I promised to get back to my reading pile and I’ve been doing just that! Check out some of my recent reads below…

Rustkiller by Dean F. Wilson

I love sci-fi westerns or steampunk novels. LOVE THEM. Throw in the mash up of technology with the attitude of the Old West and you’ve pretty much hooked me from page one. Dean Wilson goes further. He builds the world so deftly, layering the pieces behind the scenes you can’t help but feel it is a real place.

Nox is absolutely my favorite new character of the last year. No hyperbole here. He’s broken as a man yet can’t turn away from humanity. Not while there are bounties to collect and bad guys to put in the ground. Rustkiller cemented my love for the series and I highly recommend you check it out now. Book Three – Dustrunner was just released yesterday!

 

 

 

Helix Episode One by Nathan Farrugia

Genetically engineered killer kids? Super powers mixed with high octane espionage? Again, hooked from page one.

From there though things went a little dicey. Nathan Farrugia is a talented writer, applying fact paced kinetic action where necessary and dropping clues as to the overall story throughout. But the structure of the narrative is what kept me from loving this one. Episode One as it implies is merely a taste of the larger story to be told. There is no firm plot to distinguish this chapter with the others as it appears to be one long form novel broken up into smaller sections.

Not for me. I needed a little more meat in the story, a little more skin in the game before I reached the end of this one and it didn’t happen for me. I don’t like to poop on a storyteller’s choice. Not my place and the episodic structure definitely works for some readers. (I talk about it more next week…) My hope was simply to become more attached to the characters before being asked to commit to another episode.

Still, fans of action packed genetically altered humans kicking ass will definitely find something to enjoy here.

Infinity Lost by S. Harrison

The first book in the Infinity Trilogy, S. Harrison does a great job at opening up the world for the reader. A first person narrative, we follow Finn Blackstone as she uncovers secrets from her past while also unlocking doors to her present. It’s a great back and forth that kept me moving from chapter to chapter waiting for what comes next.

Some of the set up  is cliched and pulled me from the story. The love triangle element introduced as well as the mundane high school antics of some of the supporting cast grated me at times. I will say I am curious to see how things play out though after the reveal at the end of this book.

While it almost suffers from the same episodic nature of the previous book discussed, Harrison manages to keep the story focused on Finn and her search for the truth. Some great set up and cool visuals in this opening chapter.

Back to work!

Time to get some writing done! Happy Reading!