These two books are spectacular.
358022
Once again Christine Feehan writes about the Carpathian love story.  Both stories pull you into the world of mystery and excitement.  I always feel like I am part of the story. Although I have read all her books, I continue to enjoy them over and over.
Ella Merritt
4426104
It is not easy to find these gems in modern times. I love the intense and free creativity of both the art and fantasy writings in this book. Both Yerka and Ellison are brilliant minds. The images are incredible pieces of art that make us believe in magic again. The stories come from a brilliant, educated, aware and astonishingly gifted mind that can produce new and fantastic ideas in ways that few in our history have accomplished. Each piece of writing has a commentary by the author on the process and meaning of the story. It is a wonderful addition to my art and literature collections.
977382
This is the second book by this author that I've read and they are both wonderful.
1458624
Both books are beautifully written and researched so thoroughly. They are delights to read and offer explorations based on real events  in history that we, as travelers, can see and understand after reading Ina Caro's accounts of events that are truly part of France's history, glorious and terrible.
1563832
These are the best two books I ever got for my kindle. I love the bad boys and the way the stories are  told. I love Brian with a passion. He is the best. Ghost is also very cool but there is just something about Brian Ross he is amazing. Great books, you should read both.
2094044
This book is so amazing it taught me so much about two real people who strived for amazing things.
4279944
Love these books even though I only really get wowed by a fraction of the art - there's a lot of big fantasy boobs and swords stuff which we've all seen way too much of  already but I'm over 60 so what do I know - and then you turn a page and see a real masterpiece that really tickles the old brain and makes it all worthwhile
2292591
8/8 m8, no but seriously it's an amazing book (Hazah, put not intended) and I'm so so SO proud of these two guys writing this book, they put so much effort into this and they deserve the sucess they have worked hard for. The books is colorful, visually appealing and the words are so beautifully crafted (HA, don't cry, craft) and yes really a spectacular book.
3380812
This book is the journey of a lifetime for a reader.  You cannot put this book down. This is definately a must-read book.  Also see the video version of the book.  They are both fantastic.
4410350
Hopefully the second book from these two talented men will not be the last.
2061681
I just reviewed the second volume and figured I should go back and write something about this one, too.

I really loved these two books. They are religious in nature, being about the "End TImes" and follow the scriptures pretty closely. I was pleased to see how a couple of others envision all of this happening.

I cared about what happened to the characters, too - not just how the events would come to pass...

I read Volume 2 immediately after I got done with this one, and thoroughly enjoyed it too. And, I would read more from these authors.
3971152
These are the only two books I've ever read twice. I'm blown away by Russell's mastery in creating an entire civilization so real and convincing I would know how to interact with the Runa if I met one. And the metaphorical layers of theology,  politics, etc make this a rich and intellectually interesting read.
3155219
Two great stories with a substantial amount of worldbuilding despite (no pun intended) short running time.  Aided by Donaldson's taught, tight, dense prose, not a single wasted or extraneous word.  Expert at work here ;)
1063989
So why did I group these two separate books into the same report? Well two reasons actually.

First: They both have the same author
Second: These two books should really be one massive 700pg book in my opinion

OK so about the books:
On Killing: 416 pages of pure enjoyment that takes you from the civil war to current, and how we have overcome our willingness not to kill. On Combat: 403 pages of intriguing reality of what happens to us in combat and how to overcome it. How do you explain these books though. They take and condense so many aspects of what goes into both killing and combat and roll them into a book that helps you understand what happens to you in combat and why. But not only do these books outline these facts, they site studies that validate the information. They also spell out methods that can help you overcome the result, whether it be a man that is unable to pull the trigger in defense of his family, or a female veteran returning from theater with PTSD.

What most people will really get a kick out of is the training methods that the Col. talks about and how it can make you a more proficient warrior.

Both are geared toward the police officer and or individual warrior fighting for his country. Being a retired Marine I have even found some truths in these books that have in a way opened my eyes. They are long books but every sentence, quote, story, letter to the author and even poem hold content that I feel is very (for lack of a better term) strong.

Most books have a climatic point after which the books trials off a little bit and looses the reader. I will say up front these will keep your interest.

In this day in age the most interesting parts I found in both books is how media and Hollywood are affecting our children and molding them into the aggressive culture we see today. (I think the president would do well to see some of the research that Col. Grossman has compiled, and be using that to protect our children, rather than the unconstitutional attack on Americas second amendment that he is launching; if he truly believes in protecting our youth) Sorry for the rant.

If you get these books just for the training ideas and tips that he gives you than you have already made a great investment, and the rest will just be a huge added bonus. I highly suggest both books for anyone that believes in protecting their family, carries a sidearm with them, is either active duty military or police (LE) or just wants to learn about what makes the service member and or police officer "run toward the guns, when everyone else is running from them".

Both books highly recommended and well worth the $15.00 you might spend on the paperback versions on Amazon.
3171036
These books aren't just good. They're not just great. They're truly amazing. Benson wrote an enormous number of novels and stories, and many of them are only mediocre at best. But he hit the jackpot when he created Lucia, the insufferable social climbing witch whom somehow you just kind of fall in love with. That's magic! Then Benson created Miss Mapp, the even more disagreeable, more unpleasant, more social climbing queen of Tilling society. And yet somehow you can't enough of her either. Then, realizing the pure gold he'd created, he put them together in one book, and it's fictional dynamite. And then two more books as well. What makes these books so amazing is that more than 75 years later, the humor is almost freakishly modern and fresh. Benson makes Waugh, Mitford, et al. seem timid. He was a comic genius. It's a shame more people don't read these. Don't be one of those people. Be a Luciaphile. It's the smart thing to do.
1503965
I read a lot, and this, along with Gentleman from Moscow, were my two most favorite books this year. The characters are endearing and stay with me. The two plot lines are intriguing, with the struggle of ideas between religion and philosophy, as well as between the love of knowledge and human love. It's hard to imagine a time when women were not "allowed" to learn, but this narrative paints a realistic picture of what it might be like. I like the gradual uncovering of the Renaissance Enlightenment letters too. I highly recommend it.
1786587
These are two wonderful books combined into one.  The stories are written in a way that anyone - whether they are Christian or non-Christian - will be blessed and inspired.