SUPREME POWER: CONTACT

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Supreme Power Vol. 1: Contact by J. Michael Straczynski

Genre: Superhero Comics

Publisher: DC Comics (July 1, 2004)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length:144 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Squadron Supreme has been around for a while in the Marvel Universe, acting as the MU’s alternate dimension “Justice League” whenever a JLA versus Marvel story was written. That changed a great deal in 1985 though; Mark Gruenwald and Bob Hall releasing an extremely thought-provoking 12-issue miniseries entitled Squadron Supreme, where these heroes decide to take over the world in order fix all its problems, resulting in horrible things all around and a lot of character development. It might not have been Watchmen, but in a lot of ways, Squadron Supreme was just as powerful to its readers, presenting serious messages wrapped inside its traditional looking superhero story, and it definitely was the first step in these characters’ evolution away from mere DCU copycats.

Flash forward to 2003. Marvel was turning everything into a mature title then, and so Supreme Power was born. Sure, it was still a JLA look alike, but Stracyzinski’s story was a gritty, hard-hitting and realistic take on superheroes in the modern world. There was nudity, violence, conspiracies, cover-ups, and riveting plots. Heroes weren’t always likable, and villains were relatable. Especially cool were our updated cast of characters, who were tantalizingly familiar yet so different from their obvious DCU models. Let’s get to know them better.

Mark Milton aka Hyperion (Superman) is an alien who was taken from the farmers who discovered his space capsule by the government. Raised in secret according to strict standards and brainwashed with pro-American propaganda all his life, he becomes the perfect military weapon. Unfortunately for the US, Mark Milton slowly begins to realize his whole life was a lie; his confusion and anger at his treatment by those he believed loved him driving his story.

hyperion

Kyle Richmond aka Nighthawk (Batman) is a young, affluent African-American man who had to watch his parents be gunned down by white racists. Now, he fights crime as a masked vigilante, but he seems to be just as racist as the people who destroyed his childhood.

nighthawk

Zarda (Wonder Woman) is some kind of vampiric alien or goddess. She seems to have been around since ancient Greek times and has survived by devouring her loyal followers. She only arises from her tomb due Hyperion showing up; there being some shadowy connection between the two of them.

zarda

The Atlanta Blur (Flash) is a young African-American man who is dedicated to taking care of his mother and providing for her financial. When he amazingly discovers he has super speed, he uses his power to become a celebrity, turning his fame into a lucrative business full of commercials, tv appearances, and endorsement deals.

the atlanta blur

Joseph Ledger aka Doctor Spectrum (Green Lantern) is a US soldier who is chosen for a secret experiment involving a crystal taken from Hyperion’s space capsule. Inevitably, Ledger is “bonded” to the mysterious and powerful gem, using his new abilities as another secret operative for the government and as a possible deterrent against Hyperion.

doctor spectrum

Lastly, there is the mermaid-like female Amphibian, who encounters Doctor Spectrum and . . . becomes friends with, falls in love with him, or has an emotional attachment to him.

amphibian
Naturally, this initial arc entitled “Contact” is just that: the story line which introduces everyone, outlines their history and motives, and propels the story forward to their inevitable contact with one another. Sure, it might be reminiscent of other stories in sections, but overall, Supreme Power weaves an interesting look at how superheroes might look and act in post-9/11 America.

I have to say I really like this story. It has that ultra realistic feel like Watchmen but without all the dark and gloomy art, and while it reads like a standard superhero story, the conspiracies and true-to-life situations and reactions of the characters set it above a lot of other comics in my opinion. Definitely a series that should have gotten a bit more love and appreciation from fans and the powers at Marvel, and one every comic fan should, at least, give a try.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Graphic Novels, Marvel | Tagged Contact, Doctor Spectrum, hyperion, J. Michael Straczynski, Marvel African-American characters, Marvel Comics, Marvel Max, Nighthawk, Squadron Supreme, Supreme Power, The Blur, Zarda | 2 Comments

LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE: THE MERCENARY PRINCE

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Bookwraiths

authorspotlight

Now on Amazon for $2.99!
LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE:
THE MERCENARY PRINCE

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

Delvin Cunningham has left the champions.

Lost to his tribe in the Yagervan Plains, fear and shame have kept the former Mercenary Prince away from his homeland. With his confidence crumbling, he has decided to return and bring closure to his past. Reuniting with his old friends, Delvin’s timing could not be worse as a deadly campaign is brewing within Yagervan’s borders. Dawn Fangs are on the march and these powerful vampires are determined to turn the entire region into a graveyard.

To protect his family, friends, and two homelands, Delvin will have to push his doubt away and become the cunning Mercenary Prince once again.

Art by Jason Pedersen

Please feel free to put this on your ‘To Read’ list on Goodreads by clicking below:

The Mercenary Prince on Goodreads!

Excerpt from The Mercenary Prince

With the hint of a smirk, Selenia quickens her pace and unleashes a barrage of blows on her former student. Each strike and stab is deflected by the sweat-covered champion, his speed increasing to match her every time. At one point, the half-elf leaps forward and is struck in her stomach by his shield, which forces her to flip over his head. The headmistress lands in a crouch and whirls around to block the counterattack, the point of Delvin’s sword gently running along the leather patch over her stomach. Realizing that he is still holding back, Selenia bats his next attack away and delivers a painful kick to his exposed side. The blow knocks him against the fountain and he comes dangerously close to falling into the water.

While rubbing his bruised side, Delvin circles the headmistress who turns to continue facing him. He makes a few feints that she refuses to acknowledge because they are clumsy and pathetically amateurish. The gathered students and teachers shout for more action, all of them believing the brown-haired warrior to be afraid of the legendary woman. None of them realize that his circles have been getting tighter and his fake attacks have caused Selenia to misjudge his distance. It is something she realizes when Delvin makes a quick swing for her hip and their weapons strike closer to their hilts than she expects. The moment the half-elf steps back to gain some space, her former student pushes forward with precise strikes that mirror the onslaught she previously unleashed. Without a shield, the headmistress finds it more difficult to block every attack and has to twist her body away from several attacks. The movements prevent her from throwing a kick or punch, which would probably hit the shield that he has yet to include in his advance.

Selenia eventually catches Delvin’s blade and slides her weapon along its edge to step within his swinging range. The pair push against each other, their muscles straining to gain the upper hand. Every time one of them is about to gain ground, their opponent shifts enough to continue the frustrating stalemate. With a grunt of exertion, Delvin moves his shield in front of the headmistress’s face and blocks her view. Knowing she is expecting him to push forward, the warrior falls onto his back and lets the surprised half-elf’s momentum slam her face into the wooden disc. The back of his head bounces off the ground as he flicks his wrist to deliver an extra shot to Selenia’s chin. She rolls away from him to recover her senses, but Delvin scrambles to keep her in reach and continue his attack as they stand.

“You actually hit me,” Selenia states when she notices that her nose is bleeding. She ducks under her opponent’s swing and aims her hilt for his stomach, the blow only grazing his shirt. “I think you’ve achieved two firsts for this academy, Delvin. Nobody has ever drawn my blood or made me dizzy during a match.”

Want to Dive into the Adventure from the Beginning?

Collage by Chris the Storyreading Ape

Find all of these exciting adventures by visiting the Amazon Author Page of Charles E. Yallowitz

So charge up your Kindle and end 2015 with an adventure full of action, humor, old friends, new enemies, grudge matches, tears, ale, and vampires.

About the Author:

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you, and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.

Blog: Legends of Windemere
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com

Posted in Author Spotlights, Uncategorized | Tagged amazon, authors, casters, Charles E Yallowitz, dragons, dwarves, elves, epic fantasy, Fantasy, fantasy series, Fizzle, friendship, gnomes, Legends of Windemere, Luke Callindor, magic, mercenaries, new release, Nyx, Sari, self-published fantasy, self-published fantasy series, sword & sorcery, The Mercenary Prince, Timoran Wrath, Trinity, vampires, warriors, Windemere, wizards, Writing, young adult fantasy | 3 Comments

BATMAN: THE CITY OF OWLS

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Bookwraiths

batman the city of owls
Batman, Vol. 2: The City of Owls by Scott Snyder

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Batman, Vol. 2

Publisher: DC Comics (March 26, 2013)

Length: 208 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Not being a dedicated Batman fan, I have to admit being blown away when I finally got around to reading Batman: The Court of Owls. The story really captured everything I’ve always loved about the Dark Knight, gave him some top tier enemies, and showed Bruce struggling to survive. So when I finished volume 1 of the story line, I immediately went out and found a copy of volume 2.

After reading The City of Owls, all I can say is “Damn that was good!”

While the story is a traditional Batman tale in that there is mystery, fights, and sinister villains, what sets it apart as great is the new twists which Scott Synder weaves into the story. For instance, after volume one, a reader expected a pissed off Bats to go find and confront the Owls in Gotham City, but the way that epic scene developed was a huge surprise for me. And when an unexpected villain and his bizarre history showed up, a reader will be both surprised and intrigued as to who and what this person claims to be.

batman-city-of-owls-fight

And when all the fights are over and the Dark Knight has apparently triumphed, everything is wrapped up by Bruce and Dick having a heartfelt talk, where the “truth” is supposedly revealed and the two bury the hatchet and move on with their friendship. (I even liked that part of the story. Guess, my kids have turned me into a damn softy.)

As for the “Fall of the House of Wayne” issue, I have to say I thought it was very well done. Synder really reveals Bruce’s parents and their circumstance in a new light, and using Jarvis Pennyworth as the narrator was a great touch.

batman HouseOfWayne

“First Snow” was the only story which felt a bit weak to me, but even this origin story of Dr. Victor Fries was an interesting mix of past and present, which exposed a very important secret about one of the Dark Knights constant villains. Nope, it didn’t blow me away. For what it was though, it was decent enough.

batman mr. freeze

The art?

Well, it took me all of volume one to grow comfortable with Greg Capullo’s take on Batman, but now, I really like it. It just seems right.

As for Rafael Albuquerque’s art in “Fall of the House of Wayne”, it was perfect for the story. It had that old, ethereal quality which reminded one of an Edgar Allen Poe story, which was obviously what the creative team was going for in this one.

Jason Fabok’s art in “First Snow” was smooth. The uncluttered, whitewashed look of the flashbacks were especially well-done, and some of my favorite art in the collection. Have to say the scene with Batman and his flaming glove was especially badass. Loved that one.

All in all, I loved this collection. It apparently put the Owls story to rest . . . for the time being anyway, and it did so in great fashion. Highly recommend this one.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in 4 Stars, Batman, DC, Graphic Novels, The New 52 | Tagged Batman, Best Graphic Novels, DC Comics, scott synder, The City of Owls, The New 52 | 1 Comment

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (December 28, 2015)

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The Christmas rush and elation is over. Most everyone seemed happy with the holiday around my house, which is always nice. But all the last minute shopping, family visits, and lazy leisure time definitely put a major kink in my reading, so this week is catch up time.

The first book I’ll be finishing up this week is a great short story collection.

Road Brothers by Mark Lawrence

Genre: Fantasy – Grimdark

Series: The Broken Empire #3.5

Publisher: self-published (December 15, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 124 pages

10 short stories from the lives of Jorg and his Road Brothers. Contains spoilers for the Broken Empire trilogy. 5 of the stories have previously been published in anthologies, Contains the short story ‘Sleeping Beauty’ that is also sold separately. A total of 43.000 words or just over half the length of Prince of Thorns.

Praise for the book.

“What wonderful short stories that include characters from The Broken Empire series and The Red Queen’s War. They were each unique and offered insight into events that happened before or in between adventures we experience in the full-length novels. They do contain spoilers. My particular favorite was “The Nature of the Beast”, about Brother Rike. There’s a quote from it that really stood out and makes me remember the gut-grinding twist at the end of Emperor of Thorns. It’s a powerful piece of writing in a short story that matches the intensity of the novel. I highlighted it in my Kindle and made a note so it would be easy to find again. The note said, “Damn!!” I only meant to use one exclamation point, but hit the second by mistake and realized it was really worth keeping there.

Loved this. Thanks for sharing these incredible short stories in this volume, Mr. Lawrence!” – ARC

Purchase the book at Amazon.

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Path of Destruction by Drew Karpyshyn.

Genre: SciFi – Star Wars

Series: Darth Bane #1

Publisher: Del Rey Books (June 6, 2007)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 324 pages

Once the Sith order teemed with followers. But their rivalries divided them in endless battles for supremacy. Until one Dark Lord at last united the Sith in the quest to enslave the galaxy—and exterminate the Jedi. Yet it would fall to another, far more powerful than the entire Brotherhood of Darkness, to ultimately realize the full potential of the Sith and wield the awesome power of the dark side as never before.

Since childhood, Dessel has known only the abuse of his hateful father and the dangerous, soul-crushing labor of a cortosis miner. Deep in the tunnels of the desolate planet Apatros, endlessly excavating the rare mineral valued throughout the galaxy, Dessel dreams of the day he can escape—a day he fears may never come. But when a high-stakes card game ends in deadly violence, Dessel suddenly finds himself a wanted man.

On the run from vengeful Republic forces, Dessel vanishes into the ranks of the Sith army, and ships out to join the bloody war against the Republic and its Jedi champions. There, Dessel’s brutality, cunning, and exceptional command of the Force swiftly win him renown as a warrior. But in the eyes of his watchful masters, he is destined for a far greater role in the ultimate Sith plan for the galaxy—if he can prove himself truly worthy.

As an acolyte in the Sith academy, studying the secrets and skills of the dark side at the feet of its greatest masters, Dessel embraces his new Sith identity: Bane. However the true test is yet to come. In order to gain acceptance into the Brotherhood of Darkness one must fully surrender to the dark side through a trial by fire that Bane, for all his unquenchable fury and lust for power, may not be strong enough to endure . . . especially since deception, treachery, and murder run rampant among the Sith disciples, and utter ruthlessness alone is the key to survival. Only by defying the most sacred traditions, rejecting all he has been taught, and drawing upon the long-forgotten wisdom of the very first Sith can Bane hope to triumph–and forge from the ashes of that which he must destroy a new era of absolute dark power.

Praise for the book.

“In the latest Star Wars novel, Karpyshyn (Temple Hill) charts the evolution of an antihero almost as chilling as Darth Vader. “A thousand years before the Republic’s collapse and Emperor Palpatine’s rise to power,” Des, the young “Force”-gifted son of an abusive miner, wins big in a high stakes game with some Republic soldiers, but kills a sore loser. To avoid imprisonment, Des joins the Sith’s Brotherhood of Darkness that’s battling the Jedi’s Army of Light. Des becomes Lord Bane after his abilities earn him a place at the Sith Academy on the planet Korriban. Determined to excel, Bane secretly trains with the devious Githany, former Jedi turned Sith, but after she betrays him, he decides to fly solo and delve deeper into the Sith past. The intensity lets up on occasion, but on the whole the author delivers a solid space adventure sure to satisfy the Star Wars faithful.”

– Publishers Weekly

“The new Star Wars novel harks back to the oldest republic of them all, in which there are thousands of dark lords of the Sith. Darth Bane, one of the most powerful, foresees that internecine quarrels are going to destroy everyone, and with them, possibly, the knowledge for using the dark side of the Force. He promulgates the Rule of Two–rule by two Sith at a time–a master and a loyal apprentice. First master: Darth Bane. A high body count ensues, also a galaxy-shaking alteration in how adepts approach the Force.” – Booklist

Purchase the book at Amazon.

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And lastly, I am going to start and finish last weeks book: The Providence of Fire.

Posted in Funday Monday, Uncategorized | Tagged Brian Staveley, Drew Karpyshyn, Funday Monday, Mark Lawrence, Path of Destruction, Road Brothers, The Providence of Fire | 2 Comments

Step into Legends of Windemere with a #Kindle Countdown! #Christmas #fantasy

Posted on December 25, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Source: Step into Legends of Windemere with a #Kindle Countdown! #Christmas #fantasy

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

BLOGGER CHRISTMAS LIST

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Bookwraiths

wish+list

The most wonderful time of the year is . . . basically here! Wish I could say I’m all done with my real life gift purchases, but I’m not. A few remain out there waiting for me to discover them. But my traditional last day running around got me thinking: “What Christmas gift do I want as a blogger?”

Huh. I don’t know. A better theme? A custom theme perhaps? Cool graphics? More ARCs to read? More author interactions?

Then it hit me!

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY — CITY OF BLADES

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to let readers share their excitement for books coming out soon, and the novel I’m eagerly awaiting is the follow-up to City of Stairs.

City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett.

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Divine Cities #2

Publisher: Broadway Books (January 26, 2016)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 464 pages

The city of Voortyashtan was once the domain of the goddess of death, war, and destruction, but now it’s little more than a ruin. General Turyin Mulaghesh is called out of retirement and sent to this hellish place to try to find a Saypuri secret agent who’s gone missing in the middle of a mission, but the city of war offers countless threats: not only have the ghosts of her own past battles followed her here, but she soon finds herself wondering what happened to all the souls that were trapped in the afterlife when the Divinities vanished. Do the dead sleep soundly in the land of death? Or do they have plans of their own?

Praise for the novel.

“Astonishingly good… a deep, powerful novel that’s worth reading and rereading.”—Publishers Weekly (starred)

“Building beautifully upon the richly detailed world introduced in the first book of the series, Bennett serves a stew of fantasy and adventure with a healthy dose of humor and a ladle full of violence.”–Library Journal(starred)

“Richly detailed and expertly plotted. A grand entertainment.”—Kirkus

“Like the very best speculative fiction, City of Blades immerses readers in a made-up world, only to force us to take a harder look at the real one.”–Booklist

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Waiting on Wednesday | Tagged best fantasy series, City of Blades, ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT, The Divine Cities, Waiting on Wednesday | 2 Comments

TOP TEN TUESDAY

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Bookwraiths

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! This is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where a new top ten list hits the web every week!

This week our topic is . . .

“Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year”

10) WoT COMPANION

The Wheel of Time Companion sheds light on some of the most intriguing aspects of the world, including biographies and motivations of many characters that never made it into the books, but helped bring Jordan’s world to life.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

9) STAR WARS LEGACY

A legion of Sith have conquered what was left of the Empire, the Jedi have been purged-or fled into hiding-and the galaxy is divided. Meet Cade Skywalker, a bounty hunter who doesn’t want anything to do with the Jedi, his famous name, or his legacy . . . But his legacy is determined to follow him as the good guys and the bad guys begin to search for him-as a savior, and as a threat.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

8) MIGHTY THOR OMNIBUS

Considered by many to be the greatest run on Thor ever, Walt Simonson’s classic tales of the God of Thunder are collected here-completely remastered from the original artwork and newly colored by Steve Oliffe! And there are too many timeless tales to count: The Casket of Ancient Winters! The death of Odin! The origins of Asgard! The sacrifice of the Executioner! Thor as a frog! The Mutant Massacre! Collecting: Thor #337-355, #357-369, #371-382; Balder the Brave #1-4.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

7) THE BUILDERS

A missing eye.
A broken wing.
A stolen country.

The last job didn’t end well.

Years go by, and scars fade, but memories only fester. For the animals of the Captain’s company, survival has meant keeping a low profile, building a new life, and trying to forget the war they lost. But now the Captain’s whiskers are twitching at the idea of evening the score.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

6) THE KING’S JUSTICE

Two new, original novellas—Donaldson’s first publication since finishing the Thomas Covenant series—are a sure cause for celebration among his many fans.

In The King’s Justice, a stranger dressed in black arrives in the village of Settle’s Crossways, following the scent of a terrible crime. He even calls himself “Black,” though almost certainly that is not his name. The people of the village discover that they have a surprising urge to cooperate with this stranger, though the desire of inhabitants of quiet villages to cooperate with strangers is not common in their land, or most lands. But this gift will not save him as he discovers the nature of the evil concealed in Settle’s Crossways.

The “Augur’s Gambit” is a daring plan created by Mayhew Gordian, Hieronomer to the Queen of Indemnie, a plan to save his Queen and his country. Gordian is a reader of entrails. In the bodies of chickens, lambs, piglets, and one stillborn infant he sees the same message: the island nation of Indemnie is doomed. But even in the face of certain destruction a man may fight, and the Hieronomer is utterly loyal to his beautiful Queen–and to her only daughter. The “Augur’s Gambit” is his mad attempt to save a kingdom.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

5) THE DEATH OF DULGATH

Three times they tried to kill her. Then a professional was hired. So was Riyria.

When the last member of the oldest noble family in Avryn is targeted for assassination, Riyria is hired to foil the plot. Three years have passed since the war-weary mercenary Hadrian and the cynical ex-assassin Royce joined forces to start life as rogues-for-hire. Things have gone well enough until they’re asked to help prevent a murder. Now they must venture into an ancient corner of the world to save a mysterious woman who knows more about Royce than is safe and cares less about herself than is sane.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

4) A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS

Taking place nearly a century before the events of A Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms compiles the first three official prequel novellas to George R. R. Martin’s ongoing masterwork, A Song of Ice and Fire. These never-before-collected adventures recount an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living consciousness.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

3) THE AERONAUT’S WINDLASS

Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace.

Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship, Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy’s shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels. But when the Predator is severely damaged in combat, leaving captain and crew grounded, Grimm is offered a proposition from the Spirearch of Albion—to join a team of agents on a vital mission in exchange for fully restoring Predatorto its fighting glory.

And even as Grimm undertakes this dangerous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity’s ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake…

Purchase the book at Amazon.

2) GARDENS OF THE MOON

The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting, and bloody confrontations. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen’s rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.

But it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand….

Purchase the book at Amazon.

1) THE WAY OF KINGS

Speak again the ancient oaths,
Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.
and return to men the Shards they once bore.
The Knights Radiant must stand again.

Roshar is a world of stone swept by tempests that shape ecology and civilization. Animals and plants retract; cities are built in shelter. In centuries since ten orders of Knights fell, their Shardblade swords and Shardplate armor still transform men into near-invincible warriors. Wars are fought for them, and won by them.

In one such war on ruined Shattered Plains, slave Kaladin struggles to save his men and fathom leaders who deem them expendable, in senseless wars where ten armies fight separately against one foe.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Fascinated by ancient text The Way of Kings, troubled by visions of ancient times, he doubts his sanity.

Across the ocean, Shallan trains under eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece Jasnah. Though Shallan genuinely loves learning, she plans a daring theft. Her research hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday | Tagged Books I'd Like to get for xmas, Brandon Sanderson, GARDENS OF THE MOON, Jim Butcher, STEVEN ERIKSON, The Aeronaut's Windlash, The Way of Kings, Top Ten Tuesday | 13 Comments

FUN DAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (December 21, 2015)

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Bookwraiths

The work week begins. I quickly slip into my business suit and head back into the office to save a few innocent people. But while I try to fool myself into being excited about the grind, deep down, I’m not, so I’m going to escape dreary reality by reading some great books.

This week I’m starting the second book of a great series.

the providence of fire

The Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley.

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Series: Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne #1

Publisher: Tor Books (January 13, 2015)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 608 pages

The conspiracy to destroy the ruling family of the Annurian Empire is far from over.

Having learned the identity of her father’s assassin, Adare flees the Dawn Palace in search of allies to challenge the coup against her family. Few trust her, but when she is believed to be touched by Intarra, patron goddess of the empire, the people rally to help her retake the capital city. As armies prepare to clash, the threat of invasion from barbarian hordes compels the rival forces to unite against their common enemy.

Unknown to Adare, her brother Valyn, renegade member of the empire’s most elite fighting force, has allied with the invading nomads. The terrible choices each of them has made may make war between them inevitable.

Between Valyn and Adare is their brother Kaden, rightful heir to the Unhewn Throne, who has infiltrated the Annurian capital with the help of two strange companions. The knowledge they possess of the secret history that shapes these events could save Annur or destroy it.

Praise for the book.

“Brutal, intriguing and continuing to head toward exciting events and places unknown.”―Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Epic adventure that ratchets up the action and muddies the waters, all while completely throwing all expectations out the window….We can’t wait to see what happens next.”―io9

“Book Two finishes on a knife-edge and where it goes from here is anyone’s guess.”―Fantasy Faction

“It’s rare that a book comes along and blows my frigging mind. It’s even rarer when an author can pull this off not once, but twice. Brian Staveley pulled this off. Hard.”―Lit Chick Hit List

“Superbly written, sublimely enchanting, utterly engrossing, grabs-you-by-the-throat-and-refuses-to-let-go, and then you’re a shell of a person once you’re finished. Brian Staveley is not only an invaluable new voice to the epic fantasy genre, and the literary world at large, but he’s on his way to being one of the greats.”―The Book Geek

“… a stunning follow-up to The Emperor’s Blades …” ― Beauty in Ruins

Purchase the book at Amazon.

Posted in Funday Monday | Tagged best epic fantasy books, best epic fantasy series, Brian Staveley, Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne, Funday Monday, The Providence of Fire, Tor Books | 2 Comments

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS — INITIAL THOUGHTS

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Bookwraiths

I rarely review or comment on movies. It isn’t something I feel comfortable doing. Others are better critics of films, but after watching the opening showing of this movie with my three sons, I felt I needed to write down their comments during the movie and afterwards. (Please note all three of them begged to go see this movie.)

During the movie, my thirteen year kept asking, “Can we leave yet?”

During the movie my eleven year old kept saying, “This doesn’t make any sense, dad?”

During the movie, my nine year old asked, “Where is Anakin or Darth Vader? They were cool.”

During the movie, there were several times my sons burst out in laughter, then whispered to one another “That is so stupid!”

As we left the movie theater, my oldest two sons commented, “Disney ruined Star Wars. It sucks now.”

As we walked through the parking lot, my nine year old asked, “Dad, why was Finn always having to be rescued by the girl? I thought he was a soldier? Why is he such a wimp?”

As we strolled through the other groups leaving the theater, my oldest boys took up the chant, “Star Wars Sucks!” A chant which was joined in by most people leaving our theater.

As my kids waited patiently for me to open the car doors (my remote is broken), one of my sons said he didn’t realize Rey was the new and improved Chosen One who could fly the Millenium Falcon better than Han Solo and fight with a lightsaber better than Anakin Skywalker. (Both of which she could do without ever having piloted a ship before or ever having picked up a lightsaber.)

When we got home, all of my sons were asked by their mom (who is not a Star Wars fan) whether they liked the movie. They unanimously agreed that it was the worst movie they had seen in a long time, which was startling, because they never agree on anything.

But what about me you ask?

All I’m going to say is that I thought the prequel movies were bad, but now I can’t wait to pull them out and watch them again, because my plans to watch the new movie several times over the weekend are now cancelled.