great characters, heroic good guys
584165
A very enjoyable read; great characters, heroic good guys, evil villains, surprise twists, suspense and beautiful descriptions of modern day Sleepy Hollow that are inspiring me to visit.  I think almost anyone would enjoy this book, no one is too young or old.  I'm sure Washington Irving would approve.  I even learned a few things (Sergei Rachmaninoff is buried right up there in Westchester).  Read this book, it's very well written but be sure to read SLEEPY HOLLOW: Rise Headless and Ride (Jason Crane Book 1) first.  You won't be sorry, and you'll be looking forward to the next in the series, like I am.
695855
I love this guy Flanagan. He may or may not be aware of it but he is presents terrific values in his books. There are heroes (who do the right thing) and villains, not just the heroes and anti-villians we have been used to since the 70's. Good for him for having his good guys strive to do well. They may fall short once in a while but the effort is what matters. Having goals is important.
912212
Another great adventure/fantasy read by Paul Kearney; in fact, I liked it a little more that book 1.

The book is well written, has a sense of pace and timing and is absolutely crammed with action, both on the land and sea. But be aware, the writing at times can be very graphic; there are some descriptions of the battle casualties that are not for the faint of heart.

As with most good fantasy tales there are elements of love, deceit, betrayal, unexpected friendships and a degree of magic; and this story is no exception. I especially liked Rol's character; this guy is no knight in shining armor and has his share of despicable traits, but he is the "hero" of these stories and there is something about him that gains my grudging admiration.

The only minor negatives about this book are that

1.)it's too short (317 pages to be exact)

2.)although there is a map, it is not particularly detailed (at the times it needed to be).

It's amazing how quickly you can read a book you like; the pages just seem to fly by. I was sorry to see this captivating tale come to such a quick end; now I can hardly wait for book III.  5 Stars.
600386
The characters gain a kinship with the reader immediately. Even though I dislike long descriptions of the circumstances of a story, Lowe relates just enough explanations to allow the reader to understand the basics and dangers of hard rock mining. To me the story demonstrates that the goals of the powerful few can and do cast relatively simple people into opponents who really don't understand that they are just pawns. But, even with that aspect or in spite of it, there are some heroes who emerge to inspire us all. I'm looking forward to the next two novels.
4082629
Summary: 5 stars. Action, adventure, and most of all great characters.

The Ruins of Karzelek is the fourth Mandrake Company book, but it follows a different couple so you can read it without having read the first three. Though I think reading them in order enriches the experience.

One thing I really like about this series is what a great job the author does in creating interesting and complex characters. I usually don't like it when the main character(s) switch with each book, but here its very well done. Characters that played smaller roles in previous books get their turn at the spotlight, and there are cameos from the previous main characters. In particular Val and Gregor (from Book 2) were hilarious here. Even the side characters are well-developed, especially the bomb-loving Striker, the Chief of Boom. Simply genius.

This book probably has the most adventure of all the books in this series so far. I really liked the story. The pacing was fast and full of tension.

The romance took more of a backseat to the action than the previous books, but Kalish and Sedge are both interesting characters.

As always, Im looking forward to the next book in the series.
4807069
Another reviewer has suggested that McGrath's hero, Pierre Burns, may be just a bit too heroic, and I agree, but he grows on you, as does the supporting cast in this adventurous first novel. Great fun to have the French as the good guys, lots of historical detail, and plenty of appearances by famous real life participants not normally around in the typically Anglo-centric Napoleonic wars novel. Missions and adventures worthy of Richard Sharpe, a little romance, and some bad guys shaping up for Pierre's future complete the picture. Above average first novel, maybe heading for five stars down the road as the series continues. Solid entertainment and a welcome change from English naval heroes who overwhelm the genre.
2750749
In my opinion, this set of books would make a great, dark, TV series.  The reason I say "dark" is that nothing is sugar coated.  People are murdered, people die protecting their own, yet there is still resilience and hope.
This edition of the saga is a stand-alone book.  That is to say you don't have to read volume one in order to understand what is happening in volume two.  There is plenty of action and plenty of fluff (i.e. chick-stuff).  The teamwork amongst the characters is inspiring.  The main characters aren't superheros and the grand accomplishments are spread out over many of the community members.  Yes, this book could certainly appeal to both men and women.  And yes, Mr. Buckshot (the author) gives us names of survival products used by the characters.  Maybe I'm naive but I believe he does this so the reader can purchase their own equipment.  I bought snares and Mora knives featured in the writings.  In any event, this book is an action adventure that any reader (not just us wantabe preppers) would enjoy.
486976
Defence of Rth Bldhma tells the tale of the legendary Irish hero's birth, and the considerable danger this auspicious event imposes on a small community of outcasts, seeking peace and survival in a remote part of a wild and beautifully described ancient Ireland. Fionn himself remains a newborn baby for the duration, so it is his somewhat reluctant guardians who are the main characters - and the very best aspect - of the story. The author has taken figures that were little more than passing mentions in the texts of Fenian Cycle and developed them into rich, enjoyable characters.

Genuinely strong female characters are all too rare in this genre, but here there are two: the astute druidess Bodhmall and the formidable warrior Liath Luacra. Their relationship, with each other and with the community they've founded and are each striving to protect in their own way, is wonderfully written. The complex machismo of their ally, Fiacail mac Codhna, provides great contrast to these two powerful women, and much bawdiness too. Even the more minor residents of Rth Bldhma are well developed, and this is what elevates this book above other 'against overwhelming odds' siege stories. You come to really care for these characters, their achievements and aspirations, amplifying the tension considerably once their mysterious and brutal foe becomes apparent and threatens to undo everything and everyone.
3485658
Brad Thor's novels maintain a continuity and he does a superb job of character development.  The pages turn quickly as the bad guys are always really bad and the good guys, well have street smarts in getting things done.  If you have a couple of hours for mindless fun, this is a great book and the Harvath series is a great series to get hooked on!
946138
The characters are great and the humor softens up some of the fast-paced action. It's a great story that makes you want to root for the good guys.
1070650
Colville is a huge D&D guy, which is how I became aware of his books, but the generic tropes that fuel the average fantasy novel are absent. Each character has depth. The good guys are flawed. The bad guys have streaks of compassion and humanity. I devoured Priest and Thief, and I can't wait to read Fighter.
3940217
Thor's Scot Harvath is an amazing, heroic character.  Full of adventure, suspense, great locations, even a history lesson and especially the depiction of operatives in and out of country.  I love these novels.  Waiting for the next one
4199941
This is the third book in the Expanse series, which continues to be highly entertaining. The book switches between four point-of-view characters to unfold an adventure that combines action, politics, and science fiction ideas. Three of the point-of-view characters were very likable, the fourth distinctly and deliberately less so. I rooted for the good guys, wondered about the mysteries, and snatched any odd moment to keep reading. Enthusiastically recommended.
997002
These are always good, easy reads. A little fun & games mixed in with the action & intrigue. The hero's lesser qualities are always included with the heroics. Good stuff!
2485955
Stony Man's teams are sent to deal with the kind of mission only they can handle - finding and neutralizing the source of what's crippling the world's satellites. It's a breathtaking, non-stop action ride as Able Team, Phoenix Force, and the cybernetic team must deal with an enemy who's as good as they are, and without the help of Mack Bolan.
Although the Stony Man series is fiction-by-the-numbers, this particular book stands out because the plot is well formulated, and the book doesn't drag in the middle or in the parts where non-standard characters are featured, as sometimes happens. The action is plausible, and the setup believable. I *really* rooted for the good guys on this one, and didn't want to skip to the end to find out what happened. Having read nearly every book in this series, I'm really thrilled when I read one that makes me remember why I keep buying the books.
4395178
I don't think this is as good as other of the series, and if I had read it first, I might not have gone on to the others, but truly, Mr. Kerr does a great job with the complex character/hero with the film noir dialogue and the hero that wouldn't win a Most Handsome Hunk contest, but is a true hero.
I intend to reread all the series in order one day soon...but anyone can start anywhere and enjoy the tales of Germany and murders solved by an honorable man during this dark time in history.
1663471
I found the characters really enjoyable.  Much development to the quirks and qualities of the good guys; the fact that the bad guys weren't fleshed out much wasn't at all missed.  It was refreshing and engaging to have the good guys understood and not as a reader find yourself sauted and dipped in evil distilled.  After nearly finishing it and thinking how the heroine Genevieve was quite unique and special, I realized she was  a sort-of pretty female "Monk" with her abilities, focus, phobias and her social inadequacies.  I really loved the character, and the other quirk-o's (though less so) who make up her team.  Good story, layered crimes, nice solution.  Don't really see the bad guys suffer, die or fry either....a less nightmare-enriching fare than most of the genre.
Was happy to see she had sequels following this first, a little put off that the next were double the price of most sequels of the freebies of this genre on Kindle.  Would prefer she priced hers in the typical $3.00 price range too.
Anyhow, really enjoyed it, expect you will too.