Review: To Beat the Devil

To Beat the Devil by M.K. Gibson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic world-building and excellent characters

To Beat the Devil is the first book in the Technomancer Novels by M.K. Gibson. It has all the qualities of a good book: a fast-paced plot that made it hard to put down, characters that I actually started caring about, smart witty dialog, and just the right mix of grit, humor, and solemnity. But it wasn't just a good book, it was exceptional.

To Beat the Devil had two things going for it that book beyond just good to exceptional. The first was the setting. The demon-filled, forsaken, post-apocalyptic world of the Technomancer series is amazingly detailed and fantastically dark. As the plot moves forward, the complex history of the setting is revealed and it becomes an integral component of the narrative throughout the series. Overall, it presents some rather troubling ontological questions about the nature of religion, humanity, and the nature of the soul -- all troubling and intriguing inquiries that are sure to trigger an existential crisis if you delve into them too deeply. Given that, I’d love to see a hundred more stories written in the universe. Perhaps a prequel series?

The second standout for this book was Salem. On the surface, he seems like your cliche anti-hero that hit rock bottom and has since tried to turn things around and seek redemption. But he turned out to be much more intricate and unique than indicated by my initial assessment.  He continues to evolve throughout the story (and the rest of the series) and develops considerable depth and complexity. Salem’s personality combines dark brooding with witty smartassery, making him a tremendously entertaining POV character and one of my new favorites. And the supporting characters were also outstanding, some being just as deep and complex as Salem, making the dialog between characters rapt, amusing, and often humorous. 

Shawn Purvis was an interesting narrator for the story. At first, I was worried that his often flat and calm tone would turn me off from the book, but he turned out to be pretty talented. Salem’s POV narration was often almost monotone, but once I got into the story and character, I actually think it worked well for Salem; the tone made Salem seem like he was often in control of the situation, and very few things could rile him, which seemed appropriate for an unconcerned and laid back immortal. Purvis also brought quite a few unique voices into the performance, showing a considerable range while he nailed everything from creepy priests to Viking gods.    

Special thanks to M. K. Gibson, who provided me with this book at my request.

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Review: The Didymus Contingency

The Didymus Contingency by Jeremy Robinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, don't listen to the hater reviews for The Didymus Contingency. Sure, not everything about the book was historically accurate. Notice that it's classified as "Literature & Fiction" -- meaning that the author may take some creative liberties with the work and that everything isn't required to include 100% accurate historical facts. Second, right in the book's description, it says Tom will be going back in time to see Jesus -- again, no surprise then that the book ends up focusing quite a bit on Jesus' life and issues of religion. And going back to the first point, it's fiction so readers should not be shocked to learn that the book may include details added about Jesus, the apostles, and the time period that aren't 100% purely true and are used to fill in historical gaps and to make the narrative more entertaining. 

There are many things I really appreciated about The Didymus Contingency. I'm a sucker for this kind of book -- one that retells a familiar story (especially using a different genre) but is just different enough to keep you reading to find out how the new elements will be interwoven into the old tale. And Robinson did just that extremely well.  The Didymus Contingency melded time-travel science fiction, history, and religion together in an account of the biblical Gospels while at the same time tackling a time travel paradox in a creative and interesting way (which is all I can say to keep this review spoiler-free). The intricacies of the layered plot kept the story engaging as even though those familiar with any of the four Gospels could not always see where the narrative was going. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the story fresh and entertaining. And once the plot was resolved, it was so satisfying to see everything fall into place to give you that big "ah-ha" moment when it all makes sense.

Beyond all the praise I've already included, The Didymus Contingency is a well-written book -- but there are a few places I'll agree with some of the more critical reviews.  For example, most of the characters were really only as deep and developed as they needed to be to make the plot work and as a result, they came across as a bit tropey. And some characters became plot devices and didn't always seem to make the best and most logical decisions given the situations they were in. However, everything else was so well done that I have no problem overlooking these minor issues as none of them really hindered my overall enjoyment of the book.

In the audio version of the book, R.C. Bray’s performance is excellent. By now, I expect anything R.C. Bray narrates to be great and The Didymus Contingency is no exception. His tone is ideal, the character voices are unique, and the pacing was matched to work well with each scene. 

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Review: Zombie Upheaval: Still Alive Book Nine

Zombie Upheaval: Still Alive Book Nine by Javan Bonds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Zombie Upheaval is the 9th book in Javan Bond's Still Alive series and continues the series after Zombie Crusade. If you've never read or listened to a book in the Still Alive series, go read the review of the Still Alive: Series Box Set (Books 1-4), as getting the omnibus is an excellent and economical way to start the series. But if you've made it a few books into the series or have finished book eight and you're wondering whether or not to continue, the answer is easy: hell yes, you should. 

First, let's discuss one of Zombie Upheaval's best qualities: the graphic and explicit descriptions of violence and gore. Most stories use violence as a plot device. In those stories, characters resolve conflict through violent escalation only when it's necessary to move the narrative forward. The Still Alive series takes a different approach. Instead, the narrative in the series primarily exists as a vehicle to bring forth violence, gore, and utter brutality. To call it gratuitous violence is a vast understatement -- unless you are using "gratuitous" to describe the violence as a generous and kind gift provided to the audience by the screenwriter. Using that definition, gratuitous would be the correct word, as Bonds has a disturbing talent for describing vicious, violent deaths through excruciatingly vivid and glorious detail. Violence can't be pointless if the violence is the point!

Though it might have been blasphemous to other fans of the series, I found that the previous book, Zombie Crusade (Book 8), might have tipped the scale toward too much blood and gore and not enough plot; I'm happy to state that Zombie Upheaval finds a better balance between scenes of near senseless violence and those that move the story forward. And though much of the humor remains macabre, the lighter comedy of the earlier books of the series has started to make a comeback as well. While I still think the earlier books (and the POV of Mo) were more enjoyable, I see good things foreshadowed in the future of the series.

On its own, Zombie Upheaval is pretty entertaining. I especially relished the partial return to the central plot with the crew of the Viva Ancora and the glimpses into the mind of Mo through the various short "mo-sodes." The continuing clash between the loyalists of Pastor Mike Brown and the government of Guntersville was bloody but amusing, and I think I'm going to enjoy following the antics of the perverted and cantankerous Mortimer. And as the components of the narrative arc are concluded, I can see a return to the Cora as a focus in future books -- which will be excellent.

And for the audiobook: I cannot understate how much talent S.W. Salzman demonstrates in the narration of the Still Alive series. I'm still baffled that a single narrator can voice all the extensively different characters and do so using unique and instantly recognizable voices. He perfectly captures personalities and brings life to the characters. The Still Alive series has always been fun and entertaining, but Salzman easily takes it to the next level.

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Review: Space Academy Dropouts

Space Academy Dropouts by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A perfect blend of witty parody and great sci-fi

I enjoy C.T. Phipps' books. They are full of humor, often irreverent, and laden with pop culture references, yet they often have enjoyable (and unpredictable) plots, memorable characters, and entertaining dialog. Space Academy Dropouts fits perfectly into that mold, being a humorous story loaded with references to classic and modern science fiction -- yet it feels like a decent space opera at the same time. Sure, there are frequent jokes and witty banter, but there are also serious moments, lots of traditional sci-fi-type action, and decent character development. Space Academy Dropouts really does strike the perfect balance in tone between being a humorous parody and an entertaining sci-fi story. 

Jeffery Kafer's performance is excellent. His range is impressive, and he skillfully makes it seem like a different actor voices each character. I've experienced Kafer's narration in quite a few books, and he's never disappointed me in any book where the main character is a snarky smart-ass. And I swear that was supposed to be a compliment.

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Review: The Anvil of Souls

The Anvil of Souls by Joshua C. Cook
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Cycle Continues

The Anvil of Souls is the second book in The Forgemaster Cycle and follows Blood of a Fallen God. As a sequel review, there could be spoilers from the first book. If you haven't read the first book, stop reading this and go get it – it's excellent, and I highly recommend it.

Given that I loved the first book, I'm sorry to say that the second book of the cycle is as good as the first book. It's not bad, but overall it falls short of the first. Is it worth reading? Sure, it is. Despite its flaws, it is a continuation of the first book and does a great job of exploring the world of the Forgemaster and detailing the unique history and lore. I haven't read the third book yet, but this one seems like it's a segue into a final volume. And I do plan on continuing to the third book.

At the start of the story, there was a setup for what I thought was a great plot: William was set to return to Ture, clean the corruption from the church of Amder, and take his position as Forgemaster. I was excited to return to the mix of city-based intrigue and action of the first book, so I was pretty disappointed when William suddenly changed his mind and traveled in the opposite direction. Once it gets going, the plot doesn't have a good focus from chapter to chapter, and most of the book is just a chronicle of the journey. There were a few trials, tribulations, and mysteries that are expected of such a narrative, but no real substance for a big chunk of the book. It does have a significant, exciting build-up at the very end, but I wish the trip there had a bit more to keep me interested in where the plot was going. This may be no issue if you are a fan of the style, but for me, it was only just enough to keep my attention.

But the central protagonists were the real disappointment in the book. The story focuses on the travels of William, Myriam, and Regin. I liked all three characters in the first book, but after the events in the first book, they seemed to have become dense, obtuse, and oblivious. Are you familiar with the cliche horror scene where you want to scream something like "DON'T GO DOWN INTO THE DARK, SCARY BASEMENT!"? I wanted to do the same thing to those three because they were constantly acting irrational or overreacting. And William, who is the mortal representative of a god that he resurrected, is an impotent hero, continually questioning and doubting himself to the point you want to slap him, hoping that he'll snap out of his funk.

Despite any misgivings I have about the plot or characters, the narration is excellent. Moore's performance was one of the reasons my interest stayed high enough to enjoy the book. The voices were distinct, the dialog was interesting, and the tone was well matched to the scenes' pacing and writing style.  

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

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Review: The Bright Falls Mysteries Saga

The Bright Falls Mysteries Saga by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Bright Falls Mysteries Saga is an omnibus of Books 1 through 3 of the Bright Falls Mysteries Series and includes I Was a Teenage Weredeer, An American Weredeer in Michigan, and A Nightmare on Elk Street. This is a combined review for all three books in the omnibus. Like many of C. T. Phipps’ books, the series is set in the United States of Monsters urban fantasy universe (which you can read more about on the author’s blog).

All the Bright Falls Mysteries books have been fun, full of comedy (and deer puns), and have had surprisingly entertaining and well-written characters and plots. But it took me so long to start on the series and I kept passing it by every time I looked for a new book. I kept seeing I Was a Teenage Weredeer and then thinking to myself, “A weredeer? That’s just dumb, I don’t think I could ever get into that book.” Yet, here I am declaring Jane Doe the weredeer one of my favorite protagonists. So if you are reading this review and are still on the fence about the series, it’s time to go ahead and take the plunge.

The introduction to the series, I Was a Teenage Weredeer, 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. As the first book in the series, you also get to meet all Jane’s friends, allies, and antagonists of the series.

In An American Weredeer in Michigan, Jane (the weredeer) and Emma (Jane’s now out-of-the-closet lesbian, werewolf best friend) continue to stumble into messy situations. While out for a hike, the two stumble on a murder pit full of infant’s bones and feel obligated to seek out whoever is responsible for the mass grave and bring them to justice. While on the trial of the apparent baby murder, Jane faces off against an evil cult leader, tries to sort out her relationships with Alex and Lucien, and continues to dish out non-stop deer puns.

Phipps pays homage to the classic slasher film genre in A Nightmare on Elk Street. Another supernatural killer is rampaging through Bright Falls and Lucien Lyons convinces Jane to work security on the set of his money-laundering scheme … I mean B-movie horror film. While trying to protect the crew, Jane attempts to track down the killer only to discover that the murderer’s next target is her. Though it is still essentially a comedy, A Nightmare on Elk Street is also well-written with a great plot. The plot is a bit thicker in this book than in previous novels as this final installment reveals a hidden narrative arc that’s been building throughout the series. A perfect ending and wrap-up for the trilogy.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the Bright Falls Mysteries books and Jane’s snark and puns are entertaining enough to make buying any of these books worth it. But for the saga edition, you get three books for one price! It's especially worth it for the audio omnibus edition, as you can get the entire trilogy for a single credit. You can’t beat that!

In the audiobook version, Arielle DeLisle is deer-lightful in her performance as Jane and creates a full cast of characters with unique personalities and voices. It’s hard to find many faults with any of her narration throughout the series – she was a joy to listen to. I’ve listened to DeLisle narrate a few other series and she is definitely a go-to to give voice to quirky, spunky heroines.

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Review: Cerberus Series: Books 1-3:

Cerberus Series: Books 1-3: by Andy Peloquin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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A great value for three great books!

The Cerberus Series is an audiobook omnibus of Books 1 through 3 of the Cerberus series and includes Assassination Protocol, Terminal Secrets, and Cyber Strike. All three books have their own self-contained plots while at the same time building toward an overall narrative arc which has a satisfying conclusion in Book 3. The Cerberus series does continue (for a total of 12 books), but the omnibus is an excellent introduction to the world and characters. 

In short, the Cerberus series is excellent. It's a different take on the normal sci-fi genre and though its title labels it as a military space opera, it fits better in the technothriller or cyberpunk genre. There are unique and interesting characters, a well-developed plot, plenty of action, and a bit of humor thrown in as well. Cerberus has just about everything you could want from a well-written book; it’s a fun and entertaining read that easily holds my attention and interest. Plus, if you are looking for audiobook value, it's three books (and 28 hours!) for a single credit.

My favorite part of the series is the protagonist: Nolan Garrett, an ex-special forces government assassin. But, he’s unique in that he was medically discharged from the military after becoming a paraplegic. Even with advanced medical technology, he was never able to walk on his own again. But he can regain his mobility through the use of an armored, AI-run cybernetic suit – which he uses exclusively while carrying out contracts as Cerberus. Since Nolan is otherwise bound to a wheelchair, he’s able to convincingly maintain a secret, civilian identity as a handicapped veteran. Though he shares his background with many ex-military type cliches (i.e. discharged after an injury, went hard into drugs and alcohol, and now plagued with doubts and regret), I find the character’s overall concept unique and intriguing. It’s also an excellent plot device, as I think I’d also get bored with a story focused on a highly-skilled, near-invincible techno-assassin. Nolan’s vulnerabilities add suspenseful situations and thrilling conflicts to keep the narrative interesting.

Bronson Pinchot is an excellent narrator, especially for an action-oriented series like Cerberus. He’s got the perfect voice for a gruff assassin but also does a great job with other characters, including Nolan’s integrated AI (who is distinctly female). Pinchot’s performance creates an immersive experience through a variety of unique voices and a tone and temper that matches well with the book.

Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me with this book at my request.

You can find the audiobook omnibus edition of the Cerberus series on Audible's website.

Review: A Nightmare on Elk Street

A Nightmare on Elk Street by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Buck Yeah, Another Great Weredeer Book!

A Nightmare on Elk Street is the third (and last) book in The Bright Falls Mysteries Series and follows An American Weredeer in Michigan. 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).

Phipps pays homage to the classic slasher film genre in A Nightmare on Elk Street. Another supernatural killer is rampaging through Bright Falls and Lucien Lyons convinces Jane to work security on the set of his money-laundering scheme … I mean B-movie horror film. While trying to protect the crew, Jane attempts to track down the killer only to discover that the murder’s next target is her. 

Though it is still essentially a comedy, A Nightmare on Elk Street is also well-written with a great plot. The plot is a bit thicker in this book than in previous novels as this final installment reveals a hidden narrative arc that’s been building throughout the series. I love the deeply satisfying “ah-ha!” moment you get when you realize how all the little side stories and individual plots have been linked together the entire time. It really makes me appreciate the planning and talent that went into the series.

I’ve liked all of the Bright Falls Mysteries books and Jane’s snark and puns are deer-lightful. So, even though this book is perhaps the best of the series, I’m also really disappointed that this is where the buck stops for Jane’s tail. I’ve just grown so fawn of deer puns and Jane’s snarky personality – along with the rest of her family and friends in Bright Falls. Jane’s just now getting into her stride in A Nightmare on Elk Street and my hope is that she continues to show up in supporting roles and cameos in other of Phipps’s books.

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

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Review: An American Weredeer in Michigan

An American Weredeer in Michigan by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An en-deer-ing and deer-lightful tail.

An American Weredeer in Michigan is the second book in The Bright Falls Mysteries Series and follows I Was a Teenage Weredeer. 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).

  

The big bad wolf has been defeated, but there’s no rest for Jane (the weredeer) and Emma (Jane’s now out-of-the-closet lesbian, werewolf best friend). While out for a hike, the two stumble on a murder pit full of infant’s bones and feel obligated to seek out whoever is responsible for the mass grave and bring them to justice. While on the trial of the apparent baby murder, Jane faces off against an evil cult leader, tries to sort out her relationships with Alex and Lucien, and continues to dish out non-stop deer puns.

All the Bright Falls Mysteries books have been fun, full of comedy (and deer puns), and have had surprisingly entertaining and well-written characters and plots. But it took me so long to start on the series and I kept passing it by every time I looked for a new book.  I kept seeing I Was a Teenage Weredeer and then thinking to myself, “A weredeer? That’s just dumb, I don’t think I could ever get into that book.” Yet, here I am declaring Jane Doe the weredeer one of my favorite protagonists. So if you are reading this review and are still on the fence about the series, it’s time to go ahead and take the plunge.

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

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Review: 100 Miles and Vampin'

100 Miles and Vampin' by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Straight Outta Fangton was fantastic, so it's no surprise that I loved 100 Miles and Vampin' as well. Peter Stone is an amusing first-person protagonist, and his perspective presents an entertaining and surprisingly down-to-earth narrative. Throughout the series, vampires and other supernatural characters are often presented with quirks and foibles that make them seem (ironically) more human. Despite their 

While Straight Outta Fangton had a more straightforward plot, 100 Miles and Vampin' is written like a murder mystery. The pacing is excellent; the plot builds up nicely, only revealing bits and pieces of the concealed storyline until the big reveal in the end. Both books are excellent but comparing the two,  I enjoyed the story of the second book even more than the first one. 

Even with a complex (and excellent) plot, the book still possesses plenty of comedy, and the dialog and interchange between the characters is amusing. If you love humorous, irrelevant writing and tons of pop culture references, you'll find any book in the series entertaining.

I don't have many negative things I can really critique about the book. For what it is (that being a supernatural comedy), it's excellent. My only real complaint is that it ends on one hell of a cliffhanger, and I had to wait two and a half years before the third book came out. That's just cruel.

Cary Hite's performance in the audiobook version is outstanding. He's a talented narrator and pulls off a thoroughly entertaining and wholly believable Peter Stone. 

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

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