Welcome back to my Reading Roundup. I have two books to tell you about today as I have been too ill to read on many of the days whilst I had a break from the blog! Although I have almost finished a third book, I am not going to rush the ending so that I can fit it into this week’s post. It can wait until next week!
Anyway, here is the first book…
I was so pleased to see that our Library Service’s ebook catalogue had added another book by John Scalzi: The Kaiju Preservation Society. Here is the blurb:
”They’re big, they’re bad and they’re about to become extinct . . .
Jamie’s dream was to hit the big time at a New York tech start-up. Jamie’s reality was a humiliating lay-off, then a lowwage job as a takeaway delivery driver. During a pandemic too. Things look beyond grim, until a chance delivery to an old acquaintance. Tom has an urgent vacancy on his team: the pay is great and Jamie has debts – it’s a no-brainer choice. Yet, once again, reality fails to match expectations. Only this time it could be fatal.
It seems Tom’s ‘animal rights organization’ is way more than it appears. The animals aren’t even on Earth – or not our Earth, anyway. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures roam a tropical, human-free world. And although Kaiju are their universe’s largest and most dangerous animal, they need support to survive.
Tom’s ‘Kaiju Preservation Society’ wants to help. However, others want to profit. Unless they’re stopped, the walls between our worlds could fall – and the consequences would be devastating.”
Oh, I absolutely loved this book – hence the full five stars on Goodreads! This is my review:
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John ScalziMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I tagged this book as humour as well as science fiction, because this was a brilliant uplifting read that raised my spirits during a really difficult time. I love Scalzi’s work and this was a great showcase for his talents of interesting and ingenious storytelling, clever plotting and sheer imagination. My hope is that I can read more of his work in the future.
View all my reviews
My second book was also fantastic. This time I chose a very long read and really immersed myself to take my mind away from my illness. The book was John Gwynne’s The Hunger of the Gods (#02 Bloodsworn Saga). This is the blurb:
“The Hunger of the Gods continues John Gwynne’s acclaimed Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance.
Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest.
As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own – and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance.
Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her.
Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
Their hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead . . . and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth.”
My memory issues caused a few small problems at the beginning of the book as I struggled to remember some of the characters and the plot of the previous episode, but I soon got into the swing!
This is my review on Goodreads:
The Hunger of the Gods by John GwynneMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another great book from the amazing imagination of John Gwynne. I am really enjoying this fantasy series set in a Viking-like world with strong male and female characters, the revival of dead gods and interesting creatures. The story is told from different points of view, which can get rather confusing, and I had to stop several times to work out where we were and refer to the map.
Gwynne’s writing gives the reader a very fast-paced and exciting rollercoaster ride through his world. I can’t wait for the next instalment! Just one issue. Perhaps this book was a little rushed or the editor didn’t get enough time with it. I found several errors, mainly homonyms, which should not have been there! Hence four stars.
All-in-all, a fantastic fantasy read!
View all my reviews
Two great books!
I will now return to my latest book and enjoy the final few chapters…
Happy Reading to you all!
Love and best wishes,
Anne
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The Librain
The Librain......retired 