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Musical Interlude

I've been blasting this song in my car since the end of the summer, but I had never seen the video. I thought it would be the usual black hip hop dudes with chicks and cars, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw these two dorks wearing plate armor! :P

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 28th)

In hardcover:

Stephen King's Billy Summers is up three positions, ending the week at number 10.

In paperback:

Frank Herbert's Dune is down four spots, finishing the week at number 11.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Sarah J. Maas's House of Earth and Blood for only 3.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. There is a price match in Canada.

Here's the blurb:

Sarah J. Maas's brand-new CRESCENT CITY series begins with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.

You can also download Christopher Buehlman's The Blacktongue Thief for only 2.99$ here. There is a price match in Canada.

Here's the blurb:

Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path.

But today, Kinch Na Shannack has picked the wrong mark.

Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. She is searching for her queen, missing since a distant northern city fell to giants.

Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds his fate entangled with Galva's. Common enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford.

The Wheel of Time Soundtrack: Season 1, Volume 3

Stopped watching after episode 5 because there was no point. But Lorne Balfe's score remains solid.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Robert R. McCammon's Boy's Life, winner of the World Fantasy and the Bram Stoker Awards, for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

An Alabama boy's innocence is shaken by murder and madness in the 1960s South in this novel by the New York Times–bestselling author of Swan Song.

It's 1964 in idyllic Zephyr, Alabama. People either work for the paper mill up the Tecumseh River, or for the local dairy. It's a simple life, but it stirs the impressionable imagination of twelve-year-old aspiring writer Cory Mackenson. He's certain he's sensed spirits whispering in the churchyard. He's heard of the weird bootleggers who lurk in the dark outside of town. He's seen a flood leave Main Street crawling with snakes. Cory thrills to all of it as only a young boy can.

Then one morning, while accompanying his father on his milk route, he sees a car careen off the road and slowly sink into fathomless Saxon's Lake. His father dives into the icy water to rescue the driver, and finds a beaten corpse, naked and handcuffed to the steering wheel—a copper wire tightened around the stranger's neck. In time, the townsfolk seem to forget all about the unsolved murder. But Cory and his father can't.

Their search for the truth is a journey into a world where innocence and evil collide. What lies before them is the stuff of fear and awe, magic and madness, fantasy and reality. As Cory wades into the deep end of Zephyr and all its mysteries, he'll discover that while the pleasures of childish things fade away, growing up can be a strange and beautiful ride.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragon Wing, first volume in the Death Gate Cycle, the authors' very best series, for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link.

Here's the blurb:

Preeminent storytellers Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have redefined epic fantasy. Since the publication of their Dragonlance series, millions of readers have enjoyed their imaginative world-building, rich characterization, and intricate storylines. Now these best-selling authors bring their talents to one of the most innovative fantasy creations ever in Dragon Wing, the first volume in The Death Gate Cycle.

An assassin and the royal child he has been hired to kill form an unlikely and unstable alliance as the plots of human sorcerers, elven pirates, and dwarf revolutionaries threaten to overwhelm the airborne kingdoms of Arianus.

Win an autographed copy of C. S. Friedman's THE DREAMING KIND

Thanks to the generosity of the author, I have an autographed copy of C. S. Friedman's The Dreaming Kind up for grabs. You can download the book by following these Amazon Associate links: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

Acclaimed Science Fiction and Fantasy author C. S. Friedman invites you to take eight journeys into the deliciously disturbing worlds of her imagination.

A bank clerk struggles to deal with malware inside his head…A woman is required by law to let her dying mother take over her body…A writer meets the man of her dreams (or perhaps her nightmares)…A time traveler seeks scalped tickets to the Sermon on the Mount…A telepath must abandon her humanity to negotiate with alien predators…A visiting extraterrestrial chooses a down-and-out junkie for its first human contact…

From humorous to dark, witty to lyrical, these stories showcase the versatile talent of one of the genre's most creative writers. If you're not already a fan of C. S. Friedman, you soon will be. And if you're already a fan, you'll enjoy reading these rarely-seen shorter works.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "KIND." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragons of Autumn Twilight for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link.

Here's the blurb:

Once merely creatures of legend, the dragons have returned to Krynn. But with their arrival comes the departure of the old gods—and all healing magic. As war threatens to engulf the land, a group of lifelong friends reunite for an adventure that will change their lives and shape their world forever . . .

When Tanis, Sturm, Caramon, Raistlin, Flint, and Tasslehoff see a woman use a blue crystal staff to heal a villager, they wonder if it's a sign the gods have not abandoned them after all. Fueled by this glimmer of hope, the Companions ban together to uncover the truth behind the gods' absence—though they aren't the only ones with an interest in the staff. The Seekers, a new religious order, wants the artifact for their own ends, believing it will help them replace the gods and overtake the continent of Ansalon. Now, the Companions must assume the unlikely roles of heroes if they hope to prevent the staff from falling into the hands of darkness.

Although I'm pretty sure that most of you have already read it, you should know that you can download Joe Abercrombie's debut, The Blade Itself, for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian – leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies.

Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.

Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.

Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glotka a whole lot more difficult.

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 21st)

In hardcover:

Stephen King's Billy Summers is up four positions, ending the week at number 13.

In paperback:

Frank Herbert's Dune is down one spot, finishing the week at number 7.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Joel Shepherd's excellent Crossover, opening volume in the Cassandra Kresnov sequence, for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. Follow this link to read my review from 2006.

The following volumes are all priced at 3.99$ each, which is a bargain for such a good series! These are definitely books that deserve more attention! Give them a shot and you won't be disappointed! =)

Here's the blurb:

Crossover is the first novel in a series which follows the adventures of Cassandra Kresnov, an artificial person, or android, created by the League, one side of an interstellar war against the more powerful, conservative Federation. Cassandra is an experimental design — more intelligent, more creative, and far more dangerous than any that have preceded her. But with her intellect come questions, and a moral awakening. She deserts the League and heads incognito into the space of her former enemy, the Federation, in search of a new life.

Her chosen world is Callay, and its enormous, decadent capital metropolis of Tanusha, where the concerns of the war are literally and figuratively so many light years away. But the war between the League and the Federation was ideological as much as political, with much of that ideological dispute regarding the very existence of artificial sentience and the rules that govern its creation. Cassandra discovers that even in Tanusha, the powerful entities of this bloody conflict have wound their tentacles. Many in the League and the Federation have cause to want her dead, and Cassandra's history, inevitably, catches up with her.

Cassandra finds herself at the mercy of a society whose values preclude her own right even to exist. But her presence in Tanusha reveals other fault lines, and when Federal agents attempt to assassinate the Callayan president, she finds herself thrust into the service of her former enemies, using her lethal skills to attempt to protect her former enemies from forces beyond their ability to control. As she struggles for her place and survival in a new world, Cassandra must forge new friendships with old enemies, while attempting to confront the most disturbing and deadly realities of her own existence.

Here are reviews for the other installments:

- Breakaway
- Killswitch
- 23 Years on Fire
- Operation Shield
- Originator

Mini Reviews

Hi there,

Things are slowly getting back on track and I'm hoping to resume reviewing regularly in 2022. Meanwhile, here are a few mini reviews! =)

- The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie (Canada, USA, Europe) 8.5/10

I wasn't sure at certain points in the middle, but I sure loved how it ended!

Quite happy to see that Abercrombie still has plans for the future of the First Law universe. This last trilogy had its ups and downs, yet for me it ended on a high note. A bit too high-handed with the social commentary at times and a bit overdone with Judge's cruelty and the Great Change in general. But all in all, a great conclusion to another fine trilogy. As always, Abercrombie played us good, with many unexpected twists and turns involving basically all the protagonists.

The identity of the Weaver sort of became obvious, but I liked the way it was unveiled. The revelation that one of the characters was an Eater took too long, in my opinion. There have been several hints in previous installments, yet there's no denying that the scene was powerful.

I heard that Abercrombie isn't sure whether or not to write standalones or another series next. Personally, I think he excels more at writing self-contained novels than trilogies. So I'd prefer for him to go down that road. Rikke's visions imply that industrialisation will continue to change the lives of everyone and it will be interesting to see how magic will be influenced by this evolution. Bayaz is preparing his next move, which means that the proverbial shit will hit the fan once again.

Whatever he decides to do, I'll be eagerly awaiting what comes next!

- The Godfather by Mario Puzzo (Canada, USA, Europe) 8.5/10

Like most people, I've seen the movie more than once. But I had never read the book.

I'm not sure why, but during my hiking trip last September something made me want to read the novel. So I ordered it and went through it in three sittings.

I loved all the mafia stuff in New York City, the flashbacks, Michael's exile in Sicily and his return, and the brilliance of Don Vito Corleone. I know that the author needed to set up the move out to Las Vegas, but the whole vaginal surgery thing and most of what comprised the Nevada/Los Angeles plotlines were decidedly subpar and often silly compared to the awesomeness of the rest of the story.

If, like me, you have never given the novel a shot, I urge to do so if you're looking for a page-turner. It's only £2.99 in the UK through the link above.

- The Green Mile by Stephen King (Canada, USA, Europe) 9/10

Again, I saw the movie when it came out, but had never read the book.

You have probably figured out that I've been trying to make up for lost time regarding Stephen King's works and The Green Mile was near the top of my list.

Paul Edgecombe was the perfect narrator, both in the present timeline as an old man in a senior home and in the past as one of the prison guards working in the E Block of Cold Mountain Penitentiary. He watches over convicted killers awaiting their turn to sit on the electric chair. His life and that of everyone else on E Block will change forever when John Coffey, a giant black man with the mind of a child found guilty of the rape and murder of two little girls, is sent to Cold Mountain to walk the green mile.

Readers often complain that King seems to make up stuff as he goes along and that his endings are not always satisfying. Not so with The Green Mile. The novel is perfectly paced and King brings this one to a great finish. The characterization is incredibly well done and this is doubtless one of the most touching works King has ever written.

If you haven't read it, this one is an amazing read!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

C. S. Friedman made a name for herself with the amazing Coldfire trilogy. Indeed, these books established the author as a master of dark fantasy during the 90s. Sadly, the Magisters trilogy, although awesome, flew so low under the radar that very few people seem to have read it. If more and more people actually gave these books a shot, we might soon refer to the Coldfire trilogy as the Friedman's other fantasy series. Yes, it's that damn good!

And you can once again get your hands on the digital edition of the first volume, Feast of Souls, for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This trilogy deserves the highest possible recommendation!

Here's the blurb:

At the end of her bestselling Coldfire trilogy, C.S. Friedman challenged readers to imagine what a world would be like if sorcery required the ultimate sacrifice-that of life itself. Now, in Feast of Souls, she introduces us to a terrifying world in which the cost of magic is just that...in which the fuel for sorcery is the very fire of the human spirit, and those who hunger for magical power must pay for it with their lives. In this epic tale of nightmarish shadows and desperate hope, the greatest threat of all may not be that of ancient enemies returned, or ancient wars resumed, but of the darkness that lies within the hearts of men.

Here's a link to my review from 2007.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 14th)

In hardcover:

Stephen King's Billy Summers is up two positions, ending the week at number 9.

In paperback:

Frank Herbert's Dune is up four spots, finishing the week at number 6.

The Wheel of Time Soundtrack: Season 1, Volume 2

At least the music is good. =) Which is about the only positive thing I have to say about the TV series. . .

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Ted Chiang's Exhalation for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. There is a price match in Canada.

Here's the blurb:

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • Nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories—two published for the very first time—all from the mind of the incomparable author of Stories of Your Life and Others.

Tackling some of humanity's oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine, these stories will change the way you think, feel, and see the world. They are Ted Chiang at his best: profound, sympathetic, revelatory.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Silver Flames for only 3.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. There is a price match in Canada.

Here's the blurb:

Sarah J. Maas's sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre's fiery sister, Nesta.

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now download Stephen King's The Colorado Kid for only 4.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. It's 5.99$ in Canada.

Here's the blurb:

On an island off the coast of Maine, a man is found dead. There's no identification on the body. Only the dogged work of a pair of local newspapermen and a graduate student in forensics turns up any clues.

But that's just the beginning of the mystery. Because the more they learn about the man and the baffling circumstances of his death, the less they understand. Was it an impossible crime? Or something stranger still...?

No one but Stephen King could tell this story about the darkness at the heart of the unknown and our compulsion to investigate the unexplained. With echoes of Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon and the work of Graham Greene, one of the world's great storytellers presents a surprising tale that explores the nature of mystery itself...

The Book of Boba Fett: Trailer 2

Not sure about this new TV series. How cut-throat can a Disney PG criminal underworld be?

More inexpensive ebook goodies!

You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Beautiful Ones for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. There is a price match in Canada.

Here's the blurb:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a sweeping romance with a dash of magic.

They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail's most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina's chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina's debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis—neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse—and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector's help, Nina's talent blossoms, as does her love for him.

But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina — and himself—that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins.

The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 7th)

In hardcover:

Stephen King's Billy Summers maintains its position at number 11.

In paperback:

Frank Herbert's Dune returns at number 10.