J.D. Estrada Writer

Take Underworld + Blade + neo noir vibes, and you have the start of what Reign of Darkness offers. Fast paced, interlaced, and shifting First Person POVs means that you're always in the thick of it all, each section with its distinctive feel and tone. Think Dan Brown, without Robert Langdon but with plenty of vampires and various types of vampires at that. This is not a one size fits all equation, it has shapeshifters, shadow manipulators, day walkers, ancient vampires, newborns, and more. ER Landron definitely sets the stage of what can be a hefty series with endless twists, surprises, and complications. With a healthy dose of diversity, representation always feels natural, using various languages to convey authentic variety. The bodycount is as high as the tension, so if you like books with plenty of action, more than one decapitation, and all sorts of danger, then check this one out. NOTE: I read the revised and updated version of this book by Publicaciones Lola and recommend getting the updated version.

Sixth book in the Disc World series and yet another masterclass on what you can do with a sentence. It doesn't get the full five stars for a couple of reasons, and some are surprising, namely formatting. I'm not sure if it's the edition I picked up or if it's in all copies, but saw missed quotations, typos, and little tidbits here and there that were surprising. That said, if it's the issue with the edition I have, I'd pick another gladly. And that said, I will STILL reread this with pleasure, because Terry's that good. If you've ever been in a play, either as a writer, actor, or stagehand, I think you'll get a particular kick from this story. If like me, you're just a reader who enjoys a good story, then you'll also be rewarded. More than any of the previous five books, I think Wyrd Sisters REALLY takes its time to set everything up at a measured pace. and then, when everything is set up, you feel the flick of the finger that tips over the first domino and you are swept in a rush that lasts about 60 pages and you're like whoah, whoah, whoahhhhhh. As far as the story and its characters, The Fool, The Wyrd Sisters themselves, and the Duke all shine. The Duchess is a particular brand of nasty and if you've ever read a Disc World book, then you know that every time death is nearby, it'll be memorable. Continually funny, amusing, clever, and random, The Discworld called me to explore it again...and I'm left wanting more and VERY happy that I have book 7 to dive into soon.

If you've never read a book by Carl Hiaasen, you're probably missing out. Although far from an expert on him, this is the third book of his I read from him and the first I read from him that's for younger readers. his approach is unique and he excels at crafting memorable quirky characters, giving a spin to your average Joe type characters, and spinning a random yarn about something probably nature related and set in the sunshine state of Florida. What I can say is that so far, all of his books deliver and although there might be some sort of formula to his stories, it NEVER feels formulaic or remotely lazy. Whacky, curious, random, unpredictable, fun, and always memorable, Hoot is no exception to my experience with his books. It's the type of story that if I try to sell the plot, I'll botch it and possibly deter you from reading it. It starts with a kid getting beat up in a school bus and him not paying attention to the assault he's receiving because he sees another kid outside the bus, running full speed, hopping over fences and German Shepherds and doing all this while barefoot. Haunted by the vision of this kid, Roy has no idea that he is connected to a shady building project, oatmeal and licorice pancakes, a bald foreman whose nickname is Curly, and some holes on the ground that people keep tripping over. What I can say, is that it's Hiaasen for kids and I kept thinking that as I read, though always as a good thing. The writing is smart and it never takes the audience's intelligence for granted. It's fun, different, and gives you JUST enough breadcrumbs to convince you to read another page or three. As a final statement, all I can say is that three books in, and every book I read makes me want to pick up another Hiaasen book. So, who knows? Maybe you're also a fan and you just haven't realized it yet. Want something light, quirky, random, and interesting? Then give Hoot a try. After all it's a...well the title says it all.

I'd been holding out reading the Gunslinger for the longest time and for a variety of reasons. The main one was that a lot of people seem to LOVE the Dark Tower series though not so much this first installment. Once I get reading the rest I'll find out if there's truth to what I was told though I can honestly say this was an extremely enjoyable read and something very unique in countless ways. If you're looking for complicated words to use in scrabble, grab a pen because there is a wealth of obscure words to paint the picture of the Dark Tower. But even when it feels as if King is possibly overreaching or trying too hard, it's still quite a compelling read. The pacing isn't meant to be a barn burner and I suspect this will be the case for the series. The dynamics of The Gunslinger in Tull and its townfolk, with Jake in the desert and in his past are all gripping narratives in and of themselves, as are the characters that get more page time. The Man in Black is probably high on people's list, but so was Jake, Cuthbert, and so many other secondary characters that played off the Gunslingers story, past, present, and future. Very curious to read book 2 in the sooner rather than the later and if you want something plenty different, give this dark western dystopian and existential fantasy a whirl. I was warned, though I wasn't disappointed so now I want to dive even deeper into the mythos.

Have you ever had a thought that sounds clever and you luckily write it down? Now make a book out of that. That's how I'd describe "One More Thing" by B.J. Novak. It is as random as it gets and results vary, some are like, ok....that was something, and there are some nuggets of awesomeness that really suck you into a great story. In regards to the content, it ranges from thought provoking and poignant to dick jokes and pot head thoughts. Is that to say it's bad? Not one bit. It was a fun read and one I think could encourage more people than most well known books to say screw it, pick up a pen, and go for it. Not because what he does can be emulated in any way shape or form, but because it shows Novak was enjoying himself in each of the pieces within with not much of a care in the world what anyone thinks.

I had been recommended this book soooo long ago by a fellow booktuber and although I delayed, the wait was worth it. I picked up Sun and Saddle Leather at a moment when I was looking for a different type of poetry and if you're doing the same, then consider this collection of cowboy poetry. With vistas of the plains and the ranges, Clark had a talent to capture those wide open spaces but more than that, the soul of someone who calls the range their home. It's beautiful, honest, touching, and often very poignant, which are not things you'd associate with cowboys. But as the introduction to the collection shares, cowboys who read this are left a bit speechless and smiling saying "he gets it." If you want something different to explore the beautiful variety poetry has to offer, I highly recommend this very special and unique collection.

What can I say about this book that hasn't been said? Sure the Christian allegory is a bit heavy handed at times and I'm not a fan of how often women are overlooked, but this is at least the fifth or sixth time I've read this book in my life and I understand clearly why I fell in love with it when I was a kid, why it's a book I still love, and even why I see its influence seeping into my own work. It's my type of fantasy, where things need not make logical sense for them to make perfect sense. It's fun, dream-like, fiddles around with the rules of time and distance and instead, focuses on a classic tale of good versus evil, of the power of forgiveness and sacrifice, and how sometimes, believing a bit can make a lot of difference. It should serve as inspiration for future readers and writers of all walks of life and all ages and was a lovely reminder of why I need to read middle-grade every so often. Always good to hang out with the inner child, plus, although I took 18 years to try Turkish delight for the first time, I understood why Edmund fell under its spell :)

It is curious when a book has so much fame, such reputation, such hyper for so long, yet somehow I had not read it, had not gotten spoilers about it, and STILL impressed. A detective whodunnit that even though I paced myself, found the last 100 pages or so impossible to stop reading. Improbable, impossible, ludicrous, al the things come to mind while you try to decipher what in blazes happened on the Stamboul Calais. The only thing we know for sure is that a murder happened...but how it happened? That's the delightful journey you shall embark once you're along with M. Poirot stuck in the snow and trying to see what is fact, what is lie, and the truth behind it all.

Silver Surfer meets Nietzsche It’s not every day I come across a concept in a book that I’ve never seen anything like, yet here we are, reading Outlanders: Malefactor, the First of the Fallen. Rather than a graphic novel, this is a novel that has sections that are in fact comic books. Not only that, you have a main storyline, and in quite meta fashion, a story within the story, talking about the first story, but still being a part of it…virtually. That’s why I mentioned Nietzsche in the description. There are parts in this book that are heavy, not because of themes covered, but because language and scope are quite galactic. That my explanation for the Silver Surfer part of the description. That said, the first half of this book is extremely solid, with a blip here or there regarding grammar, though nothing that takes me out of the story. The second half is a bit of a different story. I found several instances where I had to reread something because verb tenses kept switching and it did make it challenging to stay within the story. That said, this is a book where the concept, and several aspects of the execution outshine any flaw you may find. I found Hernández’s approach unique, refreshing, and challenging. Trust me, you’ll see plenty of Merriam Webster dictionary worthy words and they’re intentional when you see the characters how they are, what they represent, and how they reflect reality. It’s definitely an ambitious project and I can wait to read the second book to see what happens with The Traveler and all the other characters we come across as we try to make sense of this madness we call reality.

There are some books that click for you and there are books that you read and know could click for others. Write and Edit the Damn book is a mid point for me. Having published several books already, it's a great refresher course, reminding of a lot of things AND clarifying and elaborating in things that I have for years made more difficult for myself. Katie's style is conversational, clear, and no-nonsense. Look elsewhere for sugarcoats. That said, I honestly think that this book would best serve someone who is one or two books into their writer journey or someone who is on the fence about jumping into the world of writing. This book could be the push someone needs to not only do the thing, but do the thing write...I mean right...or do I mean both? Hmmm. If you've ever thought about writing a book and have no idea how to go about it, the steps to take, or just what comes after A, read this book. If you have someone in your life who's ALWAYS cocked around with the idea of writing a book, gift them this book. And if like me, you read this, and got a nice firm kick on the behind, review this book so it gets to more people and more books go from being a dream or idea and finding their way to the real world and book shelves around the world.