35/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

Not Friday but end of the month of August. This next friday there will be no update but to be honest is just one day. So, that's that. In terms of reading it was awesome. We are talking about

So far I've read so far 16 novels with 4982 pages which is amazing for me. Let's hope I can do my best month ever.

Already Finish

1. Uma Aventura na Televisão - Ana Maria Magalhaes - 202p (2/08/2023) 8/10
2. Fracture Event Kathleen & Michael Gear 315p (2/08/2023) Audiobook 8/10
3. Annihilation Squad - Gav Thorpe 412p  (04/08/2023)                    7/10
4. How the Skin  Sheds - Chad Lutzke           100p    (5/08/2023)            4/10
5. Tombs - Junji Ito                                      350p   (7/08/2023)            10/10
6. Icehenge - Kim Stanley Robinson           262p       (8/08/2023)            3/10
7. The Resort - Bentley Little                     390p    (11/08/2023) Reread  8/10
8. Party Games - Jon Athan                      174p     (12/08/2023)             8/10
9. Meddling Kids - Edgar Cantero               445p    (13/08/2023)             2/10
10. Cruel Angels Past Sundown                    176p    (15/08/2023)             3/10
11. Promise of the WitchKing  - RA Salvatore  373p   (16/08/2023)            6/10
12. Slugs - Shaun Hutson                              208p   (20/08/2023)            7/10
13. TrollSlayer - William King                        320p    (22/08/2023) Reread 10/10
14. State of Fear - Michael Crichton                 707p  (24/08/2023)             9/10
15. The Ice Schooner - Michael Moorcock        207p    (26/08/2023)            8/10
16. Ghoul - Brian Keene                                341p    (28/08/2023)            8/10

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan           164/705pp (23%)
2. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy         101/480p (20%)
3. Galaxy in Flames - Ben Counter               161/416p (40%) 

August Reading Goal

1. Tombs - Junji Ito  350p  ++++ Manga
2. Uma Aventura na Televisao  211p ++++ Portuguese 
3. Promise of the WitchKing  - RA Salvatore 373p +++ 2th of 3 of Sellswords Series
4. The Resort - Bentley Little 390p ++++ reread 
5. Icehenge - Kim Stanley Robinson 262p
6. Meddling Kids - Edgar Cantero 445
7. Galaxy in Flames - Ben Counter 416p +++ 3/54 Horus Heresy
8. Funland - Richard Laymon 502p 
9. Party Games - Jon Athan 167
10. The Ice Schooner - Michael Moorcock 207p
11. Shadows of the Empire - Steve Perry 385p
12. Slugs - Shaun Hutson 208p
13. Michael Crichton - State of Fear 712p

TBR Pile, piling up...

1. Soichi - Junji Ito -(Manga) 410p 
2. The Ravening Deep - Tim Pratt (ARkham Horror) 330p
3. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Wolf  435p
4. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Fire 437
5. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Earth 587
6. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the River 526
7. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Sea       560
8. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Lightning 587
9. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Silence 648
10. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Masks 552
11. Christina Henry - Near The Bone 363p
12. Louis L'Amour - To the Far Blue Mountains 376p
13. Louis L'Amour - Trouble Shooter 226p
14. Chad Lutzke - How the Skin Sheds 100p
    
15. Adrian Tchaikovsky - Children of Memory 499p
16. David Drake - The Forge 323p
17. David Drake - The Hammer  310p
18. David Drake - The Anvil 301p
19. David Drake - The Steel 302p
20. David Drake - The Sword 341p
21. David Drake - The Chosen 472p
22. David Drake - The Reformer 312p
    
23. Shadow of the Eight - Justin D Hill 332p
24. City of Kings - Rob Hayes 320p
25. Peoples of the Lakes - Michael & Kathleen Gear 816p
26. People of the Mists - Michael & Kathleen Gear 546p
27. Rivers West - Louis L'Amour 181p
28. The Proving Trail - Louis L'Amour 277p
29. The Morning River - W Michael Gear 5212p
30. Long Ride Home - W Michael Gear 416p
31. Big Horn Legacy - W Michael Gear 464p
32. Coyote Summer - W Michael Gear 672p
33. This Widowed Land - Kathleen O'Neal Gear 448p
34. Sand in the Wind - Kathleen O'Neal Gear 320p
35. Maze Master - Kathleen O'Neal Gear 352p
36. Murder on the Lamplight Express - Morgan Stang 269p
37. People of the Thunder - Michael & Kathleen Gear 512p
38. Cruel Angels Past Sundown - Hailey Piper
39. Michael & Kathleen Gear - People of the Longhouse 300p
40. Michael & Kathleen Gear - The Dawn Country 293p
41. Michael & Kathleen Gear - The Broken Land 358p
42. Michael & Kathleen Gear - People of the Black Sun 370p
    
43. People on the Weeping Eye - Michael & Kathleen Gear 419p
44. People of the Songtrail - Michael & Kathleen Gear 346p
45. People of the Morning Star -Michael & Kathleen Gear 495p
46. Michael & Kathleen Gear -  Sun Born 444p
47. Michael & Kathleen Gear -  Moon Hunt 414p
48. Michael & Kathleen Gear - People of the Canyons 310p
49. Michael & Kathleen Gear - A Searing Wind  480p
50. Michael & Kathleen Gear - Fire in The Sky 435p
51. Michael & Kathleen Gear - Coming of the Storm 480p
52. The Fall of Cadia  - Robert Rath 542 (Special Edition)
53. Longshot - Rob Young 351p
54. Ciaphas Chain - The Anthology 307p
55. Ciaphas Cain - Vainglorious 282p
56. Louis L' Amour - Killoe 149p
57. Louis L' Amour - Matagorda 195p
58. Louis L' amour - The Man from the Skibereen 231p
59. Louis L' Amour - Son  of a Wanted Man 194p
60. Louis L' Amour - Hondo 245p
61. This Scorched Earth - William M Gear 800p
62. The Ice Lion - Kathleen O Neal Gear 304p
63. The Ice Ghost - Kathleen O Neal Gear 288p
64. The Pattern of the World -JT Greathouse 416p
65. The Ikessar Falcon - KS Villoso 598p
66. Resolute - Jack Campbell 374p
    
67. Devlin's Luck - Patricia Bray 404p
68. Devlin's Honor- Patricia Bray 390p
69. Devlin's Justice- Patricia Bray 388p
70. 
    Realmslayer ( LE) - David Guymer 455p
    
71. Crimes from the Lost Island - Kathleen O'Neal Gear 312p
72. The Artifact - W Michael Gear 525p

Book Review: The Ice Schooner by Michael Moorcock

The Ice Schooner by Michael Moorcock
Pages 207

Year 1969

Rating 8

Really enjoy the novel. This one is quite old from Moorcock (1969). In terms of rating I would say 8/10. Moorcock is one of those writers that politically is not one I tend to agree but in terms of writing and characters so far they are great. To be honest I only read around 5/6 of his and so far they've been good. I like is chaotic side of things. This story is set in the future and the wet dream of political activists happened and earth is ball of ice. People have been living in eight cities in Mato Grosso (it's in Brazil).

Here we follow Konrad Arflane, a former captain of one of those cities but now turn a solitary man. As he travels through the ice he finds and helps a lord from another city. As he helps him arrive to his city he is tasked by him to take the best ship in the eight cities to a fable city of New York where they think their goddess has her court.

First of all, have you read moby dick? or master and commander? you going to need since there is a lot of talk about ships with names of stuff unknown to me plus the all whaling with harpoons. The story is epic and you could see another writer (or if written probably 30 years later) to have 400 or 500 pages instead of the current 207. It's fast pace and to be honest If I had a complain it would be this fast pace sometimes made the timeframe a bit wonky - like several months have pass and so probably the interaction of characters probably would be important to understand why x character is so deeply in love with Y or respects Z. But, alas, it's not horrible.

So, what did I not enjoy? first of all, it was the romance stuff. Some people would complain about Konrad but to them I would say, grow up. But yes, my problem would be the believability of it. Second it was ending , well not the ending but the last 8 or 9 pages where the full explanation my first explanation was "was this it? "okay".

It was a nice philosophical story about tradition vs progression, about history. If Moby Dick he wanted to kill the whale here is about fable new york.

Advisable if you wish to start reading Moorcock. But if you are starting please read Elric. Interesting that this novel along with The Black Corridor & The Distant Suns are all part of "Sailing to Utopia" series but although some themes connect this stories, you can read them at any order since they are not connected at all.

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A Compilation of some of my favourite TV Series to watch (Non-Woke) - Western & Korean & Japanee

 I dislike almost everything being created nowadays by Hollywood. They are corrupting and destroying everything that was great from Hollywood to pursue an agenda that they either believe is the correct one or in case of Disney don't even believe. The reason have been explain timeless times but the main stream don't go with it because that would lower their own political, money agendas. I don't understand how companies can keep losing money and pull this kind of crap. Disney cares so little, like the vast majority of these companies that at the same month they proudly show their flags on their twitter accounts, they don't do the same in their arabic or chinese version of it. They believe so much that a black character from star wars (Finn) was removed from the movie poster in china. It's absurd that all of these is know and still people throw money at them. So, let me show you a couple of shows (american) and some from japan/korea that I thing are good for anyone who wants something simple and without agenda... No particular order (rating is imdb) or mydramalist (korea & japan)

Western Series

After Life (8,4) by & with  Ricky Gervais - After Tony's wife dies, his nice-guy persona is altered into an impulsive, devil-may-care attitude that takes his old world by storm. It's a drama, comedy and it's Ricky Gervais

Ash vs Evil Dead (8,4) by Bruce Campbell. You know, who right? Evil Dead. Ash has spent the last thirty years avoiding responsibility, maturity, and the terrors of the Evil Dead until a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind and Ash becomes mankind's only hope. (unfortunately never got an end)

Blood Drive (7,2) In a dystopian alternate 1999, a former cop is forced to take part in a death race in which cars run on human blood as fuel.  It's Mad Max, Death Race & Splatterpunk in one. It's really a shame only one season was created.

Chernobyl  (9,4) In April 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world's worst man-made catastrophes.
It's an interesting view on how the Chernobyl catastrophe unfolded. Of course it's western made. There is also a version made by the russians which is far worse.

Colony (7.4) In the wake of a mysterious alien invasion, a family fights to stay together in a new world order. (no ending)

Future Man (7.7) Josh Futturman, a janitor by day and a gamer by night, is recruited by mysterious visitors to travel through time to prevent the extinction of humanity. 
A comedy scif fi stuff. I Don't consider it woke but I can see people do it.

From (7.7) Unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town in middle America that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest; including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down.

An interesting part horror, part mystery. It's ongoing and after two seasons I don't know where they are going with it

Inside Nº9 (8.5) Genre-mixing anthology series, inviting viewers into some very different and enigmatic No. 9s.
Every episode is different. The only consistency are the two actors, nº 9 and an hare. It's so good. Dark Comedy.

Love 101 (7.4) (Turkish) In 1990s Turkey, a group of teenage outcasts band together to make their beloved teacher fall in love so she'll have a reason to stay in town with them.
This is a show I shouldn't have enjoyed as much as I enjoy it. It's a drama & romance about the life of some misfits (and not) from a school in Constantinople Istambul. 

See (7.6) Far in a dystopian future, the human race has lost the sense of sight, and society has had to find new ways to interact, build, hunt, and to survive. All of that is challenged when a set of twins are born with sight.
Momoa really delivered on this show. Is dark it's gritty and is grimdark. It's violence for violence. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the two children. They were boring as fuck. But it's worthy just for Momoa.

Silo (8.1) Men and women live in a giant silo underground with several regulations which they believe are in place to protect them from the toxic and ruined world on the surface.
Interesting interpretation of a novel I've read almost twenty years ago. Highly advisable. Breath of fresh air.

Severance (8.7) Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives. When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.
When I started watching this I Was what a heck is this? So, hollywood can still make good interesting stories? It's very good. I'm hoping for a second season

Stan Against Evil (7.3) An aging police sheriff begrudgingly joins an alliance with a new sheriff, Evie Barret, to battle angry demons haunting their small New Hampshire town.
This is a awesome horror, comedy action series in the same vein of Ash. If you didn't knew you could almost say they were done by the same people.

Stranger Things  (8.7) When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.
First season is probably one of the best things that I've watch. Going back to my youth was amazing. I devoured it and I've watched again with my wife and is one of those shows that I will go back again. I think they have to finalize the series because it's loosing steam.

Swamp Thing (7.4) Abby Arcane returns home to Marais, Louisiana to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, only to discover the dark, terrifying mysteries of the swamp.
Î've watch this show was was flabberghast when they didn't renew it. It was a good show about a super hero (?)

The Mandalorian (8.7) The travels of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.
After the prequels, and Rogue One, the Mandalorian is the only thing worthy of watching.

The Night Manager (8.0) The night manager of a Cairo hotel is recruited to infiltrate an arms dealer's inner circle.
A thriller based on a novel. So good. Dr House (the actor not the character:P) is so good on the series. Short and concise. 

Wayward Pines (7.3) Secret Service agent Ethan Burke arrives in the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, Idaho on a mission to find two missing federal agents. But instead of answers, Ethan's investigation only turns up more questions. What's wrong with Wayward Pines? Each step closer to the truth takes Ethan further from the life he knew, from the husband and father he was, until he must face the terrifying reality that he might never get out of Wayward Pines alive.

alice in the borderland (japan)

Last but not least, Wayward Pines was awesome when it arrived ten years ago. It was a shame that the series was scrapped. I've read the books so I know the ending. Unfortunately knowing the books now I know they've changed a lot because of the main character death on the first series.

I would also include the Walking Dead here. Yes I know it's woke nowadays. But the first 6/7 seven seasons was so good. I watch it until the end and I've got to say the last seasons were crap. The same happen with Fear of Walking Dead. The first two or three seasons were great. Alicia!!! Not counting with one episode, the top 20 episodes in IMBD are all from the first 4 seasons.



Korea & Japanese Series

Now I will also include some Korean or Japanese Shows for you to watch. Yes I know about that over famous one with octopus and such so I won't talk about that one. This ratings are from mydramalist.

If you want romance you've got Crash Landing on You (9.0) which deals with a wealth south korean billionaire being stranded on north korea and we get a glimpse of their lives. I don't know if the north korea depiction of reality is correct but either way is a hard place to live. It's comedy and it's romance. It's awesome.  If instead you want a historical romance stuff you've got Red Sleeve (8.8). If you want a revenge story with no comedy and sticks until the end you have to try The Glory (8.9). And if you want mystery & Drama you've got My Mister (9.0). If you want zombie like walking dead but better you've got Kingdom (8.8) You've also got All of us are dead (8.5) but I prefer Kingdom. Horror focus you've got Monstrous (7.5). There is also Happiness (8.9) is action, sci-fi & thriller

Bear in mind that all Korea shows are slice of life and every episode is around 1h10. They do what in Portuguese we call them Telenovelas. Every episode, almost, can have less 30m. But it's good, believe me.

3 Nen A Gumi: Ima kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu

In terms of Japanese stuff you've got slice of life and food Midnight Diner (8.3) or the squid game alike Alice in Borderland 8.8. Interesting or not Squid Game has 8.5. You've got Stay Tuned! 7.6. It's a story about the adventures of a reporter. Funny and interesting at the same time and finally 3 Nen A Gumi: Ima kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu 8.6 which was groundbreaking to me. With graduation 10 days away, homeroom teacher Hiiragi gathers all 29 students of class 3-A and proclaims them as his hostages. His last lesson regards the death of a student that passed away a few months before. Nobody will be able to graduate until the truth is known.  It's so good to see the real lives of school teachers and students and not a romanticise version of it. It is a tale about the problem of social media in schools (and not only that). I remember watching several episodes in one go. We are talking about episodes of 1h20 each. 

So there you have it. Some good examples of non-woke shows to watch. 

IF you want to advise me some series please do so...

Book Review: Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
My rating: 2 Stars out of 10

Pages 442

Year 2017

I love Lovecraftian Horror & Love Scooby Doo as a teen. This was hinted as a Lovecraftian Scooby Doo but in adults flashbacks their kid lives. I read the first 250 pages (so more than half the book) and it was nothing like that. Okay the author enjoyed scooby doo so he made four protagonists (two girls & two boys) plus a dog. That's where the similarities end. For 250 pages I saw no hint of horror whatsoever. IT was slow pace, horrible dialogue and talks... sometimes the author put something the name of the person who was talking and what they said and then author character and so on for pages... the reason? probably do not saying, "bla bla" said Kerri "bla bla" said Andy etc.. What a crappy writing facilitator. Then there is the all romance thing where you've got Andrea (Sorry Andy) who is a girl and loves girl. So what? Nothing new in today age. But the way the author presented this lesbian (She is not trans, stop fuming about it) it felt wrong.. There is a conversation where she hinted to another girl, how do you know you don't like woman, have you tried it? What a heck is this logic? I don't like eating shit, I don't have to try it do I? I don't want to do drugs, I don't have to try it, do I? Moron. BTW, she was able to turn the non-lesbian to lesbian. Imagine that a man saying that to a lesbian? Wanna fuck? I am going to turn you after you taste my shaft. this man would be cancelled on the spot.

There was an author talking about TW for Transphobia. WHAT book did you read? Where was this transphobe? It was uncomfortable representation of lesbian without a doubt but transphobe? I don't agree.

2/10 for bad dialogue, bad story, bad characterization and worst of all, boring.

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Book Review: Promise of the Witch King by R.A. Salvatore

Promise of the Witch King by R.A. Salvatore
My rating: 6 Stars

Pages 376

Year 2005

I didn't enjoy this novel as much as other from Drizzt although I enjoy reading about Entreri & Jarlaxe. The main problem was the plot itself. It bounced from one place to another but never really nothing happening. First of all there are too many characters that you won't really have time to invest because you know something is going to happen with them which was way more interesting that Drizzt. I know, I contradict myself but bear with me. Salvatore is a master creating characters but some of these we know they are just fodder for our companions and they aren't that well flesh out maybe because he intended to kill them off? Per example there is a dwarf assassin, which in theory sounds cool but why is he the best on the north? Well we never get that feeling because we were told and that's it. The best tracker is also there , again, because we are told not because we are shown.

Another thing I didn't enjoy is the repetitive in the castle attack. Uhh baddies, kill kill , okay let's g that way and rinse and repeat. The ending is fine and we expected as such. It was also cool to see some developement on both main villains (Entrari & Jarlaxe) and they are villains. Although they are the main characters, they are evil. Do not mistake or confuse with chaotic heroes. No. These guys will do evil stuff to further their gains. No respect. No humanity (drow-ity?) from them. Pretty good.

Overall, I will be reading the last one on this interconnected trilogy and then go to the War of Spider Queen. Maybe a project for 2024? 6/10

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34/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

I was on vacation so I didn't post nothing last week. So this is a compilation of two weeks

So far I've read so far 14 novels with 4434 pages which is amazing for me. Let's hope I can do my best month ever.

Already Finish

1. Uma Aventura na Televisão - Ana Maria Magalhaes - 202p (2/08/2023) 8/10
2. Fracture Event Kathleen & Michael Gear 315p (2/08/2023) Audiobook 8/10
3. Annihilation Squad - Gav Thorpe 412p  (04/08/2023)                    7/10
4. How the Skin  Sheds - Chad Lutzke           100p    (5/08/2023)            4/10
5. Tombs - Junji Ito                                      350p   (7/08/2023)            10/10
6. Icehenge - Kim Stanley Robinson           262p       (8/08/2023)            3/10
7. The Resort - Bentley Little                     390p    (11/08/2023) Reread  8/10
8. Party Games - Jon Athan                      174p     (12/08/2023)             8/10
9. Meddling Kids - Edgar Cantero               445p    (13/08/2023)             2/10
10. Cruel Angels Past Sundown                    176p    (15/08/2023)             3/10
11. Promise of the WitchKing  - RA Salvatore  373p   (16/08/2023)            6/10
12. Slugs - Shaun Hutson                              208p   (20/08/2023)            7/10
13. TrollSlayer - William King                         320p    (22/08/2023)           10/10
14. State of Fear - Michael Crichton                 707p  (24/08/2023)             9/10

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan           164/705pp (23%)
2. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy

August Reading Goal

1. Tombs - Junji Ito  350p  ++++ Manga
2. Uma Aventura na Televisao  211p ++++ Portuguese 
3. Promise of the WitchKing  - RA Salvatore 373p +++ 2th of 3 of Sellswords Series
4. The Resort - Bentley Little 390p ++++ reread 
5. Icehenge - Kim Stanley Robinson 262p
6. Meddling Kids - Edgar Cantero 445
7. Galaxy in Flames - Ben Counter 416p +++ 3/54 Horus Heresy
8. Funland - Richard Laymon 502p 
9. Party Games - Jon Athan 167
10. The Ice Schooner - Michael Moorcock 207p
11. Shadows of the Empire - Steve Perry 385p
12. Slugs - Shaun Hutson 208p
13. Michael Crichton - State of Fear 712p

TBR Pile, piling up...

1. Soichi - Junji Ito -(Manga) 410p 
2. The Ravening Deep - Tim Pratt (ARkham Horror) 330p
3. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Wolf  435p
4. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Fire 437
5. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Earth 587
6. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the River 526
7. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Sea       560
8. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Lightning 587
9. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Silence 648
10. Michael & Kathleen Gear People of the Masks 552
11. Christina Henry - Near The Bone 363p
12. Louis L'Amour - To the Far Blue Mountains 376p
13. Louis L'Amour - Trouble Shooter 226p
14. Chad Lutzke - How the Skin Sheds 100p
    
15. Adrian Tchaikovsky - Children of Memory 499p
16. David Drake - The Forge 323p
17. David Drake - The Hammer  310p
18. David Drake - The Anvil 301p
19. David Drake - The Steel 302p
20. David Drake - The Sword 341p
21. David Drake - The Chosen 472p
22. David Drake - The Reformer 312p
    
23. Shadow of the Eight - Justin D Hill 332p
24. City of Kings - Rob Hayes 320p
25. Peoples of the Lakes - Michael & Kathleen Gear 816p
26. People of the Mists - Michael & Kathleen Gear 546p
27. Rivers West - Louis L'Amour 181p
28. The Proving Trail - Louis L'Amour 277p
29. 
    The Morning River - W Michael Gear 5212p
30. Long Ride Home - W Michael Gear 416p
31. Big Horn Legacy - W Michael Gear 464p
32. Coyote Summer - W Michael Gear 672p
33. This Widowed Land - Kathleen O'Neal Gear 448p
34. Sand in the Wind - Kathleen O'Neal Gear 320p
35. 
    Maze Master - Kathleen O'Neal Gear 352p
36. Murder on the Lamplight Express - Morgan Stang 269p
37. People of the Thunder - Michael & Kathleen Gear 512p
38. Cruel Angels Past Sundown - Hailey Piper
39. 
    Michael & Kathleen Gear - People of the Longhouse 300p
40. Michael & Kathleen Gear - The Dawn Country 293p
41. Michael & Kathleen Gear - The Broken Land 358p
42. Michael & Kathleen Gear - People of the Black Sun 370p
    
43. People on the Weeping Eye - Michael & Kathleen Gear 419p
44. People of the Songtrail - Michael & Kathleen Gear 346p
45. People of the Morning Star -Michael & Kathleen Gear 495p
    
46. Michael & Kathleen Gear -  Sun Born 444p
47. Michael & Kathleen Gear -  Moon Hunt 414p
48. Michael & Kathleen Gear - People of the Canyons 310p
49. Michael & Kathleen Gear - A Searing Wind  480p
50. Michael & Kathleen Gear - Fire in The Sky 435p
51. Michael & Kathleen Gear - Coming of the Storm 480p
    
    
    
52. The Fall of Cadia  - Robert Rath 542 (Special Edition)
53. 
    Longshot - Rob Young 351p
54. Ciaphas Chain - The Anthology 307p
55. Ciaphas Cain - Vainglorious 282p
    
56. Louis L' Amour - Killoe 149p
57. Louis L' Amour - Matagorda 195p
58. Louis L' amour - The Man from the Skibereen 231p
59. Louis L' Amour - Son  of a Wanted Man 194p
60. Louis L' Amour - Hondo 245p
    
61. This Scorched Earth - William M Gear 800p
62. The Ice Lion - Kathleen O Neal Gear 304p
63. The Ice Ghost - Kathleen O Neal Gear 288p
64. The Pattern of the World -JT Greathouse 416p
65. 
    The Ikessar Falcon - KS Villoso 598p
66. Resolute - Jack Campbell 374p

Book Review: Party Games by Jon Athan

Party Games by Jon Athan
My rating: 9 Stars

Pages 178

Year 2018

9 stars. Expect nothing. A mix of home invasion, sociopath, sadist, Adrenaline dependent. Good ending

So I've read this book in one day. Two sittings but one day. You've got six friends who don't see that much after school and they meet. It's way of the owner of the house to tell his friends that his girlfriend is pregnant. The main problem is that all of his friends don't like him - like at all. They pick so much on him because he is quite rich and from time to time he do stuff that piss them off since he is awfully rich. I find it strange to be honest. So a guy is rich and he wants to help other people and it sounds in their head that he feeling superior to them. I didn't get that much as those other characters. Well... moving on.

These people are getting ready to eat when someone arrives at their home and asks for help. As they are waiting for a truck to pick his car up he asks if they want to play a game. Afterwards everything went to shit. You've got some sick games that not only are physical but also pyschological. Jon Athan again shows us then when people are on the brink of despair they show their true colours. It's quite good thriller but if you don't like to read about killing, suffering, cutting and so on then you shouldn't go here. Bear in mind that there is no sexual stuff (which I find a little odd but maybe it was on purpose).

The ending was quite interesting because you are used the books going one way - but yeah this one wasn't. It was highly refreshing to be say the least

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Book Review: Cruel Angels Past Sundown by Hailey Piper

Cruel Angels Past Sundown by Hailey Piper
My rating: 3.5/10

Pages 170

Year 2023

I've received the novel and read it on the following day. First of all I think this novels are very expensive for the material & pages they are printed on. They used to cost around 12€ but now you can only get it for over 16/17€. Last one had 100 pages. This one 170. At least the ones being released are a bit bigger. I know bigger doesn't make it right but I don't agree paying more for a novella length novel when the company receives the same money for a 300 pages like Triana's novels.

Then since I am complaining, let's me complain about the numbers the books had before on the spine and this two don't have. I know something happen with Death's Head Press since nowadays when I search it says dead sky publishing. Enfin it doesn't matter to me. What it matters is that the stuff changed.

Now for the novel it self. To be honest I didn't enjoy part of it. So from the start I couldn't connect with the characters. The main character Annette acted like a boring little girl. Gloria was really tough little character. In the beginning I was fearing for the characters being a horror splatterpunk novel but then the love appeared and I immediately thought, ok these two characters are not going to die and everything will be fine and alas...

These are histories set in America in the cowboy era (so around 1850/1890). At least all of them so far are. Then you take a notch, some part supernatural, some part fiction but there is some historic elements and such. Well I couldn't get the all love story. IT was weird as fuck. Thank the gods (view spoiler)[ Frank (hide spoiler)] died. So we could have a nice little love story.

Oh well... overall It was a weak story, with a cardboard Christian evil guy and boring characters that were more interesting in solving love stuff than to survive. At times it was confusing on what was happening.. enfin

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Book Review: Fracture Event by Kathleen & Michael Gear

Fracture Event by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
My rating: 8

Pages 314

Year 2021

I enjoy this audiobook. To be honest I really enjoy the pacing and characterization. There were plenty of characters for a thriller and they were all quite different. There was growth in all our main characters and even the evil characters/organization were not bland but had purposes. If I Have a complain or two, there's some stuff I didn't find that were developed. First of all, is the all work she done that could predict the fall of humanity. It's quite unrealistic to be honest, although not at all unfeasible. I mean, you can predict elections or markets and such but not particular situations like the one they try to show here on this book. But that's a minor stuff because the way it was written and such was very good. All women were sexy as fuck (quite literally) and I've been seen that criticism in other novels. I don't care about that. After this, I've bought several of their novels, including the people of america and one other duology. They really got me a good impression. The other thing I didn't enjoy was the ending. I really thought it was too fast and basically he put some characters talking about themselves about x and y happening. Telling not showing or something like that? :P

I enjoy the thriller ride, the explanations about the fragility of society and the all parties involved

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Book Review: Dinosaur Beach by Keith Laumer

Dinosaur Beach by Keith Laumer
Pages 151

Year 1971

I have finished. IT took me a while, I play videogames.
This is Daw book, number 21 and it was published back in 71.
So, what's this book about? If you have read the back cover, it has nothing to do with dinossaurs. They appear 1 or 2 pages and are barely there. The Dinoussaur beach is a a beach where the time travellers have their HQ. From there they go, through time, changing stuff. Well not changing, our main protagonist (Ravel) is a third generation time traveller which is solving the problems created by the first two eras. It's a simple book, fast pace. It has 40 chapters in 150 pages and it's okay book.

BUT I have a problem with Time Travels and this book really brought the issue back. If I went back in time and kill person X, then a second age from far into the future went bacck to stop me from killing person X. How does this work? Killing X (I know you all want to kill Hitler, so let's go with Stalin). I am in a future and go back and kill Stalin - right from the bat our timeline would be different (better or worse) , would my timeline even exist at all? Then how the second guy would know he had to act, because if he is in the future but acting on the past, well it doesn't need right? It's very hard dealing with timesweepers and I don't like it and this one felt confused.. man by the end we had 7th era timsweepers... all thinking we are the last, we are the last.
Want to solve everything? go to the past and kill the inventor. Job Done BUT WAIT... if timesweepers were never invented how could you go to the past to kill the creator of it? Well... I give up.

Overall, nice fast pace story. Don't think to much. 5/10

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Book Review: Tombs by Junji Ito

Tombs by Junji Ito
My rating: 9

Pages 344

Year  2023

This is probably one of the best anthologies Junji Ito grace us with so far.

We've got 9 tales.

The first one , is the title of the novel and deals with two siblings as they experience a traffic accident leaving dead a young girl. As they arrive to a town where they were meeting another friend. But so far, what's strange? well everywhere in the city there are tombs appearing and our duo will soon learn why and their own fate. It's a eerie tale filled with mystery. 10/10

The Second tale is about ghosts and time travelling (kind of). It's probably one of my least favourite tales but it's good nevertheless. 7/10

The third one is spooky as shit as Master Ito have grace us. It's about a young girl who is having problem talking and we learn that their house yard has a lot of snails. So, of course she is growing a snail instead of her tongue. Horrible! The art is amazing and the end almost comically scary. 10/10

Next tale is about a young man who has a weird neighbour and every night she comes out and scares the shit out of him. It's good, I've already knew from an anime. Probably the only tale with an happy ending if you can call it that. 7/10

Washed Ashore is something only Ito could have create. Imagine a strange fish/whale monster being dead on the sand, now imagine that it attracts a lot of people, all with the same dreams. Now imagine... nah not going to spoil but the monster is something really interesting and the ending quite good 9/10

The Strange Tale of the Tunnel is probably one of the best so far. We've got this weird tunnel where our main protagonist mother has killed herself. The daughter is being drawn and the boy must try to find her out. Afterwards his father also disappeared and he is trying to find out what is happening. Why people disappear? Why the photos being taken there have blurs and other stuff. There is even a scientific explanation , which I found out very interesting and means Junji is very knowledge in not that known scientific stuff. 10/10 Really enjoy this

Bronze Statue is a good tale, unexpected. I Thought the tale was going one way and by the end the author throws us a curve ball that I Bet the vast majority would not think of. 9/10

Floaters is a tale about strange stuff that is leaving people's bodies, like those white stuff that are released by some flowers here in Portugal. But they have the people inner thoughts. It was a very interesting tale (not that scary) but very cool. 9/10

The last tale is about a hidden town and the strange case of epidemic with the loss of blood of the inhabitants. Very cool story and nice ending. 9/10

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Book Review: The Grimscribe's PuppetsThe Grimscribe's Puppets by Anthology

The Grimscribe's Puppets by Anthology
Pages 295

Year 2013

Another anthology which I didn't enjoy as much as I thought I would.
This anthology is a compilation of stories that want to homage Thomas Ligotti. Thomas Ligotti is one of the most writer-famous but not to general audience. Is an author that most writers know and revere but it's not well know to normal people. I believe the same parallel can be made with Gavriel Kay in fantasy that the vast majority of authors revere and look up to but then general audience and awards nobody/almost nobody knows. One of the reasons he is not well know (Ligotti) is that he is almost non-existent in terms of "normal" publishing houses and he is averse of making appearances, interviews of social media.

From Ligotti I have a couple of books, my favourite was My Work is Not Yet Done which deals with corporate nightmare. It's so awesome. It's very similar of Bentley Little the Store, but in this case imagine you are a store employee and not a visitor. Teatro Grottesco is also very good., but I also have Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe and conspiracy against human race.

The vast majority of these tales try to emulate that feeling of oddness and scary things from normal stuff that Ligotti tries to create and not from a "evil" person.

Good tales, Furnace is good tale, Cisco (secret's of the universe) is another unknown to normal audiance kind of author although I have several of his stuff. IT's a good tale and Cisco is probably the one that "mimicks" best Ligotti's words. Human Moth was one of my favorite but I don't think it's that "ligotti's" vibe. The “Pieces of Blackness” & "Blue Star" are also top. “Diamond Dust” is probably the most Ligotti vibe. Finally “Into the Darkness, Fearlessly” by John Langan which is one of those writers I Have several books since he dwell a lot on lovecraftian horror so I had great expectations which delivered.

Overall, there are some good stories and others not so good. I think it will depend if you are entering this anthology expecting pastiches of Ligotti or writers who love Ligotti and wanted to make homages. Some try to emulate while others try to make their own paths.

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Book Review: The Abstainer by Ian McGuire

The Abstainer by Ian McGuire
My rating: 6

Pages 369

Year 2020

6 stars due to the ending.

Let's start why I read this book.... this is not my typical novel to read. I recently bought it and blackwells send me a double for some mistake. So I grab that novel and took me to my work to offer a person. I remember I had with me also the Third Girl by Agatha Christie and I was on the train but didn't felt reading that so I started the Abstainer and the first 50 pages really flow by. Then I had to finish, right?

The story is set in Britain, in the later part of 1850 and it deals with the growing independence movement by Irish revolutionary movement that culminated in the war and Ireland independence almost 60/70 years later. Here we follow a Irish police officer who is living in manchester after being sent from Ireland for violent behaviour. There he basically is a intermediary between irish spies and the UK. We get to know a bit about how police procedure work back in the day, how people live their lives and how the Irish independence movement work. After the UK hanged some of those irish man (the only real historical events), a Irish living in the USA returns to Manchester to help the revolution. To be honest he just wants mayhem.

So what's good? Well, from the life he gives Manchester circa 1870's, the police procedure, the Irish revolution & reasons , the surveillance the cat and mouse chase.

So what not so good? After a particular event, our main character becomes embroiled in politics of english vs irish resentment - even within the police force and we get a slow burn conversations that bore me a bit. I Think it was a bit repetitive and the main antagonist which supposedly was a bad bad gut really don't do much (well apart from a couple of killings).

The last arc if you wanna call it, it was odd. So, our main protagonist goes to USA to find our main villain and we get introduced to a character like 30 pages to the end and the author really try to make us care about him. The final confrontation was awful... And allow me to say why but it will be spoilers

+++++++++ Spoilers BEGIN +++++++++

So as I've said our main guy goes to USA to find that killer and he rescues a small boy who starts following him. He then finds the bad guy and it ends. So how do we know how it ends? It's the boy, several years after telling a congregation I guess that the main villain killed the main protagonist. WTF? I don't mind the main protagonist being killed. To be honest it made the book better and unpredictable. I don't like it was told in a afterthought... Oh well

+++++++++Spoilers End***************

Overall it was a fast pace book, advisable to people who enjoy historical fiction mix with thriller and focus on characters.

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Book Review: Secrets in Scarlet by Anthology

Secrets in Scarlet by James Fadeley
Pages 347

Year 2022

I will start with the review but I have some problems with this books... One interesting part is that
all of these tales set in different cities, from buenos aires, to san francisco, to alaska or in turkey which remind me of eldricht horror. Instead of normal run, fights or escapades against cthulhu or any other of his fellow "siblings" here is more down to earth stuff. Like some hidden cabal or evil people doing stuff to non-evil people. Sincerely? Boring as heck. All tales have something to do with colour Red but there is a lack of connectivity between ourselves and the stories. The previous novels we would get the investigator A or B from the game. Here is just random stuff. Okay you've got a card in that deck? Now lets go tell a tale about it. Others I couldn't even find the link.

The vast majority of tales are just boring... sorry I have no word other word for it. I was really enjoying this tale called In Art, Truth by James Fadeley where we have a female curator in turkey running around trying to find something hidden in art and then ends the tale telling oh it's a important step to gender equality.. what? What about the story you were telling? The last two tales are probably the better ones from this anthology.

The problem with these tales about empowering woman is that they are not showing/telling tales of empowering woman. They are telling me THEY are empowering diminishing everything they write. Tell me a tale of a strong woman and I will decide I enjoy it. Do not tell me I have to enjoy because she is a woman. That's the all debate about Rey & Leia (the true Leia - not the sequels stuff) or even Padme. They are strong female characters. Nobody had to tell .. oh they suffered because they are woman, look here she is battling a man and wining in strength. Look there is persecution and she squatted. No. They tell me a tale and I decide.

Are all of these writers trying to pandering the mobs? Is this a tale of lovecraftian stuff or gender equality, not equality but superiority of the female gender? You think I kid you?

The Man in the Bubble by David Annandale - Female
City of Waking Dreams by Davide Mana - Male
Brother Bound by Jason Fischer - Female
Honor Among Thieves by Carrie Harris - Female
A Forty Grain Weight of Nephrite by Steven Philip Jones - Non-Binary (in the 1920 lol)
Strange Things Done by Lisa Smedman - Male
In Art, Truth by James Fadeley - Female
Crossing Stars by MJ Newman - Female
The Red and the Black by Josh Reynolds - Female

Almost all stories draw to same conclusion, if you want something done? Send a woman. All stories at some point deal with "gender equality" or some commentary on racism or how "men" look at woman. Fucking sake. Grow up. Tell a fucking tale and shut up. If you want to preach go to twitter. You can talk about this important subjects but not sound like a self important prick who wants to "I will tell those white men how evil they are". Honestly I am tempted to stop buying this books...

Then non-binary character. Well, just because I want, I don't understand the all non-binary stuff nowdays and I don't have to. What I have is to respect everyone the same, no matter how those person feel and I do. being from a language where there is no neutral gender "they" to me means either the plural of he or she (ele ou ela respectivavely) To me They will always be "Eles" or "Elas". So having a character identifiy as they is truly confusing experience to read and at times I was utterly confusing as the author was telling they as single person or multiple. How the heck do other people not find this confusing? Oh well BTW, historically a non-binary character in the 1920's? Not going to happen. Stop with revisionism.

Fuck it. I am sick of it. Tell me a fucking lovecraftian horror story. That's what you promised yet none of these stories are truly horrible. They range for mystery to dark fantasy going to occult urban stuff. But horror? No. The truly horror is this constant need to pandering to the woke mob.

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Book Review: The Last Hunt by Robbie MacNiven

The Last Hunt by Robbie MacNiven
My rating: 7

Pages 416

Year 2017

This novel is set on a planet where the white scars get their recruits. This planet population is a bit like Berber like people going from place to place and a mighty city on the centre where all tribes come to trade. MacNiven really try to explain this divergences between the sand people and the people from the city and he really try to give it form , unfortunately there is so little time that delve on that, that it felt a bit flat. White Scars are based on Mongol, tribal fighters and you really get that as they explain some of their internal procedures of defense and such.

Tyranids are attacking, it's a small splinter from the main force and still there are too many to destroy a simple world. The only solution is to defend and wait for time where the planet will basically become insupportable due to the heat. But there are other parties involved, including elves sorry, eldar ops Aeldari. The ending was a bit too much and weird to me. I don't like time travel stuff. IT becomes weird.

One of the most scariest moments was on chapter 4 I think where we've got a probe in space being swallow by a tyranid bio ship. It was creepy as hell. I've read it twice I must say haha.

Overall a OK Tale. Advisable to anyone who enjoy White Scars. Apart from that I wouldn't advise to anyone else unless you want to read everything publish in that universe. Dealings with tyranids I think Last Days of Ector is better.

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