Alex Hurst Reads

I was so excited when I got this book in the mail. I loved [b:Libriomancer|12844699|Libriomancer (Magic Ex Libris, #1)|Jim C. Hines|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1318277038s/12844699.jpg|17995680] so much that I pre-ordered this one. It's the first time I've ever felt such anticipation for a new release.

[b:Codex Born|15824178|Codex Born (Magic Ex Libris, #2)|Jim C. Hines|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348840241s/15824178.jpg|21554984] gets right into the thick of it pretty quickly. The reader is spared long passages of recap, which is refreshing for a fantasy series. This book focuses more on the character Lena Greenwood, which I found really enjoyable. Lena is a strong, positive female character that is frankly just entertaining to read. I liked the passages written in her POV at the beginning of every chapter, even if the ultimate reason for their being there is a bit anti-climatic.

I liked that [a:Jim C. Hines|172490|Jim C. Hines|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1348840639p2/172490.jpg] was able to bring us back into the world of libriomancy in a new, exciting way. The pacing is quite similar to the first book in the series; quick, with very little wasted time, though I think the conflict wasn't really as interesting as in the first book. There was a lot of build-up in the this book, and the last book, regarding the 'ghosts' and their personal hatred towards Isaac. I kept expecting it to be answered, and it wasn't, really.

All the same, I liked a lot of the new characters that were introduced, particularly Jeff the werewolf and Guan Feng. There were a lot of other satellite characters which I imagine will be called upon in further books, but lent to a bit of 'character soup' in the narrative--I kept forgetting names towards the end.

***POSSIBLE SPOILER BELOW***

The book has a very strong finish, which made me waver on my rating; I really wanted to give it five stars.... but ultimately the confusion over the antagonists' motives, and especially those motives with Isaac in particular (he seems to be bullied by big baddies for very little reason, left me wanting. The villain for this arc, Harrison, is unbelievably powerful for a man that only had a year to learn how to wield his magic, and create all of the monsters from the scrapyard.

It has been a long time since I sat down to a book that sucked me as fully into its universe as Libriomancer. Jim C. Hines's funny, action-packed fantasy was one hell of a rollercoaster. I couldn't put it down!

Isaac was an extremely likeable character, and the story was so enriched by his narration, and thoughts. Hines has an amazing ability to balance dialogue, plot and background information in a compelling and fast-paced way. From page one you are thrust on an adventure that doesn't end until the very last word. I can't wait to read the next volume of this series.

My only minor complaint would unfortunately raise spoilers for other readers, but in the long-run, this is a book that I could read again, and probably enjoy even more on the second run. Libriomancer's clever use of book pop-culture added so many wonderful layers to the text that I think readers of any genre can find something to enjoy.

I think one of my favorite parts of the fantasy were the clear limitations, and effects, of the magic-- the confines that forced the characters to confront conflict only with what they had, not a secret "ultimate power" that undermines the danger. When dealing with a type of sorcery that can make anything written real, I think the limitations helped keep the whole story believable, engaging, and fun.

A fantastic book from a fantastic author!

Think zombies are the bad guys? Think again.

In this intensely dark and disturbing web of tales by Don Miskel, readers are transported to a world where a zombie outbreak, fueled by a Middle-Eastern terrorist organization, wreaks havoc across the United States.

That is, until 'Madame President' decides that the dead are an asset to the economy.

Zombies, re-purposed as mindless slaves and whores, change the game for people of all classes, sparking a deep societal riff which threatens to corrupt, and destroy, the very nature of humanity.

"Dead Assets" is a set of three tales told within the same, disturbing and rancid world. I'm not a fan of the zombie genre, but Don Miskel managed to keep me hooked until the end with excellently written prose, dialog and a compelling conflict. For those that do love zombies, this book has a lot of appeal, with vivid and visceral depictions of Those That Should Stay Buried. Even though the book contained a lot of subject matter I'm not comfortable with (particularly the gratuitous violence), it is handled powerfully and critically, forcing the reader to think. "Dead Assets" isn't just a thrill ride--it's a treatise on the darker sides of society and the soul.

There were a few elements that sort of killed my suspension-of-disbelief (regarding the nature of the virus and the portrayal of several of the women), but overall, this was a quick and fun read. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

Eleanor always wanted a simple life; to remain on her small farm, with her loving husband and her dog. But war changes people, changes lives, and at the heart of it, 'A Woman Scarred' talks of two women, Eleanor and the Duchess Aliya, and how their world shifts in the wake of destruction and greed.

G T Lines puts a new twist on the genre of Sword & Sorcery by placing a female protagonist as the lead role of the champion, without leaning on the crutches of the genre's stereotypical damsel or mage. Eleanor is a real woman, with strengths and faults, who is merely attempting to survive in a war where she must fight for the side that had always been the enemy, with few surrounding her who trust her. Her idealism is tested, her moral fortitude bent, and her ability to cope stretched to its absolute limits. I had great respect for Eleanor throughout the book, and she never lost it.

On the other side, we have Aliya, the Duchess, ruined in mind and ravaged by war. Disfigured and raped by the evil men of an empire that slaughtered her daughters and butchered her people, Aliya is driven by her need for vengeance. She was an amazing character.

Actually, all of the characters were amazing. It was hard for me to pick out my favorite character at the end--I felt I'd come to know them all through the book, and while the ending was great (leaving just enough to be desired, but offering the closure I needed), I found myself sad, knowing I would hear no further adventures of Eleanor, Pencastle, Taff or Callum.

'A Woman Scarred' comes fully loaded with intense character relationships, multiple (and often at-odds) motives, lizard people, floating ships, epic battles and disastrous losses. Not a moment spent in the book is wasted. G T Lines has created a masterpiece of fantasy, which, while not redefining the genre, does give it much needed heart.

I first read the Shadow Spinner series in its multiple parts and am so happy to see them collected, for the first time, in a volume. Aside from making the story much more affordable, there is also more to read, and the bonus story "Like an Axe Through Bone", by Bryan Pedas, was absolutely amazing.

Review for TIBERIUS: (4 stars)

I picked up Shadow Spinner for the pure novelty of a serialized story, but I was really impressed by the way Andrew Leon uses his words to make the story jump off the page. 'Tib', as the author affectionately refers to him, feels very genuine. Leon nails the voice of a scared teenager and I found myself pulled into and sympathizing with all of Tiberius's childhood fears.

However, the collected arc of stories does not have any sort of driving plot or conclusion of an arc. Rather, you can think of the first volume as a primer--perhaps an introduction to the characters of the universe. The writing is very crisp and the characters are fleshed out reasonably.

The Author's Note in the original version of this story explained that an (I think) important scene in Part Three was skipped because the information is actually available in the prequel 'The Evil That Men Do'. Due to this, there might be confusion for new readers to the series.

I'm curious about Tib and his willful ignorance to the happenings he is observing but not recognizing in his life, and feel for the mother who he is ostracizing.

Review for LIKE AN AXE THROUGH BONE (5 Stars)

I absolutely loved this short story, though it didn't feel so short (it takes up 62% of the file). Bryan Pedas' story was moving and concise. I was able to instantly connect with the main character and even the satellite characters felt real. I loved the concept and execution of the tale as well. There was literally nothing I found at fault with it. "Like an Axe Through Bone" gave "Shadow Spinner: Tiberius" a lot more meat as a collection, and is definitely worth a read. I also love the idea of having bonus stories from other authors at the end of the book. I will be sure to check out Pedas's work!

I just picked up this book about an hour ago and can't believe it's already over!

Granted, it only includes eight stories and a very short poem (constructed on a dare). This was my first time picking up anything by Carrie Cuinn and I must say I was very impressed by her simplistic style which can still portray so much. The stories included in the anthology show a great range of ability and talent in multiple genres, though my personal favorites were 'Mrs. Henderson's Cemetary Dance' and 'Call Center Blues'. I think the only story I was lukewarm on was 'Monsters, Monsters, Everywhere', even though the story has much to offer in how it was told.

The anthology claims to be much about women and the 'constructs' society and culture create to replace them, and for the most part, this is true––I felt that theme a great deal while reading, but fair trigger warning for the casual reader: parental incest, necrophilia and perceived pedophilia are all included in this anthology. Nothing ever explicitly graphic, but it's there.

When I first picked up Crossline, I was expecting a fun, fast-paced lark of a time-travel adventure story. What I was not expecting was an unbelievably rich cacophony of characters, a deeply intricate plot, and some of the wittiest, realistic dialogue I’ve read in a long while. The sheer magnitude of crafting this story must have taken just blows me away––and that doesn’t happen often.

CrosslineThe story starts quite simply: enter Marcus Powell, pilot of the new and highly anticipated Crossline spaceship, which is capable of warp speed. He has a wife, a daughter, and a bright future ahead of him as the world’s newest Neil Armstrong, paving a new path for mankind and space exploration. But he gets giddy and reckless, and does one space jump too many. Falls into a wormhole, into a mirror dimension of our own universe. And then, he has to find a way to get back. This is the story at its simplest.

However, it is the how and the why that really brings the story to life. Colchamiro’s cast of over twenty characters fill the pages with humanity, in its ugliest and most beautiful forms. The author’s use of the past, present and future is seamless (except for a minor thing that bugged me throughout the whole book in terms of formatting– the first page says “Present Day” and at no point, later in the book, is time denoted in a heading again… small point, I know. But I kept expecting it.) Almost everything in the book had purpose––meaning to the whole. I found I really liked most of the characters, even when I knew I shouldn’t. One of the most powerful moments in the book (which I won’t spoil) is so heart-rendering that I knew then I wanted to give this book five stars. I’m very happy I can finish the book, giving it what I wanted to.

The story has high re-readability, which is really important to me, and the ending is in keeping with the rest of the book. Some of it was a little overplayed (too neat), some of the characters seemed like they could have been cut, but overall, this was a stellar read and is definitely worth a look. Hardcore science fiction fans should be aware that Crossline straddles the line between science and spirituality sometimes, and both of the spiritual characters, at times, are pretty stereotypical, but these things can all be forgiven, I think, because of the overall quality of the book.

Perhaps, if I had to sum it up — Crossline lingers once finished. The characters, and all that they’ve gone through, stick with you, and that, if nothing else, is the mark of a story well-written. Excellent read.

I rate this for the other authors, not my own work. Some truly awesome stories in this volume. I particularly liked 'Fran's Monster' by Kari Milburn, 'Runaway Muse' by Renee' La Viness and 'This Old Man' by Earl Chessher during my second read. Of course, there are none that I dislike, though that might have had something to do with skipping my own (what was I thinking!)

Cars & Girls from the Pankhearst Collective is a wild one-night stand, complete with all of the dark histories, troubled minds and stone-cold resolves of women broken or scorned. There are four stories included in the collection, and while it's hard to pick a favorite, I think in the end I would go with Road Runner, despite some pretty explicit and dark material that made my skin crawl uncomfortably.

I really enjoyed the story of 500, as it felt the most classical of the collection, with the others leaning more towards the more grungy, 'devil may care' noir fiction style of recent years. I really enjoyed all of the stories, however dark they tred. The other offerings include Barracuda, the story of some southern sisters who stand up for each other, and Crown Victoria, which I can't really describe without giving anything away.

Over all, it is a very strong collection, and the authors have styles that compliment each other to a 'T' (At times, it felt like they were all written by the same person, but it could have just been the repetition of themes.) All of the stories are told in first person, and are written very well this way, so my compliments to all of the authors.

There were a few times where the stories got a bit too explicit for my tastes, but on the whole, the women felt real, and for the most part, their motives and actions were solid.

Trigger warnings for the stories: rape (3 of 4), incest (2 of 4), light BDSM (1 of 4).

It might have been the translation, but this short story felt a bit flat in prose, despite the struggle between the characters. A very interesting short story that challenges our expectations of ourselves and others, the feelings of acceptance in periods of crisis and unusual circumstance, and the taking for granted things which we once recognized as important to be gracious for. All in all, a very thought-provoking read.

This little novel was surprisingly good. I loved the narrative voice, and the story was absolutely riveting. There were a few typos and formatting errors in the Kindle version, but these could be forgiven for the compelling content within. The story of Mary, and her journey from English prisons to Botany Bay (Sydney, when it was a penal colony) and then back again are one of the best examples of human survival in conditions where nature and men are intent on returning you to the bottom.

I was really grateful for the authors' choice in making the more dark elements subtle. The story is written in a diary format but it well-researched. I highly recommend this read to anyone, even people who don't tend to like nonfiction-- it reads like one! Mary's life was an amazing one.

Having followed Aymaran Shadow's teasers across Facebook, I was really looking forward to getting a chance to read it. Hemanth Gorur did not disappoint.

I was immediately blown away by the author's sophisticated use of the language to truly build a narrative around the story. And what a story to tell. The story gets much of his historical roots from the Spanish Conquest, and the rape and murder of a Aymaran woman in 1781. The story uses that history to embellish the narrative. Readers should be aware that some of the overriding themes in the story are rape and loss of dignity, and these are visited rather frequently.

The characters are deeply embellished, making them feel real; very well thought out. The author's effortless use of multiple languages makes the world feel real and the reader can gain a sense of actually being in many different locations around the world. The settings were masterfully described. I loved almost all of the dialog and the use of social media and texts to drive the suspense of the plot along.

One of the hardest tests a book goes through when I am a reader is during the climax and conclusion. I am usually mildly to severely disappointed by the way books end, but for Aymaran Shadow, I have no complaints, at all. It was an impactful, gripping conclusion to a story that never lost a moment of suspense. I was left with a feeling like the story really had ended, but the satisfaction of the ending lingered pleasantly. An excellent read!

We're getting back to the descriptions that first hooked me in Chapter 1. Tib's fears and feelings in the dark are wonderfully detailed. Excellent segment.

50% Story, 50% Author's Note

Funnily enough, I was just thinking as I read the last few chapters that the author's notes were getting longer, and in this chapter, Mr. Leon addresses why he makes them. A nice story. However, I think there should be some kind of notice that the story I am downloading is not, in fact, 11 pages, but 5.5, with a 5.5 page note and list to other works. (My opinion, but not the reason I gave it three stars.)

In this chapter, the POV switches to Tib's father, which would have been interesting, except I felt like it was still Tib. The thoughts, the personality-- there was no real difference. I suppose he didn't feel like an authentic voice. It also had sort of a 90s cartoon 'You'll never catch me!' tone, so fell a little flat on the suspense of the prior chapter. The story is still intriguing, but I'd like to see it polished a bit more.

The age range for this book is a bit unclear, as it is definitely a middle-grade (3rd-5th) voice, but the content might be a bit dark for some YA readers. However, as an adult, I can happily say I enjoyed this chapter.

I was so happy to see that this section was longer than the others and the story picked up steam again. The new cover is compelling and lends suspense to the events of the chapter. I am excited to keep on reading! Definitely one of my favorite chapters so far!