The Three Secret Cities by Matthew Reilly, Book Review
Book 5, Jack West Jr Series
First, a little context. I have now read 11 titles by Matthew Reilly. That is not because I admire his writing skill. Quite frankly, I often find myself cringing at the prose quality. I mean really, how does an author get away with using “a sh!tload of” as a descriptor?
Matthew Reilly does because he is the supreme teller of tall tales. He takes historical fact, fable and myth and bends them entirely to his will. In Reilly’s version of our world, one that is often secretly at the brink of global disaster, no problem is impossible to solve with grit, determination and most importantly, the help of loyal friends with good hearts, that are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Sure, Reilly’s Jack West Jr Series delivers on unadulterated escapism, but it is this series’ eclectic character set with heart that keeps me coming back for more. Continue reading >>
In This Ground by Beth Castrodale, Book Review
Sometimes you just want a ‘quieter’ read, one of those narratives that whispers to you while slowly wrapping you in its web. In This Ground is just that book.
At first, the puzzle pieces starkly presented seemed disjointed. However, slowly but surely the differing character viewpoints coalesce into a much more meaningful and heartwarming landscape. Metaphorically, that landscape is one filled with achingly real, imperfect people. Despite their differences, and at times, discord they are all principally good intentioned. Continue reading >>
Worldwide eBook Giveaway
Thanks to Garland Press we have an ebook copy of In This Ground to giveaway. The winner may select either a PDF, ePUB, or Mobi version of this charming offbeat novel. Entries open worldwide, closes 3 February 2019. ENTER NOW >>
Seven Places Without You by Juan Berrio, Graphic Novel Review
This is an interesting application of the graphic novel format. Originally published in Spanish.
Firstly, what Berrio has depicted is only a very loose story arc. It is perhaps more aptly described as a collection of life experiences. Better still, it could be termed an exploration of the emotions involved in finding one’s independence.
The soft touch drawing style and sombre base colour palette beautifully evoke the themes of loneliness and loss. Berrio then cleverly adds a different accent colour to the frames in each of the seven locations. This highlights that the emotions Elena experiences post-break-up are intrinsically linked to the situational context and time lapsed. Continue reading >>
