Book Review - Rome's Executioner (JS)

Rome’s Executioner (Vespasian) by Robert Fabbri

 

 

Review by Jacqui Slaney

 

As I mentioned in my review on book one, I actually bought this one before starting the series, just based on the product description. Luckily, the first book turned out to be enjoyable so started this one with some enthusiasm.

 

A hero forged in battle. A legend born. 

  Thracia, AD30: Even after four years military service at the edge of the Roman world, Vespasian cannot escape the tumultuous politics of an Empire on the brink of disintegration. His patrons in Rome have charged him with the clandestine extraction of an old enemy from a fortress on the banks of the Danube before it falls to the Roman legion besieging it.

  Vespasian's mission is the key move in a deadly struggle for the right to rule the Roman Empire. The man he has been ordered to seize could be the witness that will destroy Sejanus, commander of the Praetorian Guard and ruler of the Empire in all but name.

Before he completes his mission, Vespasian will face ambush in snowbound mountains, pirates on the high seas, and Sejanus's spies all around him. However, by far the greatest danger lies at the rotten heart of the Empire, at the nightmarish court of Tiberius, Emperor of Rome and debauched, paranoid madman.

We find the main character Vespasian, changed from the first book, gone is the inexperienced youth, now he is a Tribune in the Roman army and has become skilled in fighting and in leading men. He still has Magnus, looking after him and is looking to return to Rome so that he can further his career.

 

His brother Sabinus is less of a background character as well in this one and it is interesting to see the interaction between the brothers with Sabinus trying to be the older more experienced brother, while knowing that the auspices of Vespasian’s birth showed that he has a great future. 

 

The story here revolves around the destruction of Sejanus and stopping him from becoming the next Emperor and shows that Antonia- the character of whom is more developed as well in this instalment will stop at nothing in her aim to do this.

 

There is a lot of action with fights both on land and sea, and of smaller conflicts with attacks on the households of Antonia’s supporters. One of which involves a quite gruesome description of the damage lampreys can do to flesh- though having seen this recently in a programme I was watching on Sky, I think reading about it was actually worse. 

 

This book does not have the slow start of the first, which shows that the author has become more skilled and confident in his writing. It is fast paced and has more of a plot line and shows to a great degree the ruthlessness and blood bath that was normal Roman politics.

 

The author describes well the intrigue that has developed around Tiberius due to the type of emperor that he has become and the excesses that he indulges in and you start to see what Caligula will also become in the future.

 

I still found some of the dialogue a little stilted at times between the different characters, but overall this is a much better book than the first and I look forward to reading more of the series.

 

8 out of 10

Book Review - Wolf's Hour

Wolf’s Hour – Robert McCammon

 

 

After the stress and rigours of publishing my first book, I thought the best thing I could do was to sit down and read a book by one of the three men that inspired me to start writing in the first place.

 

Wolf’s Hour is what I would say is the last of Robert McCammon’s “well known” books that I haven’t read yet. Go on any forum and start a post about the best werewolf novel and one of the first responses you will receive is “Wolf’s Hour.” It will then be endorsed over and over again by subsequent posters.

 

The blurb:

 

Michael Gallatin is a British spy with a peculiar talent: the ability to transform himself into a wolf. Although his work in North Africa helped the Allies win the continent in the early days of World War II, he quit the service when a German spy shot his lover in her bed. Now, three years later, the army asks him to end his retirement and parachute into occupied Paris. A mysterious German plan called the Iron Fist threatens the D-Day invasion, and the Nazi in charge is the spy who betrayed Michael’s lover. The werewolf goes to France for king and country, hoping for a chance at bloody vengeance

 

“Wolf’s Hour” is essentially two stories in one. The first follows the exploits of Michael Gallatin in the present day (in this instance the present day is set during the Second World War). The other story concerns itself with Michael Gallatinov as a child and how he came to be a lycanthrope.

 

It goes without saying that both stories are great. Mostly they are kept completely separate up until the younger Michael accepts who he is and the path set out for him in life.

 

The story of Michael’s turn is fascinating. McCammon portrays the abhorrence of transforming into a werewolf vividly. He also quickly dismisses many of the familiar traits we come to accept from the mythology. There is no transformation at the full moon here, the werewolves in this novel are relatively peaceful and can change at will. There is also a very simple reason why they choose to remain predominantly human.

 

The story of young Michael deals with his life in the pack and his education. Michael’s acceptance into the pack is engrossing. Some wolves welcome him, whilst others are not so accommodating. Underpinning this is the threat from a new wolf that wishes to claim their territory.

 

The leader of the pack Wiktor is a great character. Wise and proud he sees something special in Michael and pushes him hard. The rest of the pack is all interesting in their own right too.

 

The other story line concerns Michael’s life as a secret spy for Britain. Michael has matured and is more self-assured. He is what James Bond should be. As with all good characters he is vulnerable, he does not always save the day and often finds himself battered and bruised.

 

The other good thing is that although Michael uses his supernatural ability to help him accomplish his missions, McCammon does not insult the reader. The character’s Michael interacts with, notice his odd behaviour. They query where he disappears to etc. This is refreshing; often in books the other characters accept feeble explanations of unexpected behaviour.

 

Speaking of the other characters. McCammon introduces several at various stages of the adventure. It is a testament to his writing prowess that I quickly warmed to them and mourned them when they left the story. Mouse is a prime example as well as Lazaris. Special mention also to Kitty - the vodka swilling behemoth.

 

The main secondary character is Chesna. She is an undercover spy working with Michael who starts off enigmatic and dangerous. If there is a criticism of the book it is that Chesna loses some of her edge as the story progresses. Around the middle of the book she does become a bit of a damsel in distress, but McCammon quickly rescues the situation by having her return to the confident woman we first meet.

 

Every good story needs a good villain. You can’t get better than Hitler himself. In fairness, the dictator is largely in the background, but it is his Nazi officers with their hideous secret experiments which propel the novel along. Harry Sandler, Boots and Jerek Blok are all great characters and a cut above your stereotypical villains. Harry Sandler in particular is excellent. His hubris makes for a great adversary for Michael and the scenes with him at the hotel and train are some of the best McCammon has written.

 

The Second World War setting is captured beautifully. The whole story feels authentic from the clothes described to the Spitfires in the sky. The mystery of the Iron Fist is well thought out and creates a sense of impending doom. Michael’s life as a wolf in the freezing winters is also portrayed well.

 

The ending is more than satisfying (apart from the fact there had to be an ending). With a climactic battle that even Indiana Jones would be proud of Michael Gallatin is a man I just want to read more of.

 

Overall then, McCammon has written another great book. His versatility is staggering, bridging the spy/thriller/fantasy genre with ease. I can only hope to emulate a fraction of his talent.

 

My rating: 9.2

 

 

Week 3

So I think the lesson learnt this week is the power of advertising. After steady sales for the first two weeks and the first half of this week, I turned my attention to writing book 2 and also the other marketing idea I have come up with (more on that next week).


The result of diverting my attention elsewhere? My first day with no downloads of my book Followed by another. As soon as I realised this I started networking again, made my presence known on forums and twitter and the sales started coming in again.

Good for sales but it has left me pondering how on earth I can devote time to advertising and writing when I have precious little time for either.

I suddenly realised I was down at work as well. Not that anyone could tell but all I wanted to do was write and concentrate on the books. I guess it has reinforced that this is what I want to do for a living. Unfortunately at the moment writing doesn’t pay the mortgage.

So what else have I been up to? I conducted an interview over at Drew Avery’s blog. Look out for that on the 5th August, I will of course post a link when it is up. Drew is an author as well and his questions were quite probing.

Finally, as I mentioned earlier, I wrote more on book two. I really want to be devoting more time to this but understand at the moment book one needs my attention.

Look out for what I think will be an exciting and challenging project which I will talk about next week. Speak to you soon.

Book review - The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
 

 

This is one of those books that has always been on my radar. When it was released it received universal praised.  Over the years in the various offices I have worked in, a group of people would read it and say how wonderful it was. However, whenever I enquired as to what it was about, I was always told something along the lines of, it deals with the political climate in Afghanistan. My eyes would instantly glaze over and I would tune people out – short attention span I know. It is not that I don’t like politics but I have never found a book focussed on politics that has engaged me. However, finally I decided to give it a go.

The blurb:

 

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption. And it is also about the power of fathers over sons -- their love, their sacrifices, their lies.
 

Sometimes it is all in the how the book is portrayed to me. If someone had said to me this book is “To kill a mocking bird meets Afghanistan,” I would have snapped it up years ago. The prose flows effortlessly and the story is so easy to read, for the first time in ages I didn’t want to put the book down at the end of my commute and go to work.

 

The story focuses primarily on Amir, the son of a highly respected father in his community. Yet, try as he might, Amir can never quite win the affection of his father. Instead Amir's father seems to favour Hassan, Amir's best friend. The problem is Hassan is a servant and so if ever he is picked on by the other children, Amir is confused about whether or not to intervene.

 

This is partly due to the role in society the boys have and partly due to Amir's cowardly nature. As a result Amir is excellent to read. His actions are often questionable, he doesn't always think nice things  and is sometimes cruel but at the same time he garners great empathy. Every decision he makes is logical if not ill conceived.

 

Hassan is great character. His devotion to Amir is something to admire and his calm, thoughtful manner makes you long for a friend as loyal. Other great characters are Rahim and Amir's father.

 

Khalled Hosseini focus is on his characters, yet he does not shy away from bringing to the fore the horrors that occur in Afghanistan. Considering his characters are so strong, this illicits powerful responses from the reader when these horrors affect the cast.  The novel is filled with tragic events but at the same time this is tempered with touching highs. The result is the perfect blend of story telling.

 

Personally I find that most stories of this ilk, excel when recalling the childhood of the character but fall away when the narrative moves to the protagonist's adulthood. This is not the case with the "Kite Runner," Khallid cleverly demonstrates how his characters have evolvedand learned from their mistakes, whilst also repeating others.

 

If there is one plot device that I love, it is the storyof redemption. In the "Kite Runner," I was desperate for it to happen. I am a fan of dark endings normally,but in this book I wanted a happy one. Did I get my wish - as if I am going to spoil it!

 

In summary, I loved the The "Kite Runner," easily my favourite read of the year so far (and there have been some great contenders). I have instantly downloaded Khallid's other books and look forward to reading them.

 

My rating: 9.7

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review - Like This, For Ever

Like This, For Ever – S J Bolton

 

 

This is S J Bolton’s sixth book overall but third in the Lacey Flint series. Having enjoyed her first three standalone novels (especially the hint of the supernatural that ran through them), I was wary of the news that S J Bolton was switching to a more of a detective style franchise. I shouldn’t have worried. The first two books were excellent and I have eagerly awaited her latest novel.

 

The Blurb:

 

Barney has seen things. Things no child should see . . . and he knows the killer will strike again soon.
The victim will be another boy, just like him. He will drain the body of blood, and leave it on a Thames beach.
There will be no clues for detectives Dana Tulloch and Mark Joesbury to find.
There will be no warning about who will be next.
There will be no good reason for young policewoman Lacey Flint to become involved . . . And no chance that she can stay away.

 

With “Like This, For Ever,” S J Bolton has moved this series into the upper echelon of crime writing. Although only three books in, it is far too easy for an author to regurgitate the same story for their detective with the only difference being the new premises at the start of each book. S J Bolton has already taken steps to avoid the trap and keep things interesting.

 

She has achieved this by making her book about the supporting cast just as much as the main protagonists. Few authors succeed in this. James Patterson has Alex Cross constantly saving the day which can get tiresome whilst others like John Connolly, have a great supporting cast of characters but the books will always be about Charlie Parker (must stress John is one of my favourite authors and makes his books fresh in a number of other ways).

 

It is the Karin Slaughter’s and Mark Billingham’s of the world that really succeed in making their secondary cast just as interesting as their protagonists. Karin Slaughter can have any of her main characters drop out the series and it would still continue seamlessly. With “Like This, For Ever,” I believe that S J Bolton is approaching the same situation.

 

Her protagonist is Lacey Flint. We join Lacey whilst she is on sabbatical, recovering from her ordeal in the last book. As a result although we watch her attempt to rebuild her life she is not directly involved with solving the crime. In fact, for a large portion of the novel, she is kept away from proceedings. Like all great characters, Lacey is flawed. She does not comply with her therapists wishes but puts all of her energy into trying to outfox her. She has become insular and unsure of herself. The result feels fresh and unpredictable – in a word it works.

 

With Lacey sidelined the focus of the novel does not fall to the obvious choice Mark Joesbury. Instead we learn more about Dana Tulloch and her background. It means that although the main character is Lacey, the other characters are of equal importance and each has a sense to shine in the spotlight in their own right.

 

Dana and Mark have a great relationship built on their history and a healthy dose of respect. They interactions with Lacey are also riveting as their roles appear to have reversed following on from the last book.

 

“Like This, For Ever” also introduces on a new character. Barney is a young boy, who along with his friends is caught up with the attention surrounding the murders. Gifted in the sense that he is able to see patterns in things, Barney is a great character. He is vulnerable, suspicious and smart. His home life leaves him time to ponder the killer’s motives and question the loyalty of those around him. It is little surprise that Lacey latches on to him and tries to protect him. 

 

The plot is great. It meanders in and out of the characters lives, making each one a suspect. S J Bolton does an excellent job in leading you to think you have been clever and solved the mystery only to rip the rug out from underneath you. It is the sign of a distinguished story teller, who is improving with every book.

 

The conclusion is satisfying and nicely wrapped up. S J Bolton writes her endings with a realism that I appreciate. There are no dragged out dramatic scenes for the sake of it.

 

Overall, I was pleased that S J Bolton continues to impress me. Another excellent novel.

 

My rating: 9

Two weeks on

So a fortnight later do I feel like a published author yet? Yes and no. Sales are still steady, with a few sales coming in every day. I also have had someone else buy the book on the U.S. market. I don’t know why but this brings me the most pleasure so far. I think it is the thought that someone random in the world has seen the book and it has appealed to them.

Oh that and the fact that I have also received another 5* review. This one had some very nice things to say about me and the book, likening the book to Stephen King’s ‘Dark Tower’ series and saying I am an author to look out for. To be mentioned in the same sentence as Stephen King makes my head swell.

 

 

So what have I been doing this week? Well apart from lots of days out with the family as I have had the week off, I have been visiting forums etc and trying to raise the profile of the book. I have also offered to do a few interviews and am looking at requesting sites to do reviews of the book. Patience is the key people.

I have a few ideas up my sleeve to get the book noticed. One of which could be a great success or a complete misstep. Only time will tell – all I will say is to watch this space.

For those of you wondering, I have also recommenced work on the second book (no title as of yet). One thing that did make me smile on Thursday was I went to Starbucks to do some writing. I was in the middle of a scene (the muse was flowing) and I suddenly could not remember a character’s name or where they came from. Sometimes I can just leave the detail blank and fill it in later and other times it really bugs me. Thursday morning was an occasion when it really bugged me, to the point where it was threatening to spoil my flow.

Then I had an ‘eureka’ moment and realised I could just look up the info I wanted on my Kindle (obviously I have purchased my own book – who wouldn’t?) Within seconds I found the info I wanted and writing commenced. This time I had a smile on my face and was brimming with pride.

Book Review - Advent (JS)

Advent by James Treadwell

 

This book was suggested to me on the Kindle as a special offer, it was cheap, and the story line sounded interesting, so I thought what could be the risk?

 

 

Review by Jacqui Slaney

 

This is the description:

For centuries it has been locked away Lost beneath the sea Warded from earth, air, water, fire, spirits, thought and sight. But now magic is rising to the world once more. And a boy called Gavin, who thinks only that he is a city kid with parents who hate him, and knows only that he sees things no one else will believe, is boarding a train, alone, to Cornwall. When he arrives, there is no one there to meet him.

 

Now I started the book with high hopes, as it seemed this was the ideal one for me. There was magic, creatures that are not seen by anyone apart from a teenage boy, and a sub plot of an ancient mage in love with a mysterious stranger.

 

About a hundred pages later, I was struggling. All the elements for a good book were there, but they just did not seem to gel. I thought at first, it was the fact the lead character was a teenager, but as I read on, I found myself discounting that.

 

Gavin was a good character, yes, he was slightly irritating as he kept pretending there was nothing strange going on, but the reader is sympathetic towards him as he only does this in self-defence. I liked Marina- though the name kept making me think of the old puppet series of Stingray. Hester is a great character and Corbo was one of my favourites, in fact, all the characters are solid.

 

So I struggled on, tempted to give up, but a stubborn streak kept me reading on. Then something strange happened, without me realising, I started to actually enjoy the story.

 

I realised that the main problem with the book at the start was there was just too much information, too much description and though there was great phrasing and lovely descriptions it slowed the whole thing down to the extent that I could see many readers giving up before the story improved.

 

As a would be writer myself, this was a good wake up call as it shows the damage that can be done, if you get carried away with describing a scene.

 

I can understand why the book is written like this, it is the first in a series and the author is stuck in a bit of a quandary, as obviously you need to set the scene and introduce your main antagonists and grab the reader’s attention.

 

In this book though, I think it could have been done with a lighter touch as everyone seemed to come into the story very early on, and the whole plot just bogged down.

 

From half way through, it is a great story, as things about the characters become clear, the pace of the writing becomes much more urgent and even the descriptions are much more to the point, the sudden onset of winter in Cornwall is brilliantly described.

 

Would I read book 2? Well based on the second part of this book, definitely, the ending of this one was nicely done with numerous possibilities of things that could happen. Just hope that the lessons learned from the first part of this one have been learnt.

 

7 out of 10