Book Review - The Drop: Harry Bosch, Book 15 by Michael Connelly

I've become a bit addicted to Michael Connelly's writing and the world of Harry Bosch. I just wish I could get into the TV series on Amazon Prime.

The Drop by Michael Connelly is a crime in the Harry Bosch series. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Story and Writing. The story was incredible. I couldn't put it down. The book contains two different cases that don't directly interact. Normally this is a turn off for me, but somehow the author managed to move from one to the other without losing any steam or interest.

Twists. This novel actually surprised me with where it went. I thought the story was over a couple of times, but it kept going, and I wasn't sure where the author wanted to go and why. But after reading the twists I saw why and was glad.

Variety. One case is a cold murder while the second was a possible suicide. Even though both involved a dead body, they were very different, the investigations went in different directions, and the fallout from both were very different.

The Bad

Main Character. The main character still isn't that interesting. He's kind of a jerk, he's not that clever, and I still have a hard time rooting for him.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

Hmmmm.

Overall

The Drop by Michael Connelly was the best Harry Bosch book yet. The story really grabbed my attention and took turns I didn't see coming, but ones that made sense and didn't feel like a cheat. I give this book 5 out of 5 eReaders.

     

Book Review - Fight and Flight, Magic 2.0 Book 4 by Scott Meyer

I've been reading this series since it debuted and have enjoyed every installment. Somehow the author has found a way to bring something new to the saga without changing the basic premise or any of the things that make the stories so much fun. When I reached the fourth book, I read a lot of negative reviews about this story, so I hesitated to pick it up. Would it be an epic fail like so many readers had reported?

Fight and Flight, Magic 2.0 Book 4 by Scott Meyer is a satirical, comedic, science fiction fantasy. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Premise & Execution. The author has a really clever premise--there is a text file that dictates the makeup of the universe, and altering that file alters reality. People that find the file end up going back to Camelot and pretending to be wizards. The author has also done a masterful job of executing the premise. It's fun, it's clever, it's enjoyable. And four books later, the author hasn't spoiled the stories nor repeated himself.

Characters. The characters are so enjoyable and so likable. They are well developed and while they grow and learn things, they stay basically the same so the stories never drift from what we like.

Narration. The narrator does a brilliant job giving each character a unique voice and reading the stories in the appropriate tone of voice. He's as responsible for the success of the series as the author.

The Bad

Content. This story was as long as others, but very little happened. The story is about dragons. I think the author could have spent a little more time thinking up cool thinks to do with them.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish more had happened.

Overall

Fight and Flight, Magic 2.0 Book 4 by Scott Meyer continues a fun, clever series with lots of pop culture references and video game like adventures. The author has managed to once again bring something new to the saga without changing the basic premise or any of the things that make the stories so much fun, something. The story does not feel like a remake or version of any of the previous stories while still retaining everything about them that made them so much fun. This one didn't have quite as much story or adventure as previous stories. I give this book 4 out of 5 eReaders.

   

Book Review - Year Zero by Rob Reid

I love satirical science fiction stories, but there have been so many written, it's hard to find one that feels fresh and new and clever. Hard, but not impossible.

Year Zero by Rob Reid is a satirical, comedic, science fiction legal thriller. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Writing. The writing is good clean prose that moves at a great pace that never rushes the story nor feels sluggish.

Concept and Execution. The idea of using copyright and music file sharing as the basis of a space opera-type story was one I hadn't heard before. It was a good, original idea that the author executed brilliantly.

Characters. The characters, the alien species, the galactic organization were all well thought out, interesting, and well developed. I cared what happened to everyone, how the problem would be solved, and how that would affect all parties involved.

Alien Technology. One of the fun things about science fiction and space operas is the opportunity to invent new alien technology. Coming up with something believable, likely, and interesting is a challenge these days, but the technology introduced int his book fit all three criteria.

Social Commentary. Of course there is a healthy dose of social commentary. This is a hard balancing act to present something clever, witty, but not mean spirited or two political. Other than claiming the moon landing was faked (seriously, if you're dumb enough to believe it was faked you're not smart enough to get the jokes), the author did a good job making insightful comments on everything from copyright law, penalties for music sharing, to Windows.

The Bad

Narration. The narration was good, but it wasn't great. It was a little too dry for this story.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish they would have better explained why North Korea was left out.

Overall

Year Zero by Rob Reid is a clever, witty, legal thriller about copyright laws and music piracy disguised as a science fiction book. It is well written, well paced, and contains interesting characters and an interesting galaxy with its own peculiar set of laws and customs. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

    

Book Review: Paradox Bound by Peter Clines

The first book I ever read by Peter Clines was really good, and the next one blew me away. I kept reading more and more by this author until I got to his Ex-Heroes series that was so awful I didn't dare read anything more from this author. This book had been in my wish list for a long time, before I decided to give it a chance.

Paradox Bound is an time travel mystery adventure. It is available as an eBook, audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Characters. The characters were so distinct, well developed, and likable, even those that appeared briefly.

Original Take on Time Travel. I love time travel, but most of the time it's the same half dozen stories being retold. This was a fresh and clever take on the idea that I've never seen done before. And yet it makes so much sense that I can't understand why I haven't seen it before.

World. The author creates a really wonderful world with clearly established rules he never breaks. Exploring the world was a lot of fun.

Twist. I never saw the twist at the end coming even though it was foreshadowed and made perfect sense.

Ray Porter. Ray Porter is a master of reading audiobooks. I buy audiobooks just because he reads them, and even mediocre ones he elevates to pretty good.

The Bad

I've got nothing

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I've got nothing.

Overall

Paradox Bound by Peter Clines is pure perfection. It is one of the best books I have ever read. The characters are all so distinct and so likable. The original take on time travel was both refreshing and clever. The twist at the end I never saw coming even though it was foreshadowed and made perfect sense. I give this series a solid 5 out of 5 eReaders.

    

    

Book Review: The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

I had recently watched Murder on the Orient Express, and so mysteries on a train were on my mind which is probably why I picked up this book. From the cover and description, it sounded more like a Hallmark or Lifetime movie, not something I usually read. But boy am I glad I did.

The Christmas Train by Chris Grabenstein is a mystery romance adventure novel appropriate for all ages and all audiences.

The Good

Characters. Every character was a unique individual and not someone I had seen before in a book or movie. Each had as much development as they needed for the story, and each was very likable.

Suspense/Peril. I was expecting some sweet, tame little read, but there was really suspense and peril throughout the book, but mostly at the end. I was actually worried there wouldn't be a happy ending.

Mystery. This book had a good mystery whose answer surprised me.

Romance. The romance wasn't overdone or felt contrived. It felt like I was readying about a real relationship between real people with real feelings and real issues.

Bonus Story. This book had a very short bonus story that was really sweet and not something I had really heard before.

The Bad

Mark Twain references. This book made several references to Mark Twain which didn't really add to the story and got kind of annoying and distracting. If they had all been left out, no one would have felt like anything was missing. I'm not sure their purpose.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

A sequel.

Overall

The Christmas Train by Chris Grabenstein was a delightful journey filled with memorable unique characters, mystery, romance, twists, peril, suspense, and a great setting. It started off a little, but what train ride doesn't. I was completely swallowed up in the story and will probably listen to it again very soon. I give this book a solid 5 out of 5 eReaders.

    

    

Book Review: The Android's Dream by John Scalzi

After reading the last John Scalzi book, Fuzzy Nation, and being extremely disappointed by it, I became very hesitant to pick up another one of his books. But this one was on sale and had a pretty blue cover, so I closed my eyes and clicked "buy".

The Android's Dream is a science fiction, space opera, political comedy written by John Scalzi. It's available as an eBook, audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

Overview

The leader of an alien world is assassinated, and citizens of Earth have to help install the next ruler by finding a certain bread of sheep. (Trust me, it's actually a great book despite the incredibly stupid premise.)

The Good

Characters. The characters are incredibly likable. Each feels very real, but not incompetent, which too many authors do. Some are more powerful or more able than any real person should be, but that's what makes science fiction fiction and fun.

Dialog. If you've ever read anything by John Scalzi, you've read this type of dialog before. He's only able to write in one voice well. But this is him at his best with that voice.

Twists. This story has a lot of twists, some I saw coming, but others I did. Yet all of them felt right and earned. None felt contrived or pulled out of left corner.

Narration. Wil Wheaton has the perfect voice for this kind of story and tells it just how it should be told.

The Bad

Names. The alien names are a little hard to remember or keep straight. They sound so similar and more like noise than deliberate sound.

Dated. You can tell this book is a decade or too old, because some of the references and details are very dated, but not dated enough to make it feel period. But it doesn't spoil the story.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wouldn't have done anything differently.

Overall

The Android's Dream by John Scalzi is an exciting, hilarious, twist-filled ride with interesting characters and a very satisfying ending that ties everything up but doesn't make it seem too easy or too neat. I give it 5 out of 5 eReaders.

     

Book Review: The Spaceship Next Door by Gene Doucette

I've read and watched so much science fiction, that I sometimes find myself getting bored with the genre. It's always nice to find a fresh take on an old troupe.

The Spaceship Next Door is a science fiction dry comedy about first contact with aliens written by Gene Doucette. It's available as an eBook, audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

Overview

A spaceship lands in a small town and does nothing for years while the army and several conspiracy theorists camp around it studying it. Then one day everything changes.

The Good

Approach. This story is about aliens landing on Earth for the first time. That's a premise I've seen hundreds of times, but the author found a unique approach that was different enough to be interesting and not feel repetitive.

Voice. The story has a very strong voice that adds to the mood and feel and point of view of the story.

The Bad

Characters. The characters were really dull and uninteresting. The author did a competent job of developing them, so that wasn't the problem. They just weren't that interesting.

Pacing. The book moves very slowly with an even pace. Most of the book is spent with the characters wondering what is going on with little revealed until the end. By then the reader just doesn't care anymore.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish the story had more to it: more interesting characters, more twists in the plot, more original ideas. While the overall idea was something I hadn't read yet, it wasn't a strong enough idea to be the sole strong point.

Overall

The Spaceship Next Door by Gene Doucette offers a new spin to the First Contact Troupe of science fiction and has a great, quaint voice with lots of dry humor. Unfortunately, the characters are uninteresting, the pace slow, and the overall plot kind of boring. I give it 3 out of 5 eReaders.

   

Book Review: Replay by Ken Grimwood

I'm a big fan of time travel stories, but find myself disappointed that every story has been done at least four dozen times and there are no new twists or takes on the genre. Then I read Replay.

Replay is a character-driven romantic drama written by Ken Grimwood. It's available as an audiobook and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

Overview

Jeff dies of a heart attack. Then he wakes up in his younger self decades in the past with the chance to live his life again with all of his previous knowledge. And he takes full advantage of it and even finds out he isn't the only one.

The Good

A New Take on Time Travel. I was really surprised to find a new take on time travel. While it isn't radically different or original, it's different enough that it felt fresh and new and I didn't know exactly what was going to happen.

Characters. The characters felt very real and developed. I felt like I was reading about actual people going thru actual experiences in a biography. It's rare an author can write characters that aren't obvious versions of himself.

Ending. The ending wasn't a huge shock or twist, but it wasn't what I was expecting. And it added a really nice close to the story.

The Bad

Melancholy. The only minor quibble I have with this story is at times is got a little too melancholy with the characters spending too much time moping.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish the author had revealed how the characters were able to relive their lives. It wasn't necessary to the story, but inquiring minds want to know.

Overall

Replay by Ken Grimwood is a really intriguing character-driven romance that takes a fresh approach to the time travel genre. The characters are so real it feels like reading a biography at times. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.