This is a page on which I intend to put information, reviews and suggestions about the books I have read, and the ones I’m reading. It’s a continual work in progress, so bear with me, these things take time.
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First and foremost, my favourite author Andy Remic.
His blog is at http://andyremic.wordpress.com/.
Books : Spiral, Quake and Warhead form the first trilogy by Remic. I enjoyed every second of reading all three. The characters are amazing but realistic, the story is action packed and intently interesting, and the concepts ideas and writing styles are all excellent.
The next set; the combat K novels, consists of War Machine, Biohell and Hardcore. The third book, Hardcore is due for release in Jan, 2010. Both War Machine and Biohell were very enjoyable reads. Set further into the future of mankind that the events of the Spiral series, these books look at how humanity may evolve, the advancement in technologies, the going on of alien races and still retains the fast paced, action packed feel of Remic’s writing. Personally I can’t wait until Hardcore, and am sure it will be just as good as it’s predecessors.
Also, his new venture, the Clockwork Vampire series, is quite honestly, mind-blowing. It’s basically distilled Remic. An idea refined. I bought Kell’s Legend just after it came out and I’m very glad I did. An action packed thriller with brilliant writing technique and fantastic storyline. I’m buying the next one on the day it comes out. Wow.
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Ok, who next? I think I should mention the author who’s work I’m currently reading. Karen Miller.
As far as I know she doesn’t have a blog, so (http://www.karenmiller.net/) is her web page instead.
She was recommend to me by a good friend, and on writing style alone I can say that it’s a good idea to buy and read anything by Karen Miller. Her way of creating a story and weaving it into book format is so excellent I was enthralled from start to finish with the Kingmaker, KingBreaker series. Both the Innocent Mage and the Awakened Mage are fantastic to read and I would personally recommend them to anyone looking for a good fantasy novel with identifiable characters and an imaginative storyline.
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Jonathan Stroud. A very interesting man with, what must be, a very interesting mind.
Again, I couldn’t find his blog, so his official web page is http://www.jonathanstroud.com/.
My gran gave my the first book of Stroud’s Bartimeaus Trilogy as a gift for my birthday two years ago. My gran gives me book every yeah and she tends to pick out very good ones. The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye and Ptolemy’s Gate didn’t disappoint. The way the books not only encapsulates the present storyline, but also give glimpses of the “djinni’s” (a sentient spirit being) past, is excellent. Also, the way growing civil unrest is shown through the course of the storyline is skilfully done. Stroud has written a few other books, but it has not been within my ability to acquire them yet, so I can’t comment on how successful they are. I defiantly enjoyed the new angle on both magic and empire rule, and the way in which multiple viewpoints are used to create a full and rich story. A good read for anyone into fantasy.
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Right then, Andy McNab. I’m not sure what to write about his if I’m quite honest.
Web page is at www.andymcnab.co.uk.
I don’t know how many books he’s written, or even the names of most of them. I do however know that it’s a lot. Walking into a book show the other day I saw a stand with at least eight different McNab books. When a writer has so many published pieces it tells you that either the author is in high demand or a publishing company has taken a close liking in his books. If an author is in high demand then it’s quite obvious that people like their books, and some stock can be put into the assumption that those books are worth reading. If a publishing company has a writer as their “golden boy”, you can be sure they expect heavy fiscal returns from said backing. Large companies as such are not likely to back a person’s books, if they might loose money from it. Simple economics. I’m currently reading Firewall, which is a “number one best seller”, and I can tell why. The plot is well structured, the background fully comprehensive and the action believably real. It has been a thrilling read and I’m defiantly enjoying it. The main character is a person with form and definition in my mind. This is mostly because as all reviews of McNab point out, he has lived out his stories. They are based around real protocols, items, places and views. The man was in the armed forces, so who better too write military fiction? Bravo Two Zero is the most famous of McNab’s novels, and is a must for anyone into any kind of military fiction. It’s worth a look even if your not. In the words of a good friend of mine “don’t chuck it till you’ve had a look see”.
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Wow. I’ve just noticed I haven’t put Brent Weeks on here yet. Well, it’s his turn now.
Web Page – http://www.brentweeks.com/
Right, as far as I know, he has only written three books. The Way Of Shadows, Shadow’s Edge and Beyond The Shadows”. I don’t care that it’s only three. These three books make up ‘The Night Angel Trilogy’. And… Well, it’s amazing. Together these three books seriously challenged Remic’s book on my mental Best Read list. I’m serious. The front cover looks awesomely cool, and the book gets better from there. I was entranced, book one, page one, right until the end. Which, just to note was an amazing ending, no open ended-ness and possible “oooohhhh, what might happen next”, it made sense, explained a lot and made me feel satisfied.
Weeks must write more. That’s my only issue with him. Writing isn’t his main job,and therefore he doesn’t have much time to churn out more awesome books. Shame.
I loved the concepts of how people we’re specially skilled, some books use magic, some inborn talent, etc., but Weeks combined lot’s of concepts into an interesting theoretic that no one has used before too my knowledge. I loved it. Simple.
Unfortunately, I can’t say this book is for everyone, as I leant it to a friends of mine, a shall be say, co-reviewer. We lend each other good books we find and then decide just how good they are between us. Well, yeah, she didn’t like the first one. I’ll admit, it is a hard starter, there’s a little bit of excess information in the first quarter of the first book, without which, the book wouldn’t work. It’s a little difficult to plough through, but it’s so worth it. Unfortunately, my co-reviewer didn’t agree, she likes a fast paced start with the details filled in later, which is fair enough, and so rejected the book as a difficult read. Counteracting this notion though, is the fact that her brother then read the book, and practically begged me to lend him the second one…
So, it’s down too opinion on Brent Weeks. If you like him you’ll love him, and if you don’t then it’s not for you. I recommend him nonetheless though, and say that his books are defiantly a must read.
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