Mar 10 2013

Book Review: The Bane by Keary Taylor

Title: The Bane

Author: Keary Taylor

Series: The Eden Trilogy #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won’t stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn’t need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Review:

I got this book initially as an ARC, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t force myself to read it just because I got it before everyone else (as I’ve done a few times before). I liked the premise for the story, and by the first few chapters in, I was convinced this was something I would enjoy. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’re probably aware that I have a fondness for dystopian novels. Although the storyline of this particular one wasn’t incredibly original, there are some things about it that I really liked. For example, the very first scene of the book let me know right away what the stakes are in this world, who I’m supposed to be cheering for, and elements of mystery that made me want to keep reading. An excellent start that developed into a dang good book.

It didn’t take the path I was expecting it to, and I actually found that refreshing. It had a good full-circle storyline that left me satisfied, but also left room open for a sequel – which is extremely smart of her if she hadn’t been able to get a deal for more than one book. The writing was solid and evoking, and her character development was strong. The pacing could have been a bit quicker, with a few more setting changes early on, but it didn’t take away from the story too much. She also needed a bit more word variety. There were countless examples of her using a word to describe something then repeating the exact phrasing in the next line down. It happened so often I was beginning to wonder if it was deliberate. Also, the cover doesn’t sell the story to me. I feel like it would market better with a cover that looked more like the new Mila or even Wasserman’s Skinned (see recommends below) something to highlight the technological element of the story [Note: cover updated since original post… I like it better].

These are minor notes, and overall I consider the book well worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre. I am excited that it is a trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the next book!

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Divergent by Veronica Roth (Read Full Review)
Partials by Dan Wells (Read Full Review)
Skinned by Robin Wasserman
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Read Full Review)

Mar 9 2013

Coming Soon: The Tyrant’s Law

Title: The Tyrant’s Law

Author: Daniel Abraham

Series: The Dagger and the Coin #3

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: May 14, 2013

The Overview: The great war cannot be stopped.

The tyrant Geder Palliako had led his nation to war, but every victory has called forth another conflict. Now the greater war spreads out before him, and he is bent on bringing peace. No matter how many people he has to kill to do it.

Cithrin bel Sarcour, rogue banker of the Medean Bank, has returned to the fold. Her apprenticeship has placed her in the path of war, but the greater dangers are the ones in her past and in her soul.

Widowed and disgraced at the heart of the Empire, Clara Kalliam has become a loyal traitor, defending her nation against itself. And in the shadows of the world, Captain Marcus Wester tracks an ancient secret that will change the war in ways not even he can forsee.

Nik’s Notes: I haven’t even read the first two books yet, but I can tell you with certainty that I will be purchasing Tyrant’s Law when it comes out. Having read (and loved) the Long Price Quartet I am convinced that anything this author does is worth my time and money. It was one of those novels that I picked up to skim and ended up cancelling plans to finish (alas, the woes of befriending a book nerd). Writing, characters, world-building – everything was there, and I can’t imagine this series being anything less than awesome!

Mar 8 2013

Book Review: The Pirate King by R.A. Salvatore

Title: The Pirate King

Author: R.A. Salvatore

Series: Transitions #2

Genre: Role Playing Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Captain Deudermont has sailed to the pirate city of Luskan on a mission—a mission to once and for all defeat the true power behind the corrupt city: a wicked lich and his cabal of evil wizards from the Host Tower of the Arcane. But the Host Tower has some tricks up its sleeve, as do the pirate captains who would like to see both sides fail.

Captain Deudermont is convinced that he can save this futuristic metropolis, but Drizzt knows better. To save the embattled city and his friend, he returns to Luskan.

The Review:

These book are fantastic! I consider them must-reads for fantasy buffs and role playing gamers alike! The author never fails to deliver fast-paced, well-rounded books. I love them because they manage to build momentum off of one-another while still maintaining a fully-developed plot within each book. A lot of fun to read, they set the stage for what has erupted into hundreds of Forgotten Realms spinoffs on the market today.

Salvatore has a great talent of taking you to different parts of his world and making each place vibrant and rich. From the frozen tundra of Icewind Dale to the seaside city of Luskan, you will never go without an excellent setting. So far, he’s written a few novels that deal with seafaring and the pirating community, and I argue with myself on whether or not I like them best. They certainly are different than other books in the saga, and I always find them a breath of fresh air (no pun intended).

While there are so many great attributes to this saga, by far my favorite elements are the characters. There are several throughout this series that I have absolutely loved – including the villains. Fair warning, you’d better be ready to read all 25+ novels because half the fun is finding out what happens next!

by Niki Hawkes

If you like this book, you might also like:

Sorcery Rising by Jude Fisher
Homeland by R.A. Salvatore (the story that started it all)
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
The Aware by Glenda Larke
The Thief’s Gamble by Juliet E. McKenna

Mar 6 2013

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Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

The Review:

This was one of those books that ended too quickly. I picked it up and before I knew it I was more than halfway through, cursing that I didn’t take longer to savor it. I couldn’t help but read fast – it was just too good. Divergent was also a major page-turner for me, but only after I made it past the first hundred pages or so. Insurgent started off with a bang and didn’t let up the entire time. The plot just kept getting thicker and thicker, setting up for what promises to be an incredible conclusion.

I think part of the reason I was completely absorbed into the story can be attributed to Roth’s talents as a writer. She is excellent at ending chapters with “hooks” which make it practically impossible to find a good stopping point. For me, the reading process was a series of, “Okay, just one more chapter…”. Also, the first-person present-tense writing style that was made so famous by the Hunger Games trilogy was used to similar effect here. It allows the reader to feel like they are involved in the play-by-play and is a good way of making suspenseful moments even more intense.

Overall, Insurgent was an awesome sequel to a strong first book. I plan on recommending it to anyone who enjoyed Suzanne Collins and actually think the series is shaping up to be just as strong as HG. I wont be certain, however, until I read the final book, which just had an announced release date of October 22, 2013. I am stoked!

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

The Bane by Keary Taylor
Partials by Dan Wells
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Matched by Ally Condie
Pendragon: Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale

Mar 4 2013

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Coming Soon: Dead Ever After

May 7, 2013

Title: Dead Ever After

Author: Charlaine Harris

Series: Sookie Stackhouse #13

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Release Date: May 7, 2013

A new Sookie book!!!! This series is great – perfect for vampire lovers looking for a more cheeky (and mature) escape from reality. They are surprisingly rather different than the HBO series True Bloods, but if you liked one, you’ll probably like the other. My advice: read this one slowly because it is going to be the last book of the series!