Review: The Crown Tower

Title: The Crown Tower

Author: Michael J. Sullivan

Date Published:  August 6, 2013

Amazon Link and ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0316243711

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16043804-the-crown-tower

Point of View and tense: Third Person Past Tense

Genre: Fantasy

Subject matter / Setting:

Two men who hate each other. One impossible mission. A legend in the making.
Hadrian Blackwater, a warrior with nothing to fight for is paired with Royce Melborn, a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Together they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm’s most prized possessions. But it isn’t gold or jewels that the old wizard is after, and if he can keep them from killing each other they become a legendary team. (retrieved from amazon) Continue reading Review: The Crown Tower

Review: Hollow World


Title:
Hollow World

Author:
Michael J. Sullivan

Date Published:
April 15, 2014 by Tachyon Publications

Amazon Link and ISBN:
ISBN 161696183X (ISBN13: 978-1616961831)

Goodreads Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19084955-hollow-world

Point of View and tense:
Third person past tense

Genre:
Science Fiction

Subject matter / Setting:
Ellis Rogers is an ordinary man who is about to embark on an extraordinary journey. All his life he has played it safe and done the right thing, but when faced with a terminal illness, he’s willing to take an insane gamble. He’s built a time machine in his garage, and if it works, he’ll face a world that challenges his understanding of what it means to be human, what it takes to love, and the cost of paradise. He could find more than a cure for his illness; he might find what everyone has been searching for since time began…but only if he can survive Hollow World. 

Themes:
Time travel, Survival, Love, Violence, Governmental Power, Illness

Intended audience:
If you liked THE TIME MACHINE by H.G. Wells this book is of similar ilk. The biggest difference I noticed was (excuse me if I’m wrong, it’s been a long time since I read THE TIME MACHINE) that HOLLOW WORLD focuses more on the characters and the emotion behind the characters and not so much on the technology or environment of the future. That’s not to say that it doesn’t display a great vision of the future, though.

Author’s style:
Character building is surely Sullivan’s expertise. He paints a wonderful vision of the scene but doesn’t go overboard. You won’t get lost in metaphors, but you will know what he intends to show you.

Pacing:
The pacing was excellent. I never felt bored, wanted to skip sections, or desired to take a break and come back later.

How did the book affect me?
It did affect me, especially toward the end. Some really interesting questions are raised, and I felt like I needed to think while I was reading. There are particular parts that I won’t forget.

Evaluation:
I say, “read it”. Maybe not as your first Sullivan book, but put it on your list. Even if Science Fiction is not your thing I think this book is a good read. The story is good and the characters are lovable, and identifiable. Also, pick up his other books. You won’t be disappointed.

Review: The Hunger Games


Title:
The Hunger Games

Author:
Suzanne Collins

Date Published:
September 14th 2008 by Scholastic Press

Amazon Link and ISBN:
ISBN 0439023483 (ISBN13: 9780439023481)

Goodreads Page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games

Point of View and tense:
First person present tense

Genre:
Science Fiction

Subject matter / Setting:
The setting is in the distant future. There are twelve districts which are basically cities built for slave labor. They are all monitored and controlled by a single, large capitol city. Each district has a particular job. For example district twelve is the mining district. Each year the capitol requires that two young adults fight in an arena. This is a show of power to the districts as well as a form of entertainment.

Themes:
Survival, Young Love, Violence, Governmental Power

Intended audience:
Seems to border Young Adult and Adult. The violence might be too much for some younger readers but the young romance tends to favor young readers. The romance is not overbearing at all though.

Author’s style:
Collins primarily writes action and emotion. There is only a hint of political and metaphorical writing.

Pacing:
The pacing was excellent. I never once felt like I didn’t want to use up my spare time reading this book. I never once was bored or tempted to skip a section.

How did the book affect me?
It really put me into the prospective of a person who is being forced to do deeds that are highly undesirable; survival and murder. I felt as if I could really relate to the main character and her struggles as well as her victories.

Evaluation:
The book was great for me. I was planning on giving it an easy five stars, with the warning that it is all action and no think, until the last page. When I hit the last page it lost a star. It lost a star because the story didn’t end. I have no problem with a book that gives you a hook at the end so you will want to buy the second book, but the story needs to have some sort of conclusion as well. I left the book feeling like the last page was an advertisement for book two rather than the ending of a book. Don’t get me wrong; the ending didn’t ruin the book for me, but it did upset me. I’ll be reading book two as well, but I hear it’s ending is even worse.

If you enjoy action books and you don’t mind some violence please go read THE HUNGER GAMES. You won’t regret it.