The Morning Star

Today's post is on The Morning Star by Nick Bantock. It is the last in his Morning Star trilogy. It is 60 pages long and is published by Chronicle Books. The cover is red with a lovely Egyptian scene on a postcard. The intended reader is someone who has read the first books, likes book art, and high fantasy with philosophy. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Isabella--
The stronger you grow the more I seem to want you. You say you believe I'll respond to your love and I will. But now I understand the self-doubts Griffin must have endured when he knew he was to meet with Sabine. He was troubled by the idea that he wouldn't be a match for her soul. You and I are so like them.
Love, MatthewPlunged into an otherworldly maze, Matthew Sedon and Isabella de Reims are stretched to the limits of love, of certainty, and of their belief in the powerful guidance of Griffin and Sabine. Isabella is drawn into her predestined journey that forces her to explore a world beyond her imagination. In Alexandria, challenging his deepest fears, Matthew makes hi own compelling discoveries in the fertile fields of both archaeology and the human heart.
In this, the final chapter of the Griffin & Sabine stories, lies the fate of Matthew and Isabella--and their unexpected kinship with Griffin and Sabine. Author and artist Nick Bantock draws on myth, memory, and his limitless imagination to create a story that has resonated with readers the world over. In The Morning Star, the mystery that began with an enigmatic postcard from Sabine Strohem to Griffin Moss reaches its dramatic conclusion.

Review- This is a great conclusion to the story. There are still questions about the world but the story about Isabella and Matthew is finished and happily so. The story is very philosophical and that can make it hard to understand what Bantock is going for. I think that this story is about how important art is. Art helps makes an ordinary world something special. I think we all need art in our lives and we have to choose it and seek it out. The villains could be many things from things in our lives distracting us from creating art to people in our lives who think that art has no real value. Or I could be making this love story about something more than two people over-coming odds to be together. Either way I love this story and it moves me every time I read it.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.

The Aeronaut's Windlass

Today's post is on The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. It is the first in his The Cinder Spires series. It is 640 pages long and is published by Roc. The cover has Captain Grimm on it looking cool. The intended reader is someone who likes steampunk, is a fan of Jim Butcher, and interesting plots. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from third person moving from one character to another every chapter. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace.
Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship, Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy’s shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels. But when the Predator is severely damaged in combat, leaving captain and crew grounded, Grimm is offered a proposition from the Spirearch of Albion—to join a team of agents on a vital mission in exchange for fully restoring Predator to its fighting glory.
And even as Grimm undertakes this dangerous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity’s ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake…

Review- A fun and fast-paced steampunk story. Butcher's writing is solid for this story, with interesting characters, fun world-building, and of course spiders. If I can ever get my hands on Tolkien, I will make him pay for all the spiders in fantasy novels. Seriously. But back to the story we have a world where humans and cats live on Spires and no one goes to the surface. We have interesting magic with half-mad and mad magic users. We have noble houses and criminal guilds and kings who everyone knows are just figureheads, no really he just says around all day totally not planning for everything to wrong and how to fix it when it does. The one weakness in this book is the last airship battle. Butcher lost me on that one. I do not know why but it just bored me. Other than that a very enjoyable story and I am curious about where the story is going to go now.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I was given this book by ACE/Roc in exchange for an honest review. 

Rurouni Kenshin volume 4

Today's post is on Rurouni Kenshin volume 4 by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is 208 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Kenshin and company on it. It is the fourth volume in the long running series. You have to have read the three first in the series to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes historical stories, manga, and interesting characters. There is no foul language, no sex, but some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close following different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Dual Conclusions.
Shinomiro Aoshi was once the leader Edo Castle's elite guard, the Oniwabanshu. But with the fighting at an end and the shogunate overthrown, the brilliant Aoshi and his four most loyal onmitsu, or spies, find themselves without a home or a purpoise. When fighting is your life, loyalty to those lost ideals (and to the man who most symbolized them) may be the one thing left. But Megumi's life is at stake, and however sympathetic Kenshin may feel, he will fight on, to the last man is necessary...

Review- Not much character development in this one just some fun fights. But we do get to understand Aoshi more as the plot does unfold. His character is based on the second commander of the Shinsengumi Hijikata Toushizo. Watsuki does interesting things with the base characteristics of these historical people. Aoshi is interesting and very mysterious. The fights are fast and fun with Kenshin and company having some learning moments. But the real villain comes forward to kill everyone with a gatling gun because nothing else can stop these heroes. In the end bad guy is jailed, Kenshin still has his vow, and Megumi is going to help others to pay back the lives she took. More fight and drama ahead.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Alexandria

Today's post is on Alexandria by Nick Bantock. It is the second in his Morning Star trilogy. It is 58 pages long and is published by Chronicle Books. The cover is yellow with a postcard in the center of a Hummingbird. The intended reader is someone who likes book art, fantasy plots, and reading other peoples mail. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspectives of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Matthew--
You have felt Isabella's heat and the experience unnerved you. What if I were to tell you that your fears are back to front, that your failure to let go and fully embrace Isabella is the thing most likely to destroy you? That your coming together is an essential part of a grand design?
--Sabine
Intrigue turns to danger and romance turns to passion as Matthew Sedon and Isabella de Reims, lovers separated by continents, struggle to make sense of a world beyond experience. Only the guidance of Griffin Moss and Sabine Stroheim--experienced navigators of myth and reality--can keep them safe. In Egypt, mysterious forces vie to keep Matthew away from his archaeological dig just as he is about to make a vital discovery, one that may explain his increasingly strange and strong connection with Sabine. In the boulevards of Paris, under Griffin's tutelage, Isabella learns to trust her own powerful instincts.

Review- So much happens in this book. We are finally getting some idea about what is really going on in this world. Isabella is the center of the plot because of her visions and we get the return of the villains. And the art is so beautiful. The little drawings in the corners of the letters or the pictures on the front of the post cards; just makes it all the more fun to read theses books. The mythology is just to interesting and fun. The four main characters all have different voices and I want to hear more from them about everything that is going on in the story.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.

Rurouni Kenshin volume 3

Today's post is on Rurouni Kenshin volume 3 by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Kenshin and Kaoru on it. It is the third volume in the long running series. You have to have read the two first in the series to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes historical stories, manga, and interesting characters. There is no foul language, no sex, but some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close following different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A reason to act.
"Spider's Web"... like ordinary opium, but better-processed. Half the cost to produce, but twice the profits! To the people of Aizu, Takani Megumi was a daughter in a famous family of doctors, in which everyone- women and children- alike- studied medicine. But to grasping industrialist Takeda Kanryu, she is the hen who lays the golden egg- the only one who knows the Spider's Wed formula! To stay with Kanryu is to send even more to their deaths. But to stay with Kenshin and the others is to invite theirs...

Review- This volume is about introducing the last character of the series Takani Megumi and an important side character Shinomori Aoshi. The plot is really about how to save Megumi from the bad guy and help her redeem herself. Out of fear she made the opium instead of standing up to Kanryu. But now she has to face what she has done. The fight scenes are fun with Kenshin and Sano having pretty much all the fun. Kaoru is still acting like a little girl especially with Megumi hitting on Kenshin every chance she gets. Kenshin does not care but he does not stop it either. So some mild romantic drama. The volume ends before the big show down. So more action and drama ahead.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

True Spies

Today's post is on True Spies by Shana Galen. It is 346 pages long and is published by Source Books. It is the second in her Lord and Lady Spy series. The cover has the two main characters on it looking at the reader. The intended reader is someone who likes historical romance, fun plots, and spies. There is language, sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from the third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- He's Getting Tired of Deception...
Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him, and his wife has given up on him.
She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue...
Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew.

Review- This was a fun historical romp with spies. It is very clearly based in the movie True Lies but that just made it more fun for me. I liked both the main characters. Winn quickly regrets treating his wife so poorly and wants to make a real life with her. She is willing to try and trust him again. They met in the middle so the love story is good. The spy plot is fun and I want to know more about the other characters. In particular I want to know more about Blue. He made me think of the Scarlet Pimpernel with his disguises and plans. Very fun.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Rurouni Kenshin volume 2

Today's review is on Rurouni Kenshin volume 2 by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. It is the first volume in the long running series. The cover has Kenshin and Sanosuke on it. The intended reader is someone who likes historical stories, manga, and interesting characters. There is no foul language, no sex, but some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close following different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The Two Hitokiri
When the cheif of the Police Sword Corps himself comes asking for favors, things must be bad. Hitokiri Udo Jin-e - a black hatted crazy-eyed slayer who feels both targets and innocent bystanders alike- is steadily working his way through a lift of former Ishin Shishi patriots now ensceonced within positions of power in the Meiji government. Can Kenshin withstanf the hypnotic, paralyzing effect of Jin-e?

Review- This volume has really three stories in it. The first story finishes the fight between Kenshin and Sanosuke. Then we have most of the volume dealing with Jin-e. And the last story includes the next character Megumi Takani. The Jin-e fight is fun with Kaoru being the important character because she can call Kenshin back from his killing rage. Jin-e thinks that because she is a woman that she is weak and cannot break his hold over her or Kenshin. But Kaoru is honestly the strongest character in the series. She is one who feeds, clothes, and fights for everyone. But Kenshin is the hero and he does a great job with it. This volume also starts to introduce the over all themes of government corruption that is ruining the lives of the average citizen. But more Action, Romance, and Drama ahead!

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.