Welcome to this week’s Reading Roundup post. I finished two books and am part way through a very enjoyable third! This is the first one:
My first book was Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky, #02 The Final Architecture. Here is the blurb:
“The Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author of Children of Time brings us the second novel in an extraordinary space opera trilogy about humanity on the brink of extinction, and how one man’s discovery will save or destroy us all.
After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, a group of enhanced human soldiers. In the silence of space they could communicate, mind-to-mind, with the enemy. Then their alien aggressors, the Architects, simply disappeared. But after discovering an ancient alien artifact the Architects may be back. And they’re still angry.”
It took me quite a while to read this complex book. This is the review that I wrote on Goodreads:
Eyes of the Void by Adrian TchaikovskyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
First, let me say that I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and inventive; the cast of characters also. I did have some issues with it all. Some of the “sciency” stuff left me cold. Now, that is probably my fault as my science knowledge is pretty thin. So I have no idea which bits were pure imagination and which were real or possible. Well, maybe I can work out that some parts were amazingly imaginative!
I am glad that there were some descriptions of the characters, because I could only vaguely remember them from book #01. There was a huge cast of very colourful aliens, but their attributes were quite sketchy for me.
Anyway, I will look out for the next (final?) book in the series as I am sure it will be well worth reading. I can’t resist the women warriors of the Parthenon!
View all my reviews
Apparently, Adrian Tchaikovsky has also written some Fantasy series, so I may investigate those while I wait for book three!
I was really looking forward to reading this next book, One for Sorrow by Helen Fields, as I have worked my way through the DI Callanach series and this is #07! First, the blurb:
“One for sorrow, two for joy
Edinburgh is gripped by the greatest terror it has ever known. A lone bomber is targeting victims across the city and no one is safe.
Three for a girl, four for a boy
DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach face death every day – and not just the deaths of the people being taken hostage by the killer.
Five for silver, six for gold
When it becomes clear that with every tip-off they are walking into a trap designed to kill them too, Ava and Luc know that finding the truth could mean paying the ultimate price.
Seven for a secret never to be told…
But with the threat – and body count – rising daily, and no clue as to who’s behind it, neither Ava nor Luc know whether they will live long enough to tell the tale…“
And this is my response:
One for Sorrow by Helen Sarah FieldsMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
Normally, I have given the books in this series a high number of stars. The plots and writing have been excellent and have kept me enthralled. There is no doubt that Helen Fields is an excellent crime novelist. But this book was a huge let down!
It is difficult to explain why I am so disappointed and, yes, annoyed with the book without giving too much away. Everyone who reads it will come to their own conclusions and many “Goodreaders” have awarded One for Sorrow the full five stars. I just can’t do that for three reasons. First of all, the body count was so huge that it felt gratuitous and over the top. Secondly, the eventual reveal of the killer did not work for me. Last of all, the finale and cliffhanger were simply horrible.
Why do this? I simply don’t know.
View all my reviews
I am left wondering whether I will read the next book in the series!
To compensate, I am now reading a book from a tried and trusted author. Well, I hope he doesn’t decide to have an unexpected mass slaughter! I will let you know next week.
Happy Reading to you all!
Love and best wishes,
Anne
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The Librain
The Librain......retired 