John Irvin, Author

by Rick Riordan

Published by Disney Hyperion

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY BLOOD OF OLYMPUS!!!

“Jason hated being old. His joints hurt. His legs shook. As he tried to climb the hill, his lungs rattled like a box of rocks.”

            From the back cover blurb:

            Nico had warned them. Going through the House of Hades would stir the demigod’s worst memories. Their ghosts would become restless. Nico may actually become a ghost if he has to shadow-travel with Reyna and Coach Hedge one more time. But that might be better than the alternative: allowing someone else to die, as Hades foretold.

            Jason’s ghost is his mother, who abandoned him when he was little. He may not know how he is going to prove himself as a leader, but he does know that he will not break promises like she did. He will complete his line of the prophecy: To storm or fire the world must fall.

            Reyna fears the ghosts of her ancestors, who radiate anger. But she can’t allow them to distract her from getting the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood before war breaks out between the Romans and Greeks. Will she have enough strength to succeed, especially with a deadly hunter on her trail?

            Leo fears that his plan won’t work, that his friends might interfere. But there is no other way. All of them know that one of the Seven has to die in order to defeat Gaea, the Earth Mother.

            Piper must learn to give herself over to fear. Only then will she be able to do her part at the end: utter a single word.

            Heroes, gods, and monsters all have a role to play in the climactic fulfillment of the prophecy in The Blood of Olympus, the electrifying finale of the best-selling Heroes of Olympus series.

            Staying true to his epic, keep-you-holding-on, style of story-telling, Rick Riordan brings the best conclusion to this young adult fantasy adventure starring our favorite characters. I am never disappointed by Riordan’s books.

            Even though the first page had me hooked into the story with its intensity and slightly comedic and death-defying scene—I still felt a breath of relief. After the previous book, Blood of Olympus held this promise that everything would work out in the end.

            Yes, there were still plenty of desperate situations that my demigod friends had to go through—dangerous struggles were still a plenty—but all through it, I felt this hope that we just might make it. Even when the final scenes were around the corner and it seemed all was lost, I knew, you have to cling to whatever spark of hope you had.

            Was I scared? Yes! You never know when an author is going to throw some plot twist in or one of your favorite character’s death, so was I reading as fast as my little eyes could go? Yes!

            If you’re collecting all things Riordan, this is a must buy. Not to mention, it is the finale in the awesome Percy Jackson sequel series!

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

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by Rick Riordan

Published by Disney Hyperion

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY HOUSE OF HADES!!!

“During the third attack, Hazel almost ate a boulder.”

            From the back cover blurb:

            The demigod crew of the Argo II is standing at a crossroads. They a could return home with the Athena Parthenos statue and try to stop Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter from going to war. Or they could continue on their quest to find the House of Hades, where they might be able to open the Doors of Death, rescue their friends Percy and Annabeth from Tartarus (if they have survived), and prevent monsters from being reincarnated in the mortal world. Whichever road they decide to take, they have to hurry, because time is running out. Gaea, the bloodthirsty Earth Mother, has set the date of August 1 for her rise to power.

            Join the demigods of the prophecy as they face their biggest challenges yet in the House of Hades, the hair-raising penultimate book in the bestselling Heroes of Olympus series.

            After the gut-wrenching cliffhanger of The Mark of Athena, this fourth installation wasn’t better—it was superb. This is one of those books you can’t put down because it will grab your heart and drag you through Tartarus.

           That sounds like a horrible thing, I know. I’m just using the story’s plot and twisting it into a compliment for the book.

            If you’ve read The Mark of Athena, you know you have to continue with this!

            A young adult heroic quest adventure that verges on dark fantasy, The House of Hades is an intense reading, but delectable nonetheless.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: HOUSE OF HADES.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

If you enjoyed this review, you should sign up for my newsletter! I don’t spam and you can unsuscribe at any time. I only send out emails–usually just focused on whatever book review I’ve written that day–on Mondays and Fridays. Sign up here: SIGN UP!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Rick Riordan

Published by Disney Hyperion

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY MARK OF ATHENA!!!

“Until she met the exploding statue, Annabeth thought she was prepared for anything.”

            From the inside book jacket:

            Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming broze dragon figurehead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

            …Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attacked to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader—but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

            Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare…

            It is exactly that: unforgettable. Rick Riordan again lives up to the greatness of his previous works. Vamping up the intensity and gut-wrenching antics of our beloved demigods, Riordan brings a new side to the prism that is Annabeth.

            She now has her own book focused on her quest!

            Yes, of course, there are three other friends starring as the main characters in this book, but Annabeth’s quest is the one that will decide whether Mother Earth will bring the Roman and Greek camps to war.

            Annabeth was already a favourite of mine, I’d already fallen in love with her along with Percy in the first series—but reading this book deepened my love for those two. The ending, oh, the ending, you’re going to have to read it and find out.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: MARK OF ATHENA.

If you enjoyed this review, you should sign up for my newsletter! I don’t spam and you can unsuscribe at any time. I only send out emails–usually just focused on whatever book review I’ve written that day–on Mondays and Fridays. Sign up here: SIGN UP!

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Drew Karpyshyn

Published by Del Rey Books

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY DYNASTY OF EVIL!!!

“’When all options are wrong,‘ he muttered to himself in the darkness. “What does it matter which one I choose?'” –Darth Bane

            From the back cover blurb:

            Twenty years have passed since Darth Bane, reigning Dark Lord of the Sith, reinvented the ancient order devoted to the dark side as a circle of two: one Master to wield the power and pass on the wisdom, and one apprentice to learn, challenge, and ultimately usurp the Dark Lord in a duel to the death. But Bane’s acolyte, Zannah, has yet to prove herself a worthy successor. Determined that the Sith dream of galactic domination will not die with him, Bane vows to learn the secret of a forgotten Dark Lord that will assure the Sith’s immortality—and his own.

            Zannah knows that her ruthless Master has begun to doubt her, and so she prepares for his downfall, plotting at last to wrest from Bane the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith. Zannah pursues her Master from the grim depths of a ravaged world to the barren reaches of a desert outpost, where the future of the dark side’s most powerful disciples will be decided by the final, fatal stroke of a lightsaber.

            An amazing finale to the trilogy. Darth Bane will forever be a favourite Sith Master of mine. Though I disagree with his Rule of Two, I respect him nonetheless.

            Yes, I’m teasing—I’m no Sith-lover.

            Then again, why don’t you read this trilogy and decide that.

            Taking on the dark undertones that its previous books had, Dynasty of Evil lives out the Rule Darth Band instituted himself. Is he ready to follow his own rules? Every person fears death at one point or another in their life.

            I was holding on through the entire novel. To be honest, though she’s evil—though, simply following the guidance and lessons her master taught her—I sort of love Zannah.

            As for the ending, without giving anything away—it’s been a few years since I read the book, but I still find myself torn from its outcome. The edge-of-your-seat action and the resolved ending will have you enthralled.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: DYNASTY OF EVIL.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

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by John Irvin

A commentary by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY CAN’T HELP FALLING!!!

“She danced with Mason down a rainy street. At least she thought it was Mason, with all the water in her face, she could barely make out his features.”

            Almost hot off the press, ladies and gentlemen, this short little clean and sweet romance novella was published only a week ago as of today’s blog post.

            Kaela is a movie star, though the career doesn’t play too big a part in this story. She’s also a divorced mother of three beautiful, wonderful children. With her Ex barging her with finding someone else since he’s already made it official news with his magazine model, she’s stressed out.

            But then, at the book-signing, she meets one of her favourite authors: Mason Haran. He’s a bestselling novelist who writes both fantasy and romance.

            They immediately click.

            But there’s one problem—to some it may be an insurmountable problem—she’s well over a decade older than him.

            Bouncing back and forth between emotions and rationalizations and listening to their parents or peers, will Kaela and Mason be able to reach a decision? Should they ignore their hearts? Should they accept the advice of society?

            This little novella was a blast to write—having one of the characters in this romance be an author like me, gave me a feeling of connection.

            Plus, Notting Hill being one of the best romantic comedies in cinema history in my eyes, I found a deeper love for this story.

            I didn’t want it to be just another romance short fiction though. The issue of age difference was a topic of several conversations at the time of the writing. So I figured I’d insert something thought-provoking into this salad bowl.

           Who knows, maybe you’ll enjoy this clean romantic struggle? You might appreciate the ending or you might disagree. That’s up to you. If you decide to buy this 99 cent novella, just remember, it’s just a book. But if you do enjoy it, please leave a sweet review—I’d love to hear what you think about it.

Click this link to go check it out: CAN’T HELP FALLING.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Drew Karpyshyn

Published by Del Rey Books

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY RULE OF TWO!!!

“Darovit made his stumbling way through the bodies that littered the battlefield, his mind numb with grief and horror. He recognized many of the dead: some were servants of the light side, allies of the Jedi; others were followers of the dark side, minions of the Sith. And even in his dazed stupor, Darovit couldn’t help but wonder which side he belonged with.”

            From the back cover blurb:

            As the last surviving Sith, Darth Bane promulgated a harsh new directive: the Rule of Two. Determined to put this policy into action, Darth Bane thinks he has found the perfect apprentice. Zannah, though young, possesses an instinctive link to the dark side that rivals his own. Under Darth Bane’s tutelage, she will become essential in his quest to destroy the Jedi and dominate the galaxy.

            But there is one who is determined to stop Darth Bane: Johun Othone, Padawan to Jedi Master Lord Hoth, who died at Bane’s hands in the Sith War. Though the rest of the Jedi scoff at him, Johun’s belief that there are surviving Sith is unshakeable. But not even Johun could foresee the astonishing new knowledge and power that Darth Bane discovers through Force-induced visions—power that will alter him in ways he could never have imagined.

            I bring you the sequel to Path of Destruction, the middle point of the Darth Bane trilogy, and the beginning of a new era in the history of the Sith. This book represents the birth of a new rule that affects the entire galaxy of Star Wars for millennia to come.

            This book almost converted me to the Dark Side—I began quoting the Sith Code, in fact, to this day that is the easier of all three codes to recall. Just being honest.

            If you enjoy a good antihero story, you must continue with this follow-up to the space-adventure of Darth Bane, Dark Lord of the Sith and instigator of the Rule of Two.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: RULE OF TWO.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com