Review: Fight Town: Inspiration

Title: Fight Town: Inspiration

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B099MN1GNR/

Author: Hondo Jinx

Rating: 4.9/5

Comments:

As previously established, I like Hondo's work.  He typically has a certain persona for his protagonists that was consistent.  I say was because in Fight Town he breaks out of his well trodden paths and breaks new ground for his protagonist character development.  I'm pleased to report it works well and the overall story is very strong.  There are some points on the meta-story I'm not in love with, but hey it's not a deal killer and it's not like he's the first author to use that plot device so I'm only docking him .1 point.  

Oh and if you are a boxing fan, you'll really appreciate all the time he put on the boxing details.  He might have gotten some things wrong, but as a non-boxing-fan, I couldn't tell.

Bedroom Activities: Explicit

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FTB/Explicit/None – Fade to black bedroom activities vs “Onscreen” vs No activities

Review: Noble Solutions (Binding Words 7)

Title: Noble Solutions (Binding Words 7)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B099NV89F6/  

Author: Daniel J. Schinhofen

Rating: 5/5

Comments:

This felt like the end of an arc, and upon checking with Mr. Schinhofen it is indeed the end of the first arc of the Binding Words epic, and it was a very good finale.  Epic crafting, duels, dastardly betrayals, and of course True Love.  I suppose if you didn't like the first 6 books you might not want to read this, but if you're just on the fence, you owe it to yourself to see how things turn out. Sean didn't start the fight, but he's going to end it.

Bedroom Activities: Explicit

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Review: Lightfoot 2

Title:  Lightfoot 2

https://www.amazon.com/Lightfoot-2-Joe-Kuster-ebook/dp/B099HVXC3V

Author: Joe Kuster

Rating: 5/5

Comments:

This is the cleverly titled sequel to Lightfoot  https://curmudgeon-book-reviews.blogspot.com/2020/11/review-lightfoot.html

This is a great sequel.  The characters stayed true to their established personas but still grew in an understandable way.  There were new arrivals, and plenty of "fun with Faith."

Joe really sets up a lot of future plot hooks in this one which is great to see.  This is really a must read unless you hated the first one, in which case I have no idea why you're reading this review.

Wait a sec old fart, why isn't this one a 5+?  Is it as good as the original?  Objectively, probably.  Was it as surprising and fresh as the first?  Subjectively, no; because, to be honest, Joe's a victim of his own success.  I expect his books to be good.  Going into book one I had no idea what I was getting into since I had avoided reading his preview chapters, it was all fresh and exciting.  So it boils down to, reviews are all subjective.

Bedroom Activities: Explicit (marked)

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Review: Oathbound: A Progression Fantasy

Title: Oathbound: A Progression Fantasy (Surgecaller Book 1)

https://www.amazon.com/Oathbound-Progression-Fantasy-Surgecaller-Book-ebook/dp/B091YJXX4P/

Author: Todd Herzman

Rating: 3.8/5

Comments:

This was a decent story, for most of the book.  To be honest, by the end I skipped a good chunk of the "action" sequences because I they just weren't holding my interest.  There was a twist at the end which may lead me to eventually pick up book 2, but I'm on the fence about it.

Bedroom Activities: none

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Review: War's Edge: Blood & Steel

Title: War's Edge: Blood & Steel 

https://www.amazon.com/Wars-Edge-Ryan-W-Aslesen-ebook/dp/B096T7371W/

 

Author: Ryan Aslesen

Rating: 4/5

Comments:

This is the sequel to Dead Heroes.  https://curmudgeon-book-reviews.blogspot.com/2021/05/review-wars-edge-dead-heroes.html

This is my third review of a Ryan Aslesen book, and it's another good mil-sf read, I guess I'm a fan.  The war is heating up and the action is good. 

If I had one quibble it's that his space combat sequences are way too close to wet navy narratives.  There's references to "listing" and such where I had Newton in the back of my mind going "it doesn't work like that."

Other than that, you've got the POV shifts to other characters who are there for some reason I haven't fathomed yet.

Bedroom Activities: none

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CBR update

Apologies to everyone, my reading pace fell off a bit over the last few weeks, and I haven't had much content to put up.  I have a stack of about 5-6 books that I have started and haven't finished, but haven't given up on yet either.  I have 3 reviews to do and I hope to get them done today.