I finally got round to reading Bone, the much listed on must-read-graphic-novel series, a saga about three mouse who end up in a nearby, but previouslI finally got round to reading Bone, the much listed on must-read-graphic-novel series, a saga about three mouse who end up in a nearby, but previously unknown realm where they get caught up in an ongoing battle for control of the primary and fertile valley between people, monsters and dragons! I had to bear in mind that the popularity of this series was tied to its appropriateness and depth for an all-ages audience and that it was not written with adults in mind, and despite the basic 'fairy-tale-like' reality and simple but interesting plotting it is still overall a great piece of world building although I feel the same story could have been told in about 500 less pages! From me, a 7 out of 12, Three Stars overall. [image] 2024 read...more
Seventeen year old Charlie is sort of in a good place after surviving the death of a loved one when he was a toddler; and surviving another loved winnSeventeen year old Charlie is sort of in a good place after surviving the death of a loved one when he was a toddler; and surviving another loved winning their battle with addiction, so when he comes across a gnarly old-man in need, Charlie feels that he has to help him, snarky Mr Bowditch. There's something quite not right about Mr Bowditch, although he does have a wonderful, albeit aging and possible sick dog, Rader. As circumstances lead to Charlie getting told more and more of Mr Bowditch's secrets, he finds himself, beyond all reason, caught up in a genuine fairy tale! [image] The problem with this actually interesting and at times compelling dark fantasy is that if you have read Stephen King's The Dark Tower series or say The Talisman you've seen the 'modern person' in a magical/strange environment with a dark history that has tainted it. I would say if you haven't read similar King reads this would be a worthwhile read, but for us Constant Readers, maybe a solid book taking us back to King's superlative creative past, but it neither feels original or innovative. I rated this as a 7 out of 12, strong Three Star read. Really though, I should just advise everyone to read it, it is ultimately a great dark fairy tale-like story, so I'll just keep my mouth shut. [image] 2024 read...more
This, the eighth, and last volume of this innovative and enjoyable series and it pulls out all the stops as Artemis (reformed teenage super villain anThis, the eighth, and last volume of this innovative and enjoyable series and it pulls out all the stops as Artemis (reformed teenage super villain and genius), Holly (highly skilled but also maverick Fairy special police agent), Foaly (egotistical centaur but loyal genius police agent inventor), Butler (Artemis' stoic and extremely lethal bodyguard) and Mulch (a dwarf, who is very much an unreformed chancer and criminal) and co. have to deal with apocalyptic event whilst preventing a terminal one! [image] The finale is deserving of the series but is a bit over the top in its scope. Overall this is one of the best children's series published in the 21st century with its near perfect melding of magic and digital ages; it's near spot-on comedy and it's superb balancing of age appropriateness and adventure! 7 out of 12, Three Stars. [image] 2023 read...more
Those following/reading my reviews will have seen that I recently re-read the original trilogy of this series, and this book here was the reason why. Those following/reading my reviews will have seen that I recently re-read the original trilogy of this series, and this book here was the reason why. I had picked up the fourth book in the series and needed a reminder, especially as this book starts its story immediately after Library of Souls ended. Obviously a fourth book was optioned for commercial reasons but it's an interesting read, as the dust settles after the war, and we get to read about the reconstruction and rebuilding of the Peculiars and their 'loop' realities. Jacob and his Peculiar children allies just can't see themselves doing PR driven roles helping to rebuild their societies, because they now have got the bug, and of course find themselves on another peculiar adventure, but this one is in 'normal' America! [image] Interesting to see Riggs' imagining of a Peculiar that sort of replicates America itself being fractures, not properly regulated and clannish. A big nod to Riggs for not running away from the reality that America was built on the genocide of the Native Americans and built by 'free' African-American slave labour. Like the previous boom in the series The Library of Souls there is much better plotting and even more character development of our main cast. I have to say it's looking more and more like this series will remain eternally in my collection. A firm 7.5 out of 12 Three Star read. [image] 2023 read...more
Farseer Trilogy, book one: The first book in this much touted by fantasy book fans trilogy, introduced me to the 'Middle Ages' style faraway reality wFarseer Trilogy, book one: The first book in this much touted by fantasy book fans trilogy, introduced me to the 'Middle Ages' style faraway reality where chosen and or victorious bloodlines rule over the masses, when they are not trying to kill each other! This is the story of royal bastard Fitz who as a child was on the outs with his Royal family and heritage, until he was taken in, to become an assassin! Maybe I have to accept that fantasy is a genre that just doesn't work for me, as I found this yet another popular fantasy read that I struggled to get through and had little personal interest in throughout, despite the story being well put together, it all just felt very predictable and just like any other fantasy tale. I gave this a 5 out of 12, unlikely to finish the trilogy Two Stars. [image] 2024 read...more
The journey is now complete, every 90 years 12 young people are made into gods, within two year they are all dead. As a reader of comic book serials fThe journey is now complete, every 90 years 12 young people are made into gods, within two year they are all dead. As a reader of comic book serials for over four decades I feel that this doesn't really deliver to the standard that the opening volumes set, but this isn't about old men in their 50s like me, it's about the young people that are the target audience? This is what us readers need to appreciate on many occasions we are not the target audience, the art was gorgeous, the world building was glorious and it has a real definitive ending. [image] Just like Chris Claremont's X-Men and Frank Miller's Daredevil had a massive impact on my generations' comic book reading lives, so did this exemplary series for those that reached teenage years in the 2010s, although for me this still gets a highly competent 8 out of 12, Four Stars, this is something special a gateway comic book series for a diverse inclusive and young audience, that inspired by their communal experience reading and social media-ing about this series will inspire creatives in the future as well as truly impacting peoples' lives in the present. One of the best serials of the 2010s. [image] 2023 read...more
For many years Boneless Mercies have helped with assisted suicide; Mercies, leader Frey, Ovie who has lost an eye, Juniper the Sea Witch and Runa haveFor many years Boneless Mercies have helped with assisted suicide; Mercies, leader Frey, Ovie who has lost an eye, Juniper the Sea Witch and Runa have grown weary of the death trade and on hearing that one of the last great monsters roams free and is marauding and killing, they decide that such a quest is for them. A clever and interesting read, because even though it has a third person narrator, readers only get to know what the the girls themselves know at any time. This makes everything a mystery from the origins of the girls through to the monster itself. [image] This book sort of crept up on me, on the face of it being typical young adult fantasy fair, but in reality being a very cool female-centric fantasy quest without romance, without gender specific violence and some very well put together combat scenes. The most shocking thing about this book is that there isn't a sequel! An 8 out of 12, Four Star read. :) [image] 2023 read...more
The Mortal Instruments, book three. The City of Glass is essentially the capital of the Shadowhunter reality, and our cast all end up there, but mostlThe Mortal Instruments, book three. The City of Glass is essentially the capital of the Shadowhunter reality, and our cast all end up there, but mostly separately, so without knowledge of who else is there. Clary seeks a cure for her mother, Simon wishes he wasn’t there, Alex broods over Magnus, and Jace broods about his new sister. In the background, or should I say foreground Valentine is intent on his mission to remake the Shadowhunters in his own image even if that means wiping most of them out! [image] Asides fom the painfully boring multiple romances across the cast the world building is wonderful and the plotting (although a few major plot holes) is interesting and exciting enough to let me endure the numerous romantic interludes. Also this series has such great interpretations of faeries, and now angels :). A surprisingly firm Three Star, 7.5 out of 12. [image] 2022 read; 2017 read...more
The Wheel of Time, book 4: Taking round 61 (!!!!) weeks to finish, like the previous volume this was just to much hard work me. I feel like I am only The Wheel of Time, book 4: Taking round 61 (!!!!) weeks to finish, like the previous volume this was just to much hard work me. I feel like I am only reading this now for two reasons 1: I own all the books in the series; 2: because it is so popular. All the convention adventure, intrigue and relationships work from, but all the super-fantasy mythology in and around Rand and his protagonists, actually bore me! SO does any world building in this area, especially around historical events. It's the stories of Aes Sedai, around Matt and Perrin around Edgwine, Elayne ect. that at least keep me interested. Saying all that, I have to respect the creation and writing of such a gigantic cast, and it being done so well, but the index at the back of the book is there for a reason 7 out of 12, Three Stars. [image] 2023 read...more
The Inheritance Trilogy book 1: After the suspicious death of her mother, Yeine from the 'barbarian' North, is summoned to the majestic capital of theThe Inheritance Trilogy book 1: After the suspicious death of her mother, Yeine from the 'barbarian' North, is summoned to the majestic capital of the Kingdoms and is shocked to see captive godlings living amongst the ruling family, and even more shocked when she is told that she is now a possible heir to the King! With her likely imminent death if not chosen as heir, Yeine decides to investigate her mother's death which sees her get caught up in the court conspiracies, plots and politics, as the longer she stays the more she questions who the real monsters are, the captive godlings or the ruling family, the Arameri? [image] Jemisin's debut novel is brimming with quality reality building; a reality with its own history, beliefs, political structures, magic, supernatural beings and more, I know many writers have attempted the same but nowhere near as well as Jemisin. There's the added bonus of having the leading female character be a Black woman, in genre that is surprisingly lacking in diversity of character leads. The rub, is that I am rapidly tiring of the fantasy genre, so this might not have been the best time to read this one, but I still give it an 8 out of 12, Four Stars. [image] 2022 read...more
The Mortal Instruments, book 1: Clara Fray's life is changed forever after a night out to a club with her nerdy best friend, when they come across ShaThe Mortal Instruments, book 1: Clara Fray's life is changed forever after a night out to a club with her nerdy best friend, when they come across Shadowhunters! With kidnappings, demons, vampires, werewolves and more, Clara has to keep reminding herself what her crush Shadowhunter tells her, that "all the stories are true". On the face of it, this is a well plotted Young Adult urban fantasy set in a reality where just behind glamours a whole other world exists, on the edges, inbetween, above, below and on other planes. Fray is used as the main POV for the reader to enter and learn so much more about this world in which lies the City of Bones. [image] Reading this a second time, it really hits me that there's a really good book and reality in this read but it is almost engulfed by the high-school romances and intrigues which feel like were written for 12 year olds, whilst the real book beneath is a actually an interesting, for late teens and upwards urban fantasy. Clare created an interesting urban-magical reality; or did she create a best selling teen-romance series set in an urban fantasy? 6 out of 12. [image] 2022 read; 2017 read...more
The Wheel of Time, book 3: The Dragon is reborn and his and his friends destinies and paths have been foretold, but are their futures fixed? Although The Wheel of Time, book 3: The Dragon is reborn and his and his friends destinies and paths have been foretold, but are their futures fixed? Although this book focused a lot more on the female leads and the world of the Aes Sedai, it still didn't really grab my attention, like the previous two books, so much of this work is world building... where's the story? Where's the characterisation? Ultimately it feels so much is revealed by exposition, whereas I much prefer stories where key moments and details are revealed in conversations, plot twists or other types of plot-led reveals. The biggest problem though is the pacing, as Chandler would say "Could this book move any slower?". [image] I accept and can see that this really is a momentous piece of world building, but to me overall it just feels really trite and lifeless - 4 out of 12, Two Star Read! I may need a break from this series. [image] 2022 read...more
There comes a time when I just have to accept that despite a writer being widely loved and appreciated, they're just not my cup of tea. First publisheThere comes a time when I just have to accept that despite a writer being widely loved and appreciated, they're just not my cup of tea. First published in 1999 this loosely connected (smoke, mirrors and magic) collection of short stories and verse(!) simply passed me by, and I only continued reading it because it was Neil Gaiman, and they were short stories. Out of the 35 shorts in this book only 7 of them managed to get 3 stars or more from me. No doubt those (many of you) that like Gaiman's work will enjoy this, although I should also add that there's a fair amount of explicit sex in several of these shorts, which is not something one usually gets from Gaiman. This will probably be my last ever Gaiman read - he's just not for me! 3 out of 12 [image] 2022 read...more
Living in a damp squalid flat, alone, tired, adrift Nora's life takes yet another downturn pushing her over the edge, but at the strike of midnight onLiving in a damp squalid flat, alone, tired, adrift Nora's life takes yet another downturn pushing her over the edge, but at the strike of midnight on the cusp of possible death, she finds herself in The Midnight Library with an infinite number of books - each book representing a different choice, a different path her life would have taken. With the opportunity to live an infinite number of Nora realities, how can she chose the best life? [image] What a book! A superb and engrossing concept, where different decisions have Nora's life taking so many different paths, but paths that also impact on the people in her life. Haig's writes about a pretty key philosophical question in a very engaging and accessible manner. As I read this book, I couldn't but help not only wonder about my own life, but also truly engage in some of the real scientific theory that this book's concept is built on. [image] Although far and away the best Matt Haig book I've read, and built around a fabulous premise and concepts, I do feel that there could have been a lot more done with both the story and the realities that our protagonist lives. Still a very good Four Star 9 out of 12 after all this one of those books that almost every book nerd will cherish reading! [image] 2021 read...more
Using a typically Dark Tower story device of a story in a story, this book covers Roland and his original Ka-tet's guerrilla war with Farson. The grouUsing a typically Dark Tower story device of a story in a story, this book covers Roland and his original Ka-tet's guerrilla war with Farson. The group unwittingly stumble on 'evil ground' (as does Roland in the 'present'), and it's up to Sheemie and Roland to save them. Another 'filler' volume in the Dark Tower graphic novel series, and just like Sheemie's Tale, I can see no real reason why a Constant Reader should bother with this, bar for the sake of completion. It's an OK tale, but one that only underlines what we already know from the books. 6 out of 12. [image] 2021 read...more
2021 read: In which, way too early in my opinion, we come to Thunderclap, see some 'old faces' and catch up with Sheemie as he recounts his life pre a2021 read: In which, way too early in my opinion, we come to Thunderclap, see some 'old faces' and catch up with Sheemie as he recounts his life pre and post meeting the young Gunslingers with some clever artistic impressionism by Richard Isanove that makes both Thunderclap and Sheemie's tale that much better. Sheemie recounts how he was brought to Thunderclap, and how he reacted when he found out their goal! In Part Two Sheemie's adventure at Thunderclap leads us to the origin of and some of the concepts behind the Dark Tower itself that gave us the Sheemie we met in the final (text) book of the Series, The Dark Tower. And after writing all that, I have to honestly say, that Constant Readers really gain little by reading this series of two comic books, and would save money (and time!) by not buying or reading them! A 6/12, Three Star read, mainly for the artwork! [image] 2021 read...more
The Wheel of Time, book 2: What starts off with more of the previous, first book in the series with non-stop world building and 'our poor innocent proThe Wheel of Time, book 2: What starts off with more of the previous, first book in the series with non-stop world building and 'our poor innocent protagonists' trying to come to terms with the wider world, slowly but surely evolves into a book and reality that I am beginning to care about it! It just needed some real jeopardy, and despite all the blatant foretelling the 'Great Hunt' for a mythical Horn and a dark dagger gave me some supporting characters of worth and fleshed out the main cast a lot better; as well as giving a lot more depth to the Aes Sedai :) [image] The female cast are superb, and the addition of Min and a delightful number of Aes Sedai were a joy to behold. Overall it still feels like the world building although detailed is overdone, and yet again I had to read the glossary at the end of the book to get the full picture. What made this book really tick though was the emergence of a third force that have no respect for the light or the dark! I wouldn't say I'm hooked yet, but I'm now really biting :) [image] What's that? I haven't really written about the book? Well three quarters into this volume I finally began to see what all the fuss was, and is, about. And I might moan about the excessive world building, but it is very good world building, it just always feels like exposition! 7 out of 12 [image] 2022 read...more
The Wheel of Time, book 1: Is there anything left to say about this 1990 debut book of the The Wheel of Time series with its extremely detailed magicaThe Wheel of Time, book 1: Is there anything left to say about this 1990 debut book of the The Wheel of Time series with its extremely detailed magical-fantasy-dark-ages-esque constructed reality? Well, I guess as you're reading this, there must be! With huge shadings of Tolkien the story begins in a remote-ish village situated far from the main cities and lands of this reality. It's where we meet most of our cast of either natives from rural community, or visitors seeking those self same natives. The story sees the mixed group set on a trek, where story-wise we get to read about a fair amount of the history, structures, legends, rites and more of this world, as our protagonist push forward whilst being chased and hounded by the followers and forces of the 'Dark One'. [image] Back in 1990, I suppose this was a gigantic kick up the arse for the fantasy genre? It does have lots and lots of world building, but the truth in the matter is that I learned just as much, if mot more about this reality by reading the 25 page glossary at the end of the book! Unfortunately the book also really annoyed me by doing what always irks me (about magical fantasy) - frequently using magical powers to push the story on, with no real context or explanation of the rules of magic in this reality. And for the tri-fecta the whole book dragged for me, with lots of fat paragraphs and undoubtedly non essential detailed descriptions of thoughts and actions. But even magical-hating me has to conceded that this is a wonderfully detailed reality spanning not just centuries but eons is worth reading... but saying that I still think that there is probably too much world building in this book for me! Things can only get better, of that I have no doubt. I give this 800 page mammoth of a book a scraping Three Stars' 6 out of 12 [image]...more
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