Book Review

Dragon Lance Novels

November 14, 2025 · 2 min

I recently revisited two books from my past: Dragons of Winter Night and Dragons of Spring Dawning, and this time around I chose to experience them differently as audiobooks. The narrator, Paul Boehmer, delivered a great performance, and I very much enjoyed the chance to revisit both stories. I read both books a long time ago, so a lot of the details had slipped my mind. Listening allowed me to pick up things I had forgotten — small scenes, character beats, world-building details that faded with time. …

Book Review

Moriarty: The Devil’s Game

October 18, 2025 · 1 min

I went into Moriarty: The Devil’s Game with a fair bit of skepticism. Any time someone reimagines the Sherlock Holmes universe, it runs the risk of feeling forced or gimmicky. But once I got past the initial adjustment, I found myself surprisingly drawn into this darker, clever twist on familiar territory. In this version, Sherlock Holmes is not the paragon of justice we’re used to—far from it. He’s manipulative, driven, and more than a little self-serving. Moriarty, on the other hand, still becomes the kingpin of crime, but now his actions are layered with ambiguity as he’s trying to clear his name. That simple shift in moral balance reframes everything we thought we knew about Baker Street. …

Book Review

Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

September 20, 2025 · 1 min

I picked up The Three-Body Problem. The premise, scientific ideas, and vast scope are intriguing: from the opening I was fascinated by the blend of history, physics, and alien contact. Yet as I moved forward, the book became harder to finish. The pacing slowed significantly. The middle section felt dense: technical exposition, shifting timelines, and multiple characters so far removed that I struggled to keep invested in their arcs. There were stretches where the scientific framing overshadowed the emotional/motivational grounding of the characters. It often felt more like reading to understand ideas than to follow a story I cared about. …

Book Review

Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

August 30, 2025 · 1 min

This was a return to my teenage reading years, revisiting the first book of the Dragonlance Chronicles. It had been long enough that I had forgotten many of the details, which made the story feel fresh again while still carrying that sense of familiarity. The world-building, the companions, and the unfolding quest reminded me why these books became such a staple of fantasy in the first place. …

Book Review

U. S. Grant: The Civil War Years by Bruce Catton

August 30, 2025 · 1 min

The Civil War has always been one of my favorite subjects to read about, and Bruce Catton remains one of the best at bringing that history to life. I’ve read several of his works, and this two-volume look at Ulysses S. Grant did not disappoint. The first book follows Grant’s rise in the western campaigns, from Fort Donelson through the long struggle at Vicksburg. Catton captures both the determination and the setbacks, showing how Grant’s steady leadership began to shape the course of the war. The second book picks up after Lincoln appoints him commander of all Union armies, carrying the story through the brutal campaigns from Chattanooga to the final surrender at Appomattox. …

Book Review

The Looking Glass War by John le Carré

August 30, 2025 · 1 min

This book took its time, unfolding slowly as the groundwork was laid for sending an agent behind the lines in East Germany. At first, I found myself waiting for the story to really get going, but in hindsight, that slow build was part of the point. It reflected the tedious preparation, the quiet politics, and the weight of expectation that hung over every decision in the Cold War. …

Book Review

Blood of Ashaheim

July 19, 2025 · 1 min

I recently finished Blood of Asaheim by Chris Wraight and overall, I’d say it was a solid read, though not outstanding—it’s enjoyable but doesn’t quite break new ground. The story follows Ingvar, a Space Wolf returning to his old pack after decades with the Deathwatch. That setup—homecoming meets culture clashes is the book’s strongest point. Wraight does a good job depicting the tension: Ingvar has changed, and his battle brothers aren’t sure what to make of him. It’s one of those character-centric arcs that hold your attention, even when the broader plot falters. …

Book Review

Fulgrim

June 11, 2025 · 1 min

Fulgrim is the next haunting and operatic tale in the Horus Heresy series. In this installment, Graham McNeill takes us deep into the psyche of the primarch Fulgrim and his III Legion, the Emperor’s Children, as they descend from noble warriors in pursuit of perfection to corrupted champions of excess under the sway of Chaos. The book vividly captures this transformation, weaving a narrative that spans stunning victories, eerie discoveries, and the fateful events at Isstvan V. …

Book Review

Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

May 15, 2025 · 1 min

Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark is an ambitious exploration of the future of artificial intelligence and its implications for humanity. While the book offers a broad and thought-provoking perspective on AI’s potential trajectories, it may not satisfy readers seeking a technical understanding of how AI systems function. Tegmark, a physicist and co-founder of the Future of Life Institute, categorizes life into three stages: Life 1.0 (biological evolution), Life 2.0 (cultural evolution), and Life 3.0 (technological evolution). He envisions a future where AI surpasses human intelligence, leading to scenarios ranging from utopian to dystopian. The book delves into topics like consciousness, ethics, and the long-term fate of intelligent life in the universe. …

Book Review

Lockwood and Co -The Whispering Skull

May 7, 2025 · 2 min

After finishing The Screaming Staircase, I dove straight into The Whispering Skull. This book lines up with episodes 4–8 from the Netflix adaptation, so if you’ve seen the show, you’ll recognize some of the major moments — but the book still holds plenty of surprises. I picked up the second installment with high expectations, and it absolutely delivered. If anything, it felt darker, sharper, and even funnier in places. …