Audible Book Review - Into the Wild by Larry Correia, The Malcontents book 2

This is the problem with reviewing a Larry Correia book. I go to find a picture and end up getting sucked into his blog for longer than anticipated. I was excited to learn that the last Dead Six novel is approaching final edits which will mean we should get it in about a year. I'm sure I'll be able to wait until then. Probably. Anyway, enough about future books. Into the Wild was a fun ride featuring the great cast of characters that we got to know in Into the Storm. The Malcontents are more respectable now, but still known as a rough and tumble bunch. Ray Porter narrates the book and does a great job even though some of the characters don't sound the same way as before. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. We get to see more character growth from many of the characters and it's fun to see the Malcontents in an environment that we haven't seen them in before. All in all it was very enjoyable.

Plot: Royal Sygnaran Storm Knights have to put up with a lot. As the Kingdom's heavy infantry they get thrown into some of the roughest battles against some of the most dangerous foes. Armed with insulated armor and weapons that channel and shoot light lightning there is very little that they can't kill. And now one squad of the infamous Sixth Platton, "Madigan's Malcontents," has been tasked with "babysitting some academics" on a research trip in the wild mountains deep inside Cygnar's own borders. Kelvan Cleasby has not been an officer long but he knows better than to ask "what's the worst that can happen." The academics may be surprised when Cleasby has their heavy war jack, Headhunter, packed up and brought with them but in the end they're glad. What leaves Ironhead station as a camping trip in the mountains rapidly turns into a fight for survival that even the Malcontents may not be up to winning. Good thing they meet an old "friend" before the trouble starts. But then, Savio Montero Acosta is always looking for trouble and he has yet to be disappointed.

My personal favorites: As always, Correia does a great job and blending action with story. I cared about the characters and wanted to see them succeed. I was even cheering for the villain at one point, and not because one I wanted one of the good guys to die because he annoyed me. (I'm looking at you Dr. Burrows from Closer). Larry does a good job of making the villain sympathetic and still engaging. For those that are unfamiliar with Warmachine gaming world the book shows us more and helps us feel connected without treating us like children. We also get a glance at more world wide conflicts. And of course, who doesn't love a commanding officer who doesn't hesitate to order his men to shoot him.

Considerations: Just as in Into the Storm the language is low and there is no sensuality. This book had more gore and descriptive violence as the foes they fought were bestial berserkers who followed rites of blood sacrifice. Nothing I haven't come across in other young adult books. I make this special note of it as it is more than in the last book.

From city to mountains, from fortress to the top of train cars the Malcontents continue to deliver. I kept wondering what was going to happen next and Correia didn't leave me wanting. The only thing I don't like about Correia's writing is that I listen to it too quickly. One of the best things about it though is that I can listen to it over and over and still find it entertaining. The total length of Into the Wild was nine hours and forty-five minutes.

Audible Book Review - Death Weavers by Brandon Mull, Five Kingdoms book four

As my new credit is coming today (can't wait) I should review the book I got with my last one. I've enjoyed the Five Kingdom books by Mull. I re-listened to Crystal Keepers in preparation to getting Death Weavers and enjoyed getting back into the world (or worlds). Death Weavers was a good read and I like the way that Mull is weaving his worlds together. Here is a link to Audible page for the book. We learn more about The Outskirts in this book then we ever did in any of the others. It sets up the challenges of the final conflict we'll see in the last book. Keith Nobbs continues to narrate the series and continues to do a good job. I'm looking forward to the last book.

Plot: Cole, Mira, and the rest of the crew has entered Necronum in search of two of Mira's sisters who have come under duress there. Necronum's shaping is centered on death and all of the mysteries associated with it. In Necronum ghosts, called echos, can be seen and can even act in certain situations. Their search takes them from caves where memories dwell to literally the other side of death. Cole is forced to make some hard decisions and he embarks on a journey across the lands of the hereafter. There he will meet new allies and enemies and learns what must be done if he is ever to return home to stay. You can expect nothing less when you set out to find Destiny.

My personal favorites: The question of destiny was a great one. I loved the questions that faced the characters and the decisions they had to make. The new and newly re-acquainted companions were a lot of fun. As previously mentioned, I like how Mull is weaving together his worlds of his books.

Considerations: Like the others, there was nothing of concern for young adults in this book. Non-graphic violence, no sensuality of any kind. Mull writes to his audience's level very well.

It's always hard to review a book in the middle of the series without giving away spoilers. It makes for short reviews. I enjoyed Death Weavers and am awaiting the final book, curious to see what Mull has in mind. The total length was 13 and half hours.

Audible Book Review - The Dresden Files books 3-12 by Jim Butcher

So I haven't posted a book review in a while because I wanted to get through all the books I had in the series. Thanks to my cousin I was able to get audible versions of the bulk of the Dresden Files that I started reading a could of years ago. SO, you can consider this a review of Grave Peril, Summer Knight, Death Masks, Blood Rites, Dead Beat, Proven Guilty, White Knight, Small Favor, Turn Coat, Changes, and Ghost Story. It was a lot of listening, about 154 hours, give or take a hour or two. They were all narrated by James Marsters who was marvelous. I really like Butcher's writing and despite listening to a adventure/thriller series for almost three months straight I rarely tired of hearing either about the story or James Marsters' voice. There were a couple of times when I would feel annoyed with an attitude or action that the Dresden had decided to take, but without fail the next time I started listening had me back in the story and loving the characters in a matter of minutes. This says a lot about an author. It took me twice to get through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix because I was so annoyed with Potter's attitude but when I got annoyed with Dresden I just had to give it a minute and I knew that Butcher would suck me right back in. I'm not going to try to provide a plot summery for each book, but, in Butcher's own words, Grave Peril is where the much larger story arch gets started and, while it is still moving forward at the end of Ghost Story it does wrap up a pretty big part of it. Harry Dresden is far from done. As of this writing there are two books and an anthology that are past this. I'm going to see a friend next month who has promised to help me get the next couple of books, so I'll review those when I get done with them. It may be a bit. Despite enjoying Dresden, I may need a bit more time before getting back into his story. It's pretty intense and a change of pace and palate is nice every once in a while. Can I just say I really don't like the way Blogger arranges pictures?

Plot: Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard private investigator, is not known for holding back when innocents are in danger. Luckily he is not alone. Through his contacts in the supernatural world Harry has met righteous knights (complete with swords and shining armor), a pack of young werewolves, small time practitioners, necromancers (complete with zombies) gangsters, demons, ghosts, vampires, the Fae (Matrons, Queens, Kings, Ladies, and Knights - all worthy of the capitol letter), shades, fallen angles, mercenaries, oracles, and, or course, fellow wizards. All of whom want him to work for them, kill him, or are willing to help him. His job is to know which is which. When war breaks out and Harry starts to lose friends and allies, he finds himself stretching and pushing himself more and more. With every victory he finds himself losing something. The question is how far can he go before he bets too big and loses it all.

My personal favorites: Butcher has created a cast of heroes, villains, gods, and demons that are anything but two dimensional. and are all intriguing. Whether it's the polka loving Butters, the mysterious gangster Markon, the relentless Warden Morgan, or the good intentioned Molly - and these are predominately side characters - the cast is well envisioned and well developed. It's incredible to see each character go through their own story arc and experience their own triumphs and failures. Karen Murphy, Dresden's closest friend, is a delight in and of herself. Unfailing in her loyalty and stalwart in her duty she backs Dresden to the hilt (literally on occasion) and reaps the rewards and the consequences. Butcher does an incredible job of showing us exactly what Harry's actions lead to and many of them are not pretty. The action is very well written and the story arc is both vast and intimate. All in all, fantastic writing.

Considerations: The books do have occasional strong language. I would be surprised to be reminded of that fact, but did not find it used inappropriately. There is also sensuality, some books don't have much, others more so. The most blatant sexual references were in Death Masks which was a little intense with some brief, limited, graphic descriptions, Despite all the violence and the supernatural aspects there aren't a lot of graphic descriptions of violence. On par or less than Corriea's books. I probably wouldn't recommend these books for young adults, even older ones. For anybody else, go for it.

Going through these books was quite a ride. They were a big help in handling the stress of job searching and starting my new job. I've recently finished another new book and the audible version of an old favorite that I need to review. I'm also re-listening to Crystal Keepers as I'm anticipating getting the new Five Kingdoms book next week. My wife is thinking about picking up the latest Lockwood & Co. even though she's already read it. She really likes the productions on Audible and I have been encouraging her because I have not read it yet. So, yeah, lots of stuff on my plate - reading wise. The Dresden books were great and I will finish the series. It's just a matter of time.

Book Review - The Aeronaut's Windlass:The Cinder Spire Series book 1 by Jim Butcher

I've reviewed a couple of Butcher's Dresden Files books and I enjoyed them quite a bit. I would like to read more of his stuff, but my library doesn't carry the next one I need. Luckily, I was able to get The Aeronaut's Windlass through my library's eBook collection. I was excited because I really liked Butcher's other stuff and I can appreciate, and enjoy, a good steam punk. Windlass was not a good steam punk, it was a great steam punk. It was accessible, mysterious, funny, intriguing, exciting, and captivating. Because I have a lot of reading time on the bus, I don't tend to read to myself at home. However, I couldn't get enough of this book and finished in traditional fashion, lying in bed unable to sleep until I finished it. It's the third of six books that I've got on my plate at the moment. And I'm glad that I was able to enjoy it.

Plot: The Spires are community that rises into the sky in structures built by unknown hands that are connected via airships powered by crystals grown over years, decades, and centuries. While they usually get along, every once in a while there are difficulties. Spire Albion is a prosperous "country", ruled by a council of noble houses and protected by the Fleet. Captain Francis Madison Grimm is not with the fleet. He was, but he was drummed out for cowardice, or at least that's what the official report said. Since then he's been making his way as a privateer wreaking havoc on Spire Aurora's merchant shipping. Enough that they decided to try to shoot down his ship. Limping home Grimm arrives in time to help repel a full scale assault on Spire Albion by Spire Aurora. Grimm isn't the only one that is able to lend a hand at the time of the assault. Gwendolyn, Benedict, Bridget and Rowl (a cat) are recruits finishing their training in the Guard who find themselves faced with the enemy. Showing great coolness and cunning while under fire they catch the eye of the man in charge and are tasked with a mission of finding out what the attack was trying to cover. There is more than meets the eyes going on.

My personal favorites: I liked everything about this book, the characters, the plot, the world, the action. Everything. It was gripping and complex, yet easy to follow. The cats were wonderful, adding intrigue and comic relief in turn. Yet everything was balanced so well that it didn't feel too much at any time. The tension was consistent but I didn't get desensitized. The learning curve was fairly lengthy but it was a gradual and, again, easy to follow. Butcher does a great job with action and suspense and there were several stand up and cheer moments. All in all it was a great read and an awesome ride.

Considerations: There was plenty of violence, but little of it was graphic. Some strong language, but nothing my that jumped out - a lot of it was in world language. Some sensuality, but very, very little, and nothing descriptive. I would probably recommend it for more of a mid to later young adult (sixteen and up) more for situation and technology considerations than for anything else.

I loved The Aeronauts's Windlass. It was a great action/adventure story told in a fun world and by an expert storyteller. It would be a great read for someone interested in steampunk or someone looking for a fun take on sci-fi. Either way, it's a total win. I got it on ebook, so I cannot say how long it was.

Audible Book Review - Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia, Saga of the Forgotten Warrior book 1

This is my last Audible review for a time. We are already trying to figure out how to get the means to support our audio book addiction, but for now, this is the last book I got from them. I preordered it a while ago and, clearly have been looking forward to it ever since. While Corriea is known for his "gun" fiction, this is his first shot (pun intended) at epic fantasy. You might think that Into the Storm would be his first shot, but remember that he was given a world to work with and got to write a great story within that world. Even his other books are based on worlds that already existed (for the most part) that he just tweaked. His tweaking is really, really good in my mind but Son of the Black Sword is 100% his own creation. And he does great. It feels different from his other books. There are some similarities, but I didn't feel that I was rereading anything. You could argue that Jake Sullivan, Agent Franks, and Ashok Vadal are the same person, but I say no. They act in similar ways but for very different reasons. And the difference in those reasons produces different people. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. It was strange to listen to a book by Correia that was not narrated by Bronson Pinchot or Oliver Wyman, but Tim Gerard Reynolds who did a fantastic job. All in all I was very pleased with the story and am looking forward to the next in the series.

Plot: Lok is a continent surrounded by Hell. Demons possess the oceans and water is considered impure. Yet, water is necessary for life. This is just one of the contradictions that exist in Lok. There is no king, there is no ruler, there is only The Law that dictates all. But the law only applies to people and, due to a brutal caste system, there are hundreds of thousands of Untouchables - people that have no caste - that are treated as less than property. When ranked in order of importance cattle rank higher than the caste-less. Everyone has a place, except for them.

Ashok, of house Vadal's, place is that of enforcer of The Law. A member of the order of Protectors, he is sent to fight demons, kill criminals, end house wars, and fulfill the commands of those that oversee The Law. Ashok is known throughout Lok as "the Blackheart" because he is merciless and unflinching in his duty to The Law. To him, The Law is everything.

So when he learns that he is not who he things he is, that he is, in fact, the result of criminal activity, his world starts to collapse. Driven almost mad with the discovery he turns on those responsible and then turns himself in. While this would normally be seen as a good thing, Ashok holds one of the legendary ancestor blades - swords that can remember every person, every battle, every cut, slash, and parry and passes that information on to it's barer. They are swords that turn their bearers into men capable of defeating armies. But the swords are picky about who they choose. Anyone unworthy of wielding one of the black steel blades will find the sword unmerciful - usually by removing valuable body parts when they pick it up. A bearer of one of these swords is a force of nature and cannot be treated as a common criminal. So Ashok sits in his jail cell, confined only by his unwavering duty to The Law while those in power plot not only his demise but also that of hundreds of thousands. While The Law may be perfect, those that uphold it may not be so pure.

My personal favorites: One, the picture I have here. It was the original cover art, but the publisher included it as an art plate when they decided to go with the simpler cover. As usual, Correia shows great skill and establishing the world his characters inhabit. In this case he has created this world and I could believe it. From the politics to the castes to the magic and the time scale I got it. The characters were great as well. They have some good complexity and aren't just one sided. There are some great contradictions that provide some good conflict and intrigue. The book reads like a classic fantasy but with Larry's flair for action. I look forward to seeing where the story and characters go.

Considerations: Despite his other books, Son of the Black Sword does not have as much language as may be expected. Rather, I should say that Larry does a good job of creating in-world language. As water is considered evil most of their curses invoke it. "Oceans!" and "Fish eater" are some examples. While there is some gore, he does not dwell on it, nor is it gratuitous or visceral. There is plenty of violence - this is a Larry Correia book after all - but again, it does not dwell on the gruesome parts of it. It read like many of the classic fantasy books I read as a young adult. As usual there are no sex scenes and no real instances of sensuality or sexuality.

The book did not feel as long as it was and that was because I got sucked in pretty quick. It was a very enjoyable listen and I look forward to the future books. The total length was just under 16 and half hours.

Book Review - Thursday with the Crown: Castle Glower book three, by Jessica Day George

It's been awhile, but I finished the most recent book in the Castle Glower series. I wish I hadn't waited so long, but I figured that I would get it from my mom. In the end, I checked it out from the library. When were were at the check out desk the librarian asked if Kanga was the one checking it out. I didn't have any problems saying that I had selected it. I would like to read the series with Kanga, but she hasn't expressed an interest... yet. The series does a good job of keeping you on your toes. It continued to feel like a children's book but certainly deals with grown up challenges.

Plot: Celie, Rolf, Lilith, Probst, and Lulath, along with Rufus the griffin, have been taken by the castle to where the rest of it is. Arriving at the ancestral home of the castle places them all in great danger and not just from starvation or exposure to the elements. It turns out that there is a poisoned lake, wild griffins, and an ancient vendetta between two peoples who both claim the castle. Cast into the middle of the remains of this feud Celie and the others must figure out what is going on and how they are going to get back.

My personal favorites: Jessica Day George is great at writing children's stories that expose their readers to serious questions. Thursdays with the Crown is no exception. I also like Lulath. A lot. I love how Lulath, correctly, had an accent when speaking his non-native language, but when they talked in his language he didn't. George justifiably hangs a lantern on the first time it happens and I thought it was great.

Considerations: This book is very age appropriate and I don't have any reservations with this book.

I thought there were only going to be three books in the series, but, after speaking to my mother, learned that there should be a Friday and a Saturday forthcoming. The total length was 224 pages.

Audible book review - The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

Due to changes in our finances Angel and I have suspended our Audible subscription . Before doing so, however, I was faced with the choice of three credits and how to spend them. I wanted books that I would enjoy listening to multiple times. Nor did I want to take a risk on an unfamiliar author. In the end, I pre-ordered the latest Larry Correia book (as I have re-read and re-listened, multiple times, to every one of his books that I own), Dune by Frank Herbert (one of my favorite books), and The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (another all time favorite). With Blue Sword, I wanted something that Angel might enjoy as well. Turns out she's read the book, but is enjoying listening to it now. The Blue Sword was narrated by Diane Warren who did a decent job when all was said and done. At first, it seemed like she put pauses in at strange times - it would sound like a chapter break, but then the scene would continue. Either she stopped doing it after a while or I got used to it because I only noticed it at the beginning. I didn't think the narration detracted from the story and she had a nice voice.

Plot: The Homelanders came to Damar decades ago, but Harry Crewe is a new addition to the desert country. When her father died in the Homland across the sea her brother, Richard "Dicky", arragned for her to live with the local government representative. Harry is a young lady who prefers to be on horseback and loves being active, traits that, while not unacceptable, are not often encouraged. Life appears to be set on a fairly boring, but satisfying track when Harry is dragged into international politics and war. Kidnapped by the king of the mysterious Hill Folk, Corlath, after his appeal for aid is refused, Harry doesn't know why she has been taken. But then, neither does Corlath, only that she must.

My personal favorites: I love the world that McKinley sets up. I totally eat up the scenes where Harry learns the language, customs, and skills of the Hill Folk. I wish I could wear a sash and complete in the Laprun trials. I don't know how accurate the information is about horsemanship, but I like the detail and time spent on it. I like the characters as well.

Considerations: This book won the Newberry Medal for children so you would expect it to be good for kids of almost any age - And it is. The only consideration I've heard against it is that it seems to be an example of Stockholm Syndrome - where a person who is kidnapped sides with the kidnappers. I don't see that as as a mark against the book - I only mention it because the argument has been made. I don't see it that way.

I'm glad to have this story in my Audible Library and I know there will come a time when my family will listen to this story as we travel. Perhaps we will be in the desert, headed for the mountains, much like Harry does on her first trip on a hill horse. The total time was a little over 12 hours.

Audible Book Review - The Powder Mage Trilogy by Brain McClellan: Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign, & The Autumn Republic

This is what I've been listening to for the last couple of months. I figured that I would review the whole series together so as not to give spoilers with each review. I first heard about this series from Howard Taylor who said,:"I've read several debut novels over the years, most by authors who've gone on to do quite well for themselves, and I can confidently state that Promise of Blood, by Brian McClellan, is the best of them." (A link to his spoiler free review here). That caught my interest and then a good friend of mine mentioned it out of the blue with instructions to read it. Cliff, I've read it, and thanks for the recommendation. I was excited to see them on Audible, as it would make it easier to get and finish. Here is the Audible link for the whole trilogy (because you will want all three). The whole trilogy was narrated by Christian Rodska, the same person who did Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, who did a really, really good job. I grew up with David Eddings and consequently have always considered fantasy of being comprised of heroic warriors, powerful wizards (men and women), Gods (wrathful and benevolent), and battles both big and small. The Powder Mage Trilogy has all of this plus muskets, canon, and intrigue. This is a classic fantasy story set in era of muzzle loaders and it is awesome!

Plot: Field Marshal Tamas is tired of kings who only care about their wealth and power, who bleed the people for pleasure, and who are not loyal to their own country. So he stages a coup and washes the city with the blood of the nobility. But now he has to forge a government and continue to fight the people's battles against enemies. However, it appears that there are enemies among his own ranks. Regardless of the challenges before him, Tamas is hell-bent that this new country and government will survive. And he might just be able to do it.

Inspector Adamat is a man who a perfect memory and a history of getting the job done. Brought in on the recommendation of an old friend, Tamas hires Adamat to discover the meaning of the last words of the slaughtered Royal Cabal's Privileged (powerful sorcerers who worked for the king). This places Adamat in a position of power, the Field Marshal's pet terrier, but it also places him in danger. More important, it places his family in danger.

Nila first learns of the coup when soldiers storm the noble house that she works in as a laundress. Out of love for the noble family's son, she hides him from the soldiers and goes on the run. Scooped up by a royalist faction she finds herself being used by everyone she meets for their own ends. Needless to say, she begins to tire of this and soon learns to fight back.

Taniel Two-Shot, who is rarely seen without the mysterious "savage girl" Kapoel, is a returning war hero who is just in time to enter the fray of Tamas' coup. First, sent after a rouge Privileged, his running battle with his prey destroys whole city blocks before it's resolved. And then he gets an even messier task. Moving from conflict to conflict, ever increasing the notches on his rifle, Taniel and Kapoel go from frying pan to fire and from fire to inferno as they battle every enemy of Adro, ultimately earning the personal attention of a mad god.

My personal favorites: The characters are amazing! The four mentioned above lead the narrative and we get the most from their points of view, but they are only a small part of the whole cast. What's amazing is that, despite the sheer number of people in the story it was fairly easy to follow who was who. I cheered, I mourned, I raged, and I laughed with them. Every POV change was frustrating and yet exciting. The pacing of the story was well done with both introspection and excitement for all the characters. There was drama and intrigue as well as action and humor. I also loved the magic involved. Even though McClellan does not explain much about how it works we understand limitations and abilities and it was just plain cool. What's more, there were at least three different types, not including the various strengths and weaknesses of characters in their receptive magic. The writing clean and very well done with plenty of show and not a lot of boring tell. The whole series was a wild ride through the birth of a republic and the personal strength of the individuals that are trying to make it.

Considerations: There is some strong language, but no "f bombs." The vast majority of curse words were "in world," meaning the words they use related to the world's pantheon and religious beliefs. There was little in the way of sensual material, although there were references to sexual intercourse. There were no gratuitous and few graphic descriptions of violence. I wouldn't have any difficulty referring the trilogy to an older young adult audience. For comparison, with the exception of the occasional strong language I would compare the level of sex and violence to the Sparhawk books by David Eddings.

I think this may be my longest review yet and I could go on about how much I enjoyed the story of the characters involved in forming a nation, but I don't want to spoil anything. The books are great and the narration brought them alive. It would not be unlikely for hardbacks of these books to show up on my bookshelves someday. Promise of Blood was just over 19 hours. The Crimson Campaign was just over 20 hours. And The Autumn Republic was just shy of 19 and a half hours.

Book Review - The Seventh Sigil. The Dragon Brigade book three by Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes

It's rough when you have to wait for a book to come out. While I'm not likely to be one of those that swears off reading a series until it's done, I know a fair number that claim to have. I was very pleased when my usual trip to the library was rewarded with seeing this one on the shelf. Truth be told, I had forgotten a lot of what had happened in the last book, but it quickly came back to me as I started in. The book went well and I enjoyed finishing the trilogy. The conclusion was satisfying, although I'm sure that some may take issue with it. A lot is left open but this story is concluded. I would enjoy reading more in this world - it was creative and different. All in all, I enjoyed the book and was glad I was able to get to it between classes.

Plot: As the world goes to pieces so are the people and institutions upon it. The Bottom Dwellers are preparing to launch a full out war with the countries above and don't seem to care that their actions may destroy the world. Our heroes are faced with the option to sink into the Breath or unite with their enemies to save what and who they can. Stephano is tasked by the king who disgraced his father with leading the assault on the sunken island home of the Bottom Dwellers while Dubois and Sir Henry plot together, trying to find a way to save Freya from "falling without a shot." What's more, Brother Jacob has learned the secrets of contramagic, despite it being considered heresy, and in the process may destroy the very church he left his country for. What's more, Miri and Gytha, Stephano's fellow memebers of the Cadre of the Lost, have been taken to the sunken island along with the royal Rosian princess. But not far behind is the Countess Cecile de Marjolaine is not far behind.

My personal favorites: The characters continue to be awesome, each with their shining moments. Not to mention we get to see Brother Barnaby again and he is just as angelic and refreshing as before. Like I mentioned, I liked the ending of the series, including the way the relationships resolved themselves. All in all, it was a great trilogy.

Considerations: There was a lot of references to the blood magic and the unpleasant nature of it. Again, though, the descriptions were not gratuitous or too graphic. There was no sensuality to speak of, so if you were okay with the first two books, you won't find any surprises in this one.\

I enjoyed the read and while I am glad to have the story line resolved I wouldn't mind seeing other stories in this world. Definitely give it a try now that all three are out. To the total length was 528 pages.

Audible Book Review - Dracula by Bram Stocker (Audible Edition)

I haven't read a lot of classics. It's a major failing. However, one of them was Jane Erye, by Charlotte Bronte. When I asked my mother if it was considered a Gothic novel her reply was, "It's what Gothic novels aspired to be." With that said, one of the other classics I've read was Dracula by Bram Stocker. It may be considered the epitome of the Gothic novel. I know it wasn't the first story about vampires, but it was a rather defining one. I read it for a class in college and while I was hesitant I came to love it. With my over active imagination I never read it after 3:00 pm (yes, I was a 20+ year old college students), but I loved it. I've re-read it a couple of times since then. This last time I found a free copy on the kindle store, and said, why not? Come to find out, with some books, if you own the kindle version, Audible (which is owned by Amazon as you probably know) will give you a deal on the audio version. I scooped it up for 99 cents and while I didn't listen to it at once, I enjoyed it when I did. Here is a  link to the Audible page for the book. There are several versions of the book on Audible - let's face it, it's a classic and has been done several times. The version I got was a multi-cast recording, with each character having their own unique voice which helped add to the story. Led by Alan Cummings and Tim Curry (who doesn't have many lines), the other narrators were: Simon Vance, Katherine Kellgren, Susan Duerden, John Lee, Graeme Malcolm, Steve Crossley, Simon Prebble, James Adams, Nicola Barber, Victor Villar, Mare Vietor, and John Lee. They all did a great job and I really enjoyed the production.

Plot: Johnathan Harker is a new solicitor in his firm and has been sent to Transylvania (a mountainous region of Romania) to meet with Count Dracula. The Count wants to come to London and experience modern 19th century life. However, Johnathan begins to believe that the Count is going to imprison and eventually kill him as a way of keeping some deep secret. Anxious to see his fiancee, Mina Murray, Johnathan chances a daring escape. Mina herself is having difficulties with her best friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy, always a restless sleeper, has wandered from her bed several nights now and appears to have caught a disease that leaves her pale and weak. Three men who have all courted her and loved her have donated their own blood to help her, yet it does not appear to be enough. Something is afoot and Mina is worried because she has not heard from Johnathan for a while as well.

My personal favorites: It is important to remember that the people who first read this book probably had little idea of vampire lore like we do today. Putting aside the current romantic idea of the vampire, Dracula is an awesome force of nature whose tells and give-a-ways. The first time I read the book I was screaming at Johnathan to pay attention to what was happening and to run, but of course the characters have no idea the danger they are in. I also find the character of Renfield interesting. The production was well done as well.

Considerations: This is a story about blood and death. There are some disturbing scenes but nothing related is over the top. As the story is written in the forms of letters and journal entries the descriptions are those of someone reflecting on the situation. I wouldn't have a problem recommending it to anyone who feels comfortable with Gothic novels or the idea of vampires.

I look forward to re-listening to this during Halloween or other times when the mood takes me. the production was well done and the story is still one of my favorites. The total length was just under 15 and a half hours.

Book Review - Scorpion Mountain by John Flanagan, Brotherband Chronicles book 5

My wife is about ready to start the latest book by John Flanagan, Scorpion Mountain, so it's probably about time that I review it. One thing I like about Flanagan is that his books are clustered in shorter story lines that cover a book or three and then they jump to the next interesting part in the characters' lives. Scorpion Mountain finishes out the Heron's time as duty ship to the Araluen king. It appears that Flanagan is ending these the Heron's story lines with a saga, written by the crew and sung at a feast. I like it as it matches the culture and enhances the world. I will agree with Hal about the quality of the sagas, but Erak is too much fun to watch during them that I hope he continues doing that way.

Plot: Hal and the crew are back from Socorro with the freed slaves in hand when they finally have a chance to present themselves to the king. While there they happen to meet Princess Cassandra and save her life. The adventures of her young earned her some enemies (see Erak's Ransom, Rangers Apprentice book 7). There is a group of assassins that won't rest until they've killed her and that is has got to stop. Gillian is charged with the mission as the usual candidates are managing something else. Hal and the Heron's are to take him to Arridia as well as provide him with any military support he needs. It's a big job but they've got to do it somehow.

My personal favorites: I love how the characters keep evolving. This book gives us a look into Invgar's mind as the nearly blind strong man, as well as let's Jasper have some fun. Sometimes it's easy to forget the other characters with Hal, Stig, Thorn, and Lydia, but Flanagan gives us some good reminders that the rest of the crew is just as cool as our four commanders. The pacing was good and I enjoyed the way they figured everything out.

Considerations: Like Flanagan's other books, this book is a great middle grade/young adult book that I don't have any difficulty in recommending to anyone.

I enjoy Flanagan's books and look forward to reading this one to my kinds when they are just a little older. The total length was 480 pages.

Audible Book Review - The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

It's amazing how different semesters can take your time over. In the past I was able to successfully blog every week, but this week is certainly taking a lot of time. I've got two other books I need to review, plus I'm almost done with one more in the same series. Well, as the semester winds down I can finally get to this. While I may not have read everything Sanderson's written, I've enjoyed everything I've read. The Rithmatist is no exception. Sanderson has a way with magic. He creates some of the most interesting and diverse magic systems there are. And the awesome thing is that he uses the rules of the magic to make it cooler. I recently bought Warbound, which was the first Sandrson book I read which uses the idea of breath and color in magic. The Alcatraz books use magic sand, lenses, and innate "talents" to great effect. Stormlight Archives uses spirits tied to ideas and gems. And don't get me started on Legion, The Emporer's Soul, and Mistborn. Each system is unique and intriguing. What's more, Sanderson immerses the reader in the world. I love the cussing in his books. That may sound strange, but it's amazing how strong "Colors!", "Shattering Glass!" and "Dusts!" can be. Here is a link to Audible's page for the book. For anyone listening to the book, there are quite a few illustrations that help. They can be found on Sanderson's home page here. The spoken descriptions are very good, so they not be necessary. Michael Kramer narrated it and did a fantastic job. He also narrates Sanderson's Stormlight Archives and the only thing that threw me was that one of the characters sounded a bit like Sadeas, but the syntax and other contexts rapidly established Nalizar as his own character.

Plot: Rithmatics is the ability to draw chalk lines and figures and make them come to life. Such skill is needed as the American Isles are constantly under threat from wild chalklings, two dimensional chalk creatures that will kill without mercy. Rithmatics is the only thing, short of a bucket of acid, that can hold them back. Joel has always wanted to be a rithmatist. The fact that he studies at one of the top rithmatic schools in the Isles doesn't help his chances though. A rithmatist is something that you are or aren't - no amount of studying will change that. Joel is not a rithmatist. But he knows rithmatics better than many of them and is doing everything he can to try to learn more. However, non-rithmatists are discouraged from studying rithmatics. Joel is determined however, and finds his opportunity when rithmatic students begin disappearing from their homes without a trace of where they went. Perhaps a non-rithmatist is just what is needed to solve the mystery. However, can a non-rithmatist survive the solution?

My personal favorites: Like I mentioned, Sanderson is fantastic with magic. Rithmatics is a simple, yet rich science that was fun to think about while listening to the book. The mystery was well done to boot. I loved the Characters and as Howard Taylor says there were some "stand up and cheer" moments. The young characters behaved believably, which is always a plus. I look forward to seeing what else Sanderson does with this world.

Considerations: This book is suitable for young adults and didn't have anything I objected to. There are some great suspenseful parts that might frighten middle grade readers, but overall it is a appropriate for young teens.

I loved The Rithmatist and will probably return to it several times in the future. Sanderson's world building is almost unmatched (with Frank Herbert being the only contender) and it was a fantastic listen. The total length was just shy of 10 and half hours.

Book Review: Tricked by Kevin Hearne, The Iron Druid Chronicles book 4

Rather than wait to pick this up on Audible I just borrowed the paperback from my father. I was a little anxious about finding time to read it, but I managed and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It takes us out of the more well known pantheons into the Navajo belief system. As Hearne points out in the afterward however, the book is no substitute for an expert. He also points out that there are many different versions of the legends he is referencing. I thought the story was fun. And always remember, die angry and at maximum volume.

Plot: Atticus knew that killing a rather major God would have a bunch of people out looking for him. People that could find him, kill him, and make it hurt. So he gave them what he wanted. It's not often you get to see yourself getting hacked to pieces by angry Gods, but Atticus manages it without dying. Now he owes a favor to Coyote, the Navajo trickster God, and Coyote never plays things straight. Atticus finds himself up against a pair of skin walkers that he can't defend against. Not only that but the vampires are on the move since Leif is still recovering. Atticus is in a new home with new magics, and already he has new problems.

My personal favorites: Ever since I was introduced to the idea of Coyote from Tony Hillerman's Coyote Waits I found the character an intriguing one. Hillerman doesn't give us much, but it was enough. I rather liked Hearnes personification of Coyote and his and Atticus' interactions were good. It was fun to learn about the Navajo legends as well, even from a self admitted imperfect source. As usual I also loved Oberon he did not disappoint. And I have to agree with the Schwarzenegger pun treaty.

Considerations: Like previous books there was language and violence. Again, I was disappointed at some of the language usage, feeling that it didn't really add to the book. There was no sexuality to speak of in the book and it was very similar to the first three.

Tricked was a good read and I'm glad I picked it up. I'm going to see if Dad has the remaining books in the series. The total length was just over 350 pages.

Audible Book Review - Into the Storm by Larry Correia

I really enjoy reading Larry Correia's stories. He is a solid writer who is really good at spinning a yard with characters that I care about and action that is not just brainless beatings. He has humor, suspense, and even drama. It's not the level of prose of Hemingway, but that's fine because I don't really like Hemingway. Into the Storm is a great example of Larry's work for anybody just getting into him. It's based in the WarMachine gaming universe which is basically a midevil steampunk. The world is very accessible - detailed enough to hint at the depth but very easy to understand and imagine. Gaming fiction often has a stigma for cheesy action, drama, and romance but you will find very little of that here. Again, this is not Hemingway. Instead it is a very entertaining and engaging story that I finished in one day. Here is the link for Audible's page for the book. It was narrated by Ray Porter (who also did Blackout) and was really well done.

Plot: Lt. Madigan is an undesirable. Nobody want to serve under him. Nobody wants him under their command. He has a black mark so big on his record that he stains anybody that gets close to him. So he has been banished to the hinterlands, hunting bandits, cutthroats, and brigands. But war is coming and every able bodied and quick thinking man is needed, even if nobody wants him. So where do you stick a man who nobody wants? You give him the platoon made of up all the other miscreants, thieves, drunks, and malcontents. Madigan's job is to get the men who used to be worthy of being called Storm Knights cleaned up and ready for battle. Madigan's Malcontents start with no budget, no help, and no hope, but never doubt the man whose personal motto is victory over all. Even if that motto is what got him into trouble in the first place.

My personal favorites: The Malcontents are a great cast of characters. Each one has their own story and their own challenges. The interactions between the characters, particularly as they are trying to form a unit, were wonderful. The action was well done, as always, and the climax was epic and stirring. The tech was pretty cool too and makes me want to learn more about WarMachine an its world.

Considerations: There was little language, no sensuality, and few graphic descriptions of violence. There is a fair amount of violence, but not as much as you might think in a book about war. I would have little to no hesitation recommending this to a young adult reader (in fact, I already have to a couple). It is only available on ebook and audiobook, but still well worth it.

Larry threw this book out to his "regular" readers, saying, "I really liked writing this book a lot, but most of my regular fans don't know it exists." I am glad he brought it back round to my attention and I will continue to share it with others. The total length was just under 8 hours.

Book Review - Homeland by R.A. Salvatore book one of the Dark Elf trilogy

I grabbed this at the library after starting to listen to Legends of Drizzt as it is the first in Drizzt's origin story. I remember seeing my younger sister read this when we were in high school, but didn't think much of it at the time. The Forgotten Realms is a world created by TSR as part of their Dungeons and Dragon's universe and having read some of the Dragon Lance books (also TSR D&D based) I knew what to expect. On a side note, I've recently finished listening to Into the Storm by Larry Correia which is a game tie in with Warmachine and I'm glad to say that despite what many people might expect of books based on role-playing games many game tie-ins are very well written and tell very compelling stories. Homeland was one of them. It accomplishes a couple different things. First, it shows us how a society can be evil and still function, and second, it gives us a hero to cheer in that society - two actually. All in all it was a good read and I'm glad that I have the accessibility to finish out the trilogy.

Plot: The Drow elves of the Underdark live in a subterranean world far from the light of day. Menzoberranzan is a city of 20,000 drow living together, but not always peaceably. The one rule of the drow is, "don't get caught." If you were to attack a rival house you must kill each and every man, woman, and child. So begins Drizzt's life. Born during his houses attack on another he didn't learn until he was much older that his life was saved when his 2nd oldest brother assassinated the eldest during the battle. Nor did he learn the politics of the drow, but rather he learned how to fight and how to survive. As he grew and matured he found that he had a sense of honor and integrity that did not allow him find a place within the cruel, matriarchal society that was Menzoberranzan. Honed to be his house's weapons master - a warrior of unmatched skill - Drizzt sound came to realize that this world was no place for him. However, being male and a youngest son left him with few options. Not to mention that the world outside, in the Underdark, was potentially far more dangerous than the world he had been born into. Drizzt is left with the choice to stay with the devil he knows or to try to grapple with the unknown.

My personal favorites: Drizzt is a fun character. In some ways he comes across as a "can't do wrong" sort of person, but the challenges he faces are more of the internal type, trying to find his place in his world and coming to terms with non-physical challenges. It was interesting to see how an society of "evil" creatures could function effectively.

Considerations: There is little of language and sensuality - something that I've noticed in books based on game worlds. The violence is not very graphic in nature. In many ways this is a great book for young teens looking to enjoy fantasy, particularly if they enjoy gaming.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It had the feel of the classic high fantasies and good characters. The total length was just over 350 pages.

Audible Book Review - Hexed and Hammered by Kevin Hearne, the Iron Druid Chronicles book 2

For some reason, I'm having difficulty getting to my book reviews so I actually have the next two books in the Iron Druid Chronicles, Hexed and Hammered. I continue to enjoy the Iron Druid books and find Atticus O'Sullivan a compelling character. What I find particularly interesting is that the books continue to show us how the results of a dramatic and pantheon shattering event - like the death of a God - can really mess with your life. So many stories don't pursue the consequences of their characters' actions, but Kevin is fully content to show us what happens when you do things that you probably shouldn't, even if they are in self defense. Here is a link for Audible's page for Hexed and the one for Hammered. It continues to be narrated by Luke Daniels and he continues to do a really, really good job. The characters as just as delightful as before and we get to see more of Atticus' powers and understand more of his world.

Plot: Killing a god is a double edged sword. While it rid Atticus O'Sullivan of a hated and persistent enemy it also put a lot of attention on him. Attention he could do without. Not only that, but the reduction of the local witches' coven has left them weaker and not as able to defend against some of the scarier elements of the super natural. Atticus finds himself sought after by morals and Gods alike who would like to sic him on hated deities, locals who want help protecting their homes, and some who would like nothing more than to see him dead. In order to meet all of his obligations Atticus finds himself exchanging favors and soon is entangled in a plot to invade Asgard and kill Thor. Thor has had it coming for centuries, but that doesn't mean that you can just walk in and challenge him to a duel. Atticus' lawyer, Leif, is determined to end Thor and has gathered an A-team of immortals to help him in the task. Atticus' job is to get them in. But one does not simply walk into Asgard.

My personal favorites: Atticus and Oberon continue to be delightful. Oberon really has some great moments and brings a very invigorating vibe to the books. Like I mentioned earlier, these books take us further along the path of what happens when you kill a God (or more). We don't know much about Atticus' past, but Hearne gives us the exciting moments of "now" where Atticus is trapped in the consequences of his actions. The other characters continue to be delightful and the climax of both stories involves some great action. I really enjoy the humor of these books as it strikes a balance with some of the seriousness they have.

Considerations: This section is getting longer. Like Hounded the books do contain violence and language. The violence continues to be handled well with few graphic descriptions and nothing overlay gratuitous. The language is strong, but limited. I was disappointed that some of it didn't seem appropriately used. There is also more sensuality in both of these books then Hounded although it does keep it relatively vague and is not graphic. The last thing I feel a need to note is that while most of the pantheons that Atticus deals with are usually considered pagan he does meet with the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. While not being well versed on the Virgin Mary her portrayal felt very appropriate and she came across as rather saintly. Jesus on the other hand was a little interesting. The fact that the avatar in question was envisioned by a hippie gives some background. As a Christian I felt that the portrayal was not intended to be disrespectful and even had subtle accuracy others might find the it too casual. I mention it only our of consideration. I rather enjoyed those scenes with Jesus and found them interesting.

Both of the books were good and I'm continuing following the characters but in paper form as I'm borrowing them from my father. Hexed was just shy of 9 hours long while Hammered was just over 9 and a half.

Audible Book Review - The Legend of Drizzt: The Collected Stories by R.A. Salvatore

It looks like I got lucky when I picked The Legend of Drizzt for free. It looks like it was a limited offer. It is still available on Audible, but now you have to pay for it. Here is a link to Audbile's page for the book. It is an anthology of stories focused around the world and life of Drizzt Do'Urden. I had heard of Drizzt when my sister read a trilogy featuring him, and have heard references to him in gaming comics, jokes, and half a dozen other sources. I was somewhat familiar with the character and since I enjoy good old fashion D&D style fantasy I picked it up without even though I didn't really know anything about the characters in it. I was quickly entertained and drawn into the Forgotten Realms world - one that I had played video games in for years. In addition the narration is done by "an all star cast" which includes Tom Felton, Al Yankovic, Sean Astin, Danny Pudi, Michael Chiklis, Felicia Day, Dan Harmon, David Duchovny, Greg Grunberg, Wil Wheaton, and Ice-T. I was very happy with the narrations, although I did have to chuckle as one of the narrators consistently put the "w" in "swords." Without knowing anything about the characters it seemed that the stories were a mix of origin tales, behind the scenes, and vignettists of the world. I was interested enough to pick up the trilogy about Drizzt, and will probably read more of R.A. Salvatore as I go. As this is an anthology I will list the titles of the stories, with a link to each as they can be purchases separately on Audible, with just the characters in it and a brief (one sentence) description.

Stories (in no particular order):
Guenhwyvar; The origins of Drizzt's faithful panther of the same name.
Bones and Stones: A story featuring Pwent about two warriors looking for their kin who were lost on the field.
Wickless in the Nether: Entreri and Jarlaxle, partners in crime, take a job that lands them in trouble and in the employ of two powerful masters.
That Curious Sword: Entreri and Jarlaxle, partners in crime, learn a bit more about Erntreri's powerful weapon.
Iruladoon: A group of fishermen find out that the forest of Iruladoon is a dangerous place to be.
The First Notch: Bruenor's first adventure as a young dwarf.
Dark Mirror: Drizzt finds himself possessing some of the same prejudices that he has faced himself.
To Legend He Goes: Wulfgar the barbarian is facing death, but there is still one more hunt to go on.
The Third Level: The origins of Artemis Entreri, one of Drizzt's greatest foes.
If Ever They Happened Upon My Lair: A full novella featuring knights, dragons, and the lich that brings the two together to explore their mortality. (A story I particularly enjoyed.)
Comrades at Odds: Drizzt and fellow drow elf Tos'un face their own personal struggles as they try to reconcile their separate past and future actions.

My personal favorites: The stories were diverse and enjoyable depspite me having never read anything from R.A. Salvatore before. The action parts were fun but there were also many very emotionally driven stories - such as Bones and Stones - which resonated with the other side of conflict that is not often explored. Villains were villainous and heroes were heroic. The Forgotten Realms stories are also known for giving readers a view of 'the other side' in that there are times when the POV follows the villains, bringing in an anti-hero vibe to them. There were a couple of those  in here and they were interesting.

Considerations: As stories that take place in classic D&D high fantasy, and based on the game as well, violence is common in most of the stories. With that said if these books had been published today they would have probably been listed as young adult. There is little gore or graphic descriptions (although the dragon store has a fair amount of dismemberment - which is to be expected), and almost no sensuality.

Overall, it was a lot of fun to listen to this collection. It's peaked an interest in me to explore the writings of R.A. Salvatore and the Forgotten Realms more. I'm glad that my library seems to have them stocked. The total length was about 10 and half hours.

Book Review - The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

I first heard about The Emperor's Soul on the Writing Excuses podcast. Who would have expected Brandon Sanderson, who is known for his epic fantasy, to write a 150 page novella. This novella did go on to win a Hugo so there is no disputing that Sanderson can write a novella. My mother, who was publicly acknowledged as being a staple at successful author event, had the opportunity to talk with Brandon and said that he acknowledged The Emperor's Soul as one of the best things he's written. With Sanderson being known for writing a good many things I will agree that The Emperor's Soul is a fantastic story that is some of Sanderson's best work. And you can read it in an afternoon if you want. I was able to pick it up at my local library and read it while on paternity leave. At some point I will probably add it to my collection.

Plot: Shai is a forger, but not just in the sense that she creates replicas of art to pass off for the original. Her culture has the ability to place a mark - a stamp - on an object and rewrite its history. A table that has been neglected for years and is run down can be forged as if a servant had cleaned and polished it every week. The actual state of the object can be changed by forging its past. Shai has even down it with herself, giving herself the ability to become other versions of herself. However to forge an object or person their history must be utterly and completely known. It normally takes years to forge a soul mark for ones self. Shai has 100 days to make give the emperor a new soul. Left brain dead by an assassin's attack the emperor is out of commission. His ruling party has claimed that he is in morning for his wife, who was killed in the attack, but if he does not appear by the end of the 100 days the gig is up. Shai's job is to make sure that he does or the council will punish her for the crimes she was thrown in jail for. 100 days to know someone so completely as to recreate them. 100 days to give the emperor life while not getting killed by overcautious councilors. 100 days to prove she is the greatest forger of all time. And if she pulls it off, no one will ever know.

My personal favorites: Shai is an incredible character and he position is one of intrigue and suspense. The pacing of the book is really well done. It didn't ever bog down or feel rushed. I am gaining a better appreciation for shorter fiction and this is a great example of it. The process of forging was fascinating and while we don't know as much about it as we do other magic systems he's created it remains very interesting. I would enjoy seeing more of this culture (I understand the book is technically in Sanderson's Elantris world).

Considerations: There is no strong language, graphic violence, or sensuality of any kind in this book. The book may not be accessible for middle grade audiences, but young adult shouldn't have problems with it.

I really liked this story and enjoyed the short format as well. For anybody looking to get a taste of Sanderson's work who doesn't want to dive into Warbreaker or The Way of Kings this is the story for you. The total length was 150 pages.

Audible Book Review - Hounded: The Iron Druid Chronicles book 1 by Kevin Hearne

This is another book that at on my wishlist waiting for the right moment. I was hesitant to pick it up because my Audible credits about worth about $11 while the book cost $10. I didn't want to get shorted on my credit so it sat there until I got an E-mail saying it was on sale for $4. That I could do, picking it up as a late birthday gift. My father had recommended it to me and I had heard good things from a friend as well. It was everything I had anticipated and even a little bit more. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. There was action, excitement, humor, and honor. There were also witches, vampires, werewolves, angry gods, demons, and Death himself. And an Irish wolf hound named Oberon that stole the show. And I have no complaints. It was narrated by Luke Daniels who did a masterful job - particularly with Oberon who was perfect - and I finished it in quite short order.

Plot: Tempe, Arizona is the perfect place to hide from the supernatural if you have an angry Celtic love God after you. It's even a great place to hide if you have any thing supernatural after you. Maybe that's why Atticus O'Sullivan has so many supernatural acquaintances. His lawyers are werewolves (except for the vampire partner who works the night shift), some of his clients are witches, and he gets to see the local God, Coyote, every once in a while. Atticus is a druid who draws magical power from the earth and he has been on the move from before the start of Christianity. It's only been through clever tricks, determination, and magic that took him 750 years to perfect that he's survived. But survive he has. At the moment he is surviving by running an occult book shop and alchemists shop not far from the local college. When he gets attacked by servants of Aengus Og, the angered love God mentioned above, Atticus knows he has to make a choice: fight or flight.

My personal favorites: The characters in this story were fantastic. Oberon was a delight. I loved the comic relief he gave and his personality. Atticus' character was great as well. Quite rounded and believable. I didn't have a problem with any of the other characters and enjoyed them quite a bit. The action and plot moved in a good way. I'm liking the world that Hearne is setting up and I'm looking forward to getting the other books in time.

Considerations: These books feel and have a similar vibe as the Dresden files. There is a little grit, but nothing gratuitous. There is a scene where sex is explicit, but it cuts prior to anything happening and then picks up after the fact. With that said there is sensuality, but again nothing graphic. The violence is akin to Monster Hunter and Dresden and while I did not have a problem with it, some might. There is also brief strong language.

I really enjoyed Hounded and for anybody who likes the action side of urban fantasy I would recommend it as very entertaining. We'll see how the rest of the series goes and I'm looking forward to it. It's total length was just over 8 hours.

Book Review - The Royal Ranger, Ranger's Apprentice book 12, by John Flanagan

The Rangers Apprentice books are some of the best middle grade and young adult books out there. Angel and I got into them about four years ago when I bought the first one on a whim. My younger siblings had read them when they first came out and so I had seen them lying around the house for years but for whatever reason didn't ever pick them up. As we finished the first one we found ourselves going out of our way to buy the next one and then the next and the next and the next..... We currently own all but 11 and 12, but I'm sure that those will also join their companion volumes

in time. One of the things that I like about the series is that it is not one story made of 12 books, but rather 12 books covering four or five stories with the same group of characters. Series like The Wheel of Time are hard to start because the story just doesn't seem to end (not that it can be wonderful as The Stormlight Archives has demonstrated - just hard to start). But The Rangers Apprentice allows the reader to enjoy the characters and the world without loosing track of where they are in the story that is being told. The Royal Ranger in particular could be read as a stand alone book with little difficulty and then if the reader wanted more information about the characters they could go back and read the other stories. There were references to past events and occurrences in the world that were fun, but not confusing. I particularly liked the one about Halt throwing nobles into their own moats. In any even, the story was as good as I expected it to be and I enjoyed it a lot. I picked it up from the library in the after noon and had it finished in less than 12 hours.

Plot: Will Treaty is suffering. With the lose of his wife he has been consumed with a desire to hunt down those responsible and make them pay. As a King's ranger he has some authority to do this, but that is not what the Ranger Corps needs him to do. He is on the brink of being dismissed from the corps, a prospect that would destroy him and which his friends and loved ones don't want to see him subject to. At the same time Will friends, Horace and Cassandra, are having problems with their spirited daughter, Maddie. They've tried everything to try to impress on her the difficulties she is causing for herself and them, but nothing works. As both Maddie's and Will's friends talk about the challenges facing their loved ones a solution presents itself - apprentice Maddie to Will. Perhaps not for the full four years that it takes to become a Ranger, but at least until she's earned the right to wear the bronze oakleaf. Will needs a distraction and Maddie needs direction. It seems perfect. But how will Will and Maddie take the suggestions?

My personal favorites: This cast of characters is one of my favorites. Not to mention the whole idea of the King's Rangers. Think of the Texas Rangers but on a national level in the middle ages and you've got it. John Flanagan actually acknowledged that the Texas Rangers were to basis for the ones in his book. The action was good and the humor was delightful. It was fun to watch Will become the mentor and to watch Maddie as she experienced the same training that we see Will go through in the first book. Even though it is the same training Maddie's attitude is much different from Will's The book is well written and while it feels similar to the others it stands alone.

Considerations: I'll be honest there were a couple of scenes that kind of freaked me out, but that was due to good writing. The villains are truly villainous and use scare tactics that were quite convincing. There is no language to speak of and no sexual material - in short, it is a very well written book appropriate for middle grade and young adult readers. There is a reason that we own most almost all of the books that John Flanagan has written.

I would heartily recommend this book to anyone and I felt that it was a wonderful conclusion to the series. It provides us with a final look at some favored characters and gives us one last ride with them as they face those challenges that come up as we live life. The total length just over 450 pages.