Book Review: Invocantions - Anthology (Black Library)

Lora Gray - He Feasts Forever

Ray Cluley - Flesh and Blood
Richard Strachan - The Growing Seasons
David Annandale - The Hunt
Steven Sheil - The Healer
Nick Kyme - Stitches
Peter McLean - Blood Sacrifice
Jake Ozga - Supplication
David Annandale - The Summons of Shadows
C. L. Werner - A Sending from the Grave
David Annandale - From the Halls, the Silence
Justin D. Hill - The Confession of Convict Kline

I don't think this was the best short story compilation Black Library published. But some were really good.

David Annandale the Summon of Shadows is the most depressing of the bunch. Really grimdark pointless realization of a common life in 40K world. Then he wrote more two stories both attached to The house of Night and Chain. Interesting to read but not really outstanding.

Blood sacrifice by grimdark writer Peter McLean was the best overall. Unfortunately it connects to other stories and this was the "last" I think. I will have to read them all. I hope he writes a full length story in 40K (horror or not).

Peter Sheil - The Healer is another good piece of Sigmar world. to a person who doesn't know that much about that world some stories can be really disconnected but this one was very good. I cannot say the same for Richard Strachan story. Wish I knew more...

Supplication is a very good story as well.

Flesh and Blood & A Sending from the Grave were not to my liking as Stitches by Nick Kyme. The weakest in mind opinion was Lora's He Feasts Forever.

Overall, is solid intake. Not that spooky or horroful (is this a word?) but good. Maledictions rating I think.

Book Review: Steel Daemon - Ian St Martin (Black Library)

If this was a 10 star review I would give it a seven. Since this is 5 star rating system I will give it

The story is set in the 13th Black Crusade. Cadia is fighting and burns and other chaos forces go to neighbour systems. In this case The Crimson Slaughter goes to Regallus planet and lay siege to it.

In this story we follow Heit after his Marauder being shot down. He is then "saved" by several Cadian Leman Russ tanks led by a Cadian woman that people call "Crown". We are introduced to some others plus some interesting Cadian rituals I didn't knew it existed. Maybe because Cadian has burn? Interesting.

The story is fast and dark - as I like them. I don't even tag as Grimdark because I expect almost all stories being dark. Here again, we understand that to a million worlds within the Imperium and the trillions of trillions of men and woman, a planet is nothing; millions dying are nothing but a comma in history. Yet as we are told these stories in a person POV it's messy and understading there are millions or billions of men and woman fighting and dying it's unmeasurable; unthinkable. It's like saying that there are more stars than all the grains of sand of all beaches in Earth. We can't even begin to comprehend.

One interesting thing here is that, people who are not accustomed to 40K don't really understand the way this works. I've read people complaining in a novel (not 40K) that the author had the audacity to kill several gay men in his story. People complain when the last female pov was dead in Game of Thrones. Well.. here everyone dies. Is that simple.

I will not be drawn into politics but thank the Lords of the Imperium.

But Leman Russ Transports... They exist? NEver heard but I don't play a lot 40K so..

Book Review: Whiteout - Ken Follett

 
 So lets us review this novel...

I've read it wo "waves". First back in April (around 120 pages) and then I finish it in only 4 or 5 days.
Did I enjoy it? No and Yes.
I believe it's a book that's reads fast. Probably due to being all set in a couple of days..

So why did I hate it? And I hate it for several reasons
- Toni is an unrealistic character and Ken Follet created Toni to be his desired women since he is around the same age as the boss of Toni. Oh that paragraph were Toni is embraced and she becomes wet was rather... interesting? but at the same time unrealistic.

The confrontation was a bit boring and anti-climatic.
The last scene - the conclusion - was a bit even worse... the sex part, of a 60'ish vigorous man and his 38th where she even asks him if she can keep up with him. Oh my.. He is like the Ronaldo of bed... sex.

IT's boring, predictable like other thrillers. I didn't enjoy it overall. It's like that movie you see when you are 12 in a saturday afternoon and no NET exists... (probably youngers don't understand this but this happen a lot..) 3/10

Book Review: Blackout (Tim Curran)

Not the best work by Curran. Again, like Worm I expect a not so happy ending and Tim Curran deceived me. Rather ambiguous.

There were several characters and we follow on in particular as he is searching for his wife. One by one they died.

What it didn't click for me was the pace (quite fast -but at the same time it seems nothing happen and it was going nowhere). At the same time, it was the characters themselves. He tried to make them different but unfortunately they felt rather flat (but with a 90 page novella - what could you expect).

Then it was the plot itself, they escape going house to house, then they were swallowed and then the enemy was defeated. Not good at all.

Book Review: Songs of a Dead Dreamer (Thomas Ligotti)

 Maybe I am not erudite enough but I could not enjoy this more than I enjoy Teatro Grotesco or My Work is still not done.

This tales range for some terrifying to others that are conventional. One thing is for sure he sure can write eloquently.

The frolic was an interesting tale.. One of the most interesting things was that I didn't know what "Frolic" meant after all I am not a english native. So I search and learn and the

day after I am watching a TV series and there you go... the word frolic.

"Dream of Manikin" was very enjoyable to read although just for the title I discover the all story.
Another of my favourite were "The Nyctalops Trilogy". All stories different yet very interesting.

But the best one was something that was meant to be a thesis (?) but also work as a horror story entitled as "Notes on the Writing of Horror: A Story".

This is not the same level as Teatro but bear in mind that this was among the first stories he wrote so there's that.

Book Review: Between two Fires (Christopher Buehlman)

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't enjoy as much as other people it seems.
First of all it's flagged as horror but it is really not. It's not horror. Maybe Dark Fantasy? If I had to make a genre it's a pseudo-historical fantasy.

This is set in the hundred years war where the black plague was striking mixing with war between angels vs demons (interestingly it's almost the same vibe as Time of Legends: Joan of Arc. True be told that was the main reason I start reading the novel. I had the novel but never really got the time and availability to read it. Then I back the game and so it was a pretext. I started reading in January of 2018 and finish August of 2020. (Almost as the same time to deliver the kickstarter haha). Sorry for the joke... true and sad.

In this novel we follow Thomas (a knight) which founds a young girl who says that all this plague and war is part of something more divinal. They soon depart and met a priest and together go to fulfil the girl dream (delirium). Most of the novel it's about this journey - very reminiscent of Joan D' Arc).

This novel it's easy to read but at times the pace, scenario, talk change so much that was hard to say without a doubt what was real or not. Sincerely at times was confusing.

In terms of story and landscape the author really know how to create atmosphere. The plot could have been more elaborated and I believe they've spent much time on the travel and less on the final confrontation. There were times I asked myself why x or y character did the thing they did.

The travels at times, remind me of deadly sins , I could name it at least 4 but probably the remaining I wasn't paying attention. I will not read it again (so much books to read). Maybe in several decades. I will not dispose of the book that for sure.

With all mysticism and angels vs demons we really didn't get the conclusion I hoped. I hope more epic conclusion but alas...

All in all, it was a enjoyable read, the scenes are truly good, the characters have flaws and still we root for them. As I said, my mine gripe was the flow of the tale.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Hickory Dickory Dock (Agatha Christie) Poirot

I must say that, as previous Agatha Christies novels I am not enjoying that much. Again, Poirot is almost absent only appearing just for the sake of it. This all mystery was interesting. A post ww2 story where global world is opening up. We've got ourselves a home where all sort of people live, american, french, indians, africans and English of course.

The mystery itself was not really interesting. So, several stuff are missing from the house and Poirot learns from it after his secretary makes a mistake writing a letter. One thing goes to another and Poirot goes investigate that (boring?).

A murder happens a day later and another one a couple of days after. But from that moment on, Poirot is almost absent only appearing to "solve" the case. Nothing that the inspector and residents couldn't figure it out themselves.

One interesting stuff is the mentality of residents. You've got several people with different background and in that regard Agatha can really shine. Even one boy/man that openly criticizes the way Poirot works as... "The old Way" - It seems he was wrong.

Also the women behave different comparing with the girls written in the 20's or 30's. It seems the times are changing... I will continue because even the worst Christie novel is not the worst book I've read. So maybe this 2 stars will equal a 3 stars novel I read sometime. Regarding those authors I read the much I compare between them. I also do that with 40K or Fantasy novels. I can compare between them.

5 star rating has that problem. A 10 would be better but alas, that's what we have.

Book Review: The Devil Next Door (Tim Curran)

 

Tim curran is one of the most disgusting, demonic, perverted, tabooless you can imagine - and I like him. I've read 5 novels by him and not all are the same vein. Some are more horror-lovecraftian thing and then others are just - "See how perverted, disgusted humans can be" -> Biohazard had some pretty awful images.

This one is identical in some ways. Humans are disgusting and capable of the most unimaginable things. One might say that yeah Nazi were awful but were they the worst? Probably not. There are a lot of awful ways to kill people and the Inquisition really put that working. There are other more sadistic ways if you want to imagine and all of them someone tried before. So, yeah nazis killed millions but in the same war the Japanese were way worst - the tests they did were very disgusting. Okay , probably a topic for another day.

We are talking about this one.

-> If you hate or are disgusted reading about rape, don't read this novel.
-> If you hate or are disgusted reading about fecces, don't read this novel.
-> If you hate or are disgusted reading about blood, don't read this novel.
-> If you hate or are disgusted reading about incest, cannibalism, juvenile porn, infanticide - yeah don't read this novel.
-> IF this don't upset you - well, first of all, you may go some specialist because something is wrong with you :)

Now, what I am saying is that each page is filled with something of the above. The story goes from page one to the last really fast forward even if the story takes place in 24/48h spam.

In this story we follow two main characters Macy (an underage girl) and Louis a 30/40 year old guy. Then each other chapter we follow a different character just to enrich our tale of story and a global vision (only local).

As I said it's very graphic, gore and exploitation. If you got arouse in some scenes- probably you are not alone - don't worry :)

I am going to put some scenes - I am going to put in spoilers but not because they are spoilers but somewhat graphic.

." She did not see him or the hands that pressed him down on her, but she felt his penis as it slid along her inner thigh like an engorged snake, pushing higher and higher, sliding into her as she shuddered and kicked and called out the name of the only man she thought would protect her..."

"She squatted by te boy's head, running fingers along the inside of his skull, getting the last bits of buttery-soft gray matter that had been missed. Like her sister, she was naked, streaked with grime and and filth from head to toe, her flesh cicatrized in patterns of welts and rising scars 

Another interesting point is the all Killer Ape theory the writer here talks about

- Love is a romanticized adaption of the breeding / brooding impulse

- Materialism is simply an expression of the animal instinct to covet

- Nationalism our flag-waving patriotism, nothing more than the ancient animal drive to maintain and defend a territory and war nothing but an overblown, exaggeration of territorial impulse to raid, kill to take what belongs to another and make it your own.

Why everything happend we don't know. It's never truly explain the meaning and reason for all. Some theories and such.

Book Review: 13th Legion (Gav Thorpe) Last Chancers 1 - Black Library

 

I've read this book and I enjoy it.

If you've read Sven Hassell or Leo Kessler then you know you are going on a treat.

In this story we follow in the first perspective of Lt Kage of the 13th Penal Legion of the Last Chancers.

First of all let me tell you that the book it's a compilation of several short stories plus one novella.

You can easily read one short story and then another without losing much - although the novella (the last story) I supposed it must be read with the conjunction you've read all other stories because there are some instances they talk about them.

So, this is a penal legion that goes from warzone to warzone, killing the enemies of mankind and being killed. In each story we get to know about Kage, Schaeffer (The colonel and the only one who is not a prisioner) and plus a dozen other characters. Some are just background to be killed while others we get to know a little better and transition from story to story.

It's very interesting to see Kage struggle between a sadistic boss and keeping all penal legionnaires in rein. It's also interesting to see Kage struggle to try to escape, while doing his duty and trying to amend his own sins.

Penal Legions were used in WW2 either by Germans and Russians. They are cannon fodder and forlorn hope. They exist to die and redeem themselves in the name of the Emperor (in the novel - not reality). It was also interesting some political debates - even in the last story - when they are invading a citadel full of heretics and the heretics thing the Imperium surrounding their city are the heretics and Kage, Schaeffer and a Inquisitor debate the meaning of "traitor" and so on.

The only part I didn't enjoy was the epilogue. I understand the reason - after all Gav Thorpe had to write more stories BUT it wasn't that well executed.

As a grimdark fanboy I would give this a try as I said to anyone who enjoys novels focus on war and action. I would like to add that this is a good entry point for 40K because it doesn't dwell on lore.

I will read the next two in the couple of months ahead.

TV Series Review: 3% - Brazilian Thriller TV Series

First of all I would like to add that I just finish the fourth season. So basically I ended the show. If they even try to make a fifth season I will not watch it (edit: the fourth will be the last season).

This show is a bit odd. It began in an interesting foot and fell all communist by the end.

So lets begin with the first season. Basically all young teens of 20 years would go into the process to have a chance to be part of an elite - the 3% and go to a place called Maralto. That place supposedly is a perfect green place whereas the remaining area of Brazil is called Continente and it's a desert wasteland.

First of all - nothing is given in the first season to the fourth what happened to the rest of the world. Is everything a wasteland? We don't know. Which part of Brazil is desert? All except Maralto? We don't know. Basically it's a city in the mainland (Continente) and island (Maralto) - Maralto is Portuguese for HighSea.

Second, how Continente survives? Nothing exists, all desert wasteland - unfortunately there isn't much info on this.

So, as I said, the first season was good. First we've got those youngsters trials and how they deal with the challenges. Some crack, some changed for good, some didn't change at all. It was really interesting. What I learn is that this was a Meritocracy kind of system. The good go to the island and the bad... remain in provery. Some of these contestants are infiltrators from something called the Cause. They want to disrupt and destroy the Maralto.

The second season our infiltrator Michelle went to Maralto and starts embracing that place. She is also searching for her brother. Three other characters come to high importance called Joana & Fernando plus Rafael (all main characters of the first season). Rafael was also a infiltrator but we never learn in 1 season ( this is what I recalled). The two other were rejected and are recruited to that Cause (Causa). By the end of season 2 Michelle learns that everything is not what is seems and Maralto never began by being like that and even that Maralto had a bomb exploded in the Continente and fry everything electronic provoking the chaos. This was 100 years prior.

In the third season, Michelle have left the maralto and funded a safe-haven called Concha were everyone is welcome. Fernando died (did the main character want to leave?) and Joana goes there to see how can Concha help in the struggle of Maralto. After a sandstorm and saboatege a concha can't support so many people so she.... makes a selection! She was tottally against going against it but she did it anyway... Is this a preview of evil people turning against themselves?

The fourth season Maralto & Concha want to make truce  but the new leader of Maralto (Michelle brother) but they hall have hidden agendas. Maralto wants Concha to be a puppet of Maralto and Concha leaders want to destroy Maralto has Maralto destroyed the Continente. 

Spoiler Warning...

It ends with Michelle and her brother dead. It ends with Maralto and Concha being destroyed and all living in proverty BUT as they say - they are free and will leave together. So communism prevail over meritocracy and fascism (later) but they all leave in poor conditions. No longer 0% has a chance to be better because, if you don't have goals why run? If you don't have objectives why move?

This is absurd to the point where I cannot even phantom understand what was the purposse. They were going one way and then chance because Bolsonaro mayhaps? I notice the changes in politics in the 3 season. 

Of course there are lesbians, trans, and even the founding couple was not a couple but a trio. All of these only happened after season 3 (end of 2) 

I don't care about these things to be honest. What I care is a story. After 33 episodes of 45m each I wanted more and they failed. The second, third and fourth season could have been make in half the episodes because a new plot arises identical of the last and the effect "I was from the cause all along" or something like that it's boring, predictable and makes you wonder if they really wanted to make a 2,3 or 4 season.

Veredict

Is it good? Only the first season. You don't need the remaining seasons.
Is it important to the genre? It's important that it was a Brazilian show. They can really try. It
Is it woke? No it is not. Maybe in couple of instances but it's not. The third & fourth season is blantanly a communist propaganda. Let us be all equal - Poor but are free and going to die eventually.

Most characters are boring and change all the time their opinions. Marco Álvares(Rafael Lozano) was probably my favorite character - or even her mother. Everyone else was boring, gutless and make poor choices.  Joana was the worst.

Should you watch it?

If you are brazilian you should. One of the greastest series you've made and avaiable to all world. Should you expect something different from a Telenovela? No. It's a telenovela in tv series format. 

Book Review: The Hollow (Agatha Christie)

 

Here it is an interesting tale of Poirot. First of all, Poirot is in from page 100 or so.

(If you watch the tv series it's a bit different but they followed the script most of time...)

Lady Lucy is a really interesting character. She is what I think a noblewoman was in the the turn of the century. Without any purpose and everything that was out of ordinary excited her... She was throughout the novel quite happy and content to see someone died.

Gerda Christow is a dedicated wife, although Christie goes to great tales to tell us she is very stupid and dumb - I wonder why Christie did that. Maybe she didn't like those kind of women - subvert to men.

Henrietta is the girl on the block - independent and artistic. Here is the kind of girl that Mr Christie really appreciates - she went great lengths for her.

Edward is the nobleman that lives from his family gains. David is the new communist kind of thing against the empire (although we never see him much... interesting in the tv series he doesn't even appear). Mauge is odd girl... the substitute girl.

The butler, cooks and housemistress are what you think of them. Either talkative and know it all or quite feudal.

All in all it was a solid novel. A good explanation, not the most lengthy but interesting characters. They were the fruit of the 40's.

Anime Review: Japan Sinks (2020)

Here we go... So another netflix anime that could have been great but its sucks. Woke

a) So the main characters (2 of them at least) are POC - Probably a requirement for funding the anime. It's not the first and will not be the last - but it's the first I can remember that it's the main character.

b) Man are of course animals.

In terms of animation is bad to be honest. Specially the action scenes.

This all show was really bad.

Book Review - Commissar (Andy Hoare) Black Library

 

After reading this novel in only 3 days I don't think this was a very solid read.

First of all it went the same way other Commissar novels go. We expect them to be brutal and here we have a character that thinks he is hard when he must but overall he didn't even had to execute anyone.

Most of characters besides Flint, Kohlz (which to me felt like Jurgen) and Vahn all other characters were poorly developed.

I thought this would give more insight on Vostroyan, Penal Facilities or even on Penal Legion and it gave nothing at all. The only thing I learn is that Vostroyan mentality reminds me of Chinese from the 3 Century or so. So, even if he is a criminal just because he is your more "important" cousin in hierarchy of your family you can't do anything? Bah

The all colonel stuff and history was smelled a thousand leagues away.
The ending was a bit fast and unfortunately I didn't get the all "the convicts that fought for you are going to fight under the commissar" in just one line or so. Bah...

All in all, not that good. Sorry. Both fifteen Hours and Deathworld are way better.