14/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

So read 14 novels this month. Pretty good no?

Favorite were Five Maidens on the Pentagram., the Three Headed Ogre & There is no antimemetrics division. All of those were 8 stars. Least favorite was The Swarm. Everything else was okay.

Already Finish

1. Horrorstör - Grady Hendrix          245pp
2. The Swarm - Chris Pearson          172pp
3. Fragments of Horror - Junji Ito     219pp
4. Cradle of the Dead - Roger Jackson  93p
5. Dark Waves - Simon Kearns             129p
6. Five Maidens on the Pentagram - J Manfred Weichel - 111p
7. Victim - Sam West                                         153p
8. Og-Grim- Dog 1 - Jamie Edmundson - 150p
9. Return to the lost level - Brian Keene  209p
10. Butcher Road - Jon Athan                    165p
11. qntm (there is no antimemetics division - 227p
12. Last of the Albawitches                                82p
13. A moon full of stars - Jon Mollison             163p
14. The Dark Side of Red - Sam West              173p

Ongoing

1. The Fellowship of the Rings         458/530pp
2. False Gods - Graham McNeil          170/406pp
3. The Great Hunt                           164/705pp
4. Liquid Fear - Scott Nicholson - 40/266p

TBR

1. Thanquol's Doom - CL Werner 416pp
2. Beasts in Velvet - Jack Yeovil - 286pp
3. In the Coils of the Labyrinth - David Annandale 346pp
4. Dark Water - Koji Suzuki 294pp
5. As the Curtain Falls - Robert Chilson - 174p
6. Og-Grim- Dog 2 - Jamie Edmundson - 142p
7. Og-Grim- Dog 3 - Jamie Edmundson . 138p
8. Og-Grim- Dog 4 - Jamie Edmundson - 154p
9. Cannibal Creek - Jon Athan 200p
10. A Family of Violence - Jon Athan 189p
11. Panagaea Exiles - Jeff Brackett 207p
12. Day of Ascension - Adrian Tchaikovsky 199p
13. Sailor on the seas of fate - Michael Moorcock  128p

Books Bought This month/week

1. The Traitor - Michael Cisco 149p
2. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott 220p
3. Aiduel's Sin - Daniel T Jackson 650p
4. A Feast of Ambrosia - Glenn Rahman 260p
5. Come and Take Them - Tom Kratman 560p
6. Terra Nova - Anthology - 456p
7. Carnifex - Tom Kratman - 940p
8. A Pillar of Fire By Night - Tom Kratman - 588p
9. Days of Burning, Days of Wrath - Tom Kratman - 511p
10. The Romanov Rescue - Tom Kratman             760p
11. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor                363p
12. Servants of War - Larry Correia                     408p          
13. The Rods and the Axe - Tom Kratman            688p
14. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott          220p                  
15. Dominion (Special Edition)  Darius Hinks        385p 
16. Kjalma's Skull - Tom Horth                            126p
17. Bones of the Martyr - Tom Horth                    126p
18. Fires of Eden - Dan Simmons                         480p
19. Warcry - The Anthology                                  274p
20. Warcry Catacombs Blood of the Everchosen     266p
21. The Silver Shard  (Callis & Toll)                       291p
22. The Tainted Heart                                           249p
23. City of Secrets                                               140p
24. Gates of Azyr                                                 125p
25. Soul Wars - Josh Reynolds (Limited Edition)      429p
26. Ghazghull Thraka (Limited Edition)                   233p
27. Neferata - Mortarch of Night (Limited Edition)   238p
28. Kharn: Eater of The Worlds (Limited Edition)    221o
29. Horusian Wars: Incarnation (Limited Edition)    330p
30. Sword of Calth (Limited Edition)                       220p
31. Shadowsun (Limited Edition)                            237p
32. Storm of Iron (Limited Edition)                         233p
33. Saga Tanya Evil 4- Dabit Deus His Quoque Finem
34. Saga Tanya Evil 5- Abyssus Abyssum Invocat
35. Saga Tanya Evil 6- Nil Admirari
36. Saga Tanya Evil 7- Ut Sementem Feceris, ita Metes
37. Saga Tanya Evil 9-Omnes Una Manet Nox
38. Saga Tanya Evil 10-Viribus Unitis
39. Saga Tanya Evil 11-Alea Iacta Est
40. The Angel Next Door Spoils me Rotten 5
41. A Desert Called Peace - Tom Kratman
42. The Amazon Legion - Tom Kratman
43. The Lotus Eaters - Tom Kratman
    
44. The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 8 (light novel): In Omnia Paratus
45. Volpone Glory - Special Edition                             430p
46. The History of the Hobbit                                      930p
47. Knight of Talassar - Nick Kyme                               680p
48. The Resting Places - Anthology                              316p
49. Sons of Sanguinius - Anthology                             924p
50. Black Eyed Saint - Dale Lucas                                331p
51. Ahriman  Eternal - Jonh French                              333p
52. The Arkanaut's Oath - Guy Haley                            366p
53. Shadowsun - Phil Kelly                                          256p
54. Saga Tanya Evil 3 - THe Finest Hour                       275p
55. Warboss -. Mike Brooks                                         246p
56. Arks of Omen - Abaddon                                          89p

Not going to talk about it...

TBR Month April 2023

Another month has passed flying.. had some difficulties in terms of money but my reading goal is not slowing down...

1. Sourcery - Terry Pratchett  (Book 5/42(?) of Discworld) 270p
2. Annihilation Squad - Gav Thorpe (Book 3/3 of Last Chancers) 412p
3. Thanquol's Doom - C L Werner (Book 3/3 of Thanquol & Boneripper) 416p
4. Beasts in Velvet - Jack Yeovil (Book 3/4 of Genevieve - althought I've the 4th already) 288p
5. Galaxy in Flames - Ben Counter (Book 3/54 of Horus Heresy) 416p
6. Children of Dune - Frank Herbert  (Book 3/6 of Dune) 416p
7. The Glocks - Agatha Christie (Book 34/39 of Herculae Poirot) 383p
8. The Ignored - Bentley Little (Solo) 429p

If I could read all of these I would be very happy with me. It's "only" 3030 pages but I've got a problem finishing series so... It's more a physiological thing

Still reading from last month

Coming to read from last month:

• As the Curtain Falls - Robert Chilson - 174p
• Og-Grim- Dog 2 - Jamie Edmundson - 142p
• Og-Grim- Dog 3 - Jamie Edmundson . 138p
• Og-Grim- Dog 4 - Jamie Edmundson - 154p
• Butcher Road - Jon Athan 165p
• Cannibal Creek - Jon Athan 200p
• A Family of Violence - Jon Athan 189p
• Pangaea Exiles - Jeff Brackett 207p
• The Dark Side of Red - Sam West 173p
• A moon full of stars - Jon Mollison 163p
• Day of Ascension - Adrian Tchaikovsky 199p
• Sailor on the seas of fate - Michael Moorcock  128p

13/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

Another good week in terms of reading... nothing spectacular but I am happy. In terms of buying not that awful since the vast majority was bought in february.

Already Finish

1. Horrorstör - Grady Hendrix          245pp
2. The Swarm - Chris Pearson          172pp
3. Fragments of Horror - Junji Ito     219pp
4. Cradle of the Dead - Roger Jackson  93p
5. Dark Waves - Simon Kearns             129p
6. Five Maidens on the Pentagram - J Manfred Weichel - 111p
7. Victim - Sam West                                         153p
8. Og-Grim- Dog 1 - Jamie Edmundson - 150p
9. Return to the lost level - Brian Keene  209p
10. Butcher Road - Jon Athan                    165p

Ongoing

1. The Fellowship of the Rings         308/530pp
2. False Gods - Graham McNeil          86/406pp
3. The Great Hunt                           164/705pp
4. qntm (there is no antimemetics division - 130/227p
5. Liquid Fear - Scott Nicholson - 40/266p
6. Butcher Road - Jon Athan 165p

To Start

1. Thanquol's Doom - CL Werner 416pp
2. Beasts in Velvet - Jack Yeovil - 286pp
3. In the Coils of the Labyrinth - David Annandale 346pp
4. Dark Water - Koji Suzuki 294pp
5. As the Curtain Falls - Robert Chilson - 174p
6. Og-Grim- Dog 2 - Jamie Edmundson - 142p
7. Og-Grim- Dog 3 - Jamie Edmundson . 138p
8. Og-Grim- Dog 4 - Jamie Edmundson - 154p
9. Cannibal Creek - Jon Athan 200p
10. A Family of Violence - Jon Athan 189p
11. Panagaea Exiles - Jeff Brackett 207p
12. The Dark Side of Red - Sam West 173p
13. A moon full of stars - Jon Mollison 163p
14. Day of Ascension - Adrian Tchaikovsky 199p
15. Sailor on the seas of fate - Michael Moorcock  128p

Books Bought This month/week

1. The Traitor - Michael Cisco 149p
2. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott 220p
3. Aiduel's Sin - Daniel T Jackson 650p
4. A Feast of Ambrosia - Glenn Rahman 260p
5. Come and Take Them - Tom Kratman 560p
6. Terra Nova - Anthology - 456p
7. Carnifex - Tom Kratman - 940p
8. A Pillar of Fire By Night - Tom Kratman - 588p
9. Days of Burning, Days of Wrath - Tom Kratman - 511p
10. The Romanov Rescue - Tom Kratman             760p
11. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor                363p
12. Servants of War - Larry Correia                     408p          
13. The Rods and the Axe - Tom Kratman            688p
14. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott          220p                  
15. Dominion (Special Edition)  Darius Hinks        385p 
16. Kjalma's Skull - Tom Horth                            126p
17. Bones of the Martyr - Tom Horth                    126p
18. Fires of Eden - Dan Simmons                         480p
19. Warcry - The Anthology                                  274p
20. Warcry Catacombs Blood of the Everchosen     266p
21. The Silver Shard  (Callis & Toll)                       291p
22. The Tainted Heart                                           249p
23. City of Secrets                                               140p
24. Gates of Azyr                                                 125p
25. 
    Soul Wars - Josh Reynolds (Limited Edition)      429p
26. Ghazghull Thraka (Limited Edition)                   233p
27. Neferata - Mortarch of Night (Limited Edition)   238p
28. Kharn: Eater of The Worlds (Limited Edition)    221o
29. Horusian Wars: Incarnation (Limited Edition)    330p
30. Sword of Calth (Limited Edition)                       220p
31. Shadowsun (Limited Edition)                            237p
32. Storm of Iron (Limited Edition)                         233p
33. Saga Tanya Evil 4- Dabit Deus His Quoque Finem
34. Saga Tanya Evil 5- Abyssus Abyssum Invocat
35. Saga Tanya Evil 6- Nil Admirari
36. Saga Tanya Evil 7- Ut Sementem Feceris, ita Metes
37. Saga Tanya Evil 9-Omnes Una Manet Nox
38. Saga Tanya Evil 10-Viribus Unitis
39. Saga Tanya Evil 11-Alea Iacta Est
40. The Angel Next Door Spoils me Rotten 5
41. A Desert Called Peace - Tom Kratman
42. The Amazon Legion - Tom Kratman
43. The Lotus Eaters - Tom Kratman

Not going to talk about it...

Book Review: Victim An Extreme Horror Novel - Sam West

This was a very good splatterpunk horror novel. So why 4 stars?

First of all it really flies by. I've read like 60 pages in one hour and the remaining ones in two other sittings. 

I am going to talk a bit about the novel but there are some minor spoilers you shouldn't read past this - although let me just say that it's a nice extreme novel with plenty of gore and fast pace. Loved the ending. 

We are introduced to a bloke who is dating this amazing woman, great tits, writer & contortionist. Everyone's wet dream, right? Then he starts reading her journal about her past existence and wet to learn that she has been through a lot. A lot lot. Like abused and people killed and other fuckery stuff. The problem or spider sense is that the way she talks about it it's almost like it was another extreme book written by her and not her personal recollection. The way it was written was like a book not a journal. Even so, the guy is dumb and keeps it going. You've heard it. It's red flags. So many red flags you would think you are in north korean parade!

Alas, people are dumb, tits are great and so we move on... and wicked stuff happens.

At page 67 we get the hint - well another flag - and we know that everything she said is a lie. If I know , man that guy should have known. What we do for <s>tits</s> love. I kid I know that when we are in love (man or woman) we will only see green flags or at most yellow ones.

That disappointed me. To know so early on, it was spot on. We already had hints but then we can, you are blind my friend. More blind than a <i>toupeira<i/> Oh well..

I loved the gory parts, the sexy parts the not so sexy depraved parts and I love the ending.  Horror Writers, please from time to time end with the death of our good guy/main protagonist.  We need it. I will some more books from sam west.

Ah that's another stuff... so our girl has a name and writes under a pseudonym Sam West which is our writer. SOOOOOOOOOO, what closets should I go check? I love how she is depicted almost perfect body and broken mind - probably as Sam West (?) who knows since I never seen her haha. But it would be cool she had a good p... and was a contortionist. Yeah couldn't find anything related to Lucinda Laye. OH well , worth the try :D

Keep them coming Sam.

Book Review: Five Maidens on the Pentagram - J. Manfred Weichsel

What a fast paced book. I really enjoy it.

We follow two persons making some very sexy, over the top satanic rituals to bring back satan. Unfortunately one of them has a double personality (well a different character altogether) and that's what stuff goes bonkers since they have only a limited time to make all sacrifices.

Everything in this book is real Terry Pratchett's alike. From the way the characters talk to the action/pace it sure gave that vibes.

So what's cool about this?

First of all, don't take this a fantasy, horror or comedy because it's everything at the same time. Everything is wicked fun and I had some great fun on it. So why not 5 stars you ask? Well, to be honest and that's a personal opinion , well it does say "MY RATING" MY REVIEW" and you may disagree is that the ending was not that good to me. I expected something different and it was almost a deus ex-machina kind of moment and made me feel a bit cheated.

Some spoilers (very minor)

I am grim dark kind of person and I love books that point one way and then go another. this one from the beginning you know what would happen by the end. You know that the bad guys weren't going to win and the good guys were going to prevail Just after introducing the crazy naked chick I new our main protagonist would stay with her and so Diana would have to be out of the picture. I don't know why but I knew... et voila. And she was cured, and he was cured (how, why never really explained). I don't believe you can cure a person who has a mania by just saying... Hey you are a bonker... look that cult is a bit of a weirdo don't you think? and bang she is cured. I don't think stuff would happen like that. I hoped for a not evil ending BUT at least partial, something like the contract they made with satan turn out different because well he is a devil. I don't know...

Either way It was a fun ride. I will buy more from the author.

12/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

Another goes week passes by
The money on my wallet just flies away
At least in Heart of Iron IV I am conquering as germany
I am so astray....

I already finish 7 novels 
And I am reading 7 more
I have more books on my hovel
and my TBR Pile grows forevermore...

FOMO be gone forever
I want to sleep well at Night
Buying books I really need this sever(ed)
Savings must be my new Light.

Already Finish

1. Horrorstör - Grady Hendrix          245pp
2. The Swarm - Chris Pearson          172pp
3. Fragments of Horror - Junji Ito     219pp
4. Cradle of the Dead - Roger Jackson  93p
5. Dark Waves - Simon Kearns             129p
6. Five Maidens on the Pentagram - J Manfred Weichel - 111p
7. Victim - Sam West                                         153p

Ongoing

1. The Fellowship of the Rings         308/530pp
2. False Gods - Graham McNeil          86/406pp
3. The Great Hunt                           164/705pp
4. Return to the lost level - Brian Keene  101/209p
5. qntm (there is no antimemetics division - 20/227p
6. Og-Grim- Dog 1 - Jamie Edmundson - 78/150p
7. Liquid Fear - Scott Nicholson - 40/266p

To Start

1. Thanquol's Doom - CL Werner 416pp
2. Beasts in Velvet - Jack Yeovil - 286pp
3. In the Coils of the Labyrinth - David Annandale 346pp
4. Dark Water - Koji Suzuki 294pp
5. As the Curtain Falls - Robert Chilson - 174p
6. Og-Grim- Dog 2 - Jamie Edmundson - 142p
7. Og-Grim- Dog 3 - Jamie Edmundson . 138p
8. Og-Grim- Dog 4 - Jamie Edmundson - 154p
9. Butcher Road - Jon Athan 165p
10. Cannibal Creek - Jon Athan 200p
11. A Family of Violence - Jon Athan 189p
12. Panagaea Exiles - Jeff Brackett 207p
13. The Dark Side of Red - Sam West 173p
14. A moon full of stars - Jon Mollison 163p
15. Day of Ascension - Adrian Tchaikovsky 199p
16. Sailor on the seas of fate - Michael Moorcock  128p

All of these books excepto The Gates of Azyr I already had in other format (paperback)

Books Bought This month/week

1. The Traitor - Michael Cisco 149p
2. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott 220p
3. Aiduel's Sin - Daniel T Jackson 650p
4. A Feast of Ambrosia - Glenn Rahman 260p
5. Come and Take Them - Tom Kratman 560p
6. Terra Nova - Anthology - 456p
7. Carnifex - Tom Kratman - 940p
8. A Pillar of Fire By Night - Tom Kratman - 588p
9. Days of Burning, Days of Wrath - Tom Kratman - 511p
10. The Romanov Rescue - Tom Kratman         760p
11. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor              363p
12. Servants of War - Larry Correia                    408p          
13. The Rods and the Axe - Tom Kratman           688p
14. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott         220p                  
15. Dominion (Special Edition)  Darius Hinks      385p 
16. Kjalma's Skull - Tom Horth                        126p
17. Bones of the Martyr - Tom Horth                 126p
18. Fires of Eden - Dan Simmons                      480p
19. Warcry - The Anthology                                274p
20. Warcry Catacombs Blood of the Everchosen     266p
21. The Silver Shard  (Callis & Toll)                       291p
22. The Tainted Heart                                           249p
23. City of Secrets                                               140p
24. Gates of Azyr                                                 125p

10/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

 Let's go let's go... An okay month. I read 3 books this week. Can't really complain about it.

Already Finish

1. Horrorstör - Grady Hendrix          245pp
2. The Swarm - Chris Pearson          172pp
3. Fragments of Horror - Junji Ito     219pp

Ongoing

1. The Fellowship of the Rings         308/530pp
2. False Gods - Graham McNeil          86/406pp
3. The Great Hunt                           164/705pp
4. Cradle of the Dead - Roger Jackson - 46/93p
5. Return to the lost level - Brian Keene  101/209p

To Start

1. Thanquol's Doom - CL Werner 416pp
2. Beasts in Velvet - Jack Yeovil - 286pp
3. In the Coils of the Labyrinth - David Annandale 346pp
4. Dark Water - Koji Suzuki 294pp
5. As the Curtain Falls - Robert Chilson - 174p
6. qntm (there is no antimemetics division - 227p
7. Cradle of the Dead - Roger Jackson - 93p
8. Dark Waves - Simon Kearns - 129p
9. Liquid Fear - Scott Nicholson - 266p
10. Og-Grim- Dog 1 - Jamie Edmundson - 150p
11. Og-Grim- Dog 2 - Jamie Edmundson - 142p
12. Og-Grim- Dog 3 - Jamie Edmundson . 138p
13. Og-Grim- Dog 4 - Jamie Edmundson - 154p
14. Butcher Road - Jon Athan 165p
15. Cannibal Creek - Jon Athan 200p
16. A Family of Violence - Jon Athan 189p
17. Panagaea Exiles - Jeff Brackett 207p
18. Victim - Sam West 153p
19. The Dark Side of Red - Sam West 173p
20. A moon full of stars - Jon Mollison 163p
21. Day of Ascension - Adrian Tchaikovsky 199p
22. Sailor on the seas of fate - Michael Moorcock  128p
23. Five Maidens on the Pentagram - J Manfred Weichel - 111p

Books Bought This month/week

1. The Traitor - Michael Cisco 149p
2. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott 220p
3. Aiduel's Sin - Daniel T Jackson 650p
4. A Feast of Ambrosia - Glenn Rahman 260p
5. Come and Take Them - Tom Kratman 560p
6. Terra Nova - Anthology - 456p
7. Carnifex - Tom Kratman - 940p
8. A Pillar of Fire By Night - Tom Kratman - 588p
9. Days of Burning, Days of Wrath - Tom Kratman - 511p
10. The Romanov Rescue - Tom Kratman         760p
11. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor              363p
12. Servants of War - Larry Correia                    408p          
13. The Rods and the Axe - Tom Kratman           688p
14. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott         220p                  
15. Dominion (Special Edition)  Darius Hinks      385p 
16. Kjalma's Skull - Tom Horth                        126p
17. Bones of the Martyr - Tom Horth                 126p
18. Fires of Eden - Dan Simmons                      480p

Book Review: The Lost Starship - Vaughn Heppner

Read in February of 2021
390 pages published in 2014
Sci-Fi

I have one word - Boring.

After reading Marko Kloos I've tried this one because it remind me of Stargate Universe so I tried and was really upset it didn't check my internal boxes. Probably it was my own fault... But alas...

So humanity is facing extinction due to some really powerful called "New Men". Why the name? Don't know. Makes no sense - but let us see in the next novels ; oh wait will not see because I will not read the next one.

One of first things that bother was the almost perfect captain (genius and physically).

Second some parts of the novel were so boring that I skimming some pages.

All other characters are also very normal in the 70's and you've seen everywhere.

I really don't want to read more books on this series. I will rather read Marko Kloos second novel.

Book Review: Terms of Enlistment - Marko Kloos

Read in January of 2021
347 pages in 2014
Military Sci Fi

This is military fiction novel. Not space opera. Truth be told, it's not that well written, after all the writer is german BUT it's okayish. I didn't saw any grammatical errors but it's simple. It's action after action. Comparing to Jack Campbell would not be fair.

Jack Campbell series is space opera. It's slow space battles with a lot of political drama behind. Marko Kloos's on the other end it's a novel that focus on characters and there are very small hints of political drama behind.

So what this novel is about?

In this novel we follow Andrew has he tries to escape earth to a colony. The only way he can do it is true the army. After making their enlistment and trial they are assigned to the marines who will protect colonies, navy (space navy) or PA (basically marines that stay on earth to protect the armies interest).

So, basically the novel is divided in three sections. The first part we learn about Andrew life on earth and the initial training in the army. The second part regards on his take on the army and we learn a bit about the world (either the cold war or America (not just usa) and Sino-Russian alliance and also the internal struggles between people and the government. The last part deals with his take on the space battles and then a big last battle.

Well, this is a first person narrative so there's that. There are several other characters, mainly his girlfriend halley and probably the most interesting of them all Sargent Fallon.

If you are expecting a hard-sci-fi in the vein of Jack Campbell don't expect it here. If you want some light read between some more dense novels this will be perfect. Expect action scenes after action scenes. Some light romance. No bullshit.

I will be reading the next in the following months. I have no doubt.

Book Review: For the Witch of the Mists - David C Smith & Richard L Tierney

Read back in December of 2020

232 pages published back in 1978

Heroic Sword and Sorcery Fiction

Well well well... Interesting novel about one of my favourite "heroes" but lets be real it's not that good. To be quite frank it's , go there, do this, go there, do that - insert a number of grammatical errors - no kidding and I am not even english so sometimes some escape me, but this has a lot of errors. Not counting with errors around name of gods; name of characters. Enfin.

What we have here it's a tale where Bran goes to a cavern where he finds a woman Aleisha that says to Bran that she must reincarnate into someone that lives in rome. So when he is capture by romans he goes to roma and become a gladiator killing and destroying anyone that he fights. There int he village of his master he finds a servant girl who is the girl that must be reincarnated into Alesiha but the mistress of the girl also wants to capture Aleisha and get her magic power. So they go back (Brant; Aleisha and a stable boy) and in another boat the mistress & her lover. There they fight near the caves and while the girl is reincarnated into Aleisha ghosts fight for Bran along the picts and a victory it's ensure.

Well, do you notice the errors? They exist in the novel. Not counting with gods and even the picts land being south of London (unless earth it's upside down)

Pretty bland novel, this is basically what happens and the 235 pages on the novel pretty much sums this review. Damn this was bad trip. Bad Instead of 1 star I will give 2 because this novels are not supposed to be poetic, or perfectly written. This novels are to entertain and they are reminiscent of pulp fiction.

Book Review : Cult of the Spider Queen- S. A. Sidor

Read in May 2022

366  pages published in 2021

Lovecraftian, Arkham Horror

As you figure it out by now I Am reading through all ARkham Horror novels within the Aconyte brand. I've read them all so far with exception of the compilation of novelas.
~Wrath of N'Kai 3 stars
~The Last Ritual 2 Stars
~Litany of Dreams 2 Stars
~Mask of Silver 2 stars
~The Devourer Below 3 Stars
Missing Dark Origins
Coming out soon - Deadly Grimoire

This one was not that good but also it wasn't as bad as the first one the author created. It's has some connecting dots but overall it's fairly different. In this story we follow a group of adventurers who are going to Amazonia all for different reasons. One of them, a reporter, received a package saying that a missing actress was alive in the jungle and so he wants to go to get fame and rescue a celebrity, one to meet the spirit of her dead husband and a group of scientists that want funding for future enterprises. Meanwhile they are being funded by a man who wants gold.

From this initial premises we are thrown into the Amazonia river with all of it's characteristics of a hidden world that it was back in the turn of the century and give it a twist of Lovecraftian horror. There are some interesting stuff going on that keep me invested in the stories but overall it was a bit bland and the ending left me unsatisfied. If you know anything at all about Lovecraftian lore you know who the spider queen is right?

There are some interesting connections to per example about the Facwett and trying to find the lost city of Z.

Overall it's not a bad story. But it's also nothing that feels like a) game b) lovecraftian pastiche. f you remove the references of Arkham & Atlach Nacha and a couple of other references you would get a normal terror novel - and this is my main problem with most of these novels - or they have any cosmic horror.

Book Review: Fire Warrior - Simon Spurrier

Read in February of 2023
416 Pages - Published in 2013
Warhammer 40K

Tau vs IG & Space Marine vs Chaos

So I recently finished this book. I've started several years ago, fifteen years ago when I was playing the game. Didn't you know this is a game? It is. And this is novel adaptation.... so true be told feels like one. Our main character Kais is undoubtly one of the most powerful tau characters to exist. He kills without mercy. So powerful beyond belief. That's one thing that really turn me off in space marines novels and here again... the same stuff. It's action beyond action... although to be fair Simon although making Kais almost invincible he sure gave him problems and he sure went to trouble, almost killing him several times. In the game he killed a thousand IG, Space Marines & Chaos stuff. Here although he killed a lot we don't feel the same stuff. This was the instance where the book was better than the movie Game.

We've got here Tau trying to expand, you've got humans that kidnap a ethereal and they are trying to get it back. At the same time you've got space marines working as body guards (hmm) and dying as easily as the IG. You've got plots and twists and chaos stuff... Not gonna spoil.. Read the novel or play the game.

One of my main problem was all the Tau words floating around. Sometimes it felt strange and I know it's cool to know some Tau words but we've never going t see them again. The problem was on page 10 he explains a rotaa is but never showing it again until page 300. The same with names and ranks and so on. It was very strange and until the end I really was over my head.

But it's not a bad book. There are better of course out there. But unfortunately if you like to play Tau there aren't that many books with them.

Book Review: Smashed - Junji Ito

Read in February of 2023
412 pages published back in 2019
Horror Manga

Let's talk about Smashed although of all the ones I've read I think this was one is one of the least favourites. Yet it's good. Don't get me wrong. When you are reading the best , all 5 stars and such. A four star is your least favourite yet better than 90% out there.

• Bloodsucking Darkness is a tale about a way to get thin in a organic kind of way (4)
• Ghosts of prime time, what will you do to make other people laugh if you were a comedian? Take that to extreme (7)
• Roar -memories that will remain forever (6)
• Earthbound - this is one of the best ones yet... how do you deal with guilt? (9)
• Death Row Doorbell - how far would you go to be forgiven (6.5)
• The Mystery of the Haunted House - Very interesting tale, really enjoyed the twists (7.5)
• The Mystery of the Haunted House (Soichi's House) - You know Soichi right? One of the first stories I've read about Soichi (7)
• Soichi's Beloved Pet - This cat really hunts everything... Soichi is such a cool character with horror and comedy in the mix. (8)
• 
  Mirror Valley is and interesting story about old villages superstitions and past. This kind of tales are only good if set in japan. Really mystifying stuff. (7,5)
• I don't want to be a ghost - uhh food (6.5)
• Library Vision - as a person who loves his book and have a 5000 book library I can relate to him. One of the bet stories (9)
• Splendid Shadow Song - where all those beautiful songs come? do they com to artists in a dream? how can not anyone can write a music or book that lives forever and other people can? (6.5)
• Smashed - A food of the gods, ambrosia but with a hidden setback (8.5)

9/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

 Is this going to be a redemption month? Well let's hope so... In terms of reading and in terms of buying? Let us see. One thing I can say, most of the books I receive this week were bought last week but only receive this week. 

Already Finish

Ongoing

1. The Fellowship of the Rings         308/530pp
2. False Gods - Graham McNeil          86/406pp
3. The Great Hunt                           164/705pp
4. Horrorstör - Grady Hendrix          111/245pp
5. The Swarm - Chris Pearson          36/172pp

To Start

1. Thanquol's Doom - CL Werner 416pp
2. Beasts in Velvet - Jack Yeovil - 286pp
3. In the Coils of the Labyrinth - David Annandale 346pp
4. Dark Water - Koji S
   uzuki 294pp
5. As the Curtain Falls - Robert Chilson - 174p
6. qntm (there is no antimemetics division - 227p
7. Cradle of the Dead - Roger Jackson - 93p
8. Dark Waves - Simon Kearns - 129p
9. Liquid Fear - Scott Nicholson - 266p
10. Og-Grim- Dog 1 - Jamie Edmundson - 150p
11. Og-Grim- Dog 2 - Jamie Edmundson - 142p
12. Og-Grim- Dog 3 - Jamie Edmundson . 138p
13. Og-Grim- Dog 4 - Jamie Edmundson - 154p
14. Butcher Road - Jon Athan 165p
15. Cannibal Creek - Jon Athan 200p
16. A Family of Violence - Jon Athan 189p
17. Panagaea Exiles - Jeff Brackett 207p
18. Victim - Sam West 153p
19. The Dark Side of Red - Sam West 173p
20. A moon full of stars - Jon Mollison 163p
21. Day of Ascension - Adrian Tchaikovsky 199p
22. Sailor on the seas of fate - Michael Moorcock  128p
23. Five Maidens on the Pentagram - J Manfred Weichel - 111p

Books Bought This month/week

1. The Traitor - Michael Cisco 149p
2. Sorrow of the Cranes -  J M McDermott 220p
3. Aiduel's Sin - Daniel T Jackson 650p
4. A Feast of Ambrosia - Glenn Rahman 260p
5. Come and Take Them - Tom Kratman 560p
6. Terra Nova - Anthology - 456p
7. Carnifex - Tom Kratman - 940p
8. A Pillar of Fire By Night - Tom Kratman - 588p
9. Days of Burning, Days of Wrath - Tom Kratman - 511p
10. The Romanov Rescue - Tom Kratman         760p