Sunday, which means more of my recommended books to order(after you've ordered my own of course). Going for 5 again tonight, with a reposting of my reviews for the 4 I reviewed during yesterday's Review-a-thon.
"Cancel the Ark" by Nicholas James West: Opening with a wonderful imagining of prehistory, Nicholas' writing immediately hooks you. From this opening scene we are taken to a future with which the past we have just witnessed is about to catch up in a most perilous manner. With well written characters and an excellent pace, this story never lets the hook release so that you remain eager to see what happens next.
"Storm of Fury" by Andrew Wood: A wonderfully immersive example of what epic fantasy should be. Whether describing the fury of a divinely created storm, the horrible nature of monsters and titans, or the love of pastries shared by a father and son who are soldiers by trade, Andrew does so in a fast paced yet highly detailed manner. It will leave you wanting to know more about what are both highly developed characters and a highly detailed world. I can't wait to read the entire book.
"Seven Shards: The Colors of Wine" by C. Brennecke: I can't help but be fascinated by the world presented here. The societal structure and seven cultures seem to have a depth that is only just scratched in the excerpts presented here, a fact which leaves me hungry for more. Add that to this book's diverse cast of well developed characters as well as its excellent narration, and this becomes a must read for me.
"Daughter of the Mara" by Alex Bittner: What if you were freed from a life of instutionalization only to discover that you where what many would consider to be a monster? This is the question which rolls around in my head when I read the excerpts for this book. Beyond that, I'm always excited to see little known demons/dark gods being used in new and interesting ways, which Alex does well with wonderfully horrific descriptions of the nightmares such a thing entails. I can't wait to get even more of a look into the mind of Jay, and find out just where her fate is taking her.
"Captain" by Artie Sievers: Immersion at its finest. To me the hardest of the 5 senses to make a reader experience is smell, but Artie shows with his opening that he is capable of even that. I now feel that I have actually walked amid the bustle and stench that was a port in Hook's time. Add to that his superb characterization and you have another addition to my own must read list.
Unless my count is off you have until 1/10 to order Cancel the Ark, 1/16 for Storm of Fury, 1/23 for Seven Shards: The Colors of Wine, 1/30 for Daughter of the Mara, and 2/3 for Captain. Don't wait until the last minute for any project you're interested in though.
Thanks for your time, and hopefully I can figure out what I plan to post on my blog by Tuesday. Enjoy your week, only one more update before we're officially at holiday time.
