Tag: Reading

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Book Review – The Magicians’ Guild by Trudi Canavan.

The Magicians' Guild (Black Magician Trilogy, #1)
The Magicians’ Guild by Trudi Canavan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Magicians’ Guild is basically a story about Sonea, a girl with innate magical abilities that appear when she throws a stone at a magician of the guild in anger. On realising she has magical power the guild search to find her before her magic consumes her, but she thinks they want punish her for throwing the stone and so is in hiding.

The Cover: There is a great cover on this book. The Black image on the white background is clean and crisp. The font works really well and the image is a good fit. All together it clearly represents the genre and targets the audience it is aimed at.

The Good Stuff: I liked the different characters and cultures within this story. The character is likeable and well developed and crosses a clear arc within the story. The world is also well established.

The Bad Stuff: Trudi Canavan tends to use a lot of internal thought to convey what she wants the reader to know or think, this irritated me a little. Some of the story was also a little predictable.

Overall this was a very enjoyable book, Trudy Canavan has created a solid fantasy world with interesting characters that will carry you through the story and leave you wanting more. 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
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 – The Orc King by R.A. Salvatore.

The Orc King (Forgotten Realms: Transitions, #1; Legend of Drizzt, #17)

The Orc King by R.A. Salvatore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Orc King is a classic fantasy novel about the search for peace amid the struggle for power.

The Cover: I love this cover. The artwork is great and screams fantasy, but if it wasn’t clear enough the title cements it in the genre. The font also works with this title.

The good stuff: The characters are well rounded and interesting. I aslo liked the magical weapons, the creatures, and the locations. The story is set in a well established world and has all the elements of a good fantasy novel.

The Bad Stuff: There are some over technical explanations within the fight scenes that detract from the story. Some long and clunky sentences.

In my opinion, this is a great fantasy novel with Orcs, Elves, Dwarves, magic and magical weapons. What more could you ask for? 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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Book Review – Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by David Gerrold

Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy

Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by David Gerrold

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Worlds of Wonder – How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by David Gerrold is a non-fiction title for writers who are looking to learn about the craft of writing in the genres of science fiction and fantasy.

The Cover: I really wasn’t sold on this cover. It didn’t really suggest the book was non-fiction, the picture didn’t really work for me, and I really didn’t like the font used on the title and author name. It made the book look less professional to me. If I took the text away from the cover all together, this could have been a sci-fi, horror, or thriller novel in my opinion.

The Good Stuff: Wow! I thought the last book I read on the craft of writing was good, but this book blew me away. This has to be the best book for writers that I have read. David Gerrold really has a firm grip on the craft. I am the target audience for this book and it did its job, really hitting the mark for me. The chapters are succinct, no waffle, no filler, no repeating the same thing 3 times, just solid direct writing. The words run smoothly and make perfect sense to me as a writer and to top it all off, my version was published in 2001. David Gerrold’s text is relevant today as much as it was back then and seems to be timeless.

The Bad Stuff: I’m pretty sure I have covered all the bad stuff in the cover section.

Overall, I found this book to be pretty amazing. If you can only afford to buy one book on writing this year I would recommend you make it this one. It is clear and concise, covers a wealth of information, provides some solid advice, and the writing is interesting. This one is getting a star making, writer creating 5 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.

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

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Have You Done Your Christmas Shopping Yet?

selective focus photography of gift box on brown wooden surface
Photo by Thais Araujo on Pexels.com

Hello Readers,

It’s almost Christmas! With everyone shopping for pressies, I thought it would be a good time for me to apply to become an amazon associate. What does that mean? Well, if I’m accepted as an amazon associate and you go to amazon and purchase something via an affiliate link on my website, I get a small payment for the referral. But don’t worry, you do not get charged anything extra on your purchase, the payment I receive comes out of amazon’s pockets. So heads up… I will be using affiliate links in this post and on my site from now on.

With Christmas just around the corner you can pick up some great deals from amazon, and if you get in quick, they still have their Black Friday deals on.

For those fantasy readers out there, here are a couple of my own personal picks for you:

How about one of Australian author Alicia Wanstall-Burke’s fantasy novels:

Blood of Heirs (The Coraidic Sagas Book 1)

Blood of Heirs,

and her new release,

Legacy of Ghosts (The Coraidic Sagas Book 2)

Legacy of Ghosts,

Or if you’re thinking of taking a break from reading over the festive season, these escape games will get your mind working. And if you’re a writer, maybe they will give you some inspiration for your next novel.

Thames & Kosmos Exit Games: Polar Station, Forbidden Castle, and Forgotten Island (Set of 3)

Exit The Game

Happy reading and I hope you enjoy your Christmas shopping.

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.

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Do You Like Book Quotes? Here’s One From ‘Low Life’.

Hello readers,

Here is another quote I’ve dug up for you, this one is from the short horror story ‘Low Life’.

FB Quote 3 LL

What are your favourite book quotes? Let me know in the comments.

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.

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Book Review – Eyes Like Butterflies by Terence Hodgson

Eyes Like ButterfliesEyes Like Butterflies by Terence Hodgson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eyes Like Butterflies by Terence Hodgson is a non-fiction title packed full with similes and metaphors from English literature.

The Cover: The cover is simple and clean looking. I wouldn’t say the design depicts the book as a non-fiction title, as I could just as easily see it working on the cover of a fiction novel. However, it is not a cover that doesn’t work for non-fiction and I think it suits the title quite well.

The Good Stuff: As the book blurb alludes to, this really is a treasure trove of similes and metaphors, from the short and snappy to the longer and poetic. They are indexed from A to Z under headings relevant to the content, such as: eyes, smiles, etc. Whatever your taste, you are bound to find something that resonates with you within the pages of this title.

The Bad Stuff: To me this is more of a reference guide than a read through book. I found myself skimming for content I like, just because there are so many metaphors and similes.

Overall, this is a great book for writers or poets to stimulate their imaginations (or readers who like this sort of thing). It gets a ‘mind-stiring like clothes in a tumble dryer’ 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

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.

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Love Fantasy and Horror? So Who is Your Favourite Author?

Hello Readers,

It’s no secret that my favourite fantasy author is Joe Abercrombie. I’ve said it before and no doubt I will say it again. I just love his writing style, the way he crafts his characters, the way he plots, do I need to go on? I could but I will save you from my ravings. The point is I thought I would throw the question out to you and see what comes back. So, here it is. Who is your favourite fantasy or horror author? You can let me know in the comments below.

Happy Reading!

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Book Review – Creating Characters (How to Build Story People) by Dwight V. Swain

Creating Characters: How to Build Story PeopleCreating Characters – How to Build Story People by Dwight V. Swain is a non-fiction title for writers that delves into the art of character creation.

The Cover: I’ll start by saying that this book is almost 30 years old. Yet, while the cover art feels somewhat dated, it is only due to the character images and the clothing they wear. But then, they are characters and no doubt represent the stories they are set in. The colours are vibrant, the font is clear and it is a simple and clean cover. Combine this with the title and it represents a great match for the contents of this book. It clearly depicts the topic in a visual representation of the content inside.

The Good Stuff: There is solid advice within this book that will help writers create better characters. The advice is explained well, simple to understand, and helpful. There are things that I know that I’d say are common sense, yet the author made me stop and think about them, considering them more than I would have if I had not read this title. I found the book interesting in places and breezed through these sections with gusto.

The Bad Stuff: I felt there was unnecessary wordage in places that stunted the read for me. It was explaining things more than once or a little too much. I didn’t feel this way all through the book though, only in places, and it was easy to scan over and pick up the thread further on.

Overall, this is a good book for anyone who wants to gain a clear insight into creating interesting characters. If all it does is stimulate your mind to think a little more about people’s drives, quirks, and mannerisms, I’d say it has done its job. I’m giving this one a thought-provoking 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.

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Book Review – Wrath of Empire by Brian McClellan.

Wrath of Empire (Gods of Blood and Powder, #2)Wrath of Empire by Brian McClellan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wrath of Empire by Brian McClellan thrusts us into a world in turmoil to follow the paths of 3 main characters. Lady Flint, Michel Bravis, and Ben Styke. War rages, vengeance is sought by many, espionage is all around, and there is a race to find an ancient source of power that could make or break civilisations.

The Cover: I really like this cover. It’s simple, yet effective. It aligns well with the story and it fits the genre.

The Good Stuff: Wow! I loved this book. The author knows how to leave each chapter on a cliff hanger. He switches character point of view (POV) at the end of each chapter as we follow the stories of several main characters, but he clearly grounds the reader in the POV character at the start of the new chapter. The characters are strong individuals and I love the gritty feel and conflict in each of them. The story develops well and all comes together nicely at the end.

The Bad Stuff: The only niggle I have is that the author does a little info dump at the introduction of each new character. It would have been brilliant if he had weaved the description in seamlessly, but these seams show, making them a little rough round the edges. Having said this, they are relatively short and once the characters’ descriptions have been introduced it is easy to get lost in the story again.

Overall, while Brian McClellan hasn’t knocked my favourite author from his number 1 spot, this is a great fantasy story and I really enjoyed it. The characters are all unique and interesting in their own way. The little niggles did little to dampen my enjoyment and I will be happy to read more from this author. This one is getting a solid powder-enhanced 5 out of 5 golden bookmarks from me.

Want to see 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.

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Book Review – A Keeper’s Tale by JA Andrews

A Keeper's Tale: The Story of Tomkin and the Dragon

A Keeper’s Tale: The Story of Tomkin and the Dragon by J.A. Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Keeper’s Tale by JA Andrews is the tale of a boy living in the shadow of his older brother, a girl running away from her past and a dragon seeking revenge.

The Cover: I love this cover. It is interesting, it is professional, it depicts the story beautifully and it conveys that it fits in the fantasy genre.

The Good Stuff: This book was a freebie for signing up to JA Andrews blog and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. Other than the couple of points noted above, it was well written. In fact, there were parts in the beginning section that I really loved because they were so well written. The story is definitely geared towards YA and fits well into this genre. The story is quite clever in my opinion with some great dialogue. The metaphors and similes are original and the characters are likeable.

The Bad Stuff: There were one or two places in this story where the description had been dumped in a block of information. This could have been worked into the story better and revealed over a few pages, rather than clumped together in one piece. There were also one or two spots later in the story where the actions became a little stunted. I.e. He did this, then he did that, sort of thing, but it was very limited and other than that, there wasn’t really anything I didn’t like.

Overall this is a quick, fun read. I really enjoyed it and therefore I’m going to give this one a dragon roaring 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

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

Amazon.com
Amazon.com.au

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.

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