Ahoy there me mateys!  This be the eighteenth book in me Ports for Plunder - 19 Books in 2019 list.  When I went to read this book, I realized that there was a problem.  I didn't actually own it like I thought I did!  I currently have a self-imposed rule that I can only buy books that I know I will reread and they have to be in ebook form (library book sales being the exception).  Also I be in the midst of a hold tally of all the books I own in both ebook and physical forms and don't want to buy another book until it be complete.  So I decided to download an Amazon sample to see if it be good enough to spend me loot.  Usually Amazon samples be dangerous because I read, fall in love, and immediately buy the book.  Sadly the answer was no to this book.  It has promise but not enough for the expensive ebook price.  The crew reviews seem to be all 3 stars and up but none of the local libraries have a copy.  As I only read the sample, I am not even including this book in the tally of reads for the year.  The only reason this post is being written is because of it was on the 19 in 2019 list.  What I read didn't excite me so I am going to abandon this one for now.  And maybe for always.  Arrrr!

Side note: Only one more to go!!

Ahoy there mateys!  Though the first mate and I have very different reading tastes, occasionally we do recommend books to each other.  Books the first mate introduced to me included xom-b, holes, and the perks of being a wallflower.  He and I both read the following:

house of assassins (Larry Correia)

We listened to and talked about the book and I enjoyed his viewpoint so I ordered asked him to write a review.  So you get one from me and a bonus additional review from me crew.  Please note that I write like I talk and the first mate writes like he thinks.  Hope you enjoy!

Side note:  While I try to post no spoilers, this be a review of book two so read at yer own peril . . .

From the Captain:

This series was a recommendation by me First Mate.  I loved book one back in 2016 and was excited for the next one.  I read the paper version of book one.  The First Mate listened to both books on audio book and was enthusiastic (to say the least) about the narrator Tim Gerard Reynolds.  So before reading book two, I decided to revisit book one on audio.  The First Mate and I listened to book one together.  He was completely right.  On me first read, I called it "A fluff book with a little bit of depth."  What the hell was I thinking?  The story is fantastic and even better because of the narrator!  Plus it was lovely to listen to the book in segments and discuss it with the First Mate.  So there was no question about book two - audio book indeed!

And I loved, loved, loved book two.  Though it be hard to say which book I enjoyed more.  I continue to love Ashok Vadal, Thera, and the Librarian.  Though the assassins and bad guy priest were kinda stereotypical to me on first read, the audio books fixed that problem.  And book two took them in non-stereotypical directions that I certainly couldn't have anticipated.  Gutch continues to be hysterical.  Jagdish continues to be an excellent counterpoint to Gutch.  Seriously I love these characters!

Plus this book was hopping.  The pace seemed blisteringly fast and I would actually shake me fist in rage every time a chapter ended and it was time to stop listening for the night.  I had to know what was happening next.  That said, the gaps between listening to the book didn't even matter as soon as I heard the voice of Tim Gerard Reynolds.  Instantly transported to where I left off.  He is a wizard with a magical voice.

While book one was more linear in plot flow, book two did jump around a bit because of the POVs being separated.  But I loved it.  And the ending!  Talk about suspense.  I actually think both books ended so very well.  The arc of each book was tied up but the last page left a big question that makes the wait for the answer cause almost a physical ache.  I need book three.  Now.  Arrrrrr!

From the First Mate (some book one spoilers):

First of all, if you’re someone who loves audiobooks, or someone who occasionally dabbles in them, or someone who’s been never really taken to them, or someone looking for their first introduction to audiobooks, look no further.  Tim Gerard Reynolds narrating Larry Correria’s “Saga of the Forgotten Warrior” may be the best marriage of narrator and material that I’ve ever encountered. Correia is a very good writer, but Reynolds adds so much to the overall work that I wouldn’t even consider enjoying these books in any other way.  Reynolds has so many voices, such delightful accents, an utter mastery of timing and inflection, a way of imbuing in the most minor of characters with life that, well, I can’t sing his praises more highly.

“House of Assassins” follows directly from the ending of the first book, tells a self-contained adventure of its own, and progresses the overall narrative of the series.  Correria does a fine job of making all of these elements work in their own right. We get a much deeper look into the magic system of the world, more glimpses into the murky history, tons of political intrigue, battles galore, and even a good helping of comedic stylings mostly from Gutch.

Ultimately, this novel seems to be about how our various characters deal with personal loss.  Ashok is dealing with the loss of Angruvadal.  Sikasso the loss of his arm.  Devedas the loss of his brother.   We learn what Thera lost and how that drives her.  We learn what each does to try to live without something that was integral to their very being.

“House of Assassins” is slightly longer than “Son of the Black Sword” and yet it feels quite a bit shorter.  I would have bet vital parts of my anatomy that it was shorter prior to looking it up only to find out that they were practically the same length.  Partly this is due to the fact that the narrative simply doesn’t spend as much time with any one character as much as the first book did. Correia has expanded the list of characters to the point that a few of them only appear in a chapter or two.  Also because there are so many storylines going on at once, the timescale is considerably compressed when compared to the first novel. We’re with the characters this time for a matter of weeks instead of almost a year.

I finished “Son of the Black Sword” lamenting the fact that Correia didn’t put his own spin on epic fantasy in the same way that he did on Lovecraftian horror with his Monster Hunter books.  After this second book, I feel that I was in error. He has certainly put his own spin on it, and at this point I’m looking forward to another novel in this series far more than I am for his other series.

Highest recommendation to fans of epic fantasy.

Ahoy there mateys! This be a horror novella that discusses what happens when herd immunity is compromised and a virus begins wiping out the planet. Ye get to meet patient zero named Lisa Morris and I enjoyed that. I think the set-up and concepts were interesting but I had many problems. I hated the twist at the end. I could see it coming and was very grumpy about the choice. The why of the twist didn’t make sense. Also while I am pro-vaccination, the message here was just too heavy handed. It overtook the characters and plot. After the initial set-up, the story went downhill. I really didn’t like the solution on how to save humanity either. I finished it because it was short but overall very disappointing when compared to her other work. Arrrr!

Ahoy there mateys! Unpopular opinion time!  I should have loved this book about three young thieves thrown into a centuries old magical war.  It was Matey Lashaan's review that convinced me to spend me loot and read it.  And I must have missed something.  I didn't understand why the war existed.  I didn't really understand why the Iron Gods were in the  bells.  To borrow someone else's phrase, the magic was a "metaphysical tale."  One character gets to zoom around and experience buildings' feelings or see things from afar.  It was odd.  I ended up disliking her entire character and purpose.  I also absolutely hated Miren and thought him as a love interest was awful.  I did like some of the characters and some of the world building.  I particularly enjoyed the Tallowmen, Spar the Stone Man, and Aleena the warrior-saint.  But the world building and descriptions overwhelmed both the plot and the characters.  Plus the narration and plot were hard to follow at times and took very random turns.  Add in sex scenes that totally go against a main character's personality.  Basically I finished the book and didn't really understand any of the real reasons behind the war or the outcome of book one.  Basically felt like WTF.  I will not be reading any more of this series.  Arrrr!

Ahoy there mateys! Earlier this year I really enjoyed salvation day and so I decided to pick up another of the author's books.  I went with this one because of this part of the blurb "In a foggy archipelago called the City of Islands . . . Mara has always been fascinated by the magic that drifts on the air as songs . . . Mara must earn her keep by searching for magical treasures deep in the murky ocean."  Sea yarn with super cool world building sign me up.  So the problem?  I didn't like the plot.  The beginning started out strong but the once the magical artifacts are found, it starts to make no sense.  Mara is one of those protagonists that seems to have no agency and is thrown from weird moment to weird moment.  The characters seemed cool at first but were ultimately forgettable.  Plus the resolution was lame.  Shame because the setting deserved better. Arrrr!

Ahoy there mateys! This be a twelve dancing princess retelling.  I really wanted to like this one.  The main highlight of this book is that all twelve sisters are unique and have personalities.  It was clear that they loved each other.  I also loved that they worked together to help beat the curse.  I enjoyed two of the princes too - the goose prince and the one who liked art.  The maze and the enchanted world were fun.  How the villain's past is resolved at the end worked.  What didn't work was the plot and the main character.  This be one of those stories where Lily, the main character, was kinda an idiot.  She is supposed to be strong and talented and the best to run the kingdom.  Plus she is the oldest.  I found her to be whiny and a bit ridiculous.  There is a love interest that stalks her and she could have taken care of it long before it got out of hand by saying no and not letting him assume that she cared.  Later the curse could have been cured by her using her head and telling the truth.  She is a coward and self-absorbed.  I think many of the sisters could run the kingdom better.  I didn't like how the curse was ultimately resolved or how the king had to come back to fix everything.  I didn't like the mother or the actual love interest.  And the dragons were awesome but there weren't enough of them! Arrrr!