book review | King Slayer by Layla Reyne | Fog City 2

Author: Layla Reyne
Title: King Slayer
Series: Fog City 2
Genre: Romance; Crime
Pages: 195
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

Didn’t I say I won’t read book 2 of Fog City? And yet here I am, having read “King Slayer” by Layla Reyne, having needed something not demanding of brain power.

About the Book: Betrayal and dark secrets put a wedge in between Dante and the King of the Madigan criminal empire. Neither can trust the other, it seems, being sword enemies and all. And yet, as threat to the Fog City rises, they have no choice but to work together.

My Opinion: A very overused tale. Vengeance for dead partners, partner’s dark past bubbling up, the no-surprise surprise of who the culprits were and all that.

At least it was short. 2 out of 5.

book review | Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs | Bones 5

Author: Kathy Reichs
Title: Grave Secrets
Series: Temperance Brennan 5
Genre: Crime; Thriller
Pages: 315
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

Right. Finished “Grave Secrets” by Kathy Reichs, fifth book in the Temperance Brennan series. So far it was gradually getting duller…

About the Book: Killers of every ilk are no mystery. One way or another everything boils down to human brutality, greed, and other vices. It’s the victims that cause questions and wonder. Why those four, so brutally murdered and left behind? Why that one, with an unborn skeleton entangled in her own?

My Opinion: This was greatly lacking. Lacking in flavor, adult behavior, communication. Premise was great, murders in the name of science, cult-like vibe, that constant danger Brennan seems to always be in. And yet it felt like going through the motions. Here’s the plan, here’s the setting, do the mandatory thing until something or someone saves the day and Brennan can put culprit behind bars.

Still, while a bit disappointing, I can’t claim I didn’t have any fun reading it. 3 out of 5, but solid.

book review | When the eternal fire still burned by J. Remeika

Author: J. Remeika
Title: When the eternal fire still burned
Original: Kai dar amzina ugnis ruseno
Series: –
Genre: Folklore; Legends
Pages: 168
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

J. Remeika has put together a rare book of Lithuanian folklore called “When the eternal fire still burned“. A lot of what we had is lost due to systematic destructions we survived. And this, sadly, reminds me more of what we lost, than what we salvaged.

About the Book: A collection of short stories from across Lithuania. Most are to par in the style we seemingly enjoy here, calling ourselves the land of the lakes and rain – they’re about how this or that lake appeared there or here and why is it called that way. Some tales are repeated, as if author of this book went to another village and they had their own version. Others seemingly have sequels elsewhere or otherwise connect together. And, of course, each one teaches of the perils that await those who lack virtue.

My Opinion: So what’s my problem, you ask? These here tales are already altered greatly by christianity, even the ones where our thunder god Perkunas is an active participant. There are certain things we didn’t have, didn’t believe in, or had our own version. So it’s a bit unpleasant to read, much like witnessing someone dip sushi into ketchup, I bet.

It’s worth reading it, sure, for the language alone, for it sure changed through the years. But I can only give it 3 out of 5 and no more.

book review | The 50th Law by 50 cent and Robert Greene

Author: 50 Cent; Robert Greene
Title: The 50th Law
Series: –
Genre: Self-Help; Philosophy
Pages: 291
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Now here’s a book I never thought I’d read. “The 50th Law” by 50 cent, yes, the rapper, and author Robert Greene. And interesting piece on personal development.

About the Book: A biographical book of Curtis Jackson, better known by his scene name – 50 cent, describing his journey to success. From ruthless streets to ruthless music industry, where he had to learn not only to go with the flow, but swim against it too, to stay on top of that pulse of relevancy. And with the help of Robert Greene, he tells exactly how he did it.

My Opinion: I don’t really like 50 cent, not his music, not his public persona, that’s why I’m still confused at how I got this book in the first place. Generally this is an interesting book, one of those motivational ones, but with cold leads and prodding, applying classic philosophy and art of war onto the streets of today. As, in a sense, are all Robert Greene books.

This makes for an interesting biography. A 4 out of 5.

book review | Prince of Killers by Layla Reyne | Fog City 1

Author: Layla Reyne
Title: Prince of Killers
Series: Fog City 1
Genre: Crime; Action
Pages: 200
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

Eh, wanted something short, so I picked up “Prince of Killers” by Layla Reyne, first in the Fog City series. Sappy criminals and even sappier love story.

About the Book: Someone’s always trying to take the crown of the Prince of Killers, soon to be a king. So this here, new threat, would not have been all that different. Were it not for how the warning about it came to the head of the organization, in a shape of a handsome fella called Dante Perry. He seems to have a lot of sensitive information about a lot of things and is determined to stay nearby and keep that crime throne under whom it belongs to.

My Opinion: I understand the want and even a need to write some mortals into your killers. But there has to be a balance, else you end up with batman on your hands and that’s just not the same. A dull love story didn’t help it either. Not my cup of tea.

Yeah, not for me, I won’t be reading farther. 3 out of 5.

book review | You will get through this night by Daniel Howell

Author: Daniel Howell
Title: You Will Get Through This Night
Series: –
Genre: Nonfiction; Self-Help
Pages: 320
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

I used to watch Daniel Howell on YouTube way back when, but then, for some reason, stopped. Still, I kept up with the majors, like his coming out video that I will post below. And now I’ve also read his wonderful book, called “You Will Get Through This Night“.

About the Book: This book is pretty much all you need for your mental health first aid kid. From cheating and playing your own system, to being better to yourself. From self care at its core, so self grounding when that overthinking thought-thought train derails.

My Opinion: This is like the best parts of all the self-help books I’ve ever read. On top of that, author assures he did his consultation and research, but encourages to seek help if it seems like it’s not enough. There’s little exercises you can totally skip if it gets overwhelming, and very relatable examples from Dan’s life.

I recommend this very much. A 5 out of 5.

book review | The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins

Author: Richard Dawkins
Title: The Magic of Reality
Series: –
Genre: Science; Philosophy
Pages: 271
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

“The Magic of Reality” by Richard Dawkins is an amazing book. Just what I needed for the weekend.

About the Book: With great passion author tells us how magical our reality is. And how unfair it is to call things we don’t understand – supernatural. That sort of implies it cannot be explained and creates a dead end for progress. Instead, he tells us myths that explained earthquakes and rainbows and what they really are. Tells us how we know there are planets out there, and how we found out that Earth isn’t, in fact, flat or at the center of the universe. Author tells us, in short, that the very fact we are here, made out of stardust, is magic itself, even if we know the science behind it.

My Opinion: A very interesting and very engaging book. Went from cover to cover in one sitting and regret nothing. There’s some science, not too much, with author very willingly admitting to the things he doesn’t know, understand, and therefor – cannot explain to us. The rest is just beautiful bunch of pointing in awe, look at this, look at that, do you know what ancient people called this? The only con I have got downgraded at the end. Author seemed to be very condescending towards people with different beliefs. But by the end of the book I realized that it is because he feels like it devalues otherwise a priceless phenomena.

Even though I believe some things can be said with a little more manners, I’ll give this book a 5 out of 5 nonetheless.

book review | Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli

Author: Carlo Rovelli
Title: Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
Series: –
Genre: Physics; Science
Pages: 81
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

Never thought I’ll describe a book on physics lovely, but… “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics” by Carlo Rovelli was a lovely read.

About the Book: The book describes the birth of seven discoveries in physics. From general relativity and what else it triggered, to black holes, dark matter, and the beauty of our universe. Our part within it, and the future we might witness.

My Opinion: It’s very well written for someone like me, who isn’t versed in physics. Author’s love for the subject (or the whole seven of them) shines out of every page. A pleasure to read.

Time well spent. 5 out of 5.

book review | The Courier by Gerald Brandt | San Angeles 1

Author: Gerald Brandt
Title: The Courier
Series: San Angeles 1
Genre: Cyberpunk; Dystopia
Pages: 293
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

Whoever allowed Gerald Brandt to ruin his perfectly great book “The Courier” by passing a romance of 16 year old and a 21 year old needs to be reevaluated.

About the Book: Corporations own everything. From the water, to the sky, to your privacy. But people, including those very same corporations, rivals, have found ways to deliver messages anyway. Here come couriers, such as our 16 year old Kris. Who got dealt a bad card, and sent out to deliver a message many bad, very bad people want…

My Opinion: The story is otherwise great. Dystopian world, just on the verge of proper space travel and colonization or whatever that plotline was. With a very interesting perspective. But then someone decided to hook the 16 year old girl who gets groped by every dude that comes too close, with a 21 year old. Nothing grander than a kiss happened, and still I don’t understand why she had to be a teenager? Or why wasn’t he then too? I’m sorry, this is outright nasty.

A great new type of run-stop-run-stop kind of story. But it gets a 2 out of 5, age is not just a number, this isn’t good romance idea.

book review | Drive by James Sallis | 1

Author: James Sallis
Title: Drive
Series: Drive 1
Genre: Thriller; Crime
Pages: 168
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

“Drive” with Ryan Gosling is one of my favorite movies. So when I spotted James Sallis books by the same title on which it was based, I had to read them.

About the Book: He drives. Nothing less and nothing more. Stunts for movies at day time, heists at night time. No details, just where, when, and where to. And still it went sideways! He tried to fix it… But you can’t expect others to have same principals as yours.

My Opinion: The story is interesting, short, but a bit tough to read. It tells a tale of a man we know as the driver. From his childhood in a chaotic broken home, to his driving talent and where it landed him, to crime business and that one job that went wrong. Tales are parallel and it’s not always clear which one you’re reading until some major detail pops up.

Saying that, the book is short, so it’s worth reading it if you enjoyed the movie enough. A 4 out of 5.