Dungeon Samurai Volume 2: Kami no Kishi Review

Dungeon Samurai Volume 2: Kami no Kishi

By Kit Sun Cheah

If you have read my review of volume one of this saga found here, then you will know that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The second volume starts six months after the first. Our heroes have now gotten somewhat used to their situation, and things are starting to become a little routine for them in some ways. However, it wouldn't be much of a story if things just became run-of-the-mill, and Kit Sun does not disappoint.

Not only do the antagonists start to learn and adapt tactics, much like our heroes, but newer tougher enemies pop-up too. The stakes increase, even as our heroes gain an extra edge or two against the forces of the dungeon.

The way that Kit Sun actually shows the humans constantly adapting their tactics and equipment to newer threats and situations is refreshing compared to some stories that I have read where things remain somewhat stagnant. Not only that, but he also continues to show the 'behind-the-scenes' parts of military endeavours such as the miners, the farmers, the blacksmiths, etc, that fuel the war-machine, as it were, without getting bogged down in minutiae. Every little glimpse of this background detail is woven in to the story seamlessly, and you barely notice it happen without looking for it. Our heroes also constantly adapt too, growing as individuals, and as a group.

If the story had remained like the original entry, I would have been fine with it, but Kit Sun manages to not only take the original entry's strengths and maintain them, he manages to amp things up without them being overwhelming.

Overall, this is a great sequel to the original entry, and manages to not only match it's predecessor, but surpass it in every way. Definitely worth reading!

Triple Review

Today we have three different books to review, so let's get started.

Combat Frame XSEED: Coalition Year 40

By Brian Niemeier

I previously reviewed the first part in this series here. To recap, the first book was brilliant, and set the series off to a great start. Therefore the sequel had a high bar to surpass, which I am happy to say it managed.

The book takes place after the events of the first, and things have only gotten more complicated for the folks fighting for freedom. Once again, we have an interesting cast, political intrigue on a grand scale, and of course, big mecha battles that makes anime shows in the same vein look like amateur hour.

Suffice it to say that I fully enjoyed the sequel as much as I enjoyed the original.

If you read the first in this series, you will definitely enjoy this entry, and if you haven't checked out the original entry, then there's no time like the present to rectify that.

Dungeon Samurai Volume 1: Kamikaze

By Kit Sun Cheah

For more on how this series was created, drop by the author's website where he goes in to detail about the story behind the story.

I haven't read any isekai fiction before, as far as I can recall anyway, and what I have seen said of the usual fare turned me off from the genre in general. However, this is not your average isekai story as can be seen by the rules Kit Sun set for himself when he decided to write this.

When I read Dungeon Samurai, I could not help but notice how much it reminded me of the Wizardry series of games. As I am a big fan of those kinds of games, this book already hit the right notes for me. Throw in the detailed way that the characters of the story handle the dungeon in question, among other details, and this story was a winner for me.

A fantastic read, and as usual, I was left wanting more. So if you like isekai, or just feeling adventurous, get this book.

Superluminary: The Lords of Creation

By John C. Wright

I have read just about everything by John, and I am always surprised at how crazy some of the stories he tells can get without losing you. This book is no exception. The first in a three part series, Superluminary is once again one such crazy science fiction story, and should be read with its other two parts in one sitting for the best effect.

If characters being assassinated twice (successfully) and still being around to talk about it, space vampires (you read that right), or interstellar warfare involving Dyson-spheres outfitted for war (yes, war Dyson-spheres) don't intrigue you, you should get your pulse checked. You might be a space zombie. Yes, they too, are a thing.

Star Knight Saga, Book One: Reavers of the Void Review

Star Knight Saga, Book One: Reavers of the Void
By Bradford C. Walker

Some time last year, a few folks were discussing the decline in the quality of mech-focused sci-fi from Japan, and the disappointment that was most of western sci-fi. From these discussions sprung the #AGundamn4Us movement, led by authors Brian Niemeier, Bradford Walker, and Rawle Nyanzi. Each author set to work on their own answer to this gap in the market, hoping to remedy the lack of quality that had been seen so far.

Personally, I was not that big of a fan of Mecha sci-fi, I don't generally watch anime, and the sci-fi I read does not exactly focus on big stompy robots. But as I have enjoyed the work of the authors mentioned previously, I was interested to see what they came up with.

Both Brian and Bradford crowdfunded their entries on Indiegogo, and I have backed both of them.

As far as I know, Rawle Nyanzi's foray launches later this year. However, Brian Niemeier's fantastic Combat Frame XSEED has already launched successfully and was an excellent start which I thoroughly enjoyed. So, does Bradford's attempt succeed?

In a word? Yes.

Reading the first entry in Star Knight Saga, I couldn't help but feel both the anime and western influences that obviously inspired Bradford's work. The cast is colourful, with valiant heroes, graceful ladies, scheming nobles, and so on. But don't let that fool you. There is intrigue, and high stakes, plenty of action-packed battles and thrilling fights, and the characters are varied and interesting.

There wasn't a moment that passed where I felt that the story dragged, and in fact, the pace steamed along so much so that I was saddened when I reached the end, and realised that I now have to wait for the next entry.

If you are in the market for sci-fi, with a slice of mecha-combat, and a good helping of intrigue and action then you may just want to check out Star Knight Saga: Reavers of the Void. I certainly enjoyed it, and I think you might too.

First Draft Complete! (And some thoughts on my writing journey so far)

Yesterday I finally managed to complete the first draft of the book I've been working on, and I wanted to make some notes of how I got here, before I decide to pretend it didn't happen.

The book in question is something I actually wrote over 9 to 10 years or so ago, handwritten in notebooks, during university, and later unemployment. Unfortunately, I went through a long period of despairing over everything, decided it was trash (the usual writer's angst nonsense), and put it aside. I then spent the next several (read: too many) years wallowing in depression.

Stop me if you've heard this story before.

About a year ago, I reached the breaking point, as some do during depression, and decided I was sick of it. I sought to get better, and put the effort in to overcome depression and anxiety. I actually went on a course for the anxiety issue, and due to it, I managed to overcome the anxiety that had plagued me for years.

I've seen many of the self-improvement type folks that I follow on Twitter over the years mention that when you decide to improve, after that initial issue that you choose to fix is dealt with, you notice various other problems that afflict you. I was no different in this regard. Some fall here as it can be a bit overwhelming to realize how many issues you have built up over the years, but luckily I persevered. Mostly for myself, but also in a way, for my parents, and my brother and sister. I mean, who wants a miserable sod for a relative, right?

Fast forward a year, and now I'm working on my health by getting in shape to be better able to deal with the Arthritis that I suffer from. I've a long way to go on that regard, but small steps and all that.

So what has all this nonsense to do with completing my first draft, you might ask?

Simple. In January, I decided that I wanted to finally get around to becoming a published author finally (something I've wanted to do since I was a child), and that to get there I needed to actually write something. This had the bonus of improving my discipline, and to form a positive habit. It's been a rocky start, as it has taken a span of three months to write what was technically a months worth of work, but I think I have the hang of it now. Hopefully, from now on, I should be writing or editing something of mine each day (barring unforeseen circumstances).

Now that I have finished the first draft of the book, and I can begin editing the thing, it feels like the progress I sought is finally starting to show, and I have to admit, it's a bit of a thrill.

Here's hoping it doesn't take as long to edit it to a state I'm somewhat satisfied with!

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For future reference, and just in case I lose my Twitter, I have included the log I kept of the number of words I wrote, and on what day:

Day 1 = 1897 = Jan 8
Day 2 = 1986 = Jan 9
Day 3 = 3028 = Jan 10
Day 4 = 1870 = Jan 11
Day 5 = 2148 = Jan 14
Day 6 = 1038 = Jan 15
Day 7 = 3004 = Jan 16
Day 8 = 1569 = Jan 18
Day 9 = 2991 = Jan 21
Day 10 = 1362 = Jan 22
Day 11 = 2176 = Jan 26
Day 12 = 3566 = Feb 4
Day 13 = 1899 = Feb 11
Day 14 = 1683 = Feb 14
Day 15 = 1389 = Feb 27
Day 16 = 2361 = Mar 5
Day 17 = 3305 = Mar 8
Day 18 = 4382 = Mar 11
Day 19 = 4411 = Mar 13
Day 20 = 5245 = Mar 16
Day 21 = 4726 = Mar 17
Day 22 = 4451 = Mar 18
Day 23 = 4687 = Mar 19
Day 24 = 6199 = Mar 22
Day 25 = 3708 = Mar 23
Day 26 = 5962 = Mar 24 (1st draft complete)

Other stats:

Overall words (During writing spree): 81,043
Overall words (Includes some editing that I forgot to keep a note of): 82,270
Overall characters: 455,058
Overall pages: 140
Overall Chapters: 40
Coffee drunk: Just enough
Tea Drunk: Not enough

All subject to change after editing is complete.

Four Interesting Books To Check Out

I thought today that I would talk about some books that I'm interested in. Maybe you'll be interested too. These were all crowdfunded, and I backed each of them, so I was already on-board the hype-train, but they far-outstretched what I hoped for, and the first one isn't even out yet!

Maxwell Cain: Burrito Avenger

By Adam Lane Smith

If the title alone doesn't get you, then why even live? Joking aside, if you're a fan of stuff like John Wick or just about any great 80's action film then check this book out. It'll be released on 30th March, so you've plenty of time to be ready for the greatness to come.

Infernal Affairs (Saint Tommy, NYPD Book 3)

By Declan Finn

What happens when you takes a cop in NYC and send demons after him? What happens if that cop has powers like a Saint? Well, then you get this awesome series. The first book features a serial killer possessed by a demon, and the second book features a Death Cult. Just an ordinary day in New York, I'm sure. This is the third in the series. Get the first two as well, you won't regret it. This will probably be the next book I read after I finish the current book I'm reading (more on that in a moment), and I can't wait to see what's in store for poor Tommy.

Heroes Fall: A Heroes Unleashed Novel (Serenity City Book 1)

By Morgon Newquist

This is one for fans of all things superhero. This is the first book in a project featuring great authors Jon Mollison, Kai Wai Cheah, J.D. Cowan, and Richard W. Watts. I haven't finished this book yet, but what I have read so far has been great, page-turning stuff. I can't wait to see what else is in store with this project. Definitely a project to keep an eye on, and you won't go wrong starting here. (Especially considering it's book one).

Combat Frame XSeed

By Brian Niemeier

I loved the Soul Cycle series, so when Brian announced that he was working on this, I was excited. And you should be too! This book is great. Big Mech battles, political intrigue, and military conflict. Fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action from cover to cover. Pick it up, and you won't be disappointed!

Well, that's all for now. I'll probably just spotlight one book at a time in the future, but these needed to be mentioned. Check out the books, follow the authors. They are great folks that write great fiction. At the risk of repeating myself too often, you won't regret it.