Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi - Ascension
Christie Golden
Del Rey, Aug 16 2011, $27.00
ISBN 9780345509161
Father and son Jedi Knights Luke and Ben Skywalker and Sith apprentice Vestara Khai search the galaxy for Aboleth, the most powerful practitioner of the dark force ever. The trio hunt the deadly dark force user amongst the haunting deserted planets that were once homes to the Lost Tribe of the Sith several millennia ago. What they find left behind leaves Vestara shaken while deciding her future.
On Coruscant, the removal of despotic Natasi Daala (see Vortex) has left a fight for control in which the Order of the Knights of Jedi take charge, but other forces of the Galactic Alliance distrust them due to their power grabbing misue of the Force (see Conviction). At a time when treachery and betrayal split the Galactic Alliance further while Sith undercover operatives work the schism and Daala remains a force, the Jedi try to maintain order.
The eighth Fate of the Jedi moves forward the two prime series overarching but related themes in exhilarating ways while also setting up the finish. The story line is fast-paced whether readers explore the eerie Lost Tribe of the Sith’s ghost-planets or the political intrigue on Coruscant. This is a super entry with a great twist that will shake the Force forty-three years after A New Hope Return of the Jedi.
Harriet Klausner
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Black Lung Captain-Chris Wooding
The Black Lung Captain
Chris Wooding
Spectra, Jul 26 2100, $16.00
ISBN: 9780345522504
It has been a tough year on the crew of the Ketty Jay even with their fame growing from the Retribution Falls' success and failure; much of both their victory and defeat was caused by the dysfunctional relationship between Captain Darian Frey and his former fiancée Captain Tranica Dracken of the Delirium Trigger.
After an embarrassingly failed attempt to rob an orphanage where Crake the tortured (over his niece’s death and reincarnation as a Golem) demonologist warned Frey they shoot back, the captain discusses a deal with the Storm Dog Captain Harvin Grist. Explorer Rodley Hodd found a downed aircraft filled with treasure on the dangerous isle of Kurg where killing beasts run amuck. After choking on his beer, Frey accepts the commission as he wisely assumes the lethal monsters in the hostile barrier island’s rain forest can’t be any worse than orphans who shoot at thieves.
The second Tales of the Ketty Jay pulp fantasy is a terrific quest thriller starring rogues and thieves. Backstabbing and double crossing are survival techniques. The story line continues some subplots from Retribution Falls as readers learn more about the inept crew especially Crake that cleverly tie into the prime theme of The Black Lung Captain. Ironically, all the swashbuckling on land, in the air and at sea brings plenty of exciting action; but also predictable expectations in a sort of Indiana Jones’ style. Still fans, especially those who read the opening act, will enjoy joining Frey and his motley crew on their latest adventures; just watch your back as anyone else doing so likely will stab you.
Harriet Klausner
Chris Wooding
Spectra, Jul 26 2100, $16.00
ISBN: 9780345522504
It has been a tough year on the crew of the Ketty Jay even with their fame growing from the Retribution Falls' success and failure; much of both their victory and defeat was caused by the dysfunctional relationship between Captain Darian Frey and his former fiancée Captain Tranica Dracken of the Delirium Trigger.
After an embarrassingly failed attempt to rob an orphanage where Crake the tortured (over his niece’s death and reincarnation as a Golem) demonologist warned Frey they shoot back, the captain discusses a deal with the Storm Dog Captain Harvin Grist. Explorer Rodley Hodd found a downed aircraft filled with treasure on the dangerous isle of Kurg where killing beasts run amuck. After choking on his beer, Frey accepts the commission as he wisely assumes the lethal monsters in the hostile barrier island’s rain forest can’t be any worse than orphans who shoot at thieves.
The second Tales of the Ketty Jay pulp fantasy is a terrific quest thriller starring rogues and thieves. Backstabbing and double crossing are survival techniques. The story line continues some subplots from Retribution Falls as readers learn more about the inept crew especially Crake that cleverly tie into the prime theme of The Black Lung Captain. Ironically, all the swashbuckling on land, in the air and at sea brings plenty of exciting action; but also predictable expectations in a sort of Indiana Jones’ style. Still fans, especially those who read the opening act, will enjoy joining Frey and his motley crew on their latest adventures; just watch your back as anyone else doing so likely will stab you.
Harriet Klausner
Legacy of Kings-C.S. Friedman
Legacy of Kings
C.S. Friedman
Daw, Sep 6 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9780756406936
The Wrath of the Gods has imprisoned the Souleaters who devoured the life essences of mortals; causing the empires to dissolve into barbarism. In the present, a breach in the Wrath allows these monsters to return to the world they devastated forty generations ago. However, the Souleaters learned from the errors of their ancestors so these creatures are more cunning and smarter. Nobody knew they are back except for Witch Queen Siderea Aminestas who is linked to her Souleater queen.
The Witch-Queen Siderea intends to sue the Souleaters to destroy the Magister sorcerers who also use the life essence of mortals to fuel their magic. The former monk King Salvator Aurelius senses the Souleaters have entered his High Kingdom; he gets the queen killed, but knows the queen to the south still remains a major threat to all mortals.. Former enemies form an alliance to take down Siderea and her Souleater queen.
The Magister Trilogy (see Feast of Souls and Wings of Wrath) comes to a powerful glorious climax with all the major loose ends resolved while also revealing the origin of the Magisters. The story line of the Legacy of Kings is told from various viewpoints which enable the readers to get inside the heads of the different protagonists and antagonists without slowing down the tale. Filled with many twists, series fans will be shocked and enthralled with some of the subplot endings as C.S. Friedman provides a superb quest fantasy.
Harriet Klausner
C.S. Friedman
Daw, Sep 6 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9780756406936
The Wrath of the Gods has imprisoned the Souleaters who devoured the life essences of mortals; causing the empires to dissolve into barbarism. In the present, a breach in the Wrath allows these monsters to return to the world they devastated forty generations ago. However, the Souleaters learned from the errors of their ancestors so these creatures are more cunning and smarter. Nobody knew they are back except for Witch Queen Siderea Aminestas who is linked to her Souleater queen.
The Witch-Queen Siderea intends to sue the Souleaters to destroy the Magister sorcerers who also use the life essence of mortals to fuel their magic. The former monk King Salvator Aurelius senses the Souleaters have entered his High Kingdom; he gets the queen killed, but knows the queen to the south still remains a major threat to all mortals.. Former enemies form an alliance to take down Siderea and her Souleater queen.
The Magister Trilogy (see Feast of Souls and Wings of Wrath) comes to a powerful glorious climax with all the major loose ends resolved while also revealing the origin of the Magisters. The story line of the Legacy of Kings is told from various viewpoints which enable the readers to get inside the heads of the different protagonists and antagonists without slowing down the tale. Filled with many twists, series fans will be shocked and enthralled with some of the subplot endings as C.S. Friedman provides a superb quest fantasy.
Harriet Klausner
Monday, August 1, 2011
Ghost Ship-Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Ghost Ship
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Baen, Aug 2 2011, $25.00
ISBN: 9781439134559
Theo Waitley was accepted as a student pilot at the Academy where she excels at flying but she suffers from Liadan Luck as she is the center of violent activity that is started by others. For the safety of her peers, faculty and staff, Theo is expelled from the school. She obtains work with Korval as they leave for Surebleak.
However, Theo’s Luck continues when she learns her in hiding scholarly father Jen Sar Kiladi is a deadly Korval Master Pilot and the Bechmio ancient technology on board the Arin’s Toss demands she become the ship’s captain. Theo declines until she learns her dying lover Win Ton may survive with on-board medical technology. On Tokeo the Federated Trade Commission is interested in her and her ship but Bechmio rescues her. Knowing she needs a co-pilot Theo obtains the services of Boss Clarence O’Berin who knows her father’s undead first wife. Assassins and the government want her as more frightening to Theo so does her mom.
Although newcomers will be lost in space as familiar heroes, agencies and customs are difficult to grasp for the tyro. For veterans of the Liadan Universe, Ghost Ship is a thrilling space opera adventure starring a female swashbuckling pilot who could star on Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ song Bad Luck. However, the key to this engaging entry is Bechmio who has developed a personality over the ages. Fans will enjoy the latest Balance of wrongs as the heroine remains in the eye of turbulence.
Harriet Klausner
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Baen, Aug 2 2011, $25.00
ISBN: 9781439134559
Theo Waitley was accepted as a student pilot at the Academy where she excels at flying but she suffers from Liadan Luck as she is the center of violent activity that is started by others. For the safety of her peers, faculty and staff, Theo is expelled from the school. She obtains work with Korval as they leave for Surebleak.
However, Theo’s Luck continues when she learns her in hiding scholarly father Jen Sar Kiladi is a deadly Korval Master Pilot and the Bechmio ancient technology on board the Arin’s Toss demands she become the ship’s captain. Theo declines until she learns her dying lover Win Ton may survive with on-board medical technology. On Tokeo the Federated Trade Commission is interested in her and her ship but Bechmio rescues her. Knowing she needs a co-pilot Theo obtains the services of Boss Clarence O’Berin who knows her father’s undead first wife. Assassins and the government want her as more frightening to Theo so does her mom.
Although newcomers will be lost in space as familiar heroes, agencies and customs are difficult to grasp for the tyro. For veterans of the Liadan Universe, Ghost Ship is a thrilling space opera adventure starring a female swashbuckling pilot who could star on Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ song Bad Luck. However, the key to this engaging entry is Bechmio who has developed a personality over the ages. Fans will enjoy the latest Balance of wrongs as the heroine remains in the eye of turbulence.
Harriet Klausner
Bargains and Betrayals-Shannon Delany
Bargains and Betrayals
Shannon Delany
St. Martin’s Griffin, Aug 16 2011, $9.99
ISBN: 9780312609160
To protect her boyfriend Pietr the werewolf, Jessie Gilmansen does not fight those like her father and Dr. Jones who takes her to the Pecan Place mental institution. As she ponders what to do since learning her blood is a key element in controlling lycanthropy and her lifespan s diminished because of it, Jessie realizes her present abode is a dangerous asylum.
Her ex boyfriend Derek the mind controller needs Jessie to spy on the Rusakova mob. Using his psychic skill, he makes her conduct surveillance though she tries not to do it. Meanwhile Pietr makes a desperation deal with the devil aka the Russian Mafia chief to free Jessie and his mother. He conceals what he has done because he believes his Jessie will angrily leave him. As the danger towards Jessie mounts with government and private entities wanting her blood, Pietr must complete his part of the contractual arrangement with the mob.
The latest 13 to Life young adult urban fantasy (see Secrets and Shadows) is an exciting thriller that rotates perspective with Jessie’s being the most frequent. There is a lot of violence especially against women (made more so by the age of the targeted audience) so much that the climax will have readers cheering. Fans will enjoy Jessie’s saga while wondering what comes next as seemingly Pietr like Derek before him has betrayed the heroine with the special blood that is internally and externally killing her.
Harriet Klausner
Shannon Delany
St. Martin’s Griffin, Aug 16 2011, $9.99
ISBN: 9780312609160
To protect her boyfriend Pietr the werewolf, Jessie Gilmansen does not fight those like her father and Dr. Jones who takes her to the Pecan Place mental institution. As she ponders what to do since learning her blood is a key element in controlling lycanthropy and her lifespan s diminished because of it, Jessie realizes her present abode is a dangerous asylum.
Her ex boyfriend Derek the mind controller needs Jessie to spy on the Rusakova mob. Using his psychic skill, he makes her conduct surveillance though she tries not to do it. Meanwhile Pietr makes a desperation deal with the devil aka the Russian Mafia chief to free Jessie and his mother. He conceals what he has done because he believes his Jessie will angrily leave him. As the danger towards Jessie mounts with government and private entities wanting her blood, Pietr must complete his part of the contractual arrangement with the mob.
The latest 13 to Life young adult urban fantasy (see Secrets and Shadows) is an exciting thriller that rotates perspective with Jessie’s being the most frequent. There is a lot of violence especially against women (made more so by the age of the targeted audience) so much that the climax will have readers cheering. Fans will enjoy Jessie’s saga while wondering what comes next as seemingly Pietr like Derek before him has betrayed the heroine with the special blood that is internally and externally killing her.
Harriet Klausner
Blood Spirits-Sherwood Smith
Blood Spirits
Sherwood Smith
Daw, Sep 12 2011, $24.95
ISBN: 9781101547717
A few months ago, Kim Murray left the Eastern European country Dobrenica where she left her broken heart to come home to California in order to begin moving on from her love for the nation’s leader Strattwalter Alec. Her beloved politically married her identical looking second cousin Princess Ruli (see Coronets and Steel).
Ruli’s ghost asks Kim for her help, though confused by her spirit appearing, she returns to Dobrenica though she intends to avoid Alec. With communication to the kingdom hampered by magical elements Kim has to wait until she gets to her second homeland to discover Ruli died in a car accident while Alec walked away with minor bruises. Alec blames himself because he has become an alcoholic since Kim went back to the States. He thinks he was in one of his alky blackouts when the accident occurred though the body of his missing wife has not been found. Ruli’s cousin Tony demands an investigation into the accident. Alec supports the inquiry even if it means he will die by a firing squad. Kim believes her beloved is innocent and intends to prove her assertion. She also seeks the portal from which the vampires are entering the kingdom and killing people.
The second Dobrenica Eastern Europe fantasy is a great thriller in which readers will believe the magical Brigadoon like country exists even with the reality of the paranormal and the malfunctioning of electronic gizmos. Kim and Alec spend little time together but their love is obvious. Filled with action enhanced by some amateur sleuthing and a bit of romance, sub-genre fans will enjoy swashbuckling Californian’s adventures in Dobrenica.
Harriet Klausner
Sherwood Smith
Daw, Sep 12 2011, $24.95
ISBN: 9781101547717
A few months ago, Kim Murray left the Eastern European country Dobrenica where she left her broken heart to come home to California in order to begin moving on from her love for the nation’s leader Strattwalter Alec. Her beloved politically married her identical looking second cousin Princess Ruli (see Coronets and Steel).
Ruli’s ghost asks Kim for her help, though confused by her spirit appearing, she returns to Dobrenica though she intends to avoid Alec. With communication to the kingdom hampered by magical elements Kim has to wait until she gets to her second homeland to discover Ruli died in a car accident while Alec walked away with minor bruises. Alec blames himself because he has become an alcoholic since Kim went back to the States. He thinks he was in one of his alky blackouts when the accident occurred though the body of his missing wife has not been found. Ruli’s cousin Tony demands an investigation into the accident. Alec supports the inquiry even if it means he will die by a firing squad. Kim believes her beloved is innocent and intends to prove her assertion. She also seeks the portal from which the vampires are entering the kingdom and killing people.
The second Dobrenica Eastern Europe fantasy is a great thriller in which readers will believe the magical Brigadoon like country exists even with the reality of the paranormal and the malfunctioning of electronic gizmos. Kim and Alec spend little time together but their love is obvious. Filled with action enhanced by some amateur sleuthing and a bit of romance, sub-genre fans will enjoy swashbuckling Californian’s adventures in Dobrenica.
Harriet Klausner
World of Warcraft: Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects-Christie Golden
World of Warcraft: Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects
Christie Golden
Gallery, Jul 19 2011, $26.00
ISBN: 9781416550884
The Titans imbued different Aspects of their power into the five Dragonflights with the mission to protect Azeroth. The Dragonflights worked cohesively until the Black Neltarion/Deathwing turned against his comrades and threatened the world with the Cataclysm that at Maelstrom is ripping apart Azeroth. As the shaman try to prevent the end, one of them Thrall the former Horde warchief struggles to focus on the current Cataclysm.
Ysera the Awakened Green Dragonflight is frustrated as she is unable to tell her three comrades (Malygos the Spellweaver Blue, Alexstrasza the Life Binder Red and Nozdormu the Timeless Bronze) that she envisions the final catastrophe; but is unsure of when as what she vaguely sees may be aeons in the future. She senses a special shaman so she assigns a trivial task for this Thrall to accomplish. He journeys from Maelstrom to Feralas on Kalimdo and from there on places on this island. Finally he goes on to Nexus on the island of Northrend. His seemingly insignificant trek leads Thrall to understand how the Dragonflights became distrusting of one another and a biological weapon of total extinction is being deployed by Deathwing. The life of a planet is at stake unless he can lead a counterattack.
This is a fascinating fast-paced World of Warcraft epic fantasy. The story line enables the reader to see much of the world through Thrall and learns the different skills possessed by the Dragonflights. However, the faster than the speed of light plotting impedes the character development of the Dragonflights or that of the protagonist. Still fans of the World of Warcraft will appreciate Thrall’s adventure to protect the four Dragonflights adhering to their mission in order to save Azeroth.
Harriet Klausner
Christie Golden
Gallery, Jul 19 2011, $26.00
ISBN: 9781416550884
The Titans imbued different Aspects of their power into the five Dragonflights with the mission to protect Azeroth. The Dragonflights worked cohesively until the Black Neltarion/Deathwing turned against his comrades and threatened the world with the Cataclysm that at Maelstrom is ripping apart Azeroth. As the shaman try to prevent the end, one of them Thrall the former Horde warchief struggles to focus on the current Cataclysm.
Ysera the Awakened Green Dragonflight is frustrated as she is unable to tell her three comrades (Malygos the Spellweaver Blue, Alexstrasza the Life Binder Red and Nozdormu the Timeless Bronze) that she envisions the final catastrophe; but is unsure of when as what she vaguely sees may be aeons in the future. She senses a special shaman so she assigns a trivial task for this Thrall to accomplish. He journeys from Maelstrom to Feralas on Kalimdo and from there on places on this island. Finally he goes on to Nexus on the island of Northrend. His seemingly insignificant trek leads Thrall to understand how the Dragonflights became distrusting of one another and a biological weapon of total extinction is being deployed by Deathwing. The life of a planet is at stake unless he can lead a counterattack.
This is a fascinating fast-paced World of Warcraft epic fantasy. The story line enables the reader to see much of the world through Thrall and learns the different skills possessed by the Dragonflights. However, the faster than the speed of light plotting impedes the character development of the Dragonflights or that of the protagonist. Still fans of the World of Warcraft will appreciate Thrall’s adventure to protect the four Dragonflights adhering to their mission in order to save Azeroth.
Harriet Klausner
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