Title: The Painted Man
Author: Peter V Brett
Publisher: Harper Voyager
This made the commute fly. For the first time in a long time, I was tempted to remain on the train all the way to the end of the line, just so I had the chance to finish this book.
Imagine a world where demons (corelings) are real. Where corelings come to life every night. And the only way to protect yourself is by drawing the correct runes. Houses are surrounded by painted runes. Travellers sleeping alongside the road lay out enclosures covered in runes.
We follow our main characters as they grow and the experiences that shape and mould them into young adulthood. From the death of our heroes mother to the spite and neglect of our heroines step mother (why is it always the stepmother), along the path of development, to their eventual meeting.
The author has given us two fully rounded characters, a cracking read, that builds and builds, and then...... ends. When I first got to the end I felt betrayed, but upon re-reading the cover (after a few choice words) suddenly realised that this is the first book in a trilogy. Alright then ...... bring on two and three.
Showing posts with label suspense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suspense. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Monday, 25 January 2010
Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
A good friend handed this book to me and said to give it a go. I did and I thouroughly enjoyed every minute. The book is aimed at teenagers, and adults who want a good solid read.
The heroine of the story, Katniss, is called to serve in the Hunger Games. This is an event where two people from each district are selected, at random, and placed in an arena covering many square miles until only one remains. The whole event is broadcast live to the 12 districts - shades of The Running Man - and fortunes are won and lost on the survival and death of contestants.
There are many philosophical questions that this book hints at and extrapolations, extreme admittedly, from the reality TV of today. You find yourself empathising with the characters and the ending, abrupt as it is, leaves you wanting the next book in this trilogy.
I give this a solid two thumbs up.
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
A good friend handed this book to me and said to give it a go. I did and I thouroughly enjoyed every minute. The book is aimed at teenagers, and adults who want a good solid read.
The heroine of the story, Katniss, is called to serve in the Hunger Games. This is an event where two people from each district are selected, at random, and placed in an arena covering many square miles until only one remains. The whole event is broadcast live to the 12 districts - shades of The Running Man - and fortunes are won and lost on the survival and death of contestants.
There are many philosophical questions that this book hints at and extrapolations, extreme admittedly, from the reality TV of today. You find yourself empathising with the characters and the ending, abrupt as it is, leaves you wanting the next book in this trilogy.
I give this a solid two thumbs up.
Monday, 20 July 2009
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
The Da Vinci Code
By: Dan Brown
From: Corgi
A cracking good read - not a total stretch or something that will go down as a future classic, just a good solid read. Mainly based on assertations made in several books, this story is the lumping together of all of these stories into one cohesive conspiracy.
This is a cliffhanger book, not fact or accuracy. There is literary licence taken, forgiveable in this case, to keep the story moving. Each chapter is designed to draw you deeper into the story making it un-put-downable.
The characters are somewhat poster-like in their two-dimensionality. The baddies are, well especially bad and you root solidly for the good guys.
The film of the same name based on this book does not do the story justice - it is accurate - it just lacks the character, if it is possible, that the book has.
By: Dan Brown
From: Corgi
A cracking good read - not a total stretch or something that will go down as a future classic, just a good solid read. Mainly based on assertations made in several books, this story is the lumping together of all of these stories into one cohesive conspiracy.
This is a cliffhanger book, not fact or accuracy. There is literary licence taken, forgiveable in this case, to keep the story moving. Each chapter is designed to draw you deeper into the story making it un-put-downable.
The characters are somewhat poster-like in their two-dimensionality. The baddies are, well especially bad and you root solidly for the good guys.
The film of the same name based on this book does not do the story justice - it is accurate - it just lacks the character, if it is possible, that the book has.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
Angels and Demons
By: Dan Brown
From: Corgi
Leave your brain behind for some pure escapism. A lot of what is portrayed in this book is just what the book is - fiction.
What Dan Brown does well is tell a story, provoke some critisism from the right places, enough to generate controversy and let publicity do the rest.
The story takes place before The Da Vinci Code and is a much darker story. A long hidden society has struck and there is a race against time to stop murder and destruction.
A cracking pace, suspense on each page, obstacles to overcome, lies and conspiracies. A tailor made combination for a blockbuster, and you are not disappointed.
I have to argue with some of the scientific claims made in this book, yes it is fiction, but it is presented in such a way as to make it seem like fact. This is a comon trick used by the author, surround a questionable fact with lots of real facts to prop it up and soon you can't see the fiction for the facts.
The parts concerning CERN concern me. If enough people now believe even half of the bad fiction printed in the book, then years of scientific endeavour are all for naught. Not only is it bad writing, it is dangerous to present fiction as fact without clarifying what is and isn't possible.
I consider myself intelligent and had to check some of the facts to see if they were possible or had even taken or would be taking place.
Still, all in all a good holiday read.
By: Dan Brown
From: Corgi
Leave your brain behind for some pure escapism. A lot of what is portrayed in this book is just what the book is - fiction.
What Dan Brown does well is tell a story, provoke some critisism from the right places, enough to generate controversy and let publicity do the rest.
The story takes place before The Da Vinci Code and is a much darker story. A long hidden society has struck and there is a race against time to stop murder and destruction.
A cracking pace, suspense on each page, obstacles to overcome, lies and conspiracies. A tailor made combination for a blockbuster, and you are not disappointed.
I have to argue with some of the scientific claims made in this book, yes it is fiction, but it is presented in such a way as to make it seem like fact. This is a comon trick used by the author, surround a questionable fact with lots of real facts to prop it up and soon you can't see the fiction for the facts.
The parts concerning CERN concern me. If enough people now believe even half of the bad fiction printed in the book, then years of scientific endeavour are all for naught. Not only is it bad writing, it is dangerous to present fiction as fact without clarifying what is and isn't possible.
I consider myself intelligent and had to check some of the facts to see if they were possible or had even taken or would be taking place.
Still, all in all a good holiday read.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Strangers - Dean Koontz
Strangers
By: Dean Koontz
From: Headline Features
Like all Dean Koontz books the characters are cut straight from a mould and pasted in to the story. That said, this story is actually quite entertaining, if implausible.
It is longer than most of his other books and draws you in. You find yourself still reading, long after you should be tucked up in bed.
The story is based on the idea that a group of people spread across America have strange nightmares, phobias and memories and gather in a motel where they all feel something happened. No-one can really decide if they should be scared or happy as it is different for each of them.
What happens next is definitely surprising, if a little contrived.
I give this a solid four out of five
By: Dean Koontz
From: Headline Features
Like all Dean Koontz books the characters are cut straight from a mould and pasted in to the story. That said, this story is actually quite entertaining, if implausible.
It is longer than most of his other books and draws you in. You find yourself still reading, long after you should be tucked up in bed.
The story is based on the idea that a group of people spread across America have strange nightmares, phobias and memories and gather in a motel where they all feel something happened. No-one can really decide if they should be scared or happy as it is different for each of them.
What happens next is definitely surprising, if a little contrived.
I give this a solid four out of five
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Firestarter - Stephen King
Firestarter
By: Stephen King
From: Futura
A father and daughter are on the run from a shadowy governmental organisation that wants to lock them up like lab-rats, at best or, take them apart to see how they work at worst.
The father can 'push' people he meets into doing things. A kind of mental persuasion that drains him each time he uses it, while his daughter can start fires with her mind. And this has the government, read three letter acronyms, excited.
The back story, reveals how this family came to be, and is believable for the thinking of the time. The story is well researched, laid out and hangs together coherently. Which is surprising seeing as the author, by his own admission, was not always 'sober' at this time.
This must be one of the most overlooked of Stephen King's books. The story stays on track, you empathise with the characters and the story draws you in.
One of the few five out of five ratings from me.
By: Stephen King
From: Futura
A father and daughter are on the run from a shadowy governmental organisation that wants to lock them up like lab-rats, at best or, take them apart to see how they work at worst.
The father can 'push' people he meets into doing things. A kind of mental persuasion that drains him each time he uses it, while his daughter can start fires with her mind. And this has the government, read three letter acronyms, excited.
The back story, reveals how this family came to be, and is believable for the thinking of the time. The story is well researched, laid out and hangs together coherently. Which is surprising seeing as the author, by his own admission, was not always 'sober' at this time.
This must be one of the most overlooked of Stephen King's books. The story stays on track, you empathise with the characters and the story draws you in.
One of the few five out of five ratings from me.
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