Genre: Fiction, Humor, Guest Review
The review for this novel comes from a guest reviewer: Dick Kraus (AKA the Printz of Magic)
Dick is a retired professional magician. He read a review of this book in his magicians' union's newsletter. He asked me to order the book for him on Amazon. I did , with the caveat that he would have to give me his review of the book.
Dick said that he really enjoyed the book. It brought back memories of his early days trying to break into professional magic. He said that it was a great read. It was very funny. And, he gives the book five stars.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Pirates of Savannah by Tarrin P. Lupo
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: England, and the Georgia Colony in the early 1700's.
First Sentence: Like a religious experience, the sun flooded the prison cell blinding the young man.
FYI: Some adult material.
This novel is the story of Patrick Willis; his journey from a squalid debtor's prison to the ultimate freedom of sailing the seven seas as a pirate.
Patrick's father had died leaving his family in debt. While trying to pay his father's debts, Patrick loses the last of his family's wealth.
At this time in history, James Oglethorpe, a British reformer, has founded the Georgia colony as an alternative for imprisoning debtors.
As luck would have it, Patrick is selected to travel to Georgia as an indentured servant.
In Georgia, Patrick's contract is purchased by Archibald Freeman. Freeman is a member of a clandestine group of individuals who are fighting the tyranny of the British.
As the story progresses, Patrick learns more about freedom. He comes to learn that pirates at sea possess the ultimate in individual freedom. Patrick, along with others, form a free society known as the Pirates of Savannah.
I advise readers of this novel to peruse the front matter and preface of the book. this will inform the reader of the author's political beliefs. This will enhance the reader's understanding of the novel and the motivations of the characters.
I was somewhat disappointed in this novel. I was expecting a novel of pirates. There were pirates, but they entered the plot late in the story. I found it interesting that Lupo's pirates supported their freedom with criminal acts such as piracy and prostitution.
Additionally, I did not like the author's narrative style.
For me, not a bad book, but it could have been better.
Setting: England, and the Georgia Colony in the early 1700's.
First Sentence: Like a religious experience, the sun flooded the prison cell blinding the young man.
FYI: Some adult material.
This novel is the story of Patrick Willis; his journey from a squalid debtor's prison to the ultimate freedom of sailing the seven seas as a pirate.
Patrick's father had died leaving his family in debt. While trying to pay his father's debts, Patrick loses the last of his family's wealth.
At this time in history, James Oglethorpe, a British reformer, has founded the Georgia colony as an alternative for imprisoning debtors.
As luck would have it, Patrick is selected to travel to Georgia as an indentured servant.
In Georgia, Patrick's contract is purchased by Archibald Freeman. Freeman is a member of a clandestine group of individuals who are fighting the tyranny of the British.
As the story progresses, Patrick learns more about freedom. He comes to learn that pirates at sea possess the ultimate in individual freedom. Patrick, along with others, form a free society known as the Pirates of Savannah.
I advise readers of this novel to peruse the front matter and preface of the book. this will inform the reader of the author's political beliefs. This will enhance the reader's understanding of the novel and the motivations of the characters.
I was somewhat disappointed in this novel. I was expecting a novel of pirates. There were pirates, but they entered the plot late in the story. I found it interesting that Lupo's pirates supported their freedom with criminal acts such as piracy and prostitution.
Additionally, I did not like the author's narrative style.
For me, not a bad book, but it could have been better.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Oathbreaker by Martin Jensen
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: England, 1018 AD
First sentence: Uhtred shivered in the morning fog.
This novel is the second in Martin Jensen's King's Hounds series.
Halfdan and his employer, Winston the illuminator, are the King's hounds. They have made themselves useful to King Cnut by asking questions and using their wits.
In this installment of the series, the king wants Halfdan and Winston to go north to Mercia. There they are to keep their eyes and ears open. The king wants to learn of any possible unrest in the area. There are some in Mercia who might cause the king problems.
So, Halfdan and Winston travel north with a caravan of monks, peddlers, and assorted riffraff. On the way north, the caravan stops for the night at a monastery at Brixworth. As luck would have it there is a terrible murder in the monastery's church. A monk, who had once been a warrior, has been killed. His severed hand placed over his heart, is a sign that the monk was an oath breaker.
Halfdan and Winston are asked to investigate due to their recent inquiries for the king.
As they investigate, they discover that there are many possible suspects. And since no one has left the monastery, the murderer is still within the monastery's walls.
Will Halfdan and Winston unravel the tangled web of clues to discover who murdered the monk, and why?
I enjoyed this book. I was stumped by the mystery until the reveal. Once I learned the identity of the killer, the clues seemed obvious.
I also enjoy Jensen's description of life in 11th century England. These side trips off the the main plot make the novel fun to read.
Setting: England, 1018 AD
First sentence: Uhtred shivered in the morning fog.
This novel is the second in Martin Jensen's King's Hounds series.
Halfdan and his employer, Winston the illuminator, are the King's hounds. They have made themselves useful to King Cnut by asking questions and using their wits.
In this installment of the series, the king wants Halfdan and Winston to go north to Mercia. There they are to keep their eyes and ears open. The king wants to learn of any possible unrest in the area. There are some in Mercia who might cause the king problems.
So, Halfdan and Winston travel north with a caravan of monks, peddlers, and assorted riffraff. On the way north, the caravan stops for the night at a monastery at Brixworth. As luck would have it there is a terrible murder in the monastery's church. A monk, who had once been a warrior, has been killed. His severed hand placed over his heart, is a sign that the monk was an oath breaker.
Halfdan and Winston are asked to investigate due to their recent inquiries for the king.
As they investigate, they discover that there are many possible suspects. And since no one has left the monastery, the murderer is still within the monastery's walls.
Will Halfdan and Winston unravel the tangled web of clues to discover who murdered the monk, and why?
I enjoyed this book. I was stumped by the mystery until the reveal. Once I learned the identity of the killer, the clues seemed obvious.
I also enjoy Jensen's description of life in 11th century England. These side trips off the the main plot make the novel fun to read.
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