John Irvin, Author

by Drew Karpyshyn

Published by Del Rey Books

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY PATH OF DESTRUCTION!!!

“This is a great victory for us. Korriban is more than just another world: it is a symbol. The birthplace of the Sith. This victory sends a message to the Republic and the Jedi. Now they will truly know and fear the Brotherhood.” –Lord Kaan, Sith Master

            From the back cover blurb:

            One the fun from vengeful Republic forces, Dessel, a cortosis miner, vanishes into the ranks of the Sith army and ships out to join the bloody war against the Republic and its Jedi champions. There, Dessel’s brutality, cunning, and exceptional command of the Force swiftly win him renown as a warrior. But in the eyes of his watchful masters, a far greater destiny awaits him.

            As an acolyte of the Sith academy, studying the secrets and skills of the dark side, Dessel embraces his new identity: Bane. But the true test is yet to come. In order to gain acceptance into the Brotherhood of Darkness, he must defy the most sacred traditions and reject all he has been taught. It is a trial by fire in which he must surrender fully to the dark side—and forge from the ashes a new era of absolute power.

            I must say, of all the space adventures written about in the Star Wars saga—at least, the ones I’ve read so far—the trilogy on the life of Darth Bane has got to be my favourite.

            Never did I know that Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader and Darth Maul and all those from the original Star Wars actually had a reason for only having two: a Master and an Apprentice. The Rule of Two was actually founded by none other than Darth Bane.

            Path to Destruction is the first book in the Darth Bane trilogy that sheds light on how the Rule of Two came into being.

            A thrilling dark tale based in that galaxy far, far away, this book sets the stage for what will be one of the best science fictions of all time.

            If you don’t mind a little brutality, this spine-chilling evolution of an antihero will most likely rock your world. It was the reason I became a greater fan of the Old Republic rather than the New Jedi Order or the books from Darth Vader’s times.

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

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 Edwidge Danticat

Published by Graywolf Press

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY THE ART OF DEATH!!!

“More and more of us are writing our own obituaries.”

            From the back cover blurb:

            At once a personal account of Edwidge Danticat’s mother and a deeply considered reckoning of how to write about death, The Art of Death moves outward from her mother’s cancer diagnosis and sifts through Danticat’s writing life. Danticat circles the many forms death takes, shifting fluidly from examples that range from Toni Morrison’s Sula to Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, to deliver a moving tribute and work of astute criticism that will profoundly alter all who encounter it.

            When I first got a hold of this work, it was given to me by a friend, I thought, “Oh, dear, sounds gothic.” But as soon as I started reading, the writer in me exclaimed, “Finally, a book that teaches me how to weave a death scene.”

            Death scenes have always been a struggle. How can I make it sad? How can I get the reader to actually mourn? How can I make them ball?

            Danticat, using her mother’s slow death, woke something in me. The way she presents each form of death—I’d never considered how many forms it could take until reading this work—is intriguing and thought-provoking. Some of the examples she gave sent me into imagining my own death scenes I’ve written or plan to write and how I could possibly make them better.

            Death is a dark subject to most of us as human beings. Danticat shows this, in a masterful way if I can brag on her for a moment. I could imagine it took quite a bit for her to bare her soul for this work—as this book is nothing more than just that.

When a writer publishes a book, we are offering a piece of our innermost selves to the world. To write about the loss of someone we love and to turn around and open that to the public is one of the most terrifying things I can think of.

            There is the old quote: Writers write to taste life twice. Those who do not write have a hard time understanding why we do and how we do what we do. Sometimes we write death to taste it twice. Something in our soul delves in, longing to seek out the mysteries of this fact of life.

            Opening my eyes to the enigmatic, powerful piece of life that death is, I would recommend the Art of Death to any writer who wants to know how to write that final scene better.

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

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 Rick Riordan

Published by Disney Hyperion

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY THE SON OF NEPTUNE!!!

“The snake-haired ladies were starting to annoy Percy.”

            From the inside jacket sleeve:

            Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. Somehow he has managed to make it to a camp for half-bloods, but it doesn’t ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.

            Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. Now, because of a mistake she made back then, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wishes she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

            Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes, but he doesn’t see it. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend. He trusts her completely—enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

            Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment in the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophecy of Seven.

            Yes, Percy Jackson is back! I was excited to find he was again among the main characters in this series. Of course, he had no memory of who he was or where he was from and the whole time I sat there yelling at him because I knew who he was.

            Okay, I wasn’t actually yelling out loud…not the whole time at least.

            This is the second book in the series, I reviewed the first book about four or five days ago and you can find it in my archives on my Home page.

            The action in this book is amazing as usual. With more new creatures, Rick Riordan has an imagination beyond most. Yes, the Greeks came up with many of the monsters, but Riordan expounded and made them more of what they are. This is my opinion.

            There is so much going on already and we’re only in the second book.

            Percy remembers Annabeth but has no idea who she is.

Hazel isn’t originally from this time period—that was an interesting idea. To have come back from the dead, Hazel is a very intriguing character.

Frank, he’s cool. I love genealogies and Frank has a fascinating one. To have come from so many different countries in his ancestral tree, he’s quite a character. It is no wonder he does seem a bit of, as the book says, a “klutz.” But this just endears him more. Who knows, he’s young, maybe he’ll grow into himself.

            I enjoyed this young adult tale of heroes. Getting to know new people as they mingled with my old friends was fun too. If you’ve read the first series you already know what a great writer Rick Riordan is. You know the style—though this series is a bit different in its chapter setup—the comedic along with action-packed, life-threatening scenes will keep you enthralled.

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

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 Sean Williams

Published by Del Ray, imprint of Random House

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY FATAL ALLIANCE!!!

“Some days were better than others. Maybe this was one of them. He told himself that with all the conviction he could muster, which was plenty for a man in his trade. What could possibly go wrong?”

            From the back cover blurb:

            From across the galaxy they’ve come: agents of both the Republic and the Sith Empire, an investigating Jedi Padawan, an ex-trooper drummed out of the Republic’s elite Blackstar Squad, and a mysterious Mandalorian. An extraordinary auction has drawn them all together—in quest of a prize only one can claim.

Each is prepared to do what he must to possess the treasure, whose value may be the wealth of a world itself. None intend to leave empty-handed. All have secrets, desires, and schemes. And nothing could ever unite them as allies—except the truth about the deadly danger of the object they covet. But can Sith and Jedi, Republic and Empire—enemies for millennia—join as one against the certain doom of the galaxy?

            I like it when a story starts out with a group of individuals who are so different from each other, you know they are sworn enemies or will be. But then, something inconceivable happens and they actually unite together for sake of a greater cause.

            That’s what Fatal Alliance does, takes a Sith, a Jedi, and a Mandalorian and throws them into a situation that could end with the destruction of the galaxy.

            Of course, nothing ever goes as planned, especially such a tentative alliance between such different believers. There may be a betrayal in the mix somewhere.

            This book, though starting off a little thick, will keep any science fiction fan on his or her toes. If you are a Star Wars fan, make sure you add this desperate action-packed, space dram to your collection.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: FATAL ALLIANCE.

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 Ilona Andrews

Published by Ace Books

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY MAGIC SLAYS!!!

“The ringing of the phone jerked me from my sleep. I clawed my eyes open and rolled off my bed. For some reason, someone had moved the floor several feet lower than I had expected, and I fell and crashed with a thud.” –Kate Daniels

            From the back cover blurb:

            Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name. Plus, many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

            So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. But it turns out that this is not an isolated incident. Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—and fast, or the city and everyone dear to her may pay the ultimate price…

            Magic Slays is book number five, five times even better—just like its predecessors, this book amplifies the comedic, deadly and dangerous, kick-butt action of the series. I seriously cannot explain my enthusiasm for Kate’s new start.

            Being an entrepreneur myself, I feel Kate’s chagrin for the struggles that comes with starting a new business. But, there is always hope, right?

            But when the Master of the Dead gave her a job, I was a bit on the edge of my seat. I could just sense there was something deeper below the surface. On the edge of my seat, I held on with Kate, watching the mission play forth.

           Laughing at her and Curran’s new level in their relationship, it felt good to see they were coming along. If you tension, you’ll enjoy their …alliance.

            This ubran fantasy, just like the rest of the paranormal adventures of Kate Daniels, did not disappoint in the least, exceeded my expectations.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: MAGIC SLAYS.

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 John Irvin

A commentary by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY MERMAID SEAS FORECAST!!!

“The sterling form was attached to Auria’s lower half. Ending at her waist in transparent frill, the tail belonged to her. The tail was her. She’s a mermaid?”

            I had not realized I never finished blogging commentaries for the rest of my Mermaid Seas trilogy! Can’t believe I forgot that, but oh well, here it is.

            This is book 2 in the trilogy, a favourite of mine. What guy wouldn’t like to be one of the few men in a school where most of the fellow teachers are young beautiful women? Only, for Roger Overstreet, what he doesn’t know is the only other man in the bunch is also not human.

            At the Christmas party, Roger gets the shock of his life.

            There’s also an ancient prophecy that he’s able to decode. A prophecy of the end of the world? What’s new? But then again, what does this prophecy have to do with the mermaids and why does it say the end will come from the ocean?

            I’ll tell you a little secret: I actually got the basis for this story from a dream. I dreamed I was this Roger Overstreet, one of only two men in a school, and I found out all the women in my life were mermaids.

            Yeah, talk about a dream.

            Anyhoo, this Mermaid Seas trilogy has always been a favourite of mine—it went through several revisions before finally being published. At first I wasn’t going to publish, then I rewrote it into a trilogy and thought I’d publish it in print eventually. Then I rewrote it a third time and decided to publish each novella individually as ebooks.

            I simply had to share this strange world with my readers!

Click this link to go check it out: MERMAID SEAS: FORECAST

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