Snarky Book Reviews

I have just a few pages left of "The Da Vinci Code". It took me a long time to start reading it because of my strict "no hardcover" policy. The paperback version came out last week.

I found the history aspect intriguing, but saw the plot "twists" pretty far away. It is better than "Angels & Demons" (the prequel) however, despite the presence of the Illuminati. I'll read anything about the Illuminati.

Davinci Code broke my streak of Fantasy novels that I have read in succession. I will give them letter grades and a trite blurb about each:

• A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin. The sign of any good Fantasy author is the presence of two middle initials. He's easily my fave in the genre. Gritty and realistic. My only complaint is that the book wound up being HALF the story he intended to tell, with the second half due next year, which is disappointing. He's not terribly prolific and rumor has it he's very ill. Still, A-.


• Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan. Book 11 of a ridiculously over-written 12 book series. He's got so many loose ends to tie up he could fill another 3 volumes at least. I don't know how he intends to wrap it all up. His fan base is getting angry. B-.


• Chainfire by Terry Goodkind. Goodkind and Jordan rip each other off all the time. I won't bother listing the comparisons. Like Jordan, I am reading this series out of obligation at this point. Like A Feast for Crows, this one ends halfway through the story. I'm not on a good streak. C.


• Gardens of The Moon by Stephen Erikson. Finally something creative and original. Gritty like Martin with a strong military bent. I love stories with big land battles for some reason. Maybe because I am a boy. B+.


• The Darkness that Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker. A pretentious initial for a first name! Dark. Dark. But good. Writes totally in his own style. B+.