Monthly blog update done

Ok, so maybe I missed "monthly" but it was close.  Some quick bullet points that don't get their own post:

• He Who Fights with Monsters book 9 came out.  It's good, if you're a fan of the series you probably don't need me to tell you it's out there, just go read it.
• Upcoming and current releases:
• Unbound book 7 (Out now)
• Cultivating Chaos 4 (Out now)
• May 17th, Path of Ascension 3
• May 23rd, Electrified book 2
• May 24th, BattleMage Farmer 5 
• June 6th, Cradle book 12 
• June 6th, Victor of Tucson book 2
• June 6th, Reforged (sequel to Forgemaster)
• June 13th, All the Skills book 2
• August 18th, Echoes of War (Aster's Fall book 6)

Review: Rebirth

Title: Rebirth: A LitRPG Apocalypse Adventure (Electrified Book 1)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BNP7F64Q/

Author: J.D. Olson

Rating:4.1/5

Comments: Ok, so this is a first book by a new author in a genre that I typically despise (System Apocalypse), and added to that, it was a Facebook sponsored ad.

Despite that, I decided to try it.

It's honestly pretty decent.  It doesn't try to explain why the apocalypse happens, and it doesn't focus in on "Look at this game system, it's so cool!".  If focuses on the protagonist and how she deals with things.  She has her moments of brilliance and her moments of utter stupidity, but she's generally competent and approaches her problems with some logic.

I think the protagonist spends a little too much time solo at the beginning of the book, but the larger world does get touched on before the end of the book and it is clearly going to be a prime driver of conflict in future books.

Bedroom Activities: None

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Review: Titan Hoppers

Title: Titan Hoppers

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5JDMLQV/

Author: Rob J Hays

Rating: 3.8/5

Comments: Picked this up after hearing about it on Discord.  It's a fairly decent story, but the society where it takes place is pretty awful.  There's a lot of things about it that we just don't know anything about and maybe that's going to be the focus as he moves forward in the over-arching story arc.

I think it might be more relatable to a younger reader as the society is not that dissimilar to high school.

Bedroom Activities: None

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Review: Battleborne Book IV

Title: Battleborne Book IV: Dungeon Master

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C15TPHV4/ 

Author: Dave Wilmarth

Rating: 4/5

Comments:  Normally I forget about the Battleborne series until someone on Discord mentions it, but not this time!  I had it on my calendar and grabbed it shortly after the it released. 

The series has definitely cruised directly into "High Fantasy" territory and the power level is going up.  

This book is just as good as the previous, and I am sure fans of the series will not be disappointed.  There were some storylines that seemed to get a rather final and abrupt end, but maybe that was the intention.  

Bedroom Activities: None

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Review: The Thin Dead Line

Title: Thin Dead Line

Author: Shane Gries

Rating: 3.8/5

Comments: This is a pretty decent story, but it does a lot that I find annoying which takes it from a 4+ down to almost a "It doesn't suck."

POV switches, POV's by evil people, and acronym salads all annoy me and we have them all.  

It's a fairly standard Zombie apocalypse story, as told from a military standpoint.  But we pop around to this person then that person, then the other person, and we don't really build a lot of rapport with anyone other than the ostensible protagonist, which means about half the book we are with people we either dislike or are ambivalent about.

Bedroom Activities: FTB

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Review: Mud, Blood, and Magic

Title: Mud, Blood, and Magic

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BB4RG5MQ/

Author: A.D. Krabis

Rating: 4.8/5

Comments:  I always love it when I find a new author that can tell a good story, and I especially like it when it's the author's first book.

This story has great characters, an interesting setting that feels fleshed out, and a good plot.  I will definitely be reading book 2.

Minor points deduction for superfluous POV changes.

Bedroom Activities: Explicit (1 scene)

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Review: Luck's Voice 6

Title: Emerita Boxing Day (Luck's Voice Book 6)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C1KY3RVW/

Author: Daniel Schinhofen

Rating: 4/5

Comments:

Doc and the ladies are back for book 6.  Doc's role has changed from itinerant card player to wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist.  Overall a good plot and story, but I felt the climactic battle had a little too much deus ex machina to get the win. If you have read the previous 5, there's certainly no reason to avoid this one.

Bedroom Activities: FTB

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Review: The Mage of Shimmer Mountain

Title: The Mage of Shimmer Mountain: LitRPG Book 1: Crafting Magics

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BSLZ31D1/

Author: Adam Sampson

Rating: 3.5/5

Comments:  This is an odd story and I honestly think it could work better as a movie as it has a lot in common with Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow.  If that doesn't give it away there's a time loop in the story and things get weird.  I don't know if I'll read book 2.  

Bedroom Activities: FTB

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Review: Mark of the Fool 3

Title: Mark of the Fool 3: A Progression Fantasy Epic

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BRJRD65K/

Author: J.M. Clarke

Rating: 4.5/5

Comments:  Well this is not the story I was expecting, but it's a good one nonetheless.  I thought with book 3 we would be heading back to the homeland to wreak havoc and have a grand time.  This is apparently what will happen in book 4.  Regardless, it's a grand time, and much havoc was wrought.  I like the way the author is able to show us the family dynamic and make it visceral.  There was an actual twinge of real emotion in my cold, dead, curmudgeonly heart at one point.  

Go.  Read.  Enjoy.

Bedroom Activities: FTB

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Review: The Battle of Waffle Haus 814

Title: Scattered, Smothered and Spellbound: The Battle of Waffle Haus 814

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BYPBPXW3/ 

Author: Kelly Grayson

Rating:  3.8/5

Comments: This is more of a novella or short story than a novel, and I picked it up because I have read a lot of things by Kelly "Ambulance Driver" Grayson.  He used to blog and I looked forward to reading his stories about being a paramedic.  Anyway, he's a big fan of Larry Corriea and this book is pretty much wall to wall in-jokes for the fans of MHI while being inspired by the video of Wafflehouse Wendy, who is mentioned.  Anyway it's pretty funny, but if you're not a fan of MHI, a lot of it won't make any sense for you.

Bedroom Activities: None

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Review: Forge Master

Title: Forge Master: A LitRPG Adventure (Tower Book 1)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BKR1X9JM/ 

Author: Seth Ring

Rating: 4/5

Comments:  So reading this book was kind of a mistake because it's book 1 of series 2 for this protagonist.  I was not aware of this when I started it.  Having read it I don't feel like reading the first series because I know how it ends.  Anyway, it's pretty good and I enjoyed it, mostly.  There were some plot points that I found a little too obvious but it's not enough to make me quit reading.

Bedroom Activities: None

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Review: Beware of Chicken 2

Title:  Beware of Chicken 2

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BSMDGBYJ/

Author: Casual Farmer

Rating: 5/5

Comments:  Beware of Chicken was one of the biggest surprises I've had with books in recent memory.  It struck a fine balance between humor, and drama without making it campy or taking itself too seriously.  Beware of Chicken 2 is better than 1.  It expands the story tremendously and yet keeps you fully invested in the story and characters.  A Hall of Fame contender.

Bedroom Activities: FTB

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Review: Black Rose of Helvetia

Title: The Black Rose of Helvetia: Volume 4 of the Hero of the Valley 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BV5TK34H/

Author: Gary Spechko

Rating: 4.5/5

Comments: This the first addition to this series since I binged the first 3, so I wasn't sure if I would still enjoy it or if the author would be able to keep it interesting.

As you might expect from the rating, the answer to both questions, was "Yes".

Duncan continues to chart his own path but without it being a steam roller.  Rose gets some more importance to the story at large which is great to see.

If you liked books 1-3, this won't disappoint you.

Bedroom Activities: FTB

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