• 5.0 Stars

    Book Review: The Tears of Ishtar, by Michael Ehart 

    Published on 05-27-2010 10:24 AM  Number of Views: 328 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. Sword & Sorcery
    3. 5.0 Stars
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    The Tears of Ishtar, by Michael Ehart
    Reviewed by Mary Rosenblum

    Publisher:Ancient Tomes Press
    Year Published: 2010

    I am a long time fan of classic sword and sorcery fantasy, having first met it by way of Robert Howard and Conan, then moved on to Marion Zimmer Bradley’s sorcerer-warriors and Fritz Leiber’s Lankhmar tales of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. All too often, however, I find the plots predictable, and the characters no more than cardboard puppets dancing to the tune of that pretentious plot. ...
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    Book Review: Jack of all Trades, by K. C. Shaw 

    Published on 05-27-2010 08:27 AM  Number of Views: 273 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Jack of all Trades, by K. C. Shaw
    Reviewed by Mary Rosenblum

    Publisher:Ancient Tomes Press
    Year Published: 2009

    I am not a fan of ‘cute’. Sorry. Pictures of kittens and puppies being adorable make me roll my eyes and books that depend on that ‘cute puppy’ factor usually end up in the ‘Friends of the Library’ donation box. So when I received K.C. Shaw’s ‘Jack of All Trades’ with its cute picture of a couple chatting over a white picket fence while a plump (and cute) red dragon chased a butterfly, I did the eye-roll and glanced longingly at the ‘Friends of the Library’ box. But I did say I’d read it, so I sat down to sample the first chapter and see if this was something that I could finish or if I was right and the library needed to benefit. ...
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    Review: Bigfoot War, by Eric S. Brown 

    Published on 05-24-2010 10:29 PM  Number of Views: 345 
    Categories:
    1. Horror
    2. Dark Fantasy
    3. 5.0 Stars
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    Bigfoot War, by Eric S. Brown
    Reviewed by G. A. Bixler

    Publisher:Coscom Entertainment
    Year Published: 2010

    Eric S. Brown, according to his bio, has been called "The King of the Zombies;" however, since I had never read any of his work before, I would have to think that he might also now become King of the BigFoot!

    Bigfoot War is not for those who cannot appreciate a great slasher or splatter book or movie. Soooo, you are now warned... ...
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    Review: Red Seas Under Red Skies, by Scott Lynch 

    Published on 05-16-2010 06:40 PM  Number of Views: 183 
    Categories:
    1. Historical Fantasy
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Red Seas Under Red Skies, by Scott Lynch
    Reviewed by Paul Weiss

    Publisher:Spectra
    Year Published: 2008

    The swashbuckling con games and escapades continue!

    Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen, the two badly beaten and shocked, weary remnants of The Gentlemen Bastards, continue their picaresque fantastical escapades in fine form! ...
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    Review: Last Argument of Kings, by Joe Abercrombie 

    Published on 05-06-2010 10:38 AM  Number of Views: 476 
    Categories:
    1. Fantasy
    2. 5.0 Stars
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    Last Argument of Kings, by Joe Abercrombie
    Reviewed by S. J. Higbee

    Publisher:Gollancz
    Year Published: 2009

    The golden rule in any character-led story is to make said characters sympathetic so that the reader cares what will happen to them and thus engage fully with the book. Well, Joe Abercrombie trashed that one. His main protagonists are an amoral, power-mad Mage... a hard-bitten warrior whose berserker rages cause him to commit unspeakable acts of barbarity... a drunken, embittered woman who has a love affair because she can’t think of anything better to do... the cowardly, arrogant fool she slept with... Oh -- did I mention the scheming cripple who tortures innocent people for a living? ...
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