Title: Benevolent King
Author: Joe Albanese
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Cyberwit.net
Release Date: September 25, 2019
Format: Paperback
Pages: 298

 

A copy of Benevolent King was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Benevolent King is my second time reading something by Joe Albanese, the first time being Caina. Unlike Caina, Benevolent King is a full-fledged novel rather than a novella. The genre is also a bit different; while both are crime stories, Caina was more of a mystery story while Benevolent King is a thriller. This story is more about suspense and focuses its attention across an array of characters. It is not really about just one person, but rather one story. And how all the different characters are connected through that story’s telling.

This book takes place in Baltimore, which is a great setting for crime fiction for obvious reasons. More importantly, it takes place in the bad parts of Baltimore. The places filled with desperate people who scare the daylights out of “normal” folks. In fact, there really are not many normal people throughout Benevolent King. Some pop up here and there, mostly as background characters, but the cast is almost entirely made of criminal underworld elements. Even the normal people who are not merely background are only minor characters.

Despite how all the characters could be described as “a criminal”, the characters are incredibly diverse. The key factor here is why each character is a criminal. Some live that way because they have no choice, or at least think they have no choice. Others chose this lifestyle because things outside the law like drugs and violence appeal to them. There is a wide gap between the people who seek power and the people who just want to survive. Not to mention the relative isolation of the characters from the rest of the world as the city does its best to ignore them or sweep them under the rug.

While certain elements of Benevolent King are exaggerated, everything in this novel is real. That goes without saying for Baltimore’s crime rate (although the level of homicide in this book teetered on the edge of believability). It is also true for the Colombian Devil’s Breath drug. While the effects are exaggerated for the sake of the story, it is a real drug with similar effects.

On the whole, Benevolent King shows how Joe Albanese is improving as his career a writer continues. The extra page count of a novel vs. a novella really gave him the chance to spread his wings. There was more room for character development, story progression, and everything else that makes any novel great. This is a good story that shows a side of society rarely if ever seen by most people. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

Title: Overlord, Vol. 11: The Dwarven Crafter
Series: Overlord
Author: Kugane Maruyama
Genre: Light Novel
Publisher: Yen On
Release Date: October 29, 2019 (English); September 30, 2016 (Japanese)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336

 

The Dwarven Crafters is a little more tame than the previous two volumes of Overlord. With the Sorcerer Kingdom (still mistranslated as “Kingdom of Darkness” in the official translation, argh!) more or less established now, Ainz can focus his attention elsewhere. Which translates to letting Demiurge and Albedo handle the bureaucratic side of things so he can do that he wants. Readers see once again that more than anything, Ainz longs for the good old days of adventuring with his buddies. So, with a handful of his servants, he decides to venture out into the unknown and investigate the dwarven country he has heard rumors about.

Most of this book focuses on Ainz, more so than most of the previous books at this point. Shalltear and Aura join him as the sidekicks for this adventure along with one of the lizardmen and various unnamed minions. It is fun to see that even several years into the story, Ainz has to repeatedly tell his subordinates, “Do not just shoot first and ask questions later.” While they are growing as people and developing better critical thinking skills, most of them still view wholesale slaughter as their go-to option during any sort of confrontation.

There are several parts of this book that show other characters viewpoints, namely the new dwarf characters. This includes a single dwarven craftsman as well as their country’s governing council. Their reaction to someone like Ainz showing up on their doorstep goes about how you would expect. This includes Ainz BSing his way into success by making vague/innocuous statements and having others fill in the blanks. Oh, and magic. Lots and lots of super-powerful magic to scare the pants off anyone who witnesses it (and lives). While not as extreme as Volume 9’s events, this is a clear reminder that Ainz and co. are playing this game with God Mode cheat codes.

Overall, this was one of the more fun Overlord books. The stakes were not high and while the events were not action packed, they were not bland either. We get to see Ainz doing what he most wants to do: going on an adventure. Exploring the unknown, fighting monsters, and finding treasure. All the things that adventurers do. While he still must play the role of king to some degree, that is almost more of a secondary objective. In the end he gets what he wants, in more ways than one, as Nazarick’s world conquest continues.

Title: City of Night
Series: Dean Koontz's Frankenstein
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Bantam Books
Release Date: July 26, 2005
Format: Paperback
Pages: 455

 

Dean Koontz’s first Frankenstein book definitely left audiences wanting more. City of Night picks up almost right where The Prodigal Son left off. With the serial killer plotline resolved, the protagonists move on to tackle their real enemy, Dr. Frankenstein himself. But before delving into this particular book, readers should know that this is very much a “Part II” story. Things are no more resolved at the end of City of Night then they were at the end of The Prodigal Son. It is pretty clear that Dean Koontz intended this to be a trilogy from the get-go, so buckle in for all three books if you want the full story.

There is a bit of a different feel to City of Night, likely since Koontz’s co-author was changed from Kevin J. Anderson to Ed Gorman. It is not blatantly different, but the subtle changes in writing are there. But while the writing is only a bit different, the story really starts to pick up here. Victor’s endgame begins to unfold as the protagonists realize just how close his plans already are to fruition. An unexpected race against the clock begins to stop the mad doctor’s plans of world conquest.

The characters are still a bit wooden here. Book 1 in a series typically establishes who these people are, while Book 2 works on who they are going to be. What kind of actions will they make in the face of this crisis? And how will those decisions and the events that unfold reshape them as people? But the dialogue is still just kind of there out of necessity. It feels stiff, not like something a real person would say. Think SyFy Channel original movies (which this trilogy would actually work as, given the plot).

Are these books fun? Kind of. Saying that Koontz’s take on Frankenstein is dull would be a stretch. But great literature this is not. I personally started this trilogy at a friend’s recommendation and do intend to keep going since I am already two books deep. But saying that this series is recommended and worth reading would also be a stretch. This series did start off as an idea for a TV show, so maybe that just did not translate well into book form. Either way, go into these books expecting some light reading (unless maybe if you are a big Koontz fan).

Title: The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 2: Plus Ultra
Series: The Saga of Tanya the Evil
Author: Carlo Zen
Genre: Light Novel
Publisher: Yen On
Release Date: March 27, 2018 (English); May 31, 2014 (Japanese)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 406

 

Like the first volume, Plus Ultra is long for a light novel. None of the books in The Saga of Tanya the Evil are quick reads. They take about as long as a standard western novel. For readers who watched the anime first, Plus Ultra goes from partway through Episode 5 to partway through episode 11. There is also a side story at the end which the anime shows at the end of Episode 2. This is where The Saga of Tanya the Evil differs from many other anime adaptions of light novels.

Typically, an anime adapted from a light novel tries to match pace with the books. This series does not do that. The end of an episode does not necessarily coincide with the end of a chapter. The pacing is readjusted for the anime adaption and while that is not necessarily a bad thing, it is unusual. That being said, it could even be viewed in a positive light depending on your outlook. The alternate narrative techniques used by the anime tell the same story, but in a different way. While the book has more focus on geopolitical analysis, the anime more focuses directly on fighting and warfare.

With all that in mind, Plus Ultra continues to be an already impressive series. This is the point in the story where WWI and WWII analogies start to mix. The first book showed more of the WWI side of things with notions such as the geographic location of the Not-Europe nations and trench warfare. Plus Ultra starts driving WWII-era points home, such as the application of new technology and tactics on the battlefield. All of this is obvious to Tanya, who is from Earth and has knowledge of WWII history. But to everyone else in the world, this is all new.

The Empire is newly established as a potential world superpower. However, they are surrounded by other countries on all sides. While their country is not landlocked, areas the size of the English Channel are the only waters between them and other nations. Some of these other nations are superpowers and want to prevent the Empire from becoming one as well. This is where The Saga of Tanya the Evil differs from real history. The Empire (Not-Germany) is always the defender (thus far). They have yet to attack first. And their military leaders 100% expected any potential wars to happen that way. How their plans of national defense will ultimately turn out in the face of a reacting enemy remains to be seen.

Title: The Rising of the Shield Hero, Volume 3
Series: The Rising of the Shield Hero
Author: Aneko Yusagi
Genre: Light Novel
Publisher: One Peace Books
Release Date: February 16, 2016 (English); December 21, 2013 (Japanese)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 344

 

Volume 3 of The Rising of the Shield Hero is where things start to pick up. While the last book did not 100% wrap up the intro sequence, readers start to see that here. For you anime watchers, Volume 3 covers episodes 9 to 13. This time around, existing character development and plot advancement take precedence over introducing new characters. Volume 3 primarily revolves around the Heroes fighting the next wave, including prep work and the aftermath of the battle. Readers also get to see the first hints at behind-the-scenes politics going on within Melromarc, and their influence.

But that is not to say that the plot-lines from Volume 2 are all wrapped up. Naofumi continues (to his frustration) to clean up the messes left by the other heroes. And his relationship with Melty, the newest member of the group, continues to develop. Moreover, Raphtalia begins this book still cursed following the battle against the zombie dragon. Suffice to say, the group is kept busy prior to fighting the next wave. But the wave does come and this time around Naofumi is properly prepared and ready for a real fight.

The wave itself is one of the best parts of Shield Hero up to this point. Naofumi has gained a lot of experience, both personal and as a leader, since the last wave. And it shows. Whereas the other heroes do what they did last time (run off seeking glory), Naofumi marshals what forces he can and rallies a defense. And does this job well enough that he starts to outshine the other heroes. By the time the battle is said and done, it cannot be denied that Naofumi played the most pivotal role. Between that and his travels, public opinion is starting to sway in the Shield Hero’s favor.

That is not to say that everyone is happy with this outcome. The Shield Hero still has many powerful enemies who want public opinion of him to stay as-is. People who care more for their own personal power than the safety and survival of the citizens under their rule. Or even of the world. Once again Naofumi finds himself falsely accused without so much as a chance to defend himself. But anyone who thinks he will go down without a fight this time is a damn fool. Despite everything, he persevered once and is damned determined to do it again. How that turns out will be revealed in Volume 4.

Title: The Honor of the Queen
Series: Honor Harrington
Author: David Weber
Genre: Sci-fi
Publisher: Baen Books
Release Date: June 1993
Format: Paperback
Pages: 422

 

The Honor of the Queen takes place three years after On Basilisk Station. In that time, Honor has used her command to hunt down space pirates and protect Manticore’s ships. Now she has received new orders to join a small fleet headed for the world of Grayson. In the three years since the first book, Manticore’s relations with Haven have continued to worsen. Both sides know that the prospect of war is a matter of if, not when. With that in mind, both sides are seeking alliances with star systems near their territories for tactical superiority.

And this is the part where certain people may get offended by the ideas presented in The Honor of the Queen. Grayson, simply put, is sexist. Their people are descended from a Christian, Luddite-type culture. While the reasons for their sexism are fleshed out further in later books, in The Honor of the Queen it is very blunt. Their culture views women as delicate and needing protection. This creates one of the central conflicts in the book in the form of Honor. Manticore sends her on this mission for political reasons as much as her skills. To show Grayson that working with Manticore means viewing women as equals.

Anyone who read the first book should have a rough idea of how this turns out. Honor is a badass and far, far from needing anyone else to protect her. That being said, the people of Grayson are aware of the limits of their culture and planet’s technology and acknowledge that allying with a more powerful nation like Manticore will require them to adapt and change rather than digging in their heels. On the flipside of that, Grayson’s sister planet and enemy Masada takes the sexism and turns it up to 11. They are also more religiously extreme, viewing non-believers as infidels who deserve only slavery and death.

When The Honor of the Queen came out 25 years ago, sexism and religion were starting to become touchy subjects. The social developments of the last 25 years have made these problems in our society much more apparent. It would be a bit much to claim David Weber was ahead of his time for addressing these issues when he did, but he was up to bat a lot early than most other people with a following and influence.

While the story, characterization, and other literary aspects of The Honor of the Queen are on par with the first book, modern readers may ignore those factors and only focus on the real-world applications of the subject matter instead. If you are an individual sensitive to those types of things, even when the heroine comes out on top, this may not be the book for you. For those readers who want to read one of the best military sci-fi series out there, Honor Harrington continues to impress.

Title: The Skull Throne
Series: The Demon Cycle
Author: Peter V. Brett
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: March 31, 2015
Format: Paperback
Pages: 681

 

In fantasy series, the 2^nd-to-last book always seems to be the weakest installment. Usually, authors have the spend the majority of these books setting things up for the grand finale. Big events are usually kept at a minimum before the final battle. While The Skull Throne does this somewhat, Peter V. Brett toned it down compared to many other authors. Most of this novel is spent getting all the ducks in a row for the last book, but it is not without excitement. Minor characters see their development beginning to wrap up and the loose threads of side plots start being sewed up.

The biggest difference between The Skull Throne and the previous three books is the lack of flashbacks. Readers know everything they need to about the major characters at this point. A new character introduced in this book gets some flashbacks, but that is it. Everything else is focused on the present and advances character development. Mind you, it is more character development than plot that is advanced in this book. While the key main characters and a few others are off doing…things…most of The Skull Throne focuses on everyone else. The Daylight War is still in effect with humans warring on humans, but the demons are just about done sitting still.

That being said, the characters that this installment does focus on get some good development. Leesha has been a bit of a hectic character but really finds her footing too. Rojer also gets a lot of focus, which is great since he did not receive much in the previous book. But these events do make The Skull Throne feel a bit slow at times. There are less demon butt-kicking scenes and more to do with politics, strategy, and people’s love lives. Not quite the same excitement of life-or-death battles, but these are things that need to happen narratively, which Brett understands.

While the action is scarcer, it is also more intense. At the start of the series, the demons were basically just animals. Animals that are very hard to kill, but essentially just vicious, hungry animals. Now, they are strategizing. They are beginning to move like armies and fight like soldiers, testing the mettle of the humans who have grown overconfident as they have become drunk on the power of magic. They know their ancestors have fought this war before, more than once, and failed to vanquish their enemies. The final book will show whether they can accomplish what the heroes of their myths and legends could not.