The Martian - David Weir

I rated this book 9/10
First published February 2014

I’m stranded on Mars.

I have no way to communicate with Earth.

I’m in a Habitat designed to last 31 days.

If the Oxygenator breaks down, I’ll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I’ll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I’ll eventually run out of food and starve to death.

So yeah. I’m screwed.

A bold, tense tale of survival on Mars.

What a brilliant read! Mark Watney finds himself stranded on Mars as the rest of his team presume him dead and make their get away from the Red Planet without him. Reporting via journal/blogging entries, we follow Watney's desperate (and often witty) struggle to survive everything that the planet throws at him. Weir uses such realistic terms to describe Watney's daily trials, that it's hard not to believe that this could be a real issue in the not so distant future. 

Strong characters, laced with humour and full of suspense; this is a fast and addictive page turner to put on your reading list.

I absolutely can't wait until the film starring Matt Damon is released in October. 
The advert for it looks pretty spot on so far...

Available at Waterstones

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

I rated this book 9/10...

A murder mystery, family saga, love story, and a tale of financial intrigue wrapped into one satisfyingly complex and entertainingly atmospheric novel.Harriet Vanger, scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families, disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

I waited so long to read this book and find out what the fuss is about and I was pleasantly surprised. Stieg Larsson has thrown together some fabulous characters at no cost to the winding plot. Let's face it, Salander is one of the most kick-ass female characters you'll find in a crime novel, she even rides a 125 Kawasaki. She refuses to be a victim, even when she is a victim.

I enjoyed the twists, and although it took a while to set the scene and the characters, it was worth sticking with through to the end. There were some very disturbing scenes to get through, so not one for the faint hearted, but they didn't seem to be put in place solely for the shock value. Unfortunately, Larsson didn't completely detach his writing from the popular 'woman as victim' theme - but that was my only gripe.

If you haven't already read this book (and I'm sure you have), it's worth putting on the TBR pile and getting stuck in.

A new book featuring Larsson's characters is due out in August 2015. That Which Does Not Kill has been written by David Lagercrantz as Larsson sadly died of a heart attack in 2004 aged 50.

Ex-Heroes - Peter Clines

I rated this 1/10

The first in a spectacularly genre-mashing adventure series that pits a small group of courageous, flawed, terrified superheroes against hordes of undead.

(Reading copy very kindly sent to me on request by Mike from Random House) 

I couldn't finish this book I'm afraid (I seem to be getting better at putting books aside if they're not doing it for me). After expecting something really spectacular, I was very disappointed with it and just couldn't carry on.

My main gripe was with the characters. There wasn't a single protagonist that felt well-rounded to me, maybe because there were so many to describe, and all of the female characters seemed over-sexualised or cliched. The bad guys were also one dimensional, and I just couldn't connect, sympathise or feel any kind of emotion towards anyone. I think that if Clines had reduced the amount of characters down to a smaller group in the first instance and spent a little more time allowing me to get to know them, I might have felt a bit more of a connection.

The final factor in my decision to put the story down was that I didn't like Clines' writing style, to me it lacked personality and flavour. The plot felt flat and I couldn't see it going anywhere exciting.

I'm sure that others might have had a better reading experience of this one, but although I really loved the concept of superheroes and zombies - there was nothing here that got me hooked!

I think the cover art of this book is ace by the way, it instantly caught my eye and made me want to read.

The Running Man - Richard Bachman

I rated this 9/10

It's not just a game when you're running for your life.
     Every night they tuned in to the nation's favorite prime-time TV game show.
     They all watched, from the sprawling polluted slums to the security-obsessed enclaves of the rich. They all watched the ultimate live death game as the contestants tried to beat not the clock, but annihilation at the hands of the Hunters. Survive thirty days and win a billion dollar jackpot—that was the promise. But the odds were brutal and the game rigged. Best score so far was eight days.

     And now there was a new contestant, the latest Running Man, staking his life while a nation watched.

The Running Man is the first book I have ever picked up written by Stephen King. I have always been under the impression that King's novels are massively far-fetched and have random paranormal twists to them that make no sense at all. I don't know where I got this feeling from, but how wrong I have been! At least in this case anyway!

Stephen King writes as Richard Bachman in this gritty, dystopian, reality-tv themed thriller and it was entirely down my street. Richards was a brilliant character and I liked him instantly. He has his head screwed on in an ever more chaotic world, and has his morals and values in all the right places as society becomes ever more corrupt around him...

"Spare me the cheap snatch," Richards said. "I'm married." - pg 40

The Running Man is very fast and very furious, keeping me engrossed on a hot, packed train even whilst I had other commuters coughing down my ear and standing on my toes. I couldn't tear my eyes from it.

Despite the extreme poverty, the brutal massacres and bloodshed that is rife in this Big Brother nation, King lets us glimpse the hope, warmth and loyalty that is present in all walks of humanity. He tackles class and race issues, builds towering skyscrapers and advanced weaponry; and sets us down running with "...MINUS 100 AND COUNTING..."

"We've been on for six years. To date, we have no survivals. To be brutally honest, we expect to have none."
"Then you're running a crooked table," Richards said flatly.
Killian seemed more amused than horrified. "But we're not... Mr Richards. People won't be at the bars and hotels or gathering in the cold in front of appliance stores rooting for you to get away. Goodness! no. They want to see you wiped out, and they'll help if they can..." - pg 39

I will be highly recommending The Running Man. I haven't seen the film starring Arnie, but the book has quickly become one of my all time favourites. I have the rest of Bachman (AKA King)'s titles, and I will be working my way through them.

Never Go Back - Lee Child

Rated 6/10

I was so lucky to receive an advanced proof copy of this from the publisher, and managed to finish it just as the hardback was released on our shelves in the store.

The latest instalment of Jack Reacher was quite enjoyable, despite me only having read books 1 - 5 previously. This is the 18th Reacher story (correct me if I'm wrong), and while its certainly more entertaining than some of his previous titles, it is by no means the best.

Reacher finds himself stuck right in the middle of an action packed mission to clear his name after tracking down a lady that he really liked the sound of over the telephone.

"He made sure his shirt was tucked and he brushed his hair with his fingers. He had no idea what he was going to say. He had liked her voice on the phone. That was all. He had sensed an interesting person behind it. He wanted to meet that person. Simple as that." - pg 19

This may sound familiar, but we all know that Lee Child's style is very much formulaic, and we've managed to get over that by now! Child also continues to use the short sentences that we're accustomed to from Reacher novels, and it was quite a relief after a day in work to not have to think much about what I was reading. Nice and easy.

There was enough action throughout this book to keep me entertained, as Lee Child sends Reacher on his usual kick ass vigilante mission. The build up was great, but the ending seemed rushed, and I never really got a feel for the top bad guy. I didn't really dislike him as a character (like I did in Tripwire for example).

And so Never Go Back is a great read for Reacher fans, but new readers might wonder what all this 'Reacher' fuss is about.

That Near Death Thing - Rick Broadbent

The broken man pushes a leftover
calzone around a plate in Paparazzi
and falls off the Verandah.

Rated 10/10

The Isle of Man TT is a throwback to a maverick era that existed before PR platitudes and PC attitudes. William Hill shortlisted author Rick Broadbent gets inside the helmets of four leading motorcycle racers as they battle fear, fire and family tragedy for a gritty sort of glory.

My Thoughts: I was already a fan of Rick Broadbent when I picked up his in depth account of the TT, as I had read his work on the Moto GP a while ago and adored it.

I was not disappointed this time round either. That Near Death Thing scoops you up from your seat, carries you over to The Isle of Man, and gives you a glimpse behind the visors of some of the most fearless men (and Jenny) in the world. But these guys would never see it that way - they just love racing, finding the pencil line that marks out their limit and stepping over it. Sometimes they make mistakes. Sometimes they pay big time for these mistakes. Sometimes they get lucky and bring it home in one piece.

I could never say that I have a favourite rider as I respect every single one of them for their sheer gut and determination, and I believe Broadbent shares the same view. I love the way that he sheds light on the individual characters that he writes about - really opening my eyes to the differences between the riders, their passions, emotions, family feuds, what makes them tick. McGuinness and M.Dunlop are a mile apart when it comes to emotion and race ethic, and yet they scrape leathers on track and have the utmost respect for one another. Same goes for all of them.

I loved the way that Broadbent described the difference between road racers and circuit racers too. They are very much in different classes, but the passion for both is very much at the forefront of every single word.

I could read his observational descriptions all day - and I really hope that he is planning to write more on racing, though I get the feeling I would be happy enough to pick up any of his works, no matter the topic.

Hard Landing - Stephen Leather

"Trish Elliott ran her hand across
her stomach for the hundredth
time since she'd left the doctor's
surgery."

Rated 7/10

Dan 'Spider' Shepherd is used to putting his life on the line. Working for an elite undercover squad he has lied, cheated and conned in order to bring Britain's most wanted criminals to justice."

My Thoughts: Hard Landing is a fast-paced read packed with action and tension. The concept of an undercover officer being stationed inside a high security prison is one that instantly had me hooked, and you really get a feel for the inmates’ life behind bars. I love that this is a British crime thriller and I couldn’t put the book down once I had started it. The book reminded me somewhat of a Nick Stone thriller.

I had a slight problem with the over-usage of logos and colours to describe the inmates’ attire; I know that clothing would be important in a prison, but it could have been done a little more sparingly to make the text flow smoothly and to get a little more detail than “He was wearing a white Addidas tshirt” and such. Similarly, his descriptions of the food was always a repetitive and off-hand "It was awful, but he ate it anyway" job.

The book is clearly plot based and I think that Leather has just about scraped by on the descriptions of protagonists that he gives the reader. He has imagined some real larger-than-life characters and should have fleshed them out a bit more so that we can really connect to them. I didn’t feel shocked or upset when protagonists died or were killed, and I know that I could have been if I’d been introduced to them more thoroughly. Dan Shepherd didn’t have any depth to him and didn’t really do it for me (though he’s an ex SAS hard man so he should have);  Ironically enough I found myself sympathising more with the antagonist at one point as he was well-rounded in comparison, even Carpenter’s family were more relatable than Shepherd’s.

The heat really builds during the last third of Hard Landing, when there’s a bit of a twist in the plan of action and things don’t work out quite as you would expect them to. I did find myself skipping pages towards the very final conclusion of the book to get to the ending, as I knew what was going to happen by this point and didn’t need to read the build-up. Having said this, I was desperate to finish, and it was full of action right up until the very last page!  

All in all a great read. I don’t think I’ll rush out to get the next in the series, but if it lands on my bookshelf somehow then I’ll read it.

When The Eagle Hunts - Simon Scarrow

"The heaving tumult around
the ship was frozen for an instant
by sheet lightning."

Rated 10/10

It is the winter of AD 44 and after a series of bloody battles, Camulodunum (modern day Colchester) has fallen to the invading Roman army...

My Thoughts: Wow! Definitely the best addition to the Macro/Cato series so far.

Throughout these epic novels, Scarrow seamlessly switches from the personal POV of Macro and Cato to the view point of the army as a whole, to the ongoing invasion of Britain, and back again without a glitch. It's very cleverly done and keeps you hanging on to every word. He doesn't bombard the reader with technicality or historical terms that might leave people like myself scratching their heads over it - but he includes enough for the more studied in Roman history to really get their teeth into. I really admire his style for this - it is quite some skill.

As for 'When The Eagle Hunts', it's a fast and furious read with non-stop action and dilemma. Scarrow doesn't really need to set his main protagonists up, however he does describe their roots enough for new readers to be able to enjoy it without going too far and re-explaining everything.

Although Scarrow's plotline hides fresh suspense round every corner, his characters are immense and really enjoyable to follow. New faces Boudica and Prasutagus are very well-rounded and likeable, alongside some of the more familiar comrades (Vespasian for example, with his softer qualities but stern exterior is a particular favourite of mine). Scarrow gives even the most minor of characters a full bodied personality, and it's for this reason that the reader can easily grow attached to the likes of Maxentius and Diomedes despite them only appearing for a handful of pages.

Macro's touch of brutal humour is always welcome to break up the more serious and bloodied battles that are consistently encountered, and the way that the great Prasutagus is revealed as the novel continues only adds to this relief. And Cato - Cato got awesome!!!

It's not often that a series gets even better as it goes along, but Scarrow is a master of his genre and I'm looking forward to The Eagle And The Wolves.

Casino Royale - Ian Fleming

"The scent and smoke and
sweat of a casino are nauseating
at three in the morning."

Rated 4/10

This, the first of Fleming's tales of agent 007, finds Bond on a mission to neutralize a lethal, high-rolling Russian operative called simply 'Le Chiffre' - by ruining him at the baccarat table and forcing his Soviet spy masters to 'retire' him. It seems that lady luck is taken with James - Le Chiffre has hit a losing streak. But some people just refuse to play by the rules, and Bond's attraction to a beautiful female agent leads him to disaster and an unexpected savior.

My Thoughts: I had high expectations of my first ever Bond novel, being a huge fan of action thrillers, sleek cars and powerful characters. I was bitterly disappointed. 

The book is nothing at all like the films; James Bond comes across as a bit weak, highly chauvinistic (I was surprised at Fleming's very obvious sexism) and with no ounce of the smooth and suave character that you see in the films. He was not desirable in the slightest.

Aside from this, there was virtually no action in Casino Royale at all - ***SPOILER: he spent the first 120 pages gambling and the last few pages being tortured and then saved by someone almost entirely unrelated to his plot, falling stupidly for a woman he earlier described as a bitch and preparing to propose to her after a matter of weeks because she sleeps with him and it feels a bit like rape.(?!?)*** 

I do, however, like the fact that he gets naked randomly at any given opportunity - it's amusing, typical and highlights Bond's confidence and arrogance perfectly. 

And where was the beautiful Bentley that Bond adores? I think he drives it up the road once or twice and that is it. 

James Bond, however, has been turned into an absolute legend by the big screen, and I can see that the book does show a lot of potential for this kind of adaptation. It needed a fair amount of work: It was very clever to transform M into a female for the movies, for example, and you can forgive Bond for being a player in the films because he is just so cool.

I will not be picking up another Bond novel if I can help it, but I will continue to watch the films. And this is why Casino Royale gets 4 stars instead of none!!!

Without Fail - Lee Child

"They found out about him in
July and stayed angry all
through August."

Rated 4/10

Featuring Jack Reacher, hero of the new blockbuster movie starring Tom Cruise. This time, he's in the line of fire, protecting the Vice President of the United States.

My Thoughts: I was pretty disappointed with the 6th book in the Jack Reacher series. The first few were brilliant - fast, furious and somewhat believable despite the larger than life protagonist and plot lines.

Without Fail lacked most of the drama that we have come to expect from Lee Child's thrillers. The plot didn't tie up (I won't spoil it, but the antagonists had a very poor motive for killing the VP). 

There is also one massive plot hole that doesn't add up. It was to do with the 'messages' and one particular message that the bad guys sent the VP that would have given the game away right off the 'bat'. Completely out of character for them as they do such a good job of attempting not to be identified the whole way through. 

Froleich was an awful character! Supposedly a strong and professional woman and yet going round and round in circles about an ex from years ago; At one point pretty much a full chapter was made from her blaming Reacher over her ex's death - it drove me insane and could have been completely skipped - not great at all!!!

In fact, a fair amount of this book could have been skipped over.

I did love Neagley as a character however, and I loved the relationship she has with Reacher - a full set of Reacher-style thrillers could probably be made from her and I would definitely pick them up.

I have given this book 2 stars simply because it is a Jack Reacher book - and that in itself makes it worth them. Reacher is still a fantastic character and I still wish he was real, and I still wish he wasn't Tom Cruise on the big screen, and I will still be reading through the rest of the series!!!

Echo Burning - Lee Child

"There were three watchers,
two men and a boy."

Rated 5.2/10 (average)

Jack finds himself suffering the intense heat of a Texas summer, and (leaving behind a messy situation) hardly worries about the dangers of who will pick him up when he hitches a ride. But it's a beautiful young rich girl driving a Cadillac who gives Jack a lift.

My Thoughts: I know what to expect when I pick up a Reacher novel - action, girls and plenty of cheese. The previous four books in this series that I read had everything going for them, but 'Echo Burning' didn't really hit the mark with anything in the way that I expected it to.

The first few scenes in the book were great. Plenty of action and it set the story up well - but after this everything went downhill. Reacher believes a complete stranger based entirely on his gut instinct and then most of what she says turns out to be lies. But he still believes her, and still based on his gut instinct. I think that this discredited his character a little bit and I would never have put him down as a man that falls for silly tricks and lies.

This plot seems to be scrambling and clutching at straws. It doesn't read comfortably and it doesn't run smoothly. Some of it seems a little vague, other parts felt as if Lee Child just couldn't dig his characters out without making new things up and throwing more random information into the mix. Jack Reacher doesn't tell his comrade any of the information that he has figured out at all towards the end, and the one single reason for this is to keep us, the reader, guessing. It just doesn't read well at all. She would need to know!

All told, I did keep reading and I did get hooked. I think this was mainly because Jack Reacher is such a stunning character and I can't get enough of him. It is disappointing that Reacher's personna was nearly destroyed in this one and I hope that 'Without Fail' picks it up a bit.

Theme: 2/5
A little bit lacking in this one, mainly because it seemed so forced.

Plot: 2/5
Again, not as fresh and exciting as some of Reacher's previous adventures, but it did keep the pages turning.

Characters: 3/5
Jack Reacher is awesome. But his character was a bit questionable in this one, and most of the other characters weren't memorable, even the antagonists!

Setting: 4/5
The setting did the job, and of course, the rain starts pouring at just the right moment.

Style: 2/5
It just didn't cut it for me this time. Where's the bloody action? Where's the big cheesy action hero banging heads together to get results? Why's he turned so gullible all of a sudden?

Overall: 5.2/10

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to any established fan of Jack Reacher. Definitely don't pick this one up if it's your first meeting with him though!

Click here to grab this at Waterstones.com ... 

Lion of the Sun - Harry Sidebottom

Date Finished: 3rd March 2012

In Mesopotamia, AD 260, Ballista faces yet another enemy, the man the Syrians call The Lion of the Sun, in this third novel in the 'Warrior of Rome' series. Betrayed by his most trusted adviser, Roman Emperor Valerian has been captured by the Sassanid barbarians. The shame of the vanquished beats down mercilessly like the desert sun as the frail old emperor prostrates himself before Sharpur, king of kings. Ballista looks on helplessly but vows under his breath to avenge those who have brought the empire to the brink of destruction with their treachery.

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the Warrior of Rome series - a set of books that I adore. Ballista and his entourage are fantastic characters and I had very high expectations of this upon finishing the first two reads.

I was a little disappointed that Ballista's entourage don't feature in this as much as the last two. It wasn't quite full of the comradary and warmth that is conjured up through the relationships between Ballista and his bodyguard Maximus, his secretary Demetrius and his minder Calgacus.

On top of this, I found the plot line a lot more difficult to follow. It was more focussed on politics and less on action.

Having said this - the ending of Lion of the Sun is fantastic and well worth the struggle to get to it. I didn't really get pulled into the build up but it really was good. I've had customers pick this book up before the first two and then coming back and asking me for Fire in the East. Those who know a lot about Ancient Rome will absolutely adore it and will probably find that it flows a little more easily for them.

One other point to note is that Ballista's wife Julia is a brilliant character and she really does flourish in Lion of the Sun. She is strong, calm and level headed, and can really hold her own. I would love to read a Kate Quinn-esque novel revolving around Julia and the children. It would be ace.

All in all, a good read, but overshadowed by its predecessors.
I RATED THIS 6/10

The Visitor - Lee Child

Date Finished: 7th November 2011

It's tough being a high-flying woman in the Army. Very tough. When Sergeant Amy Callan and Lieutenant Caroline Cook are found dead in their own homes—in baths filled with Army-issue camouflage paint, their bodies completely unmarked—Jack Reacher is under suspicion. He knew them both—and he knows that they both left the Army under dubious circumstances, both victims of sexual harassment. A former U.S. military policeman, a loner and a drifter, he matches the psychological profile prepared by the FBI, and is arrested by ambitious Special Agent, Julia Lamarr.

My Thoughts: Jack Reacher is at it again. This time he gets roped in to something pretty huge against his will. The fourth in Reacher's series is just as quick and easy to read as the last three, and again, I found it very tricky to put down.

Having said this, The Visitor didn't quite hit the same mark as the last books for me - this one is more of a "whodunnit" and has less of Reacher muscling his way about banging heads together for results (which is what I love most about his over-the-top mountain of a character). It keeps you guessing right until the very last pages however, and although the conclusion also didn't cut it for me, the suspense was brilliant. A must read for Reacher fans, but perhaps shouldn't be the first choice for those not familiar with the series.

I RATED THIS 8/10

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

Date Read: August 2011

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

My Thoughts: Read as uncorrected proof. This book is very addictive, once I picked it up I found it pretty tricky to put down. An easy-read twist on a classic Greek legend that is astonishing, touching and will leave you with a bit of a lump in your throat. I love the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus that Miller builds, it has such strength and honesty - it was easy to fall in love with their characters and watch them grow together. This is less a tale of war and Gods, and more a tale of love and honour.

The only reason that I refrained from giving this book 10 stars is because it brushes very briefly over some events that really should have had more of an impact on the characters. However, a good strong read that I believe will be enjoyed by many.

I RATED THIS 9/10

Tripwire - Lee Child

Date Read: June 2011

Jack Reacher washes up in the Florida Keys with his savings running out; he spends his days digging pools and his nights as the bouncer in the local strip club. But a private investigator intrudes upon his tropical refuge, seeking Reacher out. When he discovers the PI's lifeless beaten body lying in the street, Reacher heads north to determine who is trying to find him and why.

My Thoughts: A chance to breathe... The 3rd book in the Reacher series lets us take a bit of a step back to really get into Jack Reacher's character. There's a bit more detective work in this one, and it's a little calmer (until the end of course).

I really don't care how over-the-top Reacher is, I love this series.

I RATED IT 9/10

The Eagle's Conquest - Simon Scarrow

Date Read: May 2011

When Centurion Macro and his young subordinate, Optio Cato arrive on the shores of Britain to take part in the Emperor Claudius' invasion in AD 43, Macro knows the desperately outnumbered Roman army will be facing one of the toughest campaigns ever. Meanwhile, a sinister organization is secretly betraying the brave men of the legions. When assassination rumors coincide with the Emperor's arrival, the soldiers realize they are up against a force more ruthless than the Britons, and that time is running out if they are to prevent Claudius's glorious victory from turning to disaster.

My Thoughts: The second book that follows Macro and Cato is almost as good as the first, but not quite. Here we see Cato really finding out what it's like to be a man - standing on his own two feet, suffering betrayal, triumph and yet more betrayal...

Scarrow never fails to keep me hooked, with Macro's skill and brutality, and Cato's underlying bravery - and I can really see his characters growing and look forward to reading more.

I RATED IT 8/10

Lee Child - Die Trying

Date Read: January 2011

A Chicago street in bright sunshine. Jack Reacher, strolling nowhere, meets an attractive young woman, limping, struggling with her crutches, alone. Naturally he stops to offer her a steadying arm and then they turn together—to face twin handguns held level and motionless and aimed straight at their stomachs.

My Thoughts: Almost as brilliant as the first but in an entirely different way. We see Reacher at full throttle in this one. The action doesn't stop and the scenes are pretty vivid and full of thrills, still with the legendary cheese and over-the-top, well, everything.

Just ignore the fact that the word "shrugged" is used a million times...

I RATED THIS 8/10

Stormlord Rising - Glenda Larke

Date Read: November 2010

The last Stormlord is dead. War has come to the cities of the Quartern. The violent, nomadic Redunners have put every rainlord they could find to the sword and the cities are left without hope.

Shale has been betrayed, drugged, and left at the feet of his greatest enemy. Now, he must decide to work with those who have plotted against him or let thousands of the waterless die. He has great power but is no Stormlord. At least, not yet...

My Thoughts: Not quite as brilliant as the first book in the Stormlord series, because Shale's character seems to indulge in activities and make decisions that I don't personally believe his character would do.

Having said that, the book is almost as stunning as the first; just as brutal, pacy and the plot really does start to unfold around you. Love, friendship, betrayal, epic battles, slavery, arduous journeys... I just can't stress enough how amazing this series is turning out to be!

I RATED THIS 8/10

Generation Kill - Evan Wright

Date Read: September 2010

Within hours of 9/11, America’s war on terrorism fell to those like the twenty-three Marines of the First Recon Battalion, the first generation dispatched into open-ended combat since Vietnam. Cocky, brave, headstrong, wary and mostly unprepared for the physical, emotional and moral horrors ahead, the “First Suicide Battalion” would spearhead the blitzkrieg on Iraq, and fight against the hardest resistance Saddam had to offer.
 
My Thoughts: Generation Kill follows First Recon Marines through nail-biting treks, stand offs and gun fights. It's a true story of bravery, comradery and talent from normal guys in a situation that most of us wouldn't even dream of. The people in the book are written in the most vividly honest manner, and I think that this will remain my favourite book for quite some time.

I RATED THIS 10/10

Under the Eagle - Simon Scarrow

Date Read: June 2010

It is 42 AD, and Quintus Licinius Cato has just arrived in Germany as a new recruit to the Second Legion, the toughest in the Roman army. If adjusting to the rigours of military life isn't difficult enough for the bookish young man, he also has to contend with the disgust of his colleagues when, because of his imperial connections, he is appointed a rank above them.
My Thoughts: After reading historic Roman fiction by Harry Sidebottom and being completely entranced by it, I figured that the next step would be one of our bestselling authors - Scarrow's books have always had brilliant reviews by our customers and I wanted to try for myself.

I loved it!

Macro and Cato are awesome characters - I especially love the brutality of Macro's wit and the way that we can watch Cato grow before our very eyes. I found myself submerged right into the midsts of the Roman army, could feel the grit and terror.

The twists are pretty good, and the ending is not a disappointing one either.

I RATED THIS 9/10