Guest Review of ~ Steven Erikson – Gardens Of The Moon (Malazan Book Of The Fallen #1)

9.5/10 – Review by Holden R Johnson (The Red Heir)

“Convergence,” Tool said. “Power ever draws other power.”

Why have I waited so long to read this?
There will be spoilers in the section that discusses characters – so please tread lightly!

Gardens of the Moon, The first entry in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series is best described as a convergence. The tapestry weaved by Erikson is something I am both amazed by as a reader and envious of as a writer. I now know another level that I hope to achieve and as my friend stated recently, I may have to rethink my rating system for other books.

Review of ~ Joe Abercrombie – Before They Are Hanged (The First Law #2)

8.5/10

“We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged” – Heinrich Heine

Before They Are Hanged is Abercrombie’s second entry into the twisted and grim world of The First Law. It follows on from the three story arcs that The Blade itself stylishly led towards. Bayaz, the first of the Magi is venturing to the end of the Earth with his bizarre collection of distinctive personnel for reasons unbeknown to all apart from the Mage himself. Superior Glokta has traveled South to infiltrate the politics of an allied nation, hoping to find out what happened to his ill-fated predecessor and preparing defences for the attacks soon to be initiated by an advancing and ultimately imminent rival army. The remaining narrative intertwines the stories of the rough-living, legendary warrior group of Threetrees and the Dogman with the troubles in the North where the Union is tackling the Northern King’s great forces. Here we follow the action of “the worst-armed, worst-trained and worst-led army in the world”

Review of ~ John Gwynne – Valour (The Faithful and the Fallen #2)

9.0/10

“One thought circled in his head like the black birds swirling about the mountain peaks. They must be stopped.” – Corban

Valour carries on literally minutes after the action when Malice presented us such an amazing breathless finale. We witness the so-called Bright Star Corban; and his bizarre accumulated band of all sorts that incorporates warriors, witches, Queens and outcast woodsmen – following on from the evacuation of Dun Carreg due to the unforeseeable monstrous actions that took place, with the effects still lingering amongst the groups’ morale. It also picks up with readers favourite, Maquin awakening in the tombs underneath Haldis after the ultimate betrayal and follows him overcoming his tragic loss, knowing that his main ambition is now ultimate revenge.

Review of ~ Eddie Owens – Millie Hardiman and The Red Parrot Fever

6.5/10

I would like to thank the author Eddie Owens for sending me a copy of this E-book in exchange for an honest review.

This tale follows a 13-year-old girl called Millie Hardiman. Her qualities include the fact she is charming, cheeky and strikingly creative. She spends the majority of her time composing vivid and offbeat fabrications to anybody who will listen to a story that she can weave. She is a little liar but there is so much more to it than the negative connotations of that trait. In kooky ways, she calls authority figures in life by their Christian name including parents and teachers and she also enjoys playing golf.