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The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie is back with another gem to the Fantasy genre: “The Heroes” is a brilliantly written plot that builds on the already existing world created by Abercrombie. As in his previous book called “Best Served Cold”, the story is told in a stand-alone book – no trilogies, please! But there are several factors that make this book unique: the full story is told in less than a week. In fact, the core story is told within 3 days, and it’s all about pawns playing at winning battles in a war that is much bigger than themselves. Someone simply has to do the dirty work. The main characters are others, not necessarily unknown from Abercrombies previous books. In a plot so tight and fast paced as this, many characters contribute...

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie

Best Served Cold is a great side-story to the already existing universe created by Joe Abercrombie. Many of the characters featured in “The First Law” trilogy are back, though not necessarily taking a central role in the main story – except for one: Shivers. I found it really nice to get to know Shivers and dive into the culture of the Nords. The characters being introduced in this story are complex and full of nuances. They mingle to create a very rewarding reading experience, specially for those who have already read a lot of fantasy and crave for intertwined intrigue, near death situations, plenty of casualties and high stakes. Another nicety to this book is that it is not spanned through a trilogy. It is therefore fast paced and intense, very...

Dreamyguy v3 is here!

That’s it folks, the version that was long overdue is finally live. A complete overhaul of every single bit is done, and this time it is done properly! Since last version I decided to share not only my web design-persona but every other one: my music-self, my environmental-self, my vegetarian-self, my fantasy-reader self… the list goes on and on. But all this was somehow set aside and had to wait for this version. This version also marks my undeniable self-promotion as a musician, it is the first time I make my music available from here. As stated, long overdue! I hope you enjoy this version, it was created with WordPress & loads of funky code for your enjoyment. Cheers, Wallace

The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

For some reason I just kept delaying reading Abercrombie, not for lack of interest, but perhaps for going for other stuff. No regrets there, but I wish I had read it sooner. Joe Abercrombie writes in a way that appeals a lot to me: characters tell their own stories, share their thoughts, their impressions, and often see the same situation from very different perspectives, making a simple situation seem much richer and fulfilling. There are a few characters that stand out of the crowd, each with very different backgrounds and personalities, somehow coming together in a very interesting plot. Well, not much new here, but the way they do it, narrated in a witty and humorous way even in the grimiest scenarios, make this reading very easy, in spite of the occasional...

Lightbringer by Brent Weeks

Now… this is what I call a very different and original kind of fantasy! Color drafters, people able to turn light into objects of different consistencies, shaping them according to their will, are the core of the story. An outlaw king is at odds with the current government, and means to take it over. There’s a lot at stake as a an ancient cult is loosing its grip after so many years of peace. A Prism, a “chosen by the gods” color drafter that can draft the whole spectrum of colors is challenged by forces beyond his control. A very refreshing story for those bored with the all-so-usual course fantasy seems to take most of the time. Brent Weeks does it again! This is his second trilogy, still in the making. I also recommend his debut...

The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss

The book has two story-lines, one in the present and one in the past. The “current” story-line is but a few years after, and the main character – Kvothe – a widely known and respected Arcane tells his own story himself. The plot is not so complex at first, but the reading is easy and linear. Kvothe starts as a nobody, too clever by half, and slowly becomes a very important figure in the greater scheme of things… I liked Kvothe a lot. He is charmy, witty, bright and nevertheless… young. He is good at being reckless, being on the wrong spot at the wrong time and being naive. But he also excels at being the opposite, and that makes his story as unpredictable as it can get. This is a pretty light story, not a bloody or vulgar one....

The Chronicles of Siala by Alexey Pehov

This was a very spontaneous buy, when I went by my favorite book store and could pick any book as a bonus (the shop gives points to every book you buy). The artwork in the cover was impressive, the author was a prized author in Russia and the page I randomly picked improved on my already good impression. The book itself was very nice, but nevertheless just an introduction to a story that is probably going to be much longer. What you see in the cover is more or less the end of the book – a group of mercenaries sent by the king is going out on an obscure mission, and the outcome of that is yet to be seen… The translation from the original Russian is impeccable, very well written and seemingly true to the complexity of the original. Recommended, if you...

The Malazan Book Of The Fallen Decalogy by Steven Erikson

I can hardly expect to have grasped the fullness of this decalogy (yes, 10 books!) by having read only a fifth of the first book so far – I have barely scraped the tip of the iceberg. In spite of that considerable shortcoming, I must say one thing… Even though I appreciate the intricacy of the plot and the effort that the author put into building it, the beginning of the story falls short on “hooks” to keep me reading it. That and the constant naming of places and persons I am somehow supposed to know without being introduced to them, puts me off quite a bit. Ok, important names are supposed to be told and all that, but when you’re laying the ground for a story you shouldn’t spend too much time describing political strife and...

Chronicles of King Rolens Kin Trilogy by Rowena Cory Daniells

This story was nice and definitely entertaining, but the trilogy was somewhat short. The first book is as thick as the second and the third books together. The plot was ok but the tale itself went a bit rushed, there could have been a bit more of character building on some key people… I was easily carried away by the story, it did keep me interested in the next page (and that makes it a good story), but I was taken aback by the shallowness on some important story-turning events, where the author spared only a few pages to narrate them. Three books are out so far, but the ending on the third suggests, if only mildly, that another sequel is on its way… If you’re out for a hit-and-go fantasy readable under a trip, this is a good one. Bloody alright...

The Valisar Trilogy by Fiona McIntosh

This trilogy was a very nice read: the plot was simple but engaging, involving all characters and intertwining them into rich collective experiences, the pace just about edgy enough to keep you reading. Some sorcery of the kind that is not too difficult to accept, and yet quite unconventional. Even though events build up and converge at certain points, coagulating into interesting situations, there were moments the pace just got too hurried by, considering the amount of building up invested in them. That left me wanting for more, but all in all The Valisar Trilogy was a good read, one I would do again if I wasn’t so addicted in reading more and more fantasy… The covers are really nice, by the way. That and Robin Hobb’s recommendation sold me into...

The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan

A nice fantasy for those who like an easy read, a close-to-life pace and not too much gorge. It’s the story of a girl that, in a surge of anger, suddenly realizes she has special powers. It has been ages since the Magician Order took anyone of her likes under their wings, and the unlikeliness of the situation triggers many events, most undesirable for the Order, but somewhat necessary for the greater good. It was a little too easy-go for me, specially after reading The Night Angel Trilogy, which is a very different kind of literature (not for the faint of heart). Entertaining all the same, the debut trilogy for Trudi Canavan.

The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks

This is another of my favorites trilogies. The pace is relentless, engaging and witty. However a few friends that started reading this trilogy – even my wife – had to put it aside because of the “violence”. Yes, it can get pretty harsh, and since Brent Weeks has a very descriptive style, one can get a little shocked. But the plot is very original and refreshing, if one manages to get past the initial gorge… I’ll write a longer review and say more about the plot when time allows.

The Rain Wild Chronicles Trilogy by Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb takes us back to the dragon world, again picking up from where her second trilogy ended (The Liveship Traders Trilogy). The world she created shares the same map, but it is vast and even though the characters from different trilogies do mingle a little, their interaction is not of major consequence to the main plot. I like the way she defines dragons: their previous lives as serpents, their arrogance, their supremacy over all other species, their enchanting beauty. If you let yourself be carried away, you’ll begin to get a glimpse about the life of dragons, and perhaps understand them… I’ll write a longer review and say more about the plot when time allows.

The Soldier’s Son Trilogy by Robin Hobb

An unusual fantasy that involves a very different kind of magic, which expresses itself between two worlds. It takes place in a relatively recent age, where gun powder and musketeers are already around. In my opinion not the strongest work of Robin Hobb, but entertaining all the same. I’ll write a longer review and say more about the plot when time allows.

The Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb’s third trilogy brings back most of the characters from The Farseer Trilogy (those who made it alive). It picks up 15 years after the end of the The Farseer Trilogy and life has changed a lot, but not for some characters. The plot builds on facts and consequences of the first trilogy and is a real treat for those who enjoyed the clumsy heroism of Fitz-Chivalry. I’ll write a longer review and say more about the plot when time allows.

The Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin Hobb

Though in a very different setting and landscape, this trilogy builds on The Farseer Trilogy, sharing the same map and a few key characters (can’t say which, it would spoil the surprise…). I read this trilogy after having read The Tawny Man Trilogy, and realized as I went on reading The Liveship Traders Trilogy that I should have read it before. It would have made The Tawny Man Trilogy a bit more interesting, as many of the characters from both trilogies mingle. Not much, but enough to make it interesting. I’ll write a longer review and say more about the plot when time allows.

The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

Most definitely one of the best fantasy trilogy I know of. I was introduced to Robin Hobb through the “Assassin’s Apprentice”, the first book on this trilogy, and from that moment I started reading fantasy books again. It is the kind of plot that won’t be allowed to be put aside or delayed, so prepare yourself to late nights, reading while walking and commuting, on your lunch break. I’ll write a longer review when time allows – promise!

Dreamyguy.com goes live on WordPress!

I’m really happy to announce that an old dream of migrating my digital home – Dreamyguy.com – to WordPress has been fullfilled! One may wonder what is the big deal to get a WordPress blog up and running. Truth to be told, it’s not that difficult. But as a web designer having that used to have an intense full-time job (web designer of an online store), there aren’t many braincells left to be creative at home, after working hours… So on the last two days of my Easter break I made a master plan to finally do what I wanted: create a very personal website with all the best ingredients in my kitchen and expose myself as a competent professional within my trade: web design and graphic design. However, I thought of doing it in a very...

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