Rapid-Fire Book Review Time!

I've read a lot of books since I've last posted so here's a slap-dash review type-thing!

The Paradise War, by Stephan R. Lawhead: Long-winded descriptions of landscapes do a good job of making you believe in paradise but after a while I found myself skipping pages to get to the meat of the story. Found the protagonist annoying.

The Silver Hand: Sequel to The Paradise War. Different narrator and better flowing plot.

The Endless Knot: Third in the series, not done yet.

Sandman Slim, by Richard Kadrey: Urban fantasy anti-hero who's tough as nails and has a score to settle. Liked the narration but found it hard to like the narrator. He grew on me after a while but the guy seriously needs a break. Good read, devoured it.

Kill the Dead, a Sandman Slim novel: Sequal, liked it more.

Side Jobs, short story Anthology by Jim Butcher: Lots of little stories with Dresden and crew. One told from Thomas' viewpoint and one from Murphy's. Very good. Also devoured (I guess I like urban fantasy).

The Unsuspecting Mage, Books 1-4 by Brian S. Pratt: I liked the idea of the first book and kept reading it even though the writing isn't up to the standards I usually hold my authors up to. On the 4th book I came to the conclusion that each book was the same damn book with the objective changed slightly. Travel to this place to get answers. Travel to that place to get answers to questions that the last answers gave us. Travel some more to rescue someone. Travel. Traaaaaveeeeeeel. Midway into the fourth book I got bored and picked up Sidejobs.

Stormlord Rising, by Glenda Larke: Finding it hard to like the characters in this book. Interesting concepts, storyline and "magic." Characters make me want to shout. Still read the entire thing, so it is good enough for me to finish (if I don't like something I am not shy about throwing the book in the trash).

The Black Prism, by Brent Weeks: This is seriously one of the better books I have read since reading World War Z(WWZ by the way is probably my favorite book of all time). His characters are goddamn real, their motivations clear and it is the longest book I have read since Battlefield Earth (another damn good read) and I have a feeling it's a trilogy with the ending it had. Seriously, go get this book. It's awesome.

Warcraft Books: I had a bored moment and got some warcraft books. They aren't worth it... Although it makes playing WoW more fun when you're all "Holy shit, I read about him!"

The Alphabet of Manliness by Maddox: Funny. Especially if you are sexist.

Iron Elves series, by Chris Evans: Good read, find it hard to like the main characters. Side characters are far more interesting and I find myself waiting for them to come on screen again. Recommended books.

The Witcher Books, by Andrzej Sapkowski: They are currently being translated into English and I drink them up like a man dying of thirst at a freshwater pond.

Prophecy of Swords, by M. H. Bonham: Bought because it was a dollar on Amazon, and here's the plot. "WE MUST KILL THE BADGUY!"
"WHY?"
"BECAUSE HE IS THE BADGUY!"
"THAT MAKES SENSE!"
"BUT WE NEED SWORDS FIRST!"
"OKAY!"
"OFF WE GO!"

There are others but I think I'm done. I'm getting snarky.

-McK