One Word Kill

One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

May 31, 2019: I've just re-read this review.  It is a pretty massive spoiler, I suspect.  Maybe not so much of you don't click, "read more".

One Word Kill might remind folks of the TV show Stranger Things as its primary characters are youngsters, perhaps who should have grown out of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), but haven't. So our co-protagonists are bonded together as a set of socially prosecuted people by their evil peers because they are, or nearly are, "geeks". At that age, 15ish, perhaps only thinking nerds who can understand complex math, philosophy, history and retain an imagination are the least likely to be evil to their "not-the-same-as-me" peers. -just a cultural observation.

Nicholas "Nick" Hayes is our leukemia riddled, Chemo soaked protagonist. His D&D character is Nicodemus, who studied the arcane; he's a trainee wizard, if you like. Our remaining D&D band of brothers is Elton, who may have seen the Avenue of the Baobabs as an infant. He is The Game Master. There's Simon who can easily paint miniatures with his fat fingers. He plays Finious the thief, but he'd never steal in real life. I think Simon's a functioning Asperger's with a savant gift of math skills, but that's barely implied in the book.

John is the "Fonz" of the group who would never admit to having geeky friends, but his debonair facade doesn't annoy his D&D pals. He's always on time for Saturday D&D, so his ego is ignored.

THEN ONE DAY Elton, The Game Master, brings the mysterious Mia to the sacred Saturday D&D session, destroying all decency and protocol. Mia is next seen in the novel with John the faux Fonz throwing pebbles at Nick's window around midnight the day of this first Chemo treatment.

The Hundredth Queen

The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I tragically did not review the book when I read it the first time. Emily R. King is an excellent author and if she did not outline this book prior to writing it, she's a remarkable "seat of the pants" writer. "Outliners" near always have tidy plots that are a joy to read. "Pantsers" are fun too, you're as surprised as they were when they write something. This one was brilliantly tidy. Having read it, I know that she knew how the book would end before she finished the first chapter.

That's a spoiler by the way. Now you know that there are things in chapter one that are relevant in the climax of the book and beyond.

Briefly, Kalinda lives under a monarchy, but she is physically in a 'far off' monastery type of place that is a woman only facility. The monastery is funded by 'benefactors', who from time to time show up to "claim" a woman as wife, mistress, or some other form of chattel.

TRAGICALLY... THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD, not the "ruin the book" kind, but spoilers. Not the kind you can blank out and still have the review seem coherent. I do recommend the book later...

The Kill List

The Kill List by David Archer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Spoiler Alert: This is Sam Prichard Mystery #5. Anything said may spoil Sam Prichard Mysteries 1-4. I think they are an endearing and entertaining set of mysteries that might be fun for anyone to read, so if you think you might enjoy these G rated books in the future, stop after the next two or three paragraphs until you've read books 1-4.

This review included the ebook and audiobook narrated by the most excellent Mikael Naramore who makes the audiobook exceptionally pleasing. I liked it. 3 stars. I recommend "The Kill List" and the previous 4 mysteries.

In a previous Sam Prichard review I called these novels "Gum Shoe Musicals". While this one retains this moniker, I may be changing the moniker to "Gum Shoe Country Musicals" or possibly - in the future to "Gum Shoe Gospel Musicals". Guessing the trend goes as I presume (possibly incorrectly).

I gave them this label as Sam Prichard is a private investigator, aka Gum Shoe, and David Archer has added links to his ebooks that play songs on his website. You can sing along with the lyrics in the ebook. If you have purchased the audiobook, there's nothing to click, where the lyrics are in the ebook, they actually play the song on the audiobook making it, at least in part, a "music audio file".

Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved it and HIGHLY recommend Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Don't wait 65 years to read it, it is surely better than near anything you might read this year. Try Frankenstein instead.

This review is of Frankenstein (Amazon Classics Edition) ebook ($2.99) and companion Whispersync Audiobook ($1.99) narrated by Nico Evers-Swindell, who I hope to comment on later.

I believe the book is a classic in the same class as Robinson Crusoe, and Gulliver's Travels, both books with deep and significant examinations of human behaviors, emotions, ethics, and morals. Frankenstein in the same vein examines the darker side of human ethics, compassion, morality, and our responsibilities to our society and neighbors.

My impression upon completing the novel is that nothing in my experience related to "Frankenstein" had prepared me for what is actually written in the book. After writing 2500 words of draft review, and revisiting several sections of the book I realize I may not have been giving it my full attention at all times. I was regularly surprised at the directions the story took and was gobsmacked when the "dæmond" demanded an audience with Victor Frankenstein, and with the content.

Corruption - (Debt Collector 17)

Corruption by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Debt collector 17, "Corruption" is our next to last "episode". Our crew of co-protagonists, Zach, Wyatt, and Alex/Wraith have a trilogy of options to stop the criminal slaughter of thousands of people via a computer hack that makes these folks appear to be subject to legal debt collection. Five stars for the idea, two stars for the episode meaning it was OK.

This episode is predictable to some degree. I do admit I missed my guess about Zach's number one option and hadn't thought that the third option would fail as quickly as my initial guess at what was next. You'll have to read the episode which isn't really a bad thing.

Since it is episode 17 of 18, I must leave you knowing that this is where all stories peak in excitement and the next episode must reach the conclusion of the story, for us to see if good or evil prevails. Click on read more or the spoiler link for the entire Cliff Notes spoiler extension to this review.

Judegment - (Debt Collector 16)

Judgment by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This episode was OK. 2 stars. I still struggle with Ms. Quinn's erratic quality of writing this 'season' but she long ago earned me as a fan (with her Mindjack series). This is episode number 16 of 18 that I'm aware of, so not recommending it would be like ordering a meal and leaving before it was served.

We start off exciting enough. Telling you too much would spoil episode 15, so let's say the episode opens with Wraith and Zach trying to escape Gehanna thugs in a taxi that is stuck in traffic, with their sanctuary within sight and not knowing if the thugs are 2 hours or 2 minutes behind them. To complicate matters Zach is lethally injured and Wraith is doing all possible to keep him alive. This is sincerely a suspenseful scene. The next scene is entirely unbelievable, in a noxious kind of way.

Penance (Debt Collector 15)

Penance by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked "Penance" Debt Collector 15. At least as much as Shattered's 3.2 stars. The first chapter is something akin to the hopes of a honeymoon couple staying in bed for a couple days. So it is voyeurism into what it might be like if you could increase the pleasure of sex with soul sucker abilities.

For the record I do recommend every episode I've read and not read of the two seasons of Debt Collector. The two seasons might be vaguely analogous to the Lemuel Gulliver in Lilliput AND Brobdingnag. The difference being Season one and two have different protagonist rather than different cultural environments that Lemuel encounters. Despite how bad one episode might be or how good another might be, the season is something similar to a full plot arc. I completely despise the idea of "seasons" in the writing of fiction. I hope this experimental form of writing dies a horrible death, while wishing it well on Television scripts.

Chapter two is less exciting that the voyeurism chapter. In this chapter Moloch carries on and on with how villainous and brilliant he is and how dangerous and harmful that is going to be to Alexandra who isn't convincing at being terrified, despite being killed a day or so earlier.

Shattered (Debt Collector 14)

Shattered by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Where "Temptation" (Debt Collection 13) failed, Shatter (Debt Collection 14) succeeded. I liked it. 3.2 stars. Not enough to bring it to 4 stars but enough to let you know you will enjoy this episode.

I highly recommend you stop reading this Cliff Notes spoiler edition review if you want to enjoy it yourself.

It opens in Sterling Cybernetics. Alexandra Morgan Sterling is being escorted by Zachariel as Moloch's leash on her. Alexandra has a very brief time to prove herself to Moloch. Her life continues to depend on passing Moloch's tests to see if she's really fit to join his Gehenna organization, which has been at the heart of all her anti-Sterling, anti-her-late-father's-wishes, anti-Lifetime Organization activities that has to be confusing everyone who has ever known her.

Temptation (Debt Collector 13)

Temptation by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I will recommend Temptation, Debt Collector episode 13, as a significant part of the entire season while giving 1.5 stars. One star being "I didn't like it". It didn't go that low, but it was barely OK. Two stars.

This would barely rate as a story, which is why zero or one star might serve. Stories have beginnings, middles, and ends. This was more like a transition sentence to the next paragraph. The 6 chapters that make up this episode did supply some plot moving information so while I felt little significant happened, it seemed to have a point.

Ms. Quinn may have called it Temptation for a couple things that take place. One being some kind of life energy seduction where Ishtar and Moloch keep pumping life energy into Wraith. It is written to make it appear as if this "life energy hit" was causing some extreme addictive euphoria. It appears to work. Then they pass Wraith off to Zachariel for the purpose of being sexually and emotionally seduced.

Zachariel announces this seduction is his "job". Then he doesn't try to do it. By not doing it he appears to accomplish the job, just the same. Yeah, you'll have to read it. It'll make sense.

Menace (Debt Collector 12)

Menace by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I feel like I'm in literary review hell. Earlier I gave Emma by Jane Austen 3 stars and was about to give this "episode" three stars. That seemed ridiculous to me.

I went in search of my old "rating charts" to verify I really wanted to give this 3 stars. Having located them I see that 2 stars is "OK". This episode is "OK". Subjective ratings in my analytical mind isn't a good thing, I suspect.

First two chapters of this episode had me frustrated. Chapter One I became excessively aware that Wraith was wearing black stiletto heels. Here are my entire notes for Chapter Two:

Ch2: 1-almost go down with my stiletto heels. // 2-help me climb from the cab in my tight skirt and heels. // 3 -The crumbled pavement is tricky in my heels, but I manage it //4 -up, even with my five-inch heels. // 5- from my black stilettos up to my red tailored jacket. // 6 - stepping out of my heels, shucking off my jacket…

Emma

Emma by Jane Austen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I believe this novel, Emma, by Jane Austen rates 3 stars but still recommend I as a 5 star classic. I might have given it 4 stars if I hadn't thought more than once to abandon it entirely. My frustration isn't entirely an issue with the book. I was trying to listen to the book while doing other things.

I'm reviewing two versions of the audiobook and the ebook by Feedbooks. Volume 1 of this 3 volume book I primarily listened to the audiobook read by Juliet Stevenson. Ms. Stevenson is a fine narrator but the speed of her reading and my unfamiliarity of Jane Austen's style, verbiage, and vocabulary of the era, along with a large Dramatis personæ with regularly changing names via marriage or adoption left me feeling lost and confused. Such was my first 5½ hours with the audiobook.

I obtained another copy of the audiobook read by a full cast of the "online stage". I don't generally like dramatic readings of books but it was an unabridged edition and I thought I'd try it since I was struggling with Ms. Stevenson's reading. My next 10 hours and two volumes was more pleasant. I didn't struggle so much with the dialog with different artists reading the dialog, which is a largest portion of the novel.

Specter (Debt Collector #11)

Specter by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let me start with a dismal 3 stars and a "take it or leave it" recommendation. I read Season Two, Debt Collector 10 "Wraith" last December. For me that's a long time between "episodes" so I had to review notes to remind myself of the Season up to this second episode.

To promptly flesh this out, "debt collecting" is when a specially skilled person drains all the life from someone who has been deemed unable to financially contribute to society equal to or above the amount they owe society. Usually in medical bills.

"Debt collectors" are soul suckers, or if you prefer quasi-vampire substitutes, who suck life force instead of blood. (Think Lifeforce) I believe it is a genetic mutation in which the government has become heavily invested. This naturally means it is corrupt, being used ineffectively, immorally; ruining every life it touches from debt collectors, debt collectees, managers, administrators, lobbyist, and syndicated crime, ad nausea. With government involved, typically, there is approved soul sucking that is legal and other soul sucking that is illegal. Of course this makes debt collecting very profitable for nefarious slackers and ne'er do-gooders.

Framed

Framed by David Archer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm giving this pretzel plotted gumshoe musical 3.1415926535 stars and recommending it as if it is a 5 star blockbuster to lovers of mysteries or people who know what an Edgar award is.

It is a very fast paced private eye detective novel that feels a bit like Father Knows Best, Mayberry R.F.D, or The Brady Bunch. I don't know how to explain that comparison. Hanging out with Sam Prichard, Indie and Kenzie while investigating mysteries rife with danger and intrigue is like playing Monopoly with a few of your good friends. It's entertainment. It's fun. You may or may not lose sleep with it but only because you won't mind returning to be with your friends again tomorrow. Ok then…

*Warning* contains spoilers related to Sam Prichard novels 1-3. How can you not write a spoiler about book 4 in a series? I'll try not to ruin your enjoyment of the earlier books.

Gulliver's Travels

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars yet highly recommended. This book is so much more than what I remember reading as a child.

I would still say children may enjoy Gulliver's adventures with Gulliver as a giant man among the tiny people of Lilliput. Children won't help but smile imaging Gulliver as a very tiny human stranded in a land full of giants and fighting off mice who might devour him. These vivid images have been the delight of children for at least a dozen decades.

Then again, Gulliver's Travels is very clearly a book for grown-ups. It probably should be mandatory reading before graduation of high school or college.

I've considered how I might best review this book. I believe the best would be to aim you at a great review with which I wholeheartedly agree. So in that line, here's a really great review by "Stephen" at Goodreads.

Secondly I thought I should review "by example or illustration". I selected Part 3, Chapter 6, [A further account of the academy. The author proposes some improvements, which are honourably received.]

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