The other unique thing about the Joe Ledger series is that zombies and a mole on the team are just the antagonists in the first novel. As Joe and the Echo Team at DMS move forward, they continue to encounter terrorists and mad scientists, but each with a different agenda and a different weapon for Joe's team to decimate. Along with the incredible tense writing, the narration by Ray Porter is spot-on. I can't wait for Book 2!
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My first review from this summer is Olivia Twist, which is a new take on the classic Oliver Twist story. In this new rendition, Olivia WAS Oliver when she was younger. When her mother dies in childbirth, Olivia's caretakers wisely raise her as a boy so she can survive the streets unmolested. She successfully passes herself off as Oliver, even to the Artful Dodger, until a random pickpocketing episode brings her face to face with her biological great uncle, who takes her in and allows her to reveal her true gender.
Years later, Olivia again comes in contact with the Dodger, now in the guise of handsome Jack MacCarron. Olivia is about to become engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors in town, but Jack throws a monkey wrench into those plans. Much heavy breathing follows, but it's all very PG-rated. I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable remake of the Dickens classic with a satisfying ending and enough action and suspense in the middle to keep me listening. This would be a great YA recommendation.
In case you just crawled out from under a rock, A Game of Thrones takes place in the land of Westeros, where seven kingdoms are ruled from one almighty Iron Throne. When we join the story in Book 1, King Robert holds sway, and he has just arrived at the home of his trusted bannerman Eddard Stark, accompanied by his "lovely" wife Cersei Lannister, her twin brother Jaime, her other brother Tyrion (The Imp), assorted children, etc.
Over the course of six books (so far I think), the story unspools to include realms beyond the seven kingdoms, magic, murder. And dragons. So, for those following along: genre = fantasy. The HBO series took place over eight seasons and went beyond the point where George R.R. Martin had written the books, which caused some pretty major controversy in the final episodes when major character may have acted in ways that many fans thought the characters would not have acted. Chaos ensued. Meanwhile, Martin can sit back and relax, because he still has books to write, and they DON'T HAVE to follow the series! Winner winner chicken dinner! Strictly speaking about the writing, Martin has to rank up there with Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, etc. for the breadth and depth of the world he's created. His characters are people you want to spend time with (well, some of them are) and are definitely people you will argue with your friends about (I definitely did). The whole point of the series is to determine who in the end is going to sit the Iron Throne. I know who does in the series (again--REALLY?) But will Martin choose the same conclusion? Only time will tell. |
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