Tag: book reviews

BRZRKR, Volume 1 by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt

BRZRKR, Volume 1 by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt

An absolute blood-fest of a book, BRZRKR introduces readers to an ancient warrior who can’t die and who is driven to kill by an internal impulse he’s had since birth.

Honestly, for a first book from actor Keanu Reeves, this wasn’t too bad.

If you can get past the gratuitous violence, it has some great themes- the hero’s birth and crossing the threshold of manhood, the death of the parents or guardians, the eternal war of the uncivilized portion of the psyche and the civilized part.

As a first book in a series, it introduces the main character very well. The method it uses is war and the panels are drenched in red. After a couple pages, I just started skimming for the words because the art was starting to gross me out.

I am most likely not the intended audience for this book, but that didn’t stop me from jumping into it. I’ve never let a little thing like not being the intended audience hold me back.

Recommended for adults only. In fact, the library I borrowed this book from has a Rated-R sticker on the spine to warn readers of its contents. They nailed that. Way to go, librarians!

Animal Castle Vol 1 by Xavier Dorison, Félix Delep

Animal Castle Vol 1 by Xavier Dorison, Félix Delep

Beautiful panels tell the story of Animal Castle, a farm where the humans have disappeared and the animals have taken to governing themselves.

At the top of the food chain, we have a bull and his enforcers, a militia of dogs.

Everyone else farms or builds in order to, unbeknownst to them, feed their leader’s champagne tastes.

The story follows a cat with two kittens, whose mate died prior to the beginning of this story, and a male bunny whose night job includes servicing the female bunnies at the farm.

With the help of a traveling rat, the animals will organize in order to take their power back.

I very much enjoyed this story, except that it ended on a cliffhanger. Other than that, I couldn’t get enough of the artwork. The colors are deep and beautiful.

At times, the lettering is a little small, but only in one or two panels.

There are definite nods to Animal Farm in this tale, but I think this story does well on its own.

Because of some depictions of violence and its aftermath, I’d recommend this book for adults or older teens only.

Always Never by Jordi Lafebre

Always Never by Jordi Lafebre

Gorgeous artwork is not enough to elevate Always Never, a love story told backwards.

Readers are introduced to Zeno and Ana in the winter of their lives as Zeno closes his bookstore and Ana retires from public service.

They hint at lives well-lived. Then, from chapter 20 back through chapter 1, readers learn about their romance in reverse. Details are dropped here and there in order to build interest. It just didn’t work for me.

It did at first. I thought, what a cool idea. But around chapter 12 and 11, the story began to lose me.

Ana was busy with a construction project and Zeno always seemed to be on a boat. They communicate through phone calls and letters. It didn’t make a very good story.

I wanted to enjoy this book. As I mentioned earlier, the artwork is beautiful and the muted colors are lovely.

Props to the author, Jordi Lafebre, for trying something different.

Dark Age (Red Rising Saga, #5) by Pierce Brown

Dark Age (Red Rising Saga, #5) by Pierce Brown

In Dark Age, author Pierce Brown has created an incredibly dark fantasy novel, a continuation of his Red Rising series.

For readers who haven’t picked up his excellent books yet, and you really should, this series is about a futuristic world in which humanity has divided itself into “colors” based on genetically engineered changes to our DNA. The Golds, the top of the color pyramid, were created as war machines, and they dominate all other colors.

At the bottom of the pyramid, the Reds mine and complete menial duties, basically as slaves to the rest of the colors. Other groups don’t have it much better.

Enter Darrow, a former Red whose DNA was manipulated to change him into a Gold. This entry in the series has him and his allies fighting against the remains of the Society, a group that believed in the divisions of humanity.

Darrow’s faction believes all humanity is created equal.

This is not a series for young adults. The action contains graphic sequences and includes various forms of torture, so much so, that I had trouble getting through some of the chapters.

And so many people die. I was starting to think author Pierce Brown killed off everybody I cared about… then he killed more! Silly me.

I didn’t enjoy this entry in the series as much as previous ones because of this gratuitous violence. But still, this is an epic work of fantasy and I have to give the author props for all his hard work.

Looking forward to the final book in the series which is set to publish next year. Highly recommended for adult fantasy readers.

Bubble by Jordan Morris, Sarah Morgan

Bubble by Jordan Morris, Sarah Morgan

Morgan, Annie, Mitch, and Van live in a bubble, a manufactured dome that protects them from the alien lifeforms outside of the city.

Occasionally, the critters outside get in and that leads to Morgan fighting back to save the people around her. She’s very good at it because she grew up outside the bubble, learning to kill aliens with a bow and arrow.

But when one of the corporations running the bubble develops an app called Huntr to hire people to kill the imps and various creatures that plague the bubble residents, Morgan discovers she hasn’t left her past behind as much as she thought.

Things accelerate from there.

I enjoyed Bubble very much for its story and characters. I realize it is a satire on various things from the gig economy to millennials to survivalists, but it also stands on its own legs as a fun fantasy.

The story leaves a small opening for a second entry in the series, but closes the first book in a satisfying way. Not all comics bother to do so, and I appreciated it.

Because of some of the content (language and drug use), I’d recommend this book to older teens or adults only.

It is clever and a lot of fun. Highly recommended.

Folklords #1-5 by Matt Kindt

Folklords #1-5 by Matt Kindt

In Ansel’s world, when you turn 18, you chose a quest and complete it in order to “find yourself”. He has decided to seek out the fabled Folklords, mysterious figures wrapped in mystery and myth.

He has chosen to find the Folklords because of curious dreams he has been having of a world with metal machines, high rises, and people dressed strangely. (This is supposed to be our world, but Ansel doesn’t know that.)

Unlike in our world, the librarians of Ansel’s world hoard knowledge and stories. He’ll have to get past them to complete his quest. Will he find the Folklords before the librarians catch him?

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This middle grade, fantasy graphic novel was fun. I liked the juxtaposition of our modern world with Ansel’s fantasy one.

I also liked the homage to the New York Public Library with a fantasy library and real lions guarding its gates.

This book is appropriate for middle grade readers. There’s a few pages that deal with torture but it isn’t graphic and is dealt with tastefully. Just a warning for parents who may be concerned about that kind of thing.

The story is predictable, but good.

As more book banning challenges arise all across the country, I can’t help but wonder if the librarians of Ansel’s world might cross over to ours, so to speak, locking away books and telling people what sort of information they should seek out.

I’m a huge fan of libraries and librarians (in fact, I borrowed this book from the library). So I hope we will continue to have champions standing up for knowledge and free access for all!

The Relic Master by Christopher Buckley

The Relic Master by Christopher Buckley

The Relic Master is set in the early stages of the Reformation and concerns holy relics, so-called pieces of the bodies of saints as well as objects that were said to have belonged to them.

Our hero, Dismas, is a trader in holy relics. When he finds himself in a thorny situation because of a false relic, he is sent on a quest to steal what would later be called the Shroud of Turin. Hijinks ensue on the way.

“This bone dealing, Dismas. There’s something not right about it.” “We used to earn our living by killing. Was that right?” pg 26, ebook

I enjoyed this historical fiction. It is humorous, not in a laugh-out-loud way, but instead in a satirical manner about religion. If you find such things offensive, it would be wise to choose another book.

The only main female character in this book is somewhat of an after thought but I liked her anyway. She’s a trained medic (as much as someone could be in that time period) and is mistaken for a witch.

Recommended for readers with a sense of humor and a little patience as the story has somewhat of a slow burn.

How to Slay a Dragon: A Fantasy Hero’s Guide to the Real Middle Ages by Cait Stevenson

How to Slay a Dragon: A Fantasy Hero’s Guide to the Real Middle Ages by Cait Stevenson

How to Slay a Dragon is a humorous look at medieval history with a running, stand up-esque commentary by a nameless narrator.

“…this is still a book to guide heroes who are setting off to slay a dragon, steal the throne, and defeat a few hordes of supernaturally evil creatures along the way.” pg xv, capitulum infodumpium. (Not real Latin, but amusing all the same.)

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Cait Stevenson divides the history into broad categories like: preparing for your quest, hazards along the way and winning the war. Then there are subcategories like: how to not marry the prince, how to win the bar fight, and how to outwit a genie.

My favorite was “How to Put Up with the Bard” because I tend to play that class of character in role-playing games. 🙂

“When William Porland recorded the names of fifty taverns in the fifteenth century, six of them were called the Swan. … There was no reason to distinguish an inn by a written-out name when literacy rates maxed out in the 30 to 40 percent range, which meant a 60 to 70 percent chance that the clientele couldn’t read… pg 27 How to Find the Inn

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Cait uses actual events and historical figures to make the past come alive. I found the whole book very entertaining and I learned so much- a hallmark of a successful history book.

She even includes fantastical beliefs and superstitions like: “The most important thing to know is that medieval dragons usually kill with venom, not fire. They breathe thick clouds of deadly smoke in all directions at once.” pg 93

In the modern era, I think we dismiss historical figures as unapproachably different from us because technology wasn’t as developed as it is now. This book makes readers realize that there is very little difference between a historical figure and a modern one. People are people- with their flaws and strengths.

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Now, they just happen to walk around with iPhones.

“Snowball fights in fifteenth-century Germany were apparently so common that priests classified them as a sin. Or perhaps the real problem was that priests were getting smacked in the face with snowballs.” pg 117

Highly recommended for readers who love history and humor in one convenient package. This book might fit the bill for reluctant readers as well.

Thanks for reading!

Crystal Soldier (The Great Migration Duology, #1; Liaden Universe, #1) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Crystal Soldier (The Great Migration Duology, #1; Liaden Universe, #1) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Pilot Jela has crashed on a lonely world where great forests once stood. He was in a fight in space against a highly advanced robotic society that seeks to destroy life itself.

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The sheriekas, for that’s what the enemy are called, have done a number on this world with its endless, lifeless forests. Until, after days of hardship, Jela finds a sign of life.

“The sheriekas (eliminated life) wherever they could, as if life itself was anathema. Overt signs of sheriekas action were an indication that a planet or system held something worthwhile… pg 23, ebook.

Cantra is a pilot whose hauls are generally on the up-and-up. She crosses paths one night with Jela. And that’s where the story truly begins.

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The first entry in the Liaden Universe was written later as sometimes happens with these mammoth science fiction series. As the authors explain in the prologue, they felt creating Jela and Cantra’s story took a type of maturity that they did not yet have in the 1980’s, when they began writing the series.

“The problem we face,” he murmured, “is that someone- and we must assume that someone equals the Enemy- is experimenting with dismantling the universe.” pg 63

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I’ve been considering what to think about that. Certainly, authors don’t have to experience everything they write- imagine Suzanne Collins and her “Hunger Games.” But every artist has her process so, whatever works for them.

This is a well-written book, if a bit plodding at times. The pacing problem is offset with sparkling dialogue between Jela and Cantra. They converse in both words and a type of sign language called “pilot speak.”

It gives a different dimension to the communication between them. I liked that a lot.

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The universe itself, like other science fiction works I’ve read, is full of promise for both adventures and exploration. The nemesis- a group seeking to destroy life itself- is a fitting metaphor for industrialization run amok with its climate change implications.

I’m sure there are other comparisons that can be drawn. That’s simply the first one to pop into my mind.

I also liked that one of the main characters in this story is a tree. Wouldn’t life be fun if you could take a walk and talk to the trees lining your path? I think so.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy science fiction and don’t mind an occasional pacing problem. Thanks for reading!