Genre: Steam Punk
Setting: A Steam Punk version of Seattle.
First Sentence: Unpaved, uneven trails pretended to be roads; they tied the nation's coasts together like laces holding a boot, binding it with crossed strings and crossed fingers.
In her novel Priest has brought Steam Punk to the Pacific Northwest. Here we have all the classic elements of this genre: a toxic poisonous fog, the ravenous undead rotters, evil geniuses, and advanced machinery powered by coal, oil, electricity, and steam.
Sixteen years ago, Briar Wilkes was a very young bride married to Dr. Lividicus Blue. Dr. Blue was an inventor. He was hired by the Russians to design an excavating machine capable of reaching gold buried deep under the frozen tundra of the Yukon. Dr. Blue invented the Boneshaker. On its initial test run, Dr. Blue's invention unleashed a poisonous chemical cloud from deep within the earth: the blight gas.
The blight gas is lethal to most. Those who do not die are doomed to become rotters. Rotters are undead beings whose minds are only focused on finding living flesh to consume.
In order to contain the gas, huge walls were built to surround the areas most affected by the gas. Incredibly, there are people who have found a way to survive within the walls.
Dr. Blue is blamed for the destruction his machine caused. For years his wife and their son have had to live with his tarnished reputation.
Now Briar's fifteen year old son, Zeke, wants to find out the truth about his father. So he finds a way under the wall and into the toxic, dangerous city. When Briar discovers where Zeke has gone, she too finds her way over the wall.
Can Briar save her son from the dangers of the walled in city?
Will Zeke discover the truth about his father?
I liked this book. Priest has a writing style that is easy to read. I enjoyed all of the interesting characters that the author used to people her steam punk Seattle.
If you are a fan of steam punk, I encourage you to check out this American version of the genre.
Only one complaint: the edition of the novel which I read was printed in sepia ink. The tan letters were a strain on these sixty year old eyes.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
I Hope You Find Me by Trish Marie Dawson
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Setting: Southern California, in a dystopian world.
FYI: Some Adult Content
First Sentence: I can't remember how long their bodies burned, but I do remember the sun setting before it was over, just beyond the still and dismal outline of Downtown San Diego.
This novel is the first in Dawson's Find Me series which currently has two books.
Riley watched her two children die from the Red Plague. Now she has to find a safe place to live. As she prepares to leave San Diego, she leaves notes to help her friends and family find her.
She first finds Connor, a handsome man with a secret past.
She also finds that her notes lead dangerous people to find her as well.
There are very few people left alive. There are also some apparently dead people who seem to be alive. Can Riley, Connor, and their friends find a safe place to restart their lives?
In this novel, the author begins an interesting series. We are introduced to the main characters, and to some interesting mysteries. Even though this novel has more romance than my usual reading fare, I enjoyed it. The plot was pretty believable, and the characters seemed realistic. And the hints at the ghost/zombies piqued my interest.
Over all it was an enjoyable visit to a dystopian world. I liked it.
Setting: Southern California, in a dystopian world.
FYI: Some Adult Content
First Sentence: I can't remember how long their bodies burned, but I do remember the sun setting before it was over, just beyond the still and dismal outline of Downtown San Diego.
This novel is the first in Dawson's Find Me series which currently has two books.
Riley watched her two children die from the Red Plague. Now she has to find a safe place to live. As she prepares to leave San Diego, she leaves notes to help her friends and family find her.
She first finds Connor, a handsome man with a secret past.
She also finds that her notes lead dangerous people to find her as well.
There are very few people left alive. There are also some apparently dead people who seem to be alive. Can Riley, Connor, and their friends find a safe place to restart their lives?
In this novel, the author begins an interesting series. We are introduced to the main characters, and to some interesting mysteries. Even though this novel has more romance than my usual reading fare, I enjoyed it. The plot was pretty believable, and the characters seemed realistic. And the hints at the ghost/zombies piqued my interest.
Over all it was an enjoyable visit to a dystopian world. I liked it.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
1356 by Bernard Cornwell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: France, AD 1356
First Sentence: He was lost.
The main character of this novel is Sir Thomas of Hookton. Fans of Cornwell's novels will recognize the name. Thomas is the main character of Cornwell's Grail Quest series.
Once again, Thomas's life intersects with a holy relic. This time it is the sword of St. Peter. Legend has it that the sword is imbued with holy power. It is said that the possessor of the sword will have victory in battle.
So the sword is sought by both church and political leaders. Even Thomas's lord has ordered him to look for the sword.
Thomas has sworn to destroy the sword if he finds it. Through personal experience he understands the great cost of possessing such a holy relic.
France and England are at war. Thomas's search for the sword takes him to the English army. At the head of the army is the Black Prince, Edward the Prince of Wales.
Thomas and his followers join with the English army. Eventually they fight the French at the battle of Poitiers. If you enjoy reading about medieval battles, you will enjoy the author's description of this battle.
Cornwell's story is a grand tale of the knights of old. We have knights in shining armor, castles and sieges, a damsel in distress, a chaste knight, jousting tournaments, and the carnage of battle in the middle ages.
Cornwell's well constructed writing style transports us to those olden days. For me it was a real page turner, and a fabulous read.
Setting: France, AD 1356
First Sentence: He was lost.
The main character of this novel is Sir Thomas of Hookton. Fans of Cornwell's novels will recognize the name. Thomas is the main character of Cornwell's Grail Quest series.
Once again, Thomas's life intersects with a holy relic. This time it is the sword of St. Peter. Legend has it that the sword is imbued with holy power. It is said that the possessor of the sword will have victory in battle.
So the sword is sought by both church and political leaders. Even Thomas's lord has ordered him to look for the sword.
Thomas has sworn to destroy the sword if he finds it. Through personal experience he understands the great cost of possessing such a holy relic.
France and England are at war. Thomas's search for the sword takes him to the English army. At the head of the army is the Black Prince, Edward the Prince of Wales.
Thomas and his followers join with the English army. Eventually they fight the French at the battle of Poitiers. If you enjoy reading about medieval battles, you will enjoy the author's description of this battle.
Cornwell's story is a grand tale of the knights of old. We have knights in shining armor, castles and sieges, a damsel in distress, a chaste knight, jousting tournaments, and the carnage of battle in the middle ages.
Cornwell's well constructed writing style transports us to those olden days. For me it was a real page turner, and a fabulous read.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
The Alehouse Murders by Maureen Ash
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Lincoln, England, 1200AD
First Sentence: Heat hung like a sodden blanket over Lincoln town and the surrounding countryside.
This novel is the first in Ash's Templar Knight mystery series. This series currently runs to seven books.
Our main character, Bascot de Marins, is a Templar knight recently returned from the Holy Land. During his years spent on crusade Bascot has experienced the horror of battle. He was captured by the Saracens and spent years as a slave.
Now, Bascot is spending time at the castle at Lincoln recuperating in both body and soul. With him is his young companion Gianni. When Bascot found him, Gianni was poor malnourished orphan struggling to survive on the wharves of Palermo. Together they form a unique family unit.
There has been a horrible murder in Lincoln. Four persons, three men and a woman, have been found dead in an alehouse. The lady of the castle asks Bascot to investigate. Since Bascot is relatively new to Lincoln, she believes that he will conduct an honest and thorough investigation.
While he is making inquiries there are two more deaths - a priest and a whore monger. Could it be that all six murders were committed by the same killer? When Bascot feels that he has unraveled the mystery, he still needs to find a way to prove the identity of the killer.
Can Bascot find a way to solve the mystery, or will the killer go free?
Because this novel is the first in Ash's Templar knight series, there is a lot of exposition. In Bascot de Marins, Ash has created a complete, well rounded, and interesting character. The author does a good job of weaving Bascot's story into the plot of the novel. In the end we have read a great mystery novel, and we have a character that we like.
I am looking forward to future visits with Bascot.
Setting: Lincoln, England, 1200AD
First Sentence: Heat hung like a sodden blanket over Lincoln town and the surrounding countryside.
This novel is the first in Ash's Templar Knight mystery series. This series currently runs to seven books.
Our main character, Bascot de Marins, is a Templar knight recently returned from the Holy Land. During his years spent on crusade Bascot has experienced the horror of battle. He was captured by the Saracens and spent years as a slave.
Now, Bascot is spending time at the castle at Lincoln recuperating in both body and soul. With him is his young companion Gianni. When Bascot found him, Gianni was poor malnourished orphan struggling to survive on the wharves of Palermo. Together they form a unique family unit.
There has been a horrible murder in Lincoln. Four persons, three men and a woman, have been found dead in an alehouse. The lady of the castle asks Bascot to investigate. Since Bascot is relatively new to Lincoln, she believes that he will conduct an honest and thorough investigation.
While he is making inquiries there are two more deaths - a priest and a whore monger. Could it be that all six murders were committed by the same killer? When Bascot feels that he has unraveled the mystery, he still needs to find a way to prove the identity of the killer.
Can Bascot find a way to solve the mystery, or will the killer go free?
Because this novel is the first in Ash's Templar knight series, there is a lot of exposition. In Bascot de Marins, Ash has created a complete, well rounded, and interesting character. The author does a good job of weaving Bascot's story into the plot of the novel. In the end we have read a great mystery novel, and we have a character that we like.
I am looking forward to future visits with Bascot.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
The Princess and the Pirates by John Maddox Roberts
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: 51 BC, on the island of Cyprus.
First Sentence: Let me say at the outset that Cleopatra was not beautiful.
This is the ninth novel in Robert's SPQR series which runs to 14 novels and several short stories.
Speaking as an old man recounting the days of his youth, our main character Decius Caecilus Metellus, tells the story of how he fought pirates and met Cleopatra.
Decius is a young senator working on completing his resume so that he can have prestige and respect in the Senate. He has just completed two successful years as an adile in Rome. An adile is a sort of mid level government official. Now he needs some military experience. At the urging of his father, Decius accepts a commission to put down piracy in the East.
So he sails off to the Roman naval base at Cyprus. When he arrives, Decius discovers that the base has been looted. Between ambitious Roman generals and disreputable civil servants there is little equipment left to fight the pirates with.
While Decius is scrounging for supplies and manpower, he meets a very young Cleopatra. She and her fabulous royal yacht are spending time in Cyprus avoiding the political intrigues of the Egyptian court. She offers to add her yacht to Decius's small fleet as long as she can go along. Decius reluctantly agrees.
Soon Decius learns that the pirates have spies and business connections on Cyprus. When the local Roman governor gets himself murdered, Decius's job gets much more complicated. As the ranking Roman official, he must investigate the murder.
Some how Decius must find a way to solve the crime and add to his senatorial resume. In the end, Roman politics play a significant part in the ultimate solution to the mystery.
Although this novel is part of a series, I found that it was quite enjoyable as a stand alone novel. The mystery plays a small part of the plot. I was completely surprised when the identity of the murderer was revealed.
I enjoyed this novel. It was a pleasant read.
Setting: 51 BC, on the island of Cyprus.
First Sentence: Let me say at the outset that Cleopatra was not beautiful.
This is the ninth novel in Robert's SPQR series which runs to 14 novels and several short stories.
Speaking as an old man recounting the days of his youth, our main character Decius Caecilus Metellus, tells the story of how he fought pirates and met Cleopatra.
Decius is a young senator working on completing his resume so that he can have prestige and respect in the Senate. He has just completed two successful years as an adile in Rome. An adile is a sort of mid level government official. Now he needs some military experience. At the urging of his father, Decius accepts a commission to put down piracy in the East.
So he sails off to the Roman naval base at Cyprus. When he arrives, Decius discovers that the base has been looted. Between ambitious Roman generals and disreputable civil servants there is little equipment left to fight the pirates with.
While Decius is scrounging for supplies and manpower, he meets a very young Cleopatra. She and her fabulous royal yacht are spending time in Cyprus avoiding the political intrigues of the Egyptian court. She offers to add her yacht to Decius's small fleet as long as she can go along. Decius reluctantly agrees.
Soon Decius learns that the pirates have spies and business connections on Cyprus. When the local Roman governor gets himself murdered, Decius's job gets much more complicated. As the ranking Roman official, he must investigate the murder.
Some how Decius must find a way to solve the crime and add to his senatorial resume. In the end, Roman politics play a significant part in the ultimate solution to the mystery.
Although this novel is part of a series, I found that it was quite enjoyable as a stand alone novel. The mystery plays a small part of the plot. I was completely surprised when the identity of the murderer was revealed.
I enjoyed this novel. It was a pleasant read.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
A Plague of Poison by Maureen Ash
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: In and around the English city of Lincoln, Spring 1201 AD.
First sentence: With the celebration of Eastertide at the end of March, a warm spring radiance had descended on Lincoln.
This novel is the third in Ash's Templar Knight series. This series currently has seven titles.
There is unrest and fear in Lincoln. In short order, several seemingly unrelated people have been murdered by poison.
Our main character, Bascot de Marins is asked by the lady of the castle to investigate. It seems that all of the clues point to a local potter. Although he swears his innocence, the potter is sentenced to death. The sentence will be carried out in a few weeks when the king's officials affirm the potter's conviction.
Bascot is a Templar knight. He has recently returned from several horrible years in the Holy Land. Bascot is serving at Lincoln in order to rest both body and soul. Traveling with Bascot is his young ward Gianni. Although he is young, and mute, Gianni is intelligent and observant.
There is something about the potter's conviction which does not seem right to Bascot. Then Gianni makes several observations which point Bascot in the right direction. Soon, Bascot is convinced that the potter is not guilty. But now he needs to find the evidence needed to overturn the potter's conviction and reveal the identity of the true poisoner.
This novel was a pleasant read. Bascot is an interesting and believable character. The novel was an intriguing and tangled mystery. I did not know "who done it" until the reveal at the end.
I'll be looking for more of Ash's Templar Knight novels to read.
Setting: In and around the English city of Lincoln, Spring 1201 AD.
First sentence: With the celebration of Eastertide at the end of March, a warm spring radiance had descended on Lincoln.
This novel is the third in Ash's Templar Knight series. This series currently has seven titles.
There is unrest and fear in Lincoln. In short order, several seemingly unrelated people have been murdered by poison.
Our main character, Bascot de Marins is asked by the lady of the castle to investigate. It seems that all of the clues point to a local potter. Although he swears his innocence, the potter is sentenced to death. The sentence will be carried out in a few weeks when the king's officials affirm the potter's conviction.
Bascot is a Templar knight. He has recently returned from several horrible years in the Holy Land. Bascot is serving at Lincoln in order to rest both body and soul. Traveling with Bascot is his young ward Gianni. Although he is young, and mute, Gianni is intelligent and observant.
There is something about the potter's conviction which does not seem right to Bascot. Then Gianni makes several observations which point Bascot in the right direction. Soon, Bascot is convinced that the potter is not guilty. But now he needs to find the evidence needed to overturn the potter's conviction and reveal the identity of the true poisoner.
This novel was a pleasant read. Bascot is an interesting and believable character. The novel was an intriguing and tangled mystery. I did not know "who done it" until the reveal at the end.
I'll be looking for more of Ash's Templar Knight novels to read.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
My Review of the Amazon fireTV
Before I start the review. This is my 200th blog post! Take a look at the archives for my reviews of lots of books as well as a few other things.
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you should check out the Amazon fireTV streaming device.
Set up is a snap. When the fireTV arrives, it comes preregistered to your Amazon Prime account. Plug in the power cord, and connect your HDMI cable and you are ready to go. The device leads you through the set up with your home network. Then there is a nice animated tutorial.
Soon you will be searching for content. The voice search is a nice feature. Just say the name of an actor, or the title of a movie, and the fireTV will deliver your desired content.
All of the Amazon Prime Instant video can be viewed free, without commercials. Also, there is plenty of quality video which can be purchased.
Through the fireTV, you can also set up a Netflix and Hulu account. I have enjoyed all of the great TV programming I've watched through my Hulu account.
The biggest drawback for me is the music feature. The fireTV will connect you to streaming music through Pandora and iHeartRadio. The fireTV will connect you to your Amazon Music library but, as of this writing, it will only play music which you own. It will not play any of your favorite Amazon Music streaming playlists.
So, if you are into music more than videos, I'd stick with an Amazon Fire tablet.
Since the fireTV did not ship with a printed manual I downloaded a copy onto my laptop. I found it to be very handy in answering a few FAQ type questions.
I've had the fireTV for a few weeks. It's been fun to use and I am glad I bought it.
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you should check out the Amazon fireTV streaming device.
Set up is a snap. When the fireTV arrives, it comes preregistered to your Amazon Prime account. Plug in the power cord, and connect your HDMI cable and you are ready to go. The device leads you through the set up with your home network. Then there is a nice animated tutorial.
Soon you will be searching for content. The voice search is a nice feature. Just say the name of an actor, or the title of a movie, and the fireTV will deliver your desired content.
All of the Amazon Prime Instant video can be viewed free, without commercials. Also, there is plenty of quality video which can be purchased.
Through the fireTV, you can also set up a Netflix and Hulu account. I have enjoyed all of the great TV programming I've watched through my Hulu account.
The biggest drawback for me is the music feature. The fireTV will connect you to streaming music through Pandora and iHeartRadio. The fireTV will connect you to your Amazon Music library but, as of this writing, it will only play music which you own. It will not play any of your favorite Amazon Music streaming playlists.
So, if you are into music more than videos, I'd stick with an Amazon Fire tablet.
Since the fireTV did not ship with a printed manual I downloaded a copy onto my laptop. I found it to be very handy in answering a few FAQ type questions.
I've had the fireTV for a few weeks. It's been fun to use and I am glad I bought it.
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