Early Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Age of X #1

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

Justin March was exiled for daring to include a supernatural event in one of his investigative reports. But that paranormal knowledge actually winds up being his ticket back home when a string of ritualistic murders turns up, and he's the only one with the expertise to track down the culprit. He's teamed up with Mae, one of the military's most elite soldiers to get to the bottom of the investigation before the public hears of the religious ties. But their investigation quickly turns extremely dangerous for them as they stumble across a plot for untold powers to conquer the world, leaving humanity little more than cannon fodder and pawns.

Let me start off by stating that I am a HUGE Richelle Mead fan. I've loved everything she's written, aside from my frustrations at her lack of closure in her series ending books, but that's just a stylistic preference. So, I fully expected to love GAMEBOARD OF THE GODS, even if the description sounded a bit more on the full fantasy side instead of urban fantasy. Unfortunately, I would up being very disappointed instead, which is really a shame since I was so excited about this new series. It wasn't just one thing keeping me from enjoying this book, it was several. In fact, I literally had to keep forcing myself to continue, and honestly if this book had not of been written by Richelle, it would have been a DNF in the first 50 pages. As it was, I keep hoping for something to turn around and spark my interest, or even start to make a little sense, but it never really did.  The book just really suffered from a severe lack of world building. There was just way too much going on with little or no explanation, which made things rather frustrating as it left me feeling rather confused and disjointed from the story.

Speaking of disjointedness, I was never able to connect at all to any of the characters. I think a lot of that had to do with the third person narrative. I just felt like the whole thing felt stilted and unnatural. While I will be the first to admit I largely prefer first person over third, I still can enjoy a well written third person dialog. GAMEBOARD OF THE GODS unfortunately wasn't one that worked. I understand the need to have at least Mae and Justin's character perspectives, but those could have been told in first person, or at least better connected. As far as Tessa goes, I'm really not sure why her character was necessary. Honestly it seemed like the only purpose her character served for most of the book was to make Justin seem a bit less selfish. I need my characters to have more depth and purpose than that. After reading GAMEBOARD OF THE GODS, I'm even more glad that Richelle changed her mind from writing the VA spin off series in third person, as I really feel she is a much stronger writer in first person.

This has been the second book that I've read in the past two weeks from a loved author that has really let me down. I'm hoping the trend doesn't continue as I might have to rethink my policy of giving previously loved authors more leeway. Perhaps GAMEBOARD OF THE GODS will appeal more to Sci-fi/fantasy lovers, rather than avid Urban Fantasy fans like myself, but it just didn't work for me.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:

• The Book Twins
• Between Dreams and Reality
• Litchick's Hit List

Let's Talk With Smash & Kt (30)

Welcome to the Let’s Talk weekly discussion meme!

Originally hosted by Melissa from i swim for oceans, Smash & Kt took her original inspiration, and made it their own, expanding it to more than just books. Let’s get personal (but respectfully so) and learn more about one another!  Each week, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses.This meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. So, Let's Talk!  

Special announcement this week:

Smash and I would like to thank everyone who has participated in Let's Talk with us over the past 30 weeks. We really have enjoyed discussing everything with you. However, as both Smash and my career situations have changed for the better since we started, we have been looking for ways to streamline our blogs, and still have the best content possible in our limited schedules. So, unfortunately, this meme is one of the things that will be discontinued. Thank you again so much for joining us on this journey!

This week's question:

What do you consider the most necessary things to include when writing a review? Should there be something emphasized more in the review such as reading experience, the characters, or the writing style? Are spoilers or minor explanations of the plot to be omitted from a review? (Thanks, Angie)

I don't there is any set things to include in a review, nor do I think there should be. We all have our own personal style that works for us. Personally I use a 4 paragraph format. The first paragraph is always a summary. The second and third are much more fluid, it just depends on what really stood out to me in that particular book. However I typically hit on my feelings of the characters in the second paragraph, and then the romance (if there is one) in the third paragraph. Or I talk about plot instead in either of those paragraphs. The fourth paragraph is a conclusion, but sometimes I include another aspect from the book that stood out to me, that didn't fit in with my other two main paragraphs.

As far as spoilers, I try to avoid them as much as possible, but sometimes I talk about the smaller ones, because it's unavoidable, or something that I really want to discuss. Heck sometimes I've discussed major spoilers, but that's rare, and those sections are always set apart from the main review.

How about you? Spoilers or no?
   

Kirsten Reviews: Tales of Majipoor by Robert Silverberg

Tales of Majipoor by Robert Silverberg

Hailed as “one of the most fully realized worlds of modern science fiction,”(Booklist) Majipoor is a planet unlike any other, with countless untold stories. Now, available for the first time in one volume, science fiction grand master Robert Silverberg presents seven tales that chronicle thousands of years of Majipoor’s history, from the arrival of the settlers of Old Earth, to the expansion of vast cities, to the extraordinary life of Lord Valentine. Within these stories lie the secrets of Majipoor, a wondrous world of incredible imagination...




Tales of Majipoor by Robert Silverberg is a somewhat uneven collection of seven stories that are set in his world ‘Majipoor.’ They are set in different time periods, some at the beginning of colonization, and others set during key events in Majipoor’s history. Others are more intimate stories, and there’s even one featuring Lord Valentine. In this review, I’ll discuss the first three stories, and leave the rest for the readers to discover on their own.

If you haven’t read any other books set in this world, there are some details that will escape you, and even some parts of the stories that may be a little frustrating. That being said, for the most part these stories stand fairly well on their own, and are a nice cross-section of different time periods and people in Majipoor.

There’s a prologue that gives new readers a brief background of Majipoor, the colonization that took place despite the presence of natives, the fact that other alien species eventually settled on Majipoor, and other details. The use of magic and technology didn’t always seem well-explained for newcomers, and it might be confusing without additional background. In fact, it seemed that at times, science fiction and fantasy were being juggled, and no balance between the two was adequately reached in any of the stories.

End of the Line Gives readers insight into how Lord Stiamot (this is where having background in the Majipoor series is helpful) became Coronal. While he has different problems in this story, he’s ultimately likeable, and by setting this as the first story, it makes later references to him as an important figure in history more interesting, because the audience has seen him before myth turned him into a symbol.

The Book of Changes features Aithin Furvain, a character much less mythic than the previous protagonist. He finds himself the ‘puppet’ responsible for authoring an epic poem about the world. He finds his cues in strange visions of a man named Valentine, and is literally given ‘notes’ on what to write. Valentine’s story comes up again, and the theme is once again ‘myth vs. reality,’ or herein ‘write your own propaganda if you want people to believe something is the truth.’

The Tomb of Pontifex Dvorn continues the theme of history. An archaeologist receives an enticing offer: being able to excavate the tomb of Dvorn, the first Pontifex, AKA, the ruler of Majipoor. While this story again lets readers gain insight into different historical events, the literary style makes it seem like something being related to an audience, and therefore isn’t easy to empathize with characters because they almost seem like characters on a stage.

This is common in several other stories, as is the abrupt inclusion of religion, magic, and the sparing use of technology, although in such a large timespan as the one covered in these stories, it seems that it would have made a much earlier appearance. Ultimately, it’s the emotional distance and uneven portrayal of the above elements that makes this collection uneven, and new readers would be advised to start with an earlier installment in the series.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Covet Feature Author: Angela McCallister

As many of you may know, I'm a Publicist for Entangled Publishing, and I'm a huge paranormal fan. So, I'm so excited that we have launched our new Paranormal Romance line, Covet!! Covets have all the sexiness, emotion, and happily ever after that readers have come to expect and love from Entangled. They are firmly grounded in the contemporary world, but each novel brings in supernatural twists, breaking the contemporary and paranormal rules, alike. To find out more about our launch titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books you’ll be coveting next, visit the Entangled website, follow us on Twitter, and LIKE our Facebook page.

Over the next several weeks I'll be featuring our authors from this fabulous new line as they each tell us about their top 5 favorite paranormal characters. Today's guest is Angela McCallister. Please join me in welcoming Angela and celebrating her new release!

1. Absolutely my fav forever is Jericho Zigor Barrons from Karen Marie Moning’s Fever Series. Could anyone be any hotter??? N.O. Can’t die. Changes into a beast. Covered in red and black runes—oh, man, I have a thing for tattoos! Powerful. Evasive. Mysterious. Keenly intelligent. Yummy. And *sigh* he dances naked to help save the woman he loves.

2. People may think I’m strange, but I love Harry Dresden of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. It’s not even a book-boyfriend thing. I just enormously admire a man who can take so much whoopin’ and get right back up to keep fighting. And keep his amazing witty humor while he’s at it! Changes actually hurt because it got to me so much. That one scene. If you read it, you know.

3. Charley Davidson. She’s like your best friend. You know the one who ticks you off from time to time, but mostly she’s great and makes you laugh. Unfortunately, she’s not into sharing her man, Reyes  Darn!

4. Speaking of Reyes, yes, Charley’s Reyes is super-hot, and he’s way up there in my opinion, but I have a thing for a different Reyes, one who’s bound to the Demon of Pain. Any paranormal fan would recognize I’m talking about the LOTU series by Gena Showalter. There’s something about this particular Lord that stuck out in my mind and kept him from blurring into the ever-growing crowd of hot, alpha males.

5. And I heart Nix “Nucking Futs” the Ever Knowing from Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole. She is absolute genius and completely out of her mind, and I’m dying for her to have her story. If I had my way, her story would be a collaboration pairing her with Torin :D Yes. I went there. Likely won’t happen, but I can hope.


Thanks Angela! Love the choices. I's said this before, but it bears repeating.. Barrons, he's every woman's naughty pleasure. To spend a whole day with him? *fans self*

Author Info:

Angela McCallister has always wanted to grow up to be someone who would never grow up, and lucky her, that’s exactly what she’s done. Nothing says adventurous more than being a career US Navy Sailor with an imagination wild enough to create stories and characters with a paranormal bite. A mother of five, she’s gained plenty of story ideas from her family as well as her military experience.

Angela is happy to try just about anything once, from skydiving, sailing, slacklining, Aikido, and even hanggliding—as long as she doesn’t have to subject anyone to her singing or make an appearance in a bikini. Like all authors, she’s crazy for books, especially Romance and Military Nonfiction.

Angela is very laid-back and happy to try just about anything once, from skydiving, sailing, slacklining, Aikido, and even hang-gliding--as long as she doesn't have to subject anyone to her "singing" or make an appearance in a bikini. Like all authors, she's crazy for books, especially Romance, and will talk about them for days. She's currently stationed at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu in California where she can be spoiled with some of the best weather in the country. With such platforms as an aircraft carrier, an amphibious ship, and an Aegis destroyer, and duty stations in Illinois, Washington, Hawaii, and California, her experiences vary widely. She's visited Thailand (a favorite), Bahrain, Dubai, Jebel Ali, Hong Kong, Guam, Canada, Mexico, and Singapore. She's a member of RWA San Diego, From the Heart Romance Writers, and Rose City Romance Writers and especially loves to hear from and meet readers and fellow authors.

Find Angela online:

Website Twitter Facebook Blog

Book Info:

After her ex-husband’s obsession with vampires, Valerie Craig is on a mission to stop transformations. Of all vampires, Kade Rollins is the worst of the worst, but when multiple murders plague Seattle, Val is forced to enlist his aid. Kade’s crude wit and seductive nature attract her like no other, but she can’t ignore his violence toward his human servants, no matter her yearning to forget.

She’s torn when she learns Kade may be behind the murders. Val's worked hard to protect humans from vampires, but the truth surrounding the murders could ignite a bloody battle between their races, one humans are sure to lose. Someone is pulling strings to build a vampire army and spark the war—setting Kade up to kick it off. But if she trusts the vampire prince, she risks her job, her integrity, and her heart if he betrays her as all the men in her life have.

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Let's Talk Question Reminder

Let’s Talk is a weekly meme that delves into the minds of bloggers and readers alike. *snort* Actually, we just talk about lots of entertaining and corny stuff half the time, but the meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. We talk about book-related things, as well as personal questions, always remaining respectful and never asking for too much detail. Each Friday, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses.

It’s FUN. It’s EXCITING! It’s COOL!

Well, it will be if you

JOIN US THIS FRIDAY!

This week's question:

What do you consider the most necessary things to include when writing a review? Should there be something emphasized more in the review such as reading experience, the characters, or the writing style? Are spoilers or minor explanations of the plot to be omitted from a review? (Thanks, Angie)

You can view all the Let’s Talk topics here, and if you have any fun topics to discuss, we’d love to hear them! You can submit your thoughts here.