Author: admin

Posted on

Book Review – Story Grid by Shawn Coyne.

The Story Grid: What Good Editors KnowThe Story Grid: What Good Editors Know by Shawn Coyne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Story Grid is a book by editor, Shawn Coyne. The book gives you an insightful look into the technique he uses to break down a story, to analyse it in all its parts and find out what is not working.

The Cover: What I like about this non-fiction cover is that the image combined with the title and a clear font make it a good fit for the genre. The red line reminds me of the heart beat display on a ECG in hospitals, which is appropriate as this book talks about story beats. The thing I do not like about the cover is that it isn’t really clear what the content is about. You can see it relates to writing, it also alludes to plotting, but it doesn’t really convey that it looks into analysing a story to discover what isn’t working.

The Good Stuff: This book gives an insightful look into an editors technique for finding flaws in a story. I have definitely gained some useful knowledge from reading this book.

The Bad Stuff: There is a fair bit of repetition within the pages of this book, while it could be considered as a technique the author has used to ensure you remember the important stuff, it felt more like filler to me.

On the whole this was an informative read for me, while I knew some of the details within, it gave me a better understanding of how to use the information I have at hand in a constructive way to better my writing. Will I use the Story Grid to break down all my stories? Probably not, but it has created a better awareness of what I am doing and what to look out for. I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Posted on

Book Review – The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is one of those stories that is loved by many. It is the story of Kvothe, a legend in his own right, hiding out in a small village. But trouble has a way of finding heros.

The Cover: There are a few covers floating around for this title. The one I have is not the one depicted on this post. The cover I have is of a cloaked figure, silhouetted against the light at the end of a tunnel of foliage. I really like the cover art on this book. It has good fantasy fonts and an image that aligns with the genre.

The Good Stuff: This really is a great fantasy story with an array of interesting characters, good and bad alike. A travelling troupe, music, magic, creepy creatures and intrigue are all wrapped up in this novel.

The Bad Stuff: For me, it was the way this book was written that detracted from my enjoyment of what could have been an amazing read. A large chunk of the tale unravels as the main character, Kvothe, narrates his lifestory to a scribe. This didn’t work for me at all.

I had high expectations for this novel. I had heard great things from the many fans out there that love this novel, but while I liked the story itself, I struggled with the style it was written in. I’m only giving this one 3 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

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

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup

Posted on

Book Review – Writing Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson.

Writing Fiction for DummiesWriting Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Writing fiction for dummies is a guide for writers the covers of on pretty much everything you need to know about writing.

The Cover: The cover for this book is the perfect fit. It is clear to the reader that it is a non-fiction title, the fonts and colours work, and the branding aligns with other “for Dummies” titles on the market.

The Good Stuff: This book has a heap of useful information for writers that are beginning their journey. Even intermediate writers will get a lot from this book as it is jam packed with useful information.

The Bad Stuff: There is a fair bit of repetition in this book and you may find yourself frustrated by it or skipping over bits here and there because of it.

On the whole this is a very informative read, it covers off on pretty much everything. If you are just starting out as a writer and looking for a book with info on writing techniques, planning, editing and publishing, this would be a good choice. It 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.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup

Posted on

Book Review – The Sword of Shanara by Terry Brooks.

The Sword of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy, #1)The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Sword of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel about a vale man torn from his normal life and thrown into a quest to retrieve the Sword of Shannara and destroy the Dark Lord to save the world as he knows it.

The Cover: This is a great fantasy cover with all the elements you would expect to see.

The Good Stuff: The storyline is good and would be enjoyable for those who have not read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or those that will not be bothered by the similarities.

The Bad Stuff: This book has some stark similarities to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. There is a Dark Lord, black wraiths, small vale men, elves, a strange wizard that disappears on other errands and a crazy gnome who has a magical item. This really irked me. There is also some repetition, overuse of words and a writing style that tells rather than shows.

In my opinion, this is a good fantasy novel let down by the fact that it is so similar to another authors work and yet, not quite as good. For this reason I’m only giving it 2 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

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

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup

Posted on

Book Review – Better Critiquing for Better Writing by Kelly Hart.

Better Critiquing for Better Writing: Use Writing Feedback to Craft Your Story, Refine Your Message and Become a Better WriterBetter Critiquing for Better Writing: Use Writing Feedback to Craft Your Story, Refine Your Message and Become a Better Writer by Kelly Hart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Better Critiquing for Better Writing by Kelly Hart is a non-fiction title that covers the ins and outs of critiquing.

The Cover: This book has a simple cover that certainly fits with the non-fiction genre. The colours and fonts are clear, and the title states the intention of the content, making it a great fit. My only criticism is that it gives off a slight business feel to me, and while this is not entirely out of place, I would have preferred an image more aligned with writing.

The Good Stuff: At 106 pages, this book is a quick, concise, and informative read. I liked the fact that there is no waffle. The topic of critiquing is covered well, from how to find a critique group that’s right for you, to writing a good critique. There are some handy tips and references, and the information is direct and practical. There are also some good, clear examples of critiques given within the book itself. I see the primary audience as writers that are looking at joining a critique group for the first time. However, this would also be a great asset to someone who is relatively new to critiquing and could also benefit those who want to write book reviews.

The Bad Stuff: There are only some very minor issues here for me. The main thing I would say is that this book is more about critiquing than using critiques to improve your writing (as the title suggests). It does provide details on how to use critiques to improve, but it didn’t feel like this was the main subject of the book. I think a slightly different title with more emphasis on critiquing, than how to use critiques to improve your writing, would have suited better. There are also a couple of interactive and very short ‘check box’ surveys at the beginning of the book which I felt were unnecessary, but this may just come down to my own personal preference. The other thing worth noting here is that being published in 2013 some of the links referred to within the book may not be current, but the same could be said of many books and I do not hold this against the author.

Overall, I’d say this is a good book for beginners to critiquing. It’s well written and easy to understand. There is no unrequired wordage trying to fill the pages and the guiding information that is provided is as relevant today as it would have been in 2013 when the book was published. Putting the minor issues aside and considering the target audience for this title, I’m giving the book 5 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

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

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com

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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup

Posted on

Book Review – The High Lord by Trudi Canavan.

The High Lord (Black Magician Trilogy, #3)The High Lord by Trudi Canavan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The High Lord is the third book in Trudi Canavan’s Black Magician Trilogy. It carries on the journey of Sonea as she continues to learn the art of magic. In this final instalment, Sonea and Akkarin have been exiled from Kyralia for the use of Black Magic.

The Cover: I love this cover, the white background gives it a crisp look and the the robed figure holding a staff screams fantasy to me. The font choices work well too bringing the whole thing together in a beautiful cover that represents the book and the genre well.

The Good Stuff: This story carries on the story from the previous 2 books. It is set in a well defined world with colourful cultures and continues to interest with its familiar characters and plot twists. The story flows smoothly and brings the series to a good conclusion.

The Bad Stuff: As with previous Trudi Canavan books, I struggled with the internal monologue and its use to lead the reader. There are some obvious plot twists that could have been presented more subtly.

Overall, this was a great end to the Black Magician series. The bad stuff aside, I did enjoy all three books in the series and so far, have found this title to be my favourite of Trudi’s books both inside and outside of this series. I give 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.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup

Posted on

Book Review – The Novice by Trudi Canavan.

The Novice (Black Magician Trilogy, #2)The Novice by Trudi Canavan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is part 2 of the Black Magician Trilogy and continues the story of Sonea as she develops her skills as a magician.

The Cover: I really like this cover, the image and fonts work together to create a great fantasy cover that comes together with the other books in the series.

The Good Stuff: This is an interesting fantasy story with a world that is well developed. The magic system is established in book 1 and this book builds on that, as well as the characters, adding more dimension to them and the world.

The Bad Stuff: As with the first novel, I was frustrated by the internal monologue. This is a mechanism that is well used by writers to lead (or mislead) the reader. It just seems to be very obvious to me when Trudi uses this technique.

I personally enjoyed this more than the first book in this Trilogy. This series is a good read with a few twists you won’t see coming. I give it 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

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

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup

Posted on

Book Review – The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

The Princess BrideThe Princess Bride by William Goldman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a story of love and adventure. It is the story of a farm boy who falls in love, goes away to make his fortune and gets captured by a pirate, and returns to save his true love from marrying a conniving prince.

The Cover: There are a few editions of this book, the cover on the edition I have depicts a man in black (think Zorro) holding a sword which cuts through the title, replacing the I’s in the words Princess and Bride. I would say it conveys an adventurous story in the fantasy genre. I have no issues with the font types, but some words are in red and do not show up clearly against the red background of the cover.

The Good Stuff: First let me say that I loved the movie and I watched it over and over with my daughters when they were younger. I was pleased to see the movie had been true to the book (mostly anyway). I loved the humour, the characters are just as they were depicted in the movie, the key lines in the movie are word for word from the book, and the Arch dean really was written with a speech impediment. The book generally moves along at a good pace and was mostly an enjoyable story.

The Bad Stuff: Okay, something that didn’t come through to me in the movie was the sexism. If it had, I certainly would not have watched the movie over and over with my daughters. This really irked me about the book. Buttercup is made out to be simple and is shut down, ignored and disregarded by the male characters throughout the pages. I understand this title was first published in the early 70’s, but that doesn’t make it any less disappointing. The other issue I had with the book is that I found it very dull and even a little confusing at the start. I almost gave up on it until I got to chapter 4 and that’s where it really turned around for me. However, the constant interjections are not done nearly as well in the book as they were in the movie.

Overall, aside from the very slow start, I enjoyed the story. But if you ask me, this is one instance where the movie is better than the book. I’m only giving this one a sword swishing 3 out of 5 golden bookmarks and that’s bolstered by my fond memories of the movie.

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

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup

Posted on

Having Déjà Vu? Don’t Worry, You’re Not Going Crazy.

pexels-photo-1130980
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Hello Readers,

If you’re feeling like you’ve seen some of my posts before, don’t worry. I am in the progress of re-posting book reviews from my old wordpress site (so they can all be found in the one place). As some of these reviews were written a long time ago, I have also been making some small changes to them to standardise the format and improve them a little. However, I’m not rewriting them completely and therefore they may seem a little less informative than usual. Sorry about that, but I feel I would need to re-read the books to write more comprehensive reviews… and that would take me forever. I guess what I’m trying to say is they are a little rough around the edges compared to my more recent reviews. Anyway, I hope there are one or two you haven’t already seen and that you get some enjoyment from them (even if it just highlights how much my reviews have improved).

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 libraries.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup

Posted on

Book Review – 5 Secrets Of Story Structure: How To Write A Novel That Stands Out by K.M.Weiland

5 Secrets of Story Structure: How to Write a Novel That Stands Out (Helping Writers Become Authors Book 6)

5 Secrets of Story Structure: How to Write a Novel That Stands Out by K.M. Weiland

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Review – 5 Secrets of Story Structure by KM Weiland
5 Secrets of Story Structure by KM Weiland covers off on the fundamentals of structuring a novel.

The Cover: This is a solid non-fiction cover that clearly conveys what the book is about.

The Good Stuff: This book is well presented and provides the formula for writing a good story in an easy to understand way. The content is very similar to Planning Your Novel by Janice Hardy, but presented in a slightly different format. From memory, I paid around $16.00 for the Janice Hardy book and I have no regrets, but (at time of writing this review) this one by KM Weiland is currently free on Amazon and Kobo and is just as insightful. Excellent value and a great book for anyone who needs to gain a better understanding of story structure.

The Bad Stuff: If there is any bad advice in this book I couldn’t find it. My only qualm would be with the term ‘plot points’. In my opinion this term is a little vague and did not fit, but this is only my opinion and it is a minor thing considering the value of the content in this book.

Overall, this book will be of great use to those starting out with their writing and anyone who struggles with story structure. It will teach you the fundamentals of the structure required to write a good story in an easy to understand, tried and tested way. I’m giving it 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

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

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
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.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

Trio Mockup