Deep Fathom Review

Deep Fathom

James Rollins

Publisher: Harper

Ex-Navy SEAL Jack Kirkland surfaces from an aborted underwater salvage mission to find the Earth burning. Solar flares have triggered a series of gargantuan natural disasters. Earthquakes and hellfire rock the globe. Air Force One has vanished from the skies with America's president on board. Now, with the U.S. on the narrow brink of a nuclear apocalypse, Kirkland must pilot his oceangoing exploration ship, Deep Fathom, on a desperate mission miles below the ocean's surface. There devastating secrets await him—and a power an ancient civilization could not contain has been cast out into modern day. And it will forever alter a world that's already racing toward its own destruction

Ever had one of those reading periods where every book you pick up is exactly what you need at that time? I’m right in the middle of that period when I picked up Deep Fathom, a book that has been on my TBR pile for a long time and found a book that combined ancient mysteries, exotic physics, world-in-peril, tortured hero, smart heroine, sadistic villain with a vendetta and Pacific trotting locations – in short exactly what I needed for humid train journeys in London!

Jack is one of those too good to be true heroes – and ex-SAS officer, former NASA astronaut and current deep sea treasure diver who finds himself and his crew pulled into a global emergency when tidal waves and earthquakes hit all the countries around the Pacific. From there it is a hop, skip and jump to being the only person in the world aware that those quakes could only be the start and worse could follow if he and anthropologist, Karen can’t work out the secret behind a lost race and their writing. They race around Pacific Islands, being shot at by bad guys, figuring out mysteries that had been kept secret for hundreds of year and surviving by the skin of their neck! It is a thoroughly entertaining ride which happily passes a few hours. If you try to think too much about the history or physics, you miss the joy in just following the good guys around.

I loved the joy and simplicity of the story but the final ending was a slight overstep for me. Apart from that it was a great summer read and perfect for the beach.

Recommended for fans of David Gibbins and Steve Berry. 8 out of 10

Odd Interlude (Odd Thomas #4.5) Review

Odd Interlude (Odd Thomas #4.5)

Dean Koontz

Publisher: Harper

Nestled on a lonely stretch along the Pacific coast, quaint roadside outpost Harmony Corner offers everything a weary traveler needs--a cozy diner, a handy service station, a cluster of cottages . . . and the Harmony family homestead presiding over it all. But when Odd Thomas and company stop to spend the night, they discover that there's more to this secluded haven than meets the eye--and that between life and death, there is something more frightening than either. 

Originally published as some e-book shorts, all three parts of Odd Interlude have been collected together and published in traditional form here. Set immediately after Odd Hours, this sees Odd and Annamaria stop at a motel which has harboured refugees before...and worse.

I love Dean Koontz book – they are warm and familiar and I always know that no matter perils and tribulations are thrown at our hero, he will overcome and survive. They are like an ice cream sundae on a warm day – delicious and to be eaten quickly before it melts. This is no exception and I loved catching up with Odd again. I admit to being a little behind with Odd’s adventures but this short book caught be up quickly and re-introduced me to Odds humble bravery and quirky sense of humour. That’s another element I love about Koontz’s books – despite the fast pace, there is plenty of joy. Sometimes it’s wry observations on the ridiculousness of humanity and sometimes there is some physical humour.

Odd encounters a variety of people who have been living under a curse for a long time, something related to a refugee from Moonlight Bay. Those who read Dean books might recognise Moonlight Bay as the home town of Christopher Snow, another character of Dean’s that we haven’t visited for a while. However, you really don’t need to read any other books before picking this up – this a pure standalone adventure that will whet your appetite if you’ve not read Dean Koontz before and a happy catch-up if you have. A great adventure which covers horror, science-fiction, gentle humour, ghosts and thriller. Highly recommended!

Recommended for fans of James Rollins and Kelley Armstrong. 9 out of 10

Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves Review

Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves

Matthew Reilly

Publisher: Orion Books

At an abandoned military base in the Arctic, a battle to save the world has begun...
THE SECRET BASE Known only as Dragon Island, the long-forgotten relic of the Cold War houses a weapon of terrible destructive force. And it has just been re-activated.
A RENEGADE ARMY When Dragon Island is seized by terrorists, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
ONE SMALL TEAM The only unit close enough to avert disaster is an equipment-testing team led by a Marine captain named Schofield, call sign SCARECROW. They are not equipped to attack a fortified island held by a small army but will go in anyway - because someone has to.

This was one wild ride! Switch off your brain; leave all reasonable objections behind and just suit up for an adventure to save the world! Scarecrow is the code name for a US Marine who manages to survive impossible odds, think quickly in tight spots and running into some truly evil people with world domination plans. I could tell more about the story – an army of terrorists invade one the Soviet Unions old military research bases and is about the release a gas cloud which when ignite will burn half the Northern Hemisphere. Luckily Scarecrow, a couple of marines and civilian testing team are in the area – but to be honest, the plot is mere details in a full on blockbuster summer action movie that just happens to be a book.

This is the fourth book following Scarecrow’s adventures but for once it doesn’t matter if you’ve never even heard of the previous books – this is a completely stand alone story and while some events from the past are mentioned, it doesn’t overwhelm or confuse new readers. There is some science mentioned that seems a little exaggerated but rather than let it interfere with the speed and sheer joy, it’s best to just accept it as fact go along with it. There are some thrilling set-pieces and one very disturbing torture scene that will have you on the edge of your seat and the adrenalin flowing.

I found this such a refreshing book to read after some emotional and dark fantasy. It really blew the cobwebs away and was pure fun. If you like Arnold Schwarzenegger mivies then you should like this. J

Recommended for fans of Dan Brown and James Rollins. 8 out of 10

The Dead of Winter Review

The Dead of Winter

- Lee Collins

Publisher: Angry Robot

E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley & Angry Robot

Cora and her husband hunt things - things that shouldn't exist. When the marshal of Leadville, Colorado, comes across a pair of mysterious deaths, he turns to Cora to find the creature responsible, but if Cora is to overcome the unnatural tide threatening to consume the small town, she must first confront her own tragic past as well as her present

Cora is a gun-slinging Buffy-esque character. She and her husband, Ben roam the Wild West taking care of monsters, beasts and vampires who are terrorising towns. Ben is more the book type while Cora is happy to shoot first and ask questions second – if at all. I really like Cora’s brash no-nonsense manner and her hard drinking, gambling ways. She was a hard woman with a short temper. It would be easy to dislike her but her relationships with the priest and her husband showed she has heart and some softness to her underneath all the bluster.

A lot of the town could be seen a stereotypes – the deputy in love with one of the local call girls, the weary aged sheriff, the smug book learned British snob, and while they all felt familiar, there was a spark in each of them that made me feel like they were real. However, this is a book less focussed on character and all about the action. It feels very much like this could be the start of a series and even reads like a two-parter complete with a distinct finish half way through that has enough threads wrapped up that you’d happy, but some elements which drive the second, more personal part. I loved some of the tense scenes with the walk through the mines or the fight in the town with the creatures – it was very visual and exciting.

An exciting action-packed adventure which adds vampires and creatures to the Wild West and let’s rip! The Magnificent Seven crossed with Buffy, this is very a much read for those who want more action and less angst in their Vampire and Monster Slaying. It really makes me wonder why no-one has tried mixing up the genres like this before...or if they have, I’ve missed it. I really hope there is another book featuring Cora as there is some real potential – plus the Western genre has not appealed to me up to now!

Recommended for fans of Matthew Reilly and Jim Butcher. 8 out of 10

Phoenix Rising Review

Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1)

-       Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Evil is most assuredly afoot—and Britain’s fate rests in the hands of an alluring renegade . . . and a librarian.
These are dark days indeed in Victoria’s England. Londoners are vanishing, then reappearing, washing up as corpses on the banks of the Thames, drained of blood and bone. Yet the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences—the Crown’s clandestine organization whose bailiwick is the strange and unsettling—will not allow its agents to investigate. Fearless and exceedingly lovely Eliza D. Braun, however, with her bulletproof corset and a disturbing fondness for dynamite, refuses to let the matter rest . . . and she’s prepared to drag her timorous new partner, Wellington Books, along with her into the perilous fray. For a malevolent brotherhood is operating in the deepening London shadows, intent upon the enslavement of all Britons. And Books and Braun—he with his encyclopedic brain and she with her remarkable devices—must get to the twisted roots of a most nefarious plot . . . or see England fall to the Phoenix!

It’s been a little while since I read any steampunk, but after finishing Phoenix Rising I wondered why I left it so long! This book has bags of energy, invention and sophistication. New Zealander and Ministry Field Agent, Eliza Braun loves action – she’s happy chasing down suspects in horse drawn carriages, gun in hand and saving the British Empire. Books is the ministries Archivist, inventor of useful gadgets and happy keeping the other agents files in order. When they are thrown together an unusual partnership is born which could just save the Empire – if Braun and Books can survive each other.

Eliza Braun is a modern woman, capable and independent, but a little reckless and brash. Books always thinks before he acts and is reserved, but he has hidden depths that not even Eliza is aware of... yet. I loved the way they were getting to know each other and testing their expectations. It felt like they were really figuring each other out – Books being able to out drink Eliza, while Eliza’s well appointed apartment surprises Books. The banter between them is sparkling and amusing. They start investigating what really happened to Eliza’s former partner, now an inmate in an institute and how this relates to an age old secret society within London’s upperclass.

The plot is fast-paced with discovery and revelations quickly made as they move from one scene stealing event to the next. Eliza is quick on the draw and has a wonderful collection of gadget and weapons, while Book’s gizmos are fantastic and useful. Together I felt like Eliza was a female Bond and Books her Q! In fact the whole story does read like some sort of Victorian Bond story, but without the dour straight face.

There are still some outstanding mysteries particularly with regard to Books past, Dr Sounds activities in the Archives and Bruce Campbell role. These mysteries plus the chance to see how Eliza and Books are coping with each other now means I will be picking up the second book, The Janus Affair very soon! This was frantic fun in Victorian London which will leave a massive smile on your face.

Recommended for fans of Meljean Brooks and Gail Carriger. 9 out of 10

Early Review: Wake of the Bloody Angel

Wake of the Bloody Angel (Eddie LaCrosse #4)

-       Alex Bledsoe

Publisher: Tor (Published 3^rd July 2012)

Ecopy courtesy of netgalley and Tor Books

Twenty years ago, a barmaid in a harbor town fell for a young sailor who turned pirate to make his fortune. But what truly became of Black Edward Tew remains a mystery—one that has just fallen into the lap of freelance sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse.
For years, Eddie has kept his office above Angelina’s tavern, so when Angelina herself asks him to find out what happened to the dashing pirate who stole her heart, he can hardly say no—even though the trail is two decades old. Some say Black Edward and his ship, The Bloody Angel, went to bottom of the sea, taking with it a king’s fortune in treasure. Others say he rules a wealthy, secret pirate kingdom. And a few believe he still sails under a ghostly flag with a crew of the damned.
To find the truth, and earn his twenty-five gold pieces a day, Eddie must take to sea in the company of a former pirate queen in search of the infamous Black Edward Tew…and his even more legendary treasure

I didn’t realise when I first requested this book that it was the fourth book following the adventures of sword-jockey, Eddie LaCrosse – a cross between a mercenary and detective. Luckily this book can be read as a complete stand-alone, although a couple of small references to pass adventures do have me curious and on the basis of this story, I will be catching up with Eddie again soon.

Angeline, the owner Eddie’s local bar – and his office landlady asks Eddie to discover what happened to her former sweetheart, a pirate who went missing twenty years earlier. With the help of fellow sword-jockey Jane Argo, Eddie enters the world of pirates, sea-monsters and lost treasure. On the high seas, the line between pirate and pirate-hunter is thin and can crossed easily – especially when rumours of Black Edward’s treasure starts circulating...

Despite the fantasy setting, this reads much more like an Urban Fantasy to me. Eddie has been hired for a job and he is determined to do his best to discover what happened to Black Edward and if he might still be alive. To this end he hires Jane Argo, a former pirate herself turned pirate hunter turned sword-jockey to help guide him at sea. I loved how determined Eddie was to do his job – he wasn’t distracted by talk of treasure at all. He was honourable and smart. Eddie and Jane’s adventure takes them to the sea where superstitions run riot and pirates threaten.

There is plenty of action in this story to keep the adrenaline going and some very atmospheric scenes at sea that will send a shiver down your spine. Without wanting to give too much away, I was on the edge of my seat a lot and completely immersed in the story – I read in within a day and enjoyed every word! Eddie is a great hero and a guy I would like to meet. He already know who he is so there is little soul searching. I was as keen as Eddie to find out had happened to Black Edward – it kept me guessing to the end. Fun and entertaining from beginning to end.

Recommended for fans of Sarah J Maas and Rachel Aaron. 8 out of 10.