Tag Archives: book

The Most Exciting Book I’ve Read This Year

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There are books that you read and move on from and never think of again. Then there are books that grab on to you and refuse to let you go. Red Rising by Pierce Brown won’t let go of me.
Red Rising has been the most exciting book I’ve read so far this year, and quite possibly will remain as such as 2014 progresses! The lead character speaks with such a strong voice that you’re drawn into his world completely and truly experience everything as he does.
Imagine toiling your life away in slave like conditions deep within a mine never to see the light of day, the only promise the future holds for you is an early death. But you work. You slave away because you and your people are the pioneers of humanity! You’re slaving away in the deep mines of Mars to help make it habitable so that humanity can escape a dying earth. Your life is miserable but you hold on because you’re fighting for the future if humanity.
Then imagine all of that is a lie. Humanity conquered Mars generations ago. Your people are slaving away not for a better future but so that your masters can enjoy their lives.
That is where Red Rising starts. From there you’ll find the book impossible to set down as it combines action, adventure, romance, philosophy, war, politics, and espionage all into what might stand as one of the most exciting books I’ve enjoyed in a long time.
Very much looking forward to the sequel as well as any other stories that Pierce Brown writes.

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My Wife Starts Her Summer Reading List With Odd Girl Out

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My wife (who works full time as a High School Teacher) is starting off her Summer Reading List with Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons. It explores the hidden culture of aggression in girls and my wife is hoping to gain a better understanding and ability to help girls who are struggling with anger and aggression. I’m really looking forward to her thoughts on this book and will be posting her review once she finishes reading the book!

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Time Enough For Classic SciFi

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Robert Heinlein is an incredible author. His work still communicates now years after his passing. Often controversial but never boring. Somehow I neglected to read The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress. I don’t know how this happened, but I decided to correct that mistake this past week. I’m now a third of the way through it (courtesy of my local library! Support your local libraries!) and I’m loving it. The speech patterns of his characters draw you right into the story and hold you tight. Looking forward to seeing where this goes from here!

Charleston’s Ghosts Come Out To Play In Deadly Curiosities

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Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z Martin Published by Solaris Books
Release Date: 06/25/2014

Let me start by saying this book was awesome! Very engrossing right from the start! I’ve enjoyed every Gail Z Martin book I’ve read and Deadly Curiosities is no exception to this!

Cassidy (the protagonist) owns a very interesting antique shop in historic Charleston, South Carolina. I couldn’t be happier with the respect the author handle one of my favorite cities here in the South. Charleston is beautiful and she brings the city and its ghosts to life!

The antique store Cassidy runs is actually a front for her true business: that of identifying and eliminating dangerous supernatural objects with the help of her business partner Sorren: an ancient vampire.

The author peoples the book with interesting characters that she breathes life into. The care Gail Z Martin puts into even bringing animals to life (Cassidy’s dog Baxter is a show stealer!) causes this story to leap off the page and pull you in. She sets the perfect emotional stage for this Urban Fantasy with ghosts and shadows that appear just beyond your range of vision, and heroes that you want to be friends with.

RedStarReviews highly recommends this and all books by Gail Z Martin! There’s magic within her writing to bring stories to life and cause you to be pulled into those stories so deeply that you don’t notice time passing you by. Deadly Curiosities is well worth your time and I can’t wait for another chapter in this new series!

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Shooting At Myths: Fiefdom by Dan Abnett and Nik Vincent

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“Me, I was just shooting at myths.”

With these words near the opening of the book the story magically takes shape within your mind and you are hooked. The characters immediately bring you into their brutal kill or be killed world, and make you desire to belong to their singsong speaking pack.

The Aux, a bioengineered fighting force, are humanity’s last answer against THEM: a ruthless alien force attacking the Earth. The war was brought to a standstill due to the new Ice Age brought on by the devastation. During this Ice Age the Aux have allowed their enemies to become myths to laugh at.

But a few Aux know the myths are true….

I truly enjoyed this book! The singsong language of the Aux causes you to truly see the world through their eyes and engages you directly into the story. The pacing keeps you breathlessly turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a book I happily recommend and look forward to more by the authors! As the Aux would say:
This tale is a good tale truer and true.

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RedStarReviews: Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z Martin

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As I posted my first ever advanced book review I discovered I was approved for another one, and this book has me really excited!

Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z Martin (Scheduled for publication 06/25/2014) is an Urban Fantasy set in one of my favorite of cities: Charleston, South Carolina.

Gail Z Martin has already established herself as an incredible fantasy author and is well known for the realistic worlds and systems of magic she creates. Now she brings that talent to play in one of the most historic cities in my country.

Charleston has seen its share of history (both good and bad) in its time and it is the sort of city that attracts all kinds of interesting souls: living, dead, and undead. Deadly Curiosities follows Cassidy Kincaide and her 500 year old business partner Soren, who happens to be a Vampire, as they try to protect the city against forces dark, unknown, and ancient.

I’m truly looking forward to reading this story and sharing my thoughts on it! Honored to have been selected to review this before it is released. Gail Z Martin is an enjoyable writer so I know I’m in for a great read!

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Approved For Our First Advanced Review: Fiefdom by Dan Abnett

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RedStarReviews was just approved for our first ever ARC book to review! Very excited about this opportunity and excited to see this grow from a love for sharing books with other book lovers! Thank you for being a part of this dream!

The book is Fiefdom by Dan Abnett of Warhammer fame! It’s off to a engaging start and looks to be a very enjoyable read! It is a SciFi book set during a future Ice Age on Earth after years of war between alien invaders and the mutated warriors humanity created for our protection.
Looking forward to diving into this and reviewing it for everyone as soon as possible!

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A Compelling Voice: Prince Of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

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Prince Of Thorns is Mark Lawrence’s first book of the Broken Empire Series.

Prince Jorg is a vicious man in a vicious world. He ceased being a boy when he survived a brutal attack on those himself & on those he loved. Twisted by those dark events he pursues his vengeance upon the whole world.

What is left of his humanity is a tortured and scarred thing, but that grants him such a compelling and powerful voice with which to tell his tale.

A well written an enjoyable story that leaves me looking forward to the next in the series.

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Consider Phelbas by Iain M Banks

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How have I neglected this author’s work for so long! Great start to The Culture Series. Well written SciFi from the 80’s that translates well through the decades. This book will be a good read a hundred years from now. The characters are well thought out and very human and the story has a realistic “anything can happen” feel to it.

The author manages to capture something very true to the human spirit within this work. Something many authors try to do and fail. This story will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book.

Well worth your time to read!

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Red Rising by Pierce Brown

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Easter Morning Reading: Red Rising by Pierce Brown.

Imagine slaving away on a colony on Mars, living and dying underground in an attempt to colonize the planet for future generations. Now imagine you find out it is all a lie and Mars was terraformed generations ago. Imagine your whole existence as a colonist is actually a lie to keep you as a slave for the ruling class who live above ground enjoying the spoils of your labor…

Just started the book and the writing grabs your attention and pulls you right into the protagonist’s life. Off to a promising start! Hoping for a good read!

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