Intrigue

All posts tagged Intrigue

Book Review: The Shiva Syndrome by Alan Joshua

Posted by tjhapney on October 27, 2015
Posted in: Science Fiction. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

shivaDescription/Blurb:

Science opens the door for humans to reach God-like powers of creation and destruction.

A secret Russian mind research laboratory erupts, annihilating thousands and leaving a monstrous, one-mile deep crater in its wake. Beau Walker, a psychologist and reluctant empath, is coerced into joining a research project, code-named SHIVA, to investigate the catastrophe. An ordinary scientific investigation leads Walker and the research team into alternate realities.

Walker struggles against political and military deceptions, deadly superhuman adversaries, and personal demons to unlock the riddle of the SHIVA syndrome, risking his life and the very existence of humankind.

The SHIVA Syndrome offers a dizzying ride into extraordinary human abilities. Prepare to alter what you believed was reality.

Review 3 of 5 Stars

I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning of this story drew me in right away with its intrigue and secret places. It was interesting and the writing was tight. Portions of the story were excellent and I had every hope it would continue that way. In my opinion, it didn’t. I can’t remember the first time in the book that I was jerked out of the suspension of disbelief, but I do recall at approximately the 82% mark on the e-file that things became far too simple, intelligent people all of a sudden didn’t think of the consequences of their actions, etc. I read to the end of the book, but it really lost me at that point.

The first half or so of the story was interesting and it was apparent that the author is educated, had done his research and was knowledgeable about his topics. It was the plot devices that threw me and made it hard to finish the book or care what happened to the characters in the end. Plenty of science, but a bit too much religion for my taste. I did learn a lot about Santeria, both from the book and my own research into it afterward. I was curious to see an academic explanation of the religion aside from just the fictional one as I knew nothing about it.

There were some interesting elements in this story. I was very interested in the actual science portion of the story and was even in for the psychic powers that various characters exhibited, but all of it wrapped together with religion was a bit disappointing. I guess I was hoping for a more scientific explanation in the end. I did come across some minor editing errors, but not too many. The writing was well done and I hope to see other stories from this author in the future.

Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Posted by tjhapney on December 28, 2013
Posted in: Fantasy. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

KushielDescription/Blurb Excerpt:

A nation born of angels, vast and intricate and surrounded by danger… a woman born to servitude, unknowingly given access to the secrets of the realm…

Born with a scarlet mote in her left eye, Phédre nó Delaunay is sold into indentured servitude as a child. When her bond is purchased by an enigmatic nobleman, she is trained in history, theology, politics, foreign languages, the arts of pleasure. And above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Exquisite courtesan, talented spy… and unlikely heroine. But when Phédre stumbles upon a plot that threatens her homeland, Terre d’Ange, she has no choice.

Review 4 of 5 Stars
It took me a while to get around to reading Kushiel’s Dart as it comes in at over 900 pages and I needed some time away from my hectic real life to sit down and enjoy it.  Phédre nó Delaunay is a courtesan in service to the god Kushiel in a culture where courtesans are a normal part of courtly life .
Her guardian, Delauney, buys her marque (indentured servitude) from the Night Court and takes her into his house to be raised as a member of his family.  He teaches her languages, critical thinking and a host of other skills to enable her to be a spy as well as a courtesan so that she might gain important tidbits of information that affect the realm from the lips of her benefactors.  This is a fantasy story in that it is set in a fantasy realm with seers and gods that are at least somewhat active in the affairs of their subjects, but it is filled with court intrigues, a kingdom under attack, treachery, and a courtly love story that reaches across the sea to a far off kingdom rather than great feats of magic though there are some mystical happenings along the way.
Phédre is an anquisette, a courtesan that enjoys pain, and has her own encounters and loves and dependencies along the way as well as her struggle to become more than she believes she is in order to save Terre d’Ange.  In my mind I see Mata Hari in the fantasy world, but much darker. With her fiercely loyal Cassiline companion (warrior priest) she is captured and enslaved by a fierce barbarian tribe.  Using the lessons learned from Delauney she sets out to escape and save her nation.
To tell any more than this might ruin the story for any that would care to read it.  It is a very involved story, with multiple sub-plots and an erotic overtone.  Though Phédre’s nature is an important part of the story I was well pleased to find such detail inner workings and intrigue after the story got started.  When the book began I was thinking it was going to be basically an erotica type story, but it was really so much more.  The author’s careful plotting, character development and care with intrigue made this a truly enjoyable story.  Phédre is an unlikely heroine, but one I was truly pulling for by the end.