Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Best Served Cold



If you enjoyed Abercrombie's prior books (The First Law series) chances are good you'll like this one too.

Not a very detailed review is it? No, I guess not and it does tend to ignore everyone who hasn't read a prior Abercrombie book (what? you haven't? Go read them, they are very good!). Okay, well, I'll try again then.

Best Served Cold is about revenge; all sorts of revenge. The book opens with a betrayal and then spends the rest of the tome describing how the betrayed, Monza Murcotto, exacts her revenge on those that betrayed her.

Monza is a well drawn character who's backstory is filled in as the novel unfolds. And, as we learn more about Monza, she is joined by a variety of characters that you may remember from the First Law books thus providing a robust cast of characters that, at times, keep the tale more interesting than the activity surrounding them.

Overall I thought this story was a bit simplistic but it was still a fun read and I wouldn't hesitate to suggest to others. However, as in the First Law books, there are some scenes that may be disturbing; especially scenes detailing torture so proceed with caution if that type of action, in it's written form, is difficult for you.

RATING: 4

Friday, January 15, 2010

The Stupidest Angel



The Stupidst angel is a pretty short and simple book. No big surprises beyond the fact that it is the wackiest Christmas story I've ever read. The book features a "B" movie starlet and, quite frankly, the whole book had a "B" movie quality to it. In fact, if it were made into a movie, it would probably end up with a cult following.

This story gives you a bit of everything from pot smoking cops, to crazy sword wielding naked women, a death by shovel, and a collection of brain sucking zombies - all just in time for Christmas.

Much like the book this review is short and simple. It was a fun read and light read that can be read anytime of the year - Christmas not required.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Great Expectations



This was the first book by Dickens I have read and, based on this one, I'll definitely read another. At times the vernacular was a little clunky and hard to follow - but that is just because of the change in times and, more than likely, the British influence.

As much as I enjoyed the book I think I'd rename it to "Great Coincidences" as it is chock full of them. In fact every relationship, except those between Pip and his Joe are pretty much purely coincidental and yet those ties interweave throughout the story and continue to build and pile upon one another throughout the tale. Pip, Miss Havisham, Estella, Jaggers, Magwitch, etc. They were all coincidentally connected. Yet, for all of that, I still enjoyed the story.

Pip, as a kid was amiable enough and, as an adult, while he clearly had some failings, he grew on me and remained likable and decent to the core. Perhaps his failings made me like him all the more because he seemed to be altogether believable.

I hope Dickens other works have survived as well as Great Expectations over the years because, if they have, I have a nice new collection of books in my to-read pile.

RATING: 4 out of 5