Excellent Storytelling
345392
I had tried to read this ahead of the new PBS seies and just couldn't get that into it. However, after viewing the premiere  I decided to try again. And I'm glad I did! This is purely excellent storytelling. There is a realness to these charcters that I find refreshing. A nice bit of history too. I am already making plans to get the next two books(not to mention the tv show) and I was surprised at how closely the tv series stayed true to the book. I was well prepared to be disappointed on that point. Loved, enjoyed, and highly recomend!!
4757522
Excellent storytelling from Kaufman (as always). The emotional presence of the characters was remarkable. And I suppose this is the point. Story can drive any medium. And skillful puppetry helps to create a surreal sense of place throughout the film.
23596
Storytelling at its best. I loved the characters, and fell into each richly developed relationship like a gravity well. The story is vast...so vast. Reynolds is a marvel of imagination. And the science is masterfully wound into the plot, explained effortlessly for a drummer like me to feel smart.

Thanks Mr. Reynolds, and do that again please.
3962295
Excellent story telling!  Wonderful characters and good pace.  I had to read the next book in the series.  Can't wait to find out what is next for the characters.
1153504
What a great read, and creative narrative. I read it all in one go. The narration was well done and I connected with the main character and empathized with her story. The book was well paced and the ending was satisfying without being trite. The author also did an excellent job at creating a unique sensory experience.
2839511
Fantastic story telling with a great sense of place. I was moved to tears by the WWII side story that was written in.

I liked the characters. They were believable, likable, and three-dimensional.

The author kind of takes a shot at herself in that she has the MC talking of the cliche of getting stranded on an island in the pacific. Cliche yet interesting and believable too. Lots of detail about the setting, the injuries, the struggle to survive, the discovery of left over WWII forward base. Then we get this interesting take on modern writing to have a long "story within a story". I know some readers thought it took them out of the main story too much. I didn't think so, but for the longest time I was trying to figure out why it was there. At then end of the book, I really wanted it to continue. Stand alone books don't always translate into a series, but by the end the guys were so real to me I really wanted to see the continuation of their story. We just got to the good part and it ended so to speak. All in all a really great story.

The Setting of this book was very well written. The deserted camp on the Island whetted my interest and captured my imagination, and the dream sequence took me right into the World War Two era I thought the author accomplished setting the scene in both places. The Plot of this book was interesting and I very much liked the way all the themes were woven together. The Characterisations were well defined and believable, both David's and both Sutt's were consistent. Despite a few errors here and there (mainly in the spacings)  the writing was of a high quality. This was a completely captivating and emotional read, with characters you really come to care about, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.  The characters are very well drawn, and this is one of the best use of settings I've seen in a long time. The writing is very good.  I think a strong, independent editor could have helped polish up the few rough spots in the manuscript.
2311226
I am really enjoying the storytelling that weaves together the band of rag-tag young heroes and "modern-day-fairy-tales" with lots of twists.  Very clever and entertaining.  I wish the last book was out.
446196
The storytelling in this book is very engaging. The language, the pacing, the transitions are all well done. The story, coupled with the captivating visuals, propelled me into an adventure that I didn't want to end. I gave it as a birthday gift for someone turning thirteen. Now he's enjoying it just as much!
2695857
The Rogue Mountains is not a genre I would normally pick-up.  However, I always try to do my best to support local talent & Joshua Tarquinio is that.  I do enjoy books, no matter the genre, that are well written. Rogue Mountains is indeed an example of that.  The story arc is excellent.  If Fantasy or Horror are something you enjoy this could easily be a page turner you couldn't put down. The story-line evolves around a compelling cast of characters that are enriched with both background stories and solid dialogue. As secrets of the characters are exposed and legacy stories of the town are revealed the web of the story becomes richer.  I also encountered more than a few surprises.  Joshua did not let me fall into a rut as I was reading. Simply stated The Rogue Mountains is a well crafted story with much more than gore and horror.  As I neared the end of the book I was anxious to find out if their would be a prequel.  Good writing can do that. It is very well worth adding to your reading list.  Some of the story involves sexual encounters, which refine the story, may not be appropriate for young readers.
4359712
This book managed to grab my attention and hold it from start to finish (I ready it in one LONG sitting...) Due to the story being well-paced, with well written characters (good depth, excellent voice ((Google character voice)) and better than fair development). The Unicorn & The Detective also handled world building with flare; intricate and well conveyed.
  Michael Angel managed to use familiar themes, archetypes, and tropes to great effect throughout; managing to  leverage them without becoming cliche (or at least too cliche). The combinations are unique, and by using them well he has managed to make the story more accessible to a variety of readers. Not just those steeped in any given genre; and with the benefit of keeping unneeded exposition from disrupting story flow.
  I heartily recommend this novel. It is a fun read, with excellent storytelling. Give it a shot!
1097729
Excellent storytelling and characters, especially the annoying but endearing lead.  Fascinating look at another country and its culture. Excited to read more in the series.
2247050
A beautifully told, tender story about storytelling, the fluidity of time, and the way mistakes change us - set amid a chorus of exactly the kinds of smart, vibrant, real people you'd hope to have as your best geek friends (and are lucky enough to have for the duration of this book.) As Alex (young, aspiring superhero) and his mom travel west to meet Alex's father, the array of worlds folded inside Comic-Cons guide us into the loves and betrayals that have shaped both of their lives (I'm being deliberately vague and non-spoilery here). The people they intersect with have rich stories of their own.

I especially loved the interplay of storylines from the comic books themselves with the arc of Alex and his mom - they provided a subtle and fascinating counterpoint - deepening the story, commenting on it in a subtle, at times masterful, way - and always thoroughly entertainingly. The writing is mostly spot on, there's no slog here, no page flipping to get to the good parts. It's all good parts and while so many braided stories seem like they'd be confusing, they somehow aren't (a testament to the coolness of each character - they are distinct enough and fascinating enough to be memorable.) It was reminiscent of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and yet plot-wise this was much the better book: the meeting up of characters had a believable context and thus felt much less contrived. It was not tied up so perfectly at the end, which felt right on, enough to be satisfying but not so much that it felt unreal. But in both books, the characters are compelling, the writing goes down easy and comics turn out to have life changing consequences.
4052699
This is great storytelling about a young man's journey to learn the blues. Since I heard Mississippi John Hurt's record at about the same time as the protagonist it is easy for me to empathize. I think I would have enjoyed the book even if it had not had the parallel to my life because of the excellent writing and good characterizations.
4807591
Great storytelling, compelling characters, hot love scenes. Can't wait for the next installment.
1885310
This is storytelling for adults at it's best. It's told through the eyes and ears of an awkward seven- almost-eight year old girl. The fantasy land of Almost-Awake is brilliant. The story line is heartwarming and thought provoking.  Thank you for taking me and my imagination on a thrilling ride.
834215
It's hard not to see genuine talent in Mr Halvatzis' writing. He's dabbled in science fiction/adventure, techno-thriller, and now apocalyptic fiction. Here we have an author adept at making any story highly entertaining and intriguing. This time around, he has managed to draw on elements seen in George Orwell and Philip K Dick's works (whether purposeful or not). And he's spun an elaborate tale that keeps you on edge from page one. It's powerful storytelling. I, for one, can't wait to see what Mr Halvatzis comes up with next. 4 out of 5
4608228
I am by no means a vampire or horror connoisseur. My usual genre is romance, so you see how far away this is. But, I read the first book in the series as well as other books by this other and couldn't stay away.

This is master storytelling at it's finest. It's a story within a story. You don't feel like you are really in the vampire story, but hearing it around the campfire with Seth and his friends. He's telling all of us a tale about a couple that stops at an inn for the night, but something isn't right. They sense it right away. No good happens in the inn. Unable to leave town due to a raging storm, they have no choice but to stay.

Seth warned his friends. He told them it was dangerous for his words to reach their ears. But, they didn't believe him. Instead, they settled in to hear a good story and endure the horrors they didn't know would ensue.

I knew this was the second in a series, even though it could be read as a stand alone, but I wasn't sure how it tied together with the first one. That soon became apparent and I actually loved that it made me look for the connection. By the end, it's obvious. These aren't random vampires. We've met them before.

It takes you back to childhood. The fire in front of you, tents behind you. The image is sitting around telling this story is so strong that it sucks you in from the beginning, grabbing hold of your memories and of your imagination. An easy 5 stars for me.