Monthly Archives: August 2024

Fantasy, Historical, Reviews

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

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A review by 

I was at first on the fence about whether to upload this review or not. But hindsight I felt like this could serve as a lesson on:

  1. What to do
  2. What not to do 

…as a fiction writer. 

 

Let me first go on record stating that Christopher Buehlman is an objectively GOOD writer. He knows how to build a world with interesting characters and plot lines, at least judging by Between Two Fires, the only book of his I’ve ever read so far.

The issues I found in this book, however, are significant and my suspicion is that these are more a result of the worldview lens Buehlman applies to see the world through, and Christianity in particular.

 

PLOT:

The story catapults us into XIV plague-ridden France where the lives of three seemingly different characters converge under some very special circumstances:

  • Thomas: a former knight with a grudge
  • Delphine: a young orphan girl with strange supernatural gifts
  • Matthieu: a priest with personal secrets

When Thomas saves Delphine’s life, he doesn’t realize that he has also committed his sword to not only protect the young girl but to also aid her in a mysterious mission allegedly imparted by the angels of Heaven themselves. In their journey, Pierre Matthieu, a priest addicted to wine and with same-sex attraction tags along, having nothing else left in his hometown now devastated by the plague.

Their journey will create a strong bond. Working together just out of mere survival, these three main characters start to care for one another genuinely.

HISTORICAL TIME AND PLACE:

What I really appreciated about BTF is how the description of medieval France is well executed.  The towns, rivers, bridges, houses, palaces, all feel accurate. This comes to no surprise since the author majored in History with a minor in French, and it shows. For a guy from Florida, US, to write about period France in such an accurate manner, I couldn’t ask for more verisimilitude, honestly. Well done.

This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.

NEGATIVE REMARKS:

  1. The author delights in the use of profanity, coarse language, crude jokes, and seems to have some weird obsession with anything related to feces and genitalia.

I understand that some of the characters might not be ‘saints’ (pun intended) but there are ways to communicate certain data to the readers without being so graphic to the point that it seems as though the author actually revels in this excessive graphic language. Reality is that it is NOT essential for plot or character building at all, and it just becomes annoying and ‘cheapens’ the overall quality of the book.

This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.

2. The author, throughout the story, seems to be taking jabs, albeit subtle, at the Christian faith. Whether this is intentional or the result of general biblical ignorance on behalf of Buehlman, that’s debatable. But he manages to reduce the Christian faith to nothing more than a pagan set of beliefs adept for backward people without a thinking brain.

For example, when Delphine tries to get Thomas to swear less:

 

Delphine “Maybe God would be more generous if you swore less.” 

Thomas “God starves babies sometimes, and they don’t swear at all.”

 

Of course the author can say that this is simply part of the character, but similar examples are found over and over throughout the book. Maybe the author thinks those are clever arguments that would make readers realize how silly Christianity is? Only the author really knows.

But as a reviewer I can tell you that those continuous remarks and innuendos are not helping the book overall, especially when these jabs are always one sided (there are no similar examples aimed at-say- atheists or other religious groups in this story.)

This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.

CONCLUSION:

Between Two Fires is an excellent story with rich characters and compelling plot lines. The accuracy of depiction of medieval France being devastated by the plague is superb. The prose flaws nicely and it is all very professionally put together.

Unfortunately within it there is too much of that Game of Thrones depraved, nihilistic vibe that taints an otherwise 5-star quality read. Bloated with profanity and unnecessary coarse language, constantly taking jabs at Christianity, singling out the Christian faith as another form of paganism for dimwitted country folk, this book is an amalgamation of peaks and valleys, going back and forth from excellent to cringeworthy. And that’s a shame.

🦀

Intel, Non-Fiction/Documentary, Politics/Current Events

Expose the Surveillance State

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You are being spied on, everywhere you go.

Chances are, you’re aware of the surveillance cameras at urban businesses, traffic lights, on doorbell devices, inside schools, courtrooms, government buildings, parking garages, hotels, prisons, etc. You know–the ones that always conveniently TOTALLY BY COINCIDENCE quit working when a Jeffry Epstein needs Arkanciding, or a federal asset  plants a bomb at a federal building in Oklahoma City, or a glowing wind-up-toy hauls a truckload of weapons and ammo up into a Las Vegas hotel.

Maybe you wonder if the built-in camera on your laptop can be remotely activated by bad actors. Maybe you know the microphone and camera in your smartphone definitely can be activated without your knowledge–even when you have it turned off. Maybe you know about geolocation, which can reveal your whereabouts through your smart device–even when you think you’ve turned off the “location” feature.

Google Earth revealed, in the ‘oughts, that at least one satellite is taking pictures of everybody’s home, yard, garage, driveway, etc. Maybe you know that means the FedGov had something 30-40 years more advanced than that at the time. Maybe you suspect that must mean that now, 20 years later, spy satellites must at least have some unconventional imaging tech which allows somebody to see whatever you’re doing, in high resolution, right through the roof and walls “in the privacy of your own home.”

If you’re savvy, you understand that the feds consider American citizens far more dangerous than any foreign enemy or legitimate threat to your life, liberty and property, and they deploy their assets accordingly.

The truth is, it’s much worse than you imagined.

Anonymous Conservative (author of The Evolutionary Psychology Behind Politics) has been tirelessly working to expose the domestic surveillance in the USA on his blog, which I consider the very best news aggregator ever, hands-down. And now he has  armed us with a powerful weapon for the Information War going on all around you: The American Stasi.

AC is not afraid to say stuff that may sound crazy. He is an honest, courageous man fighting the good fight and not concerned much about what NPCs or trolls think of him. He wants to expose the surveillance to people who will arm themselves with the information he freely offers and take the Machine down. He believes there can be no saving our republic without exposure and dismantling of this lawless abomination.

While curating his must-read news aggregating blog for the last few years, he has compiled extensive data points on the panopticon we live in–the ruthless Machine watching you and your loved ones even (especially) when you assume you are acting in private.

I can’t do his work much justice here;  you need to read it for yourself. I strongly recommend that you do.

Fantasy, Reviews, Western

And Hell Followed with Him by Mage Leader

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And Hell Followed With Him: The Circuit of Reverend Sheffield, Volume 1

Reviewed by

“So this is what it takes for you to finally draw your weapon,” he said. “Two dead men and a wife whose world has just been torn asunder. You wear the badge, Sheriff, but it bears no meaning.”

 

It seems ironic how the last couple of novels I reviewed both felt like I was watching a movie more than anything.

And Hell Followed With Him is one of those stories reminiscent of the classic ‘spaghetti westerns’ some of us in the older crowd grew up with. This book checks all the boxes: gunslingers with happy trigger finger, a small town in the clutches of terrible bandits, a good guy and a villain who are as opposite as they are also very alike in nature, a cowardly city mayor, a woman who is as beautiful as is brave in the face of adversities… You get the picture.

 

PLOT:

Civil war vet-turned-preacher Reverend Sheffield finds himself in the role of protector of a small town when he heads to preach the gospel at Pearson’s Hope, and he must use more than Bible verses to get rid of the gangsters who are oppressing the defenseless townsfolk. Of course he doesn’t like to resort to violence but he will, hoping that God will understand and forgive him. Little does he know that the city mayor himself is in cahoots with the leader of the bandits, who turns out to be another war vet who fought side by side with Sheffield himself.

 

TOO SAFE AN APPROACH?

This story can be entertaining and I certainly admire the fact that the author doesn’t mock Christianity or try to make the reader second guess the values and principles upheld in the Bible. Sheffield has made a vow to preach the gospel and I admire that.

Where I think the author fails however is in adopting an overly safe approach to the western genre. So safe indeed, that at times it becomes even too predictable, in my opinion. 

From the opening scene, to the villain, to the secondary characters, it all comes off as an overly choreographed effort.

SO DIFFERENT YET SO ALIKE:

The relationship between good guy and villain follows a very traditional pattern whereas they are both similar in nature: both served in the war, both have natural born killer instincts, both are made to be leaders. However, the way the war affected their outlook on life is where they differ. Though both came out of the war bitter and disgruntled, one turned to the Gospel of Christ while the other decided to use his skills to take whatever he pleases and, in a way, make himself his own god.

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

There are plenty of ‘moments’ that make this book worth reading. The suspense preceding the coordinated attack of the enemy upon the town, the moment Sheffield lets go of all his fears and doubts and just hands it over to the Lord, willing to die with a smile for what is right, even though they are grossly outnumbered… I was on the edge in a few scenes, I must admit!

 

CONCLUSION:

Though Hell Followed Him at times plays it too safe, it offers a revival of all those elements that make for a solid Western drama. Another good story I’d rather read than watch any of the recent summer flicks Hollywood keeps regurgitating to audiences everywhere!

🦀 

Action, Adventure, Historical, Reviews

The Mark of Zorro – A Review

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(1940 Film)

 

I saw this movie on TV as a very young boy and remembered very little about it. I rewatched it recently and, despite its flaws, it is more relevant than ever.

The Universal Scenario:

I don’t know about the recent Zorro productions (for all I know they gender-swapped the character and made the masked kickass grrrlboss fight against “white supremacy” or something–I’m not gonna bother finding out), but otherwise, all the incarnations have a similar backdrop: a tyrannical military-political complex has institutionalized injustice and oppresses both the peons and caballeros alike. Crushing taxes are the usual instrument of oppression, but just as with today’s IRS, the Alcalde of Los Angeles has enough armed goons to murder or imprison anybody who doesn’t bend the knee.

Don Diego de la Vega, son of Alejandro de la Vega, has been sent away to a military academy in Spain where he grew from a boy to a young man–and also the top cadet in his class thanks to his swordsmanship and horsemanship. He gets a letter from his father which compels him to quit the academy before graduation and return to California immediately. He is chapped about not getting his commission, but obeys his father and bids his fellow cadets goodbye.

It isn’t until he reaches California that the reason for his father’s urgent message becomes clear: Don Alejandro has been forced into retirement as Alcalde, and replaced by a cruel, corrupt tyrant. Don Diego grieves for his people. Then when somebody (a priest or monk in some versions) expresses their desire for an avenging angel to intervene, he is inspired. He will disguise himself as El Zorro (the Fox) to play Robin Hood in Los Angeles. The corrupt government will be unable to retaliate against his family, because his true identity is kept secret.

Characters in this Version:

Linda Darnell plays love interest Lolita Quintero, niece of the new Alcalde, who rankles at the injustice her uncle causes. Darnell is one of the quiet beauties of that era, and a good choice for the part.

Linda Darnell and Tyrone Power.

Actor Eugene Pallette reprises his role of Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin Hood, only now he is called Fray Felipe and he’s in Los Angeles instead of Nottingham. And he doesn’t fight with a quarter staff. But I think he might wear the same costume.

J. Edward Bromberg plays the new Alcalde as a weak, cowardly Prince John Type. He’s like a mixture of Tim Walz and a less demented Joe Biden–but just as much of a tool. However, he’s not a complete fool.

Capitan Esteban Pasquale is the Alcalde’s egomaniacal muscle, who is really running the show through the petty politician, who he intimidates into compliance. Basil Rathbone really broke his foot off in this role–and with minimal screen time.

Tyrone Power does well as the swashbuckling Zorro, but is perhaps too convincing as the effeminate fop Don Diego pretends to be so as to avoid anyone suspecting him as the masked outlaw.

Character Folly:

Can’t really blame Tyrone Power for this, as I doubt he wrote the script, but he’s a little too foolish to be in the resistance business. It reminds me of the unmasking-in-public fetish so prevalent in the Marvel movies. Within days of donning the guise of the Fox, he begins revealing his secret to everyone but his father (who buys into his son’s metrosexual facade and is ashamed).

First Friar Tuck Fray Felipe is read in on Operation Zorro.

Then Lolita. Simply brilliant, Don Diego. After all, she’s beautiful, which of course means she is morally pure and will be faithful to you until the end of time. Not only that, women never gossip or reveal secrets. At least special women, which you are convinced of beyond any doubt after spending maybe a cumulative hour within her presence.

Don Diego blows his cover spectacularly.

But that’s not nearly careless enough. Don Diego has to pull all the stops out to spread his folly wider and farther. He intentionally blows his cover to Capitan Pasquale and the Alcalde. He kills the former in a sword fight, so I guess that loose end is tied up. But the latter has him arrested and jailed. Great plan, Don Diego.

Zorro Through the Ages:

Tyrone Power was pretty adroit for the role. There are some nice action sequences in The Mark of Zorro  to keep you entertained, but this movie doesn’t hold up as well as I’d hoped.

But then, not many do. I watched the original silent version with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. It proved my attention span has dwindled along with my hearing since I was a young man.

There was a Zorro movie from Spain (or was it Italy?) that made the rounds on network TV back in the day that I enjoyed as a child (“Here’s to being free/Here’s to you and me/La la la la la el Zorro’s back!”) but wasn’t much impressed by when I found it at a public library and watched as an adult.

Out of all the actors who’ve played Zorro over the years, it’s actually Guy Williams I like the best. That’s right–I’m referring to the old Disney series. Williams’ Don Diego was more of a troubadour than a dandy, but he was both believable and admirable in the role. As Zorro, he buckles a swash with the best of them.

Another mark in Disney’s favor is that, though many tried to discover Zorro’s true identity and some came close, Williams’ Don Diego didn’t spill the beans to anybody but his father and their mute servant. In other words, close, trustworthy allies.

What Disney did (back before being handed over to a depraved mind) was preserve the character’s utility for future adventures.

The typical formula (with Zorro’s identity becoming known to all by the end of the story) could be remade, but sequels weren’t much of an option after the public unmasking.

 

CONCLUSION

Zorro is a fantastic character just dying for a mythic treatment. Maybe that’s what some film makers were shooting for. Nobody has quite pulled it off to the extent that would satisfy me as a fan.

 

Action, Reviews, Sci-Fi

Onslaught by Bowen Greenwood

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An Exile War Novel –  Book 1

Reviewed by

As I write this review, we’re in the middle of the summer in sunny Florida, which is also a time when numerous ‘popcorn flicks’ get released. But you know what’s even better than a fun, action-packed movie? A fun, action-packed novel! And coincidentally, Onslaught is one of those novels that beg to be movies on the big screen!!

 

FIRST IMPRESSION:

Upon reading Onslaught, the first impression I got was that this book reads like a screenplay of a mid-1990s action movie. Its dynamics, action sequences, love entanglements, attractive male and female protagonists, and simple plot all reminded me of that film era when movies had primarily one object: to entertain audiences.

And this book absolutely entertains its readers, beginning to end, despite some flaws which will be discussed further in this review.

 

GENRE:

We could label this story as sci-fi but to me it felt more like ‘action with a sci-fi flavor’. The author doesn’t delve too much into the minutiae of this futuristic world as it would be the case in classic hard sci-fi, but rather focuses primarily on thrilling action with a sci-fi backdrop. Again, this feels a lot like the sci-fi element is more secondary or textural, in this instance.

 

PLOT:

We learn that in this advanced society some individuals are born with telepathic powers which, if not kept in check, could be dangerous to humanity. A league called the Gentle Hand is created to train telepaths and put them to good use for society. Our main character, Langston Wheeler, belongs to the Hand and he is tasked with finding and subduing a dangerous ‘rogue telepath’. When his fate and that of Executive Tia Dynn cross, that’s when the real fireworks begin! 

Suddenly Lang finds himself torn between fulfilling his duty as a Gentle Hand and following his heart. When a social gathering is crashed by the rogue telepath in black camouflage, the time to think is over, and it’s time for ACTION!

THE ORDER OF THE JEDI?

I couldn’t help but see similarities between the Gentle Hand and the Jedi masters in Star Wars. They are both the result of an innate power coupled with years of rigorous training and self-control in order to protect others from evil and injustice. Instead of The Force, we have ‘telepathic powers’ here that allow these gifted individuals to even shoot flames, heal injuries, or become invisible at will. 

 

FLAWS:

What I found issue with was

1) The way the love affair develops between Lang and Tia. I am all for a good heterosexual love story but this felt a little too rushed. I understand that finding each other stuck together in the middle of a war zone can bring about a special bond, but these two are already discussing the complications of marriage just a few hours after having met! I felt like if the writer took his time to develop their reciprocal feelings more organically the emotional payoff for the readers could have been greater.

The other issue I had was:

2) The way characters like the hybrids-the result of genetic experiments on humans/hogs DNA-is not tackled in a way that would make the reader care much. What exactly led scientists to combine human and hog genes, leading to these creatures? What was the drive or intent of this research originally? 

It doesn’t need to turn into a science lesson but at least create a foundation of plausible ideas that would make all these elements more compelling.

 

IN CLOSING:

This felt like watching a 1990s movie in the summer. Full of action, explosions, pew-pew, and a good-looking woman and a handsome man not being able to take their eyes off each other. 

Frankly, I’ll take Onslaught before any movie these days!

🦀

Action, Fantasy, Reviews

Hero’s Metal: How Black the Sky

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by TJ Marquis

Reviewed by

“Taking life is hard. Neither of us had ever killed so much all at once, and I could only imagine how he was feeling.”

 

To summarize this first book of the Hero’s Metal series with one word, I’d have to use the word FUN. And this book is first and foremost just that: a fun ride with cool fantasy/action and just enough comedy thrown into the mix! 

The author credits his inspiration to progressive heavy metal, dungeonsynth music, nature itself, very good people, and Jesus. The result is a very distinct narrative with its own unique undertones.

 

CHARACTERS:

Our MC is Pierce, a young man whose battle skills are only surpassed by his sheer (and at times reckless) courage. Pierce joins the most legendary group of justice-seeking warriors, the Gorgonbane, composed of Axebourne and wife Scythia, Agrathor, and supra-gen Ess (she’s kinda like a mage, we could say). Later on the group will be joined by  Forgemaster 77 (aka Sev) who betrays his lord and main villain of the Underworld to join Pierce and his friends.

 

THE WORLD:

This world we are catapulted into is divided into Overland and Underland, with the latter ruled by Overlord Kash. Kash is amassing an army to take over Overland for reasons we will find out by the end of the book.

Underland is populated by big scary creatures like the Gen and the Monstrosity. In addition you also have supra-Gen and supra-Monstrosity with even greater lethal powers.

BATTLE SCENES:

The siege of the city of Grondell was very well executed particularly in the aftermath of this epic clash between the Gorganbane and city militia against the hordes of Underland. The taste of defeat, the dismay that follows, the disappointment of failing at defending the city, at being the heroes they ought to be, all transpire through the words of Marquis very effectively.

 

A TWIST:

What I really enjoyed mostly about Book 1 is how the author lures the reader into a specific path and outcome but then with a big reveal he unmasks some truths that one might not expect. This element of surprise is what really made this story worthwhile, particularly since without that, some characters might have seemed weak or incoherent at best.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

How black the Sky is a solid beginning to introducing readers to this fantasy world which can be at times suspenseful but at other times funny enough as to not take itself too seriously either.

Based on the unexpected plot twist I have mentioned above, my curiosity ignited, I will have to pick up book 2 and see where this might be leading next!

 🦀

Fantasy, Reviews

Spiral of My Destiny by Michael Schultheis

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THE SPIRAL OF MY DESTINY: Book 2 of the Rosteval Saga

By Michael R. Schultheiss

Reviewed by

As always, if you haven’t read our review of Book 1 and, furthermore, picked up a copy of the book, I strongly encourage you to do so! This is not your average epic fantasy series!

Book 1 introduced us to a mythical world where warriors live in the pursuit of fighting and conquering. The weak will be weeded out from the strong. Glory is reserved for those who dare stand up in defiance of adversities. 

But power comes with a responsibility to be fair and just as well, for power without honor means nothing.

PLOT:

And so once again we join Kastorak Rosteval and his slave-girl-turned-wife, Ghaitta, as they expand their new kingdom and authority throughout the lands of the South. 

Aided by the Bright Zayastura, divine beings led by Bright Apshendarin, Rosteval’s reputation grows throughout every corner of every land. Speaking of the Bright Zayastura, these are immortals. When they get killed bodily, they simply turn into a Core, which looks like a sphere of marble until they are given back human form. They are almost ‘angelic beings’ for all intents and purposes. I hope we will get more in-depth lore about them soon!

A NEW THREAT:

But a new threat is rising in the form of a Rishvanti by the name of Soltapyral. The Rishvanti are mortal beings who achieved immortality. In book 1 we met Rishvanti Haldua, whom Rosteval eventually defeated. But now our hero must ask for Haldua’s aid in order to best this new foe.

Soltapyral counts with his own Bright Zayastura and you can imagine a clash for the ages will be inevitable!

WEAPONS:

What I find intriguing about this world is that every warrior relies on two types of weapons: physical weapons (spears, swords, bow/arrows, shields) and supernatural weapons called rishva-shades or ‘emanations’.

When a battle takes place, both armies must use both types of weapons intelligently and effectively. This creates a visual feast for the mind, as epic scenes of both mortals and immortals clash in explosions of lights and roaring sounds.

CLOSING REMARKS:

Book 2 is the result of passion, dedication, but above all respect for our ancestors and mythos. Michael is a good friend, husband, and father and last but not least, a great writer who is dedicating himself to creating NEW LEGENDS!

Pick up a copy of the Rosteval Saga today and give us your feedback!