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'VPN' is our advanced but yet simpler version of 'FreeVPN.io', which combines lighter weight app,...
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Hell has returned! Prepare yourself for DOOM II RPG for the iPhone, the sequel to id Software’s...
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(app description below) 22.12.16 Lots of people killing during Robert Kocharyan presidential period...
Ross (3284 KP) rated Dogs of War in Books
Sep 19, 2017
Disclosure: I received a free advance copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This near-future science fiction story surrounds the use of genetically modified, cyborg animals in security and warfare and the humane concerns around that.
Having read the author's fantasy series, Shadows of the Apt, I was already familiar with Tchaikovsky's style, and his liking for warfare and technology (that series including the development of a number of new technologies which are eventually used as weapons).
What I was not quite prepared for was how he would write if in the PoV of a cyborg dog (how can you prepare yourself for that?!). This took a little getting used to, but not too much (a little like Flowers for Algernon, the language starts off simplistic but develops). Rex's vocabulary is like that of a small child, but one that has learned certain military phrases. Rex just wants his master to acknowledge him with a "good dog" now and then.
The story develops through a government-backed incursion into rebel-held Mexico, then into the courtroom and beyond into the brave new world for suddenly free man-made creatures.
There are a number of topical issues dealt with here, using not-people to do unpleasant jobs, the burden of responsibility in warfare and also the dangers of cyber-linked machines/people.
I really enjoyed the book and how the different PoVs come across and also how the setting and the message keeps changing throughout so there are different concerns to be dealt with or discussed (without being preachy!).
I also enjoyed Tchaikovsky's descriptions of conflict and battle scenes: giving enough of a picture of the whole battle while focussing on key moments and events.
Overall, something of a departure from my usual book, but very much enjoyable. This wouldn't have looked out of place with Richard Bachman's name on it.
This near-future science fiction story surrounds the use of genetically modified, cyborg animals in security and warfare and the humane concerns around that.
Having read the author's fantasy series, Shadows of the Apt, I was already familiar with Tchaikovsky's style, and his liking for warfare and technology (that series including the development of a number of new technologies which are eventually used as weapons).
What I was not quite prepared for was how he would write if in the PoV of a cyborg dog (how can you prepare yourself for that?!). This took a little getting used to, but not too much (a little like Flowers for Algernon, the language starts off simplistic but develops). Rex's vocabulary is like that of a small child, but one that has learned certain military phrases. Rex just wants his master to acknowledge him with a "good dog" now and then.
The story develops through a government-backed incursion into rebel-held Mexico, then into the courtroom and beyond into the brave new world for suddenly free man-made creatures.
There are a number of topical issues dealt with here, using not-people to do unpleasant jobs, the burden of responsibility in warfare and also the dangers of cyber-linked machines/people.
I really enjoyed the book and how the different PoVs come across and also how the setting and the message keeps changing throughout so there are different concerns to be dealt with or discussed (without being preachy!).
I also enjoyed Tchaikovsky's descriptions of conflict and battle scenes: giving enough of a picture of the whole battle while focussing on key moments and events.
Overall, something of a departure from my usual book, but very much enjoyable. This wouldn't have looked out of place with Richard Bachman's name on it.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Afterburn & Aftershock (Jax & Gia, #1-2) in Books
May 10, 2018
I read the Afterburn and Aftershock together. I'm a big fan of Sylvia Day and this quick read was not a disappointment.
Gianna Rossi and Jackson Rutledge have history. But after two years of hearing nothing from Jackson, Gianna is ready to move on. Back from Las Vegas, in New York, close to her family, she is looking for a job. She finds one that is just perfect for her. After being on the job for a while, she gets a big assignment. Working this assignment gets her back in touch with Jackson, Jax as she calls him.
Will they be able to pick up where they left off? Does Gianna want to pick up where they left off? Will they still have the passion for one another that they once did? And what will her family and her boss think about her being with this powerful man, who destroyed her life before?
Another juicy tale from Sylvia Day. These two stories are a part of <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/cosmo-red-hot-reads">Cosmo's Red-Hot Reads</a> and they didn't disappoint. I enjoy a good steamy read. It helps me after I have read something I didn't enjoy or something that was challenging to unwind for the next thing.
The thing that really gets me about these types of books though is that they feature an extremely handsome and wealthy man and a woman they are smitten with at first sight. then he has her move in with him and has his security detail following her around all the time. When is the female millionaire going to fall in love with the guy who delivers her packages everyday or makes her espresso? Then she finds out he really is the rich one and owns the coffee shop and countless others all over the world. Or he's the president of the delivery company who likes working alongside his employees. Is there a book out there like that already? If so, please give me the title.
Gianna Rossi and Jackson Rutledge have history. But after two years of hearing nothing from Jackson, Gianna is ready to move on. Back from Las Vegas, in New York, close to her family, she is looking for a job. She finds one that is just perfect for her. After being on the job for a while, she gets a big assignment. Working this assignment gets her back in touch with Jackson, Jax as she calls him.
Will they be able to pick up where they left off? Does Gianna want to pick up where they left off? Will they still have the passion for one another that they once did? And what will her family and her boss think about her being with this powerful man, who destroyed her life before?
Another juicy tale from Sylvia Day. These two stories are a part of <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/cosmo-red-hot-reads">Cosmo's Red-Hot Reads</a> and they didn't disappoint. I enjoy a good steamy read. It helps me after I have read something I didn't enjoy or something that was challenging to unwind for the next thing.
The thing that really gets me about these types of books though is that they feature an extremely handsome and wealthy man and a woman they are smitten with at first sight. then he has her move in with him and has his security detail following her around all the time. When is the female millionaire going to fall in love with the guy who delivers her packages everyday or makes her espresso? Then she finds out he really is the rich one and owns the coffee shop and countless others all over the world. Or he's the president of the delivery company who likes working alongside his employees. Is there a book out there like that already? If so, please give me the title.
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires, #10) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This book does something brand new in the series -- Shane's point of view is alternated with Claire's point of view. It is a very good thing that Rachel Caine decides to do this, as I do not think that Claire could have gotten such a good understanding of the lure of the vampire-themed fight club that Shane gets involved with.
We not only get to see into Shane's head, but we also get a fuller understanding of his anger and hatred towards vampires, as well as his internal battle with accepting his sister's death, followed by his mother's death, and his father's abuse and fanaticism. Honestly, it is amazing that Shane has any sanity left at all, considering the life he has lived up to this point. Claire has been like a bright star in his life, and it would be a real tragedy if he were to ever lose her -- which does not look like it will be happening any time soon.
On the flip side, Shane's drastic change in behavior due to the fight club puts Claire's heart through the ringer several times throughout the book and has her considering and reconsidering just how much she really wants to stay in Morganville -- especially when M.I.T., her dream school, starts calling. Luckily, Claire has always been a force to be reckoned with in Morganville, and her instincts are always right on par. Only she can stand up to Amelie, the Founder of Morganville, and come away unscathed, even if barely.
If a vampire fight club is not bad enough to be worthy of a book, a certain "big bad" comes back from the figurative dead to wreak havoc and death. Of course, my favorite character, Myrnin makes the final battle interesting with a few new toys and unforgettable one-liners. His rivalry with the new brain behind the town security system, Frank Collins, provides some fresh entertainment, too. This series just keeps getting better, and I can't wait for the release of the next book, Last Breath.
We not only get to see into Shane's head, but we also get a fuller understanding of his anger and hatred towards vampires, as well as his internal battle with accepting his sister's death, followed by his mother's death, and his father's abuse and fanaticism. Honestly, it is amazing that Shane has any sanity left at all, considering the life he has lived up to this point. Claire has been like a bright star in his life, and it would be a real tragedy if he were to ever lose her -- which does not look like it will be happening any time soon.
On the flip side, Shane's drastic change in behavior due to the fight club puts Claire's heart through the ringer several times throughout the book and has her considering and reconsidering just how much she really wants to stay in Morganville -- especially when M.I.T., her dream school, starts calling. Luckily, Claire has always been a force to be reckoned with in Morganville, and her instincts are always right on par. Only she can stand up to Amelie, the Founder of Morganville, and come away unscathed, even if barely.
If a vampire fight club is not bad enough to be worthy of a book, a certain "big bad" comes back from the figurative dead to wreak havoc and death. Of course, my favorite character, Myrnin makes the final battle interesting with a few new toys and unforgettable one-liners. His rivalry with the new brain behind the town security system, Frank Collins, provides some fresh entertainment, too. This series just keeps getting better, and I can't wait for the release of the next book, Last Breath.
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Hannah (Daughters of the Sea, #1) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This book was both mysterious and sweet, as Hannah very slowly discovers what she is and where she truly comes from. Even though I found the whole process of discovery rather drawn out, I didn't mind the slow pace because of the age of the girl and setting that she lived in, at a time in which women were never even given the opportunity to go to college and the wage of a few dollars was considered good income. How the orphans were handled, some even being "adopted" into households in the midwest, had me wondering just how common this practice was at the time and how it played into geneologies. The intricacies of how the household is run that Hannah works in is enlightening, as I had no idea there was such a heirarchy among the servant class of that time period.
Hannah is only 14 when she goes through these changes to become a mermaid, but if that had happened to me at that age, I don't think I would have had the courage to abandon what security I could find for the great unknown of the vast ocean. What I found greatly disappointing was how her budding romance with the painter was just left hanging, with no resolution or explanation of what he was and why he left the ocean. I can only assume that since this is the first of three books, that his character will be further explored in future books. I also worried for the household that Hannah had been working in and what happened to them in the impending storm, but that loose end was not resolved either. The nuances of Hannah's revelation that give me clues as to what she is are interesting, such as the changing nature of Hannah's hair, her ability with the harp, and the way she sheds salt and scales. I always love when the author gives such attention to details. I look forward to reading about Hannah's two long-lost sisters and their own revelations.
Hannah is only 14 when she goes through these changes to become a mermaid, but if that had happened to me at that age, I don't think I would have had the courage to abandon what security I could find for the great unknown of the vast ocean. What I found greatly disappointing was how her budding romance with the painter was just left hanging, with no resolution or explanation of what he was and why he left the ocean. I can only assume that since this is the first of three books, that his character will be further explored in future books. I also worried for the household that Hannah had been working in and what happened to them in the impending storm, but that loose end was not resolved either. The nuances of Hannah's revelation that give me clues as to what she is are interesting, such as the changing nature of Hannah's hair, her ability with the harp, and the way she sheds salt and scales. I always love when the author gives such attention to details. I look forward to reading about Hannah's two long-lost sisters and their own revelations.
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Fire and Heist in Books
Apr 2, 2019
I picked this up off the library shelf for the title; I took it home for the description. Were-dragon thieves? Awesome. It turns out it's not that simple. For one, the were-dragons have lost the ability to transform over the years - the last dragon to transform was Sir Francis Drake, and the book is set in modern times, so, at least a couple hundred years have passed. And humans know the were-dragons exist! I suppose without the ability to transform, they're little more than rich celebrities with parlor tricks. (Immune to fire to certain temperatures, ability to breathe fire.) What humans don't know is how much the wyverns tend to steal to enrich their hoards. And that some of them can do limited magic.
We open on Sky, sixteen, rattling around her mansion, dealing with her now dysfunctional family of three brothers and their father. Her mother went missing not very long ago, during a heist. The kids have been told she's gone, she's alive, she's not coming back, and to drop the matter. Were-dragon society almost exiled all of them for whatever their mother got into, so they're all on thin ice. Sky, of course, is having none of this. When she stumbles on a lead for where her mother went, she pursues it, and learns all kinds of secrets.
The book was okay, I suppose. I was a little appalled at were-dragon society, and that the dragons just - bow to the authority of the Council. Dragons should have more spine. The heist part was pretty cool, with Sky and her friends figuring out how to take apart every layer of security piece by piece.
I don't know. It was a fluffy book, but not a feel-good book, and I just wasn't that enthused.
You can read all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
We open on Sky, sixteen, rattling around her mansion, dealing with her now dysfunctional family of three brothers and their father. Her mother went missing not very long ago, during a heist. The kids have been told she's gone, she's alive, she's not coming back, and to drop the matter. Were-dragon society almost exiled all of them for whatever their mother got into, so they're all on thin ice. Sky, of course, is having none of this. When she stumbles on a lead for where her mother went, she pursues it, and learns all kinds of secrets.
The book was okay, I suppose. I was a little appalled at were-dragon society, and that the dragons just - bow to the authority of the Council. Dragons should have more spine. The heist part was pretty cool, with Sky and her friends figuring out how to take apart every layer of security piece by piece.
I don't know. It was a fluffy book, but not a feel-good book, and I just wasn't that enthused.
You can read all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Afterburn & Aftershock (Jax & Gia, #1-2) in Books
Apr 3, 2019
I read the Afterburn and Aftershock together. I'm a big fan of Sylvia Day and this quick read was not a disappointment.
Gianna Rossi and Jackson Rutledge have history. But after two years of hearing nothing from Jackson, Gianna is ready to move on. Back from Las Vegas, in New York, close to her family, she is looking for a job. She finds one that is just perfect for her. After being on the job for a while, she gets a big assignment. Working this assignment gets her back in touch with Jackson, Jax as she calls him.
Will they be able to pick up where they left off? Does Gianna want to pick up where they left off? Will they still have the passion for one another that they once did? And what will her family and her boss think about her being with this powerful man, who destroyed her life before?
Another juicy tale from Sylvia Day. These two stories are a part of Cosmo's Red-Hot Reads and they didn't disappoint. I enjoy a good steamy read. It helps me after I have read something I didn't enjoy or something that was challenging to unwind for the next thing.
The thing that really gets me about these types of books though is that they feature an extremely handsome and wealthy man and a woman they are smitten with at first sight. then he has her move in with him and has his security detail following her around all the time. When is the female millionaire going to fall in love with the guy who delivers her packages everyday or makes her espresso? Then she finds out he really is the rich one and owns the coffee shop and countless others all over the world. Or he's the president of the delivery company who likes working alongside his employees. Is there a book out there like that already? If so, please give me the title.
Gianna Rossi and Jackson Rutledge have history. But after two years of hearing nothing from Jackson, Gianna is ready to move on. Back from Las Vegas, in New York, close to her family, she is looking for a job. She finds one that is just perfect for her. After being on the job for a while, she gets a big assignment. Working this assignment gets her back in touch with Jackson, Jax as she calls him.
Will they be able to pick up where they left off? Does Gianna want to pick up where they left off? Will they still have the passion for one another that they once did? And what will her family and her boss think about her being with this powerful man, who destroyed her life before?
Another juicy tale from Sylvia Day. These two stories are a part of Cosmo's Red-Hot Reads and they didn't disappoint. I enjoy a good steamy read. It helps me after I have read something I didn't enjoy or something that was challenging to unwind for the next thing.
The thing that really gets me about these types of books though is that they feature an extremely handsome and wealthy man and a woman they are smitten with at first sight. then he has her move in with him and has his security detail following her around all the time. When is the female millionaire going to fall in love with the guy who delivers her packages everyday or makes her espresso? Then she finds out he really is the rich one and owns the coffee shop and countless others all over the world. Or he's the president of the delivery company who likes working alongside his employees. Is there a book out there like that already? If so, please give me the title.