Sometimes a book just doesn’t work; this is one of those times. The Bard’s Blade may be the beginning of an exciting epic fantasy adventure for some, but I’m concluding my foray into this series with this first book.
By Fire Above picks up right where The Guns Above left off, with strong characters, an engaging story, gripping action, and a world that is both fantastic but also almost believable.
War is hell, and no less so than on the hurricane deck of the Mistral, an airship whose captain, Lieutenant Josette Dupre, must muster her crew and fight through impossible odds or perish under the guns of their enemies. Needless to say, this book defines rip-roaring adventure.
Pratt goes to great length to tell us how much of a bad ass Mason is, yet we never see that reflected in the unfolding story. It's for that reason that I'm reluctant to go ahead with this series.
An enjoyable read that could have used something more to elevate it.
An alternative take on the Father of Christmas that ultimately comes across as droll and uninteresting.
A novel that is good, apocalyptic fun with a hero who just so happens to be a postman.
A no-nonsense mystery story that just happens to occur during Halloween. I gave it three rockets because, while it's an entertaining enough book, it could have used a bit of drama to liven it up.
A very cool premise that fails in the execution step. It's an enjoyable, albeit forgettable, read.
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