By the Mountain Bound by Elizabeth Bear

… I’ve always had a place in my heart for the “few stood against many/ no hope of winning” stories, but to make that that theme to work, the reader really has to be able to empathize with the characters. I found that my admiration for the courage of Einherjar, the Waelcyrge, and the Valraven — the Waelcyrges’ war-mounts — was equaled by my regret for those that dishonored themselves to become “tarnished.” Even when one of my favorite characters commits a horrific act, my remorse for him outweighed the outrage that demanded justice… Read the rest.

Matthias Thulmann: Witch Hunter

I’m not into RPG’s. So I’m not always comfortable with an RPG-based book. But I’ve been to Warhammer’s Old World before — I‘ve read Fell Cargo, and a couple of Dark Blade books. And I do like the main concept of  the Warhammer storyline — a medieval world on the brink of apocalypse where a dark empire, ruled by the descendant of a god, is mankind’s only hope against the hordes of Chaos. Read the rest.

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie

When the infamous mercenary captain, Monza Murcatto, seems to be getting too powerful, her employer, Duke Orso, attempts to have her and Benna, Monza’s next-in-command, killed. Short work is made of Benna, but, by a cruel twist of fate, Monza survives, just barely. And her quest for vengeance sets a spark to the powder-keg that is the country of Styria during the Years of Blood. Best Served Cold is a stand-alone novel that takes place in the same world as Joe Abercrombie’s acclaimed The First Law series. To his many fans (of which I’m certainly one), I say: you’ll be more than pleased with Best Served Cold.  Read the rest.

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

I haven’t been this excited about a book since I read George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones! Speaking of which, be careful stacking Joe Abercrombie too close to GRRM or Steven Erikson, because even though it’s less-than-half their size, The Blade Itself may knock them right off the bookshelf! Read the rest.

Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

… I loved everything about The First Law. From the clever writing, the beautifully done covers, and even the real quotes used at each part’s title page — they all combine to enhance the experience of a truly original and thrilling fantasy epic… I can’t wait to see what Joe Abercrombie does next. Read the rest.

Warhost of Vastmark by Janny Wurts

…..   Since my own personal taste in fantasy usually leans toward darker and grittier stories (and probably because I’ve gotten a little cynical in my middle-age), I’ve become rather callous about the characters in most books I read. Cheers to Ms. Wurts! She has managed to stir up in me a compassion for fictional characters that I have not felt in quite some time.  Read the rest.

The Ships of Merior by Janny Wurts

… If there is anyone who can write more beautifully than Janny Wurts, I haven’t run across ‘em yet. Her characters are so genuine and her worlds are so life-like, it seems as if she isn’t making up these stories, but translating them onto paper as the characters relate them.  Read the rest.

The Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts

The Curse of the Mistwraith sets the stage for The Wars of Light and Shadow series which is finally being re-released in North America. This is the most unique storyline I’ve ever read that falls within the realm of traditional high fantasy. (In fact, it’s so good that it’s made it tougher for other books to get five stars from me.) …The characters are so endearing that their tragedies are truly heart-wrenching and their triumphs heart-warming.  Read the rest.

To Ride Hell’s Chasm by Janny Wurts

… This was my first time reading Janny Wurts, and I now understand her very dictated and enthusiastic following. To Ride Hell’s Chasm is the perfect fantasy story. … It’s brimming with cliff-hanging suspense and pulse-pounding action. Mysteries unfold in tantalizing bread-crumb paths toward explosive resolution, and the characters become so endearing it’s hard to accept them as being only fictional. Read the rest.

Fugitive Prince by Janny Wurts

… Fugitive Prince is the fourth door-stopper in The Wars of Light and Shadow epic — a huge, complex story with a fascinating magic system. I can think of only a handful of authors who have the skill to maintain this kind of story — let alone keep it moving forward — so for most epics, this is where I usually begin to lose interest. But Ms. Wurts is not only managing to keep me hooked — she actually kicks things up a notch in Fugitive Prince… Read the rest.

Watcher of the Dead by J.V. Jones

Watcher of the Dead has a momentum that’s like watching black clouds grow in mass for a storm you just know will be enormous… J.V. Jones paints a world of wild artic forests, frozen wastelands, snow-capped mountains and — just south of the Clanholds — an occasional frontier city. Knowing that I was returning to her world, I felt cold before I even opened the book. In fact, it’s the believability that makes this all so much fun. J.V. Jones knows this world like she’s lived there. She’s a master with little details and uses them cleverly — never too much and written in a simple matter-of-fact way. I’d love to know where she gets her inspirations, because it’s all so fascinating… I’ve read all of J.V. Jones’ books and thoroughly enjoyed each one, but with the SWORD OF SHADOWS she proves that she can stand up to any of today’s popular fantasy authors… Read the rest.

Legend by David Gemmell

Before there was JRR Tolkien, there was Robert E. Howard, who created what would later be called Heroic Fantasy or Sword-and-Sorcery. With the justly-earned popularity of Lord of the Rings, it seems to me that many writers and publishers of fantasy fiction have forsaken the heroic ballads for overly-complex, over-sized, and, endless series. But David Gemmell has not forgotten the heart of a good fantasy tale which is simply heroes (or anti-heroes)… Legend was my first of what will be many David Gemmell books and all I can say is: What took me so long to give him a try? Read the rest.

The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane by Robert E. Howard

… Robert E. Howard’s tales are so alive, you almost have to check yourself for wounds. Between the lines broods an ancient feeling of melancholy that lends such realism to the writing. And the beautiful, sweeping illustrations in this book by the award-winning artist Gary Gianni bring that classical storytelling feel to the forefront. As with all of Howard’s heroes, Solomon Kane is larger-than-life… Reading these stories in this format is like a journey back to my childhood — when the jungles of an old Tarzan movie were more real than anything documented on the National Geographic channel, and when a horror-comic hidden in a text book at school would make me too scared to sleep that night… Read the rest.

The Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard

Nobody can touch Robert E. Howard when he was at the top-of-his-game. The three stories in The Bloody Crown of Conan are not only some of his best, they are some of his best Conan stories and Conan was his greatest creation. Howard was the father of Sword & Sorcery and next only to J.R.R. Tolkien in being the largest influence of fantasy today. His stories have stark imagery that’s nothing short of amazing. The action moves at break-neck speed, and despite that they were written as pure adventure “pulps,” there’s harsh reality that lying just beneath the surface… Read the rest.

A Cavern of Black Ice by J.V. Jones

While I await my copy of the third book of Sword of Shadows, A Sword from Red Ice, I’m re-reading the first two books of what may be my all time favorite epic series. For A Cavern of Black Ice, which I first read back in 2000, it’s my third reading and it’s still just as much fun and exciting as the first time. I’ve read all of J.V. Jones’s books and I’ve enjoyed every one of them… But this Sword of Shadows series takes Ms. Jones to a whole new level… Read the rest.

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

The Good, The Bad, & the Ugly. That cliché is the most accurate description of A Song of and Ice and Fire. When I finished A Game of Thrones, I foolishly thought I had a clear view of who was the Good and who was the Bad. After A Clash of Kings I again grew bold enough to make that judgment call. Now I’ve finished A Storm of Swords, and Martin has shown me he’s the master and this pupil better not chose sides… Trust no one, because the most noble can fall to shame and the most despicable can become selfless. Most of all, be warned: George R.R. Martin has no mercy. At any given moment, anyone — and I do mean anyone — can die. Read the rest.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Due to the mediocrity that the fantasy genre has been tending towards lately, I most times shy away from a lot of the more recent, big door-stopper, ever-lasting epics. Then, every few years, a book like The Name of the Wind comes along and reminds me of why I love fantasy to start with. To me, when fantasy is written well, you almost believe it, like it’s some big historic narrative of a forgotten legend, all dust-covered, yellow-paged, and long-lost among other gargantuan tomes on a shadowy, back-wall-book-shelf in the basement of a monstrous and aging library. The prose, language, setting, creatures, and characters all come together and take you to a place so fantastic it can’t be real, but you almost feel like you’re really there anyway… Read the rest.

Swords and Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders

… Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders have gathered seventeen new and original sword & sorcery tales in this anthology. The stories are written by a variety of successful authors, bringing to play a broad range of styles and themes. I’m a huge fan of sword & sorcery (it’s what got me into fantasy). So I was extremely eager to get my hands on this book. I did find Swords and Dark Magic to be heavier on the “sorcery” than the “sword,” more so than is my preference… Regardless, my enjoyment was no less for it… Swords and Dark Magic is a must-have for fellow sword & sorcery fans and just the thing to support our cause. For readers new to S&S, you won’t find a better introduction and it’s the perfect book to round out your fantasy collection. Read the rest.

Blood of Ambrose by James Enge

… Mr. Enge has crafted unique and exciting tales that revolve around one of the coolest characters ever in fantasy. In fact, I think I just may have a man-crush on Morlock Ambrosius. (The last time I felt this way was for Joe Abercrombie’s Logen Ninefingers from The First Law.)… Blood of Ambrose is such a fun story to read. Enge is one of those rare authors whose style and prose is perfect for a fantasy… I can honestly say that I haven’t read anything quite like these tales about Morlock Ambrosius. The series is considered to be a new sword and sorcery tale: a fantasy story that revolves around a character instead of the kingdom-sized conflict of an epic. James Enge has earned himself another fan in this reviewer… Read the rest.

Travelers’ Rest by James Enge

Travelers’ Rest is short and sweet and free from Pyr in honor of The Wolf Age, the latest MORLOCK AMBROSE novel, being their 100th book. (Click here for Kindle or here for ePub). Travelers’ Rest takes place before the events in Blood of Ambrose, and Morlock fans will be happy to see that his dwarf apprentice, Wyrth, accompanies “the Crooked Man” in this story. I know I’ve missed the little guy. In their wandering they come across a sleepy little town. Wyrth wants to move on, but Morlock insists they spend the night at the inn, aptly named “Travelers’ Rest.” A rather bulky looking thug intrudes upon Morlock’s and Wyrth’s dinner to take the innkeeper’s daughter, who is also their waitress… So Morlock proceeds to do what he does best. Simply put; he came, he saw, he kicks some ass. This short story is the “Crooked Man” at his most superb which is why Travelers’ Rest is the perfect introduction for any newcomers to James Enge’s MORLOCK AMBROSE and a quick thrill for established fans. Read the rest.

The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

…In true Joe Abercrombie fashion, The Heroes is a grim tale told by an array of intensely colorful and intriguing characters. Joe Abercrombie is to fantasy books what Clint Eastwood was to Western movies; he’s taken the genre to a whole new level of badass. From beginning to end, reading about medieval warfare cannot get any more real than it is in The Heroes. This book is sure to give readers the instinctive urge to duck a swinging battle-axe or dodge a spear thrust. As always, Abercrombie is a master of dialogue that ranges from hysterical to profound. While reading The Heroes, the pages (the e-pages, in my case) disappeared and I achieved the Holy Grail of bookworms: the complete mental transportation from reality into the imaginary world… If I read just one more new fantasy book in 2011 that’s two-thirds as good as The Heroes, I will consider it an outstanding year for the genre. Read the rest.

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

What if superheroes were real? I mean really “real”: what if they grew old and got fat, had spouses and families, carried emotional baggage (sometimes a serious psychosis), and just generally had to deal with everyday life? These super-heroes aren’t inherently all good, either. Just like public servants — police, politicians, doctors, etc. — many begin with the best intentions, but some become jaded and others are only motivated by self-interest from the start. In other words, if superheroes were real, they would be just like us, more or less.

Also, what would an ultra-powerful superhero really be like? A person who understands quantum theory as easily as we chew gum, and is so powerful that he can move through the space-time continuum, be several places at once, and alter sub-atomic structure with a mere thought? Can you imagine how scary it would be for a god to live among us? Someone whose very citizenship in a particular country gives that country an unbeatable advantage over the rest of the world?

On the surface, this is the premise for Watchmen, and Watchmen was the first work of its kind to humanize superheroes this way, but it’s also much more. There are good reasons this graphic novel, or comic book for adults, won a Hugo and was picked by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923. (To any literary snobs out there who’ve talked trash about comics and the like: In your face, Dude!)

Alan Moore made superheroes into real-life people. Then he put these heroes in a paranoid world on the brink of a nuclear holocaust, a world where a symbolic clock that tracks doomsday as 12:00 is currently ticking down to the last few precious minutes. Does that world sound familiar? It should. It was Earth circa 1980’s.

This reviewer recalls those times all too well, as I imagine most anyone who lived through the Cold War can. I was mostly just a kid then, but it still seemed inevitable that sooner or later the USA and U.S.S.R would have at each other and the world be damned. In fact, I was in the Army at the time the Watchmen comic was running, in ‘86 thru ‘87 (which is probably why I missed it then) and we were training with the Soviets in mind as our enemy. So I found Watchmen to be pretty much… terrifying.

Mr. Moore’s insight into modern society and how fragile our world is, unfortunately, rings all too true. It’s enough to keep you awake at night. There are probably one or two people left that haven’t read Watchmen or seen the movie yet so I won’t give away spoilers, but if you take into account the time Watchmen was written and what came to pass years later, it’s even a little prophetic.

In a graphic novel, the illustrations tell as much, if not more, of the story than the words. So it’s crucial that the artist realize the writer’s vision and be inspired by it enough to bring the action and emotion to life. When the writer and illustrator are a perfect match, a graphic novel or comic book becomes a thing of magic. Moore and Dave Gibbon accomplished this with Watchmen.

Even more than the actual imagery, the coloring and shading make this story jump out of the book. Flashes from lightning or explosions almost made me blink. I could practically feel the dampness of a rain-slick street. A horrifying facial expression of a character so angry that he’s about to explode with violence all but makes the reader instinctively prepare to flee. Don’t overlook the smallest details of each panel. They will be meaningful later.

I have enjoyed a few other graphic novels more than I did Watchmen. But nothing I’ve ever read has been as frightening as the decision the characters face at the conclusion. It’s the kind of decision that, if it really happened, we wouldn’t want to know about. And I’ve never read anything that realizes life’s place in the grand scheme of the universe like Watchmen does.

I’m amazed that comics, the very medium that introduced me into the fascinating world of books, turned out to be the medium that produced the most profound book I’ve ever read.

Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick

… If you combined the movies Gangs of New York and The Usual Suspects, turned that into a fantasy story, and then add just a smidgen of Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, you’d end-up with something close to Among Thieves… Hulick has created a criminal underworld that is ripe for rogues to pursue adventurous exploits. Among Thieves is full of twists and turns that spring from conspiracies within conspiracies. For every wily move Drothe makes, he only puts himself, and sometimes his few friends, more at risk, as the stakes become higher than anyone could have imagined. The fate of a kingdom comes to rest on the honor of one thief among many thieves. Mr. Hulick, in the tradition of the Kin, please accept me into your organization. In this way, you cannot dust me without just cause and I cannot betray you without knowing that I face the ultimate retribution. But I’ll also get to be brought along for your forthcoming adventures as one of the Kin. Read the rest.

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

…It’s autumn in Westeros, blizzards are already blasting the Seven Kingdoms with brutal force, and “winter is coming.” Jon Snow is treading a dangerously fine line between keeping the vows of the Brothers of the Night’s Watch and involvement with King Stannis’ revolt. Tyrion is on the run for his life and hopes to find an ally with Queen Daenerys, but as is always the case with the Imp, he just manages to trade one peril for greater ones. It is Daenerys’ destiny to reclaim the Iron Throne for the Targaryens, but doing so now means leaving her conquered city to her enemies and the slaves she has freed to their former masters. Meanwhile, her dragons are growing bigger and more unmanageable. As all the great houses make their bid for who will rule the Seven Kingdoms, north of the Wall the restless dead are gathering en masse to invade with the winter storms, adding slain victims to their ranks… Read the rest.

Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

Trapped in a thorn bush, ten-year-old Prince Jorg watches in horror as his mother and brother are savagely murdered. A mere few years later, Jorg is the ruthless leader of a band of cold-blooded outlaws, raiding village after village on a path to vengeance through a land plagued by feudal wars. If you’re a Joe Abercrombie fan, I’ll give you Greg’s bona-fide 100% guarantee you’ll love Prince of Thorns. Lawrence’s dark tone, cleverness, and realism make a perfect match to Abercrombie’s stuff… It’s sarcastic , action-packed, and economical. The story reads fast and the reader ends up in a totally different place than he or she ever expected. Prince of Thorns is the first book of THE BROKEN EMPIRE trilogy, but it stands just fine by itself. It’s a book with a real conclusion instead of an installment with a cliffhanger. But Jorg definitely has more tales to tell and I’ll be there to hear them. However, as exciting as hanging out with Jorg is, I’d never trust him enough to turn my back to him. Read the rest.

Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan

… Altered Carbon is an action-packed, who-done-it mystery that hooked me to the very end. I state with the utmost respect that my mind imagined visuals of the movie Blade Runner as I read it. (After all, Mr. Morgan has made the comparison himself.) Blade Runner’s Los Angeles and Altered Carbon’s San Francisco could exist in the same future… The vision of the future, although grim, is so relatable to our current world that it’s easy to accept as reality. Woes that have always plagued mankind, like class separation, abuse of power, and the conflict between government and religion, continue and become more extreme… Wherever Takeshi Kovacs goes, Hell is sure to follow and so will I… Read the rest.

Woken Furies by Richard K. Morgan

… Woken Furies is Richard K. Morgan’s third and latest TAKESHI KOVACS novel. Raw-edged violence, graphic sex, and bad attitudes continue to be a mainstay of this series. (Can you say awesome?) Altered Carbon is still my favorite but Woken Furies comes in as a very close second. Without risking a spoiler, I will say the conclusion of Woken Furies is the most satisfying of the three books… While Kovacs’ antisocial behavior, violent tendencies, and authority issues may make him self-destructive and a danger to society, they make one helluva a dark adventure for readers. Kovacs holds a special place in my jaded heart. Read the rest.

Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk

Written by David Lindelof, Art by Leinil Francis Yu

A little background for newcomers or fanboys/girls who have been away for a while: Marvel comic’s ULTIMATE story arcs are a rebirth of the Marvel Universe for a new generation of readers and have storylines that fit better with the recent movie adaptations.

Bruce Banner is sentenced to death and executed by nuclear bomb. Soon after, three random disasters occur in remote places around the world that were not due to nature or terrorists. It doesn’t take S.H.I.E.L.D. long to determine the most likely cause is the Hulk. Nick Fury must find someone capable of hunting Hulk down and taking him out as quietly as possible; a super-human with no qualms about getting his hands dirty. Wolverine is the best there is at what he does, and what he does best isn’t very nice. Marvel’s ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK is a six-issue storyline that pits primal rage against godlike fury.

ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK is so freaking awesome that I’m not sure I can do a proper review without rampant expletives. The story opens with Wolverine lying in blood-drenched snow, wondering why he can’t feel his legs. When the next panel reveals what happened a few moments before, my reaction was to hiss “holy $#!+”.

With the decades of complex history in the Marvel Universe, it’s a monumental undertaking to invent new stories while remaining true to who the characters are, even more so for A-listers like Hulk and Wolverine. Many make the attempt only to crash and burn.

The creative team behind ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK made a comic book exactly how it’s supposed to be done. The illustration carries as much weight as the words. The fonts and placement complement the ambiance. Point of view shifts from issue to issue. The sequence of events constantly changes from the present, to immediate past, to days prior, to a few minutes from now. It would be nearly impossible for this story to have the same impact in any other medium.

Mr. Lindelof’s writing is as good as it gets in comics. The dialog, which is often an overlooked factor that makes or breaks a comic, grants the individual characters their own unique voices. The reader would easily know who is saying what even if there were no speech balloons. If Mr. Yu’s artwork had any more life in it, you’d feel a pulse. He uses fine lines that detail down to the smallest fragment or blood spatter. Yu’s rendition of these popular superheroes is like a glimpse into their very souls.

The reader feels dangerously close — almost too close — to the onslaught that is super-beings doing battle. Every time that I pulled my eyes away from these comics, I half expected to find my house in ruins. There are even rumors that medical doctors are prescribing ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK to increase low testosterone levels.

The Drowning City by Amanda Downum

….The Drowning City is filled with dark and scary places, and characters that are often not quite what they seem. Ghosts, spirits, and demons are very real and a constant threat. Magic is more prevalent than what I usually care for in a story, but in this haunting tale it fits very well. I’m a big fan of the Dark & Gritty Fantasy but The Drowning City isn’t quite that. I think I’d call it Dark & Haunting. Amanda Downum may just be a force to be reckoned with, and this is only her first novel. I’m anxious for the next installment: The Bone Palace. Read the rest.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

If you travel to the canal city of Camorr, be warned that it’s a city thick with thieves and gangs. And the cleverest of them all is Locke Lamora and the Gentlemen Bastards, but their schemes go very badly awry when the mysterious Gray King and his sorcerous companion move in on the ruling crime boss. The Lies of Locke Lamora is one of the best and most unique fantasy stories I’ve read. It’s a grand swashbuckling tale of adventure and revenge… Read the rest.

The Return of the Sword: An Anthology of Heroic Adventure

…I highly recommend The Return of the Sword to anyone who appreciates a straight-forward adventurous tale, and I applaud the effort to present some quality sword & sorcery tales in a market where the sub-genre seems all but forgotten. I hope more publishers will follow suit and give us more new S & S books.  Read the rest.

All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear

… I needed something really different and All the Windwracked Stars was just what the doctor ordered and more. I was once a big fan of Apocalyptic Sci-fi, so it was a refreshing thrill to lose myself in Elizabeth Bear’s dying world. The outcome of doomsday comes down to a handful of unique misfits in a truly original story. I especially liked the conclusion and I was so gloomily fascinated that I immediately downloaded the Kindle version of the next book, By the Mountain Bound. I just had to know the answers to some of the wonderfully tantalizing mysteries left unexplained… Read the rest.

Avempartha: Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser for this generation

… Mr. Sullivan has put the fun of a YA adventure into a story for mature readers. Royce and Hadrian are the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser for this generation of fantasy readers. The Riyria Revelations is the best of both worlds; Fantasy fans can escape to a new world of kings and kingdoms where elves, dwarves, and dragons are in residence, and mysterious sorceries are a force to be reckoned with… These books read fast and have the feel of an action-adventure series, but the continuous background plot is deep enough to satisfy readers who prefer more complex epics… Read the rest.

Warriors ed. by George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois

To quote from George R.R. Martin’s introduction “People have been telling stories about warriors for as long as they have been telling stories.” I imagine that for most all who enjoy fantasy or almost any genre fiction, it’s the timeless tradition of the telling of warriors’ tales that is the heart of our passion… These are great stories from most all the genres, with more than a few of them being fantasy and science fiction, but also historical fiction, a western, a war story, paranormal, and even a dog story… Warriors is an excellent sampler of genre fiction by the some of the very best. Readers won’t find a better way to try new genres, revisit past favorites, and still enjoy tales the likes of which are currently on their reading lists… Read the rest.

The Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe

… I’d never have given The Sword-Edged Blonde a shot if Kat and Rob hadn’t written such good reviews about it. While I do love a seasoned, world-weary private-eye character – I grew up enjoying TV shows like Rockford Files and Magnum P.I., after all — I’m usually no fan of genre mixing when done this way. My thinking is, if you’re going to write a detective novel, then write one instead of repackaging it in a traditional fantasy story. So it’s a significant achievement that Mr. Bledsoe won me over with Eddie LaCrosse… Good storytellers sell us the unbelievable. They make us anxious to turn the next page and create interesting characters that have their own individual stories — just like real people. Good storytellers know what mysteries to solve, what to leave unsaid, and what to leave their readers pondering over after the book is closed. Alex Bledsoe is a good storyteller and in The Sword-Edged Blonde he does all these things in a fun way… Read the rest.

Monument by Ian Graham

… Ballas is a vagrant with no greater interest than his next means of getting drunk or hiring a prostitute. He’s big, bad, and a kind of ugly that only looks more natural beat-up. Besides the ability to consume mass amounts of alcohol, his only talent is for violence and a spiteful survivability. He’s not a psychopath or unjustly cruel, but he has no qualms about killing whenever he deems it necessary. You have to dig so deep to find any redeeming qualities in Ballas, that what you do find is questionable. Call me twisted, but I love this guy… It took a gutsy author to write this story and it’s just not right that Monument hasn’t gotten more notice…. Read the rest.

A Sword from Red Ice by J.V. Jones

This series hooked me with the first one, A Cavern of Black Ice, and I’ve since read all of J.V. Jones’ books. Sure there are better writers out there, but as far as good story-telling goes, Ms. Jones is up there with the best of them… A Sword from Red Ice keeps the momentum of the series rolling and leaves you anxiously waiting for the next book. Just like one of its characters, Angus Lok, this installment gives you just enough information to keep you traveling the path but holds some back and you’ll just have to see this adventure through to get all the answers… Read the rest.

The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan

… In a genre that is overwhelmed by series of wheelbarrow-sized door-stopper-volumes with plots so complicated that only the author can follow them, and long waits for the next book, The Riyria Revelations is a much needed return to fantasy’s grassroots. For fans who miss the straightforward adventurous tales — the stories that got a lot of us 35+ year-olds hooked on fantasy to begin with — The Crown Conspiracy brings back that excitement. When I started reading about Royce and Hadrian, Lieber’s famous sword-and-sorcery duo, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, immediately came to mind, but I actually like The Riyria Revelationsbetter… Michael Sullivan has brought back the pure fun of reading fantasy. Read the rest.

Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

… I haven’t had much luck finding urban fantasy that I like. So I tend to shy away from it, but when other FanLit reviewers mentioned how tough, gritty, and of full of wise-cracking dialog Sandman Slim is, I knew it was for me. I love revenge stories, and Sandman Slim is that in spades. But what really made me just have to give it a read is when some unknown hint resonated with me that this book is a lot like a cult classic, hard-boiled crime series that’s a favorite of mine. I’m talking about the Parker books by the late Robert Stark, aka Donald Westlake — the inspiration for the Mel Gibson movie Payback and a much older movie with Lee Marvin called Point Blank. It turned out that my hunch was much more than a coincidence. Mr. Kadrey directly gives nods to the Parker series with some of the character names. Though the violent action, mean street attitude, and the revenge story echo the Parker books, Sandman Slim is not just a knock-off with a supernatural twist… Read the rest.

This Crooked Way by James Enge

… This is the second novel Mr. Enge has written about his intriguing character. He has also written short stories about Morlock in Black Gate magazine and in the anthologies The Return of the Sword and Swords and Dark Magic. Morlock Ambrosius is one of the most fascinating and fun heroes in fantasy. Simply said, I’m hooked… These stories are as clever, witty, and darkly whimsical, as Morlock is himself. I plan to read them all and I’ll also be watching closely for anything else James Enge writes. Read the rest.

Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey

Lucifer has come to Hollywood as an advisor for a movie about his life that’s in production. With all the power struggles going on between the old Sub Rosa families, he hires Stark, a.k.a Sandman Slim, to be his bodyguard…  However, as one can imagine, when working for the Devil there’s always going to be a catch. In a desperate bid to take over, somebody has set zombies loose in L.A., and Sandman Slim is the only person who can stop them… Richard Kadrey won me over as a fan with the first book, Sandman Slim, and I enjoyed Kill the Dead even more… The Sandman Slim novels are a unique combination of a supernatural thriller and a hard-boiled crime novel. There’s a lot of hard drinkin’, cigarette smokin’, sarcastic street-smart wit, and two-fisted action… Read the rest.

Broken Angels by Richard K. Morgan

… Where Altered Carbon was a neo-noir mystery, Broken Angels is military science fiction. Still, Broken Angels has the same dark, edgy feel as that first TAKESHI KOVACS novel. The technologies that Mr. Morgan first explains in Altered Carbon continue to be a key element of this series. Technological and scientific advances that should improve quality of life only grant those in authority more power over the masses. Science has defeated death, but immortality has made human life into little more than an abundant commodity. That life is cheap is a heavy theme throughout the story. Landscapes littered with dusty colossal industrial hulks, oppressive corporations, ultra-deadly military weaponry, globe-encompassing war, and weird alien relics are all elements that serve to create a grim far-future for mankind… The biggest hurdle Broken Angels may have is that it’s just so dark that many readers may find it depressing. However, this reader didn’t have any of those problems… Read the rest.

All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder, Vol.1 by Frank Miller (author) & Jim Lee (illustrator)

All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder, Vol. 1 is the re-telling of how the legendary Dynamic Duo came to be as only Frank Miller has the cahoonas to do it.

About a year before Alan Moore started exploring a realistic approach to superheroes in his famous WATCHMEN series, Frank Miller was delving into the twisted psyche that would drive a playboy millionaire to become a vigilante with his highly acclaimed The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One. Both not only heavily influenced the Christian Bale Batman movies, but changed the whole way Batman has been viewed ever since, and some other superheroes, too.

Jim Lee is one of the top comic book artists in the business today. When drawn by Mr. Lee, the larger-than-life characters that populate these worlds are bold and beautiful in the way we would expect Greek gods and goddess to be.

Jim Lee and Frank Miller together are a fanboy’s dream team.

Many people are familiar with Mr. Miller’s graphic novels that have been adapted into awesome movies, such as Sin City and 300, but almost any comic reader will tell you that Miller has also taken classic superheroes such as Batman, Wolverine, Daredevil and Elektra in daring directions which no one had taken them before and few have done since. Some may even view what he does as nothing short of sacrilege. True to form, that’s exactly what Miller does again here in All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder.

This story takes place sometime not long after the events of Batman: Year One. Not only are Bruce Wayne’s nighttime activities still a fairly new undertaking, but the Justice League of America is in its infancy, along with a few of DC Universe’s B-listers who are just now entering the scene. I can’t imagine that anyone doesn’t know the story of how Robin came to be the wise-cracking sidekick, but Miller’s adaptation is a much harsher version. Corrupt police charge Batman with kidnapping and Batman’s “training” of Robin would do the Spartans proud.

Judging from reader reviews, I don’t think this story was well received. The story arc seems to have ended abruptly with a cliffhanger and there’s no denying that Batman is an arrogant jerk. If anyone is sentimental about DC superheroes, fair warning: Superman acts like a boy scout, Wonder Woman an ultra-feminist bitch, and Green Lantern, in comparison to the Dark Knight, lacks the imagination worthy of his ring. Personally, I love All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder just as it is.

The classic archetypes just don’t cut it anymore. If you’re going to make an interesting story with universally known characters that have been around for seventy years, risk is a requirement. Anyone driven and obsessive enough to be one of the greatest superheroes —without any superpowers — and lead a double life to boot, would have to be borderline psychotic. It’s that human flaw that makes Batman such a popular character. There’s just something reassuring about a mysterious man patrolling the night who is mean enough to strike fear into the hearts of those we fear.

Frank Miller and Jim Lee breathe new life into whatever they work on. The only problem I have with this series is its sudden ending without a closure.

Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover

… On the surface Heroes Die is a testosterone-driven guilty pleasure of gladiatorial bloodsport that, at times, borders on cheesy. But there are deeper themes questioning the definition of good and evil, and how people can control their fates despite the cards they’ve been dealt. Read the rest.

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

I don’t know what it is about rogues that we fantasy readers love, but Mr. Lynch has given us a new twist to the charismatic thief with his Gentleman Bastard series. Blessed by the Crooked Warden, Locke and Jean continue their dedicated service to that Nameless Thirteenth, and being a priest and servant of the Thiefwatcher, the Benefactor, Father of Necessary Pretexts, definitely has its fringe benefits. These guys couldn’t go to church without snatching the offering plate… Read the rest.

Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson

… I’ve been drafted by the Malazan army and, like the rest of these poor troopers, I’ll have to see this thing through to the last battle. That’s not because I’m above desertion either. I’m ashamed to say I’ve been tempted, but I’m too damned loyal to these guys for that now. Read the rest.

Almuric by Robert E. Howard

Almuric is a typical Robert E. Howard story, and is also typical of the time in which it was written. A he-man hero wins glory and saves the damsel in distress. The world of Almuric is populated by brutish cave-men, but somehow the females evolved to be no less than beautiful… Despite the lack of depth, Almuric appealed to me like most all of the late-great Bob Howard’s stories.  There is always a high level of entertainment value in a Howard yarn (even if it’s in a guilty-pleasure, popcorn kind of way) … I’ll be the first to admit that maybe I read just a little too much into Howard’s stuff, but for some reason I always feel like I just “get” what he was trying to say… Read the rest.

Shadowfall by James Clemens

… Seems like most epic fantasy these days is predictable, too whimsical, low on action and description, and/or magic is as commonplace as a cell-phone. In the few good fantasy epics that I’ve come across, the writer runs the story into the ground or they make you wait so long between books that your interest fades. Not so with Clemens. His writing moves quickly. The story and setting is unique, the characterization is superb, the action is two-fisted, and intrigue abounds. While most epics have the formula climatic battle at the end, Clemens sticks a major part or two right smack in the middle. You’ll find yourself surprised when you still have half the book left… Read the rest.

The Black Company by Glen Cook

The Black Company is not for the softhearted. They’re a hard-core mercenary unit and whatever honor they may have had in their long-history has been all but lost. (Put it this way: at least they draw the line at killing children). Now it’s all about getting a paycheck and — take it from a former soldier — the military jargon and attitude is down pat. Ya’ gotta love that. It takes a few chapters to get used to, because you get most of what’s going on from the conversations. Croaker, the medic and the keeper of the companies’ annals, tells the whole story. There are a few writing flaws and a little too much sorcery going around for my taste, but there’s enough intrigue and plot twists to keep you hooked.

Nyphron Rising by Michael Sullivan

… Nyphron Rising, the third book in The Riyria Revelations, is another consistently entertaining installment. Some interesting new characters are introduced that add a little more depth to a story that’s been, up to this point, a comparatively light read. As enjoyable as epic fantasy can be, many times the sheer fun of it all gets lost in complexity. Enter Michael J. Sullivan and his Riyria Revelations. This series is a straight-up action/adventure done fantasy style, and “there ain’t a darn thing wrong with that.”… Read the rest.

Waylander by David Gemmell

On the surface David Gemmell’s stories are simple and straight forward. His heroes through skill, courage, and a personal code of honor, save the day. But, just barely scratch that surface, and you see where Gemmell’s magic lies. In the struggle of good vs. evil, Gemmell shines in the in-between shades-of-grey. He reads like a Western. Dark heroes with pasts who are skilled at violence, but its that skill that is necessary for survival of the good-guys. In Waylander, the fate of a Drenai rests on the shoulders of an assassin. It’s Gemmell at his best.

The First Chronicle of Druss the Legend by David Gemmell

The First Chronicle of Druss the Legend is the sixth book in David Gemmell’s non-sequential series, the Drenai Saga. It’s a prequel to the first Drenai book, Legend, and I think it’s the perfect prequel because it actually enhances his Druss stories by not being in chronological order… Thus is how legends are born. There’s nothing fancy about Gemmell’s books. They’re just simple, solid, good reads about heroes who live and die by their own codes of honor. If John Wayne ever did a sword-and-sorcery movie, Druss would’ve been a perfect role for him… Read the rest.

White Wolf by David Gemmell

… White Wolf is a typical Drenai tale, but a typical David Gemmell book is the top-of-the-heap for this type of fantasy fiction. It’s a classic high adventure story that, unfortunately, is too rare in fantasy nowadays. Courageous warriors live and die by their own code of honor and defend against evil for the simple reason that it’s just what they do. Gemmell wrote traditional sword-and-sorcery tales that often seem more like historical fiction than fantasy. His underlying themes about what defines the line between good and evil add depth to straight forward action-adventure tales. He wrote about courage with an understanding that only a truly courageous man could have. Read the rest.

The Book of Words by J.V. Jones

The Baker’s Boy kicks off the exciting Book of Words trilogy. These are J.V. Jones‘ first published books and already she had pinned down all that we as fantasy lovers enjoy most about our genre: picturesque settings, dangerous cities, noble and mysterious heroes, three-dimensional villains, plotting royalty, charismatic rogues. And it’s all seasoned with just the right amount of sorcery… There isn’t a dull moment in The Book of Words. Even the steamy love scenes kept me hooked (that’s something I thought I’d never say). They burn with passion, but never cross the line… Read the rest.

The Emerald Storm: The action steps up even more

… Mr. Sullivan has stepped up the action even more for his 4th book about Royce and Hadrian, the professional thieves known as the Riyria… So far, The Emerald Storm is my favorite book of the series. There are a few elements reminiscent of classic adventure literature, a who-done-it mystery, a pirate tale, and a thriller-type plot twist or two… parts might be just a little over-the-top, and there are few things, like the system of magic, that veteran fantasy-readers may find too simplistic, but that’s the kind of story this series is. Mr. Sullivan is focusing on just having fun. The theme is in tune with the likes of The Three Musketeers or Pirates of the Caribbean… Read the rest.

Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber

… The Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser tales are classic Sword & Sorcery. Leiber’s prose and dialog have a whimsical, but almost Shakespearean feel, which lends humor to adventures that are nothing short of a good-time. The companionship between the Gray Mouser, a small thief and a former wizard’s-apprentice, and Fafhrd, an almost 7 ft. tall barbarian, is endearing and reminiscent of the camaraderie between the best-friends of one’s childhood… Read the rest

Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock

... As literary value to the genre, these stories are well worthy of more than five stars. With Elric, Mr. Moorcock was one of the pioneers in modern fantasy fiction in the early 1960′s. It’s easy to see his influence in fantasy today… he set out to create something totally different from the standard Sword & Sorcery heroes that came before. Elric is most definitely different. In fact, he’s one of the most unique fantasy characters I’ve ever read. However, I try to reserve that fifth star for the books that just “blow-me-away,” and despite Elric having all the ingredients I like in a fantasy story, it just didn’t do that for me… Read the rest.

Fell Cargo by Dan Abnett

… I don’t know what it is about pirates, but we can’t help but love them, and Dan Abnett captures the salty ol’ heart of a pirate story in Fell Cargo. So, wrap one fist around a cutlass and the other (unless that one is a hook) around your flint-lock pistol, then prepare to board. Take on other pirates, zombies, vampires, sea-monsters and thrice-damned curses. And you’d better not forget to look out for a dirk in your own back, too. Pray to King Death that you’ll survive to get the treasure. Yo-ho-ho, it’s a pirate’s life for me! Read the rest.

Amortals by Matt Forbeck

… Ronan Dooley is somewhere between the likes of James Bond and Dirty Harry: a typical action hero, easily found in any number of 70’s/80’s action movies or TV shows… He’s a lone wolf, a cowboy, whose refusal to play by the rules causes constant friction with authority — and he’s obsessed with stopping the bad guy. It just so happens that I love that type of character… there’s something appealing about the combination of coolness, bad-@$$-ness, and flippant disregard of danger or authority… Amortals makes for one helluva sci-fi thriller. Read the rest.

Wintertide by Michael J. Sullivan

Wintertide is the next to last book in THE RIYRIA REVELATIONS series. As with the rest of these books, this is a fairly self-contained story, but at the same time the reader can feel the momentum building toward an explosive conclusion… Wintertide is my favorite book in the series so far… THE RIYRIA REVELATIONS is a swashbuckling fantasy; action, adventure, and intrigue are its strong suits. The world-building and system of magic are left to a bare minimum by design — even more so in Wintertide than in earlier installments — which is a good thing in this kind of tale. You won’t find the complexity of MALAZAN EMPIRE or A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE here. Nor will you find a “dark and gritty” fantasy. RIYRIA REVELATIONS is just a plain ol’ fashioned good time… Read the rest.

The Wolf’s Hour by Robert McCammon

As the Allied forces plan for D-Day, rumors surface within covert operations that the Nazis may have a final, deadly ace in the hole. With so much depending on the Allied invasion, the very best agent must be sent deep into enemy territory to thwart whatever it is that the Nazis have in store. What makes this British spy so special is that Michael Gallatin is a werewolf. The Wolf’s Hour was originally published just over two decades ago and I read the mass market paperback way back then. Over the years, some parts remained so vivid that I would randomly recall them at the oddest of times. I’ve had it on my mind to reread it for a long time, just to rediscover why this novel has stuck with me like it did. So I jumped at the chance to review Subterranean Press’ illustrated reprint. This edition also contains a new novelette, The Room at the Bottom of the Stairs, an edge-of- your-seat, noir, spy-vs.-beautiful-and-sexy-spy story. The Wolf’s Hour is an odd combination of WWII espionage thriller and dark fantasy. I can’t help but wonder what the response was like when Mr. McCammon first explained the plot to the original publishers. Even though he was a best-selling author, it must’ve been a gamble, especially back in 1989. It says much about his talent that he was able to pull off such a strange mixture of elements so successfully… The Wolf’s Hour is a fun and exciting read that is was well worthy of this illustrated reprint. I’m anxious to witness its reception, which I’m sure will be enthusiastic. Read the rest.

The Sea Thy Mistress by Elizabeth Bear

The Sea Thy Mistress is the third book of the The Edda of Burdens… Ms. Bear’s style, at least in this series, verges on the melodramatic… There are a lot of broken hearts and a lot of pining over lost loves, which is something I’d usually steer well clear of. In fact, if someone had mentioned these elements to me, I’d never have picked up The Edda of Burdens. Am I ever glad no one did, because this is a very beautifully written book… The characters are very flawed, but are only more endearing for it… Still, those things are not what completely won me over. The Edda of Burdens is based on Norse mythology, but it’s more like it is Norse mythology, or as if this is how those legends should be. It’s like Bear has uncovered a lost Viking artifact and deciphered runes that contained previously unknown details about the beings that fight the battle of Raknarok and what comes after. She brings the mythos to life and projects it into an alternate future. Read the rest.

Wizard’s Bane by Rick Cook

… Wizard’s Bane is not the kind of book I would’ve picked up on my own. However, as a fun challenge, it was chosen for me… Plus it didn’t hurt that the eBook version is free from Baen Books as part of their most awesome answer to online piracy — eBook readers, check out the Baen Free Library. Despite not being my usual mug of ale, Wizard’s Bane proved to be a lot of fun. Mr. Cook doesn’t attempt to create a complex story. It’s a somewhat satirical, but straightforward good guys versus evil guys story, which proved refreshing. Especially if, like me, you’re reading a lot of the dark and gritty stuff… In fact, Wizard’s Bane is the kind of book that’s ideal for one of those picture-perfect fall days — or in my case, a very rare fall-like late summer day — all golden with a clear sunny sky and a gentle breeze, which sets a romantic mind to dreaming of adventure… Read the rest.

Percepliquis by Michael J. Sullivan

Royce and Hadrian, the former professional thieves collectively known as the Riyria, along with their companions, are on a dangerous quest to recover an ancient horn that has the power to stop the merciless onslaught of the elves. They will discover that their world, Elan, has a deadly secret history and that many key people are not who they are thought to be. Percepliquis is the grand conclusion of the RIYRIA REVELATIONS. What started out as a straightforward fantasy adventure in The Crown Conspiracy has evolved into a full-blown epic in Percepliquis. Mr. Sullivan accomplished this so discreetly that I didn’t even realize how complex the story had become until I cracked open this book. The exciting escapades of two partners in crime have grown to be a world-encompassing high fantasy conflict, complete with many characters who have their own backstories and subplots. That’s not to say the sheer fun of it has been sacrificed… Percepliquis is everything that the end of an epic should be and more. Read the rest.

Sanctuary by Lynn Abbey

I’m a big fan of the original series, Thieves’ World, which ended over a decade ago. When I’d finished the last page of the last book of Thieves’ World, I’d experienced for the first time what I would come to judge all other books by: that bittersweet feeling of a triumphant conclusion to a great story mingled with slight sorrow at the parting with its characters. So I started Sanctuary with apprehensions… Read the rest.

Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley

If your taste runs along the likes of George R. R. Martin — dark, gritty fantasy that reads like historical fiction — then Winterbirth, the first novel in Brian Ruckley’s The Godless World trilogy, is for you… Winterbirth is a good story that’s well worth a read — especially by those who already like this kind of fantasy epic. It’s not a first book that just “blew-me away.” However, it seems like its building up momentum and should get better as it goes. Which is a great relief compared to all the series that start-out strong but progressively become less interesting with each following book. Read the rest.

Deadman’s Road by Joe R. Lansdale

Deadman’s Road is a collection of pulp stories about a gunslingin’ preacher who wanders the American Old West on a mission from God to seek out and destroy evil creatures… Anyone who has read Lansdale knows what to expect: gruesome violence and ribald humor that recall the old horror movies of the late 60s and early 70s. It was a time when classic monsters and campy space invaders were losing ground to the living dead, psychopaths, and demon possession. In fact, it’s that same period of horror films that inspired Lansdale to write this story. Low budget, off-the-mainstream cult movies were mixing genres at that time and it’s that same kind of weird fun that Lansdale creates here… Reverend Mercer drew me into stories that I otherwise wouldn’t have cared about… Read the rest.

Blade of Tyshalle by Matthew Woodring Stover

Several years after the events in Heroes Die, Hari Michaelson, known as Caine on the fantastical inter-dimensional planet called Overworld, is now wheelchair bound. Despite this he still holds onto administrator status in the martially enforced caste system of Earth’s grimly overpopulated and ultra-corporate controlled future. When Hari/Caine discovers a plot to gain control of Overworld’s desperately scarce natural resources by infesting its people with a deadly virus, all hell breaks loose. Caine’s many enemies take the opportunity to strike at him, targeting his wife, the Overworld goddess Pallas Ril, and their daughter. In Blade of Tyshalle, the fate of Overworld hangs in the balance as the conflict escalates to include ancient and forgotten gods… Readers expecting a continuation of the action/adventure and sci-fi fantasy combo that was Heroes Die are in for a shock. Though there is still a lot of two-fisted action, Blade of Tyshalle is a whopping 800 pages and carries a much more complicated storyline with chasm-deep philosophical and psychological themes. It hardly seems possible, but it’s even darker than the previous book… Read the rest.

The Wolf Age by James Enge

Morlock Ambrose gets into yet another mess when he defies a band of werewolf slavers raiding a human village in the barren lands of the north… Morlock Ambrose is the ultimate “man-for-all-seasons.” I can’t help but think of him as a fantasy version of the spokesman for Dos Equis beer. So you can tell I’ve got quite a thing for the “Crooked Man.” When it comes to current sword & sorcery tales, the only author who creates characters anywhere near as cool as Mr. Enge’s Morlock Ambrose is Joe Abercrombie… That being said, of all the Morlock stories I’ve read, The Wolf Age is my least favorite… Still, when Morlock is at his best, which is when he is doling out vengeance on his enemies, protecting the weak, loyally standing up for his own, or puzzling out the answer to a mystery, this tale is as much fun as his other dark adventures. While The Wolf Age may be my least favorite Morlock Ambrose book, Morlock is still one of my favorites. Read the rest.

Black Sun Rising by C.S. Friedman

… Ms. Friedman’s plot is original and Black Sun Rising is a perfect example of science fantasy — the world of planet Erna is based on science and logic and the the fae magic is a natural force, like gravity… What fascinated me most about Black Sun Rising is the character of Gerald Tarrant. He’s the ultimate anti-hero in the truest sense of the word, like a combination of Count Dracula and Moorcock’s Elric… it’s easy to sympathize with such a vile villain. These good things noted, Black Sun Rising was a bit of an effort for me to complete. It might be a personal hang-up because I’m a big fan of descriptive writing, but I think Ms. Friedman really missed an opportunity. With a whole alien planet to work with, it could have been a world full of cities, creatures, and landscapes, as bizarre, terrible, or beautiful as her imagination could dream up. At times, Friedman does do this extremely well, but she chooses very few items to bring to life…. Read the rest.

Flame Winds by Norvell W. Page

…As is stated on the beautifully illustrated cover, Flame Winds is a heroic fantasy in the CONAN tradition. Norvell W. Page’s author’s note explains that he was fascinated by the medieval tales of the heroic Catholic priest Prester John who may have actually been a famous gladiator. Flame Winds is an old school, or more accurately put, original school, sword & sorcery pulp fiction… The writing has its fair share of faults and is highly theatrical but is in keeping with the genre and style of its time. Flame Winds was originally printed in the late 30s in the pulp magazine, Unknown, so the story is true to its form. In a way, too, this style does lend some credibility to the tale, just as it’s believable that the dramatically told ancient legends of King Arthur, Beowulf, or the Trojan War could have stemmed from real-life characters or events. While Flame Winds is in the tradition of CONAN, Prester John doesn’t hold-up to any of Robert E. Howard’s stuff. So if you’ve got a hankering for some classic sword & sorcery but haven’t read any before, Howard is who you should look to. But if you’re already an aficionado, Flame Winds is an entertaining book to add to your collection. Read the rest.

Norse Code by Greg Van Eekhout

…. Greg Van Eekhout’s debut novel Norse Code was my first foray into urban fantasy, so I’m admittedly out-of-my-element. I did find Norse Code to be entertaining enough, but it really wasn’t my cup-of-tea. …  Read the rest.

The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

… While The Fires of Heaven isn’t the page-turner that the first three Wheel of Time books were, it does manage to pull me back into this long epic. My favorite character, Perrin, is barely mentioned in this book and I find the conniving, bossing and moodiness of the women characters terribly irritating (they also scare me because I fear that those traits could be all too real). Read the rest.

Dusk by Tim Lebbon

… Dusk has some good things going for it. The villains were very interesting characters, and a couple of the heroes were too, and the world did have its intrigue. Also, I have to say, Tim Lebbon really knows how to keep the reader guessing. In fact, it was good enough to keep me reading till the end. On the other hand, I felt kind of lost, or maybe ripped-off… I read fantasy for the same reason that many fantasy readers do — escapism — and I just couldn’t lose myself in this story… Read the rest.

Swords in the Mist by Fritz Leiber

All due respect to the late Fritz Leiber, but overall, this book was weak… contradictions concerning their memory (they supposedly lost all knowledge of their previous life in the world of Newhon, but yet they make references to it), adventures told as second-hand accounts, and a prose that seems meant to be humorous and clever, only made the story confusing and monotonous… I didn’t get it. I’m a big fan of Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser, or at least of their first two books. But if Swords in the Mist had been my first Lankhmar book, I don’t think I’d have read any more of them… Read the rest.

The Stormcaller by Tom Lloyd

… this is definitely a story that you have to devote some real time and effort to… took me twice as long to read as most good books of the same size, and I still felt like I was missing something… after a few chapters, The Stormcaller did start to grow on me. There is something about this world simply called The Land that struck a primal cord. It’s intriguing to be caught up in this war of gods and man, with an apocalypse looming near, and the key-players are the most alienated of their kind. When Mr. Lloyd’s writing is at its best, there’s a real edgy dark charge to it that makes me look forward to what his work will become with more experience. Read the rest.

Space Wolf by William King

In mankind’s distant future there is only war. Welcome to the world of WARHAMMER 40,000; a time flung so far into the future that the past has long been shrouded in legend… Warhammer players already have a passion for this world, so Space Wolf is sure to be fun for them. For me, it’s something I would’ve enjoyed a lot more when I was around fifteen years old. There’s plenty of combative violence, pack mentality, chest-beating, and dreams of glory in battle. Admittedly, I still have enough teenager left in me that I had a good time with all those things. However, with thirty years of reading since I really was an adolescent, much of what I’d have eaten up about Space Wolf back then is now cliché… the target audience is the people who play the game… that largely consists of teenage males. With that in mind, King is doing an awesome job of writing fun stories that appeal to his readers — and he still managed to entertain this 40-something teenage male too. Read the rest.

The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

… The Name of the Wind was what I consider a perfect epic fantasy, combining the timeless quality of a fairy tale with the believability of a legend gone to myth. Patrick Rothfuss’ writing is dramatic without being overly so, his prose is beautiful, and his language feels archaic while still remaining easily understood. There is no denying he’s a natural-born storyteller. That said… Considering how long it took for this book to be finished, I expected better… The story’s progress has slowed to a snail-like pace. If a third of this book was removed, it would’ve been better for it. Countless pages are spent on mundane and repetitious threads, while more exciting events are summarized in just a few sentences. When I finally got to the end, I was relieved that I hadn’t spent any more time with this tale… To give credit where it’s due, there are some moments of exceptionally gifted writing in The Wise Man’s Fear. Nonetheless, when I look back at my reading experience, what I recall most is boredom. Read the rest.

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

… I like stories with strong criminal elements, action, and intrigue — all of which The Way of Shadows has. The plot has so much potential, but I went from interested, to briefly revolted, to almost started to like it, to bored, and ended up forcing myself to finish the book… To Mr. Weeks’ credit, The Way of Shadows has a solid plot and some writing at the end that I really enjoyed. There was so much potential here — I think perhaps the editing is to blame. It just seemed like it was still in the rough draft stage… Read the rest.

A Place Among the Fallen by Adrian Cole

… Throughout the first quarter of A Place Among the Fallen, I was sure I had found a hidden treasure and wondered why I had never heard of this series or its author before. A Place Among the Fallen is a quest story with an original plot and characters that have a lot of potential. However, just when the story really gets going, Cole’s pacing becomes too rushed… One epic event is immediately followed by another and another, with little build-up in between. So things that should amaze, become repetitious. Characters that should have been very interesting, or even endearing, seem all but lifeless. Cole had a really great idea, and the story does take some interesting turns. Even though I had no idea what to expect, there is enough quality stuff in A Place Among the Fallen that I really did want to like it more. The beginning is very strong, but the rest of the book quickly loses its captivating appeal, never to attain it again. Read the rest.

The Hunter From the Woods by Robert McCammon

Robert McCammon’s werewolf WWII British spy, Michael Gallatin, is back in a collection of short stories that surround the events in McCammon’s best-selling book, The Wolf’s Hour… The Hunter From the Woods seems lost. McCammon’s writing is thrillingly foreboding and dramatic as always, but in this book the flow gets jarred by an occasional cheesy sexual innuendo or a one-liner that’s reminiscent of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. So, it’s difficult to determine the tone of these stories. Sometimes they read like a classic WWII espionage movie and other times they’re dark and bizarre. A couple of the tales are gems, but the overall collection left me frustrated and bored. Reading these stories reminded me of  watching The Incredible Hulk TV series from the 80’s; each episode was spent waiting for Banner to transform into the Hulk, then a few minutes of super-human action were followed by a finish that left the hero wandering off as a lost soul. I highly recommend some of Robert McCammon’s other books, but I found The Hunter From the Woods mediocre by comparison. Read the rest.

Midwinter by Matthew Sturges

… In Matthew Sturges’s own words, Midwinter is “The Dirty Dozen with elves.” While that theme is well used across genres, it’s one of my favorites because when it’s done right it makes for great story-telling. So, I really expected to like this novel. Midwinter started out strong. Immediately following the prologue, there’s an awesome prison fight. But from that point on, the rest of the story was like being in a thick fog. Details are vague. There’s nothing that seems particularly elfish about the elves. Winter is supposed to play such a big part, but I kept forgetting it was even cold. The pace alternates between moving too fast and getting side-tracked down boring and ill-fitting tangents… Read the rest.

Prophecy by Elizabeth Haydon

I enjoyed the first book, Rhapsody, and looked forward to this one, but I barely got through it. Maybe its because I’m a guy, but when whole chapters are spent on romantic interludes, or the heroine having a good cry, I’m sorry but I just can’t hang in there. This book started out as promising as Rhapsody, then it turned into a therapy session/romance novel. By the time I finished this book I had the same nauseous feeling I get when my wife’s got the TV remote and she’s watching the Lifetime network. I don’t mean to sound like a male chauvinist, but I’m sure many women feel the same way about a football game.

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington

… Even though The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart proved to just not be my “mug of ale,” it probably is one of the best written books I never finished. I might have been able to admire the Grossbarts for their tenacity and cleverness if I could have gotten past their cold-blooded homicidal natures. Eventually I realized that I couldn’t care less about the Grossbarts or anyone else in the story. At about page 283, when it became too much of a struggle to keep reading, I stopped… Read the rest.

Orcs by Stan Nicholls

… The shadowed brute on the cover of Orcs caught my eye, and it’s got endorsements by great authors like David Gemmell and Tad Williams, but it was this teaser on the back cover that got me hook, line, and sinker: “There is fear and hatred in your eyes. To you I am a monster, a skulker in the shadows, a fiend to scare your children…… Feel the flow of blood and be thankful. Thankful it was me, not you that bore the sword. Thankful to the orcs; born to fight, destined to win peace for all.” Wow! Now if only whoever wrote the teaser had written the rest of the %@#^ed book!… Read the rest.

Kell’s Legend by Andy Remic

… Knowing the premise of this book, I had my misgivings. However, I also knew that this story was supposed to pay homage to the late David Gemmell, so Kell’s Legend gnawed at me until I finally decided to give it a go. Vampires, in my opinion, are being done to undeath nowadays. Unfortunately, the steampunk series title, The Clockwork Vampire Chronicles, and the badass barbarian that graces the cover couldn’t bring Kell’s Legend back to life. Instead there are too many elements to carry, and I wasn’t far into the novel before the flaws became obvious. All due respect to Andy Remic, but my initial perception was right. For the first few chapters, Kell’s Legend is entertaining in a sick kind of way — so bad it’s almost good. It’s a little like how a cheesy, low-budget movie can be so much fun that you can’t stop watching it over and over. However, that guilty pleasure story is a lot harder to pull off in a book. Plus, I don’t believe it was Remic’s intention to write a cheesy, low-budget novel… Despite, not liking Kell’s Legend, Andy Remic has potential. There is something in his style that appeals to my somewhat twisted taste… Read the rest.

The Coming of the Horseclans by Robert Adams

… I’ve wanted to get my hands on a copy of The Coming of the Horseclans for a while now. When I was a kid, I remember seeing these books on the grocery store magazine shelves or drugstore spinner racks, and later on at the mall bookstores in the Men’s Adventure section. I was already a fan of Conan and some other lesser-known sword & sorcery heroes, and just the name, “Horseclans,” stirred my blood. Add that to the exciting cover illustrations, which I now know were done by Ken Kelly, and I can’t explain why I never picked one up back then. (Most likely, I was just broke.) So, I really wanted to like this book and follow the rest of the series, which is eighteen books total. However, my nostalgia for old books I hadn’t read didn’t prove strong enough to carry me through… Read the rest.