William Shakespeare's Jedi the Last: Star Wars' Part the Eighth (William Shakespeare's Star Wars, #8)

William Shakespeare's Jedi the Last: Star Wars' Part the Eighth by Ian Doescher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I admit I do not know all the pros and official structure of Shakespeare, but I did recognized some of the lines and more famous passages that had been re-purposed, and they fit perfectly into this story.

Like the Empire Strikes Back I think this book and Rogue One, are the best candidates for the Shakespeare treatment. The dark themes really do come out here. I really like the "asides" in this story, these were spot on in getting the characters across for me.

Ian Doescher did a great job on this conversion, however you have to be in the Star Wars fans side that already liked The Last Jedi, This will not do much to convert people that did not like the movie. For me I agree with Ian's assessment in the acknowledgement page. One of the things we both loved about the Last Jedi, was it would get to a point I was sure was going to be the cliffhanger ending but it just kept going, and getting better. Even knowing what was going the happen I still got goosebumps on these parts of the book. I loved the illustrations in the book as well. Like any book book it enhanced my experience. Also I think fans of Shakespeare will love this finding easter eggs of his hidden lines, there are also these for Star Wars fans.

View all my reviews

Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons series)

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SJM writing Catwoman what could be more awesome? Was expecting this book to be great and it was better than anything I could have though it would be. This incarnation of Selina Kyle is brilliant. I just have one complaint/request can SJM please write a Batman book!!!! Please!!! All the elements I love of the Batman character including his will, intelligence, toughness, use of identities, tactics and all round bad@$$ery are present in Catwoman. Every chapter I read in this book I could not wait to see what happen next and the last 60 pages I just could not put the book down.

Street fighter Selina Kyle was force to leave what little she had left in Gotham City. Now she is back older wiser, deadlier and with a purpose. Nothing in this book is there just to fill space, everything links together. I also like the way the relationships between the characters developed. The book is fast paced but definitely not rushed. I also like the conflict in Selina, though she did had not love for the richer citizens of Gotham, some earned her respect with the genuine good they had done, making her think about what she was doing.

SJM not only did a great job on Catwoman/Selina/Holly but used other classic Gotham villains and side characters perfectly. She also used the new member of the Bat-family brilliantly. I think having Catwoman running circles around the new kid of the Bat family was a great idea, as we Batman fans know this would never happen to the man himself. Who is on a private mission during this book that we are not told about really. The perfect setup for another book right? Hint hint.

This is a great book. This is definitely the best of the DC Icons books so far, and I cannot think of a better incarnation of Catwoman. I would give this 10 stars if I could. After she finishes the Throne of Glass series can someone please get SJM to write Batman.

View all my reviews

Mazahl's Ascent

Mazahl's Ascent by S.V. Atla
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I have no conection to S. V. Atla.

I would have rates this book 3.5 stars simply as it took me so long to get I to it. It was the last 25% of the book that pushed this to round up. The story highlights the dark side of Saudi Arabia. Even today or especially today many if these issues are prominent. The discrimination faced by women, treatment of expatriates, and the poorer classes in general. There is a lot of darkness in this book so if you are offended by real world issues you probably will not enjoy this book.

After finishing the book I can see why it was more slow moving at the beginning, as Atla was developing Mazahl's character and "powers" slowly. I can understand and appreciate this though I was a bit too slow for me. The only other complaint I had about the book is almost in the same paragraph I was reading from one characters perceptive, then almost on the next line it changed to another characters perspective. I did get used to the the more of the book I read.

A good book full of not so hidden real world issues. One of the things I am glad Atla does point out in the later chapters is the issues are based on culture not religion. Even though religion is what is blamed or misquoted/twisted for bad people to justify the evil things the do. This book is more for people who do not mind controversial and dark themes in their books.

View all my reviews

The Ghost of Crow Cavern

The Ghost of Crow Cavern by Norman Mounter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have no connection to Norman Mounter or John Wedlake.

Forget about the picture of the cute squirrel at the front, and forget length of this book. Beyond the cute and fuzzy creature stars of the book where lies an (George Orwell) Animal Farm style story. The book features mythologies from the Nazi, and tactics used by many dictators today. Also brutal revenge and reprisals.

A good but short story, despite appearances this is not a children's book. It contains brutal deaths and adult themes. Even though there is a reckoning in this story I am sure there is more to come.

View all my reviews

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II by James Tynion IV
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I a huge fan of both Batman and the TMNT so I knew I was either going to love it for doing everything right or hate it fit the errors. I loved it. I think the artwork suits the story and characters brilliantly. The story is also great. There are a few more fights then the fist book I would not have minded a few more.

I also like that they made one of the Turtles less of a warrior then the others. That is not the turtle o would have chosen as the weakest, but with his other skill I can see why he was the choice for the role.

If I had one criticism it is simply Damian was featured more than Batman. However it did work for the story.

All in an excellent continuation of the last story arc, and respected the history of both Batman and TMNT. Love the cover gallery and sketches at the end of the book. Excellent, with a hint of more to come.

View all my reviews

Doctor Strange: Damnation The Complete Collection

Doctor Strange: Damnation The Complete Collection by Donny Cates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good mini series, the companions issues not so much. I have to agree with Elsa

"I am not seeing what a bunch of monsters, a psychopath, a Kung Fu guy and a frankly useless useless vampire slayer are going to do?"

This statement more of less sums up the use most of these characters were in this story. I mean He could have chosen and random heroes from the marvel universe, and they are would have been as good/bad a job as these guys.

The Damnation mini series and the Dr Strange regular issues I would have rated 5 stars. They were great. I quite like the like the price of magic despite the motives. Many saying like the "road to hell is paved with good intentions", or "no good deed goes unpunished" come to mind. I like the change that they made in Steven Strange's character his arrogance from is early pre-magical life is more apparent.

The Ghost Rider oneshot I though would have been a good ending (4 stars), but the other part like Iron Fist 78 - 80, when did this happen? I know there was a "time difference", but it added nothing to the main story, I might have done something for Iron Fist story but it was useless mini series.3 stars.

The Scarlet Spider 15 - 17. That was the point of this? I much prefered Kane as the Scarlet Spider and seeing this version of Ben Reilly in action just confirms my opinion. 2 Stars.

Another thing I did not like about this book is a the beginning the writers went to the trouble of writing a chronology of where each comic fits into the timeline. As this is the complete collection I do not thing it would have been such a big ask to format the book so the issues were in this chronological order with Ghost Rider at the end so the big plan was not given away, but no the lazy formatting was the issues 1-4 of Damnation, Dr Strange 386 - 389, Ghost Rider One shot, Iron Fist 7 - 80, and finally Scarlet Spider 15 -17. This is just a lack of effort and nothing else. It is a shame as the Mini series itself was very good the last two companions just let it down. The is a cover gallery with the variant covers of the Damnation mini series. If you are a Dr Strange or Ghost Rider fan this will be an enjoyable collection the other midnight sons are just useless. I still have no idea why the Scarlet Spider was included he has no connection to magic or the darkness. I would have rated this 3.5 stars but the strength of the main story along with Dr Strange and Ghost Rider rounded it up for me.

View all my reviews

Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance

Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance by Scott Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great companion to Dark Nights Metal. These stories take place around the issues of the the main Metal story line. The Nightmare Batman have been unleashed, each Batman destroyed their worlds Justice League, now all seven of them are here to take out our world Justice League.

The first 4 issues (Teen Titans #12, Nightwing #29, Suicide Squad #26, and Green Arrow#32), take place right after Batman's disappearance/transformation. Damian, Nighwing, Green Arrow with a couple of unlikely Gotamites form the Resistance taking on powerful version of Batman's rouge gallery. However that is not even the real threat.

Batman: Lost #1. A good story of the mental manipulations out Bruce is going through. His mind is still fighting, but in the face of such powerful enemies and the physical drain it could be just a matter of time. This issues also ties a couple of loose threads left over from the Final Crisis story line.

Bats out of hell, (The Flash #33, Justice League #32 & 33, and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #32). This is take place during Superman's rescue attempt. This is the actual clashes between the League and the Nightmares. Good issues, good art work, and a good story coming to a tipping point for the main Metal series.

Hawkman: Found #1. Similar to Batman: Lost this Carter Hall's experience of loss, manipulation, and corruption. Another very good story.

A very good companion that fill in the blanks of the main series allowing the other characters more of the spotlight. Easy issue starts with the main issue cover the cover gallery is a full page spread of the variant covers available. A very good series straight after reading it I wanted to read Metal again as the blanks were filled in.



View all my reviews

The Black Sable Vol. 1

The Black Sable Vol. 1 by Joe Brusha
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable new series, which was slightly better then I was expecting. It is pretty much what it says on the tin, Pirates in space. Space ships, lasers, even giant mutant/alien sharks and other deep sea beasts.

A couple of things I was I though could have been done better, I think are with 6 is sues to fill, I would have liked more of the story, though what is there is fast paced and easy to follow without being too rushed. The other thing is for a comic with dark themes and dark characters I am not sure the the bright coloured artwork is the best fit for the comic. I would have preferred darker colour themes. Though I really do like this artwork evey one and thins are drawn very well. Would have been perfect for Spider-man but not suited Batman is you know what I mean.

The life of a pirate is never easy. Especially is you have even a spark of a moral conscience. Black Sable is the tougher then nails Black Sable captain of the Fury. Like any good pirate she did not earn the ship she stole it. With her crew questioning her latest decisions, she has no choice but to follow a captain Blake into a ill advised one in a lifetime heist, that is going to drag her and her crew into a galactic war.

All the ingredients are there a good story, but nothing special that really grips me to come back for the next installment. A good story and good artwork, decent characters. A bit underdone on the character development side. A full page cover gallery at the back of A to C covers and a couple of D cover of all 6 issues at the back. All in all good but not great.

View all my reviews

Endangered (Star Wars Adventures, #3)

Endangered by Delilah S. Dawson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An okay edition of Star Wars Adventures, actually the 2 main stories were quite good, but the Tales from Wild Space, just seem to be stories for the sake of the it. I understand putting in stories with a moral in it, heck I grew up on such stories, but the story being told does not actually add up to the actual situation that prompted the story to be told. To quote "Okay, so it wasn't a perfect analogy". So why?

The first story "Rose Knows" was okay, it had the meeting between Rose and a certain X-wing pilot. Also Rose proving her worth, and getting noticed despite not craving the limelight.

Endangered. This is the main story of the book it stars the Rebels on a mission to save some endangered animals. Following one of Ezra's plans and sources. Seriously when are those ever a good combination? Though it does make a good adventure.

The next 3 wild space stories feature (young) Anakin, doing the right thing. Then Nien Nunb and Shriv in a mission where they should have looked before they leaped, and a Jawa learning the importance about family. Apart from Anakin's story I really did not see the point of these.

Over all I would have given this 3.5 stars but because of the wild space stories not adding up I rounded down instead of up. This is a nice cover gallery section at the end of the book, but nothing really special in this volume.

View all my reviews

Time Crawlers

Time Crawlers by Varun Sayal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have no connection to Varun Sayal.

This is an excellent collection of 6 short stories. There are a mix of darkness, humour, belief, science fiction/fact, religious mythology, and conspiracy theories. Each story is different and shows a different side of Varun's imagination.

The Hell weapon. A loan warrior walks out to face an army of thousands, carrying a bow and arrows. Despite the old school sounding weaponry this future technology enhanced by "magic". What is magic but unexplained science. The story also contains a warning of the price and corruption of the path to vengeance.

Death By Crowd. I would rename this "An Interview with the Devil". On the Darknet people's darkest desires are available for a price. Here we see an interview of one remorseless and conscienceless peddler. The scary thing of this story is how much of the science is available today and As schooling as the story is, it probably could be happening today on the real world broadcast in dark cyberspace.

The Genie. This is a great humorous story, strategically well places to cut through the darkness of the last story. It show Varun's since of humour. I great sarcastic twist on terms and conditions. As well as a different way of looking at Genies.

Time crawlers. Is knowledge a gift or a curse? I bit of a twist of the reincarnation mythology. I can't day too much without giving away a spoiler.

Eclipse. You know the truth, or do you? This a choose your side story. Again a great twist at the end.

The Cave. When everything seem hopeless you have to turn to a higher power. Another great story.

For my each of the short stories was a five star on its on its own for different reasons. This was a great debut book I can't wait to see what is next.

View all my reviews

Asp (Guardian Shadow World Book 2)

Asp by Kris Michaels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Is it possible to give it 6 stars? I have a confession, I think I am liking the Shadows even more then the Kings. Even Guardian need people to carry out their darker deeds. These fall to the Shadows assassins who kill to make the world a better place. Asp is one such assassin. Betrayed early in his career he has the chance to right a personal wrong.

The details and strategies employed by the military (in this case the snipers) are amazing and completing the task is only half the job they need to get away as well. After the shot is fired the "hunter becomes the prey".

The only thing I was not sure about was hot the relationship between Asp and Lyric started, but I can see and feel how it developed, strength begets strength, and as tough as Asp is in this relationship he is in second place, Lyric is the boss. She delivered some of the best verbal beat-downs in any book. She did not taken any crap or pity she took what she wanted. However Asp was the star of this story.

I just do not understand how each book seem to be even better then the last, and the set up was to the next story was just as intriguing. I can't wait for the next book be it King or Shadow.

View all my reviews

Thrawn: Alliances

Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very good book and continuation of Thrawn's legend/legacy. If I am a little disappointed it is because as good as this book was, it is simply with Timothy Zahn writing Thrawn and Vader I did not want good I was expecting great. However Very good is very good.

This book book is set in two time periods. Going back to the line in the first book where a meeting between, then General Anakin Skywalker and Thrawn, during the Clone Wars was mentioned. The majority of this book takes place in that era, as well as the current problem. One thing I like very much in this book is Zahn's writing the differences between Anakin and Vader, and how Vader refers to the memories of Anakin as "the Jedi's". Zahn also did a great job of showing the precognition powers the Force sensitive use. As the story progresses I saw the reason for this.

The second era that this book is set in is right after Season 3 of Star Wars Rebels, right after Thrawn's biggest defeat to date. So his standing and loyalty is in question. There is a lot of verbal sparing and jockeying for the number 2 position in the Empire between Thrawn and Vader. Usually with Thrawn coming out on top. However there is a great deal of respect between the two the telling point of that is Thrawn was still alive as Vader is not known for his patience.

There are elements taken from other Star Wars pre-Disney era books. One of the ideas come from the Golden Age of the Sith comic series where a couple of Force sensitives found another way to earn a living out of their talents, and a material that has not been used in the Disney era as of yet, as well some more of the behind the scenes of Order 66.

A very good book, that is slightly slow in places. I think this was the only stumbling block for me as with Vader in the book I was expecting a lot more action in the book. Though the lack of fights did show Vader's other skills that are sometimes forgotten because of his fearsome reputation and displays of power.

View all my reviews