Search
Search results
Edward Thomas: The Last Four Years
Book
Eleanor Farjeon first met Edward Thomas in the late autumn of 1912, when her brother invited him to...
Ross (3282 KP) rated Where Gods Fear to Go in Books
Apr 15, 2020
Excellent end to a wonderful trilogy
The third and final book in the surprising West of West trilogy continues following the Wootah Viking clan and the former Calnian Owsla alchemically enhanced warriors on their mission to save the world. The secrets behind the unknown threat in the far West of what will become North America is gradually revealed as they approach and meet various clans and tribes on the periphery of the Meadows. The group meet more unusual and dangerous creatures, and some surprising new friends.
There are some shock twists spread throughout the book, a number of unexpected deaths, some long-anticipated ones and some excellent character interaction,
My favourite aspect of these books has been the wonderful narration with such with and humour. The story is not a hostage to the humour but these are books that refuse to take themselves too seriously.
There are some brilliant thrilling set piece sequences in this book and while there was something of a dip around the halfway point it really kept my engagement and enjoyment up throughout.
Given the brutal covers these books really surprised me, being touching, funny (at times just plain daft) and highly original. If ever the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" was to apply to a specific series it is this one. Fans of epic fantasy will love the story, fans of Pratchett and Abercrombie will love the wit and dialogue.
There are some shock twists spread throughout the book, a number of unexpected deaths, some long-anticipated ones and some excellent character interaction,
My favourite aspect of these books has been the wonderful narration with such with and humour. The story is not a hostage to the humour but these are books that refuse to take themselves too seriously.
There are some brilliant thrilling set piece sequences in this book and while there was something of a dip around the halfway point it really kept my engagement and enjoyment up throughout.
Given the brutal covers these books really surprised me, being touching, funny (at times just plain daft) and highly original. If ever the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" was to apply to a specific series it is this one. Fans of epic fantasy will love the story, fans of Pratchett and Abercrombie will love the wit and dialogue.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Tiger Warrior (Jack Howard #4) in Books
Nov 26, 2019
The Tiger Warrior follows archaeologist and adventurer Jack Howard as he follows a tantalising clue that perhaps some escaped Roman legionaries had found themselves pitched against the bodyguard of the First Emperor of China and one had taken refuge in the jungles of India.
This might sound far-fetched but Gibbins knows his archaeology and comes up with a plausible (if tenuous) story to make this work. The story is then taken up at the end of the 19th century in India when Howard's great great grandfather is part of the British Royal Engineers Corps trying to push roads - and hence British rule - into the jungle. He stumbles across an old temple that contains a secret.
The story roves around the the world showing us some incredible - but real - historic sites across Asia. Genuine books and records are quoted to back up the (modern day) Howard's quest to find out what happened - to both the Romans and his antecedant. Everything has very solid historical underpinnings with the more fantastic elements of the story cleverly weaved between them.
I did enjoy the book but it wasn't an unqualified success. There isn't really much menace, threat or drama in what happens to Jack Howard and his associates as they follow the past (told in a series of flashback chapters), uncovering clues one step at a time. Yes there are 'bad guys' but they seem quite ineffectual and the 'big boss' is in fact never seen at all but only mentioned in passing towards the end of the book. Judging by the notes from the author this is a very personal book - the character and story of Jack's ancestor in India is very much based on his own forebear - and this limits the scope for making the pieces fit into a pleasing whole.
That isn't to say I didn't enjoy reading it - as a subtle way of introducing surprising archaeological facts it works well (I didn't know that Ancient Rome traded with India but apparently so) and some of the set pieces are gripping to read. I will certainly be finding another Jack Howard book to read, but I suspect this was too personal a project for my first taste, which is s shame.
This might sound far-fetched but Gibbins knows his archaeology and comes up with a plausible (if tenuous) story to make this work. The story is then taken up at the end of the 19th century in India when Howard's great great grandfather is part of the British Royal Engineers Corps trying to push roads - and hence British rule - into the jungle. He stumbles across an old temple that contains a secret.
The story roves around the the world showing us some incredible - but real - historic sites across Asia. Genuine books and records are quoted to back up the (modern day) Howard's quest to find out what happened - to both the Romans and his antecedant. Everything has very solid historical underpinnings with the more fantastic elements of the story cleverly weaved between them.
I did enjoy the book but it wasn't an unqualified success. There isn't really much menace, threat or drama in what happens to Jack Howard and his associates as they follow the past (told in a series of flashback chapters), uncovering clues one step at a time. Yes there are 'bad guys' but they seem quite ineffectual and the 'big boss' is in fact never seen at all but only mentioned in passing towards the end of the book. Judging by the notes from the author this is a very personal book - the character and story of Jack's ancestor in India is very much based on his own forebear - and this limits the scope for making the pieces fit into a pleasing whole.
That isn't to say I didn't enjoy reading it - as a subtle way of introducing surprising archaeological facts it works well (I didn't know that Ancient Rome traded with India but apparently so) and some of the set pieces are gripping to read. I will certainly be finding another Jack Howard book to read, but I suspect this was too personal a project for my first taste, which is s shame.
Night Reader Reviews (683 KP) rated Testosterone in Books
Jan 9, 2020
Testosterone by Danough OBrien & Liz Cowley was a work very different from anything I have ever read before. While I did give it a lower review I believe that the topic makes it worth a read it its own right. The fact that one thing that seems so small could destroy our entire world is amazing, yet the events that happen is the book I believe to be true. There were a few little surprises during the book that a reader might miss if they are not fully paying attention. I will not be forgetting this book anytime soon and will be keeping an eye out for the movie that it deserves.
Multiple objects crash into Earth with no warning as they were undetectable by our radar, and land in various bodies of water. At the crash sites, there are no remains to be found except for a mist that covers the planet temporarily. When the mist clears it becomes apparent that something devastating has happened to all the mammals on the planet. The males no longer produce testosterone. This means no more sex drive in males, in fact, they no longer even have the ability to have sex. The worst part is that there is no more viable sperm.
The lack of testosterone in the males could mean the end of the human race as no more children can be born naturally. Then it is discovered that all of this was an alien attack meant to weaken the human population on the planet over time. In a last ditch effort to save the human race all the world leaders team up to create Havens. These Havens must be kept secret form most of the population and the alien drones watching the planet. While the outside world falls into turmoil as it ages with no young to replace those passing away. Selected people are still having children through artificial insemination and preparing for war with an unknown enemy in secret. How long can these secret Havens stay a secret and when will the attack come, if at all?
What I liked best was the subject matter itself. I have never encountered an end of the world book where aliens first attack humans on a biological level. The concept was refreshing. I did, however, find the book to be dry at times. Years passed during the story but the only way to tell was because the author directly states how much time passed. The story just did not move very well at all.
Target readers for this book are mature young adults and older. Topics of artificial insemination and infertility may make this book inappropriate for younger readers. The reading level itself is not that difficult. I rate this book 2 out of 4. While the concept and subject matter was different and interesting the way it was presented was not. This is one of the few times that I would like to see it as a movie because I believe a movie version would be better.
https://nightreaderreviews.blogspot.com/
Multiple objects crash into Earth with no warning as they were undetectable by our radar, and land in various bodies of water. At the crash sites, there are no remains to be found except for a mist that covers the planet temporarily. When the mist clears it becomes apparent that something devastating has happened to all the mammals on the planet. The males no longer produce testosterone. This means no more sex drive in males, in fact, they no longer even have the ability to have sex. The worst part is that there is no more viable sperm.
The lack of testosterone in the males could mean the end of the human race as no more children can be born naturally. Then it is discovered that all of this was an alien attack meant to weaken the human population on the planet over time. In a last ditch effort to save the human race all the world leaders team up to create Havens. These Havens must be kept secret form most of the population and the alien drones watching the planet. While the outside world falls into turmoil as it ages with no young to replace those passing away. Selected people are still having children through artificial insemination and preparing for war with an unknown enemy in secret. How long can these secret Havens stay a secret and when will the attack come, if at all?
What I liked best was the subject matter itself. I have never encountered an end of the world book where aliens first attack humans on a biological level. The concept was refreshing. I did, however, find the book to be dry at times. Years passed during the story but the only way to tell was because the author directly states how much time passed. The story just did not move very well at all.
Target readers for this book are mature young adults and older. Topics of artificial insemination and infertility may make this book inappropriate for younger readers. The reading level itself is not that difficult. I rate this book 2 out of 4. While the concept and subject matter was different and interesting the way it was presented was not. This is one of the few times that I would like to see it as a movie because I believe a movie version would be better.
https://nightreaderreviews.blogspot.com/
Markswoman: Asiana Book 1
Book
An order of magical-knife wielding female assassins brings both peace and chaos to their...
science fiction
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Small World in Tabletop Games
Aug 13, 2019
A neat thing about this hobby is getting in on all the hype of a soon-to-be-produced game. It’s exciting to follow the development, and neat to get sneak peeks and inside access to the production. But another awesome thing about this hobby is getting to discover a game long after it’s release, and still finding yourself excited about it. That’s what happened with me and Small World. That game is 10 years old at this point in time, but I was only introduced to it within the last year. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so when I saw it at a used game sale, I knew I had to have it.
The population of the world is growing, but unfortunately the world is running out of space. Many different races of creatures are vying for dominion over the land – conquering as many regions as possible to extend their empires. However, as every great civilization rises to power, it will also eventually fall and give way to a new empire. Which race can garner the most influence before it begins to fade away? And which race will be lying in wait, ready to capitalize on the vacancy left by its predecessor?
DISCLAIMER: There are several expansions for this game, but we do not have any at this time, so this review is concerning vanilla base game Small World. If we review any of the expansions in the future we will update this review or link to the new material here. -T
Small World is a game of area control/movement and variable player powers in which players are attempting to use their chosen races to gain control over as much territory as possible. Once your chosen race has reached its limit, you can push it into a decline and pick another race to start fresh and conquer more land. Each race is coupled with a different power that could give you added benefit when used. On a typical turn, you will place tiles representing your race onto the game board. If you want to conquer a territory that is already inhabited by an opponent, you must play a specified number of tiles that will subsequently drive the opposing race from the territory, leaving it available for you to claim. Once you have played all the tiles you wish to play, you can re-distribute your race tiles – perhaps moving more to a territory near an opponent so they will not be able to overtake you easily on their turn. To end your turn, you receive one Victory Coin for each region of the world that you occupy. When you decide that your chosen race is no longer earning you enough points, you may push it into a decline and select a new race (with its own race tiles) to start a new conquest. The game ends after a finite number of turns, and the player with the most Victory Coins is the winner.
One thing that I really love about Small World is the variability of the game. There are 14 different races available each game, as well as 20 different powers. And the neat thing about the powers is that they are not tied to a specific race. Each game could yield a different combination of races/powers. So maybe in one game you get an awesome combination of a race and power, and the next game, the same race coupled with a different power turns out to be a dud. The only way to find out if a combination works is to try it! There are so many possibilities here, and that keeps the game engaging.
Another thing that I really like about Small World is that each player can go at their own pace. If I decided to push my race into decline, that does not mean that everyone else has to as well. It all depends on your specific strategy/race/power. This is also a cool part of the game because it makes it harder to determine your opponents’ strategies. You’re trying to maximize your own race/power while trying to figure out what everyone else is planning. There’s no hidden information – everyone knows all races/powers in play, as well as the races/powers available for purchase. The tricky part is trying to keep your opponents oblivious to your long-term plans. That keeps this game captivating and way more strategic than meets the eye.
The only negative thing I have to say about Small World is that there is a learning curve to this game. There are a lot of moving parts, and many things to keep track of each turn. Not to mention figuring out how the different races and powers work in conjunction with each other. It’s kind of a daunting game at first, but after a couple of plays it becomes a lot easier.
Small World is a strategic game with lots of variability and replayability. You may need to keep the rulebook on hand the first few plays, but once you get the hang of the gameplay and learn how the powers work, the game flows easily. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to play Small World, I recommend you do. Just because it’s an ‘older’ game doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good game anymore! Purple Phoenix Games give Small World a big 22 / 24.
The population of the world is growing, but unfortunately the world is running out of space. Many different races of creatures are vying for dominion over the land – conquering as many regions as possible to extend their empires. However, as every great civilization rises to power, it will also eventually fall and give way to a new empire. Which race can garner the most influence before it begins to fade away? And which race will be lying in wait, ready to capitalize on the vacancy left by its predecessor?
DISCLAIMER: There are several expansions for this game, but we do not have any at this time, so this review is concerning vanilla base game Small World. If we review any of the expansions in the future we will update this review or link to the new material here. -T
Small World is a game of area control/movement and variable player powers in which players are attempting to use their chosen races to gain control over as much territory as possible. Once your chosen race has reached its limit, you can push it into a decline and pick another race to start fresh and conquer more land. Each race is coupled with a different power that could give you added benefit when used. On a typical turn, you will place tiles representing your race onto the game board. If you want to conquer a territory that is already inhabited by an opponent, you must play a specified number of tiles that will subsequently drive the opposing race from the territory, leaving it available for you to claim. Once you have played all the tiles you wish to play, you can re-distribute your race tiles – perhaps moving more to a territory near an opponent so they will not be able to overtake you easily on their turn. To end your turn, you receive one Victory Coin for each region of the world that you occupy. When you decide that your chosen race is no longer earning you enough points, you may push it into a decline and select a new race (with its own race tiles) to start a new conquest. The game ends after a finite number of turns, and the player with the most Victory Coins is the winner.
One thing that I really love about Small World is the variability of the game. There are 14 different races available each game, as well as 20 different powers. And the neat thing about the powers is that they are not tied to a specific race. Each game could yield a different combination of races/powers. So maybe in one game you get an awesome combination of a race and power, and the next game, the same race coupled with a different power turns out to be a dud. The only way to find out if a combination works is to try it! There are so many possibilities here, and that keeps the game engaging.
Another thing that I really like about Small World is that each player can go at their own pace. If I decided to push my race into decline, that does not mean that everyone else has to as well. It all depends on your specific strategy/race/power. This is also a cool part of the game because it makes it harder to determine your opponents’ strategies. You’re trying to maximize your own race/power while trying to figure out what everyone else is planning. There’s no hidden information – everyone knows all races/powers in play, as well as the races/powers available for purchase. The tricky part is trying to keep your opponents oblivious to your long-term plans. That keeps this game captivating and way more strategic than meets the eye.
The only negative thing I have to say about Small World is that there is a learning curve to this game. There are a lot of moving parts, and many things to keep track of each turn. Not to mention figuring out how the different races and powers work in conjunction with each other. It’s kind of a daunting game at first, but after a couple of plays it becomes a lot easier.
Small World is a strategic game with lots of variability and replayability. You may need to keep the rulebook on hand the first few plays, but once you get the hang of the gameplay and learn how the powers work, the game flows easily. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to play Small World, I recommend you do. Just because it’s an ‘older’ game doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good game anymore! Purple Phoenix Games give Small World a big 22 / 24.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2020 (Updated Jun 7, 2020)
Contains spoilers, click to show
97 of 200
Book
Kingdom of Ash ( Throne of glass book 7)
By Sarah J Maas
Aelin Galathynius's journey from slave to assassin to queen reaches its heart-rending finale as war erupts across her world …
She has risked everything to save her people – but at a tremendous cost. Locked in an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will to endure the months of torture inflicted upon her. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve is unravelling with each passing day…
With Aelin imprisoned, Aedion and Lysandra are the last line of defence keeping Terrasen from utter destruction. But even the many allies they've gathered to battle Erawan's hordes might not be enough to save the kingdom. Scattered throughout the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian must forge their own paths to meet their destinies. And across the sea Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen – before she is lost to him.
Some bonds will deepen and others be severed forever, but as the threads of fate weave together at last, all must fight if they are to find salvation – and a better world.
Wow!!!!
I don’t know where to start these books have gotten me through some tough times from the dirty assassin dragged from endovier to the queen riding a white stag into battle,I’ve walked every step with her! Everything single character has made me laugh,scream,shout,gasp and cry or any other available emotion. I almost can’t believe it’s over Sarah J Maas has a massive talent her world building is just amazing!
So we finally see them all come to the end of their journey’s end and this 1000 page book did not disappoint I’ve not cried at a book for a while but this one had me in tears a few times! They all have so much to contend with and still find strength in each other to keep fighting to keep the darkness out! I loved both Erawan and Maeves endings they were absolutely perfect. I really could rattle on for hours thank you Sarah for bringing such a beautiful series! What’s next??? Start again!!!!
Book
Kingdom of Ash ( Throne of glass book 7)
By Sarah J Maas
Aelin Galathynius's journey from slave to assassin to queen reaches its heart-rending finale as war erupts across her world …
She has risked everything to save her people – but at a tremendous cost. Locked in an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will to endure the months of torture inflicted upon her. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve is unravelling with each passing day…
With Aelin imprisoned, Aedion and Lysandra are the last line of defence keeping Terrasen from utter destruction. But even the many allies they've gathered to battle Erawan's hordes might not be enough to save the kingdom. Scattered throughout the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian must forge their own paths to meet their destinies. And across the sea Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen – before she is lost to him.
Some bonds will deepen and others be severed forever, but as the threads of fate weave together at last, all must fight if they are to find salvation – and a better world.
Wow!!!!
I don’t know where to start these books have gotten me through some tough times from the dirty assassin dragged from endovier to the queen riding a white stag into battle,I’ve walked every step with her! Everything single character has made me laugh,scream,shout,gasp and cry or any other available emotion. I almost can’t believe it’s over Sarah J Maas has a massive talent her world building is just amazing!
So we finally see them all come to the end of their journey’s end and this 1000 page book did not disappoint I’ve not cried at a book for a while but this one had me in tears a few times! They all have so much to contend with and still find strength in each other to keep fighting to keep the darkness out! I loved both Erawan and Maeves endings they were absolutely perfect. I really could rattle on for hours thank you Sarah for bringing such a beautiful series! What’s next??? Start again!!!!
Trout Fisherman Magazine: The world of fly fishing
Magazines & Newspapers and Lifestyle
App
Trout Fisherman is the magazine that helps you hone your fly fishing skills. Perfect for those...
The Pearly Prince of St Pancras
Alf Dole and Jeff Hudson
Book
Pearly Kings and Queens are one of the quintessential icons of 'old London', originally invented to...
The Rotten Heart of Europe: The Dirty War for Europe's Money
Book
"The Brussels Commission has just suspended its senior economist, Bernard Connolly, for writing a...