I violated a cardinal rule of reviewing. Work was busting my ass so I didn't get around to reviewing this book for way too long. I read it. It was preI violated a cardinal rule of reviewing. Work was busting my ass so I didn't get around to reviewing this book for way too long. I read it. It was pretty darn good, but there were parts I kinda sorta didn't care for. Specifically what those were, I'm not 100% sure any longer. it was, however, a solid three star book. I remember that much.
Solidly sci-fi, the book picks up right on the heels of book 2. After several years of kicking humanity's ass, the Lankies have their over-sized boot placed firmly on the Solar System. Mars and its 20+ million colonists are dead - or close to dead. Human outposts and communications are either destroyed or isolated. It this system on the brink, Andrew Grayson and the forced of the North American Commonweath in deseprate alliance wit the Sino-Russian Confederation make a last ditch attempt to hold off the Lankies lest Earth itself be destroyed.
What is cool about the series is the very cynical bent it takes. The elites running the various human governments, rather than unite and defeat the enemy instead turn tail and flee. Leaving billions of men, women and children to die at the hands of the Lankies, the elites instead take the remnants of the fleet and flee. What a bunch of ass-hats. But the sad part is I kind of suspect that is exactly what they would do, you know, for the people.
Three starts out of five for vague, undefined reasons. A fun book, but not epic....more
Rifleman Dodd was a short little book that was solidly OK. Written by the author of the excellent Hornblower series, I had high expectations. After reRifleman Dodd was a short little book that was solidly OK. Written by the author of the excellent Hornblower series, I had high expectations. After reading the entire Sharpe series I wanted to get Forester's take on the Peninsular campaign. How would Cornwell's later volumes compare to Forester? (My understanding is that Cornwell wanted to write the land version of the Hornblower series.)
The comparison did not fare well ... for Forester. Rifleman Dodd is told from a curiously dispassionate perspective. The narration is almost clinical as it describes the lengths that Dodd goes to survive once he is cut off from the rest of his unit during an English retreat. His logic is cold and passionless as he lives off the land, occasionally receiving help from Portuguese guerrillas and occasionally harassing the French. Likewise, when the story turns to Sergeant Godinot on the French side, the narration remains passionless. It is terrible to say, but I cared little for either character. And that is a problem.
Ultimately an interesting read if you are into this genre of books. The lengths Dodd goes to survive and his drive to harass and confound the enemy doubtless explain why it is on the USMC's reading list (http://guides.grc.usmcu.edu/cprl-p) but not the best book for the casual reader. If you want to read a good historical fiction novel of the Peninsular campaign I highly recommend the Sharpe series by Cornwell.
A disappointed two stars out of five. I urge you to not make up your mind about the author based upon this review. The Hornblower books are fantastic....more
Returning from the war, Havens is dealt one blow after another. A smooth talking man, Stewart, from back East stole his family's ranch. The man's crewReturning from the war, Havens is dealt one blow after another. A smooth talking man, Stewart, from back East stole his family's ranch. The man's crew murdered his friends. He even married the woman Haven's was sweet on. And they framed him for the very crimes that they committed. This Easterner and his riders took away everything that Jeff Haven's had. Now he wants revenge. And Jeff knows that revenge is a dish best served cold.
Over several years, Jeff slowly unravels Stewart's plans to steal the small rancher's lands. He drives off his nemesis' riders, kills his friends and wreaks his revenge, taking away everything the Easterner held dear before ultimately killing him.
The book was OK. Enjoyable and riveting in places and stiff and dull in others. When Havens is being chased by bounty hunters in the mountains using his wits to survive and out maneuver his pursuit, the book was really good. When the book dived into character development, not so much. The deep love between Havens and his sweetheart didn't feel all that genuine to me. Additionally, a few points felt contrived to me. For example, the reason the two didn't come together immediately - the letters weren't getting through - and neither party would just ask one question: "why didn't you write?" Instead, their pride prevented them from getting together years earlier and thus eliminating the need for the entire story!
Three stars out of five. Good but not great....more
In a dusty Arizona silver boom-town, there is no law. The last Marshall only lasted a few weeks, and the one before him even less. Men are gun downed In a dusty Arizona silver boom-town, there is no law. The last Marshall only lasted a few weeks, and the one before him even less. Men are gun downed in drunken shootouts in saloons. Whores are cut up for holding out on their pimps. When a former Confederate soldier down on his luck applies for the job of Marshall, it seems too good to be true to the town fathers. If he succeeds, then they have cleaned up their town. And if he gets killed, well, then they'll just be one more body on boot hill.
Clay takes the job and within 24 hours runs afoul of the powerful Hopkinson gang. Vance Hopkinson, the youngest of three brothers shoots and kills a black man while drunk. The new Marshall, unaware of the young man's connections, arrests him and hauls him off to jail. The next morning Wes Hopkinson calmly explains that he needs to release Vance. He even offers to pay the new Marshall $5,000. The mayor and the town fathers order him to take the bribe and release Vance. To everyone's surprise, Clay says no. The ex-Confederate is, at heart, an honorable man.
The only man in town who joins Clay against the Hopkinson gang is an ex-slave, Essex Johnson. This unlikely duo face down the Hopkinson gang. There is a chase through the wild Arizona countryside. There is a ferocious gun battle in craggy mountainous ravines, and, finally, there is an epic shoot out in a dusty saloon back in Topaz, AZ where justice is at last served.
Three and a half stars, rounded up to four. This book was a lot of fun. At times I felt as if I was reading the script that inspired Clint Eastwood's classic flick, Unforgiven. But that's a good thing. It was an epic movie. I'm really impressed with Broomall's writing. It's fun, engaging and seat of your pants thrilling. A little cheesy at times, I none-the-less can recommend this one....more
Swede Burdette returns from the civil war to discover that the rail road has swindled his family out of their land. His parents, old and penniless, diSwede Burdette returns from the civil war to discover that the rail road has swindled his family out of their land. His parents, old and penniless, die before he returns. The angered Swede swears vengeance upon the corrupt rail road men. He becomes a modern day Robin Hood, stealing from the rail road and otherwise treating others with respect. After a bank robbery, John Kirby, a Texas Ranger and childhood friend of Swede, is charged with tracking down and bringing his old friend to justice.
The premise of The Bank Robber sounded great. These two old friends going head to head, both trying to see justice done. Through the course of the story we are treated to flashbacks of each characters' backstory. We learn that ultimately neither is really certain if he is truly doing the right thing.
While intriguing, the story just didn't rise above its base potential. The plot was very linear and predictable. Unlike some of the author's other works the characters themselves weren't terribly engaging. All of that being said, it was a fun enough read. Enjoyable but I'm not sure it's one that I would recommend with great enthusiasm.
A broken axle makes the Wainwright family fall behind the wagon train as it wends its way to distant Colorado. In short order, Prudence's husband is kA broken axle makes the Wainwright family fall behind the wagon train as it wends its way to distant Colorado. In short order, Prudence's husband is killed by outlaws and her daughter kidnapped for sale to the Comancheros. Her only hope is none other than Link Hayward, the grizzled, foul-mouthed trouble-maker of K Company. Link is carrying dispatches when he stumbles across Prudence. Against his better judgment and his orders, Link agrees to track down and rescue the fifteen year old. And so begins an absolutely fantastic story of determination, grit and survival.
I can not imagine two people more ill suited for one another. Link curses. He drinks to excess. He thinks nothing about petty theft. Prudence is pious and reads the bible daily. She is cultured and soft from her upbringing back in the East. To Prudence, Link seems at first blush like some sort of wild man. She spends that first night terrified that he will have his way with her. Over the course of the story these two come together in a way that was compelling, believable, and real. The forge that draws the two together is the journey itself. Link and Prudence are tracking down four outlaws across a thousand miles of trackless plains. They are challenged by one another, the weather, Comanches, outlaws, and more.
The characters across the board shine in this book. Beyond Link and Prudence, there is her daughter, Hope. Hope's efforts to save herself reveal the steel in her own spine, something that at first you think she got from her father. There are the outlaws, Hawk, Jarvis and Colton. I like the fact that the author provides us insight into their backgrounds. Former Jayhawkers who wreaked havoc and mayhem on pro-slavery sympathizers in Missouri and Kansas, at some point their pro-abolitionist sympathies took a back seat to rape and robbery. In particular, Colton, who had left a wife and children behind to fight slavery so many years ago, has a crisis. His daughter would be right about Hope's age. Villains who are not caricatures make for more compelling stories, I think.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five. The book was a bit predictable in terms on the overall arc of the story and I felt that the author intervened to save the main characters at the end. Regardless, I loved this book. Pick it up off of Amazon - only $1.99!...more
On the dusty, half-wild Kansas frontier, the young Lt. Tom Conroy is left in charge of K Company. His CO, Stark, thinks the independent command will bOn the dusty, half-wild Kansas frontier, the young Lt. Tom Conroy is left in charge of K Company. His CO, Stark, thinks the independent command will be good for him - a growth opportunity. Conroy will have a chance to get a feel for what it means to lead soldiers and also a chance to earn their respect. After the defeat of Cheyenne, what could possibly go wrong?
As it turns out, just about everything can go wrong. The jaded, experienced men of K Company don't respect the young Conroy. Nor do the rough and tumble civilians at the relay station where they are stationed. Conroy struggles to exert his will. The men are shirkers and drunkards, and the civilians take advantage of his youth and inexperience to rob the US government blind at every turn. And then the norther Cheyenne, inspired by Man Alone, attack.
Conroy and the relay station are cut off and surrounded by hundreds of Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors. The young lieutenant must organize the defense despite the challenges. Some of the civilians want to rob and rape a wealthy madame on her way to open a salloon in Denver. Some of the soldiers just want to rob her. One of the civilians just wants to kill Conroy over a perceived slight. Other soldiers just wants to get drunk. Thankfully, Linc and Mad Dog, two experienced and deadly veterans are there and support Conroy as the young commander finds his spine and leads the spirited and ultimately effective defense. When Stark returns to the burned out station, Conroy is a new man.
One of the things I like about these K Company books is that they are relatively small in scope. Nowhere do you get the impression that the fate of the dusty American West is in the hands of these men. Rather, they are stories of survival. These hard scrabble men are simply trying to make it through meaningless scrapes, the distant government caring little as to whether they live or die. A nice change of pace from story after story where the fate of everything hinges on what a few characters happen to be doing.
Three and a half stars rounded down to three. I really enjoyed this book. The story is fast paced, fun and action packed. High fiction it is not, but thoroughly enjoyable. If you like 'adventure' type stories, you'll probably enjoy these K Company books. The only real knock I have on them is that they are a bit to predictable....more
There is a sharp snap in a locked hotel room. A man wakes up next to his dead mistress and a gun in his hand. Everyone thinks it is an open and shut cThere is a sharp snap in a locked hotel room. A man wakes up next to his dead mistress and a gun in his hand. Everyone thinks it is an open and shut case. Everyone except for a young Special Detective Constable Adamat. Despite pressure, Adamat can't let go. The weapon in the suspect's hand hadn't been fired. And the window was cracked just enough to let a bullet slip in. Was a powder mage involved?
With dogged persistence Adamat pursues the case, digging for truth even if it means running afoul of powerful and well connected people. The case ultimately draws in powerful factions - the Royal Cabal, noble houses, and more - as it spirals forward to an unfortunately predictable resolution.
Three stars out of five. A must read for fans of the Powder Mage stories. Much like the other McClellan novelettes this story explores the events prior to the explosion of blood and magic in the excellent Powder Mage trilogy. It might not quite hold your interest if you aren't familiar with the arc of the larger story-line....more
K Company was a pleasant surprise. It's the story of several people on the wild Kansas frontier on the heels of the US Civil War. There is Harry WinstK Company was a pleasant surprise. It's the story of several people on the wild Kansas frontier on the heels of the US Civil War. There is Harry Winston, a young, eager recruit who joins the cavalry out of a mixture of youthful dreams and adolescent restlessness. Lieutenant Starke, a ranker who made officer during the War, Captain Bannerman, an snobbish West Pointer commanding the unit as a whole, and more.
The threads of these individual lives weave together just as the Cheyenne are forced to go on the warpath due to the treachery of the white man. Young Harry finds his place. Starke and Bannerman's conflict comes to a head. All during the course of a raging gun battle on the dusty plains.
The book is a 'new' Western. It does not portray the Indians as bloodthirsty savages, but rather as a people at the edge of a precipice. The great herds of buffalo are gone. The old way of life is rapidly disappearing under a never ending tide of white settlers. Storm, the Cheyenne chieftain wants to end the bloodshed and save his people. Only the greed of Eastern railroad magnates and the lust for advancement of Captain Bannerman drives the tribe to a final conflict. This is a nice touch, and likely reflects the reality. Demographics and technological change doomed the Cheyenne's way of life more than any gun battle - no matter how fierce.
For a short book, K Company had a nice cast of characters - even beyond the main characters. Everyone, it seemed, had a colorful nickname. There was Linc, the regimental bully who makes Harry's life miserable. There was Skull, Numb Nuts and more. Each of the soldiers had a colorful past that breathed life into the whole story.
Four stars out of five. By no stretch is it great literature, but it is a good, solid, fun read. ...more
As part of the conquest of Britain, a variety of puppet kings were installed to provide a veneer of British rule to disguise the Roman fist. Optio FigAs part of the conquest of Britain, a variety of puppet kings were installed to provide a veneer of British rule to disguise the Roman fist. Optio Figulus, a Romanized Gaul, is charged with propping up the Roman puppet king of the Durotriges. The only problem is that the king is a former exile bent on wreaking revenge on all of those who had wronged him in the past. And a blood thirsty vengeful puppet king, an undersized Roman contingent, and fanatical druids adds up to trouble.
This was a short book, part of Scarrow's invader series. Cynically, I think the publisher is chopping these things into smaller novellas instead of releasing them as one big book because somehow they are making more money on them this way. I guess that's OK. I'm not opposed to people making a buck, but I'd be more OK with it if the books were better. No matter the length of the story, you have to care about the characters. I was glad when I finished this book because I just didn't give a damn. I read them clinically. This happened, then that happened. Yawn. (Now, this is not to suggest that novellas can't be done well. Look no farther than the excellent Brian McClellan's Powder Mage novellas for great examples of short stories that pack a punch and make you care about the outcome).
II stars out of V. Am I being too harsh? Maybe. I'm reading these books because generally speaking I like Scarrow's stuff. I'm chalking this up to a bad day. Maybe I was in the wrong frame of mind. Maybe he wasn't at his best. The story was still interesting from the perspective of shedding light on the solidification of Roman rule on Britain. The action was also engaging, but overall not Scarrow at his best....more
With Caligula assassinated by a cabal of Senators and Praetorians, the despised Greek freedman Narcissus places the crippled Claudius on the seat of pWith Caligula assassinated by a cabal of Senators and Praetorians, the despised Greek freedman Narcissus places the crippled Claudius on the seat of power. Fortunately for Narcissus and his allies, the Praetorian Guard is quick to back Claudius. They understand that their own power and privilege comes from having an Emperor - and what is better than a weak willed, very pliable Emperor? Of course, the Empire is more than the Senate and the city. Will the far flung legions rally to the new, less than beloved Emperor? Narcissus needs a victory - and quickly - if he is to secure Claudius' (and his own) clutch on Imperial power.
Vespasian finds himself mired in yet another bout of Imperial intrigue. Due to his brother's part in the assassination of Caligula, the two brothers are sent on a do or die mission in distant Germania to recover the lost Eagle of the massacred 17th legion. The legions' Eagles held an almost religious place in soldiers' eyes. Recovering this near holy relic would give the new Emperor a boost.
So far so good. Unfortunately, although the Eagle is recovered, Vespasian gets swept up in the pending invasion of Britannia and the Eagle is more or less dropped. The first part of the story is about the recovery of this relic. The second is about the invasion of Britannia. it felt to me as if the author was exploring a very cool idea but then realized that it didn't quite add up to a full book so he quickly shifted gears to the invasion. Why not just start with the invasion?
To be frank, the invasion of Britannia is a far more interesting thread than the quest for the Eagle. The first part of the story involved tramping through the cold, damp forest wilderness of Germania while occasionally fighting. The invasion, by contrast, was thick with Imperial intrigue. Corvinus, the senior Legate and brother-in-law to Claudius, is trying to use the invasion to enhance his own position. If he were to be seen as the conqueror of Britain, no one would object when he became regent to his young nephew should Claudius die unexpectedly. And, if the young Emperor then passed away, who better to be an Emperor than a proven warrior? Vespasian and Narcissus, aware of Corvinus' ambitions, have no choice but to maneuver and twist to thwart him.
If this sounds overly negative it is not meant to. The book was still good and fun. Vespasian continues to develop and grow. You can see the future Emperor learning lessons about leadership, decisiveness and politics in the series. In this book you can also see the first stirrings of ambition. He may not come from a great Patrician family, but in the absence of truly legitimate candidates is that necessarily a liability?
III stars out of V. The book could use some focus. Too much Germania, not enough Britannia. ...more
With Tiberius dead, all eyes including Vespasian's turn to the young, handsome, charismatic Caligula. Although there are concerns over his excesses, sWith Tiberius dead, all eyes including Vespasian's turn to the young, handsome, charismatic Caligula. Although there are concerns over his excesses, surely they must be exaggerated. Alas, they are not. The young Emperor - raised in the household of the perverted and jaded Tiberius - knows no boundaries. He also resents the patrician Senatorial families whom he blames for the death of his father, Germanicus. The result is a descent into the worst of the human depravity.
The half-mad, perverted, angry Emperor explodes onto Rome. Respectable men and women from patrician families are raped at dinners by Caligula and his friends. Senators are murdered on a whim. Caligula builds a theater where his sister, Drusilla, "performs" in front of an audience. He pimps out his other sisters. He squanders a fortune and drains the treasury on games and events. He declares himself a god and makes people worship him.
The great and powerful families find themselves fuming and powerless. They all hate Caligula, but they fear him. They all know where power comes from - the Praetorian Guard. The Praetorians know it too. With an Emperor they have power and prestige, without an Emperor there is no reason for a Guard. Additionally, despite their loathing, the families know that to act against Caligula is to sign their own death warrant. Even if they succeed, the next Emperor will have them killed. (Emperors don't want people running around killing Emperors indiscriminately!)
In the end, Caligula goes too far, and he is killed by a cabal of Praetorians and Senatorial families. In the chaos that follows Vespasian and the other families debate the future of Rome. There is Claudius. true, he is the brother of Germanicus, but he is also a stuttering cripple. There are other would be Emperors as well. And then there are those who call for a return to the Republic. Great stuff.
These books really give the reader a sense of the delicate Imperial politics of the early Empire period. The great Emperors - Julius and Augustus - are gone, and their line is a pale shadow of what it once was. The Praetorian Guard changed from protectors to king-makers. The point of a sword ultimately trumped tradition, custom and law.
IV out of V stars. Excellent for the politics as noted above. To be clear, this also leaves out the other twists in the story. The growing tension in the east due to a new cult adds pressure to the story. It also gives the reader an excellent sense of how twisted Caligula was - with out necessarily portraying him as completely mad. He has flashes of clarity that make you think he knows exactly what he is doing. Ultimately, however, this is a story of Imperial politics....more
Rome's Executioner continues the story of the young (early twenties) Vespasian. It also continues the great cloak and dagger, life and death struggle Rome's Executioner continues the story of the young (early twenties) Vespasian. It also continues the great cloak and dagger, life and death struggle between Sejanus, and Antonia. With the Emperor Tiberius aging and increasingly disinterested in the business of running the Empire, Sejanus, the ambitious prefect of the Praetorian Guard, is moving in the shadows to make himself Emperor. Antonia, the sister-in-law of Tiberius, mother of Claudius and grandmother of Caligula is likewise moving in the shadows to thwart him and place her own bloodline on the Imperial seat. Caught up in this struggle is Vespasian.
Vespasian heads back to Thrace once again to collect evidence against Sejanus. If he can capture the wicked priest Sejanus had bribed to stir up troubles in the frontier province, then Antonia's faction will have the power to destroy the upstart Prefect. Unfortunately, capturing the priest is only the first of Vespasian's problems. The priest must be returned to Rome and then smuggled to Emperor on his island retreat of Capri. Of course, throughout all this Sejanus knows that something is amiss and is moving to capture Vespasian and kill the priest.
Clearly, this book had Imperial politics in spades. That was OK for me, as I like this stuff. I like the twists and turns and the back-stabbing involved in the cut-throat politics. When the entire plot reached its climax on the Senate floor between Sejanus, the Praetorians, and the Senate I was on the edge of my seat. I generally knew what was to happen, but it was none-the-less a thrilling read.
All of that being said, as I read I wondered if the author had really missed his mark. Certainly Vespasian is a great historical figure - one of the truly great Emperors - but does he make the best protagonist? Not 100% sure. I came to find Antonia a far more interesting character. Although women had many rights in Rome, they were clearly not the equal partners of patriarchal Rome. None-the-less, Antonia deftly maneuvered Senators, Patricians, soldiers and public officials in her gambit to have one of her off-spring (Caligula or Claudius) succeed Tiberius. She is a strong, intimidating woman who sees two or three moves in advance of Vespasian and other men. Her foes legitimately fear her. I would love to have had the series focus on her. Maybe it wouldn't have worked, but it is rare to see a supporting character shine so brightly. Color me impressed.
The ending of the book was also interesting. To my surprise it did not end directly with the end of Sejanus' plot. Instead, Tiberius lives on, taking retribution on those in the Senate that he perceived to have been ... weak ... in their enthusiasm for him. The ensuing bloodbath is eye opening and gives the reader a sense of the chaos that the Empire is heading towards. This turmoil is only supplemented with news of trouble with the Jews in distant Palestine and the increasing excesses of young Caligula.
IV stars out of V. A fun read of Imperial politics that does a good job of immersing the reader in the period....more
Another very fun, quick read of a novella. I've always enjoyed historical fiction based in the early Empire period and these books deliver. The actionAnother very fun, quick read of a novella. I've always enjoyed historical fiction based in the early Empire period and these books deliver. The action is fast and furious - as is the story. Figulus, after his success in the first book is given another special assignment. He is to escort a puppet king to his lands. It sounds like an easy, carefree assignment away from the battlefields for Figulus and his men - and then they get to the punchline. Not only do they have to escort this puppet king to his lands but they also need to depose his predecessor. A handful of Romans plus some Auxillaries versus a thousand irate Britons. Piece of cake, right?!
Fortunately, Figulus and his small contingent of Legionnaires are up to the challenge. No amount of Barbarian ferocity and Druidic zeal can match the steady discipline of the Roman shield wall. (These Britons will enjoy the fruits of Roman civilization even if it is at the point of a gladius!)
This book was, I think, a better effort than the first. Figulus is fleshed out more, and, with a smaller unit, his supporting characters start to come into their own. Plus, as a fan of the Macro & Cato series it is fun to see some of those characters pop up from time to time - although still not those two. III and a half stars out of V. ...more
Invader: Death Beach is a quick, easy read. For fans of Scarrow's Macro & Cato series it is a must-read - although neither of the two characters do noInvader: Death Beach is a quick, easy read. For fans of Scarrow's Macro & Cato series it is a must-read - although neither of the two characters do not appear in the story. This novella takes place on the heels of the two Roman's adventures with the 2nd Legion and the conquest of Britannia.
With the Britons supposedly conquered the scattered Roman outposts are in the uneasy role of keeping the peace. They are to support friendly chieftains and, in typical Roman fashion, ruthlessly crush any tribes foolish enough to rebel. The Druids, of course, are intent on stirring up trouble, so the situation is anything but quiet. It is in this setting that Figulus, a Romanized Gaul serving with the Legions, and the rest of his cohort are sent to a remote island to root out the remnants of a rebel force. They are betrayed and face a surprisingly hard fight.
The book is a solid read. Entertaining for the brutal battles and the immersion of the story. Reading, I could almost feel the cold, miserable rain. The book, however, lacks some of the spark of the Macro & Cato stories. I wanted to see something akin to the humorous interplay between those two. In this story the only "real" character is Figulus. The others are unfortunately undeveloped. Maybe that's to be expected in such a short book.
Long story short, III stars out of V. If you like Roman Legions bringing ... civilization ... to Barbarous regions at the point of a gladius you'll probably enjoy....more
After the last book, I was pleasantly surprised by Holier Than Thou. The change from the prior volume restores my faith in the series. The epic war beAfter the last book, I was pleasantly surprised by Holier Than Thou. The change from the prior volume restores my faith in the series. The epic war between Vampires and the Sasquatch was meant to be funny, but I couldn't take it seriously. I was pleased to see that this thread kinda-sorta dropped. Instead, the book returns to NYC and Bill coping with his new life as one of the undead.
What was great about this book is that lines are blurred. The sides are no longer easily divided one from the other. Bill Ryder, the lovable, computer nerd turned super vampire is clearly a 'good' guy, but he somehow finds himself in the uncomfortable role of being the champion of, well, the forces of darkness who is destined to kill the Icon of Faith who is to save humanity. To make matters worse, the Icon is none-other than the woman he has had a mega-crush on for years. What's a guy to do?
The blurring of dividing lines brings change - and that sparks my interest. Sally, his foul-mouthed, smoking-hot companion has to choose between Bill and the rest of vampire-kind. Although not romantically involved, she has come to think of Ed as a friend - not just a means to an end. And Bill's human friends, Ed and Tom are also made to choose - as are other, more minor characters.
Finally, Bill also continues to change and evolve. He is coming to grips with his powers and what it means to be a 'Freewill' vampire. Yet, through it all, Bill refuses to give up being human. Will he give in to the dark thing that lives inside of him, or will he control it?
All in all, a much better showing than the last book. The snarky adolescent humor of Bill and Sally still drives me a little batty, but packed into a better story it was not too bad. A solid three stars. ...more
Bill Ryder, the role-playing, computer programming, nerd turned Vampire is back for more craziness. After barely escaping being married to a 300-year Bill Ryder, the role-playing, computer programming, nerd turned Vampire is back for more craziness. After barely escaping being married to a 300-year old vampire trapped in a thirteen year old girl's body, Bill thinks that life (or maybe un-life) will settle back to normal. Nope. The long simmering feud between the Vampires and the Sasquatch is finally boiling over and Bill, as the legendary Freewill Vampire, is viewed as expendable enough to be sent to the negotiations. What can possibly go wrong?
As expected, just about everything goes wrong. Bill is supposed to be a figurehead, but the real negotiators never arrive. And Francois, the elder Vampire tasked with running the show in their absence appears to be collaborating with the big, hairy apes. Add in Sally's notoriously short temper and you have yourself a story.
Bill the Vampire makes a nice contribution to the Urban Fantasy genre. It's unique. It's funny. Bill is about as unlikely protaganist as I could imagine. He's not a buff druid, or wise strategic-thinking wizard, or some other notable character. He's clueless and out of shape. And the writing is funny. The snarky back and forth of his friends, Sally, Ed and Tom are worth more than a few chuckles. I also give the author credit for avoiding end of the world scenarios in each and every story. So much urban fantasy revolves around epic all or nothing clashes in each and every story. (My rule of thumb is that a series of books should have no more than one (or maybe two) the world is at stake moments.)
Unfortunately, for me, I believe I am growing weary of the series - and only three books in. The humor, while initially nice, grows old. The banter between Sally and Bill should progress, but it just doesn't. They are trapped in the same endless loop. Initially funny, but at some point you want to be able to say "wood," "sausage" or "meat" without someone cracking up at the double-entendre.
Two and a half stars rounded down to two. I'm on to book four, but I suspect it will be my last....more
Bill Ryder is back, but, like Rodney Dangerfield, he gets no respect. Even as a legendary "freewill." And even after he becomes the nominal head of thBill Ryder is back, but, like Rodney Dangerfield, he gets no respect. Even as a legendary "freewill." And even after he becomes the nominal head of the Village Coven by killing the douchebag of a former Vampire Coven leader, Night Razor. Nope. The smoking hot vampire, Sally, it seems, is the true power behind the Coven.
In this story, Bill finds himself shipped off to China by Sally. There he meets one of the oldest vampires in the world, one of the Draculas. The Kahn wants to meet this freewill and so begins Bill's next wave of adventures. It turns out that Bill inadvertently impresses the 300-year old daughter of the Khan. She decides that she must have him as her mate for all eternity. There is, unfortunately, a slight problem. Gan is trapped in a thirteen year old girl's body. When she follows him back to New York, how can he shake the girl/woman without getting himself snuffed for insulting the equivalent of vampire royalty? Add in some wizards and witches and you have yourself a fun story.
There was growth in Bill, which was good. He is adapting to his powers and learning more about what it means to be a "freewill" vampire. The story and writing were good and all in all it added up to a solid sequel. I'm already on the next book. My concern with the series over the long term boil down to the books' snarky humor. Will it get obnoxious? I'm thinking probably not, but it may get old.
Three and a half stars rounded down to three....more
Bill The Vampire is Dinner for Schmucks meets True Blood. Bill Ryder is a nice, quiet guy. He keeps to himself. By day he is a programmer in a NYC gamBill The Vampire is Dinner for Schmucks meets True Blood. Bill Ryder is a nice, quiet guy. He keeps to himself. By day he is a programmer in a NYC game company. By night he plays online games and the occasional session of Dungeons & Dragons. He's a bit socially awkward and a few pounds overweight. So when the beautiful, vivacious super-model-type starts chatting him up on the subway he thinks that he has won the lottery. Sally invites him to a party. It seems to good to be true. It was.
The party is some twisted version of Dinner for Schmucks that the Manhattan Coven of vampires plays to amuse themselves. Who can bring the nerdiest, most unappealing person to their party before, at the end of the night, they serve as dinner for the vampires. Somehow Bill survives the night, but now he too is one of the undead. Even as a vampire he still doesn't fit in with everyone else. He's still overweight, socially awkward and, oh yeah, the head of his coven can't stand the sight of him.
I won't give away more. This book was a blast to read. It was funny, engaging and irreverent. For example, Bill sticks out like a sore thumb. He finally musters up the courage to ask Sally, who was set with the task of training him on the ways of the vampire, when he will ... um ... change. All of the vampires he knows are basically super-models. He assumes that there some transformation that he will undergo after some time. And there's more.
Bill is also human. After a few days in his new life, he gets some time on his own. So what does he do? Does he start a reign of terror in the dark underbelly of NYC? Nope. In fact, the one time he tries to prey on someone he kind of gets his ass kicked by a human who happens to be built like a truck. Much safer is to spend the night gaming with his online buddies. And becoming a vampire doesn't make him a ladies man either. Bill is as tongue tied when it comes to the fairer sex as he ever was. Awesome.
Clearly, I enjoyed the book. (Part of it is expectations. It was free, so mine were low.) So why only four stars? Well, I had a couple of problems with the story. First are his roommates. I liked them, but they took to his transformation just a tad to quickly. No amount of saturation in nerd culture of online gaming and horror movies is going to make anyone that easy with the living dead. Next, the book's humor while amusing also gets kind of old. I wish the author had actually ramped it back a notch. Oh well.
Four stars out of five. A nice, surprising book. Already half way through the second book in the series. ...more
A sinister plot hatched by a secretive group in the industrial/military/government complex releases a devastating plague on the unsuspecting world. InA sinister plot hatched by a secretive group in the industrial/military/government complex releases a devastating plague on the unsuspecting world. In days, people grow sick and die. In a horrific twist, the virus somehow reanimates the dead and a wave of the hungry (and fast) dead follow.
Travis Combs, a recently returned veteran from the Middle East, misses all of this. He and a few companions are on a three week river rafting/wilderness survival trip. When they make it to their pick up point they aren't greeted by cold beers and a ride home. There is no one there at all. And once they do make contact with a park ranger, he turns out to be one of the infected dead.
The book is about Travis whipping his companions into shape and making it to some sort of semblance of security. To do so, they overcome zombies, rogue bikers and Mexican drug cartel baddies, and the wilderness itself. Overall, it is pretty good - especially for a self-published author. The survival aspects are nailed. Reading the book I could tell that the author knew his stuff. The group manages to make it by relying on survival skills - deadfall traps, knowledge of local plants and etc. It feels authentic.
Where the book struggles is the larger story. First Wave falls into some of the worst of the genre's cliches. The real enemies are the other survivors - the bikers/cartel dudes. These thugs have come up from Mexico and are wiping out other survivors to build up their power base. Why is not exactly explained, but they are. The reasons really aren't all that important as the story spends far too much time dealing with the fight against the bad guys and not nearly enough with the fight against the undead. Call me old fashioned, but in a zombie survival book I want zombies. Lots of them. Or a few with high tension. Either or.
Other, minor gripes include the lack of real character building. The characters all felt somewhat card board to me. For example, Travis' son is in Denver and he is in Arizona. If it were me, I would be a mess. If I managed to string coherent thoughts together (which I assume Travis as a combat veteran is able to do) I would be bending my every action to reuniting with my family. Through much of the story I forgot he had a kid. Finally, as a matter of taste, I was sorry to miss the outbreak itself. I enjoy reading about the collapse of civilization in Zombie survival horror.
Three brainy stars out of five. I bumped the book up to three because he is self-published. It was a good first effort, with no major typos or errors. Good for my October creepy reads....more
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