Patrick Moore
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
A worthy end to the trilogy. I found myself tied to these characters, and the plot was a epic rollercoaster--the coming of the apocolypse and the saving of mankind....the magic of the world transforming into a horror. This book leans more into some horror elements than the other two, and more so than most fantasy I have read in a long time. But it works, and it works on a level that made this trilogy unique and epic.
I look forward to more works from Richard Swan, and he has secured a place on my must read author list.
4.5 STARS
A longer novella, this gives us an inside glance as to the consequences of the end of Ashes of Man.
Not going to dive in too deep due to spoilers, but this was a satisfying novella (300 page on my kindle, so a good length!)
Five stars....Sun Eater rocks and everyone should read as much of it as you can.
This one is interesting.....HP is not even mentioned until page 100....and he does not even interview so much as a witness. He solves the case very much in the Nero Wolfe style--I wonder if Agatha Christie was writing it in that style just to prove she could?
Very enjoyable story, and as always, Hercule Poirot is brillant!
5 Stars.
Starts off slow and muddles about a bit. The twists and reveals at the end ring a bit hollow, but the execution of Poirot putting together the pieces and confronting the murderer is flawless as always.
3.75 Stars.
The first Hecule Poirot mystery....story written in 1916!
Over 100 years old, and it is perhaps the best debut novel ever written. Poirot is in peak form from the get go.
Classic mystery, and the prose and plot hold up today, a century later!
5 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
I love me some good Noir, and this short story parody hit the spot.
Loved the lingo, loved the setting of a 40's detective out of his time and the story was quick and to the point.
Would love to see this character fleshed out and turned into a more full length mystery.
Amazing...simply amazing.
The characters, the plot, the prose.....the cooking (if ya know, ya know).
Ken Liu has created a masterpiece--3 epic volumes, with one last volume to go.
I have no idea how this is going to end, only that it is going to be epic.
Do yourself a favor and read this series--you will not regret it.
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
More supernatural than mystery. I thinking the ending was supposed to be a plot twist or creepy....but it did not do much except maybe setup a sequel.
Average. Quick read. I have two more Sherlock Holmes by the same author...if they were not such quick reads I would probably skip them, but I got them from the library so I will probably go ahead and give them a quick read.
Just goes to show that nothing is as good as the original.
Started a bit slow, and the time jumps threw me out of the story a bit, but once it got rolling, it read like a classic Hercule Poirot novel–all of the suspects in one place, with the lies, twists and turns a good mystery provides.
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
About the same as Ninth House. Decent story, good magic systems and rules, and despite a slow start it picked up and finished fast.
Classic Hercule Poirot. If you know, you know!
5 Stars. Perhaps the greatest literary detective of them all.
A quick read, and a good mystery with a twist or two. The time shifting was well done, and over all the story flows well, with interesting characters and a plot that is seems to be a bit far fetched for real life, but fits perfectly well in a murder mystery universe.
4 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
A little bit of Shogun, a little bit of mystery in ancient Japan. Very quick read. Will have to read other books in the series.!
5 Stars.
Wow....Just wow. Ken Liu follows up his masterpiece Grace of Kings with a sequel worthy of masterpiece status. This book has it all–politcs, religion, action, drama, betrayal...the depth of his characters is amazing Two more books to go in this series, and if the quality stays at this level, it will be one of the all time greats.
Very fascinating twist on dystopian fiction. Good characters, interesting twists, and it makes you think.
4.25 stars.
Excellent story. Plot twists. A bit Dark Academia, a bit of a rebellion against an Empire, this story has some familiar tropes–but the execution is flawless and the prose,plot, and characters are excellent. I look forward to continueing the series.
4.75 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
Different from her other works, but a nice well written novella that was good, quick read.