Gavin Patterson
A murder mystery with some light cyberpunk and a dash of insomnia.
ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What would happen if humans became sleepless? Yes, people could work longer and earn more money, learn new skills, spend more time with loved ones. However, the impact on our planet, the increased food consumption.. is it really a good change?
We follow Jamie, who after a traumatic loss, finds his boss dead. The story grips you from the beginning and doesn't let you go. We learn and investigate along with Jamie to find out the truth about the death and the sleepless secret.
I really enjoyed this one. The characters are well developed and there are plenty twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Overall I give this 4/5 - highly recommend for detective thriller lovers with a cyberpunk twist
Let's chat books on twitter @readsgavin
A Godzilla cheese fest.
Jamie Gray loses his job and is thrown into a role of delivering food to people's doors. Until one day, he serves an old friend who invites him on a journey, one that will change him forever.
The story is fairly short and I managed to finish this within an hour or two. KPS doesn't break down any new doors and it isn't very deep, however it was fun at times. I couldn't get used to the humour, it felt like a cheesy sit com and I wanted to roll my eyes one quite a few occasions. I really can't see anyone living with their sense of humour, it felt like you were waiting on the fake audience laughter.
This was maybe not my type of book, it had big potential and it could have been something special but fell flat.
2.5 stars out of 5
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A powerful and thought provoking first instalment to the Rift Walker series.
Ig who is rescued after his captivity within a horrific cult. His life is one of struggle and pain. Perhaps his rescuers can change his life for the better, perhaps not.
Creative world building. A world full of stone and fire, the whole time I was envisioning a hell on earth. Pyremoss filters through tunnels, lighting the ways through the cold, icy stone walls. Pools of red hot lava litter the smiths working areas. I definitely haven't read anything similar and it was great to read about.
Characters where both charming and hateful. Ig goes through a horrible journey, his flesh binding him to the will of his master, forcing him to do any horrible deed they deem necessary. Abusive relationships are paramount in this story, showing you the evils in which people will go to, in order to control and use someone to their benefit.
The plot did slow down quite considerably at points. I don't want to say a lot about the plot, it's best if you RAFO. It did keep me going. A lot of battle scenes, which were really cool when they included the magic system..oh the magic system, wait until you see what Ig can do! A lot of battle intrigue. The plot is Ig and the gang who are trying to reclaim the throne and that's all I'll say.
4/5 stars. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys their fantasy with a dash of BrandoSando and Pierce Brown
Reality TV gone wrong.
A group of people take part in a reality tv show, where contestants have to survive on an island in Scotland, with the bear minimum of necessities.
The story is told in first person, through the eyes of Maddy, a young women who has spent her whole life being smothered and overprotected, by her parents.
As things escalate, after the boat to bring them home doesn't come, we watch as humans reduce into a primitive and animalistic nature.
This is a story of survival at all costs. It is a quick and enjoyable read. It reads very well and there is an unnerving tension that flows through the book, never relenting until the very end.
The characters are all from different backgrounds and they are very well thought out. I could like a character one moment, for them to be hated the next chapter. They all breakdown at different speeds and it really shows you what a hive mind mentality can bring, in this situation.
The main character, Maddy, is likeable. I usually always sided with her. You have to keep in mind the sheer paranoia and anxiety that she will be facing in this potentially fatal scenario, especially after her extremely shelter life and her experiences.
Very lord of the flies meets survivor tv show!
This isn't one of my go-to genres. I normally only stick to sci-fi / fantasy, but after reading this, I will be on the look out for more of what I'd started as a ‘palette cleanser'.
4/5 very suspenseful and enjoyable read.
A fun mix of Indiana Jones & Uncharted.
Quick and enjoyable read. A lot of high stakes action. The characters did gel together and you felt they did care for one another, at times the dialogue was a little rough. We left on a cliffhanger, not knowing where and what will happen after the climax.
I would have liked Luke to become more confident and stronger after each action scene, however he just stayed the same man. I'd have liked to have seen him become this sort of Indiana Jones / Nathan Drake sort of character.
Overall it was definitely a fun read, parts I felt could have been improved, although they weren't enough to make me dislike the story. 3.5/5
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The legend of Black Jack is a fun and enjoyable read. I initially expected this to be a pirates of the Caribbean type of story, but I was wrong..and pleasantly surprised.
We follow Jack Swift, who after a very traumatic experience, is left in the world on his own. He isn't the most popular boy, and where he lacks in social skills, he gains in others.
His life goes bad to worse, living in a run down apartment with a horrible carer. That is until he is met by a very abnormal, scary...thing...that whisks him off into a different world.
This is where we begin the journey that we find Jack Swift become the famous Black Jack.
Jack is a very likeable kid, someone you root for straight away. Suffering from possible PTSD and anxiety, his journey is one that is full of love and determination. You can feel the Jack's emotions as he is chased by an unrelenting threat.
The side characters are brilliant. I couldn't pick a favourite, however, two I enjoyed most are Rooker and Memphis. Each and every character was well crafted, you quickly felt as though you knew each and all of them.
The world building was very fun. It felt as though it was a swashbuckling Narnia (if that even makes sense). Every place was alive with inhabitants that felt different from eachother. All the creatures we meet along the way were all different. A world i would definitely take a trip to, if I could!
Overall this was a very enjoyable read, I had guessed the twist or surprise early. I won't spoil it for anyone and it certainly never dulled the experience.
4/5 - great read and thoroughly enjoyed
Twitter - @readsgavin
I try not to give 5/5 because in my eyes it should be reserved for the very best..and this is definitely one of them.
A medieval setting, following four 18 year olds from very different backgrounds, who start to develop powers. Powers that are forbidden and hunted. Only a dream that they all share connects the four. They must unite or else succumb to the will of whoever is hunting them.
All four characters have a distinct voice, each having their own thoughts and moral compass that is completely different from the rest. My favourite has the be Corin, they all go through a lot in this book, however I do feel the best connection between him and I love his companion..I can't say anymore!
They all, or most of them, have moments where you may disagree with them, which I love because we are all humans, we all make decisions differently.
The story telling is great, this is one of those books where you can't put it down, and you will be thinking about the characters while doing you whatever chores you have. The world is very believable, you certainly feel as though you can see the world through each character's eyes.
The brutal world that Jackson has crafted is beautiful and scary. The characters are some of the best I've read over the last few years. I cannot wait for the sequel to find out what happens next. Congratulations to the author for this brilliant piece of work!
5/5 stars, of course. You can find me at Twitter - @readsgavin
Another great episode from RJB!
Quick review - great characters who continue to grow and develop, each having their own values and moral compass.
Plot continued to push on, twists and turns throughout (I called the twist with a key character), however there's a lot that takes you by surprise.
Ending leaves you wanting more, and I for one cannot wait for the conclusion.
4/5 stars
Very interesting story and unputdownable at times.
The story follows a young thief named Sancia, who after doing the biggest heist of her life, finds herself involved in something far worse than she could ever imagine.
‘Grudges,' said Sancia, ‘are a privilege I can't afford.'
Characters - it didn't take long to be invested in Sancia's story. RJB done a fine job in making you root for Sancia from the minute the story started moving. A likeable rouge, who is fighting her own demons, amongst the houses of Tevanne.
The other side characters were likeable also, however not as much as Sancia. The bond the characters start building is enjoyable to read. My favourite of them all has to be Clef but the less said about him the better!
Magic / Worldbuilding - the magic system is fascinating. I personally haven't read anything similar and would say it is unique. It does sit amongst the likes of Brandon Sanderson, I feel both writers have similar skills of building their magic systems.
The world of Tevanne is very though out. From the slums all the way up to the main houses, each area designed differently, with separate states of residents and their own personal agendas.
The plot moves along nicely, keeping at a decent pace. The pay off is great at the end and makes you excited to read the second of the trilogy - Shorefall.
The heist set up is nice, I've not read much heist stories but would like to read more after this.
It does leave on a sort of cliff hanger, so be prepared to be invested in the full 3 books.
Overall 4/5 - enjoyable read throughout. Recommend for anyone who enjoys their heists with a side of magic and likeable characters.
The first book in the Winnowing Flame trilogy. A world where Elves and Humans live separately after a terrible war. Now a tree god is dead and the Eboran elves are slowly dying, the world of Sarn facing its own demise.
This is a fun and enjoyable journey, although there are moments of dark times and horror scenes, all formulating into a brilliant epic fantasy ride, which we are only 1 book into!
You follow the 3 main characters; Vintage - the rich and fantastic captain of the group. Tor - the serious Eboran elf with a passion for wine and human blood. Finally, Noon - the escaped witch with a tendency to set things on fire.
All 3 characters had their own views and beliefs, each with their own reason to trek on this journey. I honestly could not pick a favourite.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Superb story telling from a great author. I'm going to read this series alongside Foundryside, just to keep things fresh.
Overall 4/5 - recommend for anyone who enjoys witty characters and great characterisation, some horror elements and a nice slicing of epic fantasy.
Half a story.
If I knew that this book was just a warm up to the 2nd book, I wouldn't have decided to read it.
This is the origin story of the pilgrimage, telling the tales of each individual on why they are on the journey to the Shrike. Each story is told in a distinct way, that you do feel each character's voice is unique. With that being said, I only really enjoyed the first story as it was filled with suspense and some horror. The rest, I had to chore through.
I did manage to finish the book, although it was a challenge to stay motivated. The story is told well and it is somewhat fun, where I can see people liking this, however it just wasn't for me.
2 stars because I can see that there obviously is quality in the writing and I did enjoy the first pilgrim's story.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
A story of man vs ogres, told in the 2nd person. I didn't think I was going to enjoy this one, however that quickly changed.
The narrator is very likeable and tells the story of a lovable rogue, who daringly faces off the bigger, meaner and scarier ogres. The prose is fantastic, making every paragraph enjoyable. The way the story is told, it makes you want to keep turning and reading what is next.
I swallowed this up in one day...I usually take a week for each book but this is completely un-put-downable!
Character and plot progress nicely. You learn about the differences in not only build but in way of life.
You are following the rise of the main character, who gradually unveils the truth about his ogre masters, leaving you turning and turning each page, learning along with the MC.
The ending took me by surprise. I won't shed anymore on what exactly and why but it gave me a lot to think about.
5/5 - first 5 star rating of the year and thank you NetGalley & Adrian Tchaikovsky for this fun ride.
This was an easy read for me. The story was enjoyable, even without reading the prior stories, however I have played the Witcher games which did help my understanding.
The Blood of Elves mainly centres around the POV of Ciri, the child surprise, who is very likeable. Geralt is great, as expected. The other characters were good, I enjoyed Triss and Yennifer. Dandelion was a stand-out, lovable and cheeky.
The world-building was somewhat lacking. I would have liked to hear more about the other races within the world, albeit I understand there may be more of this in the other books.
Overall, 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4 as I did really enjoy it and I would recommend this to friends who enjoy fantasy.
I am blown away. This is a masterpiece of work. Joe is currently dining with the great fantasy writers, alongside GRRM, Robin Hobb, Brandon Sanderson, amongst others who should be named but I'm far too lazy.
This is one of the worlds that you could read for the rest of your life and never tire.
The plot was fantastic, twist and turns throughout, keeping you on your toes.
Characters, well this is the author's speciality. He could make you hate someone for half the book, to then turn him/her into one of your favourites. The growth these characters go through is brilliant.
World building is top tier. You feel as though you are in this world with the characters, living, breathing the world of Adua and the like.
It doesn't get anymore epic than this. No criticisms, none at all. 5/5, my best read of 2021.
Em what?
My mind is blown, Blake Crouch has sent me on a multi universe, mind bending, head splitting journey..and it was great!
Characters were great - I think we can all relate to the main character. I found that I wanted to hate Jason2 but part of me thinks, what would I do if every day I regretted not taking the chance to be happy with the woman of my dreams.
3/5 stars - I would have enjoyed this book much more if it weren't for the little girl, she grated on me far too much. Surely kids don't actually act like that, especially if there were bloody dinosaurs after them!
Michael Crichton does extremely well in raising the pace in the last 30% of the book. The hectic scenes are non stop, I couldn't put it down.
The detail about the dinosaurs and the characters are definitely the best of this book, the eccentric Hammond and the know-it-all Malcolm are great.
Enjoyed much more than film.
5/5 - my favourite this year..please read this book!
Character building was great - not one character i was bored with, everyone had their own mind and felt separate from the rest. I particularly enjoyed reading about Shallan.
The magic system was very flushed out, as expected from Brandon Sanderson. You learn so much more towards the end of the book, opens it up for next episode.
World building was brilliant, so many different animals, fauna and races. This is what I enjoyed most.
Please read!
I didn't quite enjoy this one. It was fairly fast paced, I liked the setting being stuck in an underwater station/lab. I didn't connect with the characters and the type of scares weren't my cup of tea.
I enjoyed The Troop by Nick Cutter so I'd read more of his work, however this one just didn't quite hit the spot for me.
Kuang has written something that will make you laugh, cry, rage and sometimes gasp at the horrible, barbaric scenes.
Rin is a character you can't help but root for, she grows so much already within this first book, I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for the next two books.
Warning - some scenes are hard to get through, but it does paint a vivid and cruel painting of what war can be. I'm glad, in a way, that Kuang went into this detail as life, especially war, isn't all rainbows and butterflies.
