Review: The Elven Inquisition: A Woke Fairy Story

The Elven Inquisition: A Woke Fairy Story by Steve Wiley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A cautionary tale for social justice warriors

The Elven Inquisition is a hilarious satire of the modern social justice movement. I'm an avid promoter of social justice, which made me appreciate this book and its message. In my experience, some groups and individuals can push social justice to extremes that do more overall harm than good. This is particularly true when social justice is used to benefit a minority group by subverting others rather than addressing the causes of inequity. This story is an excellent illustration of how social justice can be co-opted and wielded as a weapon against those that threaten a supposed egalitarian society's status quo. It is smart, witty, and an excellent cautionary tale for social justice warriors everywhere. As I read, the words of Nietzsche came to mind -- "Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster."

Outside of its value as a clever satirical work, it is an excellent story as well. The overall plot and story are entertaining and engaging, and the characters were surprisingly nuanced and deep for a short book. I also enjoyed the way the author used a combination of modern fantasy and traditional folktale elements to build a unique world. Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable read (or listen). The audio version of the book was performed by Michael J. Lunney, who did an excellent job narrating the main character and projecting the book's tone and unique message.

A special thanks to Steve Wiley, Jen McDonald, and the rest of Lavender Line Press, who graciously provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Renegade Star

Renegade Star by J.N. Chaney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great Sci-fi Reminiscent of Firefly 

Renegade Star's description says that it's for fans of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, or Leviathan Wakes -- and though I'm not sure about the last two, this book is basically is Firefly. Jace Hughes is a dead ringer for Malcolm Reynolds, so much so that Luke Daniels even created a voice for Jace in a voice that sounds very much like Nathan Fillion that captures the inflection and tone of Serenity's captain. Now don' think it's an exact replication -- the setting and world are unique enough, the plot is different, and there's an entirely different set of supporting cast of characters, though some still fill the same crew or story niches.

Being Firefly-esk alone wouldn't make this a great book, but it's well written with a great mix of drama, sci-fi, and comedy. After listening to this publisher pack which contains the first two books, I'm eager to both find out what will happen to the captain and crew of the Renegade Star, but also read more on into the origin stories of the various crew members (which I've discovered have been written out in a series of prequel novels or novellas). I find the characters likable and multidimensional, the plot is interesting, and the world-building is excellent (I imagine it gets even better since there are apparently at least 20+ books set in the universe.

Luke Daniels does an excellent job narrating and though I've listened to quite a few series he's done, it feels and sounds like a different person is narrating each time. He not only can capture the essence of a character but manages to match the narration to the unique tone of a book or series of a book to create a totally unique performance. As a side note, I'll also mention that no only does Luke Daniel's narrate the rest of this series, but other of JN Chaney's books are narrated by awesome people like R.C. Bray, Ray Porter, and Jeffrey Kafer -- so they are bound to be pretty awesome as well.

View all my reviews

Review: Intrepid

Intrepid by Nate Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Though short, I liked Intrepid and thought the author spun out a pretty good tale for the book's length. It was a quick, light read with a plot that was an unusual mix of sci-fi and primitive survival (about as much as I can say without spoiling it). I found the main characters interesting and thought they were developed reasonably well in a short amount of time; however, the sheer number of supporting characters may have been a bit much for the format. I often found myself confused in the last half of the book as I attempted to remember who each minor character was and why I should care about what happened to them. Overall, the story isn't horribly complicated, mostly predictable, and wraps up a bit too conveniently at the end. However, I found I still found the book pretty enjoyable.

Doug Tisdale Jr. is a dependably decent narrator, and his performance for Intrepid was good. I've heard his narration from listening to a few different books, and I think he consistently checks the boxes for a quality narrator. He isn't at the very top of my favorites, but he isn't far below them either.

This audiobook was given to me free, and I voluntarily gave this review.

View all my reviews

Review: Heaven's Gate: Volume 1

Heaven's Gate: Volume 1 by DragonTreasures
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Juvenile wish fulfillment

I want to leave an honest review, but first I'll disclose that I didn't listen to the entire book. About three-quarters of the way through, I started to skip chapters. I usually never leave a review for a book I didn't fully complete, so perhaps the last quarter that I skipped was absolutely amazing work and I should feel shamed for not slugging through the entire book. I doubt it, but take that into consideration while reading this.

Heaven's Gate is a perfect example of why I used to think I disliked the LitRPG genre. It's still not my favorite, but Heaven's Gate is more of a juvenile's personal fantasy fulfillment than any kind of real novel. It may appeal to a 13-year old gamer, but for anyone else, it is going to fall short with its arrow-straight plot, simple character development, and overpowered protagonist. The plot itself barely makes sense and the characters often seem to make foolish or unrealistic decisions and actions. Some elements were okay, for example, the dialog wasn't awful and the POV perspective was done decently -- but overall, I would not want to read a second book in this series.

The narration did not help this book -- in fact, it may have hindered it. It's difficult to completely judge it as sometimes bad material can bring down a good narrator, but I don't think Richard's performance was very good. This may be my ethnocentric opinion, but the narrator's heavy accent made it difficult to listen to and felt out of place with the characters (who I do not believe were supposed to be American). However, he did have good voice inflection and did a decent job representing some of the character's (limited) personalities. I'd be willing to give him another try, but I don't think he was a good fit for this book.

This audiobook was given to me for free, and I voluntarily gave this review.

View all my reviews

Review: Waters of Salt and Sin

Waters of Salt and Sin by Alisha Klapheke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Waters of Salt and Sin is an exceptional novel set in a deep and complex fantasy world rich with traditional eastern culture elements. The protagonist, a low-born sailor named Kinneret, is locked within a caste system where those born into slavery may buy their way to higher standing with silver. Kinneret seeks little more than a safe and secure life for herself and her little sister and aims to use her sailing skills to earn enough silver to buy their way into a higher caste. Sailing is a dangerous and challenging trade, as those that die at sea are cursed to haunt the oceans as salt wraiths and prey on any living mortals brave (or foolish) enough to remain on the oceans during the night.

The story combines several genres. It is a coming-of-age story that combines action, adventure, romance, and low fantasy into a strong and compelling narrative. Kinneret is a strong heroine and leader, but her flaws, insecurities, and vulnerabilities make her a relatable and lovable character you'll find yourself drawn to. The other characters who support Kinneret, like Oron and Calev, are just as well written, though perhaps not quite as deep and intricately detailed as Kinneret. Overall, the dialog is snappy, the pacing makes the book hard to put down, and the plot is expertly spun from a series of smaller story arcs that keep the reader interested. The book is also part of a series but thankfully does not end on a cliff hanger, making it an excellent introduction to this exciting and well-developed world.

At the beginning of the book, the reader is immediately immersed in the unfamiliar culture and society of Jakobden, which can be a bit jarring and confusing, but as the story progresses, more and more of the fascinating setting is described. I mention this to encourage readers not to be discouraged if they can't immediately sort out everything going at the start -- it'll all come together soon. I cannot find many flaws with Waters of Salt and Sin, which makes it an exceptional example of the growing number of successful indie, self-published authors.

Though it's identified in the teen and young adult category, the book delves into a few dark places as it skirts topics such as slavery, rape, and torture. Nothing explicit is gratuitous or described in detail. Still, those sensitive to such things could be bothered by the iniquitous treatment of slaves and other low born in a caste society.

The audiobook version of Waters of Salt and Sin is narrated by the talented Heather Costa, whose natural voice is perfect for any feisty heroine. The complex characters really allow Costa to demonstrate her ability to create unique voices that capture each character's personality. Overall, she's an excellent narrator, and this book was a perfect fit for her talent.

I received this audiobook for free and am providing an honest review.

View all my reviews

Review: Bishop's Gambit (Omnibus) - A Space Opera Adventure: Precipice To War: Book 1

Bishop's Gambit (Omnibus) - A Space Opera Adventure: Precipice To War: Book 1 by Jeremy Fabiano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good Space Adventure for Teen & YA Audience

I debated a while before reviewing, as I was suggested this book as a sci-fi space opera. And while it is, it's also has a very simple plot, immature characters, and accessible writing. Then I figured out it's a YA and teen book and felt pretty bad for almost bashing it as a one or two-star review. I could see a young teen enjoying this, so even though it's not my thing, I'm going to rate it on those merits. Adults, look elsewhere for your serious sci-fi -- but your kids might enjoy this one.

View all my reviews

Review: Star Scavenger Boxed Set: Complete Five Book Series

Star Scavenger Boxed Set: Complete Five Book Series by G.J. Ogden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun sci-fi series set in a unique world

The Star Scavenger Series has a lot going for it. The world-building in the series was excellent, and the overall story was interesting and unique. I enjoyed the entire idea of relic hunting in the wrecks of ancient alien ships and how this was tied into both the political structures of the various government factions and the plot that ran throughout the series. I know it's not a unique concept, but once you read the series, you'll see how well it was all thought out and woven together.

Though the story setting and the plot were well done, the characters felt like they were built around tropes, and the overall growth and direction of the narrative were reasonably predictable. Hudson Powell is an average guy with a chronic hero syndrome who pairs himself with the engineer who happens to be a gratuitous ninja. Other supporting characters fill different trope roles, and the antagonists are just pretty much your typical scoundrels that never learn from their defeats. The narrative starts in the first book with Hudson battling a hostile work environment and dirty co-workers -- and then it takes the typical evolution through the series until the fate of the entire human race is left in the hands of Hudson Powell and his band of unlikely, but clichéd heroes. I liked the series, but the characters never really developed, grew, or deviated from their stereotypes -- and that made much of the book predictable. The consistency of the actions of the characters could be downright irritating at times.

I also wanted to point out that I've read other reviews that bashed the "science" in the series. I'm afraid I have to disagree with the critique. For example, the alien relics tended to work without explanation; however, I think this was the point and believe it was done well. The science from the alien wrecks was advanced to the point of almost being magical -- like how a cave dweller would view an airplane. The alien technology was just that much beyond the earth's technological level that things did seem to "just work" rather than being explained.

So, all that being said, would I read another book in the series? It's likely. Everything other than the trope characters and predictable nature of the series was solid, and I did have fun reading them. Ogden has talent as a writer and knows how to tell and structure a great sci-fi story. Would I read another book placed in the same universe but with a different (and less stereotyped) cast of characters? Definitely.

In the audiobook version, the narration was decently done. Doug Tisdale Jr. had a way of characterizing the villains of the series that certainly made them memorable. All the characters had a unique voice, and I think the narrator captured their personalities, but he had a lot of trouble with some of the female characters. Of course, that's a common problem among male narrators, so I'm not going to hold too much against Tisdale for it.

Special thanks to G. J. Ogden, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Space Rogues

Space Rogues by John Wilker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fans of Farscape may be disappointed

The Epic Adventures of Wil Calder, Space Smuggler was okay. It seemed to be a mixed rip-off of several sci-fi shows, but most of the inspiration (a nice word for it) seemed to be Farscape. Basically, the book reads like Farscape fan fiction. A human astronaut ran into trouble testing an FTL drive and got lost in space only to be picked up by a ship of criminals. And the primary antagonists are the Peacekeepers, who are a corrupt mercenary policing force who fly around the galaxy in Peacekeeper carriers. Does it sound familiar yet?

However, just ripping off Farscape doesn't make it a bad book. Hell, I would love a good Farscape rip-off with all the same creative writing, witty dialog, and intricate world-building of the source material. However, this is not it. The writing is relatively simple, the characters are one-dimensional, the dialog is basic, the plot didn't come together smoothly. While I think the author intended there to be humor, I didn't find much of it funny or amusing. Perhaps this book was meant for a YA audience. Also, the majority of the book was written in the present tense, which just made the entire narrative sound weird. Who writes in the present tense?! But I did finish the book, so I can't say it was so bad that I had to give up. After getting through the entire thing, I can say it was just okay. Not good or great. But okay. There are six more books in this series, so maybe it gets better?

In the audio version of the book, KC Johnston matches the book's mediocrity with an okay performance. I've listened to other books narrated by Johnston that were better (both the book and the narration), so I know that he does better work. I think the narration suffered from some of the odd pacing, dialog, and present tense.

This audio was given to me free, and I voluntarily gave this review.

View all my reviews

Review: Renegades

Renegades by K. Gorman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Renegades is the second book in the Eurynome Code series and continues the story right where the first book left off. Now that the slow start of the story has passed, Renegades focuses on action and intrigue. I've thoroughly enjoyed the cast of characters and the fact that they try to out think or out maneuver the various antagonists in the series rather than constantly relying on brute force. This makes this series a refreshing change of pace from the typical "shoot 'em up" tactic more often present in many of the books I've been reading lately.

I've found myself fascinated with mysteries presented and am both pleased and irritated that I don't have any idea where the story is going. Like the first book, Renegades also ends with a cliffhanger and adds more questions than it answers. Normally I'm pretty good at predicting what will happen next or what the big reveal will be before it happens; however, with this series, I'm completely in the dark still. Unlike other book series that compare themselves to popular sci-fi TV series, I'll honestly say that the Eurynome Code would make a great TV series.

Thank you to Aethon Books who provided me this book free of charge at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Empire Earth (The Complete Trilogy): A Space Opera Boxed Set

Empire Earth (The Complete Trilogy): A Space Opera Boxed Set by Chris Pourteau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Empire Earth is placed in a future where Earth and its colonies across the solar system are governed by a mega corporation slash crime syndicate and its description as a sci-fi noir thriller is absolutely spot on. Conceptually, the series is well done and the universe which serves as the backdrop for all of the books is amazingly detailed and complex. I was originally introduced to the SynCorp Saga universe through Optional Retirement Plan, which takes place after the events of Empire Earth. I don’t want to spoil the plots of either, but I will say I was overjoyed when I discovered many of the memorable characters that had cameos in Optional Retirement Plan were also staples in Empire Earth as well. If you read the Empire Earth trilogy first, do not neglect to follow up with Optional Retirement Plan afterwards.

The characters were unique and fun, the plot was deep and complex, and each book resolved a story arc while revealing a bit more of the overall narrative that was woven throughout the trilogy. I also found the shifting POV generated a really interesting tone for the books. It took me a while to realize that the language and writing style shifted between characters depending on the POV character. I’m guessing that Pourteau wrote some chapters and Bruns wrote others, which means their individual writing style made the POV characters even more unique (for example, the Stacks Fischer POV chapters were always told from his first person perspective). I think this was genius-level partnershipping (is that a word?).

There isn’t really much I could say that would be a criticism of Empire Earth. I’ll admit that a good chunk of the first book was slow, but some front loading build up was needed for the trilogy to work. The series was built around an epic narrative that requires quite a lot of setup, has a nice sized cast of POV characters, and spans the solar system from Earth to the moons of Saturn and Jupiter. Just stick with it and you’ll realize the pacing is perfect and increases as each bit of the plot is revealed.

Bronson Pinchot does an awesome job with the narration. I’ll admit I was a bit disappointed when I realized that R.C. Bray didn’t narrate this (he does Optional Retirement Plan), but Pinchot hits it out of the park with his performance in the three Empire Earth books. I’ve got zero complaints with the narration, everything was spot on.

Thank you to Aethon Books who provided me this book free of charge at my request.



View all my reviews

Review: Criminal Macabre: The Complete Cal McDonald Stories

Criminal Macabre: The Complete Cal McDonald Stories by Steve Niles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A functional drunk fights monsters and evil!

The character Cal McDonald is a paranormal private detective created for Criminal Macabre, which is a Dark Horse Comics series. In addition to the comic series, the character also appears in two novels (Savage Membrane & Guns, Drugs, and Monsters) and a collection of short stories (Dial M for Monster), which are all included in this single omnibus edition of Criminal Macabre: The Complete Cal McDonald Stories.

The backdrop of the Criminal Macabre series is similar to what you might find in the dark urban fantasy genre, but the majority of the population is in denial of the existence of the supernatural and the authorities actively work to cover up evidence of supernatural involvement in criminal activities. Though vampires, werewolves, and the undead are integrated within society, normal people are unwilling or unable to accept their existence, leaving individuals like Cal McDonald with the task of investigating crimes in the dark, supernatural underworld. Cal, isolated by his work and the horrors and loss he has experienced during his life, is a self-destructive, anti-social, anti-hero. He spends the majority of his days and nights taking an excess of alcohol, barbituates, and illicit stimulates in order to maintain a balanced state of functional inebriation.

I found all of the Cal McDonald stories enjoyable, especially the interplay between Cal and his kinda-sorta-sometimes business partner (and ghoul), Moloch. The books are well written and the narrative is deep, dark, and immersive. The plots of the stories often take unexpected (and interesting) twists and turns. The story is told from Cal’s point of view and the tone, like his character, flits between grim horror and snarky sarcasm. Cal seems to possess a death wish born of his self-loathing and depression, yet refuses to die at the hands of another, particularly if it's one of his many supernatural adversaries. Between his awful luck and occasional fits of rage, he tangles with vampires, werewolves, demons, aliens, zombies, and other things that go bump in the night through the series. I know the comic series is still running, but really hope there are more novels published in this series as well.

The narration for the audiobook is a perfect fit with Criminal Macabre and Eric Bryan Moore’s distinct tone perfectly captures Cal’s personality and dark temperament. Other characters are well portrayed with unique voices that represent their nature and disposition. Overall, Moore’s performance greatly enhances what is already an entertaining and interesting collection of stories.

Special thanks to Eric Bryan Moore, who provided me with this book at my request.


View all my reviews

Review: Intergalactic Space Force: Like the Space Force, but more Bigly!

Intergalactic Space Force: Like the Space Force, but more Bigly! by Chad Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It really is more Bigly!

So I'll admit I had some real doubts at the start of this book. From the description, I was already convinced this book was going to be completely full of politically motivated slander with a completely ridiculous and cheesy plot. And it was. And I loved it.

Hopefully, if you are looking for a serious sci-fi novel full of realistic technology and introspective characters, you've already moved on because this book is not for you. However, if you are a fan of hilarious romps across the galaxy full of implausible hijinx and ridiculous, but entertaining plots, this may be a good fit. I've come to appreciate these more light-hearted stories and it's great to relax with a book that doesn't take itself so seriously every once in a while. But beyond the cheese and clichés, the book is also well written -- the pacing is good, the characters are interesting and developed, and the plot, though a bit outlandish, is amusing and entertaining.

And yes, the book definitely has some political undertones woven into its plot and setting. But I think it actually puts forth a really great message about addressing institutionalized inequalities and prejudices and these ideas seem to be more prevalent than poking fun at any particular person (you know who I mean). Though these elements drive the plot, I do not think they will ruin anyone's enjoyment of the book itself. Well, unless you are a diehard misogynist or fanatical supporter of the creator of the space force. Even then, give it a chance!

The narration was another red flag for me when I first saw this book. Once I saw that an indie author narrated his own book, I prepared myself for a low-budget recording disaster. However, much like the book itself, I was pleasantly surprised. The author does an amazing job with the narration and though there is a bit of subtle but annoying background noise occasionally, I quickly found myself liking the narrator's style, tone, and voice characterization. I mean, it is his book and he knows exactly what he thinks every character should sound like, I just didn't expect Morgan to have such a great talent for it.

Special thanks to Audiobook BOOM and Chad Robert Morgan, who provided this book free at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Black Dawn

Black Dawn by K. Gorman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A dark (but good) start to a new series

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Black Dawn, but I can tell you that Black Dawn exceeded any expectations I had. Though the beginning felt a bit rough, as if I was suddenly tossed in the middle of a long running series, the story and characters quickly grew on me. A bit of past and back story is slowly teased out for each of the main characters as the plot advances, which is both an excellent hook to keep the reader interested and a bit frustrating at the same time. Even as Book 1 closes (very suddenly, I might add), most of the plot and questions from the book remain unresolved. So, this was a really excellent and strategic start to a series. The character development is really great, as the story focuses on the characters rather than strictly action and situations are often resolved through guile and quick thinking rather than brute force or violence. I can see this series turned into a sci-fi drama for television, so I can see why the publisher compared it to Firefly or Killjoys -- it shares many of the same elements.

Thank you to Aethon Books who provided me this book free of charge at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Zombie Perdition

Zombie Perdition by Javan Bonds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series keeps getting better!

Bonds continue to churn out excellent books in the Still Alive series and the narration by S.W. Salzman for the series is excellent. I've thoroughly enjoyed the series and while not every book of the series has been my favorite, Zombie Perdition hits a home run. Zombie Perdition is full of the gratuitous violence, gore, and humor that you'll come to love as part of the series, but also contains new characters and storylines which I really enjoyed. If you are a fan of Mo's journal, you'll be happy to hear that Zombie Perdition has a few entries that continue to chronicle the mission of the Viva Ancora while also introducing a few new groups of survivors and additional story arcs (I really hope to see the benevolent hillbilly cannibals make an appearance in the next book). I really can't find much fault with the book. I might say maybe it has too much pointless gore and violence but I'm pretty sure that IS the point. Which means it's actually a huge success in that department. If you are a fan of anything in the zombie / post-apocalyptic genre, you'll thoroughly enjoy this series.

Special thanks to Javan Bonds who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Evolution Wars

Evolution Wars by Dietmar Wehr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Space Eugenics

Evolution Wars is a great military sci-fi with an interesting story. It examines issues with eugenics and human evolution as it presents a scenario where Homo Sapiens have become displaced and oppressed by their own generically engineered subrace of superior humans. The resulting conflict certainly raises questions about the wisdom of altering our own generic code and exactly what or who qualifies to represent "humanity" in a future where genetically superior humans exist. If you are a fan of action-oriented military sci-fi with interesting plots and characters, this is the perfect book for you.

Special thanks to Dietmar Wehr, who gave me this book as part of his mailing list promotion. If you like his work, I strongly suggest finding Wehr's website and joining his mailing list where you can find his latest updates, promotions, and occasionally free books!

View all my reviews

Review: Blood of Tyrants

Blood of Tyrants by Javan Bonds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall, Blood of Tyrants was a good book and I think a good start of a new series. I have some mixed feelings about elements of the book, but I would certainly read the next book in the series. The overall plot and story are great. It's a good conspiracy theory told in a believable near-future with budding dystopic elements. The current events and economic crisis in the US right now make it even more believable. However, I didn't feel like most of the cast of characters had much depth to them and seemed to be pretty one dimensional. I often lost track of some of the characters because of they seemed so flat and similar. The narration for the audiobook suffered similarly, as there just was not much of a range of characters or many unique traits to really set them apart. I've heard S.W. Salzman narrate other books and he can do amazing things with a sufficiently diverse set of characters, but that range and depth just didn't come through on this book.

But, as I stated before, the storyline is great and quite a lot of thought was put into the plot and setting. Despite the lackluster characters, I think it's still worth a read (or listen) for the conspiracy story.

Special thanks to Javan Bonds who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Points of Impact

Points of Impact by Marko Kloos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Frontline series has been a favorite of mine for a while. Its solid military sci-fi, but it also delves into the psychological and physical trauma suffered from prolonged war. The characters in the series are deep and complicated, making them so much more than just soldiers and redshirts to move the plot along. Points of Impact seem to be the start of the wrap of the series and I hear that there will be at least one or two more books. It continues the story arc of the series, but at this point, the war has started to wind down as humans are gain some weapon superiority and developed a better understanding of the lankies and their tactics. I'm looking forward to finding out how the series ends.

View all my reviews

Review: The Glory Game Books 1+2

The Glory Game Books 1+2 by Dietmar Wehr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've always considered Wehr to be a great storyteller. His style and pacing allow the story to be told in action or intrigue-filled sequences, which keep the reader interested and involved until the end. The first two Glory Game novels are no exception to this and are excellent military SciFi full of believable technology, an enjoyable plot, and interesting characters.

View all my reviews

Review: Zombie Paradise Lost

Zombie Paradise Lost by Javan Bonds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great book in the Still Alive series.

The Still Alive series continues to be one of my favorite go-to books for gratuitous violence, lowbrow humor, and descriptions of unspeakable things I wish I could unread. I can't be sure, as I'm not certain which scenes of the book my brain has blocked from my memory to protect itself from the mental trauma, but Zombie Paradise Lost may have been the most violent and gruesome book of the series. In a good way. If you haven't started this series, you should really give it a shot. Once you start, you won't be able to stop. Its kind of like passing a car wreck on the highway- you know you shouldn't slow down and look and you tell yourself you won't, but then you find yourself staring anyway. But in a good way.

But seriously, this is a great series. The writing is well done, the plot is exciting and detailed, and most of the characters are deep and developed. Hidden under all the blood and gore, Javan Bonds has some talent as an author. The humor typically balances the darker aspects of the books, providing levity and enjoyment when it's needed.

So basically, Zombie Paradise Lost is full of all things that make this series great but is also a "split book" that takes place at the same time as Zombie River Run and I'm still internally debating if I liked that. Many of the events from Zombie River Run are repeated in Zombie Paradise Lost, but described from a different perspective. It provides some additional insight into many of the events in the last book but also left me feeling a bit cheated on the plot and advancement of the story arc. And while I was disappointed Mo isn't a major character in Zombie Paradise Lost, I really enjoyed the fully developed story involving the investigation of the missing children -- the whole good versus evil element has been excellent.

S.W. Salzman's performance in this series continues to blow me away. I still can't believe that one narrator can create so many different, distinct voices. It really makes the book come alive and significantly adds to Bonds' already well-developed characters.

Special thanks to Javan Bonds who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Salvage Title

Salvage Title by Kevin Steverson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun, but ultimately simplistic story.

I picked this up as a free book to review, but its cover art and summary appealed to the SF fan in me. Salvage Title is a fun read but isn't particularly complex or complicated. The plot is simple, the characters are straight forward with few flaws, and everything pretty much goes as planned. It's a one-dimensional story that focuses on blowing things up and steamrolling opponents who constantly underestimate the heroes. In that respect, it may appeal to some YA audiences, but to me, a plot without many challenges or twists and a practically unstoppable group of protagonists gets tedious and predictable after a while. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad or unpleasant book, but the characters and plot don't have the sophistication needed to make it a really good book. However, as I believe this is one of Steverson's first published books, I think there's enough potential to explore other books he's written since to see how he's progressed as a writer.

In the audio version of the book, KC Johnston's performance is pretty solid. He narrates each character with a unique voice and creates distinct sounding speech for each of the five or six alien races that appear in the novel. His tone was appropriate and varied and he kept things upbeat and exciting through most of the book. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another audiobook narrated by Johnston.

View all my reviews

Review: Blood of a Fallen God

Blood of a Fallen God by Joshua C. Cook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blood of a Fallen God was a dark and epic fantasy, with a fast-paced plot and set in an interesting new world. Two brothers take on a blood cult and a corrupt priesthood who are intent on snuffing out their family's line in a sacrifice to resurrect an evil, world-destroying god.

I'm not sure if I've read anything quite like it, but I enjoyed it very much. If I had any critique, I would say that some of the ancillary characters felt a bit flat -- at least they had nothing near the depth of William. To me, a good epic fantasy that uses POV chapters needs to fully develop a handful of it's cast of characters or the story telling feels uneven as the POV shifts between characters. But as you may be able to tell from the five star rating for the story, its a minor critique in an otherwise excellent book.

The narration in the audio book is excellent and is one of several amazing performances I've listened to by Eric Bryan Moore. His voice has been great for dark and gritty tales and he's got quite a talent for producing voices for a wide range of characters.

Special thanks to Eric Bryan Moore, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Angles of Attack

Angles of Attack by Marko Kloos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Frontline series continues to get better and better with each book. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, but the action and conflict really have started to escalate in Angles of Attack. Kloos does an excellent job with character development and I've really grown to love many of the characters that have been present throughout the series. In addition, Luke Daniels, who narrators the audiobook version, continues to deliver outstanding narration that really shows off his talent as a five-star narrator.

View all my reviews

Review: I Was a Teenage Weredeer

I Was a Teenage Weredeer by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I Was a Teenage Weredeer is the first of three books in The Bright Falls Mysteries Series. Like many of C. T. Phipps’ books, it’s set in the United States of Monsters urban fantasy universe (which you can read more about on the author’s blog).

When I was recommended I Was a Teenage Weredeer, I was promised snark. I’ve really enjoyed other books by C.T. Phipps like the Supervilliany Saga and Brightblade for their snarky protagonists, irreverent tone, pop culture references, and witty humor. So I asked Phipps to recommend my next book to read, citing what I had enjoyed about the previous books.

I think his exact words were, “Jane is my snarkiest” -- and he wasn’t lying. I was familiar with Jane from her guest appearances in a few of the books from the Supervilliany Saga, and I had really gotten to like her character. I was pretty mad when Gary sent her back to her own universe to keep her out of danger as he traveled to the center to fight Nazis riding dinosaurs. But that is literally a different story. So anyway, the point is I was looking forward to reading a Jane-centric story.

I Was a Teenage Weredeer has all the humor, puns, and references I’ve loved from other books, but it is written as a murder mystery. Jane (that’s Jane Doe ... the weredeer) finds herself playing amateur detective as she tries to track down a serial killer. Hijinks ensue. The plot is well thought out and engaging, the dialog is fun and entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed Jane’s inner monologues.

Special thanks to C.T. Phipps, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Galactic Mercenaries Omnibus: A Space Opera Series

Galactic Mercenaries Omnibus: A Space Opera Series by Richard Fierce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Space Zombies!

I got a great surprise when I started the Galactic Mercenaries Omnibus because I didn’t actually read the publisher’s summary before I got the book. It had an interesting cover and I like space operas, so sue me. So, imagine my surprise when I fall into an atypical plot all about undead plagues and zombie invasions. Sure, its got your aliens and their politics, intergalactic wars, and a ragtag assortment of interesting characters on a mercenary ship. But all the standard elements are well done and with the addition of the zombie space apocalypse, Galactic Mercenaries was so much more than just a space opera!

All three books in the Omnibus were pretty solid space opera fare, though I think the last book was my favorite. You do have to start to endure from a bit of predictability after getting into the plot, as Murphey’s law becomes one bitch of a cruel mistress for Jayde and her crew. Jayde is also pretty awful at being a mercenary -- she’s got a big heart and the tendency to play the part of a hero, so “do the right thing for free and get screwed over because of it” seemed to be a repeating theme throughout the books. Of course, with no crazy hijinks, the books would have been pretty boring, so perhaps its not all bad.

I really enjoyed getting to know each of the core characters. Each one was unique, with their own developing personality and backstories. We never got to fully see into all of their pasts, but what was there made the narrative all that more interesting. But on the flip side, I also got the feeling that every character who wasn’t part of the core crew was pretty much a one-dimensional red shirt. So, don’t get too attached to anyone new. But with the short nature of each story, I suppose it is hard to run with a large cast of characters.

Galactic Mercenaries is a fun series and definitely one I’d like to see continue on past its three novella run. I kind of felt like it ended just when it was getting good. Captain Jayde Thrin and the crew of the Determination are an interesting cast of characters and they deserve another story or two. A prequel story would be pretty great to really flesh out the characters.

Max Simshauser did a decent job with the narration and I really enjoyed the details that she put into her inflection, tone, and character voices. She did nice work creating believable male and female voices for the core characters and though not all the supporting cast was as unique, I enjoyed her performance.

Special thanks to Richard Fierce, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Lucifer's Nebula

Lucifer's Nebula by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great follow up, even better than the first one!

Lucifer's Nebula follows the continuing story of Cassius Mass as he attempts to live out his life in relative obscurity aboard his essentially stolen starship, the Melampus. However, that wouldn’t have made a very good story, so instead, poor Cassius is written back into the spotlight and tossed into a web of intrigue, politics, and plots to destroy all of humanity. Want to know more? Then read it!

Lucifer's Nebula started out with (and kept) a much faster pace than Lucifer's Star. I suppose that’s the benefit of a second book, as it can skip over the majority of the world-building and character introductions. But it’s not all action -- we do get to know each one of the Melampus crew a bit better and I really felt like a lot of secondary characters from Lucifer's Star got fleshed out a bit more in Lucifer's Nebula. All in all, I really enjoyed Lucifer's Nebula more than the first book and I think it was a combination of the aforementioned pacing, character development, and the lighter tone of the second book. Lucifer's Nebula has a surprising amount of humor for a book that’s basically about fallen empires, orphaned scions, and mass genocide on a stellar scale.

Eric Burns does a great job narrating Lucifer's Nebula, I loved almost all the character voices, the performances, and how the personality of each character really comes through in the narration. My only complaint is that Burns does some voices for some of the female characters that are somewhat off-putting, but opposite gender voices tend to be a challenge for a lot of narrators, so I can’t really hold it against him. I certainly couldn’t do a better job.

Special thanks to C.T. Phipps, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Zombie River Run

Zombie River Run by Javan Bonds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series is Still Alive!

Zombie River Run is the follow up for the first four books in the Still Alive series by Javan Bonds. It chronicles the continuing struggles and adventures of the crew of Viva Ancora and the survivors of Guntersville. I really can’t say enough good stuff about this entire series, I love its humor, its cast of characters, and the storyline. And as an Alabamian, I find the characters, their interactions, and their culture extremely relatable. I swear that I’ve met and know some of them. This series still manages to horrify me and make me laugh out loud at the same time.

I think Zombie River Run suffers a bit in the storyline because of where it falls in the series as its working to resolve a few loose ends from the first books and set things up for the next few. That means after the story arc was wrapped up in the first four books, Zombie River Run transitions us into what is sure to be a great second story arc. It's a bit slower than the previous books and doesn’t end with the same adrenaline rush of climax, but it still has some great scenes, excellent dialog, and fun culture references.

Salzman continues to do a great job with the narration and delivers an amazing production. I still can’t believe he can perform the extraordinary range of character voices that he puts into this book. I’m definitely adding Salzman to my favorite narrator list and will be hunting down other books that he’s recorded.

Special thanks to Javan Bonds, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Still Alive: Series Box Set Books 1-4

Still Alive: Series Box Set Books 1-4 by Javan Bonds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maybe a zombie apocalypse wouldn't be that bad?

The Still Alive series was a total shock to me. I’ve read or listened to a lot of indie books recently and most are pretty solidly average to a bit above average in entertainment value. When I read Still Alive’s summary and premise, it didn’t seem to be anything that special and I expected it to fall in line with other indie authors in the genre - I was very wrong.

The premise is clever and I’ve loved the way the series breaks the 4th wall in order to both create a satirical analysis of every zombie book, tv-series, and movie out there while at the same time telling an interesting and unique story of its own. Most of the chapters in the novels are presented as the diary of Mo Collins, who has found himself forced into the role of a hero in a zombie apocalypse story. Mo is guided by his friend ‘Smokes’ who uses his in-depth knowledge of the zombie apocalypse genre to predict events and situations to ensure that Mo survives and fulfills his role as the hero and the story continues on.

Even without the unique and intelligent critique of its own genre, Still Alive would be a great series. It's full of humor, wit, and entertaining banter and checks almost every box for me. It takes you on a roller-coaster of emotions as there’s plenty of moments that will have you laughing out loud, then absolutely disgusted, then angry, then fearful, back to laughing again before you curse Javan Bond’s name for putting you through it all. The characters, despite the fact they are purposely written to be cliché, feel real and it's easy to connect to the main cast of characters and become vested in their survival. The books also really spoke to my inner geek with plenty of pop culture refers to video games, movies, and TV shows.

There were only a few things in the books that I could find any fault with. Though I did really like the writing and premise of the book, I think there were a few parts, especially in books 3 or 4 where I thought the “we are living in a zombie apocalypse script” got a bit out of hand. I also found the pacing and passage of time a bit odd in places. It may have been more subtle commentary poking fun at the genre, but the survivors seemed to accomplish a huge number of tasks in only a limited amount of time and the progress that was made during the course of the novels seemed implausible. Several times I had expected days or even weeks to have gone by only to find out that the events described in the next chapter or book happened literally the next day. But these were very minor quibbles

To be honest, when I listened to the sample narrated by S.W. Salzman, I wasn’t sure if I could make it through the entire book listening to Mo Collins’ accent. I’m glad I ignored my initial feelings and started listening to the series; within a few chapters, Mo’s voice quickly became one of my favorites. If you start listening, just give it a chance and it will quickly grow on you. After a while, you will realize that Salzman is an amazing artist -- I have a hard time believing there weren’t secretly multiple narrators for this series. Salzman produced such a range of such completely different voices that it still blows my mind. The narration absolutely made this book come alive. If you have any doubts, just do a quick google search for “Blue Christmas With Smokes (Zombies On A Plane Holiday teaser)” and enjoy.

Special thanks to Javan Bonds, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Venator

Venator by James Bubela
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loren has a deathwish, nothing to lose, and a few people to kill.

Venator was a good book. You can tell from the description that Venator is going to be a dark and grim tale of vengeance, but it also contained bits of humor, some memorable characters, and a good overall plot. The story is about Loren, who believes he’s lost everything and is driven by a deathwish and a quest for revenge. During the book, my favorite technique was the way that Loren’s storytelling was woven into the plot -- as he interacts with various characters, he relives flashbacks from his past as he tells the tale of what took place before the novel begins. I also thought the story had excellent pacing, events moved along at an even pace, quickening at the end as the plot came to a climax and something of a resolution (leaving a nice segue for a sequel).

But Venator also had a few flaws. Most of the supporting cast of characters were either superfluously detailed and quirky or completely flat and uninteresting. A lot of the interactions and dialog felt odd or awkward and some of the characters didn’t behave in believable ways -- even for a fantasy novel. The psychology present wasn’t deep and Loren frequently flipped from seeming perfectly normal to deeply traumatized and psychotic (but maybe that was intentional). The plot did have some twists and turns along the way, but I honestly thought the foreshadowing was a bit overdone and because of that, most twists seemed fairly predictable.

All-in-all, Venator was a good book but due to a few flaws, not a great book. I was torn on the rating between three and four stars, but I’m going to settle on rounding it up. From what I understand, Venator is James Bubela’s first book and its pretty outstanding work for a first novel. Bubela showed great promise with Venator and I really think he’s going to be an author to watch.

For the audiobook, Clint Grayson did a decent job. His performance wasn’t my favorite, but neither did it turn me off from the book. Some characters, such as Loren and a few of the ‘extras’ were great and really made the book come alive. But then some other supporting characters were performed with voices that were odd, annoying, or flat and indistinguishable from others. But I think this is also one of Grayson’s first narrations and I think he has some potential as well. At this point, I wouldn’t pick up a new book just because I see his name as the narrator, but I certainly wouldn’t avoid getting an interesting sounding book just because he’s narrating.

Special thanks to James Bubela, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Brightblade

Brightblade by Michael Suttkus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I liked Brightblade a lot… or more accurately, I liked Ashley Morgan, the snarky, sassy, superpowered anti-heroic protagonist of Brightblade. Usually, I’d try to summarize the plot in a review, but unlike some other books that use their characters as a way to push the narrative forward, Brightblade is all about the characters. That means the real joy in reading it is all in the interactions, character building, and dialog. There is a story there, and it's a decent one... but you’ll read the book for the characters in it. So the plot? What’s the book about? It’s about Ashley Morgan. And the one hell of a night she just survived. Well, that she mostly survived anyway.

I’m usually not into urban fantasy, but Brightblade reads more like a vampire story. But not a dark, victorian-style vampire story or a teenage romantic gag-inducing vampire story. Instead, it’s an entertaining, irreverent, gothic-punk vampire story where the masquerade is dropped, and the vampires are all out doing their vampire thing. It’s got lots of vampire family politics, vampire lore, vampire strippers, and everything else you could want in a vampire story. From what I understand, it’s set in the same world as the other books in The United States of Monsters series, and now I want to read them all. Damn it, maybe I do like urban fantasy after all.

Overall, Brightblade is a lighthearted story with some darker subtext. It’s humorous and fun with its tone and pop culture references, but like most of Phipps’s work, it’s also intelligent in its use of social commentary and the development of alternate world cultural dynamics. I appreciate these deeper elements built into the world that Phipps and Suttkus have created.

As for the audio version of the book: I’ve never heard any of Heather Costa’s performances before, but I think she did a great job with Brightblade. Her character voices fit the narrative's tone and various situations within the book. All the female characters had unique, distinct voices -- which is an accomplishment, as there was quite a large cast of female characters. However, the male voices didn’t have the same variety and were a bit more challenging to differentiate. It’s a minor critique, though, as it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book or the narration.

Special thanks to C.T. Phipps, who provided me with this book at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Optional Retirement Plan

Optional Retirement Plan by Chris Pourteau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This old dog still has some bite left in him...

Optional Retirement Plan is the story of how Stacks Fischer, an aging Syndicate Corporation hitman, chose to 'go out' -- like a badass and on his own terms. The book is set in a future where humanity has colonized the moon and mars, the earth is dying, and everything is ruled by the mob-like and iron-handed Syndicate Corporation. Once trusted with the Syndicate's darkest secrets, now old-man Fischer and his waning mind has become a liability and must be put down, one way or another.

Optional Retirement Plan is a well-written and fast-paced page-turner. It's best to start reading it on a long weekend, as you'll have a hard time putting it down. You would think "fast-paced" and old man wouldn't mesh together well in a story, but Fischer is an old dog that refuses to be put down. Fischer is a well-developed character and the narrative is told from his first-person perspective. You'll feel his deep pain and frustration over the betrayals at the end of his life (those of his own body, mind, and the Syndicate) and can't help but to connect to the old bastard. The whole story feels like a sci-fi film noir and while it certainly goes to some dark places, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, rooting for Fischer. This is the first book I've finished this year, but I can tell it's going to be one of the best too.

The audiobook for Optional Retirement Plan is performed by R.C. Bray, who is an outstanding narrator and a longtime favorite of mine. It's for Bray that I gave the audio version of the book a chance, and he takes a great book and makes it even better. His voice is perfect for Fischer's first-person account and I can't find a single flaw in the performance. Even if my review doesn't convince you to get the book, get the audio version for Bray.

Thank you to Aethon Books who provided me this book free of charge at my request.

View all my reviews

Review: Lucifer’s Star

Lucifer’s Star by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucifer’s Star was reminiscent of the classic space opera adventure stories I remember reading as a kid. I say “reminiscent” because although it had many of the same elements as those stories, Lucifer’s Star is nothing a kid should be reading. Which is great, because as an adult, I enjoy a little gratuitous profanity, sex, and violence mixed in with a well-written and engaging science fiction story -- and that is precisely what Lucifer’s Star is.

Lucifer’s star introduces an interesting and entertaining cast of characters to what I hope will be a long series. At the start of the story, quite a few of the characters seemed like they are going to be walking, talking science fiction tropes, but they were developed well through the book and became unique and compelling characters I cared about and rooted for. The plot did get confusing at times and all the character’s allegiances, secrets, and in some cases, bodies (that’s right, I wrote “bodies” and meant it) were hard to keep straight, but everything was resolved and nicely wrapped up by the end. The author, C.T. Phipps, keeps a WordPress blog and has a really great post dedicated to revealing more about the Lucifer’s Star universe, so if you feel the details getting muddy keeping the factions and organizations clear in your head, I found reading the background of the setting helpful (and entertaining in its own right).

View all my reviews