wynnz's reviews
213 reviews

Black Ops by Craig Alanson

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

The mission, if you choose to accept it, Joe and the monkey basher, is an impossible conundrum wrapped up in an enigma. Stop the Thuranin from sending ships to Earth. The impossible part is to steal some ships, but under no circumstances must they know that humans are trying to thwart them. After that impossible mission, a new unattainable assignment arises: start a civil war between the clans of the Kristang. Impossible, right? Nothing is impossible for Skippy the bush kangaroo, yet again not revealing the identity of the instigators of said rebellious insurrection. Simple, right? No mission is too difficult for the can of beans and the hairless hominoidea. The excruciatingly long narrative unfolds with scratching of heads, and they haven’t got a clue how they’re going to carry this off, knowing full well they will. The banter between the shiny can of beer and the simian is becoming tedious. It feels like I’m on book 15 already. I think it may be impossible for me to continue, but if I do, it will be miraculous. After all, anything is possible. 

Finders Keepers by Mike Faricy

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

 In a cartoonish caper, two inept brothers steal from a gang of drug traffickers, leading to a series of wild situations. However, I found the advertised humor to be lacking. Neither the dialogue nor the situations managed to be particularly amusing, and I struggled to see the comedic aspects. The characters were mostly unsavory, and I didn't feel a strong connection or support for any of them. The narrative's pacing was acceptable and flowed relatively smoothly. The ending, while somewhat predictable, felt fitting and appropriate. Overall, I would rate it as okay, which is reflected in the two-star rating 

Eden's Trial by Barry Kirwan

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

 

Two threads to follow: Micah goes off in search of allies for Eden, while Blake has to navigate the treacherous machinations of Eden's political arena. A lot of new information is divulged, adding to the intrigue. The author skillfully weaves an intricate plot through both story arcs, which kept me interested and engaged, and left me wanting more. The narrative, characters and galaxy building are developing nicely, and the intrigue is certainly increasing. The pacing of the book is adequate, and there are very few lulls.

Overall a great second instalment, I'm definitely hooked and invested in the story now, it's been a while since I've been this infused by a sci-fi book. 

 

Drunk on a Boat by Zane Mitchell

adventurous lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Clowns by Peter Cawdron

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

 

"I didn't enjoy this instalment as much as the others; I found it too depressing and introspective, looking at what it means to be human. Two women are thrust into the middle of a conspiracy: one is a secret service agent, and the other is a porn star/prostitute. Both must work and rely on each other's skills and expertise in their chosen professions to get to the bottom of it, infiltrate an organisation known as 'The Clowns,' and uncover their plans for a new sociopolitical future.

It got me thinking about the episode in TNG 'Encounter at Farpoint' where Picard was put on trial and had to defend humanity to 'Q.' Similarly, in this case, humanity has to justify itself to the aliens, showing that we are worthy of being noticed and contacted, but due to our inability to change, we are not.

The author suggests that to be regarded as an intelligent species, we should look after and care for the vulnerable people in our societies: the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised, and women facing abuse and cruel treatment all over the world—a worthwhile philosophy indeed. However, in our current climate, I don't think it's an achievable or obtainable goal. Truly a work of fiction.

"Money is the root of all evil," capitalism doesn't work. Well, it works for the rich. In my limited experience, there are no perfect forms of governing. They all have their flaws, and people will always fall through the cracks. I have voted in many general elections over the years, and yet very little changes for the good. You only have to look at the most popular forms of governance around the world; most are in conflict, and people live in fear. Democracy is a very fragile and delicate rose in the crown of western society, but just look at Jan 6th in the US—supposedly a pillar, beacon, and an example of democracy at its best. One man nearly brought it to the brink of collapse, and this is the best the world can offer? Communism doesn't seem to be working that well either; there are problems with that system as well. Very few truly socialist countries have happy-go-lucky people.

Authoritarianism, Totalitarianism, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Theocracy, Dictatorship—pick a flavour and see if it suits you. It seems to me every government has a hierarchy. Normally, they consist of family members, the rich, the powerful, and hacks. I am sure many civic-minded people are elected and genuinely want to improve the lives of their constituents but are ground down by the bureaucracy and status quo of the establishment.

If we can't put our own house in order, perhaps we shouldn't go exploring. Physician, heal thyself. Anyway, there's a good chance we'll annihilate each other before we even get that chance."

 

The Dorado Deception by Matthew James

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

 Unfortunately, to me, it read like a David Attenborough documentary. There's the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and the giant extinct anaconda (Titanoboa cerrejonensis), and then we have the good old Hippopotamus amphibius - a short lesson on the native and not so native fauna of South America. The narrative concentrated more on the journey than the destination, which was El Dorado. When we did eventually reach the city, it was very anticlimactic and lackluster in its delivery. However, the author did have a new and mildly interesting angle on the myth, but by then, I had lost interest just like the city.

I had difficulty getting drawn into the story. I didn't find it engaging enough to capture my imagination. After all, this genre has been written about to within an inch of its life.

Overall, I was disappointed. I was hoping for more, but sadly, I didn't get it - just the usual bumbling through the jungle, with men getting picked off one at a time. 

Did They Steal A Million Yet? by James Crookes

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 

Yet another ride in a C5 down the nostalgic avenue of the 80s. Our dynamic duo of Captain Chaos, Jamie, and his sister, Tash, the Sorceress of Sarcasm, try once again to save the day by righting the wrongs of someone who is inadvertently entangled in a situation not of his doing. Funny, amusing, cutting to the quick with sarcasm, and featuring some very funny one-liners. The amusing plot is skillfully woven with chaotic and ridiculously funny situations, making for a highly entertaining and lighthearted look at time travel or perhaps more of a historical reflection on the twentieth century. 1984 conjures up a lot of memories for me personally. I was 23 years old. Anyway, enough about me; back to the book review – yes, read it, it's good.

The book boasts a great cast of characters, who are relatable and believable, well-rounded, and developed. The story flows effortlessly with little to no lulls in the narrative. The dialogue and banter between all the characters are very funny, sometimes even leading me to burst out laughing – a great achievement given my age and cynicism. If you're British and were around during the 80s, you're going to "get it!" Even if you weren't, it's still an enjoyable and entertaining read. 

Charleston Buzz Kill by Tom Turner

mysterious medium-paced

4.0

 

Detective Nick Janzek and his partner have a new murder to solve: a reality TV star is found with a hole where he shouldn't have one; a co-ed female student assaulted by a powerful, rich property tycoon (don't you just hate that type); and an ex-con, again with more holes in him than God intended. The deeper he investigates, the more the body count increases. He's got more suspects than mice in a cheese factory. How is he going to narrow down the suspect pool? See how he methodically trudges through a quagmire of what we call civilized society to get to his quarry.

This is a fun read considering the subject matter, with well-rounded and developed characters, and a well-paced narrative that flows effortlessly, with very few to no lulls.

Overall, it's an entertaining and enjoyable whodunit, worth your time in my opinion. 

The Stranger Times by C.K. McDonnell

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 

Ha! What a very entertaining and enjoyable read. I don't normally delve into stuff like this, but having read other books by this author, I thought I might give it a go, and I'm glad I did. The basic plot revolves around the time-honoured battle between good and evil, light and dark, empire and rebellion. It's a sort of Harry Potter for grown-ups, blending mystery and magic, and offering a tale filled with fairies, the supernatural, and just generally weird things. For a fee of five-thousand pounds, I can even relay my sexual encounter with an Oompa-Loompa, stories of UFOs, possessed toilets, and a psychic convention that had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, where werewolves turn out to be just someone's dogs-body.

The book features a diverse cast of characters, well-rounded in all aspects. Banecroft is a wonderful manifestation of your stereotypical angry, troubled newspaper editor, who takes his frustrations out on his staff. But, in turn, his staff don't take his verbal onslaught lying down; they give as good as they get, bonding them to a point of becoming kith. There are so many words to describe him, I don't know where to start.

The amusing and funny banter and dialogue between the newspaper employees are a joy to read. The book maintains a medium to fast-paced rhythm, flowing effortlessly throughout, with very little to no lag in the narrative.

Overall, an extremely entertaining and lighthearted delve into the dark forces bubbling just under the surface of mainstream society. 

 

Call of the Void by J.Z. Foster, Justin M. Woodward, Christine Boatwright

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed, exhilarating, tense thriller that will have you turning pages faster than a hummingbird on crack. Will Braun makes the Nazi Party look like a group of Hare Krishnas in his cold-hearted (does he even have one of those?) calculating machinations.

Extremely exciting, the tension, paranoia, and claustrophobic atmosphere are palpable. The author has skillfully woven the plot together, so you feel like looking over your shoulder while reading.

Imagine the xenomorph and the Thing had a baby, and then that baby had a baby with Joseph Merrick; you'll start to get the picture of the horror involved or even evolved! I genuinely felt sorry and shared the crew's pain during this episode.

Overall, it's a great quick read that will leave you wanting more, especially after the cliffhanging ending. Excellent stuff.