My Take On... (A Book Review Club Post)

Swords of Talera Book One of the Talera Cycle (2007) by Charles Allen Gramlich.

Why Get It: To join Ruenn Maclang in his quest to find his missing brother, Bryce, and explore the mysteries of the land of Talera.

Excerpt:

In a lull between successive waves, I ran across the deck and leaped down into the rowing-hold. I landed badly, sprawling across something soft, something dead. I scrambled away from the body and looked about. Oars had snapped like matchwood throughout the open hold. Arms and legs and necks were twisted to odd angles, but here and there amid the floating wreckage, beings lived. Even above the waves and wind I could hear their moans and screams.

Bottom line: Ok, I’m hooked. I’d never been much of a reader of fantasy novels making Swords of Talera a first for me—it was my initiation into the Sword and Planet genre. And what a pleasant initiation it was. Mr. Gramlich masterfully creates a vivid world with rich characters all while telling a gripping, action packed tale. I will be picking up Book Two to continue the adventures of Ruenn Maclang in this curious land.

More reviews on Swords of Talera:

Candy's Blog

Cedar's Mountain

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@Barrie Summy

My Take On...

Thuglit Presents Sex, Thugs, and Rock & Roll edited by Todd Robinson.

Why Get It: Joe R. Lansdale, Jason Starr, Allan Guthrie, Anthony Neil Smith, Greg Bardsley and Mike Sheeter to name a few.

Excerpt: From "The Trouble with Trolls" by Patricia Abbott

It had been a long time since either Denny or his brother harbored any illusions about their parents’ marriage, but participating in the demise of women who became inconvenient to their father was unsettling. How many women must die before the old man let his prescription for Viagra lapse? Of course, Dad didn’t knock most of them off. There had just been that Olga until now.

Bottom Line: "Trolls" and Jason Starr’s "Double Down" are particular standouts of the stories I’ve read so far, and I haven't come across a dud in the bunch. Definitely worth the dinero.

Jedidiah Ayres interview with Todd Robinson, aka Big Daddy Thug, can be found here.