Nutshell: Kindle bestselling author Aaron Patterson cashes in on his success with this crappy little waste of three bucks. One star.
Review: This exceedingly slim volume contains absolutely nothing you can't glean from any succesful indie writer's blog. Konrath's, for example. If you're serious about indie publishing, then you've already learned everything in this ridiculous excuse for a book. Patterson had the opportunity to really write an interesting--perhaps even inspiring--story, but instead whipped this paper-thin thing off in an afternoon, apparently. A couple of things stick out: do you really need a book that defines an e-book for you (meaning literally points out that an e-book is an electronic book, not a book in print) not once, but twice?! If you haven't figured that out, then you probably are going to have a pretty short career as an indie author. Second, despite the exhortation to get your books professionally converted so that they look good, you would think that Patterson's own book would have page breaks in the proper places and wouldn't have the odd "Table of Contents" fragment at the end. Or is it just me who would think that?
Rating: One star. Seems like a cynical way to make money off the hopes of indie authors, and really a waste of money. It would be a waste of time too, but it only took ten minutes to read, so I can't complain about that too much.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Venice Vampyr by Tina Folsom
Hi everybody, LJ here. For some reason Will decided to pass on the review of the vampire romance book. Big surprise! J OK, anyway, here’s the scoop: This is an older book in indie terms—things move pretty fast for some self-publishers, and apparently Tina Folsom kicks them out pretty fast. Venice Vampyr was apparently published only back in December 2010 and she’s already on number three in the series. So is this erotic paranormal romance for you? And what does that mean anyway?
Well, more than anything else, it means hair-raising language. I’m talking the most explicit, down and dirty language you can imagine. Or even stronger than that!
But let’s start things with the story. We don’t do spoilers here at BHBR, but it’s not much of a reveal to say that the story gets started when a human woman saves a vampire from drowning. How does he want to thank her? With sweet, sweet lovin’, and here’s where that naughty language comes in. The author doesn’t hold back at all with her descriptions or language, and you’ll feel like you’re watching a porn film when reading this book. Strangely, although I understand why Folsom’s books have been selling if they’re all like this one, I found the language really jarring. I’m no prude, believe me [Note from Will: I can attest to that; LJ is not a prude], but with the elegant backdrop of Venice for this book, it’s a bit much to hear dialogue that could have been lifted from the script of “MILF Gang Bang Vol. 4”.
Even that could have been overcome if the book were just better. But outside of the undeniably arousing sex scenes, the rest of the book is just boring. Folsom tried to spice it up—so to speak—by inserting photos of Venice that she took herself, but it only showed that she should stick to writing and avoid photography.
In the end, I’ll put it like this—I guess I don’t mind having read it, but I found it disappointing both as a romance as well as erotica. I don’t recommend Venice Vampyr for most readers and I’m going to give it two stars.
LJ
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Virtue by Amanda Hocking
Nutshell: Amanda Hocking's "fairy tale" follows Lux and Lily as they try to safely navigate a world in which good and evil are literally battling around them. Some problems with the text may make adults less enthusiastic, but this book will undoubtedly be devoured by her fans. Four stars.
Review: Hocking seems to have successfully walked the fine line between literature which appeals to girls and that which appeals to boys, creating in Virtue a book which should captivate both.
In line with our no spoilers policy, I'm not going into much detail about the plot, but this tale of the struggle of good versus evil nicely balances romantic elements with magic, action and adventure. The world Hocking has created is nicely detailed with small touches that are sometimes reminiscent of the work of J.K. Rowling and which help the reader easily envision the goings-on. Although the characterization of Lux and Lily at first seemed flat, once the reader learns more about who the characters are--or rather, who they represent--you could argue that the characterization is sufficient.
Hocking's writing is clear and simple--almost curiously simple sometimes--and appropriate for the age group she's aiming for with this work (Virtue is recommended for readers 14 and up, according to the product description.
An adult reader, however, may find it difficult to remain engaged with the plot given the many errors scattered throughout the work. Most of them involve wrong words flying under the radar of the spell check function, but which should have been caught by whoever assisted Hocking with the editing--things like the use of aide instead of aid, illicit instead of elicit, and so on. I was amused, however, by one particular slip. Note to Hocking's editors: decanter and cantor don't mean the same thing. Once a cantor is full of wine, you don't want it back.
Still, these are minor problems overall, and considering the intended age group, many of them won't be noticed at all. In the end, I suspect that Virtue will please Hocking's fans and may earn her some new ones.
Rating: Four stars. In spite of the problems with the text, this is an entertaining book that will appeal to both boys and girls. Virtue is a recommended buy.
Review: Hocking seems to have successfully walked the fine line between literature which appeals to girls and that which appeals to boys, creating in Virtue a book which should captivate both.
In line with our no spoilers policy, I'm not going into much detail about the plot, but this tale of the struggle of good versus evil nicely balances romantic elements with magic, action and adventure. The world Hocking has created is nicely detailed with small touches that are sometimes reminiscent of the work of J.K. Rowling and which help the reader easily envision the goings-on. Although the characterization of Lux and Lily at first seemed flat, once the reader learns more about who the characters are--or rather, who they represent--you could argue that the characterization is sufficient.
Hocking's writing is clear and simple--almost curiously simple sometimes--and appropriate for the age group she's aiming for with this work (Virtue is recommended for readers 14 and up, according to the product description.
An adult reader, however, may find it difficult to remain engaged with the plot given the many errors scattered throughout the work. Most of them involve wrong words flying under the radar of the spell check function, but which should have been caught by whoever assisted Hocking with the editing--things like the use of aide instead of aid, illicit instead of elicit, and so on. I was amused, however, by one particular slip. Note to Hocking's editors: decanter and cantor don't mean the same thing. Once a cantor is full of wine, you don't want it back.
Still, these are minor problems overall, and considering the intended age group, many of them won't be noticed at all. In the end, I suspect that Virtue will please Hocking's fans and may earn her some new ones.
Rating: Four stars. In spite of the problems with the text, this is an entertaining book that will appeal to both boys and girls. Virtue is a recommended buy.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Anathema by Megg Jensen
Nutshell: When Reychel, a lifelong slave, is rescued from her life of servitude on her fifteenth birthday, it's the start of a journey that will eventually reveal the important role that she'll play in the future of her people. Megg Jensen has created an engaging, richly detailed read. 4 stars.
Review: With Anathema, Megg Jensen has created a richly detailed, interesting world that drew me in almost immediately (the whole business with the coin didn't really work for me, so it was a bit wobbly at the start, but that's probably just me). As I've written before, I'm a sucker for fantasy to begin with, so the bar is set pretty low. However, Jensen has just done such a nice job with her book that I think she'll win over lots of fans regardless of their literary preferences. The story is engaging, the details allow you to easily imagine the world the characters inhabit, and although some aspects feel a bit familiar, the twists and turns in the story are interesting and unexpected. This is one of those books that will leave you thinking about the characters well after you finish reading.
Is this a perfect book? No. I have some minor issues with a few things--there are some small typographical and continuity errors scattered throughout that should have been caught by her beta readers, the language is sometimes jarringly modern and several scenes seem underdeveloped. However, overall those are small problems, and they didn't detract too much from my enjoyment of the book.
Rating: 4 stars and a recommended buy. This is well worth your time and money, and keep your eyes open for more from Megg Jensen in the future!
Review: With Anathema, Megg Jensen has created a richly detailed, interesting world that drew me in almost immediately (the whole business with the coin didn't really work for me, so it was a bit wobbly at the start, but that's probably just me). As I've written before, I'm a sucker for fantasy to begin with, so the bar is set pretty low. However, Jensen has just done such a nice job with her book that I think she'll win over lots of fans regardless of their literary preferences. The story is engaging, the details allow you to easily imagine the world the characters inhabit, and although some aspects feel a bit familiar, the twists and turns in the story are interesting and unexpected. This is one of those books that will leave you thinking about the characters well after you finish reading.
Is this a perfect book? No. I have some minor issues with a few things--there are some small typographical and continuity errors scattered throughout that should have been caught by her beta readers, the language is sometimes jarringly modern and several scenes seem underdeveloped. However, overall those are small problems, and they didn't detract too much from my enjoyment of the book.
Rating: 4 stars and a recommended buy. This is well worth your time and money, and keep your eyes open for more from Megg Jensen in the future!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Saving Rachel by John Locke
Nutshell: A computer whiz who specializes in hiding other people's money finds himself targeted and two women--his mistress and his wife--are used as leverage to get him to cough up the codes the bad guys need to access billions of dollars. This is a really crappy book. One star.
Review: I do admire John Locke. He has repeatedly said that his aim was to dominate the 99-cent ebook market, and he appears to have hit his goal repeatedly. As he has proclaimed in various places, every seven seconds of every day, a John Locke book is bought. However, if his other books are of the same caliber as Saving Rachel, then I'm stumped as to how that happened since he appears to have nearly no ability as a writer.
The entire book seems to have been written in shorthand: instead of characterization, we get brand names thrown around. Exposition is provided in long stretches of dialogue, as if Locke were too lazy to develop a story and instead just had the characters explain how reasonable the book's multiple implausibilities really are. We're somehow supposed to care about the main character, who is having an affair with a beautiful blonde (as he claims, "I just banged Karen Vogel") yet somehow also really loves his wife Rachel. Or maybe we're not supposed to care, in which case Locke succeeded.
I would never denigrate anybody for getting people to read, and I still admire Locke for that. It's just too bad that he's not a better writer. If you're tired of the intellectual effort required by Mack Bolan books, then this is for you. Otherwise, go to Taco Bell and spend your 99 cents on a bean burrito. The guy who squirts refried beans into a tortilla, sprinkles cheese on it and wraps it up will display greater craftsmanship than Locke does here, and trust me, you'll feel better after the burrito.
Rating: A solid one star. This is not a book for serious readers.
Review: I do admire John Locke. He has repeatedly said that his aim was to dominate the 99-cent ebook market, and he appears to have hit his goal repeatedly. As he has proclaimed in various places, every seven seconds of every day, a John Locke book is bought. However, if his other books are of the same caliber as Saving Rachel, then I'm stumped as to how that happened since he appears to have nearly no ability as a writer.
The entire book seems to have been written in shorthand: instead of characterization, we get brand names thrown around. Exposition is provided in long stretches of dialogue, as if Locke were too lazy to develop a story and instead just had the characters explain how reasonable the book's multiple implausibilities really are. We're somehow supposed to care about the main character, who is having an affair with a beautiful blonde (as he claims, "I just banged Karen Vogel") yet somehow also really loves his wife Rachel. Or maybe we're not supposed to care, in which case Locke succeeded.
I would never denigrate anybody for getting people to read, and I still admire Locke for that. It's just too bad that he's not a better writer. If you're tired of the intellectual effort required by Mack Bolan books, then this is for you. Otherwise, go to Taco Bell and spend your 99 cents on a bean burrito. The guy who squirts refried beans into a tortilla, sprinkles cheese on it and wraps it up will display greater craftsmanship than Locke does here, and trust me, you'll feel better after the burrito.
Rating: A solid one star. This is not a book for serious readers.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Playing the Game by Simon Gould
Nutshell: A crazed serial killer stalks pretty young college students in Los Angeles while an LAPD detective tries to catch him before he kills again. A fast-paced thriller exhibiting nothing you haven't seen before. Two stars.
Review: So let's see...have we got the hard-boiled cop and his partner? Check. A crazed serial killer with a silly nickname toying with the cops? Check. A lawmaker belonging to a powerful, shadowy group that invisibly pulls the strings while staying above the law? Check. Yep, we've got all the cliches we need!
What should have been an entertaining romp wore out its welcome early, due to the many, many echoes of stories you've undoubtedly heard before. It doesn't help things that Gould explicitly has a character refer to the main character (Detective Patton) and his partner as Riggs and Murtaugh, from the Lethal Weapon films--although it certainly does illuminate the inspiration for Gould. We're also treated to dialogue à la Tarentino (two guys arguing over the merits of joining the rebels or the Empire in Star Wars), and so on and so on. Of course, we're all inspired by others, but when there's so little originality displayed, it does get tiresome.
Gould's style is often clunky, as displayed in this dialogue--remember, this is something a character is actually saying aloud: "We needed to ensure that we knew exactly where whoever was carrying out these actions was going to be once the actions were completed. We can't run the risk of employing anyone to carry out these actions then being picked up somewhere down the line on an unrelated charge and having us as leverage to plead out a lesser charge."
It also doesn't help that the book is full of distractions. These range from the many uses of British terms--"boot" instead of "trunk", "lift" instead of "elevator", "post" instead of mail, "takeaway" instead of (presumably) "takeout"; none of these would be used by the American characters in the book. It makes me wonder why he didn't just place the action in London (oh yeah, they never filmed a Lethal Weapon movie there). The apparent lack of copy editing was also maddening, repeatedly kicking me out of the story, although I did enjoy the line Gould wrote about Obi-wan Kenobi wandering around the "dessert".
I confess, I was tempted to stop reading after the part in which a cop knocks a door off its hinges with one kick, since we had evidently passed into fantasy land there. However--and this is a big however--I kept reading. Gould has some severe issues but he clearly gets some things right--the pacing is terrific and although the hooks are tired, they are often effective; I found myself wanting to read more in spite of myself. If he were to use fresher ingredients, he'd come up with a pretty tasty concoction. I'll be watching for his next offering.
The formatting of the text was fine, but the beginning was rough. While I normally enjoy a story that throws you right into the action, I guess for Gould that means skipping the cover and title page and literally beginning with the first chapter. I read this on Kindle for PC for 99 cents.
Rating: A solid two stars. Die-hard fans of the genre will probably enjoy it, but for fair-weather fans, it might not be worth the effort. Keep watching Gould, however.
Review: So let's see...have we got the hard-boiled cop and his partner? Check. A crazed serial killer with a silly nickname toying with the cops? Check. A lawmaker belonging to a powerful, shadowy group that invisibly pulls the strings while staying above the law? Check. Yep, we've got all the cliches we need!
What should have been an entertaining romp wore out its welcome early, due to the many, many echoes of stories you've undoubtedly heard before. It doesn't help things that Gould explicitly has a character refer to the main character (Detective Patton) and his partner as Riggs and Murtaugh, from the Lethal Weapon films--although it certainly does illuminate the inspiration for Gould. We're also treated to dialogue à la Tarentino (two guys arguing over the merits of joining the rebels or the Empire in Star Wars), and so on and so on. Of course, we're all inspired by others, but when there's so little originality displayed, it does get tiresome.
Gould's style is often clunky, as displayed in this dialogue--remember, this is something a character is actually saying aloud: "We needed to ensure that we knew exactly where whoever was carrying out these actions was going to be once the actions were completed. We can't run the risk of employing anyone to carry out these actions then being picked up somewhere down the line on an unrelated charge and having us as leverage to plead out a lesser charge."
It also doesn't help that the book is full of distractions. These range from the many uses of British terms--"boot" instead of "trunk", "lift" instead of "elevator", "post" instead of mail, "takeaway" instead of (presumably) "takeout"; none of these would be used by the American characters in the book. It makes me wonder why he didn't just place the action in London (oh yeah, they never filmed a Lethal Weapon movie there). The apparent lack of copy editing was also maddening, repeatedly kicking me out of the story, although I did enjoy the line Gould wrote about Obi-wan Kenobi wandering around the "dessert".
I confess, I was tempted to stop reading after the part in which a cop knocks a door off its hinges with one kick, since we had evidently passed into fantasy land there. However--and this is a big however--I kept reading. Gould has some severe issues but he clearly gets some things right--the pacing is terrific and although the hooks are tired, they are often effective; I found myself wanting to read more in spite of myself. If he were to use fresher ingredients, he'd come up with a pretty tasty concoction. I'll be watching for his next offering.
The formatting of the text was fine, but the beginning was rough. While I normally enjoy a story that throws you right into the action, I guess for Gould that means skipping the cover and title page and literally beginning with the first chapter. I read this on Kindle for PC for 99 cents.
Rating: A solid two stars. Die-hard fans of the genre will probably enjoy it, but for fair-weather fans, it might not be worth the effort. Keep watching Gould, however.
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