Sunday, July 14, 2024

 Now Live

Red Right Hand



Red Right Hand

They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That’s what friends and family were quick to tell Connor MacGregor following the death of his wife and only child at the hands of a terrorist bomber in the heart of London.

Yet they were in the very place they wanted to be, celebrating Connor’s retirement from the Royal Marines after more than twenty years of distinguished service. A time that should have seen them starting a new chapter in life together, searching for a forever home and settling down in one place, at last, with their eyes fixed firmly on the future.

A future that now lies in ruins, forcing Connor MacGregor down a path that can only end in bloodshed and death. For while the police and security services are quick to respond and launch a huge, nationwide investigation in the hunt for those responsible for the bombing, MacGregor has his own way of doing things. A way that isn’t hampered by lawful procedures and judicial protocols.

Yes, the race is on to see who will reach the bomber first. And if it’s Connor MacGregor, God help them, for the red right hand of vengeance is poised to strike, and he won’t allow anything to stand in its way.

*******

Now available from . . .


Thursday, July 11, 2024

 Nona the Ninth



Nona the Ninth

From the outset, I must emphasize:
1). All opinions are my own, and,
2), I really would advise that you read the first two books in the series - Gideon the Ninth & Harrow the Ninth – before you even think of trying this story. You’ll appreciate what I mean if you are daring enough to try and jump straight into Nona the Ninth from the outset. . . though I’d be surprised if you made it all the way through without reverting to plan B, a strong shot of napalm-laced coffee, and coming back later.

But hey, that’s the way Tamsyn Muir writes.

I’ll let the blurb speak for itself, and then highlight my thoughts in the review.

*************

Her city is under siege.
The zombies are coming back.
And all Nona wants is a birthday party.

In many ways, Nona is like other people. She lives with her family, has a job at her local school, and loves walks on the beach and meeting new dogs. But Nona's not like other people. Six months ago she woke up in a stranger's body, and she's afraid she might have to give it back.

The whole city is falling to pieces. A monstrous blue sphere hangs on the horizon, ready to tear the planet apart. Blood of Eden forces have surrounded the last Cohort facility and wait for the Emperor Undying to come calling. Their leaders want Nona to be the weapon that will save them from the Nine Houses. Nona would prefer to live an ordinary life with the people she loves, with Pyrrha and Camilla and Palamedes, but she also knows that nothing lasts forever.

And each night, Nona dreams of a woman with a skull-painted face...

*************

Sounds intriguing doesn’t it?

And if the story arc played out the way it begins, you’d no doubt agree;

Nona is a young woman with a close circle of friend and ‘family’ (introduced at the conclusion of Harrow the Ninth) who live under near-siege conditions where different factions run riot. Who those factions are, is never made quite clear enough for you to grasp, unless you have an understanding of the Nine Houses and their overall place in the greater scheme of things (as mentioned in Gideon/Harrow the Ninth).

Regardless, Nona herself has no memories of her life beyond the previous six months. And though she’s nineteen years of age, she’s more naïve, in many ways, than someone half her age, suggesting she’s either lost her memory, had it tampered with, or other metaphysical things are going on.

What that ‘something’ is, slowly unravels as the story progresses.

At first, you’ll find it easy to follow, as the narrative creates an ‘everyday life connection’ you can relate to, while the background tension is allowed to build with the skillful addition of little snippets of information, here and there, that begins to build a rather absorbing.

However, we then get to the part of the book where – and please forgive me if this comes across as a little insensitive – it won’t make any sense, UNLESS you’ve read the previous books. And even then, you’ll have to have been paying attention.

Why?

Because what has been a rather involved, yet straightforward journey becomes so complex, so multifaceted and ethereal, that it’s easy to lose track of what’s going on.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Muir lays the seeds of what’s to come from the outset. You’re introduced to certain characters/personalities, all of whom share the same living tissue/dead bodies and are more than what they seem. (A great concept, brought out fully in the preceding books where you get a deeper flavor of what necromancers/cavaliers/Lyctors can do).  And yes, you’re led along a path whereby you can work out that the milieu in which the story is set relates to something far grander. A galaxy spanning war that seems – in part – to involve Nona, or the body/soul she’s inhabiting. Therefore, she’s essential to the future, and her protectors must get her away from the planet for her to fulfill her destiny.

Nonetheless, when we get to that part, the story arc seems to flip so drastically, that it’s in danger of losing the reader . . . unless you play close attention.

I mean . . . mystery and intrigue is one thing. But to make it so obscure that you need a degree in quantum thalergy just to follow along? Well, I’m not so sure.

Which is a crying shame, as Muir can write a cracking story. She’s inventive. Groundbreaking. Sharp as a tooth and brave enough to take risks to establish a truly unique voice. As I’ve mention before, the Locked Tomb Series has a wonderful neo-noir, gothic vibe to it, reminiscent of The Chronicles of Riddick (Necromingers) and Dark City. For all that, I can’t help but feel she’ll be losing readers by making the narrative toward the end of her novels so nebulous, that even the most ardent fan is in danger of losing their way in an occluding cloud of multiple personalities/myriad temporal references/and a legion of head-hopping extras that will scramble your brains.

In conclusion, Nona the Ninth is as subtly appealing and deceptively powerful as all the books in this series. And while it might be far too quirky or ‘out there’ for some tastes, I hope that doesn’t put you off giving it a try. But be warned. This is a story that can’t be rushed. You need to take your time, to immerse yourself in the river and digest all its nuances to get the most from it.

I’d love to know what YOU think?



Thursday, July 4, 2024

 Red Right Hand



Red Right Hand

They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That’s what friends and family were quick to tell Connor MacGregor following the death of his wife and only child at the hands of a terrorist bomber in the heart of London.

Yet they were in the very place they wanted to be, celebrating Connor’s retirement from the Royal Marines after more than twenty years of distinguished service. A time that should have seen them starting a new chapter in life together, searching for a forever home and settling down in one place, at last, with their eyes fixed firmly on the future.

A future that now lies in ruins, forcing Connor MacGregor down a path that can only end in bloodshed and death. For while the police and security services are quick to respond and launch a huge, nationwide investigation in the hunt for those responsible for the bombing, MacGregor has his own way of doing things. A way that isn’t hampered by lawful procedures and judicial protocols.

Yes, the race is on to see who will reach the bomber first. And if it’s Connor MacGregor, God help them, for the red right hand of vengeance is poised to strike, and he won’t allow anything to stand in its way.


An all new action-thriller by
Andrew P. Weston

Coming soon. . .
from DSP