Reviews from the Spring Based Book Sale
All books 99 cents or free until next Tuesday
Today, the
begins. All books in it are either free or 99 cents.
I’ve read a fair and reviewed number of books in it, and thought I’d put together some quick reviews to help you buy some. Also, my very own series The Lives of Velnin (AMAZON LINK) is also in the sale, with the first book *FREE* and currently the #2 book in its category—I’ll put some reviews of it by others at the end. If you don’t have it yet, give it a download and let’s get it to #1! I also plan to read and review a few more books in the sale—if you want me to give your book a whirl, let me know!
Without further ado, order chosen by random number generator, here are some reviews!
Reviews
Iron Chamber of Memory by John C Wright
Mysterious, dark, both modern and Arthurian, dreamy, supernatural, romantic, and just plain good. It’s as if one took everything Neil Gaiman was purported to be good at it, and had an actually good writer make a better version with a better premise. Traditionalist Catholics like me may be warned that there’s some naughty unmarried stuff in it, but I still get to recommend the book because it’s made pretty clear by the end it’s a terrible idea.
If you want a longer review, here’s one from Upstream Reviews by my fellow reviewer and all-around excellent writer, Declan Finn:
Pirates of the Electromagnetic Waves (Yankee Republic Book 1) by Fenton Wood
An enjoyable boy’s adventure story set in a mysterious alternate history, centering around the creation of a pirate radio station in an isolated mountain valley. Mischief, electronics nerdiness, and low-stakes small town adventure abound. The characters are fun, the premise is great, and mysterious details about the setting are sprinkled throughout to keep the reading thinking and guessing.
An Inconvenient Presidency: The Time-Traveling Misadventures of President Al Gore (Presidents of the Uncanny States of America)
by Eric M. Hamilton
An Inconvenient Presidency is a hilarious romp: a time loop story, a multiverse story, and a brilliant political satire, all rolled up into a no-holds-barred joy of a read.
I was amazed by how entertaining a political satire could be which takes aim at no party or ideology, but simply celebrates the hilarious gaffes and mannerisms of many of America’s famous figures, while telling an enjoyable story. Not to mention, we have the best and most plausible explanation for Al Gore’s 2000 campaign I have ever read.
Here’s a longer review I wrote for Upstream Reviews:
The Complete Father Brown Mysteries ($.99 Mystery Classics) by G.K. Chesterton
A collection of mysteries, murders and all, from one of the greatest British Catholic writers of a century ago. Witty, fun, Catholic, and satisfying, these stories are an enjoyable romp and a fresh take on the great tradition of British detective fiction from Sherlock Holmes onward.
Inquisitor’s Promise by Michael P. Marpaung
Mechas, Wyvern Knights, Dragonball Fighters, Catgirl Ninjas, and Catholics take on Nanotech Borg
An intensely Catholic military tour-de-force set after the year 7000, this book details a series of battles to unite Christendom, then bring its full force against the world-ending peril of a nanotech Grey Globe that suborns all it touches.
This is not just a battle-laden piece of military sci-fi, but also a deep homage to the history of genre fiction, taking inspirations from such greats as Virgil, C.S. Lewis, and Miguel de Cervantes. Beyond the sheer spectacle of catgirl ninjas fighting against and alongside mecha robots, we also have deeply religious character development within the frame of a traditional pulp fiction/fairytale prince-and-space-princess tale, with not one, not two, but five different princesses, not to mention a number of princes.
A whole lot of fun combined with deep underlying meaning and philosophy.
The Santara Commentaries, Book 1: The Padri by Michael P. Marpaung
Imagine the tactical military sci-fi of Jerry Pournelle, e.g. in Janissaries. Take that tactical mindset, put it in the mind of an amnesiac protagonist, and have him direct a motley crew of 17th-century soldiers including swordsmen, musketeers, cannon, wyvern cavalry, elemental magic blasters riding pegasi, and more, against an evil empire. Set this all in an alternate history version of the many islands of Indonesia.
Epic? Yes. Awesome? Yes. Wargame-nerd well-thought out strategies, tactics, and battles? Definitely in this book.
Here’s a longer review I wrote for Upstream Reviews:
Somewhither by John C Wright
The Golden Compass done right, by Wright (har!) who actually thinks things through, and makes a far more intense, action-laden book to boot. Think about it, if GOLDEN-COMPASS-SPOILERS-FOOTNOTE1 the hero would be morally virtuous, fight demons and their servants, kick major butt, and eschew this golden compass stuff.
White Ops by Declan Finn
An action-packed interstellar fleet political military sci-fi Catholic thriller featuring an interspecies space station theoretically dedicated to bringing peace—it’s something like taking the best parts of Babylon-5 and jazzing them up with more epic fight sequences as well as cooler deep worldbuilding ideas. Here’s an actual detailed review:
An Honorable Mention: The Forerunner: A GameLit Progression Fantasy by james.clay.author@gmail.com
I’m partway into this one. A very well-thought-out isekai progression fantasy, with much more ideas and depth going into it than most. Good humor, action, and survival, and an awesome protagonist that’s impossible not to cheer for.
My Books in the Sale: The Lives of Velnin
From some reviews by other people:
“Fast Paced Amazing Story That Will Keep You Hooked
Before i start i want to say this. The Lives of Velnin has got to be the fastest paced novel i have ever read, and the author wrote it fabulously. The fast pace is part of the beauty of the novel and the story kept me hooked all through book 1.
The story is incredible, its fast-paced, action packed and keeps you hooked on every chapter. it hooks you from the first chapter and refuses to let go.”
“Fast, Fierce, and Full of Surprises
This story is incredibly fast-paced and action-packed, with plenty of thrilling moments that keep you hooked. The action chapters are intense and well-crafted, with the action vividly described, but the gore is toned down, making it more like bloodless, ruthless fight scenes. When the story shifts to romance, it’s like a whirlwind.”
“It’s a wild ride mixed with epic action sequences that dive into romance, treachery and conflict.”
“Fastest fiction around
Everything I have to say about this story has to be relative to the speed it was delivered. This is by far the fastest thing I’ve ever read. It is so fast, delivered in bite sized chunks that I was at chapter 10 before I knew it. There is not a single word that is wasted here.”
Conclusion
Go buy some awesome books. It won’t cost you very much. If you want to check out all the other books in the sale, head on over:
GOLDEN COMPASS SPOILERS: if dudes communicated with demons using golden compasses in order to predict the future, these dudes would obviously be the bad guys, not the hero. And the hero would not be a liar who obeys demons, as in Pullman’s version, but as in Wright’s story the hero would be morally virtuous, fight demons and their servants, kick major butt, and eschew this golden compass stuff.