Gutsy. Chilling. Adventurous.
922579
Great story that you can picture happening. Communicating with dolphins and then other life forms, not from our planet. Certainly not at the speed with which everything occurred, but it was believable to a certain degree with a lot of imagination. It gets a little sticky in the middle as I couldn't exactly make out where something started and another ended, and I had to re-read certain sections for context. However, I recommend this to anyone into science fiction, suspense.
3339284
A wild, dirty, terrifying and wonderfully warm  adventure . Authentic and relatable, this book has it all.  A zombie story that is far from the old and tired genre. Great job!
2496017
The first chapter elegantly sets the story, mood, and tone. Ms. Schmitt neatly opens with a scene that should be normal but right away heads into dark territory. The creepiness, the closing in, the foreshadowing of things about to go terribly wrong. And they do. Gerrys pull into the pages is absorbing and relentless. The story lets you breathe for only seconds at a time until events, clues, and motivations bite through that snuggly blanket. Read every word or you will miss something important. Did you catch the mistake Ronnie made at his victims house that is surely to give him away?
Schmitt is quite adept at sliding in thematic elements to enhance the scene and deepen the chapters underlying currents. Wherever you are, the cluttered, dusty police station, the dingy home of the kidnapper, or Susans fancy just-so house, the sensory details are rich and satisfying. The cadence of boots crunching in the snow, the smell of Marjories kitchen, of white and cold and ice permeating the scenes. The sound of a pickax. (Youll know what I mean.)
From Afton to Max, Ronnie, Shake, and even a random TV reporter, the author has created rich, complex, genuine, knowable, and frightening characters. Each has a clear goal and motivation. And they have secrets from each other. Here are people who come apart, who lash out and ruin others lives, who show courage and heroism, and who act and react in believable yet very dark ways.
As pieces came together and the story concluded, I reached for my mug of tea. But I was so engrossed in the lives of the characters my tea had grown as cold as the frigid Minnesota landscape.
Dont miss out on this book. Yes Ms. Schmitt can sure write a good cozy under her pen name Laura Childs. But wow can she write a thriller.
896349
Jacob Hanleys cherished wife died over a year ago, and he thinks of little else. She consumes his thoughts. Until one day, that all changes. On that day, a very old man rushes up to him in a restaurant, gives him a cryptic message about the Order, Symbios, and the Great Elder, then dies in his arms. Haunted by the old man who died in his arms, and curious to find out more about him, he discovers that the man was only thirty years old. Now, Jacob is interested. Thus begins an adventure that changes Jacobs life.

This is a fun exploration into the imaginative world of the enticing company called Symbios and a terrifying introduction to the chilling, power-hungry Great Elder. The characters are well- developed. The plot flows along effortlessly and smoothly, and the scenes are vividly described. The nonstop action starts at the beginning of the book and continues to the end, capturing the reader immediately, and holding her till the end. This is a fun story!

This book was given to me by netgalley.com in exchange for an unbiased review.
4931445
Great adventure. Very well written with absorbing characters.  DK Mok has written a rousing story with tension,treachery, violence,...and morality. Read the next sentences but don't let them dissuade you: The key characters consider the moral balance and consequences of the problems they face and choose (when they can) the thoughtful option. I've read a lot of Fantasy and SF where anyone standing in the way of the heroes (or villains) is chopped down without a thought. Not so in Hunt for Valamon.  But, to emphasize, this does not dilute the "juice" of the story.
I also enjoyed the fact that there were several well-developed secondary characters and interwoven plot lines. I did feel that the plethora of characters caused the final chapters to become a little choppy, but still satisfactory.
One of my best arguments for this book might be that when I finished I said to myself: "Do the best review you can." I hope that is the case. You will enjoy this book that is drenched in intelligent writing rather than blood.
2965543
This book is a wild ride thats equal parts Dr. Zhivago, On the Road, No Exit, and Roadside Picnic. That is to say, its about a road trip through a Russian winter across a landscape scattered with unexpected artifacts (or at least, magical realist flourishes) that calls into question the human condition.

The set up is simple and insidious: a doctor must deliver medicine to a distant town to quell a zombie uprising. But stranded by a monumental blizzard, hes forced to rely on a sled driver and the kindness (and quirks) of strangers to make it through the whiteout. Along the way, hes severely challenged by the elements, existential angst, human nature and his own shortcomings.

Its a quick read, and unforgettable, due mostly to the matter-of-fact treatment of the fantastical elements  tiny horses (and people), giant horses (and people), tents that grow themselves, addictive drugs that provide a sense of euphoria by inducing terror of death and more.

But its the existential dynamics between people  ineffective, uncertain and both drawn to and repulsed by those we are trapped with  that make the slim little story stand out. It says something profound about the human condition: that someday, well likely find ourselves hacking away at the nasal cavity of a frozen giant to free the runner of our sled.

Dont miss this one.
718105
As if fighting for your life while attempting to save the life of your loved one taken hostage isn't bad enough, add extreme below-zero temperatures, waist-high snow, rugged terrain, and a conspiracy that could devastate thousands, and you've got Sabotaged. This high-stakes, edge-of-you-seat novel will transport you to Alaska with Reef McKenna and Kirra Jacobs, two SAR (search-and-rescue) workers for the Iditarod race. Their past antagonistic relationship blossoms into attraction as Reef helps Kirra track her uncle, Frank, an experienced musher who's mysteriously disappeared from the race. As they close in on her uncle's trail, they discover Kirra's cousin, Meg, has been kidnapped, and neither family member will survive unless Frank unleashes a disaster that will cripple the frozen North.

This is the first book I've read of Dani Pettrey's and it won't be my last. The insightful dialogue and tight writing had me turning the pages to find the next clue. I will definitely be reading the rest of the Alaskan Courage series.
1510898
Aaron has written a dramatic account of his on-foot adventure to reach the South Pole.  We have the delight of his interior experience, not only on this trek but during his preparatory adventures in Greenland and Yellowstone.  Why would a professional with a secure and comfortable life purposely choose such a severe journey?  He answers these and other questions in a delightful way.

We quickly become part of his trek facing creavasses, storms and winds of incredible fury.  Using his engineer's knack for problem-solving in real time, we share his survival challenges of broken equipment and degraded supplies.  His daily diary throws dangers into sharp relief as he treks over the most daunting landscape on earth.  He recounts the nearly impossible task of crossing fields of "sastrugi" - strange hobgoblin formations of snow monuments cut by fierce winds.  High latitudes create GPS errors, compass misreadings and ever-present threat of death from the unrelenting cold.  Horizon whiteouts play vivid mind tricks:  visions of places he has known in color, with people and in extreme detail; an invitation for insanity without creative exercise of mental discipline.

The account is often in the vein of Robinson Crusoe's introspections, investigating the theme of human loneliness and its mental effects over prolonged isolation; also much like those in Graham Mackintosh's Into A Desert Place as he hiked alone in Baja.  This is the read for an armchair traveler who wants an authentic South Pole adventure.
301541
Wow, a swashbuckling adventure with a tender core. Somehow Heidi Heilig manages this amazing feat. THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE time/space travels from modern day New York City, to ancient Xian, China, to independent 19th century Hawaii, serving up street chases, bank heists, and political treason. And at the center of it all? A resourceful girl torn between love for her father and the growing, aching certainty that his obsession results in her death.

Inventive and magical. Im blown away by Heilig's premise that the world we arrive at is formed by who drew the map and who navigated. Ill be lining up for sequels.
4022194
This book grabbed me from the first instant, plunging into action with high stakes, much to lose, and characters I cared about right from the start. Especially Nile, the heroine -- she's smart, brave even when she's scared, tough and vulnerable at the same time, and she has to face tough predicaments with no easy answers. Like being accountable to an infuriating captain, who is wholly believable -- the kind of nasty person you could meet in real life. There's a whole crew of varied, memorable characters -- some repulsive, some charismatic and many with unexpected sides to their natures. Many of them I want to get to know more -- and some I want stranded on a deserted island far, far away!

The setting aboard a tall ship in time of war is vivid -- harsh but invigorating. Nile encounters everything from the drudgery of being a lowly crewwoman with nasty crewmates, to facing real and mortal danger. The main story here ties up neatly enough to be satisfying, but there's so much more to happen, I can't wait to read the sequel!
3186558
Two unlikely partners joining forces on a perilous adventure.  Kudos for being part of KU.  Even though I do KU. I bought this book because I really like the Author.  There are some whom did not enjoy this book.  If raw gritty adventure does not appeal to you go back to your insipid ballroom tales.  Yes,  there is sex.  But,  there is so much more.  Be as brave as the main characters and join the adventure.
2688957
In this book Arthur Gask has captured the thrilling sense of danger and daring that must always shadow every fugitive or escaped prisoner. Drop the fugitive into a background of early twentieth century Adelaide during the  sweltering heat of an Australian summer and the scene is set for a torrid  chase which is sure to make palms sweat and pulses race. Falsely accused of  embezzlement, our laconic and confident hero escapes from captivity and  sets out on a compelling flight for freedom. The reader accompanies the  bold escapee through every moment of recklessness and nervous uncertainty  and  is transported along a perilous path towards a quite surprising and  yet satisfying climax. Although good fortune plays a part in most of the  hero's escapades, the ever present fear of recapture or recognition fills  every page and ensures a gripping and enjoyable read, and Gask's passion  for wicked playfulness and the practical joke are evident throughout the  plot.
557391
The Martyrs Blade is a very welcome addition to the fantasy genre. An engaging, wondrous adventure from start to finish. Manners incredibly deep knowledge and appreciation for the genre is evident on each page. He writes with an enthusiasm that is both infectious and inspiring.  That spirit is also reflected in his characters. Their witty, optimistic dispositions and larger than life personalities are a welcome change from the familiar stoic, brooding type characters typically found in these types of books. (Though, I will say, there were a few instances where their merriment and joking didn't quite seem warranted given some of the awful situations they found themselves in. But those were few and far between).
The author also does an excellent job pulling the reader inside the realm of Albyn, building a rich, living and breathing world. From majestic mountains and forests to dark and mysterious catacombs. Mythical temples and grand castles. The vivid and detailed world he manages to capture is definitely one of the strongest parts of the book. The variety and depth of the environments made Albyn feel like a character itself.
One small frustration I found as the book went on, was a certain tension that developed with the characters, (Im still not sure if its a good thing or a bad thing). But as the story progressed I found myself unsure which characters I should get attached to. As a good many of them don't make it to the end. In a way its fun because no one feels safe and every encounter seems more dangerous, but at the same time, it makes it difficult to become invested in the characters.
The only other small qualm I had was, while the author is excellent at world building, action sequences and unveiling the mystery of the deadly rituals, occasionally the dialogue does seem clunky and unnatural. A particular budding romance between two of the character will sometimes teeter on the edge between cute/ endearing and cheesy/ cringe-y.
However, these small criticisms are almost inconsequential to what is a fantastic debut novel, and an introduction to an epic, adventurous world and series, full of well written characters and environments that I look forward to spending more time with.
1881394
Interesting contrast set up between very different cultures of leading characters. If you've ever wondered what it would take to survive in a frozen hostile wilderness The Snow Walker will give you a lot of insight. Raw adventure.
807334
Hold on to your butts, folks! Lakhoni has it all: Courage, action, mystery, vengeance, angst, and edge-of-your-seat suspense!

Open on Lahkoni, injured and assumed deceased, in the middle of the devastation of his home village. Alronna, his sister, has been taken by the perpetrators. Drawing from the courage and strength just building inside him, Lahkoni must take a journey of adventure, danger, intrigue and revenge. The genre this book would best fit into is a heros journey.

Heads up: this is not the happily ever after you might want - this does have a cliff hanger ending, in preparation for the next book. So don't be upset - I warned you!

As I don't like to spoil anything, Ill just tell you about Lahkoni. He is spirited, loving, passionate and young. But he is also endowed with a private reserve of strength, tenacity and will to go on. Every obstacle he encounters is met with the same tenacity and courage. One would be hard put to not like this hero.

I also loved Shimra - the village healers daughter who Lahkoni develops a fancy for. I do hope she is in the next installment!

Only negatives: The setting is not specifically explained, but the villages are primitive and I pictured it somewhere in early central Americas. And also, this was not my normal book genre, but I wanted to try it out.

Audience: Young adults, adults who like adventures, fans of vengeance stories and plot twists.

Note: I received this product free of charge in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
#FutureHousePub
4365562
Dead Heat by Bronwyn Parry is quite a story. My capacity to endure thrillers is quite limited, nightmares linger. Yet Bronwyn Parry can string thrilling mayhem and grizzly murder without imparting the gross chill that sends my mind into overdrive.

Dead Heat is set in and around an Australian national park which is interestingly quaint and somewhat romantically described. Yet the story line builds tension via the unforeseen chaos of a police investigation matching wits with desperate criminals. It's a hell of a who done it which is skilfully crafted. Well worth reading. Five stars.
3083039
Even for those of us who hate climbing stairs, let alone the highest peak on the planet, Into Thin Air will keep you turning pages long into each night. You'll bring it to work, telling yourself that you'll only read it during your breaks and lunch hour. Your boss will walk into your office while you stare into the top drawer, pretending you're looking for staples for your stapler, and even though you got busted, you'll continue reading until the boss disappears.
Just the idea of climbing the HIGHEST mountain grabs my heart and squeezes it. I have no desire to climb mountains, be freezing cold, or put myself in the position of knowing I'm slowly dying, just to stand on snow and rock long enough to take one picture and turn around, heading into even more danger that the descent  provides.
Into Thin Air is a raw, emotional account of one of the worst climbing seasons Everest had to that date. Jon Krakauer takes you to the top of Mt Everest, as if you are strapped to his pack. His descriptions and artful storytelling place these climbers, the mountain and the extreme pain into your soul - I promise you will never forget this story.