59. The Grim Company–Luke Scull

Not only is the Company Grim, so is the world created in this work of sword and sorcery.

A world run by mages who care little for the people in their cities, deceit and misery abounds.

The main characters are nothing to write home about either. It was hard to root for any of them, or to care about their welfare and triumph.

The ending left me feeling much the way I felt at the start of the book. I really want nothing more to do with the world in the book, for there was nothing there I thought worth saving at all.

Abandoned: The Long Ships–Frans Gunnar Bengtsson

The fist part of this book was terrific. Vikings going a-viking and getting caught up in wars in Spain, running into the Moors and Jews and finally Chrisitians.

 

But when Orm comes home and starts to think of ways to trick, cajole or otherwise force (you have a choice, covert or I take your head) I began to hate it.

Abandoned after 300 pages. Too bad. It’s possibly just my own problem but I read for fun not for anything else.

RVing Update.

This old barn is located just down the road from the MIL’s in North Carolina.

 

While we were staying in the NC mountains near Asheville, our friends joined us and this is the view from the cabin they rented.

 

A shot from the top of the mountains as we went from Maggie Valley to Cherokee.

 

We saw these guys on that same trip, right at the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

The river as we were traveling through Cherokee.

 

A shot from the river park in Cherokee.

 

We’re glad to have gotten away from the family. Ugh. Families. There are feuds going on there and we hated that. Refuse to take sides and hate that that stuff goes on. So glad we live far away from all that.

Had a great visit with friends (better than family as you CHOOSE them) we’ve known for 30 years who drove up to spend a long weekend with  us in Maggie Valley.

We had yet more RV issues today, with a jack refusing to lift up. Jim MacGyvered a fix for it, so we are on the road, currently over-nighting at Camp Pedro at South of the Border on the SC/NC border.  Heading into SC tomorrow and will overnight just north of Florida.

Apologies for the pictures. I didn’t remember to load my photo software on the new laptop so they’re just as the camera caught them, some using just the phone.

58. In the Woods–Tana French

How do you put your life back together again when your childhood is shattered so badly you have no memories prior to the summer of your 11th year? And what happens when you managed to have a mostly normal life, but suddenly you find yourself drawn back into the mystery and horror of those lost years?

Those questions drive and define the world of Rob Ryan as he investigates the death of a little girl in the same town where his two best friends disappeared. Surely, in such a small town, there can't be two child murderers. Even if they are 25 or so years apart?

Intricate plotting, mysteries galore, and complex and convincing characterizations. No wonder it won an award.

57. Traitor’s Knot–Janny Wurts

I don’t give out many 4.5 ratings, but Janny Wurts’s series The Wars of Light and Shadow have now earned yet another one.

The 7th book of the overall series, finds Arithon, Master of Shadow, recovering from having survived the mysterious maze created by the mysterious Davien.  The ordeal allows Arithon to integrate his pain of all the loses he’s survived and returns to him his mage abilities. Now he’s not only a masterbard capable of using the powers of music to fuel his spells, he now has his mage sight and powers back in force.

He’ll need them, for he’s told there is a secret cabal of necromancers active throughout Althera and he’s called upon to help the Brotherhood fight them – before they can get their claws into Lysaer.

Intricately plotted, Arithon actually has a breather or two in which to plot and plan.

Can’t wait to continue this series.

56. The Godwulf Manuscript–Robert B. Parker

The first Spenser novel.  A good first effort, with an interesting gumshoe and well drawn 1970s landscape. Made me a bit nostalgic  My only complaint was the fact every woman found Spenser so irresistible..

55. These Old Shades–Georgette Heyer

It’s a typical Parisian night as Satan walks down a dark and dirty street. Suddenly an urchin lurches out of an alleyway and plows into him. He thinks he’s a target for a robbery, but instead finds himself grasping a quite remarkable young man.

A plot forms in his head immediately and when the urchin’s pursuer shows up, he buys the urchin.

Thus begins a tale of a rogue who plays the deep game and whose morals are non-existent. Or are they?

I do love a good rogue, and Alastair is definitely that!

Lots of fun and color and intrigue.

54. Don’t Look Back–Karen Fossum

 

The First translated book of the Konrad Sejer mystery series set in Norway.

Complex plot points, interesting and varied characters, and cool location.

Will continue this series.

53. The September Society–Charles Finch

Charles Lenox is back for his second mystery, this one taking him to Oxford, and involving some military society consisting of only a few men,all of whom served in India.

A missing student, whose mother asks Lenox to help her, leaves his own mysteries behind.

The usual interesting characters and well drawn settings in Victorian England.  Definitely continuing this series.