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"That's impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?"
"The Regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station."
That exchange, from the original Star Wars film, pretty much sums up what would become known as the Tarkin Doctrine: that of rule by fear.
While there have been other Star Wars novels based on the other 'bad guys' (Vader, Boba Fett, etc), this is also the first - to the best of my knowledge - based on Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, as portrayed by Peter Cushing in the films, and the first Grand Moff of the Galactic Empire.
"Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances ..."
While it may not be apparent in the film - particulary when he utters that line seconds before the Death Star is blown up - this also makes him out ot be a strategic mastermind - it is he who oversaw the construction of the Death Star, and he who (in this) works out the identites of those who have stolen his starship that is now cayying out strikes agaisnt Imperial installations, the pursuit of which is the main driving force of the plot behind this novel.
This also goes to show how Vader came to work with Tarkin on board the Death Star, and the defining events of Tarkins earlier life that would go to shape the character he would become.
With all that said, however, the writing style did - at times - put me off, with the novel never really getting me hooked into just what would ahppen next - we all know, for example, that he would survive and not only survive, but prosper by the end of it! It's also not the worst Star Wars book, nor even the worst of the 'New Canon' such books I've read, but nor was it the best - a solid middle-of-the-road entry for me.
"The Regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station."
That exchange, from the original Star Wars film, pretty much sums up what would become known as the Tarkin Doctrine: that of rule by fear.
While there have been other Star Wars novels based on the other 'bad guys' (Vader, Boba Fett, etc), this is also the first - to the best of my knowledge - based on Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, as portrayed by Peter Cushing in the films, and the first Grand Moff of the Galactic Empire.
"Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances ..."
While it may not be apparent in the film - particulary when he utters that line seconds before the Death Star is blown up - this also makes him out ot be a strategic mastermind - it is he who oversaw the construction of the Death Star, and he who (in this) works out the identites of those who have stolen his starship that is now cayying out strikes agaisnt Imperial installations, the pursuit of which is the main driving force of the plot behind this novel.
This also goes to show how Vader came to work with Tarkin on board the Death Star, and the defining events of Tarkins earlier life that would go to shape the character he would become.
With all that said, however, the writing style did - at times - put me off, with the novel never really getting me hooked into just what would ahppen next - we all know, for example, that he would survive and not only survive, but prosper by the end of it! It's also not the worst Star Wars book, nor even the worst of the 'New Canon' such books I've read, but nor was it the best - a solid middle-of-the-road entry for me.
Merissa (12723 KP) rated Rain (A Stranger in the Woods, #1) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Rain is the first book in the A Stranger in the Woods series, and it starts off with a bang. Rose is looking after her younger siblings as her mother struggles to live. There is a plague that has decimated her village, it has already claimed her father, and numerous friends. The person who has been there for Rose throughout is Gunner. They have been best friends for years, but Gunner thinks that he wants to take it further. Everyone else is expecting it, but when it does happen, it's not as Rose imagined. Whilst this is going on, we meet Ryder, a Guardian, who is instantly attracted to Rose for reasons he doesn't really comprehend. Only time will tell how these three will work things out.
Now, where do I start? This story is fresh and original, it is compelling, it is heartbreaking, it is hopeful. India R. Adams has a way of writing that draws you in, that makes you want to read more, even at stupid o'clock! I will admit to be slightly worried at the start as love triangles aren't really my thing, but how this story was told... well, it all just makes sense! I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. Of course, I mean that generally as there are parts that had me sobbing. With feisty families, fabulous friends, gorgeous Guardians, and more 'bad guys' than you can shake a stick at, there is something here for everyone.
This book was extremely well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow. I really can't recommend it highly enough, if you are looking for a fresh paranormal/fantasy romance. Absolutely brilliant! Also, have you SEEN that cover? Simply stunning, I love it!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Now, where do I start? This story is fresh and original, it is compelling, it is heartbreaking, it is hopeful. India R. Adams has a way of writing that draws you in, that makes you want to read more, even at stupid o'clock! I will admit to be slightly worried at the start as love triangles aren't really my thing, but how this story was told... well, it all just makes sense! I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. Of course, I mean that generally as there are parts that had me sobbing. With feisty families, fabulous friends, gorgeous Guardians, and more 'bad guys' than you can shake a stick at, there is something here for everyone.
This book was extremely well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow. I really can't recommend it highly enough, if you are looking for a fresh paranormal/fantasy romance. Absolutely brilliant! Also, have you SEEN that cover? Simply stunning, I love it!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Weed Firm: RePlanted
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Weed Firm: RePlanted. The Vicious and Lawless Career of Mr. Ted Growing The updated version of the...
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Villains (2019) in Movies
Mar 10, 2021
This one struck a chord with me, and hit all the right notes along the way.
Villains is a witty, often funny, often dark thriller, with a sprinkling of horror for good measure. It's beautifully shot from start to finish and has fantastic performances all round from its small cast. Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe are extremely likeable "protagonists", as two amateur crooks on the run after robbing a gas station hoping to gather enough cash to start a new life together. The chemistry between the two of them is wonderful. When they run out of fuel during their getaway, they break into a nearby house in an attempt to either siphon some gas, or straight up steal a car but are quickly embroiled in a life or death situation when the homeowners return, two people who aren't quite as they seem. Jeffrey Donovan and Kyra Sedgwick are just as great as the two homeowners, both playing up their parts with villanous glee. Donovan's character may just be one of the most likable "bad guys" in recent history.
What follows is an incredibly entertaining and suspenseful film, with a few shocks and the odd splash of violence. The screenplay is brilliant, the pacing is perfect, and the music score is beautiful.
Underneath all of the craziness though, is a story I found to be incredibly sad. None of these people are perfect, some worse than others, but even the worst of the bunch aren't completely awful. These characters are well fleshed out, and are easy to sympathise with. This ensures some well earned emotional moments that really land and the cast are just fantastic sharing the screen together.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Villains but it really got me. I can safely say it's one of my favourites of 2019, which is something considering how many excellent movies there were that year.
Villains is a witty, often funny, often dark thriller, with a sprinkling of horror for good measure. It's beautifully shot from start to finish and has fantastic performances all round from its small cast. Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe are extremely likeable "protagonists", as two amateur crooks on the run after robbing a gas station hoping to gather enough cash to start a new life together. The chemistry between the two of them is wonderful. When they run out of fuel during their getaway, they break into a nearby house in an attempt to either siphon some gas, or straight up steal a car but are quickly embroiled in a life or death situation when the homeowners return, two people who aren't quite as they seem. Jeffrey Donovan and Kyra Sedgwick are just as great as the two homeowners, both playing up their parts with villanous glee. Donovan's character may just be one of the most likable "bad guys" in recent history.
What follows is an incredibly entertaining and suspenseful film, with a few shocks and the odd splash of violence. The screenplay is brilliant, the pacing is perfect, and the music score is beautiful.
Underneath all of the craziness though, is a story I found to be incredibly sad. None of these people are perfect, some worse than others, but even the worst of the bunch aren't completely awful. These characters are well fleshed out, and are easy to sympathise with. This ensures some well earned emotional moments that really land and the cast are just fantastic sharing the screen together.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Villains but it really got me. I can safely say it's one of my favourites of 2019, which is something considering how many excellent movies there were that year.
Kelly Knows (95 KP) rated Ready Player One (2018) in Movies
Jun 27, 2019
Press Start to Join The Rebellion
A truly excellent movie for the whole family to enjoy. Ready Player One has all of the elements required for a movie to truly excel in the telling of its story. The action is epic, the heroes are cool, and oh boy the fun and laughs you'll have along the way. The voice acting cast was well handled, but is probably the main reason I did not give this one full points. The studio could have gotten higher level actors to sell the more emotional plot points. Olivia Cooke and Tye Sheridan still do a masterful job with their roles, but some lines were delivered with a Spy Kids level of corniness. In truth, you have to hunt for flaws in this movie as if they were easter eggs themselves. Parzival, and the rest of the hunters on the quest, weave a beautiful tapestry of tropes that blends modern gaming escapism with social revolution. Not all the characters are super deep, nor do they have to be. You will find yourself cheering for the good guys, and jeering the bad. That's the beauty of this movie. It is a perfect chance to enjoy a thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and world domination, without having to buckle in for an Oscar level drama. The best of this movie however, and the reason I would ultimately recommend it to just about anyone is the sheer beauty and power of the visual effects, and the warm nostalgia that permeates every aspect of the plot. Pop culture references that are sure to make you grin are peppered throughout as the story unfolds. Any gamer, movie buff, rebel at heart, or really just about anyone who has ever had any kind of electronic fun since the 60s will find a note in the proverbial song meant just for them. Get your game face on, this is a good one.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Monster Trucks (2016) in Movies
Jul 12, 2019
It’s safe to say that movies nowadays are either remakes of beloved classic movies, based off a book, or are a sequel. Original ideas and story lines are few and far between. When I first heard about this so-called movie Monster Trucks, I thought it was going to be about those hug trucks you see at Monster Jam shows driving over cars with their loud engines entertaining crowds. This film is far from anything of the sort. It’s based off the idea from a 4 year old about monster trucks actually having monsters in the trucks.
Set in a small oil drilling town in North Dakota, Tripp (Lucas Till), a troubled high school student, befriends an extraterrestrial squid-like creature that takes up residence in the hood of Tripp’s truck. After an accident occurs at a nearby drilling site displacing this creature, it doesn’t take long for the oil company to realize if they don’t locate this creature, they will have to cease drilling which affects their bottom line. With the help of his friend Meredith (Jane Levy), Tripp realizes he must take his new friend back to his home before the villainous oil company CEO ( Rob Lowe) catches them.
If you take the movie for what it is: trucks, monsters, friends, and good guy/bad guys-it’s an entertaining film with some great laugh out loud moments that also attempts to tug at the heartstrings from a pair of unlikely friends. Dig deeper and try to analyze every piece of the movie, you’ll only see the outlandish, unrealistic, and far fetch concept with underdeveloped character relationships. All in all, I enjoyed the film. The friendship between Tripp and the creature he named Creech was similar to that of Elliott and E.T. with less drama. It brought me back to my childhood. It taught my son the meaning of friendship, sacrifice, and loyalty.
Set in a small oil drilling town in North Dakota, Tripp (Lucas Till), a troubled high school student, befriends an extraterrestrial squid-like creature that takes up residence in the hood of Tripp’s truck. After an accident occurs at a nearby drilling site displacing this creature, it doesn’t take long for the oil company to realize if they don’t locate this creature, they will have to cease drilling which affects their bottom line. With the help of his friend Meredith (Jane Levy), Tripp realizes he must take his new friend back to his home before the villainous oil company CEO ( Rob Lowe) catches them.
If you take the movie for what it is: trucks, monsters, friends, and good guy/bad guys-it’s an entertaining film with some great laugh out loud moments that also attempts to tug at the heartstrings from a pair of unlikely friends. Dig deeper and try to analyze every piece of the movie, you’ll only see the outlandish, unrealistic, and far fetch concept with underdeveloped character relationships. All in all, I enjoyed the film. The friendship between Tripp and the creature he named Creech was similar to that of Elliott and E.T. with less drama. It brought me back to my childhood. It taught my son the meaning of friendship, sacrifice, and loyalty.
LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes
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Merissa (12723 KP) rated The Herlequin (Pitch & Sickle #6) in Books
May 1, 2023
THE HERLEQUIN is the sixth out of eight in the Pitch & Sickle series and I honestly fall for these guys more with each story. You need to read it as a series, otherwise, it just won't make sense and you'll be missing out.
They have to leave Bess' Sanctuary and race across country to try to evade the big bad. Of course, things are not that easy, and to read it made me feel exhausted! Pitch and Sickle are so much stronger when they are together but circumstances don't always allow for what you want. I love how their relationship has changed from the beginning and how, even when things are dire, they grab every moment they can - even if all they get up to is spending the night in each other's arms. There are sexy moments but only where they should be and fitting with the story.
Speaking of the story, one thing that has stood out to me from the beginning is the care and research this author has done into local legends, before weaving them into her own world. I loved how Black Annis was brought into Book 1, and this time we have Sherwood Forest. I'll let you guess the myth because you won't guess how it works in this world. I was amazed and loved it.
This is a dark series, with this one no exception. My eyes were full of tears on more than one occasion - which I loved because it meant I was completely immersed in the story and with the characters.
My only complaint is I've got to wait for the seventh book to come out! I can't wait until they are all released and I can buy them and have them sitting pretty on my bookshelf! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 1, 2023
They have to leave Bess' Sanctuary and race across country to try to evade the big bad. Of course, things are not that easy, and to read it made me feel exhausted! Pitch and Sickle are so much stronger when they are together but circumstances don't always allow for what you want. I love how their relationship has changed from the beginning and how, even when things are dire, they grab every moment they can - even if all they get up to is spending the night in each other's arms. There are sexy moments but only where they should be and fitting with the story.
Speaking of the story, one thing that has stood out to me from the beginning is the care and research this author has done into local legends, before weaving them into her own world. I loved how Black Annis was brought into Book 1, and this time we have Sherwood Forest. I'll let you guess the myth because you won't guess how it works in this world. I was amazed and loved it.
This is a dark series, with this one no exception. My eyes were full of tears on more than one occasion - which I loved because it meant I was completely immersed in the story and with the characters.
My only complaint is I've got to wait for the seventh book to come out! I can't wait until they are all released and I can buy them and have them sitting pretty on my bookshelf! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 1, 2023
Merissa (12723 KP) rated Dark Flame (Flame Born #1) in Books
Feb 8, 2021 (Updated Aug 7, 2023)
WHAT. A. BOOK!!! Dark Flame is the first book in the Flame Born series and I read it in one sitting, staying up waaaay past my bedtime because I simply could not put it down!
It's dark, it's twisted, you have no idea for sure just who is 'good' and who is 'bad', there is more intrigue than you can shake a stick at, AND I LOVED EVERY WORD!
Michael is a brilliant character. He thinks he's straight, but his girlfriend has just left him. Things are weird around him, and about to get stranger. Flanagan has a whole Viking vibe going on (which I definitely won't complain about), but some of the guys he works with are... less than pure, let's just put it that way. In fairness, that just made it even better. As for Alexei, wow, he's hot. I also don't trust him as far as I could throw him!
This was an amazing start to a series. You get all the world- and character-building you could wish for, whilst being carried away on a story that shows you there is more to this world than most know about.
I eventually went to bed, re-read the ending as soon as I woke up, and after that, I went straight to Kat Silver's website so I could read the bonus about Michael and Flanagan, but I couldn't find it! Trust me, I'm going to keep on looking until I do.
I loved this book, I can't wait for book 2, and you really need to read it! I can't believe this is her debut novel! Absolutely and utterly recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 8, 2021
It's dark, it's twisted, you have no idea for sure just who is 'good' and who is 'bad', there is more intrigue than you can shake a stick at, AND I LOVED EVERY WORD!
Michael is a brilliant character. He thinks he's straight, but his girlfriend has just left him. Things are weird around him, and about to get stranger. Flanagan has a whole Viking vibe going on (which I definitely won't complain about), but some of the guys he works with are... less than pure, let's just put it that way. In fairness, that just made it even better. As for Alexei, wow, he's hot. I also don't trust him as far as I could throw him!
This was an amazing start to a series. You get all the world- and character-building you could wish for, whilst being carried away on a story that shows you there is more to this world than most know about.
I eventually went to bed, re-read the ending as soon as I woke up, and after that, I went straight to Kat Silver's website so I could read the bonus about Michael and Flanagan, but I couldn't find it! Trust me, I'm going to keep on looking until I do.
I loved this book, I can't wait for book 2, and you really need to read it! I can't believe this is her debut novel! Absolutely and utterly recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 8, 2021
Mandy and G.D. Burkhead (26 KP) rated Flightless Falcon in Books
May 20, 2018
Shelf Life – Flightless Falcon Still Glides Pretty Well
Flightless Falcon is a light DAW fantasy by Mickey Zucker Reichert that first came out in paperback in July of 2001. Set in your typical fantasy land – lightly coated in magic but sans any fantastical creatures such as dragons, elves, dwarves, and the like – it follows the sad, luckless exploits of an ex-miner named Tamison made useless after a cave in kills his father and brother and leaves him trapped deep in the mine for a few days.
Afterwards, with a debilitating fear of both the dark and being underground, he’s unable to continue as a miner, yet too unskilled to get any other job. As such, he and his family live in dirt poverty for a decade or so until he finally decides to try stealing what they need instead of earning the money to buy it. Unfortunately he’s just as horrible at this as anything else he tries and ends up in jail for two years.
When he finally gets out, his family’s disappeared, so he adopts a stray dog and lives on the streets for a while. Then one day a guard finds him and tells him, “Hey, I know where your family is, and it’s bad, man, we should go save ’em.” So Tamison saves a fortune teller from some different guards, just for good measure, and the three of them go off to get his family back.
The plot evolves from there – I won’t go into much greater detail because I don’t want to give anything away. And while it’s an entertaining read, it does have its share of snags, though not often or strong enough to derail the overall experience. Still, might was well talk about ’em.
The majority of these moments occur due to the protagonist himself; Tamison’s constant suffering and depression and worthlessness gets a bit irritating after a while (and not a very long while). But you do end up genuinely sympathizing with him, at least for the most part – his self-pitying and constant sobbing are offset, personality-wise, by his intense love and devotion to his family’s welfare (though apparently it still isn’t strong enough for him to suck up his phobia and go back to working in the mines). The end result is a character that, while whiny enough that you want to reach into the pages and smack him, is still believable. The fact that a lot of his misfortune is brought on by bad luck and the overwhelming apathy of the world around him, instead of just his own sad uselessness, also helps save what might have been an otherwise excruciatingly sad-sack protagonist.
But ignore what Miss Reichert and the back cover of the book say – the real star of this story isn’t Tamison, the guard (Dallan), or the fortune teller (Rifkah). It’s the weasely bastard of a con man that Tamison can’t stop running into, the aptly-named Con. This guy’s selfish lack of a moral compass and unwillingness to sugarcoat anything for anyone is a breath of fresh air amidst the hopeful optimism and general boyscout do-goodery of the rest of the starring party, and his quick wit and blunt, sarcastic dialogue are at once impressive and entertaining to read in the circumstances. His back story’s also far more interesting than anything Tamison, Dallan, and Rifkah can come up with.
The story itself also grows past a simple “save some good guys from some bad guys” fetch quest to envelope a degree of political intrigue, subterfuge, loyalty dilemmas, and good ol’ fashion backstabbery. I won’t say anything more past the obvious (there’s a twist, you know there’s gonna be a twist, there’s always a twist) other than to say that the generic good-guy-bad-guy feeling the book’s own synopsis offers slips slowly into a more realistic, more satisfying realm of uncertain grayness that accompanies all conflicts between the world’s two rival governments, the one Tamison belongs to and the one he’s told is harboring his missing family.
Basically, each time you think this book is going to march the plot or one of the characters into Generic Land (and you will occasionally think this multiple times), the direction skews off at the last moment to surprise you. The result is that you end up reading the book in two minds: one for soaking up the story and being entertained, and one with a critical eye turned always on the author’s style, to see where it threatens to stray into unimpressiveness and how it keeps saving itself.
But don’t focus overly much on my criticisms – that’s just how I’ve been trained to talk about good writing, to search for the roughest spots and pick at them in order to see how the whole thing might be polished even more. The reason this book is so easy to criticize is because its weak spots are few and manageable and therefor easy to cover and be done with in the length of a blog post. The overall impression I came away with is still one of a fun, thoughtful, imaginative tale, at times suspenseful, at times moving, and always deeply visual. I didn’t mention the detailed visual descriptions did I? Oh well, I just did. Now you know they’re there.
It’s not going to turn into the next blockbuster fantasy franchise, but if you find it in your used book store, there are less-enjoyable ways to spend your reading time. I recommend Flightless Falcon to anyone who enjoys well-written, character-driven fantasy and doesn’t need it to last through a dozen sequels.
Afterwards, with a debilitating fear of both the dark and being underground, he’s unable to continue as a miner, yet too unskilled to get any other job. As such, he and his family live in dirt poverty for a decade or so until he finally decides to try stealing what they need instead of earning the money to buy it. Unfortunately he’s just as horrible at this as anything else he tries and ends up in jail for two years.
When he finally gets out, his family’s disappeared, so he adopts a stray dog and lives on the streets for a while. Then one day a guard finds him and tells him, “Hey, I know where your family is, and it’s bad, man, we should go save ’em.” So Tamison saves a fortune teller from some different guards, just for good measure, and the three of them go off to get his family back.
The plot evolves from there – I won’t go into much greater detail because I don’t want to give anything away. And while it’s an entertaining read, it does have its share of snags, though not often or strong enough to derail the overall experience. Still, might was well talk about ’em.
The majority of these moments occur due to the protagonist himself; Tamison’s constant suffering and depression and worthlessness gets a bit irritating after a while (and not a very long while). But you do end up genuinely sympathizing with him, at least for the most part – his self-pitying and constant sobbing are offset, personality-wise, by his intense love and devotion to his family’s welfare (though apparently it still isn’t strong enough for him to suck up his phobia and go back to working in the mines). The end result is a character that, while whiny enough that you want to reach into the pages and smack him, is still believable. The fact that a lot of his misfortune is brought on by bad luck and the overwhelming apathy of the world around him, instead of just his own sad uselessness, also helps save what might have been an otherwise excruciatingly sad-sack protagonist.
But ignore what Miss Reichert and the back cover of the book say – the real star of this story isn’t Tamison, the guard (Dallan), or the fortune teller (Rifkah). It’s the weasely bastard of a con man that Tamison can’t stop running into, the aptly-named Con. This guy’s selfish lack of a moral compass and unwillingness to sugarcoat anything for anyone is a breath of fresh air amidst the hopeful optimism and general boyscout do-goodery of the rest of the starring party, and his quick wit and blunt, sarcastic dialogue are at once impressive and entertaining to read in the circumstances. His back story’s also far more interesting than anything Tamison, Dallan, and Rifkah can come up with.
The story itself also grows past a simple “save some good guys from some bad guys” fetch quest to envelope a degree of political intrigue, subterfuge, loyalty dilemmas, and good ol’ fashion backstabbery. I won’t say anything more past the obvious (there’s a twist, you know there’s gonna be a twist, there’s always a twist) other than to say that the generic good-guy-bad-guy feeling the book’s own synopsis offers slips slowly into a more realistic, more satisfying realm of uncertain grayness that accompanies all conflicts between the world’s two rival governments, the one Tamison belongs to and the one he’s told is harboring his missing family.
Basically, each time you think this book is going to march the plot or one of the characters into Generic Land (and you will occasionally think this multiple times), the direction skews off at the last moment to surprise you. The result is that you end up reading the book in two minds: one for soaking up the story and being entertained, and one with a critical eye turned always on the author’s style, to see where it threatens to stray into unimpressiveness and how it keeps saving itself.
But don’t focus overly much on my criticisms – that’s just how I’ve been trained to talk about good writing, to search for the roughest spots and pick at them in order to see how the whole thing might be polished even more. The reason this book is so easy to criticize is because its weak spots are few and manageable and therefor easy to cover and be done with in the length of a blog post. The overall impression I came away with is still one of a fun, thoughtful, imaginative tale, at times suspenseful, at times moving, and always deeply visual. I didn’t mention the detailed visual descriptions did I? Oh well, I just did. Now you know they’re there.
It’s not going to turn into the next blockbuster fantasy franchise, but if you find it in your used book store, there are less-enjoyable ways to spend your reading time. I recommend Flightless Falcon to anyone who enjoys well-written, character-driven fantasy and doesn’t need it to last through a dozen sequels.