Review: Slave Queen

Slave Queen by H.B. Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Normally, I don't care for two intertwining stories. It's usually makes the story flow all jerky and hard to follow. But this one is rather intriguing. Reader beware, there are zero transitions. Zero flow from one to the other so it is definitely stop/start reading and most of the time jarring. Yet, the stories are compelling. You can't help but turn the pages, and then you think about it all wondering what to do like you are in the story. That hasn't happened to me in a very long time!

Wonderful writing. Superior character development. You can feel the dry heat, smell the dust, hear the harem sounds, and get a glimpse into ancient Turkey. The research is superior as well. All in all this is a very satisfying read.

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Review: A Time of Torment

A Time of Torment by John Connolly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first Charlie Parker book. I was lost at first, but everything fell into place sort of. After I realized there were so many before, I thought there would be no way to catch up. However, Connolly writes in such a way that draws the reader into the story with finesse and subtly. He compels you to turn the pages; you just can't help yourself. This book does have some foul language, some sexual references, and some deeply graphic violence.

Got this from Netgalley and I'm so glad I did.

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Review: Sewn with Joy

Sewn with Joy by Tricia Goyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I don't know how I missed that this was an Amish story. I don't have anything against Amish romance, but I was just not in the mood for an Amish romance. The trouble I had with this novel wasn't that I wasn't in the mood for it, though. The writing was very good, the story line was intriguing, and faith played an important role throughout the story. But since it was the 3rd book in a series, I had a terrible time trying to catch up. That's the trouble with a series. How does one write it without double tracking and backing up all the time? So.. I was lost. I couldn't do a review justice without all the background from the first 2 books.

Got this from Netgalley.

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Review: Forsaken Skies

Forsaken Skies by D. Nolan Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love Sci-Fi! Love it. This offering is along the lines of fantasy more than science, but still is a good offering.

If the author and editor would remove about 200 pages, this would be an excellent offering rather than just good.

I like the idea of getting to know Lanoe and the other characters through their actions and their thoughts, but with no transitions between head hopping, it makes for disjointed and rather jerky prose instead of a smooth flow.

This is a good story, with good writing, and an empathetic outlook for a lonely planet on the edge of nowhere. One thing that is not brought out is the danger to civilized space. The blase' reaction to a planet's invasion is not believable. Especially because of the mining operation on the planet and possible precious ore on another planet in the system. So there are some problems with this novel that do not allow complete satisfaction with the whole.

Each character is well developed, even the minor characters have some depth to them, which is a bit unusual. However, for this book, perhaps there are too many character viewpoints. To move the story along, an author should keep story flow in mind rather than bogging down in way too much backstory. I think that's why this story is too long. Another thing is that the build-up to the climax is way too long. Because the engineer is such a minor character, the whole "romance" thing between her and another character is unnecessary and a story blocker. It's like Clark threw in this "interlude" just to have some sex-spice to the story. We already know this other character is a rat... why over emphasize that?

For some reason, sci-fi and fantasy authors have a tendency to put too much backstory in (myself included) to develop characters. It is a bit overwhelming to readers, and a great deal of work that is unnecessary for authors.

All in all, though, this is a good story. Great space battles that are very easily followed. Complex, but not unfathomable as described, and that is hard for an author to achieve! Intriguing end. Overall it gets 4 stars from me. Especially because I'm hungry for good space operas!

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