This volume continues the story begun until in the first book of a post-apocalyptic word, where what used to beSecond volume, not as good as the first
This volume continues the story begun until in the first book of a post-apocalyptic word, where what used to be science is now considered magic, and is closely controlled, to avoid those who control the magic from again destroying the world.
In this volume, a young wizard displaces his mentor, and assumes control of magic in the town. While he is initially able to use his power to protect the town from bandits, things quickly begin to spiral out of control.
Several of the story lines from the first volume virtually disappear (the princess, which I assumed would be central to the story, barely is developed as a character at all); and their is a weird undefined "evil force" which appears.
But despite these very real weaknesses, there is enough narrative tension to keep the reader interested. Don't think I'll be continuing with this series (assuming more get written).
Merged review:
Second volume, not as good as the first
This volume continues the story begun until in the first book of a post-apocalyptic word, where what used to be science is now considered magic, and is closely controlled, to avoid those who control the magic from again destroying the world.
In this volume, a young wizard displaces his mentor, and assumes control of magic in the town. While he is initially able to use his power to protect the town from bandits, things quickly begin to spiral out of control.
Several of the story lines from the first volume virtually disappear (the princess, which I assumed would be central to the story, barely is developed as a character at all); and their is a weird undefined "evil force" which appears.
But despite these very real weaknesses, there is enough narrative tension to keep the reader interested. Don't think I'll be continuing with this series (assuming more get written)....more
Good world building; good characters; not too much magic...but clearly volume one
My feelings here are really mixed. I liked everything about this bookGood world building; good characters; not too much magic...but clearly volume one
My feelings here are really mixed. I liked everything about this book, and then it ended just as I thought it was going to get going. This is clearly a volume one to a multiparty saga. However, unlike many first volumes, it is not a complete, stand alone story. Absolutely nothing is resolved. The world is turned upside down, but there is NO resolution. I found this frustrating, bordering on fraud by the author.
Balanced against that major issue is the fCt that I REALLY liked the story. Set at an indeterminate time...probably post-apocalypse..on an earth that looks a lot like ours, with one exception: there is a class of elite knights who are part cyborg. This is presented as accomplished by magic....but there are hints that the "magic" is just forgotten science.
There are two main characters: one of the aforementioned elite Knights, who we follow from childhood on; and a top general and the King's best friend for decades. Both were well drawn in a series of flashbacks, interspersed with current happenings, alternating back and forth between the characters, until their paths cross.
But for the fake ending, this would have gotten 4 and 1/2 stars from me.
Merged review:
Good world building; good characters; not too much magic...but clearly volume one
My feelings here are really mixed. I liked everything about this book, and then it ended just as I thought it was going to get going. This is clearly a volume one to a multiparty saga. However, unlike many first volumes, it is not a complete, stand alone story. Absolutely nothing is resolved. The world is turned upside down, but there is NO resolution. I found this frustrating, bordering on fraud by the author.
Balanced against that major issue is the fCt that I REALLY liked the story. Set at an indeterminate time...probably post-apocalypse..on an earth that looks a lot like ours, with one exception: there is a class of elite knights who are part cyborg. This is presented as accomplished by magic....but there are hints that the "magic" is just forgotten science.
There are two main characters: one of the aforementioned elite Knights, who we follow from childhood on; and a top general and the King's best friend for decades. Both were well drawn in a series of flashbacks, interspersed with current happenings, alternating back and forth between the characters, until their paths cross.
But for the fake ending, this would have gotten 4 and 1/2 stars from me....more
Fascinating look at the QAnon phenomenon, but rather than focusing on its impact on politics or the country, the author keeps a laser focus on severalFascinating look at the QAnon phenomenon, but rather than focusing on its impact on politics or the country, the author keeps a laser focus on several families which were torn apart when one member went deep down the conspiracy rabbit hole. This focus is, frankly, terrifying—especially when you realize that 25% of adults in the US believe this insanity.
The book graphically examines just how deeply delusional seemingly normal, intelligent people can dive. One mother for example is a successful civil rights lawyer before getting so heavily involved that she severed ties with her three adult children ( one a lawyer and one a doctor dealing with COVID every day—yet mom was still a denier. Another case involves a civil rights community organizer, who ends up believing that George Floyd was not murdered, but was a “crisis actor.”
But this is not just a catalogue of horrors. Rather, the author uses these case studies to ask why people in this country are so susceptible to this mass delusion. The answer has to do with the profound sense of isolation people are feeling. People who have experienced trauma and are isolated are, it turns out, particularly likely to fall under the sway of QAnon. The lack of robust mental health services in many communities also contributes.
Fabulous fantasy! If you don’t like books about dragons, griffins and magic, this is not for you. But if you like action, tension, battles (real and sFabulous fantasy! If you don’t like books about dragons, griffins and magic, this is not for you. But if you like action, tension, battles (real and simulated), then this is highly recommended!
Set in an indeterminate time and place with no relationship to the present, the story begins a couple of decades after the rebellion has been defeated. The central character is a young woman who has been training as a scribe (essentially a keeper of the country’s history), but mom (second in command it appears in the army) insists she is destined to be a dragon rider. So off the dragon riders schools she is dispatched.
Many tests of character ensue, some physical, some mental, and some moral. Along the way she bonds with a dragon, learns to ride, and falls in love (or at least lust) with a third year student who has vowed to kill her!
Some sex, and lots of violence, later, she has matured from a young naive girl into a fighting woman. More than that, I won’t say to avoid any spoilers. But trust me, it’s a long book (~500 pp), but we’ll worth your while! I started this as an audio book (which is great, btw) but then my time expired and I immediately got the physical book and finished it in one sitting..then immediately checked out the sequel. Can’t wait to start it—but a couple of other books take priority in the interim...more
A fascinating history of the earth, as “written” in the rocks. Reduces geology to (mostly) non-technical explanations, avoiding (mostly) the complex LA fascinating history of the earth, as “written” in the rocks. Reduces geology to (mostly) non-technical explanations, avoiding (mostly) the complex Latin terminology, so that someone like me, with zero background in geology, can follow the story. While there are a few spots where the technical terminology escaped me, there were only a few, and they did not undermine the strength of the basic narrative.
To the extent that there is an organizing narrative, it consists of three overlapping and contrasting points: (1) The earth today follows basically the same rules as it has always followed; (2) except when it hasn’t (eg, snowball earth and the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, are the prime examples); and (3) the system is incredibly complex and interdependent, balanced in just the right way to be sustainable.
The only weakness was in the last couple of chapters, which turned away from geological time, and focused on evolution and more particularly on humans’ impact on the earth. Not that the arguments presented seemed wrong; rather, they seemed rushed and summary, covering a few thousand years in two chapters, means you can do little more than raise questions about whether we as a species are going to remain so arrogant as to think that we can usefully interfere with natural processes which have evolved over 4+ billion years....more
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