Tag Archives: Book Review

Hit and Miss

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Target Rich Environment

Target Rich Environment by Larry Correia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I enjoy reading Mr. Corriea’s work. There were a couple of stories in here that I’d read before, but reading them again was not necessarily bad. It was fast, light and generally what I was looking for.

I enjoyed the concept of the insurance story that was the last in the collection, but putting in so many personal jabs at particular political stances detracted from the story.

Decent. Looking forward to more monster hunter stuff should it come out in the future.



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Bingo

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Bingo Love

Bingo Love by Tee Franklin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Read this on loan from a friend. This was something I would not have normally found. Part of the reason I enjoy things like the read harder challenge is finding things that don’t fit my ‘normal’ reading patterns.

I enjoyed this. It was a nice story. I’m super glad there was a positive message and a positive message in here.

I’m not a fan of ‘come to the pay web site to get more story’ bits built into the comic panels, but creators need to make money. It didn’t detract too much, but it did detract for me.

Overall – worth the read.



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Grim

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A Grim Detail: Destination Documentation and Multi-Continental Self Examination 2009-2010

A Grim Detail: Destination Documentation and Multi-Continental Self Examination 2009-2010 by Henry Rollins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is actually more of a 3.5 stars than a flat 3. I’ve seen Mr. Rollins perform his spoken word tour a couple of times now. I like his way of telling a story. I got this book at one of those shows and he was kind enough to sign it for me.

I dove into this hoping it was going to be like reading a story in his voice. That was NOT the case at all. This book was a list. An exhaustive, extensive and might I add LONG list of names, dates, places and music.

I forged my way through this book in much the same way I feel that Mr. Rollins seems to charge into whatever he’s working on. It’s work. It’s about moving forward. There’s always anger and repetitive things. I fell into this rhythm of going along with whatever mood he was writing about and just moving from entry to entry with no goal and no answers. Perhaps that is what he was going for? I’m not sure. It’s a long book that essentially describes that he travels, he listens to music, he is angry, he takes pictures, he walks the streets whenever and wherever he can and is a ferocious workaholic.

There are tidbits of good stuff in this book, but his spoken word is sincerely much better. I was hoping for a conclusion, a summary of some kind but I didn’t get it. I will close this review with the same words he closed the book with. Fuck it.



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City of Brass

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The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1)

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I put this book into the same category as Throne of the Crescent Moon. It is not a medieval fantasy from the Euro-centric place that it normally comes from. The middle eastern setting is excellent. I very much enjoyed the characters, the setting and the action of the story.

I knew this was a series. The story has an end point in this book, but it is not a happy ending. In fact it’s quite the opposite of a happy ending. The story has reached a stopping point, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to go for more. The book did not do the heinous crime of just stopping in the middle, but it didn’t wrap up in a way that made me think, “hey I need to dive directly in for more…” We’ll see if I to to the next one or not later.

I wanted to read this on my own, but it is also a book club selection. I look forward to the discussion.



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Epistolary… I had to look it up too.

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Griffin and Sabine (Griffin & Sabine #1)

Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am working my way through the “Read Harder” list for this year and one of the tasks is “A epistolary novel or collection of letters”. I hadn’t given it much thought when I happened to remember seeing this book many years ago. I immediately went back searched down a copy. I remembered being very into the book, but did not remember much more about it.

Now that I have had the chance to read this again I remember all the bits that made it memorable. This is a one sitting book. Partially because it is not long. Partially because you’ll just keep wanting to find out more.

It is very art heavy ~ that is part of what made it so memorable to me. I could picture it in my mind’s eye even when I couldn’t remember anything else about it.

Worth reading. IF you’re going out there to find a used one, be sure (if you can) that the letters folded up inside (and part of the story) are still there.

Now I need to decide if I want to read the others. There was no ‘series’ when I first found this book. I’m uncertain if I want more or if I want it to stay just as it is…



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Armored Saint

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The Armored Saint (The Sacred Throne, #1)

The Armored Saint by Myke Cole

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Disclaimer land: I have a bias. Know this up front. I didn’t get the book for free or anything like that, but there is a personal connection here. Go and buy Myke’s works. All of them. Even the ones I told you I don’t like. Don’t believe me, what the hell do I know? – go see for yourself. Make sure the author gets paid.

Armored Saint is by far my favorite of Myke’s work. I don’t know what made him desire to write this character from this point of view but it is really well done. I absolutely believe the people in this book. The characters grow and interact and have reactions that I understand. Heloise is real and fantastic.

The world building is evident without being over the top. The things people do and how they act, including religion, are based in a coherent place. This is actually important to the story and brought about an event that I really didn’t expect. It was refreshing to be able to say “didn’t see that coming” and really mean it.

The one thing that bothered me about the entire book was the end. It just seemed so abrupt. I was ready for the story to start… and then we were done. I did the only sensible thing and went out and bought the next one and that’s rare for me.

The author was also kind enough to answer my question about that ending. Check out his interview over at Watch The Skies.

When you’re done with the interview – go read his book!


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Anticipated Reading

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There aren’t many books that I’ve gone gaga over. Ready Player One is among the few that I have been really taken with. I’m glad it is a stand alone book. I’m anxious that the movie can’t possibly live up to the hype it will be greeted with (even if they manage to get the rights to all the stuff they need – and I doubt that will ever happen).

Now there’s another book coming out from the same author. I’ve taken a peek at the first chapter and there is hope for another book that will drag me in and push me along on another amazing ride.

Check out the first chapter here.

I don’t have tons of reviews up, but you can check out other books I’ve read if you track me down on Goodreads or see what I’ve got posted over at MilSciFi.com.