Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Library
Reading Recommendations
As a writer, I have found that the best way to get better, is to read more. Along with that, I find that it's a long process to publish a book. As a result, I will share what I'm currently reading, and some of my favorites, as well as other indie books that you can read while waiting for my next books to release.
Isaac Asimov
Foundation
I've been wanting to read Asimov for a while as he's the father of Sci Fi, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Thankfully, my wife bought me this trilogy and now I have a chance to read it. Looking forward to some classic Sci Fi.
My Reviews 2021
Dune
Eye of the World
Eye of the World
This is a classic that I've always been curious about. The biggest reason is the mix of magic and technology. I write Science Fantasy and want to see how the experts manage this. I also saw the movie recently, before I read the book, so wanted to see how they compared. I enjoyed the movie, but felt it was incomplete. Turns out, my instincts were correct and the movie only covered about 2/3 of the book.
That being said, I really enjoyed this book. There are parts that I found boring, but I thought it was incredibly inventive and unique. I like how the magic is really just human advancement.
I will say that some of the politics and house drama and background information as to how humanity got to this point were rather lacking. It felt like hatred and drama for the sake of it, rather than truly feeling the meaning and hatred like the characters. I also wasn't a huge fan of being inside every character's head at the same time, it made some of their thoughts confusing and I got them mixed up a lot. Finally, being in every character's head let little mystery to motivation or what was happening and gave the reader a little too much information, ruining a little of the mystery and intrigue.
4/5 Stars
Eye of the World
Eye of the World
Eye of the World
This is book one of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. I was really looking forward to reading this book, mostly because Brandon Sanderson finished the series. I'd heard many things about this series, but wanted to read it for myself before I made any judgements.
Well, I did not finish this book. I didn't even make it halfway. This book felt more like a chore for me to read than a pleasure. I did not enjoy the writing style and found it extremely predictable. And it was such a Lord of the Rings clone, that I just couldn't do it.
As a result, I will not leave a rating, because I didn't finish it. I can't give this a fair rating, but I was not enjoying myself. This book killed my reading motivation for a while.
Leviathan Wakes
Eye of the World
Gardens of the Moon
I loved The Expanse show and was dying to give this book series a shot. It was totally worth it. I loved this book, and to be honest, the show followed it extremely accurately. I was very impressed.
The descriptions and world building is very realistic and this is a word I can see in our future. The realism adds to depth, but it also makes the reader even more invested in the book.
The characters are fun and interact in a deep interesting way with a storyline I never would have seen coming. The plot and action were great and I couldn't put this book down. Well worth the long read.
5/5 Stars
Gardens of the Moon
Gardens of the Moon
Gardens of the Moon
This is book one of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson. I have been looking forward to testing out this series for a long time, because I've heard so many incredible things about the world building and magic system.
That being said, this story was a major disappointment for me. The world building was certainly in depth with deep rooted lore. The fantasy world is huge with so much mystery. I definitely want to know more about the world itself. The magic system was hard to grasp and very mysterious. There seems to just always be more and more powerful magic users.
The plot was difficult to follow as it bounced all over. From my research, it doesn't start to make sense until about book 9 out of 10. Because there were so many characters involved, I was never able to gain any sort of attachment or even care about any of them. I barely had their names down by the end of the book.
The plot seemed to bounce around between who the bad guy even was in this story. I'm still not sure who the bad guy was supposed to be. And when they introduced a new big bad in this story, and created this impending sense of doom over him, I was like, okay, this is gonna be good. Then he was defeated without any real threat. Doesn't really make sense or flow well for me.
The saving grace for me is the writing style. It was incredibly poetic and easy to read. The rhythm was wonderful and sounded awesome. Probably the best writing style I've ever read. I'll probably continue the series in the future. I do want to see it through and am interested in how well it all comes together in the end.
3/5 Stars
Elantris
Gardens of the Moon
Red Rising Trilogy
I wanted to get back into Brandon Sanderson, but wasn't ready to commit to Mistborn just yet. Elantris was a fun standalone novel. Per usual, Brandon Sanderson holds onto small details until the end and keeps you guessing and wondering for hundreds of pages. I love it and hate it at the same time.
The world building is still unparalleled and the magic system fun and unique. Plenty of political intrigue and some intense bad guys with hidden objectives. This is a wild ride.
Brandon Sanderson is the master of climaxes in his stories. I have never experienced a bad ending with his stories and I can never see them coming. Like, we know that good will prevail in some way or another, but how it plays out is always so masterfully suspenseful and unforeseen.
I love the unique world and just wish there was more on this planet in the cosmere. There's so much potential, but BranSan is already very very busy with a million books he's writing at all times.
5/5 Stars
Red Rising Trilogy
Gardens of the Moon
Red Rising Trilogy
I've already reviewed the first book in this trilogy and have been wanting to finish the series. Well, a sale brought me the next two books and I plowed through them. I'm still considering books 4 & 5, but haven't committed to that yet. I love how the trilogy ended and am worried that my perfect little bubble will be ruined if I continue. Also, book 6 is coming, so I might wait for that one.
Golden Son was action packed from the beginning. All the world building and slow stuff happened in the first book, so Pierce Brown didn't have to waste time on this in this book or Morning Star. I couldn't keep up with all the twists and turns and man was it mind blowing.
Morning Star was nearly as good and gave a very satisfying end to the series. The ending was great, but some of it was predictable at the end, though I wasn't sure for a bit. I don't think I've ever read a series with as much betrayal and callous waste of life in my life. Game of Thrones is known for death and chaos, but this series might have more of it in less books. But much easier to read and set in space.
I loved this entire series. Golden Son is my favorite of the three books, and one of my absolute all time favorite books. Really, this series is addictive starting with the second half of book one, once all the world building and exposition was completed.
5.2/5 Stars - Golden Son
4.8/5 - Morning Star
5/5 - Series
Legends of Shannara
A Court of Thrones and Roses
A Court of Thrones and Roses
So this series is the link between the Old world and the new within the Shannara Universe. I've always wanted to read how humanity evolved into the various races. To be honest though, it left me wanting so much more. Overall, fun story though. Action packed.
This series really showed magic coming alive in the world again. It was nice seeing the end of the polluted, failed old world after the great wars. The trolls have finally risen (my second favorite Shannara race) and start to learn of how the world is recovering. My biggest complaints are how giant the world still is compared to the Four Lands plus the bad guys. The entire first book builds up trolls as the main bad guy, but the second book brings in a new villain.
This book is full of action and mystery. There was plenty of intrigue and misdirection. I rather enjoyed the characters and their unique personalities and interactions. I felt very connected to them and their abilities that have never occurred within the universe.
4/5 Stars
A Court of Thrones and Roses
A Court of Thrones and Roses
A Court of Thrones and Roses
This was a new genre for me. I haven't never delved into fantasy romance, and I've heard so many wonderful things about this series and author. It was time for a break from my usual and I was not disappointed. Here's a review from the male perspective, since this series is more often picked up by females.
The world was beautifully built and easy to follow along with. It was intriguing to see how worlds collided and developed. The characters were likeable and well developed and it was fun to see how the story played out. I will say, I was surprised by the rather PG nature of a book that I heard was spicy, but I heard the heat intensifies throughout the series.
Finally, the story was well developed and fun to read. I was drawn in and kept pushing through quickly. There were really creative plot points and a few twists that were unexpected. My one real critique of the story really was several other twists late in the book were clearly coming. Once we reached the endgame, I knew exactly how things would end. And to be honest, the only reason we got to the end game was because of a random gut reaction to not say one things, so that was a little weak for me. Still, overall a very fun and worthwhile read. I fully intend to press on in the series.
4/5 Stars
Genesis of Shannara
A Court of Thrones and Roses
Genesis of Shannara
This trilogy took me a bit to get into, but once I got rolling, I couldn't put it down. I've always loved Terry Brooks, but I haven't read his work in a while, nor this specific trilogy. To start my reread of his work, I went to the beginning (Though technically The Word and Void series is first, that wasn't known when it came out. This series linked the two.)
Book Two, Elves of Cintra, was my favorite of the series. The mixing of magic and technology in this trilogy is wonderful. Not many authors can blend the two well. It was fun to see magic coming to light as technology failed the world.
The writing was lovely and whimsical. The twists and turns were surprising and satisfying. Each hero played a vital role to allow the MC to play theirs. Everything came together in such a fun manner and this series tries to show the nature of humanity and warns of what can happen if we're not careful. Great storytelling!
Terry Brooks is a master of Fantasy and has always been my inspiration to write. His work bridged the gap between Tolkien and modern fantasy.
5/5 Stars
Red Rising
Ready Player Two
Genesis of Shannara
Pierce Brown delivers a dystopian masterpiece in this story. I will admit, I found myself bored and overwhelmed by all the unique terms used in this story right up front. It takes a little while to start understanding what the heck is going on.
This story mixes action with keen intellect as our hero must overcome the greatest odds to place himself in a position of power. This book is truly unique and imaginative, though I did find myself bored at times.
Prior to the epic conclusion, I wasn't sure I'd really want to continue the series. It was well written, but I just hadn't fallen in love with it yet. But the way it ended and the way he kept you guessing with what would occur next, I'm hooked. I can't wait to continue the series.
4/5 Stars
Ready Player Two
Ready Player Two
Ready Player Two
Ernest Cline had a hit on his hands with Ready Player One. I sailed through that book in no time and loved the movie with all its changes. This wildly popular book lived up to all expectations. Unfortunately, so did the sequel.
This book read like a cheap knock off of the original with a boring plot and obvious turns. The first hundred pages were full of boring, irrelevant expositions. It felt like Cline needed to hit a certain word count and as a result, added in as many unnecessary pop culture references as he could. The pacing felt off throughout the story.
That being said, the visual and world he created were great, even if the story left me wanting more. The ending felt unimaginative and anticlimactic.
If you were a huge fan of the first book, I wouldn't suggest reading the second; it'll leave you disappointed. Still, it was a successful book and had its fun parts.
3/5 Stars
Rhythm of War
Ready Player Two
Ready Player Two
Brandon Sanderson weaves another intricate story in the fourth Stormlight Archive entry. These books have all started slow, and this one is no exception. The first 800 pages dragged on, giving us more questions than answers as we progressed through this twisting tale.
This is the first book in the series that didn't immediately capture my attention. I read all four and Warbreaker straight though, so I may have been a little burnt out on Sanderson's writing style. But I will tell you, the climax and ending of this book was among the most thrilling and satisfying I have ever read.
It's a slow burn, but well worth it. I love Brandon Sanderson's epic word building and unmatched wordplay. Can't wait for the fifth installment.
5/5 Stars
Recommendations from other indie authors
Fae Song
The Dark Elsewhere Collection
The Dark Elsewhere Collection
Her music is magic, and she will need every note to save their lives.
Gwynn has finally joined the ranks of the most prestigious guild of bards. Eager to explore the world and create her musical legacy, she heads to the dazzling city to impress with her skills. On the road she encounters an elite warrior wounded in an ambush, and fate demands they join forces to defeat the dark forces that have hijacked her past.
Can she free her world from enchantment before her soul shatters?
Fae Song is book one of the enchanting fantasy series Ballads of Balahar. A magical world of mysterious forces, splendid Celtic mythology, and a friendship stronger than time.
The Dark Elsewhere Collection
The Dark Elsewhere Collection
The Dark Elsewhere Collection
When dark forces threaten humanity, will Captain Sahara's superior training be enough for the impossible task at hand?
A killer, known only as ‘The Leveller’ is targeting elite VIPs that still back the old dystopian system which separated the privileged chipped and the lowly unchipped. Sahara is charged with solving the case. Yet, it is the suspect in the crimes that make this mystery truly perplexing. CCTV footage points to a man who has been in a coma for the past three years. A man with no past, has a wiped microchip and somehow came from the unchipped slums that caused the violent uprising that changed the system.
Upon waking from his coma with no memory, a hostile chain of events is unleashed. Sahara’s investigation throws her into a dangerous web of mystery and treason that crosses parallel worlds. For reasons not yet known, the ‘man with no past,’ Sahara, and her loved ones, find themselves hunted by a sadistic entity with superhuman strength and an appetite for destruction, hell bent on achieving a dark and twisted agenda.
Can Sahara restore peace? Or will all these intertwined worlds be jolted back into techno-slavery and the complete loss of human freedom?
Thunderfist and the Dragon
The Dark Elsewhere Collection
Thunderfist and the Dragon
The mountain dwarves of Balgavarr Reaches hold territory the neighboring Uruzak kingdom wants. When a presumptuous lava elf from Uruzak forms an alliance with the goblins of the Big Wet, a new and terrifying force grants the dwarves' enemy the key to an ancient evil: a plan to resurrect the elder dragon who once plagued the mountains and nearly drove the dwarves from their home once before.
Let There Be Dragons
Let There Be Dragons
Thunderfist and the Dragon
Fresh out of Immortal Testing, our antiheroes are deeply traumatized after being killed thousands of times in increasingly ghoulish ways to prove themselves capable of being Immortal. Kayn has become a Dragon, capable of shutting her emotions off. Zach has been made her Handler. They are brought to another world of Third-Tier to celebrate their victory, where Second-Tier are amusement for pure-blooded Immortals. Dark Comedy ensues as they are thrown into the deep end by their leader. The five new Ankh must sink or swim as they find their way through emerging powers and new dynamics. With Romance, thrilling Adventure and Comedy that will keep you giggling, the new Ankh start their forever jobs.
Emergence
Let There Be Dragons
Distant Gardens
Aliens have invaded the Milky Way.
Captain Martin and his fleet at the opposite end of our galaxy is all that stands between the emerging ancient aliens and certain destruction of humanity. Even with the help of powerful magic, the alien menace may be too much to overcome.
Elsewhere, Agent Hague chases down rumors of a secret cult after an assassination attempt on the president of the Federation's life.
With the emergence of the long-foretold aliens, the Federation stands on the brink of destruction. Can Captain Martin and his allies hold the line? Can Agent Hague uncover a plot within the Federation?
A tribute to Star Wars books of old, and the first book in a new trilogy in the existing Seven Stars Universe, "Emergence" is set nearly two thousand years after "Shadows Fall" and features cameos from many of the longer-lived heroes of ages past.
Distant Gardens
Let There Be Dragons
Distant Gardens
Rules were made to be broken.
From terraformed outposts to magical realms, journey to worlds where deadly plants, rampant biodiversity, or failed colonies have created irresistible opportunities for those brave enough to seize them.
New worlds, found family, mystical secrets, and deadly science weave together in this lesbian-centric anthology focusing on a very different kind of first time—a first encounter with a world, or being, entirely unlike our own.
If you like diverse stories with lesbian heroines practicing science, magic, and seduction, buy Distant Gardens today!
The Last Run
The Chosen Rainheart
The Stark Divide
Sera is the last runner from Earth, bringing badly needed supplies to the Tharassas Colony across a twenty-five year gulf between the planets. Jas works on a hencha farm to make ends meet, harvesting berries from the semi-sentient plants.
Neither one that knows their lives—and worlds—are about to change forever.
The Stark Divide
The Chosen Rainheart
The Stark Divide
Some stories are epic.
The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed.
Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of them—43 Ariadne, or Forever, as her inhabitants call her—a living world that carries the remaining hopes of humanity, and the three generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers working to colonize her.
From her humble beginnings as a seedling saved from disaster to the start of her journey across the void of space toward a new home for the human race, The Stark Divide tells the tales of the world, the people who made her, and the few who will become something altogether beyond human.
Humankind has just taken its first step toward the stars.
The Chosen Rainheart
The Chosen Rainheart
The Chosen Rainheart
In the magical rich world of Daedalus, there is a dark and immutable cycle fueled by the everyday evils practiced by the Humans, Elves, Beastfolk, and all races who inhabit the continents of the mortal world, due to an irreversible curse that will unknowingly and forever be passed on to their descendants, just as they had inherited it from their ancestors. Eventually, when the cycle comes full circle once more, the world will be reminded of the necessary punishment it shall suffer once again, bringing fire, decay, and death across the globe.
This is the story of Aurum Rainheart, a half-breed nobleman first tasked by the young queen of his homeland to personally request aid from an allied kingdom, after the queen’s fiancé was forced to flee with many of his people from their province, where an unholy plague was unleashed by dark forces. But this is merely a prelude to something far greater than anyone could imagine, as Aurum journeys across the vast regions of the continent to uncover the forgotten secrets and revelations of the world that will pull the people through the darkest period, or at least as much of them as possible. To do this, Aurum must restore an ancient long lost gift to the common ancestral race by those who watch from above.
Many heroes join alongside the half-breed nobleman warrior, including his loyal spell-casting step-sister, their jolly, overweight, but strong cousin, two mercenaries of different races who share a deep bond, and a beautiful, ambitious sorceress with dark powers, whom Aurum would marry one day.
Rope's Ruin
Shadows & Starstone
The Chosen Rainheart
Her most recent assignment seems routine. If she succeeds, she could lose the only thing she loves…
CE 2644. Alys Xoticos-Quinn is lucky to be alive. Sentenced to death for a justifiable crime, she’s instead magically forced on missions for the despotic Union. But when her latest mission uncovers a government infiltrated and corrupted by alien-possessed humans, the political fallout could claim her son… and her life.
Barely surviving an inhuman attack from a vicious, hungry spirit, Alys partners with a mysterious mage to hunt down the source of the terrifying possessions. But with Alys’s enemies determined to make certain this is her last job, if she can’t get to the truth in time, the next rabid assault may be fatal.
Can Alys expose callous tyranny before she loses everything?
Rope’s Ruin is the thrilling first book in the Justiciar’s Redemption post-apocalyptic dystopian series. If you like kick-butt heroines, high-stakes powerplays, and blending magic with technology, then you’ll love Daphne Moore’s powerful tale.
Shadows & Starstone
Shadows & Starstone
Shadows & Starstone
In a world ruled by darkness and deceit, the Immortals are the only ones working to fight an evil set free by petty gods.
Immortal Emaranthe and her found family are given the quest to protect a village. The enemy is coming for the Starstone hidden in their mines. With it, they can power portals to enable them to further spread destruction across the planet and into the universe.
Face to face with a sly Necromancer, they will face the ghosts of their pasts, of mortal lives stolen, along with the undead, and for the first time, they don’t know if they will win.
They sense something odd is lurking and not just the undead. Suspicions arise when their leaders turn a blind eye to the darker danger, disregarding their concerns, to push them into a mysterious quest. They’re hiding something...but what?
Story Origin
Shadows & Starstone
Shadows & Starstone
Reading list of Post Apocalyptic and Dystopian Journeys available for sale!