Wolf in Shadow (Sipstrsassi #3)(John Shannow #1) by David Gemmell

Wolf in Shadow by David Gemmell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Writing 4.5/5
Imagination 5/5
Plot 4.5/5
Setting 4.5/5

Characters 4/5

My Overall Enjoyment 4/5

I would be doing an injustice if I did not at least sing some praise for this excellent book. David Gemmell is one of my all time favorite authors so it's no surprise I love yet another of his books. This is book three in the Stones of Power (Sipstrassi) series and book one in the John Shannow series but it can surely be read as a stand alone. The post-apocalyptic setting reminds me a bit of the Broken Empire setting Mark Lawrence created and the main character reminds me a little of the main character Roland in The Gunslinger by Stephen King. Interestingly, John Shannow, the main character in this book, is of a race called Rolynd. That being said, this book is insanely unique and I have never read anything quite like it.

This book, for being only a little over 300 pages, packs an unimaginable amount of unique ideas and events. It goes back with its lore about 8000 years. The main character is searching for lost Jerusalem, is involved in a conflict with Abaddon who lives in Babylon, and is a Christian who quotes scripture throughout. There is magic, demons, an Ark which is actually the Titanic (I think), characters Ruth and Ezra from the Bible, the city of Atlantis, all sorts of guns, a swordfight, Plague Lands which are heavily radiated and poisoned, and several races of people. Even the good guys in this book have the potential to become bad, the main character is a mass of contradictions, the story is at once very violent and compassionate and people act in wholly unexpected ways. There seems to be an overall theme of how warfare has been necessary in human history and help shape the world. That is not to say the author condones war or violence but rather he is giving a bit of insight into the violent history of our world.

Highly recommended if you want to read excellent writing, something that will really make you think, and a gritty, dark, and highly unique work of fantasy. This book had me thinking for days after completing. If you haven't read this author, you could start with this book but I still recommend either Waylander or Legend for those new to Gemmell.

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Review of Red Axe, Black Sun by Michael Karner

Red Axe, Black Sun by Michael Karner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Writing 3.5/5
Imagination 3.5/5
Plot 4/5
Setting 4/5
Characters 3.5/5

My Overall Enjoyment 3.5/5

Goodreads description-

Dryston of Decia, a poisoned fighter, his ex-lover and sorceress Kyra Celeste and a girl with a death list tattoo will decide the fate of a whole world. Walking on a thin line between good and bad, survival and heroism, they struggle to solve the puzzle of secrets and conspiracies. In a war marking the end of time unpredictable magic, drugs, dead bodies, monsters and a secret plaster their ways and put feelings, loyalties and morals to the test. Will they find the man who is guilty of Dryston’s slow death? Is there a cure? With the fate of the world uncertain, prophecies told and legends rising, how will Dryston and his comrades decide the world’s fate?

Sword and sorcery, filled with standard fantasy types including mercenaries, dwarves, orcs, elves, necromancers, sorceresses, and assorted other beasts and monsters. There is a sea battle and a siege as well as close fighting and bar fighting. Some political intrigue and treachery, a torture scene, a crypt scene and a sewer scene. I enjoyed this book and although it had a few high fantasy elements it was most reminiscent of old school pure sword and sorcery, one action filled scene after another in a merciless world. The characters were typical gritty anti-hero types and I enjoyed getting to know them but wasn't overly connected to any one in particular. The writing was good, fun and easy to read. Decent lore, but I would have liked a bit more. Satisfactory ending, a major thread left for another book. I'll definitely pick it up when it comes out.

Recommended for sword and sorcery fans. This is a very good book and although its not my favorite book, it was a pleasure to read. It's a quick read and can be found on Amazon for cheap and is well worth it. I have read many books that were expensive but didn't provide as good a reading experience as this.

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A review of Django Wexler's Fantasy Book The Thousand Names

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Writing 4.5/5
Imagination 5/5
Plot 4.5/5
Setting 4/5
Characters 5/5

Overall Enjoyment 5/5

I actually finished this book the day before I started my new blog and then that took over my life for a week! I usually write reviews immediately after finishing a book so this will be short because of the wait. I loved this book! It falls under the new sub-genre "Flintlock Fantasy" which combines gunpowder and guns with magical elements and also falls under the category military fantasy. Everything was extremely well thought out with regards to plot and it was obvious the author did extensive research on warfare. I really enjoyed the character and world building and the magic system was phenomenal. I came to care about some of the characters and if an author can accomplish this, he has been successful as a writer. The prose was excellent. The pace was steady and solid, perfect to keep the reader wanting to find out what happens next. There was one sequence in the middle I felt the plot should have advanced quicker but that is my only minor complaint. There are no other criticisms of this book. While the obvious comparison will be to Brian McClellan's excellent book Promise of Blood, this book was just as good. Having read both, I can say that while they fall under the same sub-genre, they are very different reading experiences, both delightful. I can not wait for book 2 of The Shadow Campaigns The Shadow Throne.
Comes with my highest recommendation!

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