Daddy Was a Punk Rocker by Adam Sharp

I received a digital copy of this memoir from Sharp's publicity team, and am so pleased that they were able to send me a copy. I don't often read memoirs and biographies, preferring to read fiction and literature, and am very glad I picked up this book for a change of scenery. Adam Sharp wrote a phenomenal story, and I felt as though I was with him throughout the many trials and tribulations of his life. Daddy was a Punk Rocker earns 4 out of 5 stars for being so entertaining, inspiring, and well-written.

From the publisher:
Adam just wants a conventional father. But his father hates convention, he would rather rebel. Adam wants a father who will sit by his bed and softly sing him lullabies. But his father is too busy snarling on stage alongside Joy Division and other angry young men. Adam, a budding goalkeeper, wants a father who will shoot balls at him in the park. But his father prefers to shoot heroin in dark rooms. Adam wants a father who is predictable, who is a provider, who is present. His father can never be any of those things. Because Daddy is a punk rocker.

My thoughts:
It didn't take much for me to be pulled right into this story, feeling so strongly for Adam as he struggled to be accepted by his family, classmates, and the people he encounters throughout life. While I certainly did not have the same life experiences, I definitely understand trying to be accepted, and struggling with self-identity and self-confidence at such transitional moments in life. A refreshingly honest and insightful memoir, I was riveted by the story and couldn't stop cheering Adam on as I turned the (digital) pages of his memoir. All Adam wanted was a conventional father with whom to practice soccer, listen to music, and have a traditional father-son relationship. What he had, however, was a somewhat dysfunctional relationship with his punk rocker father who struggled with heroin use and whom Adam at times tried to be close with, or tried to get as far away from as possible. I found this book to be filled with melancholy and dark humor, but regardless of what Adam describes in his book, he does so without bitterness or resentment, a remarkable personality trait that truly lends itself to the readability and satisfaction I found with Daddy was a Punk Rocker. I was very pleased with this memoir, and look forward to seeing what else comes from the mind (and pen) of Adam Sharp.

The Chains of War by Dean Wilson

I'm going to start this review with a confession: I'm not often a fan of the final book in a trilogy. I don't really like endings, having to say goodbye to the characters I've grown attached to, and not being able to make up scenarios in my head for them. I also feel like conclusions are often rushed or subpar, and rarely do I enjoy them as much as the first few books in the series (The Hunger Games, for example). Going into the last leg of the Children of Telm series by Dean Wilson, I was understandably a little nervous. I'd become a fan of Ifferon and his companions (particularly Delin and Geldirana, they were my favorite characters), and didn't want to turn the last pages on their story. Wilson did a fantastic job wrapping up his series, and keeping me hooked throughout the entire book. The Chains of War is a great concluding book, and earns itself 4 out of 5 stars and a glowing review from me.

From the publisher:
The first of Agon’s chains has broken, and the others are straining. It is only a matter of time before he is free, before the world is engulfed in chaos and death.

There are few left to stop him. Most of the gods can only sit and watch in horror from their prison in the heavens, but the resurrection of the father god Corrias gives the people of Iraldas a sliver of hope, a fighting chance.

Yet the memory of Corrias' failure to defeat Agon in ages past plays heavily on all minds. Many know that it is only the might of the Warrior-god Telm that can defeat the Beast. That god is dead, but his power lives on in his bloodline, in Ifferon and others like him, and they are tasked with waging a final war against the Beast.

My thoughts:
This is a difficult review to write, because there are a lot of details and quotes that I would love to incorporate, and can't do that because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone. I can say that the battle between Agon and Corrias was quite remarkable to read, and I was reminded of Rick Riordan and the mythology placed into his books. Corrias and Agon can walk the earth, be looked upon by mortal eyes, and Agon is capable of being hit by mortal weapons and hands, even if they do not inflict that much damage. I am not a fan of gods being completely unapproachable by mortals, and I liked that Ifferon and company could truly help Corrias, rather than just being background noise.

This world that Wilson has created is immense, and he does a wonderful job describing every facet. I am especially grateful for the map that was included, it made Ifferon's journey much easier to see and understand. I also really liked Yavun's poetry in this book, I feel like because there were fewer poems, they added so much more to the story without being overwhelming. Dean Wilson is incredibly skilled in his writing, from drawing me into his world that he has created, to emotionally linking me with his incredible characters. I felt so deeply for each of the characters whenever something happened to them, and found myself dreading the final chapters of the trilogy, knowing that this would be it for Ifferon, Geldirana, and all the other characters fighting against Agon.

Books such as The Chains of War are few and far between, and truly demonstrate the passion that their authors have for writing. Dean Wilson is certainly a force to be reckoned with, and I look forward to reading his other works. If you haven't already, I highly recommend downloading The Call of Agon, and starting this tremendous series. I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from The Chains of War :)

"It is not courage to not know fear, but rather it is courage to know fear and face it anyway."

- Justin

The Road to Rebirth by Dean Wilson

A fitting title for the rebirth of my blogging days! I have been overwhelmed the past few months, and am very excited to have finally had the opportunity to get back into reading. Apologies to all who missed my posts, and I am sincerely hoping that this marks the beginning of more regular, possibly biweekly, postings.

Dean Wilson is at it again, this time continuing the take of Ifferon in The Road to Rebirth, second in the Children of Telm series. I am seriously astounded that Wilson is able to create a whole world, complete with a whole new religious and mythological system, and put so much life and vigor into every aspect of his series. It took me a while to get back into the story because of the depth put into it, but once I was in I was hooked all over again. Wilson's new addition to the Children of Telm series earns itself 4 out of 5 stars from me.

From the publisher:
After the catastrophe of the Call of Agon, Ifferon and his companions find themselves in the unenviable situation of witnessing, and partaking in, the death of another god- this time Corrias, the ruler of the Overworld.

With Corrias locked inside the corpse of the boy Theos, he suffers a fate worse than the bonds of the beast Agon. Yet hope is kindled when the company find a way to restore the boy, and possibly the god, back to life.

The road to rebirth has many pitfalls, and there are some who consider such meddling with the afterlife a great risk. The prize might be life anew- but the price might also be a second death.

My thoughts:
As with any book, there are things I liked, and things I didn't like about The Road to Rebirth. One of the things I wasn't too fond of was how long it took me to get into the story. This isn't because of Wilson's writing or the plot itself, but rather the intense level of detail put into every part of the story. Many sci-fi and fantasy/adventure sagas have timelines, maps, lineages, or other aids to help readers remember important yet complex parts of the story, and I feel like something would have been useful to remember the different races, tribes, and gods Wilson created.

I also feel like the chapters featuring Melgales and Yavun were particularly difficult to keep track of, owing to their being in two separate places and handling different situations. I like how they were combined because of their connection with the Beldarian, although I'm not sure the ebook formatted the way Wilson had wanted because there were a few parts in these chapters that were unclear in the shifts from Yavun to Melgales and vice versa.

That being said, I have to applaud Wilson for creating a story as vivid and creative as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. He has developed a whole alternate world, complete with a complicated mythological/religious background, and that takes immense skill. I am a huge fan of mythology, particularly Greek and Roman tales, and Wilson's work only whets my appetite for more myths.

While I was overly fond of the amazing imagery and scene-setting in this book, I was also a bit overwhelmed by the number of poems and songs throughout the chapters. They were well placed and added to the culture of Wilson's world, but I think there were just a bit too many for me to truly enjoy as they took me away from the plot itself, and I had to reorient myself to what was occurring.

As I mentioned before, Wilson's style of writing hooks the reader, and creates an emotional bridge between reader and character. The characters in The Road to Rebirth are realistic in the moral and ethical choices they make in each chapter. Nobody is all good or all evil, and each person makes their choices and has to live with the repercussions, be they positive or negative. Elithea and Delin share drastically opposing opinions in what is right to do for Theos' soul, but because there is naught but gray area, either can be right or wrong. How can anyone tell who is truly good or evil in this story, without seeing how the conclusion plays out?

One of my favorite parts of any book I read is finding quotes that really speak to me, and Dean Wilson is outstanding at making his stories as inspirational as they are entertaining. I'll leave you with just a few of my favorites:

"If you draw breath, then this is living. The question is: do you do more than just draw breath?"

"The dark night feels very long now, even if there is the hope of dawn." "There is more than hope... It is not idealism to think that day will follow night. It is a matter of knowing, not hoping."

"Do you yearn for life, even when it is often cruel?" "Yes, because it is often cruel, not always, and when it is not cruel, it is kind beyond any measure, and those moments outweigh the darker ones that precede or follow. Even when night comes and smothers day, there are stars up there in the blackness."

"To try and fail is better than to fail to try. A flower always tries to bloom, even in the bleakest of winters. Often the flowers fail, but sometimes they succeed."

"Sometimes it is best to think less of where you came from, and more on where you are going."


Keep looking for new book reviews, I plan on going back into this headfirst!

- Justin :)