I am pleased to be able to write that I did manage to finish a couple of books since I last uploaded one of these Reading Roundup posts. Despite having issues with concentration, together with an addiction to another series on Amazon Prime, I read two books and am about halfway through a third.

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

My first read was The Trouble with Peace (The Age of Madness #02) by Joe Abercrombie. Now, this brilliant author of dark fantasy ranks in the very top few of my favourites. Here is the blurb for this book:

Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion.
Peace is just another kind of battlefield…

Savine dan Glokta, once Adua’s most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.

For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye . . . before it kills her.

The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply.

The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace, lasts forever.

And this is the review that I posted on the Goodreads website:

The Trouble With Peace by Joe Abercrombie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, how I love Abercrombie’s writing! I have probably said this many times before, but don’t mind saying it again. The dry, black humour is brilliantly done and it’s probably the reason I keep on reading his books. That, together with the superbly written characters, wonderful scene-setting and incredible plot twists, is why I can’t wait until his next book.

The great battle scene was so well written that I felt drawn in to the blood and pain of each character. As I read to the end of the book, I thought that this second book was going to be the finale, but then realised that there is more to come……. yes!!!

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Once again, I must apologise for the brevity of my reviews these days, but I really struggle to write them at all! Anyway, this book has been added to my “favourites” and I cannot wait for the next book to be published.

Blue Moon by Lee Child

The second choice was sadly disappointing: Lee Child’s Blue Moon (Jack Reacher #24). Here is the blurb:

It’s a random universe, but once in a blue moon things turn out just right.

In a nameless city, two rival criminal gangs are competing for control. But they hadn’t counted on Jack Reacher arriving on their patch.

Reacher is trained to notice things.

He’s on a Greyhound bus, watching an elderly man sleeping in his seat, with a fat envelope of cash hanging out of his pocket. Another passenger is watching too … hoping to get rich quick.

As the mugger makes his move, Reacher steps in.

The old man is grateful, yet he turns down Reacher’s offer to help him home. He’s vulnerable, scared, and clearly in big, big trouble.

What hold could the gangs have on the old guy? Will Reacher be in time to stop bad things happening?

The odds are better with Reacher involved. That’s for damn sure.

And this is my review:

Blue Moon by Lee Child
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was really saddened by this book. When did our hero, Jack Reacher, change into a cold and bloodthirsty vigilante? I nearly put the book into my “rubbish bin” category.

Although the plot has Reacher working to save an old couple, he appears instead to enjoy killing as many men as possible in this book. He kills gratuitously and with a kind of cold relish. This isn’t the Jack Reacher we know from previous books – and I have read all of them.

Please can we have the real Jack Reacher back?

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I suppose that I will probably read the next one in the series, assuming that there will be another book, but, unless Child returns to the “real” Jack Reacher, I will stop there.

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

After this debacle, I chose a book at random from the Library’s ebook catalogue: The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott. I will write about it in next week’s Reading Roundup, all being well.

Until then: Happy Reading to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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