I know from reading some of the author's other work he can do better but as this was an early book by him I'm willing to progress with the series and see how it goes. 3★'s

Weathercock by Glen Duncan

"I have the disease of cruelty." is something Dominic Hood (the narrator) confesses to a priest. We (the readers) know this as we've followed his life up to that point. Well, at least the major events of it from when he was 8 anyway. From believing he's witnessed a miracle from a character who assumes an almost mythic status as Dominic ages. Unfortunately he also comes into contact with an unsavoury element and childish games turn dark and the question "You like it, don't you?" will come back to haunt him as he is introduced to sadomasochism after encountering Deborah Black. So a tormented soul ensues, filled with shame from his Catholic upbringing but still relishing the acts he and Deborah delight in. Will he succumb to this darkness or will he turn to the light with the help of the enigmatic exorcist and miracle-worker, Father Ignatius Malone?

This is another novel by Glen Duncan that's hard to classify. Part coming of age drama, part sexual discovery/erotica and part just contemporary literature all thrown in with more than just a dollop of religion and the supernatural. The writing, as I've come to expect from the author, is as fantastic as ever. Managing to create a sympathetic lead character despite the unpleasant things he does is quite an accomplishment but there are some very good relationships formed throughout the tale. Tender moments with his sister, Julia, and childhood friends, Pen and Kelp, abound and offset the darker aspects of the narrative more than enough to have the reader actually care what happens. It's a challenging read which doesn't shy away from the darker edges but is lightened by moments of real fun. Even though I've been a fan of Mr Duncan for a while now I would say that this compares favourably with The Last Werewolf as my top read by him. Unfortunately, I've got no more of his books on the tbr shelves now so am stuck waiting for the next one to be published before reading anything new by him. 4½★'s

hmmmm, interesting! I've read The Last Werewolf so maybe I'll check this out.

I'm glad my review has piqued your interest enough to look further into his work. I hope you enjoy it when/if you get around to it.

Despite my love of his work, he's not an author I could readily recommend to anyone as the themes he often touches on are not of the most commercially acceptable variety.

I'm Not Really Here by Paul Lake

I'm not one for reading much in the way of non-fiction but having enjoyed the Bert Trautmann biography earlier in the year I thought I'd give another Manchester City legend's book a go. This is a story of local lad makes it big playing for the team he supported as a boy. Captain of the team by the time he was 21 and being talked of as a future captain of the national side even though he was yet to receive a full England cap having only represented them at under-21 and B level. Unfortunately his career and the bright future were curtailed by serious injury and the poor treatment he received by the medical staff that he trusted to make him well again. Rupturing a cruciate knee ligament, going through an operation and rehab to make his comeback to the game and team he loved only for his knee to fail again and again sent him into a state of clinical depression. The death of his father and the collapse of his first marriage certainly added to his woes at this time. Depression was never treated as an illness during this period and so he never could be open about how he felt. He'd often spend time at the cinema just to be alone and avoid speaking to people for a couple of hours. Finally calling it a day at the age of 27. Steered towards physiotherapy as his new career he even ended up back at City as his first job, looking after the academy team and despite moving on to other clubs due to needing distance from the memories he later returned as a club ambassador for the charitable work that City do in the community.

This is a forthright and honest account of the highs and lows of Paul Lake's life and career. Even though he was not treated well by the club, a proper diagnosis at the time of his injury would have seen his career back on track, he never comes across as bitter recounting only one instance where he had an argument with the then chairman who had been reluctant to pay for the correct course of action needed and so setting in motion the decline of a great talent. It was a very emotional read and there were plenty of times I'd have to stop to clear the lump from my throat or the moisture from my eyes but it also contains some light-hearted moments as well. Not only does it look at the life of a future footballing star but also deals frankly with the depression that sets in when that is taken from him. It's a powerful and emotional read and even if you're not a City fan I'm sure this would be an affecting read. 5★'s