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Book Review – Magician by Raymond E. Fiest.

Magician (The Riftwar Saga, #1-2)

Magician by Raymond E. Feist

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Magician is an epic fantasy novel about the lives of Pug and those around him, their victories, their defeats, their friendships, oh… and there is magic.

The Cover: A good traditional fantasy cover that clearly demonstrates the genre and gives you some idea of what sort of story you’re going to get.

The good stuff: While Magician bears some similarities to Tolkien’s work, it is an epic tale in its own right. Feist has put an original spin on a plot that has been used before and has some well rounded characters. His world building is done well, creating different races and cultures in worlds far apart. The Magician has everything a great fantasy epic should have: magic, magical weapons and armour, dragons, elves, dwarves and more.

The Bad Stuff: If I said I had just read a book with wizards, dwarves, elves, goblins and a mad king, what would you think of? Well, The Magician is not the title that most people would think of. As mentioned above, there are a few similarities to another well read epic fantasy in this book. There’s also some over explaining and repetition, with a fair bit of telling in the writing style.

In my opinion, this is a great fantasy novel and is a much loved classic that deserves a space on the shelf of any true fantasy fan. This one gets 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks from me.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

amazon.com
amazon.com.au
Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries. 

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Ups and Downs and Silver Linings… Oh My.

Hello Readers,

A lot has been happening in my world lately. My partner and I have recently moved house. She hates that word by the way – ‘Partner’. She says it sounds like a business relationship – wants me to ‘make an honest woman’ of her. But I have digressed… we had our old place on the market; the sales market is slow, so we switched it to a rental and now have tenants in place. We are still trying to organize the new place. It’s much smaller, so we have had to refurnish and get rid of a lot of stuff.

I’ve also been out and about, exploring my new neighbourhood… and I’m loving it! I’m living in a Brisbane suburb called West End and it is really diverse. A crazy juxtaposition of new and old, rich and poor, shabby and chic. This makes it really interesting. There is so much to do here with all the transport options, cafes and bars, markets and communal gardens, the museums and theatres, thrift shops and second hand book stores, the list goes on…

In my day job I manage a team,  but we’ve all been told our jobs are being made redundant. I’ve been trying to support them through this and manage my own situation at the same time. Luckily I am a glass-half-full kind of guy, and as much as this is changing my life as I know it, I’m looking for the opportunities that come from these changes and encouraging them to do the same.

On the writing front I have been trying to maintain a presence at my Writers’ groups and critique the submissions that go hand-in-hand with them. All the change has taken a bit of a toll on my creativity though. With so much going on it’s been hard to knuckle down and write. So I took the opportunity to dig out an old book I was working on. One I finished a few years ago and never got around to publishing. It’s a non-fiction title that has been sitting on my hard drive collecting virtual dust. It’s a guide to self-publishing, but the longer it sat there the older the information was getting. Now I have pulled it off the drive, done an update to ensure the info is relevant and published it. Until things settle down a little I’m not sure when I will get back to the fiction titles I have been working on. I have started running a new ad for my ‘Blood Rage’ series and I’ll see how that goes as time ticks by. I’ve also pulled a couple of stories down from KDP select (which made them exclusive to amazon) and I have now published them across multiple channels.

For those that follow my blog, you may (or may not) have picked up that I’m a bit of an art lover. Well, West End is full of art, hopefully it will start to stimulate my creativity again. Anyway, while on my explorations I have been taking some photos and I thought I would share some with you. Here they are, enjoy!

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Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in some libraries. 

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New Release – Get Published: An Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing


Cover of book 'Get Published'

Hello Readers,

Here is another quick post to let you know about my latest book release,  ‘Get Published: An Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing’. This one is a non-fiction title that covers the topic of self-publishing from setting yourself up, to publishing your books. If you’ve always wanted to know how to go about self-publishing , why not grab yourself a copy here.

Happy Reading.

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in some libraries. 

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Book Review – Outlining Your Novel by K.M. Weiland

Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to SuccessOutlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Outlining Your Novel by K.M. Weiland is a non-fiction title that looks at the benefits and process of outlining a novel before you start writing.

The Cover: The cover is a great fit for this title. The image reflects the craft of writing and works well in the non-fiction genre.

The Good Stuff: This book covers the techniques of outlining well. The author shares her experience in a clear and concise manner. There is some great information in this book that would steer an author on a straight path with their writing.

The Bad Stuff: There are a lot of author interviews interspersed between chapters. At first, I found them interesting, but then they all became a bit boring. They all seemed to say the same thing, drumming home the message that outlining is good. It seemed like filler to me and I would have much preferred just one or two examples at the end of the book.

Overall, there is some great information in this book. If you want to learn about outlining, I would recommend you read this, it will certainly tell you what you need to know. If you already have a good grip on outlining, you probably won’t learn so much. If this is you, it may just confirm that what you are doing is the same as other authors, or maybe you’ll learn something new. I was going to give this 3 out of 5 golden bookmarks as I did learn a little and I enjoyed the book. On reflection, I think it holds a lot of value for beginner to intermediate writers and for that reason I’m ranking this one 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

amazon.com
amazon.com.au
Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries. 

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Good News! Easy Prey and Making Magic Coming to Even More Retailers.

Image by Jcrakow

Hello Readers,

Just a quick note to let you know that Easy Prey and Making Magic will soon be available from even more retailers. I am working on making them available from Apple, Barnes and Noble, and Overdrive as well as other retail outlets. So keep your eyes open as they should be available in the very near future.

Happy Reading.

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in some libraries. 

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Book Review – The Lascar’s Dagger by Glenda Larke.

The Lascar's Dagger (The Forsaken Lands, #1)

The Lascar’s Dagger by Glenda Larke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lascar’s Dagger is the tale of a Saker Rampion, a spy of the Va faith who, coerced by an enchanted dagger, is unwittingly drawn into a stranger’s quest.

The Cover: For me, this is a great cover. I love stories with thieves or assassins and I would grab this one off the shelf just at a glimpse of this cover. It is a strong fantasy cover in my opinion.

The Good Stuff: I really enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting and apart from Saker, they all have strong, clear traits and they stay ‘in character’ throughout the book. The author, Glenda Larke, builds a believable world with a diverse ensemble of characters. She has some creative ideas and weaves some interesting plot lines.

The Bad Stuff: In my opinion there are two major logic flaws within this story. The main character, Saker Rampion, is a veteran spy and I quote “the pontifect’s best; the hunter after truth, the clever spy, the sharp witted investigator.” For a man who is all this, I found him likeable, but incredibly stupid. Saker makes rash assumptions when there is evidence to the contrary. And then there is ‘the thing’ that princess Mathilda hides from the world. I won’t tell you what it is, that would spoil your read if you do take a gander at this tale, but honestly, I have my doubts that she could hide something like this, in this world, under the conditions imposed upon her. I also found some info dumping in the text and some ‘telling’, both of which could have easily been dealt with through different writing techniques.

As a reader it is easy for me to criticise Glenda Larke’s writing. As a writer, I know how easy it is to make these sort of mistakes and still not notice them after reading the story a hundred times. On the whole, Glenda has created an original story with some great characters, set in a believable world. Her prose makes for an enjoyable read and I will certainly read more of her works. I’m giving this one 4 out of 5 Golden bookmarks.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

amazon.com
amazon.com.au
Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries. 

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Kobo Promo – Blood Rage.

Blood Rage 3D Render

Hello Readers,

I’m just letting you know that I’m currently running a promo on Kobo.

From 23/7/18 until 13/8/18, you can grab a copy of

Blood Rage

for just $2.99 AUD.

Why not grab yourself  copy today.

Get My Copy Now

Happy reading!

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in some libraries. 

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Book Review – Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie.

Before They Are Hanged (The First Law, #2)

Before They Are Hanged

by Joe Abercrombie

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Before They Are Hanged is the continuation of The First Law series and follows the stories of the First of the Magi, Logen Ninefingers, Ferro, and many more of the host of characters within the book.

The Cover: Not a terrible cover, quite simple and plain, but nothing special. It does fit well with the others in this series and conveys the genre.

The good stuff: This book has a full cast of characters and Mr Abercrombie moves easily from one to another allowing the story to flow. I love the relationship between Logen Nine fingers and Ferro, The sudden shifts in temperament of Bayaz, the character arc Jezal Dan Luthar moves through as his character grows and there is so much more to love within the pages of this book. The story and the characters paths come together like a peacocks feather: Beautiful, colourful, and consisting of numerous barbs that all seem to converge on a pointed spine. Joe has created a dangerous, intriguing world and I absolutely love it. I have come to expect great things from Joe Abercrombie and he did not disappoint me with this novel.

The Bad Stuff: As with most other novels I’ve read by Joe, the only bad thing is that the book comes to an end and you want more.

In my opinion, this is a superbly written fantasy novel with a well established society, governments, clans, etc… The action, twists and political scheming keeps coming and holds the readers interest until the end. There are some richly described places, well defined characters and interesting fantasy elements. I have come to expect great things from Joe Abercrombie and he has not let me down with this fantastic novel. Call me biased if you will, but JA is without doubt my favourite author and I’m giving this one a blood thirsty 5 out of 5 golden bookmarks with a huge, deranged grin.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

amazon.com
amazon.com.au
Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries. 

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Book Review – Story Genius by Lisa Cron

Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel by Lisa Cron

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a non-fiction title that looks at planning and forming connections between your characters and the reader’s emotions using the craft of writing.

The Cover: The cover is a good fit with the non-fiction genre and the image is fitting for the concept spoken about within the book.

The Good Stuff: This book covers some of the techniques a writer needs to know: Plotting, planning, characters arcs, etc… but it is done an entirely new way compared to other books I have read on these topics. There is some great information in this book and I did find the concept interesting and somewhat enlightening. The author is obviously talented and experienced in this field, and shares a wealth of her knowledge with the reader. I certainly found some insights into new ways of looking at things that I will put into use.

The Bad Stuff: I hate to say it, but I struggled through this book. I struggled because I like to get to the point quickly, but the author seems to waffle on a bit too much for me. I’m not saying it was a bad book, because it wasn’t bad by any means. I struggled because the examples were in a genre I do not read. I struggled because the author tries to make a closer connection with the reader. I struggled because it was too nice and fluffy for me. I can see many readers would love this, but it isn’t for me.

Overall, for a writer, there is value in reading this book. If you write romance or ‘chick lit’ you will probably love it. If it were written using horror or fantasy examples and was more succinct, I would have raved about it. As it stands, I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. I’m ranking this one 3 out of 5 golden bookmarks for a worthwhile lesson in connecting with readers.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

amazon.com
amazon.com.au
Get it on Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries. 

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Book Review – How To Be A Writer: Secrets from the Inside by Stewart Ferris.

How to Be a Writer: Secrets from the InsideHow To Be A Writer: Secrets from the Inside

by Stewart Ferris

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How To Be A Writer: Secrets from the Inside by Stewart Ferris is a non-fiction title that provides information, tips and techniques on the craft of writing.

The Cover: This cover fits the non-fiction genre and clearly defines what the book is about.

The Good Stuff: There is some great information in this book and it is written in a plain, down to earth style that makes it easy to read. The author is open and clearly conveys his sound knowledge of each of the topics covered. This would be a great book for someone just starting out as a writer. For the seasoned writer, you will not gain as much, you may learn something new or you may not, but at the least I would say you will gain some inspiration or a reminder of something you have let your focus slip from.

The Bad Stuff: There really isn’t anything bad to say about this book. As mentioned in the good stuff, if you are an experienced writer, I doubt that you will gain much from this book, but the experienced writer is not the target audience. So, if this is you, do not expect anything new or ground-breaking, look for the one or two tips, some inspiration or a refresh of something you’ve loosened your grip on.

Overall, if I were new to writing, this would be a welcomed addition to my bookshelf. As a writer with some experience, I still found some value in this book, therefore, I’m giving this one a pen pushing 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

amazon.com
amazon.com.au
Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries. 

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