Chris Lee

I just finished the book, and I'm having a hard time deciding what to write. What could I possibly say that would add to the conversation about this masterpiece of a series? I've decided against writing a review because it would be twenty plus pages long.

“I, Jenny Graham, was riding around the actual world!”
How can you read the title of this book and not want to learn more about the inspiring attempt at a world record by Jenny, an endurance cyclist and kind-hearted mum? She's chasing a goal to be the fastest woman to circumnavigate the world on a bike, and we get the privilege to accompany her on her adventure. Along the 18,000 miles over 16 countries, we get a glimpse of what it's like to sleep in desolate areas, fight through storms, mend gear, deal with unsavory locals, and narrowly make checkpoints as she strives to make it to the finish line on time. It's a reflective and inspiring book about a young woman who is putting everything on the line to achieve an amazing goal. What she is attempting is akin to Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler when they summited Everest or Amelia Earhart when she flew across the Atlantic. For years, I have recommended Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air as the de facto adventure story, but this sits right alongside it. Jenny Graham certainly brings adventure writing to a whole new level.

“Like so many other things on the road, ‘home' had been stripped back. It was no longer a physical place, but rather a self-defined place within me.”

Before I get ahead of myself, I must say that this is not a traditional sports biography by any means. Each chapter reads like a travelogue. You start off each section learning details about her mileage for the day, the cities she crosses, and where she attempts to sleep, but you do not need to be an expert in cycling to enjoy the story. She takes you by the hand and leads you through more of the technical details of cycling, such as saddle material, chains, fittings, techniques, and more. It's an incredibly fascinating world, to say the least. If you love incredible adventure stories where incredible people accomplish incredible feats, this book is for you. That's three Incredibles in the last few sentences, so if you did not know already, I LOVED this book.

“You must not leave. It's far too dangerous for a woman on her own. You must stay tonight. ‘ OMG, I was actually being kidnapped by kindness'.”

As you traverse the world with Jenny, she keeps you updated along the way with quick snippets of people she encounters on the journey. Whether it's being shepherd around some bears on the road or putting her trust in mechanics to overhaul her bike hours before she is to set out again, Jenny seems to always have it together. The goal is always at the forefront of her mind, and no minor detours will keep her from achieving it. It was impressive to see her breaking down language barriers with individuals all over the world and laughing when seemingly insurmountable delays were thrown her way. From start to finish, it was an emotional rollercoaster.

“The physical benefits of training are easy to measure, but it's only in times of resistance that you will see the resilience you have built up mentally to adverse situations.”

If you think for one second that this is some sort of commercialized setup like so many other endurance-based books, think again! Even though the Guinness Book of World Records does not distinguish the difference, she is attempting this feat in an unsupported fashion. This means that she is in control of her lodging, food, logistics, gear, timekeeping, and more! Her bike is essentially her desk, where she must tackle a multitude of administrative tasks for future arrivals. As you can imagine, the more nail-biting sections include getting through customs without losing an absorbent amount of time, making sure you have enough supplies if you encounter a puncture, and braving the monstrous trucks on the road. Oh, and finding coffee. That was incredibly important too!

“As the least important person on the road, I was the pawn that could be sacrificed at any moment.”

Let's talk about her lodging for a moment. I was so incredibly nervous for her safety because she was sleeping outdoors alone most of the time and vulnerable to the elements and wildlife that stalked around at night. She carries on through it all. Nothing seems to affect her when she's dealt an uninspiring view, has plane booking nightmares, or has to miss meals by cycling throughout the night, topping off with calories from the food scraps in her bike bag. Her encounter with a bear was truly terrifying, and I was pleased when she attached a significant number of noisemakers to her bike to let any would-be animals know she was barreling down the road. She is a bonified wonder woman! In fact, move aside Diana Princess; we have a new sheriff in town, and her name is Jenny Graham.

“While I'm a fan of dreaming big and wild, I have come to realise that true contentment for me is actually found on the journey to the start line.”

As the book comes full circle and you gaze upon the pictures of the journey and read the humbling epilogue, you have to take a breath and marvel at what she was able to accomplish. It makes you want to mount your own personal dreams and tackle them with gusto.

Bravo, Jenny. Thanks for letting us get a small glimpse into your journey and your life.

❖ Category: Adventure / Cycling / Extreme Sport / Travelogue
❖ Rating: 5/5

We first meet the POWs of Colditz as they try their hand at an escape attempt they have been cooking up for several months. The false German uniform had been made, the travel passes had been created, and photographic passports had been produced by clever means. All that was left to do was complete the plan and walk through the gates of one of the most daunting prison camps in the world.

Author Ben Macintyre writes this heavily laden prisoner escape book with great detail, putting you in the mind of the POW's, their captors, and those trying to help from the outside. This book is packed to the brim with escape attempts, so I thought I would just list some clever things to look out for if you were curious about reading it.

❖ Most of the POW's had skills to contribute to the daily escape attempts. There were magicians, card sharks, pole vaulters, theater actors, famous ace pilots, electricians, rugby players, charmers, and more.
—
❖ Some clever bits include stealing a key, pressing into a bar of soap, and melting tin gathered from the roof to fashion keys to help them in their escape attempts.
—
❖ The French had the first few successful attempts. Some vaulted over the wire and climbed the walls, while others dressed up and walked out during a large sporting match.
—
❖ It was quite obvious at first that the flaw of Colditz was not in the architecture but in the humans that occupied it.
—
❖ As attempts mounted, so did the security. Roll call was confirmed more frequently to stimy tunnel digging, extra lights were added, and gun placements were moved to areas of high activity.
—
❖ Since mail was allowed, there was a marriage that took place using photos and vows sent over the wire.
—
❖ The prisoners started to devise new ways of combating the constant stifling of their escape attempts by attacking the guard's psychology. They would roam around the grounds, acting like they were walking dogs or pushing around rocks using their noses. The captors thought they were a bit contrived, but even a slight bit of misdirection would help conceal an attempt in another area.
—
❖ A radio was produced so they could keep up-to-date with what was happening on the outside. Magazines of the front were pilfered from guards. This gave the POWs ideas on how others were trying to escape from their respective prisons.
—

Food was used as a bartering chip, and they used some of the rations to make drinks. Alcohol production was made using the strangest of ingredients. One of them was a batch flavored with aftershave. It was said to have eaten a hole in the bottom of the plastic container it sat in overnight. Most officers could stomach this variety, but they succumbed to cataclysmic headaches, blurred vision, discolored teeth, and so on. It was not discouraged because it kept morale up, and any prisoner who was inebriated was easier to manage.

|| “Our cross is the curse of waiting.” ||

Some chapters are short and filled with details on attempts of varying degrees, while others dig deep into those who had a great impact on their success in escaping. One of those heroic people was Mrs. Markowska.

Mrs. Markowska, also known as Jane Walker, was an agent of British intelligence and a lead associate in the Polish underground. She would shelter escaped British POWs and help smuggle them to safety. She was extremely intelligent and a supreme asset because she spoke German, French, and Polish. Her intolerant and sympathetic behavior was endearing to the escapees, and she treated each one like her own children. She was known for giving the POW's pep talks, medical treatments, and formal dinners. The POW's adored her and often times said they loved her.

Another was Douglas Bader, a double-amputee flying ace who inspired the RAF and was deemed by the Daily Mirror as “The Greatest Hero of Them All.” He was courageous and famous, and he became a poster boy for inflight antics. It shined a beacon of light on what is possible and how one can help with the war effort, even if they have a disability. On an offensive, Bader's plane was hit, and the fuselage tore away from the back. As the plane careened toward the Earth, he removed the Spitfires canopy, but he was not able to get out because his prosthetic leg was caught on the controls. Right before he lost consciousness, he ripped the parachute, and the force disconnected his leg. He floated to the ground with only a few broken ribs. The German captors were so enamored with his condition that they asked the RAF to send them a new leg so he could walk again. After approval from the higher-ups, they named it “Operation Leg.” Now with functioning legs, Bader tried to escape multiple times but always had issues with his leg. He would then find himself in Colditz, where his disregard and insolence for authority kept on.

I would recommend this book to history buffs and WW readers alike. It tells quite a few enduring and humbling stories about those poor, brave souls who had to endure the camps for years.

|| “The day of freedom is not set by judge or jury, but by events in a distant theater of conflict.” ||

Welcome to the wild west of art forgery in the 1970s and 1980s, where the money is lucrative as long as you have a certain base trait. That trait is, surprisingly, not being a master painter. This is the story of Tony Tetro, the “world's greatest art forger.”

Tony grew up without a formal education, married at the ripe age of 16, and just like every other enterprising individual, he had a dream of “hitting it big” as a young man. What started out as a fun hobby transformed into a lucrative way to make money. After the glitz and glamour of owning his dream cars, having endless supplies of drugs, and schmoozing at top restaurants in L.A. fizzled out, Tony was left spending nearly a year in jail with little or no money left over to show for it.

I was surprised to find that this book reads like a how-to guide to art forgery, but do not get any wise ideas about using Tony's tips and tricks. Nowadays, a painting can go under extreme scrutiny using incredibly interesting techniques, which are detailed in the book. Spectroscopic analysis can tell you which mine your pigments came from, dendroecology can reveal which type of wood your paint pallet originated from, and radiocarbon dating can measure the half-life of the carbon used in the painting.

A local would use an appraiser's loupe to check the DPI, or dots per square inch, to give an accurate idea if it was printed or completed by hand, but I was surprised to find out that most people, buyers and appraisers alike, really did not care if the painting was fake or not. The art was really not all that appreciated by most (I'm sure they were generalizing in the novel), but it was used to show off. All you needed was a sound story, a semi-convincing painting, an appraiser's signature, and you were off to the races. This was pre-internet, so it was extremely hard to verify facts and paper trails.

Some of the other interesting topics include art history, where Tony obtained period paper, his aging techniques, his ties to the mob, the billionaires who hired him to create replicas, and details of the secret room where he stashed most of his paintings & workbooks.

Overall, it was an exciting novel that reads like a film. If you purchased a Rembrandt or Chagall a few decades ago, you might want to go take a closer look.

–** Spin up I'll Be Ok by Nothing More **–

Gillian McAllister's “Wrong Place, Wrong Time” wowed me. I had never heard of it until my GR friend Nyx wrote a fascinating review of it. Nyx compared it to the movie Ground Hog Day w/ a murder mystery twist, which initially piqued my interest, but it wasn't until the review mentioned a novel approach to the time-loop concept that ultimately sold me. “Usually, it's always about reliving the same day over and over again, but here, she was slowly traveling back in time every night.” When I read that, I was like, “Huh, that sounds incredibly interesting!” So, if you are in the mood for a calculated, somewhat complex mystery that rattles the mind just as much as it tugs on the heartstrings, this book is for you.

// A psychological thriller about a mother who sees her son stab someone, and then finds out that she is given an opportunity to travel back in time to stop the chain of events from taking place. //

Okay, so my head is reeling at how to review this book. Not that it is overtly cerebral, mind you—in fact, it is impressive how the author was able to inject topical ideas and overarching family dynamics into this unique structure—but because this is one of those books that has a twist and turn around every corner, even mentioning a few details might start to wander into spoiler territory. So, with that in mind, I will try and stay away from any major details, but, trust me, it is better to go in with little knowledge just because of the nature of the various paradoxes and time loops present.

// “This is not a wild-goose chase, this is not madness.” //

Let's focus on Jen for a moment. She sees her child stab someone and must come to terms with what that means for his future. He will never get to experience university at his age, get married, or flourish as a contributing member of society. It's heartbreaking because her family is her entire universe—her rock—until this tragic moment occurs and she has to travel back to make sense of it all. Questions start to circle, such as, “Was I a good mother?” or “Was I too lenient with who my child's friends were?” and “Did I even pay that much attention to the man he was growing up to be?” Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) had to be playing on repeat in her head. To make matters worse, she is so focused on her busy life (aren't we all?) that she misses some of the little things, casting even the smallest details off into the ether because she couldn't be bothered, was uninterested, or wasn't paying attention. It is an interesting exercise to stop and think about important choices in your own life, or lack thereof, in a Christmas Carol-y sort of way.

Okay, on to Kelly and Todd. They are Jens family and two upstanding blokes, but it's impossible to say more. As Jen recedes through time, she gets to see them in a whole new light and make calculated decisions on what she says to them. For fans of paradox-y stories, think more along the lines of Primer or All You Zombies than BTTF or The Time Traveler's Wife. Let's see, we have Jen's father, which I can't say anything about; a co-worker, which I can't say anything about; and a time-travel enthusiast, which I can't say anything about. Hmmm. I guess I can't say much about any of the other characters. Oh, wait! Jen hires an Uber driver who smokes and plays games on his phone. So, there is something descriptive about a character. Who else? Hmm, you know what? This is going nowhere; I can't talk about any of the other characters, so I'll just move on.

// “The past disappears into the fog like the horizon.” //

Since I can't really talk about the plot, let's get a little introspective here. The first third really didn't work for me. Well, that's not true; let me elaborate a bit. There is a part in the book where Jen and her father (who are both lawyers) amuse themselves by watching episodes of Law and Order and picking apart how the lawyers handle legal matters. I like doing the same with time travel movies, TV shows, and books. It's fun to try and figure out where the characters are in time and how their future selves or past selves will be affected by the decisions of a would-be temporal adventurer. What I soon found out was that this book removes high-concept ideas such as the hokey Delorean (no hate, love the car) and T-800's severed arm and replaces them with something much more dramatic and personal: love for your family. Now I know that sounds UBER cheesy, but it works so well in this, and once I pushed all my pre-conceived notions to the side, I really cozied up to the story. It has some pretty crazy moments and I'm not going to lie; I might have got a bit misty around the eyes. So, don't fault it for its lack of substance at the beginning. It starts to ramp up about halfway in.

// “Does anyone care how or why we are forged into who we are? Dark, guarded, funny, whatever; or does it only matter that we are.” //

One thing you are probably wondering is does it deliver? It does. Instead of an info-dump, it gives a quick explanation that is satisfying. Something that is really interesting. I could actually see a sequel in this. You could really cover some other creative avenues, but it's a good standalone nonetheless. I'd recommend checking it out. Maybe you already have, or maybe you will in the future. Either way, it has a great message and one that is worth experiencing.

──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── Extra

The opening of JD Robb's cyberthriller introduces us to Eve Dallas, a no-nonsense police officer who is great at her job, but not as skilled when it comes to personal relationships. A case is thrown on her doorstep that is so dastardly evil, she must step outside the lines of her job as a public official to track down a killer and come to grips with her past in the process.

// The year is 2058, and a few ladies of the night have been murdered in a way that showcases the egotistical nature of the killer. The police find letters of intent, vintage weapons, and scrubbed video, which sets them down a path to bring justice to the victims. \

To me, the book seems a bit to written and hops to conclusions faster than you can say “Book ‘em, Danno.” It never really takes it's let time setting up interesting characters and it meanders it's way through the police procedural elements as well. It's a bit confusing as a whole. On one side, it does its best to play up the political intrigue, but it always seems to find a way to bog it down with on-the-nose statements that, surprisingly, are still a bit relevant today. For example, Eve uses her wit and cunning to pull some strings to patch together a few suspects from some pretty flimsy evidence. One of whom, she starts to sleep with. When confronted about it by her colleagues, she states that she can “sniff” it out that he is not a suspect and that they should all trust her instincts. Eye-rolling's aplenty.

The problem with the book Is that it never truly puts it's mark in the sand declaring it a hard boiled police drama or a steamy revenge thriller. It does everything ok, but I would have enjoyed it more if it was more subtle and focused on the police work or tipped the scales to one side and became much more unhinged. The final confrontation is a tried and true info dump with no teeth. It could only be a handful of people, but the person chosen was pretty obvious. The subject matter is quite distressing and deplorable, but to me, it was used to trigger heartfelt emotions in characters I didn't feel that drawn to.

It's fine, I guess, and the series must be popular because there are a mountain of sequels, but this caper didn't really draw me in.

──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── 2.5 ★'s ──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──

|| “As passions decrease, character is revealed.”

Iain Reid has a knack for writing slow-burning, low-key books that come across as relatively simple ideas on the surface yet have deep, complex threads that peel away in layers. If you have read “I'm Thinking of Ending Things,” I think you will like this one as well.

Penny, an artist and introvert, is an elderly lady who lives alone and must be escorted to a long-term patient care facility after she falls from a stool and injures her head. It was the wish of her deceased partner that she be transferred to this long-term health unit when she was unable to care for herself. Penny immediately ingratiates herself with the new facility, meets the staff and the residents, and finds her accommodations pleasing, which have a view of a forest.

Not everything is rosy and wonderful. As you can expect, the center is home to some very dark secrets. Why are certain places off-limits? Why does the staff seem to want to maintain her hair and nails constantly? And why are there no privacy locks on any of the doors?

|| “We can't hold onto feelings forever.”

One thing is certain: psychological torment happens to both Penny and the reader. It pin-points our innermost fears, such as aging, and hones its heavy literary guise on regret with a larghetto tempo.

|| “ At what cost am I being protected from my age.”

I should probably mention that the events that happen herein are open to interpretation. That is why I think the book is great. You will certainly have quite a bit of contemplation after you flip the last page.

C.J. Tudor's “A Sliver of Darkness” is an exciting short story collection that was fantastic from start to finish. This book was recommended to me by a good GR friend, and I am so glad I saved it to my spooky read list. Each story has quite a bit of intrigue, scares, and immersion that I think just about everyone can enjoy. I had not read any of the author's work before this, but I will definitely start to read her back catalog. One thing that stands out to me is how incredibly relatable each story is. You can tell that the author is having quite a bit of fun writing these stories, and the passion shines through. Each short is fun, dark, atmospheric, and overall creative. The horror is not shocking all the time. Sometimes it is sprinkled on top for a ‘slashtastic' twist or a ferociously brilliant statement.There are still a few spooky-season days left. What are you waiting for? Check this one out!It's so hard to review this as a whole, so I'll just post the mini-reviews of each below.~~~~~~~~~~~❖ Story 1 “End of the Liner” - A post-apocalyptic world where we follow a group of people stuck on a cruise ship for decades. Exciting and full of tense moments! 4⭐'s❖ Story 2 “The Block” - A group of kids break into an old abandoned warehouse and find something unsettling. The location, setting, and twist was fantastic! 4⭐'s❖ Story 3 “Runaway Blues” - A couple loves going to the Pink Flamingo to see their favorite blues singer. The singer has a mysterious hat box given to him by his love. What's inside is haunting. This one was amazing! Full of twists and turns. 5⭐'s❖ Story 4 “The Completion” - A sordid real estate agent will do anything to sell an expensive property and the owner makes a deal that the firm cannot refuse. This one was so dark, grimy, and fun! These short stories keep getting better and better. 5⭐'s❖ Story 5 “The Lion At The Gate” - A lion on a wall might just bite if you get too close. I enjoyed the idea behind this one. Very clever. 4⭐'s❖ Story 6 “Gloria” - This could be my favorite short yet. It throws you right into a Luc Besson-inspired narrative that is compelling and full of tension. 6 out of 5⭐'s

If you enjoyed the first novel, this one is more of the same. We follow our depraved cast of characters as they slog through the backcountry in search of a lost hiker. When they find it, things unravel, things get weird, and things get unsettled. It's a wild ride, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

As I waded my way through this compact and thrilling novella, I couldn't help but feel absorbed by the terror and helplessness of the diverse personalities onboard the cross-country flight. Even though I thoroughly enjoy every Stephen King book I get my hands on, this one hit a bit different for me. It has all of the spine-tingling bits, stab-stab situations, and humor that you have come to expect, but the overall premise is where it shines.

//A group of people board a red-eye flight are traveling from Cali to Boston. Some of them fall asleep, and when they wake up, the world is not as they left it when they drifted off.//

When I think of horror onboard a plane (or just about every time I look out onto the wing of a plane when I fly), my mind instantly drifts to Richard Matheson's short story, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” It's a classic story that plays with your emotions (and sanity) in a claustrophobic setting. Now, in the Langoliers, instead of crazed clowns or residents becoming vampires, these passengers are being stalked by something much more sinister. They are being *** by a *** in a *** and ultimately end up **. Wait, you didn't think I would spoil the plot, right? Well, in all seriousness, there is not much to spoil, and if I told you what happens, I think you might just shrug and say “I'll pass,” but you would be missing out on a fun little story.//“Brian realized that they were unzipping more than the world - they were opening all the depths of forever.”//I do not want to talk about the story too much because I believe it is so much more fun to try and decipher what is happening as you go, but it basically follows a rag-tag group of passengers as they try and find out what is happening to them as something goes awry during their flight. We have an author, a pilot, a visually impaired girl, and a few other colorful characters who make their way through some bewilderment, shocking situations, and life-altering choices. One by one, each passenger gets a moment to air their theory on what is going on and ultimately decide if they are going to help or harm the situation. At this point, you might be thinking (and I did the same) that the passengers are just going to be attacked by some overtly strange creature and the plane will be brought down. It was a fleeting thought for me because this is King we are talking about here; it's going to have that extra bit of symbolism and uncanny creative flair tacked on.──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──Mile high club──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──This next bit does not spoil much, but I thought I would just throw that warning out there just in case. Not all of the tension happens at 30,000 feet. The passengers eventually land in an airport that is deserted and have to try and figure out why nobody is around. Now, I have to think that at the time, this was pretty ground-breaking stuff. We have had an incredible amount of single-location, escape-style stories in the past few years, but this one is just so much fun, and original to boot!──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──Beach balls?──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──The Langoliers. What are they? Well, that would be a spoiler, but I love the fact that they are just an entity, nothing flashy; they just get down to business. Not unlike Michael Myers.//“All the outside world beyond”//All in all, I really had a fun time with this book. I mean, some of the characters are downright despicable and take advantage of others, but there is quite a bit of heartwarming material that elevates the doom and gloom. The time in the air and on the ground was refreshingly simple and not bogged down with clever explanations and exposition. It could easily be a Twilight Zone episode. You know what? It is all coming full circle. Nightmare at 20,000 Feet was a Twilight Zone episode that featured (pause) a (pause) decent (pause) performance (pause) by the one and only William Shatner.***Hopefully, ya got the joke. The pauses were an ode to his incredible acting style.

It is exciting when someone suggests a book that is completely off your radar. Especially one that promises so much. Enter Run & Hide (Myths & Monsters, #1).

It follows a woman, whose family runs a ghost hunter show, to national parks to take exciting photos of gear for an outdoor camping company. Her stepbrother, who is in a popular rock band, wants to tag along for the ride. Little do they know, the rock stars' bandmates do not want him to go, and show up to stifle their plans.

I thought the plot was fairly enjoyable, and it has all the ingredients of a good monster escapade. It's set in a secluded area, creatures are running amok, characters are picked off one by one, and survival instincts are put to the test. I was actually quite pleased to see some film references and literary shout-outs strewn about the plot. It added a bit of reprieve from the lasciviousness. But its main goal is to entertain, so does it succeed? Yeah, I think so. It is what it is, for better or worse. If you want to disconnect from reality for awhile, this will definitely deliver.

But let's not beat around the bush any longer. It's pretty graphic. It's not as bad as I initially thought, but it contains some pretty hefty content. But, I must say, some of the more steamy sequences are intriguing. Weird, but interesting.

I thoroughly enjoy epic fantasy novels, so coming off the heels of the Mistborn trilogy, I had high hopes that The Will of the Many by James Islington would deliver. And boy, did it. In the 30 some odd hours it took me to feverishly read this tome, I felt a range of emotions: amazement at its grandeur, enamored by its complexity, and delighted by the sheer energy of the character journeys. But more than anything, I was in almost constant amazement at its world-building—from the many exciting locations, the scope of the framework, the sparse but extremely effective action sequences, and the way the book rewards you for its seemingly endless setup of the first 30% or so. It will probably come as no surprise that this is probably one of my favorite reads of 2023, and I cannot wait until the next book in the series releases.

Our reticent hero is a teenager who resides in an orphanage and earns his mettle by battling foes in an arena and by keeping a watchful eye over prisoners in a dark, dank prison. (do not touch those sappers!)

After a seemingly positive interaction with a Quintus, Vis is plucked from the orphanage and enrolled in a prestigious, albeit infamous, academy. But before he embarks on his epic quest, he must endure the training of Lanistia. A quick-witted and even-tempered character that is tasked with helping Vis go from zero to hero in a few short weeks.

The training consists of all the regular superfluous studies you come to expect, including fighting, book smarts, magical concepts, passion, socialization, and immense puzzle solving. It's all here, and Vis will need to channel all these teachings in order to succeed at Hogwarts the Academy.

At its heart, the book is a coming-of-age story, and I applaud the minimalistic approach to the actual ‘scene setting'—think broad brush strokes instead of illimitable detail. Typically, I usually champion equal parts detail and substance, but this book gives you just enough to flesh out the blueprints for yourself.

The plot deepens and the extensive amount of setup begins to come to light when Vis enrolls in the academy and begins to uncover some of the murky truths surrounding the institution.

But he does not go at it alone. The tone quickly changes from a fish-out-of-water scenario to being thrown into the deep end of the pool. As Vis moves up the class ranks, acquires more knowledge, and gains more friends, he learns that the tense puzzle games the students play may not be operating ‘above board' and that the staff members might not be all that trustworthy.

From here on out, it's a cohesive collection of Enders Game sensibilities, anime puzzler-like twists, a tad bit of Battle Royal, a dash of Red Rising, a pinch of Maze-Runner, and last but certainly not least, a whole lot of fun!

Bottom line is that it's engaging, and the characters are deep and well-rounded. The groundwork is set for more clever bits of story telling, and I will be first in line to get my eyes on the sequel.

John Gwynne's “The Hunger of the Gods” is a truly epic sequel. The world building is beautifully designed, the story is incredibly engaging, and the battle sequences are raw and relentless. The power of the book is in the characters. They are strong individuals that would circle the land to fight for what they believe in, sacrifice themselves to save the ones they love, and prove their worth to the world. It's bleak, but it also has a great sense of wonder. You want to root for the characters, and it's easy to find one or two of their traits in yourself. I was reading this in a receptive state of mind—I was embroiled in the plot, excited about the resurrection of the gods, and yes, fairly emotional in some heart-wrenching moments.

// The story picks up right where The Shadow of The Gods left off. Orka (my fave), Varg, Elvar (a close second), Biorr, and Gudvarr set the tone and will do anything to achieve their goals in Vigrid. //

In my opinion, the best fantasy novels have very little to do with the actual fight scenes and everything to do with the characters' personal journeys. They go above and beyond what their body is capable of and use their strengths to fight off fears as they embark on their voyage. I love how this series focuses on strong and fierce heroines. From Orka to Rokia, to Elvar and Myrk. You do not want to mess with them, but you would be proud (and honored) to hold up a seax and battle right along side them.

// “Grief, it eats away at us, like rust on iron. But it can be a weapon, too.” //

Right off the bat there is a battle sequence that sets the tone of the entire book. You get exactly what you missed out on the last book. The Gods show up and a fierce battle ensues, leaving you in a state of shock and awe, all the while, wanting more. The stars of the book are once again, Orka and Elvar, a seasoned warrior and a warrior who is coming into her own. Two other key characters are Biorr and Gudvarr. We travel with them as they give us some insight into the “bad guys” and what they are planning for the future of Vigrid. I really enjoyed the depth of the connecting stories and how they are all running steadfast into one another. It's done with heart, grimness, strength, and sometimes, loss.

Orka is still hunting for Breca, and she is using every lead, person, spell, and scrap of information she can find to help her. It's incredibly touching because, on the way to fulfilling her vengeance, she takes time to help others in need when she does not have to. These actions set her apart and make me root for her even more! She is so unselfish with her fighting talents and uses every opportunity to push people away who are trying to help her because she does not want them to get hurt, or worse. Elvar, on the other hand, is taking the Battle-Grim across the land to carry out her blood promise, and Varg is helping his team find Vol. It is a fun journey, and I relished every second of it.

// “I would cross the oceans of the world for you.” //

Okay, incredible story and character development aside, let's talk about some of the fun settings and my favorite sequences. Right at the top of the heap would have to be the tongue creatures that Varg and the crew come across on their way across the ocean. I do not want to give too much away here, but these creatures infect your tongue and slowly rot the body and the mind until you become a shell of yourself and a slave to their will. The description is disgusting, and I had to marvel at the innovative idea. The second would have to be something I can't say without spoilers. Let's just say large things are flying that go bump in the night. The third would have to be the infiltration of Galdur Tower. It was brisk, but oh so exciting. The fourth has to do with Vol. I'll just leave it there. Whew, it was insane. Oh, and one more thing. Can we give a round of applause to the description of the weapons and how they are handled? Also, the shield wall tactics were a fun strategy to learn about, both offensively and defensively.

// “If more made that choice, in their head and hearts, to live a peaceful life with those they love and value, and just allow others to do the same.” //

There is only one more bit I would like to cover before I end the review. When does the third book come out? That ending was crazy. I knew something was up when major things were transpiring and I only had like 20 pages left. But seriously, at the end, what are we left with? Misty eyes, marvelous battles, and some surprising twists. It is a glorious and beautiful tale—one that will appeal to a large number of people. I think it will change the minds of those who really do not like to read fantasy or are on the fence. I'm so glad my GR friends recommended it to me and I will keep the praise flowing to everyone I know as well.

──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── Extra

OK, Hmm. Where to start?

Overall, The Cartographers did not really do much for me. After the opening chapters and the mysterious death at the New York Library, the book just fizzled out, and I became pretty disinterested. I was hoping that the more magical elements might come together and offer up something fun, but it was ultimately confusing and riddled with head scratching events that could have been solved quite easily with a few heart-to-heart conversations.

// Cartographer Nell Young is called to the New York Public Library after her father, Dr. Daniel Young, dies at his desk. She discovers a map hidden away in a secret compartment in his desk, prompting her to investigate the circumstances behind his death. //

The map that Nell finds in the desk is the same map that had ended her promising career at the NYPL. She had found it in a box seven years prior, informed her father about it, and he had her fired. Since then, Nell could not find a job in the field and has been working for a fledgling artwork re-creation shop. Now, this is pretty much where everything goes south for me. Nell begins to piece together information from her parents' past from old college friends. These flashback segments are pretty dry and lack any real progression to the overall pace and plot. I was waiting for some sort of revelation or juicy tidbit to emerge, but nothing really did. The source of tension was a black car that kept following Nell and a few police that show up at inopportune times. That's about it. Some other associates end up dying at the library, but it seems that most of the main characters, and the police, for that matter, could not be bothered. It never really gave a sense of any looming danger, which was kind of disappointing. If any danger did rear its head, there was a quick out, which everyone seemed to be mystified about, me included.

// “Why had he let her work so hard her whole life, and then ruined it all in one moment?” //

I feel like it's hard to really delve too much into the relationships because there is not much to cling on to. The other thing that really felt underwhelming was the map creation ideas. The Dreamers' Atlas felt more like an exploratory art project than something more profound, and I was kind of baffled by the company Felix worked for. The AI was brought in as a counterargument to paper maps and their usefulness, but it just didn't have any teeth.

// “Maps were love letters written to times and places their makers had explored. They did not control the territory- they told its stories.” //

Other than the thin investigative portions, we learn a bit about a magical town, let's say. Now I enjoy magical realism just as much as the next person, but I need a bit more to go on. I just wish their was more imaginative descriptions, some stakes, some fascinating rules, anything to keep it interesting. I had a hard time looking past some of the plot points, but like I said at the beginning, I just do not think this was for me.

──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── Extra

Over the years, books have told us not to mention things like Fight Club and He Who Shall Not Be Named, while movies have graciously reminded us not to cross the streams and to never create time machines that feed on plutonium.

Well, add Dead Inside to that never-remind or mention list because it is just about the most depraved thing I have ever set my eyes on.

You might be asking yourself what this is about, and well, I would usually write some sort of synopsis, but it's quite literally impossible without possibly being banned from the platform. So instead, I'll just dance around some themes.

Let's begin by talking about art for a second. Remember the scene in Tim Burton's Batman where the Joker looks through Vale's photography portfolio and says it's crap until he sees some of her more disturbing pictures of war? Jokers eyes light up, and he is drawn to her, even though his perception of reality and Vales could not be more different. Well, what if they were the same? What if Vale was into the Jokers homicidal art and the person behind the makeup? Not only that, but what if she wanted to participate? More omelets would be made, and many more eggs would be broken.

This is all a roundabout way of saying I get what the author was going for. It's sick and twisted, but there is a semblance of a crazed love story wrapped up in an extreme tapestry of vile unconformity. The characters do not suppress their impulses; they embrace them. I took it in as humor/dark satire (almost like an extended Onion article) and was actually laughing quite a bit. It reminds us that not everyone in this world is the same or has similar tastes, outlooks on life, or desires. For every prominently framed Van Gogh Starry Night in a house, there is someone out there with a Saturn by Goya. Tomayto, tomahto.

The writing was quite good and there are literary references that wink at the reader, music selections that were just down-right funny used in their context, and a few ideas plucked from a few modern French horror movies, albeit taken to a whole different stratosphere.

Overall, you know how boxers say they left a piece of themselves in the ring after a tough fight? Well, I had a similar thought when I made it to the last page. Just trade out the loss of brain cells for the loss of sanity.

“Starship Troopers” is less of a space-fairing action novel and more of a futuristic military procedural manual. It won a Hugo in the 1960s, was cheered for its take on a future military, and garnered many positive reviews at the time.

So, what is it about? Well, this is where it gets kind of murky. On the surface, we follow a young man named Juan “Johnny” Rico as he joins the military, particularly the mobile infantry. A war is raging between humans and a bug-like alien species.

Let me curb your enthusiasm a bit. If you were thinking about going to grab the butter-flavored popcorn to sit down to a book of action, this is not going to do it for you. Your popcorn will become stale long before you reach the end. It does have a few combat sequences, but for the most part, it is an ideological dive into fairly narrow political viewpoints.

First and foremost, this book was not for me. I am not all that interested in talking about the controversial aspects of the book, such as its pro-war symbolism, voting rights, dehumanizing, or human moral psychology. All one has to do is pick up a history book for a lesson in these matters. If dreamy political idealism is your thing, this might do it for you.

The structure has quite a bit of exposition, and the info dumps are quite rampant. For me, these sections really stuck out. You have to make up your own mind if you feel these ideals are preachy or have enough introspection to garner a more worldly conversation. I'm just pointing it out.

A positive: I sort of liked the descriptions of the spaceships, the suits, the weapons, and the powered armor specifically, which seems to be a staple in most modern military books, movies, and games.

A intriguing and thoughtful look at a potential future. As a narrative it is thought provoking and eye opening. It's as much about political intrigue as it is about human nature.

I enjoyed the scientifically charged romp through space. The only thing holding it back for me was the emotional beats of the characters back on Earth. I thought the ending wrapped up a bit too early but the first 75 percent of this book had me on the edge of my seat.

A great little political thriller with some fun twists. The most interesting thing to me was looking up the real life hotels, tourist areas and exciting locations in and around France which were mentioned in the book.

Hmmm. A gothic tale of tragedy set in an old home on top of a hill with thrills that go bump in the night, sign me up! This should have been something I really enjoyed, but alas, it was pretty mediocre.

The tale begins as most in the genre do; someone is summoned to an old rickety home to spend some nights inside it and horror ensues, yadda, yadda, yadda. So, the initial pages were setup quite well. I enjoyed the exploration of culture and the initial meetings of characters. The personalities of the seemingly small town run the gamut from secretive to boisterous. Most seem unwilling to tell the truth or give any semblance of what might have gone on in or around the home in the past, and as you can imagine, it is some pretty messed up stuff.

I'll try and tip toe around this next bit, but the latter half is where it lost me. Certain buzzwords are used to explain concepts that require greater detail; some scenes of horror are incredibly repetitive; and after being through the proverbial meat grinder, the main character is seemingly keen on trudging through when a clear solution is quite evident. Now, I know this is horror and one has to suspend their disbelief a bit, but I found myself wanting a few more interesting set pieces or meaningful plot devices. It kind of meandered on towards the end.

Let's go into detail a tiny bit. The bathroom scene is a fairly obvious metaphor and was traumatic, but the will they, won't they that stemmed from it and the call backs to that particular scene were pretty egregious. The other plot device, without spoiling anything, is the Gloom buzzword. To me, it needed to be fleshed out a bit more, to germinate a bit more, place the Last of Us game plot in this setting and we would have fireworks. And last, but certainly not least, was the exposition. Once the info dump reared its ugly head, I was pretty much on the outs. It had that Twilight Zone feel, but the happenings were a bit too familiar and uninteresting. Oh, and the gore is definitely for shock value. It just didn't do anything for me.

I am an unapologetic horror fan and find symbiotic stories pretty fascinating. This book pulls from many themes of videogames, movies, and gothic tales before it, but, to me, it lacks that extra spark of creativity.

For starters, I am a HUGE fan of classic detective series. My best-of list would include the master, Sherlock Holmes; the feisty Belgian, Poriot; the holy brother, Cadfael; the godfather, Auguste Dupin; and last but certainly not least, my first love, Nancy Drew.

The reason I bring that up is because in “The Honjin Murders,” the quirky detective uses his knowledge of old classic detective novels to solve the crime. That's right! And believe me, I was all eyes—you know, the all-ears equivalent. Just run with me here.

So, we have a 1930s setting, a locked-room murder, many suspects (including a masked person with three fingers), and a fun detective on the case. What could go wrong?

Well, I'll tell you, but before I do, I might bring up a few analogies that might give a very slight inclination toward the killer's mindset. So, if you want to go in completely blind, skip the rest.

Okay, I lied. If you are still reading the review, you must post some of your favorite detectives at the bottom so I can look them up and discover some other fun series.

Really now, let's continue.

Where were we? Oh, that's right. What could go wrong? Well, as much as it pains me to say it, the reveal was just so implausible. I really, really wanted to like this story, but I think Leonardo da Vinci would have a hard time developing and executing this ruse, especially over the course of two days. I was thinking, maybe there will be a reveal within the reveal or a twist that would make me gasp or perhaps the victim was actually someone else. Nope, it just kind of fizzles out.

Now if you've read this book and are thinking, no way, Chris, it was innovative how this connected to that and this was pulled here, and that taut line held the so and so in place, etc., and to that, I would say, “Sorry, I'm just not buying it. It's too elaborate to pull off, the theatrics are too grand, the variables are too great, it would have been too easy to just follow the blood.” Just sayin'

I was not all that knowledgeable about Vikings prior to reading this book. In my mind, they were violent, seafaring savages who wanted nothing more than to pillage and conquer. But as I read more about their fascinating history, I found that they were expert explorers, developed technological innovations used for trade, and were one of the first Europeans to arrive in North America. Most of what I knew about their history and their looks was just stereotypical and not all that accurate. Enter The Shadow of The Gods. Right off the bat, I was inundated with terms such as brynja, holmganga, and niðing without any sort of introduction or detailed explanation. It was really a joy to sit down and take a look at some of these items and their closely related counterparts to get a better picture of how certain pieces of armor fit, the intricacies of how shields were attached to the body, and the shape of some of the blades they wield. This Viking-esque story is so incredibly accessible, so grab the popcorn or the kale chips if you are so inclined, because if you are like me, your eyes will be glued to the page for long stretches of time.

// A norse inspired epic-fantasy tale brimming with magic, comradery, and bloody vengeance. //

Okay, so the main theme in this book is revenge. Sure, there are a great many places to visit, such as villages, sacred grounds, frost-tipped mountains, market places, and seaport towns, but the meat and potatoes of the story revolve around following a few MCs as they look to satiate their bloodlust at some point or another.

// “Courage is being scared of a task and doing it anyway” //

Orka, the huntress, steals the show! I mean, she is just such an amazingly written character. Something tragic happens early on, and she must exact revenge for her family. As we follow her throughout the book, we find that she is fearsome, headstrong, vicious with a blade, but compassionate as well. I'm not going to lie; I would flip ahead and look at the chapter titles to see how long I had to wait until my next Orka fix. We also follow Varg, who is on a hero's journey, and Elvar, who is my second favorite character. But whether they are Battle-Grim, Tainted, or Bloodsworn, heads roll quite often, and it's pretty graphic.

// “You must learn to fight and survive under the worst conditions, not the best” //

The author does a fantastic job describing the visceral and fierce battles. Lots of red lines drawn, bones breaking, and teeth being eaten. (Yeah, those images really rattled my thought cage as well.) I appreciated the fact that the fighting sequences were fast-paced, detailed, and filled with purpose. My three favorites would be the Orka infiltration towards the beginning, the fight in the alley, and the troll battle. Oh, wait, one more: the fight on the bridge. That was pretty gnarly. It's not all shields and pointy spears though; there is magic, a plethora of creatures, and something towards the end that magnifies the scale of the world and made me say, “Yes, more of that, please.”

Stephen King writes epic tales of horror with flashes of symbolism that induce panic, fear, and thoughtfulness, that needle their way into the psyche.

Misery was certifiably nuts from start to finish.

This book has no demonic cars, vampires, or reincarnated pets; what it has is much worse. It has Annie Wilkes, and she wants a happy ending to her favorite book series. Be afraid, be very afraid!

Two buddies take a fishing trip in a remote area of Ireland near an old decrepit house. While exploring, they come across an old manuscript filled with unimaginable horrors.

Cosmic horror is the central theme running throughout this pulse-raising book. The manuscript that the two feverously read features an old recluse who spins fantastical stories about his time at the house. Some interactions with things that go bump in the night are familiar within the genre, while others are quite innovative for the time and are brought to a fever pitch: exploring cellars with a lantern, visiting the moors at night, and gloomy caverns that descend into chasms.

|| “It was not Halloween. If I were telling a story for amusement's sake, I should probably place it on that night of nights; but this is a true record of my own experiences, and I would not put pen to paper to amuse anyone.”

I felt I was walking the unlit corridors with the recluse and pepper (his dog), twisting around corridors and pondering what evil lay ahead. There is a keen sense of foreboding the author implies, which just amplifies the subtle scares and magnifies the twists and turns. Overall, I just think it is so ahead of its time! Do you like Gothic elements? It has it. Do you like other worldly creatures crashing the party? Call the Ghostbusters. Do you like decaying mansions and those who lift trap doors to find out what's beyond? Yep, this has it.

Oh, and the cosmic horror elements just put it over the top! I do not want to give much away, but it has the most ingenious visual of variable space and time. Very Lovecraftian.

Add it to your Halloween repertoire. You will not be disappointed.

|| “Then, at least, I should have known my danger, and been able to meet it; but to wait like this, through a whole night, picturing all kinds of unknown devilment, was to jeopardize one's sanity.”