Patrick Moore
A fitting conclusion for Wax and Wayne, that will be better on a reread. There are some cosmere characters and references that I did not quite get at first, and while I get a good easter egg, having it detract from the story to figure out, or having it essential for the story is a bit annoying. (I thought I had read everything I needed to before this, but missed a couple of short stories/novellas).
That being said, I love Wax and Wayne as characters, and their develop of their relationship over four books as friends, detectives, and ultimately defenders of the realm have been quite a ride.
Mistborn Era 2's strength is it characters.
Mistborn Era 3 has a high bar set for it, as it does the rest of the cosmere. This universe is amazingly special with unique places, themes, and characters.
4.25 STARS
A fitting conclusion for Wax and Wayne, that will be better on a reread. There are some cosmere characters and references that I did not quite get at first, and while I get a good easter egg, having it detract from the story to figure out, or having it essential for the story is a bit annoying. (I thought I had read everything I needed to before this, but missed a couple of short stories/novellas).
That being said, I love Wax and Wayne as characters, and their develop of their relationship over four books as friends, detectives, and ultimately defenders of the realm have been quite a ride.
Mistborn Era 2's strength is it characters.
Mistborn Era 3 has a high bar set for it, as it does the rest of the cosmere. This universe is amazingly special with unique places, themes, and characters.
4.25 STARS
Sci-Fi Noir with a gumshoe that kicks a** and a great cast of characters. Few twists and turns, and world that is gray, futuristic, but reads like it is a 40's Noir film.
Loved it. Did the audiobook and the narrator gave a fantastic performance. Would love to see this continue as a series, not sure if it will or not (GR is is listing it as Titanium Noir #1, so I guess we will see).
4.5 STARS
Sci-Fi Noir with a gumshoe that kicks a** and a great cast of characters. Few twists and turns, and world that is gray, futuristic, but reads like it is a 40's Noir film.
Loved it. Did the audiobook and the narrator gave a fantastic performance. Would love to see this continue as a series, not sure if it will or not (GR is is listing it as Titanium Noir #1, so I guess we will see).
4.5 STARS
I am not sure what to think of this one. I liked it, but I felt the story wandered from the main characters, and a lot of the book seemed to be side quests, and it took a long way to basically setup the final book.
New characters were okay, but felt too much time was spent with them and not with the main characters of the first book, which are the main characters of the series.
Plot was a bit convoluted and confusing, but overall I am hoping this book will look better in hindsight once the conclusion to the series is releases.
3.75 STARS
I am not sure what to think of this one. I liked it, but I felt the story wandered from the main characters, and a lot of the book seemed to be side quests, and it took a long way to basically setup the final book.
New characters were okay, but felt too much time was spent with them and not with the main characters of the first book, which are the main characters of the series.
Plot was a bit convoluted and confusing, but overall I am hoping this book will look better in hindsight once the conclusion to the series is releases.
3.75 STARS
I devoured this book....consumed it in a day.
A fantastic mystery in a fantasy world. Writing style reminded greatly of The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan, which was a very similar book and one that I also devoured and absolutely love.
Ana, our eccentric detective, is two parts Nero Wolfe and one part Sherlock Holmes, and is fantastic. Kol, her assistant, is smart and competent, and I expected his character to grow in future books.
Their relationship is fantastic. World Building is A+. And the mystery slaps, as the kids say now days.
This is absolutely among my top reads of the year so far and I look forward to reading the next installment. This was the first book by Robert Jackson Bennett that I have read, and clearly I need to read more of his work.
5 STARS
I devoured this book....consumed it in a day.
A fantastic mystery in a fantasy world. Writing style reminded greatly of The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan, which was a very similar book and one that I also devoured and absolutely love.
Ana, our eccentric detective, is two parts Nero Wolfe and one part Sherlock Holmes, and is fantastic. Kol, her assistant, is smart and competent, and I expected his character to grow in future books.
Their relationship is fantastic. World Building is A+. And the mystery slaps, as the kids say now days.
This is absolutely among my top reads of the year so far and I look forward to reading the next installment. This was the first book by Robert Jackson Bennett that I have read, and clearly I need to read more of his work.
5 STARS
Updated a reading goal:
Read 50 books by December 31, 2024
Progress so far: 25 / 50 50%
While this seems to be the least popular of the Secret Projects, I rather quite enjoyed it. A simple story, with a bit of humor, satire, and the typical worldbuilding one would expect from Brando Sando. This is not a great epic--and it was not meant to be. It is a pleasant casual read that mixes a bit of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.
4.5 Stars
While this seems to be the least popular of the Secret Projects, I rather quite enjoyed it. A simple story, with a bit of humor, satire, and the typical worldbuilding one would expect from Brando Sando. This is not a great epic--and it was not meant to be. It is a pleasant casual read that mixes a bit of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.
4.5 Stars
Dracul
Well written and a suitable prequel to the classic.
The change of perspective for Part III was a bit jarring, I felt it would have worked better if it had been told in the journal/flashback style of the rest of the book.
Overall a very fine horror novel, and if you are into the Dracula legend at all, it is a very worthy read.
4 STARS
Well written and a suitable prequel to the classic.
The change of perspective for Part III was a bit jarring, I felt it would have worked better if it had been told in the journal/flashback style of the rest of the book.
Overall a very fine horror novel, and if you are into the Dracula legend at all, it is a very worthy read.
4 STARS
To quote Mike's Book Reviews....This book slaps.
I will take it to another level....This book f****ing slaps.
Epic in scope, violent and gory to the core, characters that feel and make you feel...and just a touch of divine magice mixed in.
This is how vampire stories should be written....and who knew that the best evil vampires in all of fantasy spoke like Frenchmen? :)
5 Stars and I cannot wait for Book 3.
To quote Mike's Book Reviews....This book slaps.
I will take it to another level....This book f****ing slaps.
Epic in scope, violent and gory to the core, characters that feel and make you feel...and just a touch of divine magice mixed in.
This is how vampire stories should be written....and who knew that the best evil vampires in all of fantasy spoke like Frenchmen? :)
5 Stars and I cannot wait for Book 3.
I really like Wax and Wayne.
A lot of folks don't like Era 2 as much, and I think it is because expectations are for it to be similar to Era 1 (I love Era 1). I went in expecting these novels to be different in scope, characters, and tone. I did expect the foundations of Sanderson's storytelling to remain the same, and in that aspect, this novel delivered.
Part multi layered quest, part Indiana Jones, this was a rollicking adventure that starts hot and never lets up. Looking forward to finishing Era 2.
5 STARS
I really like Wax and Wayne.
A lot of folks don't like Era 2 as much, and I think it is because expectations are for it to be similar to Era 1 (I love Era 1). I went in expecting these novels to be different in scope, characters, and tone. I did expect the foundations of Sanderson's storytelling to remain the same, and in that aspect, this novel delivered.
Part multi layered quest, part Indiana Jones, this was a rollicking adventure that starts hot and never lets up. Looking forward to finishing Era 2.
5 STARS
One of the earlier Cosmere works--published after Elantris and Mistborn. Takes its time with the setup and character development, and while I enjoy those things and don't mind the slow burn, this one was starting to push on my limits--but the plot got moving just in time, and once it did, it was a roller coaster ride to the typical Brando Sando fantastic ending. Sequels to this appear to be on the back burner, but I do hope we see these characters, and this part of the Cosmere again someday.
4.35 STARS
One of the earlier Cosmere works--published after Elantris and Mistborn. Takes its time with the setup and character development, and while I enjoy those things and don't mind the slow burn, this one was starting to push on my limits--but the plot got moving just in time, and once it did, it was a roller coaster ride to the typical Brando Sando fantastic ending. Sequels to this appear to be on the back burner, but I do hope we see these characters, and this part of the Cosmere again someday.
4.35 STARS
I am a self admitted Brando Sando fan...to me his works are like pizza--even when they are not the best, they are still really good!
I love the idea of a fantasy setting advancing over time, and not staying stuck in its initial era. Here we have fantasy, but in 300 years we have added technology, societal advancement, etc....and it makes the world seem much more real.
Era 2 I can tell already is gonna to be less epic than Era 1...which is good. It is not resting on the laurels of its predecessors, but finding its own path. It's mixture of the Wild West and Steampunk makes for a very entertaining story, with plenty of action. The mystery helps drive the plot, and the worldbuilding and characters are second to none, as usual.
Wayne kinda annoyed me at first, and it took a bit for the chemistry between him and Wax to click, but by the end of the book I could not see a story without them both, they seem two halves to a whole.
All in all, I really liked this. It is different than Era 1, and it gives me a different sense of satisifaction and enjoyment, and that is a good thing.
4.5 Stars
I am a self admitted Brando Sando fan...to me his works are like pizza--even when they are not the best, they are still really good!
I love the idea of a fantasy setting advancing over time, and not staying stuck in its initial era. Here we have fantasy, but in 300 years we have added technology, societal advancement, etc....and it makes the world seem much more real.
Era 2 I can tell already is gonna to be less epic than Era 1...which is good. It is not resting on the laurels of its predecessors, but finding its own path. It's mixture of the Wild West and Steampunk makes for a very entertaining story, with plenty of action. The mystery helps drive the plot, and the worldbuilding and characters are second to none, as usual.
Wayne kinda annoyed me at first, and it took a bit for the chemistry between him and Wax to click, but by the end of the book I could not see a story without them both, they seem two halves to a whole.
All in all, I really liked this. It is different than Era 1, and it gives me a different sense of satisifaction and enjoyment, and that is a good thing.
4.5 Stars
Best of Era 2 so far....Part mystery, part magic, part Wayne trading for stuff.
This one feels much more a part of the Mistborn universe than the Alloy of Law. Alloy of Law had parts that reminded you, but this book felt more Mistborn--felt more connected to Era 1. I am not going to say anymore to avoid spoilers...and that ending was fantastic. I flew through this one.
4.75 STARS
Best of Era 2 so far....Part mystery, part magic, part Wayne trading for stuff.
This one feels much more a part of the Mistborn universe than the Alloy of Law. Alloy of Law had parts that reminded you, but this book felt more Mistborn--felt more connected to Era 1. I am not going to say anymore to avoid spoilers...and that ending was fantastic. I flew through this one.
4.75 STARS
