Solid entry into the genre
927368
Alex Berenson's debut novel is a worthy entry into the action/thriller/spy genre. Berenson, a former journalist, obviously has a talent for developing a character and a plot. Having said that, there are one or two areas he needs to work on.

The main character, John Wells, is a CIA operative who was inserted into Central Asia in the mid-late 1990's in an attempt to infiltrate Al-Qaeda. The novel starts off in the weeks after 9/11 when Wells makes contact (after a long silence) with the Agency. It will be the last time he can contact them for a number of years. The plot then moves forward to 2006 and this is where the action picks up.

As usual, I will not give away the plot, but this is a page turner that will keep you interested from the first to the last page. The only problem I have with it was the ending was a bit too predictable. I would like to have seen it end a bit differently, but, at the same time, I can understand why the author ended it the way he did.

Either way, if you are a fan of this genre, or are simply looking for a good story to read, pick this up. It is well written and worth every penny.
4418692
Most of the fiction I end up reviewing has a more neopagan slant to it. However, when the author of this particular gem told me that it was a story that wove in Western occultism, I jumped at the chance for something new. And I was duly rewarded, as it was a good read all around.

The premise showed a lot of potential. Two perfectly mundane, ordinary people in modern-day London have their lives entirely turned inside out by the intrusion of an occult plot that could have universe-shattering consequences. Their experiences become increasingly disorienting as they're dragged deeper into intrigue and conspiracy in an elaborate plot to manipulate them into just the right place at the right time. This may sound a bit like a bad Satanic Panic novel; however, it's of much higher quality than that. The author is well-versed in ceremonial magic, and weaves a lot of Thelemic and Qabalistic material into the story-and I do mean a lot.

The execution is pretty good. I will say that the first half of the book was a bit on the slow side, though I stuck it out and thoroughly enjoyed the second half, which got a lot more interesting. Rowley has a good grasp of his characters and describes their feelings, thoughts and reactions well; I had clear images in my mind of what was happening, which helped with the entertainment value.

The occult material in the book is a mixed bag. Everything revolves around a destined plot to bring about the Aeon of Horus, and there's a ton of Thelemic material throughout the book. Rowley also draws heavily on Qabalah, particularly gematria. It's rudimentary enough that someone with casual understanding (like me) will understand what's going on, though it may go over the heads of those who are not magicians of any flavor. I think my main complaint with the inclusion of occult material is the same complaint I've had with neopagan novels that also attempt to teach basic Wiccan principles amid the story-it doesn't blend very well. Sometimes the novel reads more like a treatise on basic ceremonial magic than a story; I understand when authors want to make their audiences clear on what's going on, but it's very hard to throw lessons into a plot without it coming off rather clumsily.

Still, it was a fun read, and it kept me entertained on my commute for a few days. I'm not 100% sure how more orthodox Thelemites may feel about the depiction of Aleister Crowley in this book (yes, he's brought in as an actual character) or the rather violent interpretation of the Book of the Law, and a few readers may find the occasional sexual content (including that which essentially opens the book) to be a bit much. But if you're looking for a decent occult-themed novel that wasn't written by someone who thinks we all eat babies and has a good yarn to spin, this is a good choice.
279645
Dark Boy is an intense, violent genre mashup with a frantic pace and deep well-defined setting. The first few chapters are a bit jarring with intense info dumps and multi-character head hopping that makes you wonder what is going on, but as the author gets deeper into his plot and reduces his world building in order to get to the plot and character development the book improves drastically.
 While I don't want to give too much of the plot away, the author includes enough intrigue to keep the pages turning, and plot points are not usually predictable. Characters are defined (after a few chapters) and maintain a unique voice. It reads a bit like a work of the cyberpunk era of the late 80s, with a tinge of Heinleins Sci-fi voice.
 That said, it requires stamina to get through. Its wordy and rarely allows the reader to create image from context, instead handing them lengthy description, particularly regarding weapons. Though were not talking quite as technical as one might find in a techno-thriller, it is somewhat reminiscent of that style. While the core of the work is there, a good copy editor would do this work wonders simply by condensing down language and ideas into a simpler book that can appeal to a wider audience range.
 As a debut novel, which this appears to be, its clear the author is talented and simply needs to develop the linguistic brevity to match with his strong story telling.  Would recommend for an 18+ audience of dark military sci-fi, grotesque horror, and possibly even dark fantasy.
4509085
This book falls pretty squarely into the modern urban fantasy genre, with supernatural/superpowered players mingling with unsuspecting ordinary humans. Its female lead is part of an evil, warped dynasty of supernaturals - alienated from the family cult that bred her by their sadistic mistreatment of her, she seeks allies among their enemies. Evil, warped dynasty is swimming with hubris; intelligence? Not so much. (No, really. Read the book. This isn't their only "Our bad" moment.)

On the whole, I find this book a really promising debut. Once I got into it (and that didn't take long), it was a real page-turner for me. The story moved along at a rapid enough clip that it kept me reading. Magnolia's character had a whiff of "Mary Sue" about her (the "I thought he hated me, but he really adores me" gets old), but at least she compensates for her unprecedented power and towering charisma with some serious self-doubts. If she ever gets over that, she may be a bit hard to take.

Caveat to would-be readers: this takes "explicit" to a whole new level. Sexual components are pretty tame, but the brutality in this book - including child abuse - may be hard for some to stomach. It's all part and parcel of fueling the thirst for revenge, but you should go in with one eye squinted if you're heavily affected by the kind of violence of, say,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Se7en/dp/B001BPQT8A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Se7en</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo/dp/B003Y5H5HY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</a>. Or maybe even not at all.

As for me, I plan to follow the series and see how it develops. I'd hope to see some more depth of character emerging as we go - we didn't get to know the supporting cast well at all, so it's not really possible to say at this point how well-rounded they may be. But the combined elements of mystery and action suggest an overall deft hand with plotting and I like some of the more unusual manifestations of psychic powers she introduces to the urban fantasy world.
3653939
A solid start to what promises to be an interesting series.

Set in a fantasy Feudal Japanese-esque setting, this novel tells a tale of warring wolf clans and the intrigue that goes along with it. It focuses on two main protagonists and we view the world from their perspective-, a rnin samurai by the name of Shiro, who's called on by his Daimyo to execute what seems like an impossible task. And an onna-bugeisha by the name of Seiko (-sister to said Daimyo), looking to prove her worth as a warrior on the battlefield. Both characters are really likable in their own way and feel solid and well rounded, with their own distinct personalities, flaws and takes on the events that surround them. The side characters are all very likable and detestable where appropriate as well. It very briefly touches on the other species that inhabit the world, and while it does so to establish certain facts and ask certain questions, it does leave you wanting to know more about those as well.

While there are some genuine goosebump and laugh out loud moments scattered throughout the book, it's tone remains consistent throughout. It tells it's tale and doesn't waste any time on useless fluff, but also doesn't rush through anything. All in all, this is definitely a book worth reading. And an author worth checking out.
3970234
Excellent addition to the genre.  I was impressed with the writing quality for a first book.  There were a couple of minor things that could have been edited better, but nothing that detracted from the story.  This is a welcome addition to the new generation of writers.  I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

The author says, in his afterword, that two of his favorite authors who have heavily influenced him are Dewey Lambden and Julian Stockwin.  Frankly, I think this first effort is much better than Stockwin's first.
1428890
J.T Hall is a new author to me. The blurb for Murder Once Seen caught my interest, promising a mix of urban fantasy, dystopia, paranormal, mystery, and suspense, with a dash of (light) BDSM. The author managed to wield this melting pot of genres quite nicely, and I felt the book delivered on its promise. It did feel a bit uneven, but overall I enjoyed it.

Derwin, the bounty hunter, hooks up with Elliot, the rent boy, to get his pain fix for his Oddity (see blurb). Derwin discovers Elliots ability to see scenes from peoples past by touching their personal items with his palms. Derwin convinces Elliot to help him search for his boyfriends killer, since Elliot is able to uncover new clues with the help of his Oddity.

Derwin and Elliot made for some interesting characters. Their attraction to each other was instant and explosive. Their wariness and distrust, that seems to infuse this world, morphed into trust and something deeper. They were really sweet together. Two lost souls slowly mending each others different wounds.

I really enjoyed the world build and the look I got into this urban/dystopian future. While I enjoyed it, I felt it wasn't fully explored. I hope the author will show me more of this world in the sequels, there is a lot of potential here.

The mystery and suspense were the somewhat weak parts. The bad guy was pretty obvious, so the mystery wasn't much of a mystery, more like following big flashing signs. The way Elliot used his abilities underway was cool, even though it made him see some unpleasant things.

There was a scene in the book that took me totally off guard. It had to do with the publishers warning of sexual assault and dubious consent that I didn't know about until writing this review (Ive included the warning in the blurb above). It involved Elliot and one of his clients (he is a rentboy by profession after all in this book), who is the leader of the gang controlling the section of the city where Elliot, his Madame and her stable of prostitutes operate. Elliot had to do the session with the sadistic gang leader to keep Elliot and the others working the street safe from the gang.

The scene was graphic with violence and dub con/non con sex. I wasn't expecting it at all, and found it very unpleasant. Im not strictly opposed to reading a scene like that, but I really want to know beforehand, so I know to expect it. Im giving Riptide an annoyed side eye here, since they really ought to include the warning in the blurb, and not just have it on a separate section under the book on their website. The warning is not listed on Amazon or Goodreads, so an unsuspecting reader might pick up this book getting more than they bargained for.

This explicit scene notwithstanding, I enjoyed reading Murder Once Seen since Im a sucker for urban fantasy, dystopian, paranormal, and mystery and murder. I do feel like the author tried to include or mix together too many genres and plot points, that it fell short in some areas, like the mystery. It might have been a tighter story focusing on fewer plot points, but exploring those few more. However, the world build was intriguing with its demons and Oddites. I liked Elliot and Derwin, and they were perfect for each other. I liked that they had to work to develop their relationship, even though they initially were insta-love/lust.

The story has a HEA, or more like HFN since turn of events set the stage for a sequel. Im pretty sure Ill be reading the next installment wanting to see more of Derwin and Elliot in their world.

Reviewed for Lovebytes.
4904158
It's very difficult to pigeonhole this book into a single genre. It's a post apocalyptic story, set in a city at the edge of the american wasteland after some nuclear war (WWIII?).

It's an alternate history, not just because of this war, but also because the Roman Empire never fell, and in the old world its primary opponent seems to be the British Empire, and the city that's the focus of the story is like an independent Greek city-state that serves as a neutral buffer zone between their respective new world colonies.

It's paranormal-fantasy because... well, elves, were-creatures, wizards, and vampires. Thankfully no one sparkles and the relationships mostly tend away from high school level drama, and more toward mature adult.

There's a lot going on in the too short 215 pages including an invasion by one of the empires that happens to coincide with a flareup of humanist activity within the city and the problems that causes. It's a rather on-point topic at the moment, but handled pretty well by the author.

The difficulty in assigning Steel Victory to a specific genre is never once an issue while reading it. You'll find yourself far too engaged in wanting to know what happens next to bother worrying about it!

My only issue with Steel Victory is that the author lets you look behind the DM's screen a couple of times, wanting you to know that there is a reason for this, that, or the other thing. It's something I recognize, since I've done it myself at the table. Feeling the need to prove that I know what I'm doing and not just making it up as I go along (even worse when that's exactly what I'm doing). Learning to have confidence in your ability to manage your table, to trust your players/readers to have faith in you takes some work.

But remember, you already have buy in. They sat at your table, they bought your book. They want to have a good time, and they're willing to go along for the ride, even if they can't see the background work that goes into it!

tldr: 4.5 stars - fascinating mixed genre world, very RPG-able, and spurs some DMing advice at the end.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reviewer e-copy of this book from the author, who is both a friend and one of the players in my Friday night D&D game.
4904287
I got this while looking for something to read.  After 30-40 pages, I ordered the second, and pre-ordered the third book.
The action is pretty fast paced, and this is a promising start to a series. It's a fun read, and I'm curious enough about the characters to want to see what happens next.

There's sword fighting action, a bit (though relatively little) dragon action, and some fun fight scenes.  The main characters are likeable, and there are some good laugh out loud lines.  Unlike many urban fantasies, it doesn't go heavy on the romance angle, though there's a bit of a will they or won't they relationship there.  (Actually a few, but one between the two most likeable characters.)  I can't think of much to compare it too, which is probably one reason I like it--although it makes use of various tropes, it's highly orignal.

This is really good light reading, a fast moving plot, and some really fun characters.
3255670
As a debut novel, Drew Avera's "Dead Planet: Exodus" is a competent, if somewhat lacking, effort. The biggest flaw is the predictability of certain plot threads, with generic setting descriptions and thin characters being lesser, but no less omnipresent, drawbacks. The author does an admirable job of world-building, something fans of the genre would be interested in seeing expounded upon in subsequent entries. There is potential for improvement stylistically, and this book holds the promise of a rich and engaging world that has only just begun to be explored.

Every debut author runs into bumps with the first outing, it's important though to encourage them to continue writing and improve their craft. Eventually your support will be rewarded with a fulfilling and engaging work of art.
4766493
A solid, engaging mystery/procedural. Would definitely recommend to fans of the genre. A good mix of mystery and the protagonists person life, and a good connection between the two. I'm not sure I would actively seek out other books in the series, but if I came across them I would pick them up.
2296887
Travis Adkins has developed a pretty solid, if fairly short, zombie story.  The main character, Courtney, grows and develops with the story; this is something that seems difficult to do for some other writers in the genre to do.  She is strong and tough, which is to be expected given that she accepted the training to become a black beret-a zombie killer, but she wasn't always that way and she still is human and vulnerable.  She is not superhuman by any means, which means that she is extremely appealing.  The combat techniques described in the book are plausible and there is some depth of detail you simply do not get in most other works as to what you would have to do, how you would have to adjust when combating an enemy that feels no pain and essentially only has one real kill spot.
Certainly, the cast of characters here are fairly young, which drives the story in certain ways; their personal problems are something I can remember but perhaps cannot fully relate to at nearly 40, but I still appreciated it.  I think Mr. Adkins does a good job of describing the moodiness of some teens/young adults and and I saw it all as realistic given the circumstances they face.  Growing up in a dead world would be a unique situation, especially for a people of this age vs. someone older, fully matured, and entangled with family and responsibilities beyond your own self development.
While I was not totally appreciative of metal sheathed zombies or a madman who somehow thinks of zombies as the next stage of evolution (a preposterous concept to me, but one that an insane mind might wrap itself around, I suppose), I did appreciate the challenges the main character faces and has to overcome with these enemies.  It made for an entertaining story that was a fun read.
I also enjoyed the other tidbits after the main story was complete-the return to the past with other characters besides Courtney as well as what essentially amounts to a flashback with the main character and the black beret crew of Eastpointe on a past mission.  It further fleshed out the story and given that there will be a sequel gave even more insight into both the main character and her "boyfriend", Leon.
This is a well written book that was a fun read.  The ghastly editing and plot hole errors of some other books of this genre that are self published or slapped together haphazardly are not present here-the story was well thought out, the characters three dimensional, and the scenario fairly plausible.  The editing is solid and the storyline is tight.  Again, I am not sure I would say I loved the bad guy and his creations, but they were creative and different.  This story focused on our main character and not necessarily the baddies as key players, so my issues with that aspect of the story were not strong.
If I were to gripe it would be that I would have liked even more character development-more details on Courtney's experiences with Gordon Levi and perhaps even more back story on Leon.  Not that the story is short on understanding of the characters, I just think this book could have delved even further.  But if this is a gripe, it is a minor one and I am not complaining to emphatically about it.
A enjoyable story that was worth the read and I look forward to the sequel when it is published.  Travis Adkins has a good voice and one that I definitely enjoyed here.
4732811
Most self-published works seem to find themselves rapidly filling up with five-star reviews comparing the author and the work to the greats of literature and genre fiction, which rapidly make me, at least, wonder more about the character of the reviewer than the quality of the book.  I will not do so.  What I will say is that Moczulski has created a highly entertaining and readable novella in the urban fantasy genre, the kind of thing that would make superior-quality filler in an anthology collection featuring Jim Butcher as the featured author.  The narrator, Eric Margrave, is a professional monster hunter, and he's just bought a house to use as a safe-house in his business.  He got it for a song because the house is haunted, but since he's a pro, that'll be no problem, right? Wrong.  Margrave is quickly in over his head and how he gets out of it is equal parts action and horror.  The narrative voice is quick and snappy, with plenty of snarky humor that keeps things light and fast-moving, the action scenes are descriptive and fast-moving once things get going, suspense and tension are maintained, and the final climax is suitably climactic with a touch of awesome.  And best of all, the epilogue suggests that Moczulski intends to make this a continuing series.  This is a good, solid work of fiction, kept firmly within the confines of the genre and written well.  At an asking price of two bucks, it's a good value and an excellent way to kill an hour.
3536630
Honestly, I've been looking forward to giving this book a try since I first saw the cover image, a few months back, because that is one kick-ass cover, IMO.  I love it!

I am very pleased to report that it actually lives up to its awesome cover.  Damaged but bad-ass heroine in a post-apocalyptic landscape may be a well-worn trope by this point, but bad-ass Native American heroine in a post-apocalyptic landscape set in a Native American mythos is rather less so, and it's very welcome.  That the writing is good, the characters well-drawn, and the story and world-building interesting makes it well worth the effort.

Maggie Hoskie is a young Dineh (Navajo) woman who is also a Monster-slayer, gifted (she would say cursed) with clan-powers of supernatural speed and skill in killing.  It's some few, unspecified number of years after the "Big Water," (a climate-driven catastrophe that's killed billions and left much of North America flooded) and the Dinetah (the lands formerly known as Northwestern New Mexico and the Four Corners area) has been physically shielded with supernaturally raised walls on all four sides.  Maggie is in the middle of her loner existence, not really dealing with past life traumas, when she gets thrust into a situation that calls for, well, a Monster-slayer.  From there, things escalate, because of course they do.

Complex and interesting characters, Native American - specifically Dineh - culture and mythology (Coyote, for example, plays a prominent part), a well-paced story that moves along at a good clip, punctuated by a few good action scenes.  Glad to see that this is the first of a new series, and I'll be looking forward to the next one, scheduled next year.  Recommended.
2050717
I really enjoyed this book.  I was connected to the characters, the story could stand to be a bit more intriguing, but outside of that I have no issues with it.  It was a fun ride, read the book.  It didn't have the emotional connection of Hobb, or the creativity of Sanderson, but as far a debut novel goes, this is a solid entry.  It's somewhat different than most stories, while I often hate templar in stories, the paladin aspect of the character was somewhat refreshing, rather than off putting.  As I say in every review, read this book, it's worth it.
1479291
This is the tenth book in the series, and touches quite a bit on the overall story arc. I've been binge reading the whole series in order, and reviewing as I go. My reviews focus on setting readers' expectations, rather than summarising plots.

The most important aspect a new reader needs to know is that the series has an over-arching story arc, with roots starting at book 3 (Grave Peril) but only becoming visible as more and more of the series unfolds. It's a great thing, but as itcontinually colours events around Dresden it's best to read the series in order.

*** What to expect
This volume deal again with the Fallen, the faeries, and Marcone. It's a thriller-paced urban fantasy, with fast moving action. Harry spouts his usual brand of flippant humor in the face of the supernatural.

*** What I liked
I like Harry's wise-cracking attitudes towards life, and in dealing with supernatural horrors. I like the supporting characters in general, and I find Butcher is doing excellent job in characterising and building recurring cast and introducing new characters. The long-running support cast are especially complex, and one can see them maturing between books.

*** Be aware
This is part of a series, and you really need to read them in order. Butcher has Harry's mental dialogue to recap previous events and dialogue for those who read the series in breaks, which can feel like he's talking too much (and also may grate on some reader's nerves as a "telling" style, or simply for being repetitive). It's just a function of a long-running series, but as entering the series mid-way is not recommended anyway it doesn't offer much to new readers while could be distracting to fans.
Also, some readers may find Dresden attitudes chauvinistic and misogynistic, though that is a both a trope of the genre and something of a failing of his.

*** Summary
This is one of the better volumes in an excellent series. It's a great example of a fast-paced, urban-fantasy thriller. If you want a blend of modern-day thrillers with dark fantasy, this is the series to read - just start at Storm Front.

--
Assaph Mehr, author of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Murder-In-Absentia-Togas-Daggers-and-Magic/dp/B015TXPPG6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Murder In Absentia: Togas, Daggers, and Magic</a>&nbsp;- for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
1357759
Jeremy is turning into a TV. This isn't a metaphor, much to his chagrin. It's something that runs in the family. Unfortunately, his father turned into a TV and walked out of Jeremy's life before the guy could really give his son much advice about his own impending transformation, so he spends most of his days working at the appliance graveyard and wondering about his future. Turns out, his future has been well planned out already, at least in the eyes of the cult that believes he's their savior. And so, it is into this world that author Daniel Vlasaty takes us for a slice of poor Jeremy's life.

Vlasaty wisely introduces his weirdness up front and then keeps the story tight and focused. It may be a strange world, but this novella rarely strays down tangential paths. The core story arc is solid. We follow Jeremy from his mundane day-to-day life to an inciting incident where the cult learns of his existence. From there we're already most of the way to his forced coupling with the artificial TV woman, Eve, and his final, inevitable showdown with the cultists and their mysterious leader. There's violence, humor and a few sprinklings of sex (up to and including a creepy cult leader lasciviously licking a screen over and over again). These themes are sort of the bizarro fiction triumvirate, but everything utilized here feels natural to the story without veering all over the place just for the sake of strangeness. It moves fast and smooth, and it's a pleasure to read.

Some of the book feels rushed, which is often the case with the new bizarro author series, as the writers are subject to a strict word limit. Because of that, some of the character relationships are forced to develop really quickly. The romance between Jeremy and Eve, and his deep friendship with Benjamin the grumpy talking dog are examples of this, where our hero has very strong feelings about these characters he barely knows for the sake of the story. However, Vlasaty tells a good yarn, and he handles this problem by actually playing with the passage of time and speeding everything up within the narrative itself - a clever fix. This also leads to some explosive but efficient action writing in the places its needed, including a massive orgy of violence triggered by the birth of the "savior." Of course, you're going to have to read it to find out what I mean by that, which you should. Daniel Vlasaty's The Church of TV As God is a fun and crazy debut novella, and fans of bizarro fiction would do well to tune in.