Brothers in Arms Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
Publisher: Baen Books
Genre: Space Opera, Science Fiction
Series: Vorkosigan Saga Book Five (Publishing Order)
Pages: 338

(Contains Spoilers for Vorkosigan novels 1-4 in publication order).


Admiral Miles Naismith has arrived on Earth fleeing retribution from the Cetagandans and looking to rest and repair his fleet. In London at the Barrayaran embassy Miles returns to his birth identity of Miles Vorkosigan and once again must begin balancing both roles he plays. But when assassination attempts begin, keeping his identities secret becomes even more difficult than Miles could have imagined.

Arcanum Unbounded Book Review

by The Wanderer 

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Cosmere Short Story and Novella Collection
Pages: 673

Arcanum Unbounded is a compilation of all the Brandon Sanderson novellas and short stories that have been released up until 2016. Each set of stories comes with a brief introduction to the planetary system the world is taking part in. As a collection of stories, these are pretty essential to anyone who's deciding to read through the Cosmere.

In our review each short story is given a brief synopsis, analysis, and score.  The final score you see at the top of the review is an aggregate of all nine stories.

Aggregate Score: 7.7

The Escapement Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: K.J. Parker
Publisher: Orbit
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Steampunk
Series: Engineer Trilogy Book Three
Pages: 436

(Contains spoilers for Devices and Desires and Evil for Evil below).

With their most recent army defeated in battle, no more mercenaries to hire, and a complete upheaval in their political system, the Mezentine Empire and its new leader Lucao Psellus are in a dire a scramble to defend their city from the oncoming horde of Aram Chantat, Eremians, and Vadani. Meanwhile, Duke Valens and Ziani Vaatzes are now putting the finishing touches on their revenge, but how many more sacrifices will have to be made?

The Witchwood Crown Book Review

by The Wanderer 

Author: Tad Williams
Publisher: DAW
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: The Last King of Osten Ard Book One
Pages: 736

Buy on Amazon!


(Spoilers for The Heart of What Was Lost and Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn are below).

Over three decades have passed since the defeat of Ineluki the Storm King, and the Norns' retreat into their mountain stronghold of Nakkiga. King Simon and Queen Miriamele continue their long reign over Osten Ard, but new troubles are stirring. Many of the kingdoms they've ruled over are now all rife with internal conflicts that are threatening to break apart their kingdom, their Sithi allies have all but been silent, and Utuk' ku the Norn Queen has just re-awoken and is planning on continuing her war against humanity, if only she can recover the mysterious artifact known as the Witchwood Crown.

The Courts of Chaos Book Review

by The Wanderer 

Author: Roger Zelazny
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Chronicles of Amber Book Five
Pages: 189

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(Spoilers for the four previous Chronicles of Amber are below).

Corwin is in a bit of a depressed state after discovering he's been a pawn of his father Oberon, who had been masquerading as his best friend Ganelon. Oberon now begins to plan on fixing the Pattern, while Benedict calls upon all of brothers and sisters in an attempt to delay an attack from the Courts of Chaos. Corwin is tasked with bringing the Jewel of Judgment to change the tides of the battle, but to get there he must traverse the entire length of the multiverse all while his brother Brand hunts him and tries to steal the jewel.

The Hand of Oberon Book Review

by The Wanderer 

Author: Roger Zelazny
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Chronicles of Amber Book Four
Pages: 181

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(This review contains spoilers for the previous three Chronicles of Amber).

After discovering that the Amber Corwin has known all his life is not the true Amber, he decides it's time to learn more about the true Amber. As the threat of the Black Road continues to persist, Corwin begins to believe he may be able to solve this problem with the Jewel of Judgment and the original source of the Pattern.

The Guns of Avalon Book Review

by The Wanderer 

Author: Roger Zelazny
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Chronicles of Amber Book Two
Pages: 180

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Corwin has escaped the dungeons of Amber after failing to overthrow Eric and stop his coronation as ruler. But in his defeat, Corwin also laid a curse on Amber allowing creatures of darkness to pour into all the different Shadow worlds. Now on the run, Corwin wishes to return the Shadow world of Avalon where he believes he can find the necessary weapons to defeat the evil he has brought upon everyone, and of course to avenge his defeat by Eric.

Nine Princes in Amber Book Review

by The Wanderer 

Author: Roger Zelazny
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Chronicles of Amber Book One
Pages: 175

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A man awaking from a coma with no memory of who he is or what he's done with his life discovers he is Corwin, a Prince of Amber. As a Prince of Amber he can manipulate shadows and conjure all sorts of sorcery, but his biggest problem is that his brother Eric wants him dead so that he alone can claim the empty throne from their world.

Watership Down Book Review

by The Wanderer 

Author: Richard Adams
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Standalone
Pages 484

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When the prophetic rabbit Fiver believes that his rabbit's warren is soon to meet its demise, he convinces his brother Hazel to lead an exodus of rabbits to form their own new warren. But rabbits aren't great at distance traveling, and there are many dangers along the way. And even if the rabbits do find a home, can they maintain the peace with rabbits from nearby warrens?

Invisible Planets Book Review

by The Wanderer

Editor and Translation: Ken Liu
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 384

Invisible Planets is a compilation of thirteen newer science fiction stories from China. In our review each short story is given a brief synopsis, analysis, and score.  The final score you see at the top of the review is an aggregate of all thirteen short stories and/or novellas.

Total Average Score: 7.2

Summerlong Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Peter S. Beagle
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Genre: Magical Realism, Romance
Series: Standalone
Pages: 240

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(An advance copy was provided by the publisher). 

Joanna Delvecchio and Abe Arronson are an elderly couple best described by Beagle as, "single but together." They live in the estuary of Puget Sound near Seattle, and their lives are thrown into unexpected new directions when Lioness Lazos arrives.

The Wolf in the Attic Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Paul Kearney
Publisher: Solaris
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Standalone
Pages: 320

Buy on Amazon!
 

The Old World vs The New World

(An advanced copy was provided by the publisher).

In 1920's Oxford, twelve year old Anna Francis and her father are displaced Greek refugees from the First World War. While wandering around late at night Anna encounters the Romani, a group of traveling gypsies that take a great interest in her. It's through these people that Anna learns about the magic that was found in the old world, magic that is slowly disappearing.

The Spider's War Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Daniel Abraham
Publisher: Orbit
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Low Fantasy
Series: The Dagger and the Coin Book Five
Pages: 528

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The Spider's Away

(Contains spoilers for the previous four books in The Dagger and the Coin).

The stage is set for the final showdown between the lord regent of Antea, Geder Palliako, and the powerful banker Cithrin bel Sarcour. In his attempt to destroy his former lover Cithrin, Geder has stretched the Antean armies to their breaking point. Rebellion is everywhere, and as Antea's armies fall back to defend their homeland, it becomes Cithrin, Clara, and Marcus's task to find away to stop the warfare from raging out of control.

10 Cloverfield Lane Review

Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr.
Series:Cloverfield
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 103 Minutes

Winstead Outta Hell

I don't think anybody expected a "sequel" to Cloverfield. I certainly didn't. Yet, here it is, like that one guy who keeps showing up to the party, that no one quite knows, but everyone allows because he's mostly inoffensive.

So is this another found footage and Godzilla mash up? Nope. Tonally, visually, and basically fundamentally, this is a different film. More of a thriller than a straight up horror film, 10 Cloverfield Lane is an interesting, if somewhat misguided film, that at the very least opens up the Cloverfield name to potential franchise status.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Film Review (Non Book Reader)

by The World Weary

Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson
Series: The Hunger Games
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 146 Minutes  

(Contains spoilers from the first Hunger Games film. This review is being written from a non book readers perspective, we will also be posting a review from a book readers perspective).

We all fear what it would be like if the Nazis had won the war, or in an even worse scenario, if some new evil regime crushes the voices of the people and forces them into an oppressed lifestyle. Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Trilogy explored this idea and made some relevant connections between our current geopolitical state and that of her fictional land of Panem. Hollywood, once again capitalizing off the hard work of others, has begun making the novels into full length features. The first Hunger Games film was a massive success, and not bad to boot, and now the second film has been unleashed upon a Jennifer Lawrence/ Dystopian Sci-Fi hungry audience.

Deadpool Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Tim Miller

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano.

MPAA Rating: R

Series: Deadpool

Length: 108 minutes

I'm Going To Do To Your Face What Limp Bizkit Did To Music In The Late 90's

I'm not a fan of Deadpool the comic character, that being due to my ignorance of his existence rather than actually reading his stories. But when I saw this movie was going to be rated R, and that it would be taking liberal use of the language license those movies grant, I got pretty excited.  

The superhero formula has gotten old, and finally there was going to be a movie, that could help revitalize a fun film genre that has been showing signs of stagnation due to repetitive plot formulas and over-exposure to the masses ... so maybe my expectations were a little high, but that's what I was hoping for walking into the theater.

All-New X-Men: Here To Stay Comic Review

by The Wanderer 

Authors: Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrators: Stuart Immonen
Publisher: Marvel
Genre: Superhero

Series: All New X-Men Volume 2

Buy on Amazon!
 
(Spoilers for All-New X-Men Volume One are below).

Yesterday’s X-Men brought the original five X-Men into the future where they’ve met the current X-Men. Taking place after the Avengers vs. X-Men sequence, the younger X-Men learn about their future fates, and they make a surprising decision at the end of the first volume and choose to stay in the future.

Army of Darkness Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Richard Grove, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie
Series: The Evil Dead
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 88 Minutes

Buy on Amazon!  

 

This, is my BOOMSTICK!

(This review contains spoilers for Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn).

Army of Darkness is a follow up to Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn that is just as zany, but nowhere near as original. The film feels less like an Evil Dead film, and more like a bastardized Lord of the Rings. It’s still a good time, and Bruce Campbell has hardly been more fun to watch. However, if you’re looking for another descent into maddening horror, look elsewhere.

Thor: The Dark World Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Alan Taylor

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddelston, Christopher Eccelston

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 112 Minutes

Buy on Amazon!

 

Thor is Heyah!

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe chugs through its “Phase Two” films, I began to wonder if anything good would come out. Iron Man 3 was an utter disappointment, and the trailer for Thor: The Dark World didn’t give me much hope. Not counting The Wolverine, which was fantastic, it seemed that the MCU had lost all its steam. Well, the good news is Thor: The Dark World is an unexpected surprise. I went in prepared to see another disaster like Iron Man 3, but instead what I got was a pretty enjoyable action film.

The Hunger Games Film Review

by The Wanderer

Director: Gary Ross

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland

Series: The Hunger Games

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 142 minutes

Buy on Amazon!

 

May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

The Hunger Games never remains consistent, and this basically sums up the key problem with the film – setting a strong emotional tone one scene, but not being consistent with that dark emotional tone throughout.  Additionally the film can’t seem to find a stylistic middle ground, causing a lot of issues with the message and the way the film looks on screen. The film version of the Hunger Games was very loyal to its source material. It’s social commentary is advanced for the age group it targets, and could provide hours of debate for people who like dig deep into things.  This film entertains as a dark dystopian science fiction story, but it never excels.