The blog lag continues. This time my excuse is that I’ve become addicted to GTA V RP on Twitch and binging shows I’ve had in my queue forever on Netflix before my subscription ends (they jacked the price again, so I’m canceling for a while in protest). I do highly recommend Love, Death & Robots, and the new Ultraman.
Anyway, I did finish this one off earlier today. It was a good read and a decent sequel. I can recommend that you Happy Readers check it out. I’ll let you know how book 3 turns out too, but I’ll be jumping into the next Frontiers Saga first.
I have plans to work on some short stories, and I really have to firm up some D&D campaign details ASAP. That means the next review could be a while. But for now…
Here’s the Amazon Blurb:
Lovecraftian horror from award-winning Forgotten Realms® game designer Bruce R. Cordell.
Raidon Kane travels to the subterranean fortress of the somnambulant aboleths, bent on killing the Eldest in its sleep. But he isn’t the only one bound for the hidden city. A warlock, an arch fey, a pirate, and a high priestess of the Abolethic Sovereignty all have designs of their own on the Eldest–if they don’t kill each other first.
And now the review!
City of Torment by Bruce R. Cordell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The story continues to spin in interesting ways in the second book of this series. Character development and growth along with interrelationships were balanced well with action and plot progression.
The cliffhanger of book 1 is taken back up at the start and sets the stage for the reasons the story goes in the direction that it does. You find out much more of the origins of Japheth’s pact. Seren’s backstory is revealed. Captain Thoster has light shed on his hinted-at issues as well. All in all, the characters of questionable character are shown to grown into likable (if still flawed) individuals. The story becomes more complex and remains interesting. The action and descriptiveness of the events are what we all want to see in our minds when we play a nice game of D&D.
The ending is very much geared to hook you into picking up the next book in the series. I’m torn on that being good or bad, but since the series in general has been worthwhile reading, I’ll defer to good. I will be reading on into book 3 of the series myself.
I give this one three stars and call it a Worthwhile Read.
Check out my books over on Amazon.com! I currently have two published. Both are available on Kindle Unlimited, and on Kindle Owners’ Lending Library for free if you have Amazon Prime.
If you like intrigue, humor and a bit of speculative technological supposition, you should pick up a copy of my technothriller-comedy eConscience Beta from Amazon today!
Peacekeeper Incorporated’s breakthrough nanotechnology could bring repeat offense crime to an end, freeing society from the need for criminal incarcerations. But first, they have to finish testing it. With funding on the line, and time to prove out the project getting short, the lead scientist must find a way speed things up. That’s unfortunate for his guinea pig, and anyone who would stand in his way.
Can the goal of ending most crime justify committing one… even a few?
And what happens when you conflate altruism with egotism?
Find out in eConscience Beta, where two lab techs and an uncouth petty criminal must outwit a brilliant but sociopathic scientist who’ll stop at nothing to establish his legacy as the man who ended crime.
If Science Fiction Space Adventure is more your speed, then you should check out my anthology, Horizons Unlimited: Volume 1.
HORIZONS UNLIMITED
Matter conversion technology—Matt-Con—has broadened the scope of mankind’s existence. It has opened up the real possibility of viable colonies on other planets in our solar system, and even space itself. Anywhere matter can be captured or energy from the sun can be felt, the possibility of expanding human habitation exists.
In this volume:
Quicksilver
The space station Chariot of Helios—on its way to Mercury to become a power collection station for Earth’s growing need for energy to power matt-con tech—encounters a strange anomaly that threatens ship and crew.
Escaping Aurora
The sudden destruction of mankind’s first atmospheric terraforming platform leaves three unlucky exonauts struggling to survive in the skies of Venus aboard a cobbled-together airship. Meanwhile, the commander of the space station above battles obstacles that might keep her from rescuing her stranded husband and crew in time.
Words from the Wampuscat 