Archives for reviews - Page 18
Fight Another Day by J.M. Langley [Book Review]
Fight Another Day. Langley by J M Langley My rating: 5 of 5 stars Fight Another Day has been sitting on my shelf for years, right next to MI9 (which I only realised was co-authored by J M Langley). I'm not sure why it took me so long to get round to reading it. It fits my usual preferences in a number of ways. It's a first hand accout by an infantry officer, it's about escaping from a POW camp, it's about organising secret agents to work in nazi-occupied Europe. Any one of those would have got Fight Another Day onto my to-read list. Fight Another Day Fight Another Day tells the story of Jimmy Langley from his enlistment in the special reserve of the Coldstream Guards. He gets mobilised in August 1939 and goes to France, and we are…
Felix Chronicles by R.T. Lowe [Book Review]
The Felix Chronicles: Freshmen by Lowe My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Felix Chronicles is a bit like a grown up version of Harry Potter. It has a shadow magical world in the real world and it's a thumping great tome of a story, but that's where the similarities stop. The Felix Chronicles is darker and more realistic. The Felix Chronicles The protagonist of the Felix Chronicles is an 18 year old college student with all the things that go with that. He's surrounded by a group of four other students, his reality show roommate, his childhood friend, her roommate and her roommate's best buddy from home. Felix is an only child and has recently been orphaned by a freak fire at his family home. He has no idea that he is a sourceror (magic is referred to…
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith [Book Review]
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith My rating: 3 of 5 stars I read Strangers on a Train because it was a book club choice in the office. The synopsis gives an intriguing premise, and I sometimes read crime stories (I've just downloaded the first four Cadfael stories, and I enjoyed the Ian Rankin novels I've read). Strangers on a Train was a contemporary crime novel when it was fit published in 1950. So I thought I'd give it a go. Strangers on a Train The premise is of two strangers on a train who get talking and eventually agree to murder someone for the other person. The idea is that because they aren't linked to the murder victim then they'll get away with the crime. It's set about 1950, so forensic science doesn't come into the equation. Strangers…
The Smoke of Her Burning by M J Logue [Book Review]
The Smoke of Her Burning by M J Logue My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Smoke of Her Burning is the fourth in the Hollie Babbitt Uncivil Wars series. Set after Command the Raven and before A Wilderness of Sin. The Smoke of Her Burning covers the tale of Hapless Russell's nadir and then his redemption. The Smoke of Her Burning English: Oil on canvas painting of Charles I holding a council of war at Edgecote on the day before the Battle of Edgehill (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Hollie Babbitt returns to his pregnant wife Het for winter quarters in 1643. He expects a quiet winter with his wife before the birth of his son (or daughter). Babbitt is accompanied on his return journey by Cornet Pettitt and his father Lije Babbitt. Meanwhile we see a glimpse of Russell. Having been injured…
Bloodline Feud by Charles Stross [Book Review]
The Bloodline Feud by Charles Stross My rating: 5 of 5 stars Bloodline Feud is a reworking of the first two books in the Merchant Princes series. Charlie Stross explained why he'd rewritten them on his blog. Basically he'd written them this way and was asked by the publisher to split them into smaller books because the fantasy doorstop wasn't in fashion. The Bloodline Feud I'd already read the entire series so I was wary of buying the Bloodline Feud. The only reason I did was because it was on special offer from Amazon for 99p. At that price almost anything is worth trying. Bloodline Feud is mostly the same story, but it is better than I remember either of the two books being. Also the combining them into one volume works very well. The story has a better pace…