Review: Wolf Moon - Charles De Lint

Rating: 3
Husband: liked it
Got it: Second Hand Bookstore
Price: $1.25
Finished: Last month

Synopsys:
His name when he was human was Kern. Now he is the most feared of beings: a werewolf. When the change first came upon him, his parents drove him away with silver daggers. Later, he sought human companionship, but he could not hide the truth for long. And so he kept running until he ran headlong into the deadliest pursuer of all-a harper bent on stealing his life away. By chance Kern was able to find refuge at the Inn of the Yellow Tinker, and the woman he was destined to love. But can he risk both human and harper vengeance to keep her?

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Review:

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"The Inn of the Yellow Tinker", if that doesn't make you want to find a chair to curl up in with a cuppa tea and read this book, then I don't know what would! 

This is an old book by Charles De Lint, and (if you believe the interwebs) not an easy one to find, so I'm glad that it caught my eye while I was cruising the second hand bookstore.

It was an easy read, flowing style, and a wonderful plot. By todays standards, I would almost classify it as a "longish" short story.  If course, I really enjoy diving into a giant brick of a book, like Patrick Rothfuss writes.

The story was charming and the characters were red-cheeked wholesome farmers. The antagonist was an interesting fellow, and I liked that more was reviled about him through the story.  Great Stuff.

Definatley seek this little story out if you see it.

Review: On Basilisk Station - David Webber

Rating: 3
Husband: Loved it
Got it: Second Hand Bookstore
Price: $2.50
Finished: 2 months ago

Synopsys:
The first novel in David Weber's popular Honor Harrington series, On Basilisk Station, follows Commander Honor Harrington and Her Majesty’s light cruiser Fearless during their assignment to the Basilisk system. Though Basilisk has become a dumping ground for misfits and rejects from her home colony of Manticore, Honor is determined to discharge her duty regardless of the circumstances.

The story follows Honor and her crew as they deal with the responsibilities of their assignment. When their duty leads them to discover events that would lead to an invasion of Manticore, they have no choice but to act.

Review:
Space Opera meets Top Gun!  My Husband is a huge fan of these books and was appalled that I hadn't read them.   So we went about changing that!

I've found book one - On Basilisk Station - at a second hand bookstore and I really enjoyed it.  Some of the space technical stuff was a bit much for me, not being the hard science person like some out there.  I got the big picture technially, and I really liked the ideas he puts in on space travel and warps bands.  Very thoughtful stuff!   The supporting characters can be a little flat, but as the book progressed, they personalities came out more. I love the main character, Honor and her space cat!  She is very pragmatic and I like that in a leader.

The book wasn't what I was expecting at all, and after the first couple of chapters I wasn't sure that I was going to like it.   Once it got rolling, it hooked me.  The action was fast, the ending set up was excellent, I loved the desperation and the great interspace fighting.  Good solid reading material! 

I'm currently keeping an eye out for more of these as I cruise the bookshops.

Review: Hollowland - Amanda Hocking

Rating: 3
Husband: didn't read
Got it: Kindle
Price: Free download
Finished: recently

Synopsys:

Hollowland - the first book in the young adult dystopian series The Hollows..

"This is the way the world ends - not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door."

Nineteen-year-old Remy King is on a mission to get across the wasteland left of America, and nothing will stand in her way - not violent marauders, a spoiled rock star, or an army of flesh-eating zombies.

This is a young adult title with some language, violence, and mild sexual situations recommended for ages sixteen and up.

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Review:
I will admit I'm slightly obsessed with Amanda Hockings success and wish that I had the prolific writing speed that she does.  I have been meaning to read the Tyrlle series, but now that they are no longer self-pub'ed, I'm not sure that I want to pay the $8.99 for the download. For $2.99 I know I would....there's that magic number that J.A.Konrath keeps going on about.  I'll be looking for these in the second hand bookstore for sure.

Back to Hollowland.  For a free book, I can't complain too hard. I felt that some of the situations were a little "out there", but the pace was high, and it kept me turning the pages even if there were times when I was a little drawn out of the story by the unbelievable-ness of a few situations.  However, I did like the lead, her cohorts were great and Amanda didn't scrimp on the death of regular people. Which pleases me.  Also, I like the hook to the next series.

The romance wasn't great, but thats not why I read these books anyway. The climax (so to speak) was rushed and I didn't particularly like it.  I will agree that its for older teens, 16+ for sure since there is full sexual intercourse.

I'm debating part two, Hollowmen.  For $0.99 its hard to go wrong, and I'm leaning to a yes, mostly because of the hook and as I write this I can feel that I'm getting more interested to know what happens, and that is the hallmark of good.  You got me. I want to know.  All in all, if you like a cheap read, and it does keep the pace going, then this is a yes.  It was good.  I'm likely going to DL part two next week, if not tonight while I'm laying in bed deciding what I'm going to pick up off the bedside table.

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