4 zvaigznes

Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples – Saga, Volume 1 (Saga: Collected Editions #1)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe.

From bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults.

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www.

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija (pārdomas)/My (thoughts) review

Marko un Alana kopā ar jaundzimušo meitu Heizelu bēg no kara starp divām rasēm/planētu un tās mēnesi. Katrs ir no savas rases, un vienkāršojot Marko ar ragiem un Alana ar spārniem, tāpēc abu savienība ir skandaloza un katra puse vēlas viņus mirušus.

Patika meitas Heizelas nelielie komentāri, šķiet attiecībā pret notikumiem no vēlāka laika. Būs jāpierod, ka tās pašas nodaļas ietvaros mainās skatpunkts.

Neiztrūkst arī pāris dīvainību, kā roboti ar TV ekrāniem galvu vietā, algotās slepkavas The Will palīgs kaķis, kas spēj atšķirt melus, planētas Sextillion iemītnieces tikai ar milzu galvām un garām kājām, mežs, kurā aug raķetes u.c.

Cerams, nākamajos voljumos būs vairāk pastāstīts par plašo karu, kur citām rasēm vienīgā izvēle ir, kurā pusē nostāties. Daži atvērumi ir bauda acīm. : )

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Marko and Alana together with their newborn daughter Hazel are running away from the war between two races/the planet and its moon. Each of them is from an opposite side and simplifying things Marco has horns and Alana has wings, which means that their relationship is very scandalous and each side wants them dead.

I liked the little side comments from Hazel, obviously from future. What I will have to get used to is that the POV in the same chapter changes.

You get plenty of weird stuff in Saga like robots with TV screens as heads, THE Lying Cat an assassins sidekick that can only say lying if someone does that, prostitutes on the Sextillion planet only with giant heads and longs, a forest in which rockets are growing etc.

Hopefully in the next volumes there will be more about the war in which the only choice for other races is to choose sides. Few pages were a just amazing! : )

Philip K. Dick – UBIK (audiobook)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Glen Runciter is dead. Or is everybody else? Someone died in an explosion orchestrated by Runciter’s business competitors. And, indeed, it’s the kingly Runciter whose funeral is scheduled in Des Moines. But in the meantime, his mourning employees are receiving bewildering—and sometimes scatological—messages from their boss. And the world around them is warping in ways that suggest that their own time is running out. Or already has.

Philip K. Dick’s searing metaphysical comedy of death and salvation (the latter available in a convenient aerosol spray) is a tour de force of paranoiac menace and unfettered slapstick, in which the departed give business advice, shop for their next incarnation, and run the continual risk of dying yet again.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Pret Glena Ransitera un viņa kompānijas komandu tiek veikts uzbrukums no konkurentu puses. Eksplozijā mirst viņš pats, un pēc tam, kad Džo, Ella, Patrīcija, Vendija un citi viņu ar godu apglabā, sāk notikt pavisam dīvainas lietas.

Viss viņiem apkārt sāk regresēt laikā un kļūt tāds, kāds tas bijis agrāk. Kamēr paši paliek kopā, tikmēr nekas šķiet viņiem kaitēt nevar, bet daži to aptver par vēlu. Jāpiebilst, ka vienam piemīt interesantas spējas izmainīt pagātni, bet ne ceļot laikā.

Tomēr beigās tas nav tas dīvainākais, jo drīz vien Džo pamana dažādas it kā vēstis no Glena – televīzijā parādās reklāma ar viņu, uz monētām īstā ģīmetņa vietā viņa u.c. Sāk rasties jautājums, kurš tad īsti ir dzīvs un kurš mira eksplozijā?

Tā līdz galam neizpratu motivāciju šim uzbrukumam. Bet kopumā ļoti interesanta un labā ziņā dīvaina. Patika katras nodaļas sākumā frāzes/reklāmas par UBIK produktu un ne tikai, bet pamatā kā spēcīgas zāles.

UBIK ir vien trešā grāmata no šī autora, kas klausīta, bet pagaidām iespaids vislabākais.

                                                                                                                                                             

There’s an attack against Glen Runciter and his company’s team from their competitors. He himself dies in the explosion and after Joe Chip, Ella, Patricia, Wendy and others burry him with an honor weird things start to happen.

Everything around them starts to go back in time and become as they were back then. While they stay together it seems that there might not be mortal danger to them but some realize this a bit too late. I should add that one of the team has such powers that she can influence the past, but not to travel in time.

However that’s not the strangest thing because soon enough Joe notices various messages from Runciter like the commercial with him in the television and his portrait on coins. That creates a question who really died and who survived the explosion?

Didn’t understand fully the motivation behind this attack. But overall the book is quite interesting and weird in a good way. I liked the commercials about UBIK at the beginning of each chapter.

Have listened only three books by Philip K. Dick including this one, but for now the impression is the best from them all.

Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle – The Mote in God’s Eye (Moties #1) (audiobook)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

In 3016, the 2nd Empire of Man spans hundreds of star systems, thanks to faster-than-light Alderson Drive. Intelligent beings are finally found from the Mote, an isolated star in a thick dust cloud. The bottled-up ancient civilization, at least one million years old, are welcoming, kind, yet evasive, with a dark problem they have not solved in over a million years.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Audible Frontiers

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kāda gan būtu cilvēces reakcija pirmoreiz sastopoties ar pilnībā atšķirīgu, inteliģentu rasi? Parasti visās filmās agresori un tie, kas vēlas visu iznīcināt ir tieši citplanētieši, bet šoreiz sastapšanās notiek, kad cilvēce jau spējusi spert savus soļus Visuma apgūšanā un apdzīvošanā. Vairākkārt tiek minēta Otrā impērija un pirmo atceras ar godu, apbrīnu, bet ne pilnībā izskaidrots tās sabrukuma iemesli.

Sastaptajai rasei Moutiem(negribas dēvēt par Puteklīšiem) ir maz līdzību ar cilvēkiem. Ne tikai ārējā ziņā un fizioloģiski, bet arī kultūras, sabiedrības un izturēšanās ziņā; jāņem vērā, ka viņu rasei ir bijis gana ilgs laiks, lai attīstītos. Reizēm vien pēc mirkļa sapratu, ka skatpunkts ir pārslēdzies no cilvēku uz citplanētiešu.

Mouti par sevi rada draudu neradošu un varbūt pat muļķu iespaidu, bet tas tikai tādai iemidzināšanai, arī viņi veic savus pētījumus un novērojumus, ne tikai cilvēks, no kuriem daļai ir ļoti lielas grūtības uzticēties un grib labāk uzbrukt pirmie, jo tak nevar zinātu, kad viņi tā varētu izdarīt. Noslēgums vismaz uz miermīlīgākas un cerīgākas nots.

Dominē militārais aspekts; dažās atsauksmēs minēts, ka darbs ir seksistisks (nav daudz sieviešu dzimuma tēlu) un tēli stereotipiski, bet vai nu īpaši nemanīju, vai arī šoreiz tas netraucēja.

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What would be mankind’s reaction for the first time meeting absolutely different, intelligent race? Usually in the movies the aggressors and those who want to destroy everything are the aliens, but this time the encounter happens when humans have had their chance to explore and populate the Universe. Occasionally it is mentioned that now it’s the 2nd Empire of Man and the first one is remembered with honor and admiration, but it wasn’t completely explained why the first one collapsed.

The aliens (Motes) have very little similarity with human, not only visually but also with their culture, behavior and society module. Of course their race is more than a million years old and with plenty of time to evolve.  There were some moments when POV changed from human’s to Motie’s, and then it took me awhile to catch that.

Moties create an impression about themselves as nonthreatening and maybe even a bit dum, but that’s exactly what they want. Humans aren’t the only ones that study and examine the other side, Moties do the same. Some people have trouble with trusting and all they want is to strike first just because you never know when they might. At least the ending is on hopeful and more peaceful note.

The fact that this more of a military sci-fi is clear; in some reviews I read that this book is sexist (there wasn’t many female characters) and that characters are stereotypical, but maybe I didn’t notice it that much or this time it just wasn’t bothering me.

Gary Taaffe – Bullies (Urban Hunters #5)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

BULLIES (book 5)

The son of the mongrel old man who Billy speared wants revenge. Billy could lose the pups. A bloody battle ensues but Diesel doesn’t count on Amber; or Larry, Curly and Moe for that matter. Billy leaves Turbo and Amber gobsmacked with a lesson in respect for Diesel. And with a little help from a hobo, Amber shows Billy how street kids hunt pigeons for brunch.

“Mad writing skills you’ve got :)” Jessica B, USA

“So many good characters in this book. You just have to wonder what Billy will get up to next.” Ann C, UK

“Another brilliant adventure from Billy. The fight is fantastic. Loved it. Making his first phone call – hilarious! Great storytelling.” Jack S, Australia

URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Bunya Publishing

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

E-grāmatas kopija no autora apmaiņā pret recenziju

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Piektajā Urban Hunters sērijas grāmatā Billijam kopā ar Amberu, kā arī izglābtajiem kucēniem jauni piedzīvojumi.

Pēc saprašanas, kas ir telefons un pirmā zvana draugam Turbo, Billijam jāaizstāvas no Turbo drauga, muskuļkalna Dīzela, kurš pārpratis ar kucēniem notikušo. Uz momentu notikumi priekš šīs humoristiskās un viegla rakstura sērijas kļūst visai asiņaini un grafiski, bet kā jau pienākas pārpratums noskaidrojas, visi var pasmaidīt un būt draugi.

Nedaudz paskaidrojoši arī par suņu nonākšanu izgāztuvē pirms Billijs viņus izglābj.

                                                                                                                                                

In the fifth Urban Hunters series book there are new adventures for Billy, Amber and the three saved puppies.

After getting to know what is phone and making his first call ever to his friend Turbo, Billy has to defend himself from Turbo’s muscle mountain friend Diesel who misunderstood what had happened with the puppies. For a moment it gets quite graphic for such a humoristic series but as it should be the misunderstanding is resolved and everyone can smile and be friends.

Some explanation about how and why Larry, Moe and Curly (puppies) got to the dump before Billy saved them.

Tess Gerritsen – Body Double (Rizzoli & Isles #4)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Boston medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles literally meets her match–and must face a savage serial killer and shattering personal revelations–in the brilliant new novel of suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of The Surgeon and The Sinner.

Dr. Maura Isles makes her living dealing with death. As a pathologist in a major metropolitan city, she has seen more than her share of corpses every day–many of them victims of violent murder. But never before has her blood run cold, and never has the grim expression “dead ringer” rung so terrifyingly true. Because never before has the lifeless body on the medical examiner’s table been her own.

Yet there can be no denying the mind-reeling evidence before her shocked eyes and those of her colleagues, including Detective Jane Rizzoli: the woman found shot to death outside Maura’s home is the mirror image of Maura, down to the most intimate physical nuances. Even more chilling is the discovery that they share the same birth date and blood type. For the stunned Maura, an only child, there can be just one explanation. And when a DNA test confirms that Maura’s mysterious doppelgänger is in fact her twin sister, an already bizarre murder investigation becomes a disturbing and dangerous excursion into a past full of dark secrets.

Searching for answers, Maura is drawn to a seaside town in Maine where other horrifying surprises await. But perhaps more frightening, an unknown murderer is at large on a cross-country killing spree. To stop the massacre and uncover the twisted truth about her own roots, Maura must probe her first living subject: the mother that she never knew . . . an icy and cunning woman who could be responsible for giving Maura life–and who just may have a plan to take it away.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kad Maura atgriežas no konferences Parīzē saistībā ar darbu, mājās viņu sagaida šoks un policijas uguņu gaismas. Kad citi ierauga Mauru, viņi ir šokā, un iemesls pavisam vienkāršs, visiem licies, ka nogalinātā ir viņa. Tik līdzīga ir mirusī! Diezgan daudz pārsteigumu un šokējošu jaunumu mūsu patoloģei.

Tas aizsāk pamatīgu notikumu virpuli, kurā Maura cenšas uzzināt par saviem vecākiem(adoptēta) un par sevi. Lai gan tiek vairākkārt brīdināta, ka patiesība var nebūt tik jauka kā cerēts, viņa paliek neatlaidīga. Vienīgais, kas drusku kaitināja, ka viņai tā iemīlēšanās/sajūtu rašanās visai ātra, varbūt mirkļu iespaidā.

Meklējumi iekustina arī citas izmeklēšanas – pazudušas personas, no kurām lielākā daļa grūtnieču tuvu dzemdību laikam, kā arī tiek atrasti skeleti. Šajā ziņā prologs visai intriģējošs! : )

Attiecībā par Ridzoli, viņa pat astotajā grūtniecības mēnesī turpina aktīvu izmeklēšanu (atšķirībā no citas Bostonas detektīves). Varētu domāt, ka pazudušo-nogalināto personu lietas viņu varētu kā nebūt ietekmēt, bet Ridzoli neļaujas tam un ir tāda kā vienmēr. Šķiet, ka attālums un karjeras attiecībās viņai nekaitē.

Ik pa brīdim dota iespēja iejusties jaunākās nolaupītās grūtnieces ādā. Arī šajā sižetiņā savi pavērsieni.

                                                                                                                                                

When Maura Isles comes home from medical conference in Paris she is shocked by all police in and around her house. When others see Maura, they are surprised because everyone that the victim is she. That’s how similar they are! Quite a lot surprising news for our medical examiner.

That is the start for a big avalanche of another events in which Maura tries to find out about her real parents (she was adopted) and about herself. Although she is warned that the truth might be painful she is still relentless. One thing that irritated was how fast she developed new romantic feelings, maybe just the effect of a moment(s).

Those searches shakes up some old missing person cases from which most are pregnant women close to their term, also some skeletons are found. In this case the prologue is intriguing! : )

But talking about Rizzoli even when she is eight months pregnant nothing can stop her from active investigation (differently from some other Boston detective). You would think that those missing-killed person cases would affect her somehow but she’s letting that to happen. Also it seems that the distance and carrier doesn’t have bad influence to her relationship.

From time to time the reader is given a POV from the newest kidnapped pregnant woman, there some twists and turns also in this little plot line.

Gary Taaffe – Budgie Smugglers (Urban Hunters #4)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

BUDGIE SMUGGLERS (book 4)

Billy hunts street meat for his first ever dinner date, much to Amber’s dismay. A cranky council worker named Norm, wants them out of his park, but he also wants his park rid of feral cats. Billy makes a weapon for Amber with mixed results and the drunken burp of a hobo sends her crashing back into the life she just escaped. Billy has no clue what to do with an upset Amber but he does try. His bare bum needs to be kept in check so Amber comes up with a gift. And Larry, Curly and Moe make a meal of a dying man, saving his life and making him giggle. Norm is traumatised to find Billy and Amber gone.

“This book was just as laugh out loud funny as the first three books in the series. Billy slowly learning about girls and falling in love for the first time in his innocent way was just plain adorable. I can’t get enough of these characters and their adventures. It was AWESOME.” Jessica B, USA

“A friend recommended it to me. It was a very different book, but it was enjoyable and fun to read.” Deborah S, Canada

“There are some hilarious scenes and some really entertaining dialogue that move this story along at a great pace. The character of Billy is so endearing he stays with you long after the story is over. Looking forward to the next book in the series.” Jack S, Australia

URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Bunya Publishing

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no http://bunyapublishing.com/

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Varam vērot Amberas (atrasta trešās grāmatas beigās) un Billija attiecību sākumu. Ja Ambera var iepazīstināt Billiju, piemēram, ar to, kas tā tāda duša ir, un priecāties par viņa reakcijām. Tad Billijs pielieto savas mednieka zināšanas, lai abiem pietiktu ēdamā. Jāpiebilst, ka gaļa nav tā tradicionālākā, un nepieciešama pārliecināšana, lai Ambera to nogaršotu, palīdz arī izsalkums.

Klāt nāk jauns tēls Normans, parka uzraugs, kurš pret abiem attiecas draudzīgi. Suņi jau jūtas drošāk un atrāda sevi vien noslēdzošajās nodaļās; būtu paticis bik vairāk.

                                                                                                                                                

In the fourth Urban Hunters series book we can observe the beginning of Billy’s and Amber’s (which he found at the end of third book) relationship start. If Amber can show to Billy for example what kind of thing the shower is. But Billy can use his hunting skills so they don’t need to worry about food. I should add that the meat isn’t of the traditional ones, and Billy needs some convincing so that Amber would taste it, hunger also helps.

A new character is added – Norman – who is friendly towards both of them. It seems that dogs are feeling more confident as they show themselves only in the last chapters; would have liked a bit more.

Lisa Gardner – The Neighbor (Detective D.D. Warren #3)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
A young mother, blond and pretty, vanishes from her South Boston home, leaving behind only one witness—her four-year-old daughter—and one suspect—her handsome, secretive husband.

From the moment Detective Sergeant D. D. Warren arrives at the Joneses’ snug little bungalow, instinct tells her that something is seriously off with the wholesome image the couple has worked so hard to create.

With the clock ticking on the life of a missing woman and a media firestorm building, D.D. must decide whether Jason Jones is hiding his guilt—or just trying to hide. But first she must stand between a potential killer and his next victim—an innocent child who may have seen too much.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Bantam Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Varbūt nedaudz negaidīti (ka nav līķa, vismaz sākumā), ka detektīvs Braiens Millers piecina D.D. Vorenu pazudušas personas, konkrētāk Sandras Džounsas, meklēšanā. Ar katru grāmatu šis tas arvien vairāk tiek parādīts/atklāts par izmeklētāju; piemēram, par ēšanas manieri, ko varētu salīdzināt ar tālbraucēju, t.i. pamatīgi daudz.

Pētot arvien dziļāk lasītājs atklāj ar vien vairāk dažādus noslēpumus, kurus katrs no tēliem pavisam noteikti vēlētos, ka tie tādi paliek. Sandra apprecējās īsi pēc pilngadības sasniegšanas jau būdama stāvoklī, un kopā ar vīru Džeisonu pameta dzimto pusi. Var vien just līdzi, kā viņu četrgadīgā meita Klarisa jeb Rī, tiek galā ar radušos situāciju; ne vien mātes pazušana, bet arī mediju uzmanība, un izmeklētāju/policistu klātbūtne; tas pats par tēvu.

Patika momenti no Sandras perspektīvas, kas vairāk kā atstāts par to, kā viss nonāca līdz pazušanas faktam. Gan viņas, gan arī Džeisona bērnība nav bijusi no tām laimīgākajām, kas katru nopietni ietekmējušas. Tas labi izskaidro Džeisona (grūti izprotams no malas) raksturu un uzvedību, kas pamatīgi nokaitina Vorenu un pamatoti liek prātot, vai tik viņš nav vainojams sievas neesamībā.

Lai gan neesmu nedz lasījis, nedz redzējis Gone Girl (lai gan lielo pavērsienu šķiet zinu), tad tieši fragmenti no Sandras skatpunkta, atgādināja dzirdēto.

Par laimi, Džeisonam, viņš nav vienīgais vērā ņemamais aizdomās turamais. Pāris mājas tālāk uz tās pašas ielas dzīvo reģistrēts dzimumnoziedznieks Adrians; līdz ar to arī grāmatas nosaukums. Pat pēc soda izciešanas un apmeklējot obligātās sanāksmes, Adrians joprojām jūtas tā it kā joprojām izciestu sodu, un patstāvīgu nosodošu attieksmi no sabiedrības.

Līdzīgi kā sērijas otrajā grāmatā, arī šajā, bez jau minētajiem aizdomīgajiem tēliem, doti vēl citi, tai skaitā skolnieks, datorģēnijs. Bet šoreiz pavērsiens bija negaidītāks.

P.S. Bobija un Anabellas attiecības tiešām bija nopietnākas kā ar Katrīnu; apprecējušies. :)

                                                                                                                                                

Maybe a bit unexpected for D.D. that this case at least at the beginning doesn’t involve bodies as detective Brian Miller calls for her help to investigate a missing person; that it Sandra Jones. With each book in the series you get new tidbits about Warren like about her eating style and maners which couldn’t differ much from truckers.

So as the investigation digs even deeper many secrets are revealed (not everything), though that some characters would like that they stay that way. Sandra married shortly after 18th birthday plus being pregnant. Together with the new husband Jason they leave there homes. You can only sympathize for their four year daughter Clarissa (called Ree) as she tries understand why mother isn’t at home, and also to deal with media attention and police presence; the same for father.

Liked those fragments from POV of Sandra which tells more about what exactly lead to her disappearance. For both of them (Sandra and Jason) the childhood wasn’t those of particularly happy ones and that has left marks in them. That explains well what and why Jason does and how he tries to cope with fact that his wife has disappeared; this behavior makes D.D. crazy and gives her reasons to blame him.

I haven’t read or seen Gone Girl but those fragments with Sandra’s POV reminded me of what I have heard.

Fortunately for Jason he isn’t the only good suspect. Few houses down the street lives registered sex offender Adrian Brewster. Despite that he has served his time, goes to required meetings and follows his PO advices Adrian still feels like receiving punishment and society’s rejection.

Similarly as in the previous book there are plenty of suspicious characters besides Jason and Adrian, including pupil – computer genius. This time the twist was more unexpected.

P.S. I was right about Bobby and Annabelle, and they managed to marry. : )

Steve Berry ”The Tudor Plot” (Cotton Malone book 7.5)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this original eBook novella by the New York Times bestselling author of The King’s Deception, globetrotting intelligence agent Cotton Malone is lured into dangerous intrigue surrounding the world’s most famous royals—and uncovers a murderous conspiracy of terrorists and traitors, all born from an ancient tale of Saxon history.

“In Malone, [Steve] Berry has created a classic, complex hero.”—USA Today
  
In England to participate in the trial of suspected international terrorists, Justice Department agent Cotton Malone is mysteriously summoned to an audience with the Queen of England. A cryptic call has warned of looming danger to the ailing queen’s son and grandson—the next two heirs in line for the throne. And when the source of that ominous information, a notorious tabloid publisher, dies mysteriously, the royal family has reason to fear a genuine conspiracy. But they also suspect that the enemy lies within—and no one at Buckingham Palace, or even the nation’s own Secret Intelligence Service, can be trusted. Now it’s up to Malone to discover the truth. Matching wits with a power-mad politician and a vicious royal blue blood, he must race against time through the streets of London to the forbidden reaches of Iceland, all to stop a monstrous plot to seize the monarchy—one that stretches back to the time of Arthur.

Praise for Steve Berry and his Cotton Malone series
 
“Malone, a hero with a personal stake in the proceedings, is a welcome respite from the cold, calculating superspies who litter the genre.”—Entertainment Weekly 
 
“Steve Berry gets better and better with each new book.”—The Huffington Post

“Savvy readers . . . cannot go wrong with Cotton Malone.”—Library Journal

“Berry raises this genre’s stakes.”—The New York Times
 
“I love this guy.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Notikums pirms septiņiem gadiem Lielbritānijā, kad Malons vēl netirgo grāmatas. Viņa atrašanās iemesls uz salas ir vajadzība liecināt tiesā, bet pa starpu tam viņa prasmes vēlas izmantot pati karaliene.

Lai gan autors karaļnama personāžus ir izdomājis, tomēr ideja visai intriģējoša. Ja nu trešais vai trešā ceļā uz troni nevēlētos gaidīt līdz būtu viņa kārta tikt kronētam, bet izvēlētos paātrināt procesu.

Arī šī .5 grāmata ir prīkvels un Malona visticamākais pretinieks (viens no) astotajā grāmatā būs Thomas Mathew, MI6. Varbūt tieši pateicoties, ka šis darbs ir garākas, arī vērtējums augstāks, kā diviem iepriekšējiem prīkveliem.

                                                                                                                                                

Events in UK seven years ago when Cotton Malone wasn’t selling books. Reasons for him to be on the island was a need to testify in court but between that queen herself wants to use his skills.

Although characters of the royalties are fictional the idea is itself is intriguing. What if the third in line to throne wouldn’t want to wait but would choose to accelerate the process.

Also this .5 book is a prequel and I guess that one of Malone’s enemies in the 8th book will be Thomas Mathew from MI6. Maybe because this was longer than two previous prequels the rating also is higher to this one.

Limor Moyal ”Chariots on the Highway”

25430078

Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Every year, young men come from all over the world to join the IDF and fight for Israel. They leave everything behind and become what are known as lone soldiers.

Tom, a young man from Kansas, has traveled to Israel to fight for his people. He came to fight, he came to escape.
Dan Green has it all. He owns Greentech technologies, lives in a small mansion near Tel Aviv, and looks like a movie star. But his blue eyes are hiding a storm that threatens to crush him.
Dan and Tom cross paths at a crucial point in their lives. Neither of them thought that what began as volunteering would change everything they thought they knew.
This is a journey of exploration and discovery, about asking the right questions and finding the answers.
In the traffic jams of Ayalon Highway, the bustle of the city, on the battlefield, and deep in their dreams, together they peel off layers of pain… and find themselves.

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Laimēju Goodreads izlozē

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Jau pirms šīs grāmatas biju lasījis M/M romantiku, bet tas bija vien īsais stāsts, tomēr nemaz tik traki nebija, ņemot vērā, ka romantiku parasti nelasu, kur nu vēl M/M.

Tātad, miljonārs un kompānijas GreenTech īpašnieks Dens pēc smagas un dārgas šķiršanās jūtas izsmelts, un arī pati laulība nebija nekāda laimes zeme. Dena raksturs arī ir pie vainas pie attiecībām ar citiem, tai skaitā ģimeni. Pēc psihologa un asistentes ieteikuma dēļ uzņemas labdarīgu, brīvprātīgu rīcību, bet jau minētā rakstura dēļ tas nav no ierastajiem – piekrīt uzņemt kareivi no IDF, šis kareivis (Toms) atšķiras ar to, ka dzimis ASV un brīvprātīgi devies uz Izraēlu uz trīs gadu termiņu IDF spēkos.

Ja Toms jau no bērnības apzinājies savu seksuālo orientāciju, tad Dens to apjauš vien pēc šķiršanās uz kareivja izmitināšanas. Atšķiras arī abu īpašības un izturēšanās. Jābrīdina, ka intīmie brīži diezgan atklāti aprakstīti, noteikti ~18+ lasāmviela.

Patika tēlu savstarpējās attiecības, to attīstība. Dens atjauno attiecības ar pamāti Floru, pirms viņa apsteidz vēzi, un arī ar garīgi slimo vecāko brāli Adamu. Bet arī Tomam ģimenes ziņā nebūt nav ideāli, jo viņi (ortodoksālie ebreji) nezina par dēla orientāciju un situāciju neatvieglo reliģija.

Par Denu vēl varētu piebilst, ka viņš pavisam droši nevarētu būt Mītbasteru fans, jo izgāšanās/neveiksme nav viņam pieņemama iespēja.

Vairāk par autores pirmo romānu viņas mājaslapā.

                                                                                                                                                

Before this M/M romance book I had read only one somewhat similar story, and I have to admit that this one wasn’t that bad knowing that I don’t usually read romance.

So Dan millionaire and owner of GreenTech after hard and expensive divorce feels empty and exhausted, also the marriage itself wasn’t any happy land. Dan has a difficult nature it doesn’t help in relationships. After advice from his assistant and psychologist he agrees to volunteer – he agrees to house soldier from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) but this soldier (Tom) was born in USA and volunteered to serve three years in these forces.

Tom knew about his sexuality as early as his childhood but Dan realized it only after divorce and after meeting Tom. There are also differences in their characteristics and behavior. I should warn that sexy times are pretty explicit.

I liked relationships between different characters, their development. Dan revives his relationship with his stepmother Flora and mentally ill older brother Adam. But Tom’s relationship with his family isn’t perfect (they don’t know) and religion doesn’t help, they are orthodox Jews.

About Dan I could add that he couldn’t be a fan of Mythbusters because for him failure isn’t an option.

For some reason only after I finished the book I noticed that the title is Chariots on the Highway and no Chariots on the Way :D.

More information about this debut novel on the web page.

Ian Fleming ”The Spy Who Loved Me” (James Bond (Original Series) book 10)

18455

Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

‘He was about six feet tall, slim and fit. The eyes in the lean, slightly tanned face were a very clear grey-blue and as they observed the men they were cold and watchful. His good looks had a dangerous, almost cruel quality that had frightened me. But now I knew he could smile, I thought his face exciting, in a way no face had ever excited me before …’

Vivienne Michel is in trouble. Trying to escape her tangled past, she has run away to the American backwoods, winding up at the Dreamy Pines Motor Court. A far cry from the privileged world she was born to, the motel is also the destination of two hardened killers—the perverse Sol Horror and the deadly Sluggsy Morant. When a coolly charismatic Englishman turns up, Viv, in terrible danger, is not just hopeful, but fascinated. Because he is James Bond, 007; the man she hopes will save her, the spy she hopes will love her …

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Nice and surprising change of POV and narrator, where Bond was almost just a side character. Bond was his usual self and only few emotions from.

In the beginning we have introduction about Vivienne Michel – her backstory – and only after a while something starts to happen. Luckily for Vivienne by mere coincidence James Bond shows up to rescue.

In general I liked her but there were few minuses. One of which was Vivienne’s thinking about herself as lesser than men and in case of men she haven’t got the best experience (saying it lightly).

Villains were not great but also not horrible (neutral) for their role, especially Slusgy.

All in all :D a good change in the series and hopefully it continues or at least gets repeated.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon