Book Review: Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

Shades of Grey series Book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am steel reeling, I do not think I have ever read a book like it, and I will need some time to digest and ponder before I could begin any kind of review, is just so new, and different. at this point I can only point to this review and comment by Patrick Rothfuss


Book Quotes:
“You see? I know where every single book used to be in the library.' She pointed to the shelf opposite. 'Over there was Catch-22, which was a hugely popular fishing book and one of a series, I believe.”
― Jasper Fforde, Shades of Grey
“Her areas of expertise are bar codes, book titles and maps - she has an original Parker Brothers map of the world.” ― Jasper Fforde, Shades of Grey

Links:
Jasper Fforde
Shades Of Grey Book Site

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Book Review: Trapped book 5 of The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne

Trapped by Kevin Hearne

Book 5 of The Iron Druid Chronicles 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kevin Hearne continues to impress me with this series, the books continue to get better and Trapped is full of adventure, humor, and world building more akin to epic fantasy than urban fantasy!

Authors site: Kevin Hearne

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Book Review: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood & Starlight  by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 2

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and Laini Taylor does not disappoint in this second book in the series. From the characters to the story arc, this is a solid urban fantasy.

For the few things that bothered me while I was reading it I had to remind myself that this is a YA book, in all other ways it is not a typical YA, with a fully developed magic system, and solid world building, along with strong characters.

The main female character is strong and believable, the romance is part of her but does not truly define her.

Links:
Read my review of Book 1, Daughter of Smoke & Bone here.
Laini Taylor

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Book Review: The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Though the The Emperor's Soul is set in the same world as Elantris, it is a stand alone story, and requires no knowledge of his worlds.
This short Novella is brilliantly done, and an example of how versatile Sanderson's writing is, and how he continues to push the boundaries and will continue to be one of the authors that takes fantasy to new levels.

Having read all of his other books, in some ways it felt odd to have such a small book, without the in-depth world building, but Sanderson still manages to fill his world with a fascinating and unique magic system, interesting characters, and a unique world.

Picking up a book for a new author can be risky and daunting when many of Sanderson's books run between 500 and 1000 pages. The Emperor's Soul is a fantastic book to introduce any new readers to Sanderson's worlds and writing.

The main character Shai, is not heroic in the same vein as many fantasies, but this unique take on creativity and art as an heroic trait is brilliant and has such a great new feel to it.

Though the story is fully complex and complete, I did wish, not for more of this story but for the more all-encompassing look into this creativity concept, that a 1000 page book would have had. The length of the book also limited this to a single point of view, which worked well for this book, but in some ways is a tease, since the other characters were still so interesting you want to know them better.


Links:
Brandon Sanderson

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Book Review: The Old Genie Hottabych by Lazar Lagin

The Old Genie Hottabych by Lazar Lagin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Full of Communist teachings and propaganda using a well known fairy tale. This is an amusing modern Russian Fairy Tale from the 1950's, propaganda and all. A Humorous twist on the traditional Genie in the lamp tale, appearing in communist Russia.
Reading this translation of the Russian children's book today is both eye-opening and amusing.

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Book Review: The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution & Future of the Human Animal by Jared Diamond

The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution & Future of the Human Animal by Jared Diamond

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Once again Jared Diamond tells a fascinating tale of the Human Animal. Though many of the concepts are Guns, Germs an Steel, this is a much easier read focusing on the evolution of mankind.


Links:
Jared Diamond

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Books Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Book 1

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book because of a recommendation, At first I was unsure about this series sounding too much like a typical YA angels and paranormal romance, but this is not that, it is true urban fantasy, with a twist on myth and angels, attention to details and though romance is a theme, it is tied in with the story not the only story.

Laini Taylor

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Book Review: Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines -Book 1 of Magic Ex Libris

Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines

Series: Magic Ex Libris, Book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

New and unique, Libromancer is a great new Urban Fantasy, that had me laughing and turning pages! Magic, books, libraries and the Upper Peninsula, what more could I want in a book? Because it is set in the Upper peninsula of Michigan, I am unsure of the "urban" in the Urban Fantasy label, more like "As Far From Urban it gets Fantasy" would suit better.
Clever, comic elements do not limit or hide the strong characters, unique and well developed magical system and page turning plot!
See this review By Patrick Rothfuss, who described it much better than I can.

Links:
Jim C. Hines

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