Last Argument of Kings - brutal and bloody

Last Argument of Kings, by Joe Abercrombie is the final instalment of The First Law fantasy trilogy. The action (and it is definitely action) begins pretty much where the last book left off. West and Dogman are in the North, trying to defeat Bethod (King of the Northmen) who is not going down quietly. Logen Ninefingers, Ferro, Bayaz (First of the Magi) and Jezal are back in Adua after their epic, but failed journey to find the ultimate weapon. Sand van Glokta is still manipulating, threatening and torturing his way though life to protect his kingdom and himself. With one last battle in him, and Ferro not displaying any interest in him, Logen heads up North to join Dogman and lock horns with many old adversaries - some of whom are now allies - though it's a fractious alliance at best. Back in Adua, the King suddenly dies and Bayaz somehow manages to get Jezal onto the throne. At first flattered, Jezal soon discovers that he is merely a puppet with no real power to improve the lot of the people. Bayaz discovers that the thing he had been searching for was here all along and when he confronts his Magi brother in order to take it, he discovers that Ferro is the only one who can actually handle it. When a Gurkish invasion force appears, Bayaz is strangely thrilled and while death and destruction surrounds the city, he takes his time to build a trap and welcomes the enemy in, seemingly unconcerned with how many Aduans have perished. At this point, he launches the ultimate weapon - thus breaking The First Law - with horrific consequences for anyone in the vicinity and beyond. This book is a demonstration of the evils of wanting power at any cost, and how those who think they know what is best for the world pay no heed to the human cost. Life is cheap. Very cheap. Full of bloody battles and gory torture, this is not a book for anyone of a delicate disposition. Pretty much all the characters (and there are a lot of them!) have major flaws and carry immense darkness on their backs. Indeed most are without any redeeming features and yet, somehow, we still care what happens. Glokta is still the standout character with his internal dialogue being an absolute treat. So strap yourself in, as this is one heck of a ride where no-one is safe or indeed likely to die quietly in their bed! If this sounds like your kind of thing, then please read the first two instalments before you tackle this one, as you definitely need the back story to understand what's going on.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 704 print pages.

Price I paid: free, was a gift.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook. 

Troubled Blood - Superb!

Troubled Blood, by Robert Galbraith, is the fifth in the series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike, and his partner at the firm, Robin Ellacott. While visiting his sick aunt in Cornwall, Cormoran is approached by the daughter of GP Margot Bamborough, who asks him to investigate the disappearance of her mother 40 years ago. Despite a very busy workload, and having a very slim chance of success, he takes on the case. As Cormoran and Margot begin their investigation, they find out about the botched police investigation as well as the endless theories that have surfaced since. The list of suspects also includes a known serial killer, currently locked up for his crimes - but could Margot be one of his victims, or is that just a convenient solution? The original detective, whose notebooks they work through, was fixated on horoscopes and signs of the zodiac (traditional and non-traditional), which also muddies the water. All too often, Strike travels back and forth to Cornwall, and when his beloved Aunt dies, his grief affects him deeply. As if that wasn't enough, his former lover, Charlotte, keeps messaging him, AND his half-siblings are trying to get him involved with his estranged father. At the same time, Robin is dealing with her messy divorce, and the revelation that her former husband is about to become a father by another woman. Feelings are running high, and the close friendship that Robin and Strike have developed over the years is in danger of turning into something deeper - something neither of them is sure would be a good idea forth their friendship and the business. All the tension of Robin and Strike's personal lives is a great foil for the tensions of an investigation into Margot Bamborough. As you would expect, there are red herrings, unreliable witnesses and many a twist and turn - all of which means you are in for a very satisfying ride. Another superb outing for these characters and I can't wait to hop on board for the next book in the series. 

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 944 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98

Formats available: print, unabridged audiobook, ebook.

No Middle Name - A Mixed Bag!

No Middle Name, by Lee Child is a book of short stories that help to shed some light on the background to the character of Jack 'No Middle Name' Reacher. This is definitely not for anyone who has never read a Jack Reacher novel before. You need to know that Reacher is an ex-military police officer who roams around the USA with only the clothes on his back and a toothbrush in his pocket, letting the wind take him from place to place with no real purpose except just to see them. However, wherever he ends up, he always becomes embroiled in something that needs his own particular brand of investigative brutality. He always wants to right a wrong, which is often a dangerous occupation - but inevitably ends up on the winning side, leaving behind a stack of bodies ... and getting away with it! Some of the stories in this collection are from when Reacher is in his teenage years, where he is already showing the traits that will lead him into the military, and then out of it again! They are a bit of a mixed bag, the highlight for me being the very first story (Too Much Time), where Reacher lands up in jail after stepping in to stop a bag snatcher on the street. But others are not very convincing (where Reacher, as a 16 year old, helps an FBI agent disrupt the work of a mafia boss!). I found myself wondering how this teenager wasn't taken to one side for his violent tendencies ... some of which are truly disturbing in one so young! In fact, violence is never far away in a Jack Reacher novel (or indeed, a short story). That being said, they are, as ever, incredibly readable - great for a holiday read or when you are on a journey as they are short and don't need much brain power. They haven't really stuck with me though, except for a lingering concern about the violence, which isn't a great sign. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to give up on Reacher just yet, but I have to say that this book is probably more for the die-hards than the casual Reacher fan.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 480 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my brother-in-law.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

A Short History of the World According to Sheep - Flockingly Good Read!

A Short History of the World According to Sheep, by Sally Coulthard is a gem of a book for anyone interested in sheep or history. Filled with fascinating facts and anecdotes, the author traces the impact that sheep - in all their many guises - have had on shaping and influencing the way we live, both in ancient times and right up to the modern day. Going back 10,000 years, we start in the Neolithic period where our ancestors began to gather and rear sheep - both for food and clothing. We then move through the millennia, finding out about the Roman's fireproof underpants, lactose intolerance, the world's oldest socks, extra soft loo roll, black sheep, wool churches, fishermen's jumpers and so much more. We move from the plains of Mesopotamia, to the rolling hills of Medieval England and right up to date with the vast sheep farms of Australia. Sheep have been a source of power and wealth over the centuries, as well as keeping us warm, but in the 21st century, what does the future hold for these domesticated ungulates? I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which has been meticulously researched and is written in an easy-to-read style that invites you to keep on going for just one more fact to amaze your nearest and dearest with. There will be a good few times when the phrase ... well, I didn't know that ... will spring into your mind as you consume page after page. I was sad when it ended and can definitely see myself returning to this book again in the future. I will also be looking out for more books by Sally Coulthard, as her writing is engaging and her subject matter is very much in my wheelhouse. Go sheep!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 320 print pages.

Price I paid: free, was a present.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Monstrous Regiment - Monstrously Good!

Monstrous Regiment, by Terry Pratchett, is one of his many Discworld novels, and although this does feature a couple of characters who appear in other books, it can be read as a standalone novel. Polly Perks lives in a pub in the small, aggressive country of Borogravia, whose head of state - The Duchess - hasn't been seen for many, many years amidst rumours of her demise. Borogravia is always at war with someone, and Polly's brother joined the army to fight the foe, along with pretty much all the young men of the country, and has not been heard of since. Determined to find him, Polly disguises herself as a boy and enlists. Her regiment is led by an inexperienced officer and, luckily, the most artful (and brusque) sergeant in the whole army. However, before they have even begun their training, they are thrust into the thick of the conflict and are soon being hunted by the enemy. But slowly and surely, we find that all the recruits - whether they be human, coffee loving vampires, or trolls - have a secret in common, and together, they truly become a formidable enterprise. I don't know whether it's because I haven't read a Terry Pratchett book in a while but I could not get enough of this book. Full of great characters (both main and supporting), a fantastic storyline and full of social commentary without being dull, this book is so entertaining and incredibly funny - I laughed out loud on many occasions! Polly is feisty and determined, but also caring and clever. If only there was a little of Polly in all of us, the world might be a better place. I read the audio edition which I can highly recommend - it has the wonderful Katherine Parkinson narrating, but also has a couple of treats in the form of Bill Nighy reading the footnotes, and a cameo by Peter Serafinowicz playing Death! The incredible world of Terry Pratchett may not be for everyone, but it certainly is for me!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 496 print pages.

Price I paid: £7.99

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Fleshmarket Close - horribly good!

Fleshmarket Close, by Ian Rankin, is the 15th novel to feature John Rebus, the very singular Scottish detective. The book opens with the murder of an illegal immigrant in an Edinburgh housing scheme, and Rebus is on the team investigating ... despite his superiors moving him to a different police station, where he hasn't even his own desk! Anyone might think about retiring, but not Rebus. Instead, he gets the bit between his teeth and picks his way through the evidence and suspects, to find out what happened and why. This takes him to an asylum seekers' centre, as well as having to have a quiet word with Big Ger Cafferty - the aged head of Edinburgh's sleazy underworld. Meanwhile, Siobhan, Rebus's closest colleague and friend is sucked back into one of her old cases, when the sister of a girl who killed herself following her rape disappears. And then there's the matter of two skeletons found buried in the cellar of a pub in Fleshmarket Close. Are all three cases linked in some way? Well, of course they are, but how and why provides the fun of reading the book. As always, Ian Rankin masterfully brings all the different threads of the story together and throws in some more of the personal relationship stuff suffered by Rebus and Siobhan. If only Rebus could get his head out of the bottle at times, maybe his love life would improve ... just saying! A very satisfying read and I raced through it!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 482 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Babel - the power of words

Babel, by R.F. Kuang is a historical fantasy novel set in Oxford, England in 1836. In this city of dreaming spires sits an imposing tower called Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. It is from this tower that the real power of the Victorian Empire flows through the use of silver imbued with magical properties provided by words from different languages that have the same root. When these words are spoken by a person fluent in them, the silver takes on a power - anything from making the bearer invisible, to a steam engine needing less fuel. But where this silver goes and to whom is strictly controlled and is always of benefit to those who run the Empire rather than its citizens. Robin Swift, a young orphan from Canton, is "rescued" by institute member Professor Lovell, and brought to England where he is raised by his new guardian for the specific purpose of training in languages and becoming a key member of Babel. When Robin first arrives in Oxford to further his studies he thinks all his dreams have come true - but it isn't long before he and his friends, who also originate from different parts of the empire, experience racial prejudice. Robin tries to ignore this and keep his head down. However, when a half-brother makes himself known and opens his eyes to the realities of Babel and the subjugation of the masses through its work, he begins to question his place in this world and fight against it. This is an ingenious premise about the power of words, the cruelty of Empire and the imbalance between the haves and have nots. We see Robin's journey from starry eyed innocent to subversive activist. This takes time, which I liked, as we see him struggling to come to terms with the world that's been revealed to him - rather than a sudden change of attitude. The other characters are interesting, though a few are a bit one dimensional and it would have been great to delve a little deeper into them. One irritation was with the amount of footnotes, which can get a little tedious, but they do contain some gems, so I didn't dare ignore them. An interesting read that could have gone a little faster on occasion - with the pace slowing and actions/scenes feeling a little repetitive - but overall, a satisfying slice of a hidden, dystopian world set in the past rather than the future, especially if you are a lover of words! Oh, and I applaud the effort of the author who must have done a tonne of research!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 560 print pages.

Price I paid: free, was a Christmas present.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.