No Easy Day by Mark Owen

For the first time anywhere, a first-person account of the planning and execution of the Bin Laden raid from inside the US Navy SEAL team who carried out the extraordinary mission to kill the terrorist mastermind.

From the streets of Iraq to the successful rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from pirates in the Indian Ocean; from the mountaintops of Afghanistan to the third floor of Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan, operator Mark Owen of the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group - commonly known as SEAL Team Six - has been a part of some of the most memorable special operations in history, as well as countless missions that never made headlines.

..

I like reading first hand accounts of battles and wars. It feeds my inner armchair warrior and, besides the side-effect of being great background and research for characters who may one day populate my own writing, it's also humbling and a reminder that for some people out there, war is more than a genre and patriotism about more than waving a flag. 

I'd also like to think that I've read enough of them of them to be able to catch the whiff of self aggrandisement that threatens to creep in when someone's writing about themselves. No Easy Day is pleasantly whiffless. By the time he was brought in for the operation that lies at the heart of the book, Mark Owen had served on active, operational duty for over 10 years. 10 years of actual shit-hitting-the-fan deployments. That's plenty of time for reality to filter out any ego stoking bullshit, and it comes through in the writing. 

The first thing is that it's very readable. This isn't about blocks of dates and a dull treatises about this-general-did-that and so-and-so-lobbied-for-this; it's a reader friendly account that is meant to set the record straight about what it means to be a SEAL and the truth behind what happened on the raid that saw Osama reaping his personal whirlwind. It's about the men, not the man, and the vehicle that Owen uses to put that it across is by sharing some of his own experiences. It's through these that we're shown the level of dedication, the level of professionalism and the particular mindset that is required to go out there and do what needs to be done, time and time again. By building this foundation into the book before he sets out the background and preparation for the raid on Osama's compound you can understand how their professional detachment from the scale of what they were attempting and exactly why he decided to write the book.

It's well written, very engaging, and while it doesn't breach any official secrets, there's enough in there to make you reconsider a few familiar headlines from the war in Afghanistan (and think about more than the next unlock next time you fire up Call of Duty). Thought provoking without melodrama, No Easy Day is a welcome addition to my non fiction shelves and I would recommend it without hesitation whether you have any particular interest in the military or not. 

Random Bits #5 - 2012

I was recently contacted by Penguin about their new urban fantasy / paranormal romance imprint here in the UK, Berkeley UK. Needless to say, as a ladygeek I am over the moon to have more titles published here to suit my tastes. Here's a bit of info about Berkeley UK:

Berkley UK is Penguin’s new fiction imprint, specialising in publishing the best in urban fantasy and paranormal romance. The Berkley name has a history of publishing the highest quality commercial fiction in the US and, building on this reputation, Berkley UK will publish an exciting list of fantasy and supernatural fiction for the UK market. Officially launching with Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk in January 2012, Penguin is thrilled to be stepping into the exciting world of fantasy and science fiction.

I've just cast an eye over some of their other titles coming out this year and they are delicious!

A masive favourite of mine: Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros Series. I'm about to pass out from happy joy feelings. *flails* For anyone who loves the Supernatural TV show, be sure to read Rob's books. They pre-date Sam and Dean and are full of action, adventure, snark and are just plain fun. Also, the brothers Cal and Niko are possibly cooler than Sam and Dean. Although I'd like to see Castiel go toe to toe with one of the best tricksters ever written: Robin.

 

The Resurgum Series by Joan Frances Turner (Dust & Frail)
The fabulous Devon Monk and her Allie Beckstrom Series
Jason Starr's The Pack and The Craving
The super talented Meljean Brook's excellent Steampunk series Novels of the Iron Seas which include The Iron Duke, Heart of Steel and Riveted.

As you can tell, I'm ready to faint. I am so pleased that we are getting these authors officially over here in the UK. It feels like we've arrived!

Happy reading!

Edited: added 3 of the amazing Cal Leandros UK covers.  I have to buy these all over!

Charlie Higson Lets Children Play With Dead Things

To celebrate the publication of his new novel The Fear tomorrow (15 September 2011), best-selling children’s author, actor, comedian and creator of The Fast Show Charlie Higson has produced a chilling short film. The Fear is the third novel in Higson’s The Enemy series.

The opening of the film echoes The Shining, as a rotting adult zombie (with an uncanny resemblance to Charlie Higson) attempts to break into a room of terrified children. The zombie appears intent on eating the children but there is a surprising twist in the plot. The film is available to view online:



This is the latest in a series of cult trailers for Higson’s books. The first trailer featured Charlie Higson decaying into a Zombie. This was followed by The Scared Kid, made by the creators of Colin, a zombie film which hit the headlines for its £45 budget when it was shown at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. The Scared Kid is a viral video mirroring the plot of Higson’s second Zombie novel The Dead, where a terrified boy posts online a film of himself being attacked by adults. In the book this film goes on to be the most viewed clip on Youtube.

The Fear, Charlie Higson’s latest zombie novel, is published tomorrow. The new book begins five days before the end of the previous novel The Dead and ties all the pieces from the last two books into a huge, terrifying new chapter for The Enemy series.

Set in and around London, the books are set in a world where a mystery disease has broken out attacking everyone over the age of 14. Some survive but those that do face a more terrifying fate – they turn into hideous zombies with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. Children form gangs and attempt to survive in an unrecognisable world where there are dangers around every corner.

Vampire Academy: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

WARNING: SPOILERS!

Synopsis

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. And she made the wrong one… After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy — and to her best friend, Lissa. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true— Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him… forever.

I enjoyed Blood Promise so much that I wasn't sure if Spirit Bound would match up. The first page throws us straight into the action with a letter from Strigoi stalker Dimitri and Rose's Guardian trials that will see her graduate from St. Vladimir's. Rose is hoping that there may be a chance that she'll be assigned to Lissa but is realistic that after running off to Russia she may not be seen as the most reliable choice. The trials are as exciting as any, "real," fight that Rose gets into but her graduation marks the beginning of a difficult time for her.

Rose, Lissa and co head for court but it isn't long before Rose wants to try and break Victor out from jail as he may have the key to how to cure a Strigoi and bring them back to life. Rose manages to convince others to come along on her crazy plan but it soon gets out of hand. Eventually they end up in Las Vegas but the plan didn't quite go as expected. Adrian is dismayed to learn what Rose is trying to achieve and I must admit I really felt for him in this book. Rose believes that she's trying to move past her love for Dimitri but the very fact that she's attempting to find a way to bring him back says otherwise. Poor Adrian helps because he loves her and in fact even Adrian's mother, Daniella, is supportive of their relationship. Throughout Spirit Bound Rose strings him along somewhat by keeping secrets and standing him up. Rose always has a good reason or strong belief that she's doing the right thing by him and this just about prevented me from getting angry with her but still - poor guy!

Alongside everything, Moroi politics continue to be messy. The constant threat to the Moroi race means that people want action and are arguing between protecting themselves or getting more Guardians to do the job. Rose, either physically or through her bond with Lissa, has good insight into what's going on and this helps her relationship with Queen Tatiana become more heated. This conflict results in some tense scenes including one where Rose is brought in front of the council to give evidence that has far-reaching results. Meanwhile Lissa is checking out Lehigh college and is confronted by Dimitri and his gang. I'm not going to spoil this for you but needless to say this turns the book on its head.

I had a set idea how things would go from this point onwards but I was completely wrong. Politics and personal feelings get mixed up into a whirlwind and the pace is extraordinary until the end of the book. Ultimately, I did prefer Blood Promise although Spirit Bound is an excellent book. I think I enjoy Rose out on her own, away from Court and school as she's a wild character and neither of those places seem to suit her. She could settle in court but I don't feel that, at the end of this book, she's ready. Rose is an endearing and flawed heroine who's matured greatly in the last two books but I'm pleased to say still has her rebellious streak. As many questions were posed as settled and there are a myriad of threads to tie off in Last Sacrifice - so many in fact that I wonder how Richelle Mead will manage it.

Vampire Academy: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

WARNING! SPOILERS!

Synopsis

How far will Rose go to keep a promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of many. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them - including Dimitri. He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa-the one she has sworn to protect no matter what-and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago.

But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

This is my favourite book of the series so far. There's so much to love! Rose has left Lissa and St. Vladamir's to fulfill her promise to Dimitri - not to let him wander the earth as a Strigoi. However, it's one thing to make the decision to walk away from Lissa and everything she's worked for to graduate as a Guardian but another to track down a single Strigoi. She heads straight for Russia guessing that he would head for the familiar ground of his home town. Her first problem is to work out where that town might be so she hangs around nightspots in St. Petersburg trying to locate the local Moroi population hoping that she can find information on Dhampir towns in Siberia.

Alongside her search she also finds herself killing the odd Strigoi and we meet Sydney, an Alchemist (an ancient profession of humans who keep Morois and Dhampirs secret from humans hence protecting them) who's not too happy at the body count she's had to clean up. I loved Sydney for the very fact that she's not overly pleased at having to deal with Rose, Moroi or Dhampir in general. She treats Rose like an annoying wrinkle in her day so is more than unhappy that she has to accompany her to see Dimitri's family. I adored watching Rose discovering more and more of Russia. Although she's dealing with incredible grief she's still got the same spirit and drive. Her conversations with new character Abe are hysterical. Despite the fact that he appears to be an important villain in Dimitri's home town she insists on calling him, "old man," and refuses to be bullied. When Rose finally meets up with Dimitri it couldn't be more exciting. I couldn't imagine what he was going to be like; he was part familiar and part complete stranger but he hadn't forgotten his attraction for Rose. I liked that Meads makes Dimitri a committed Strigoi and not a tortured soul. He has no problems being heartless and ruthless - all the more exciting in terms of storyline.

Alongside the action in Russia we have the bond to enable us to check up on Lissa and the gang. Adrian frequently arrives in Rose's dreams to check up on her although she refuses to give away her location. Lissa has her own set of problems and these were as exciting a read as Rose's story. A new head has arrived at St. Vladimir and with him he's brought his son and daughter, Reed and Avery. Lissa gradually becomes more unstable and unpredictable putting a strain on her relationship with Christian. But is her behaviour to do with her use of spirit and its debilitating side effects? I was engrossed with Lissa in Blood Promise. In fact, I think both Lissa and Rose, as characters, benefited from being apart. I found, "acting out," Lissa more fascinating to begin with than the one who always does the right thing.

There's so much to get your teeth in with Blood Promise. I'm bubbling over to tell you how great the fight scenes are involving Rose and Dimitri. There's even more mythology to enjoy including a meeting between Rose and another shadow kissed couple. Their meeting will have repercussions well beyond this book and I got an inkling of what might happen in Spirit Bound. Honestly, I'm not sure how the rest of the series will top this book. It's pure satisfaction from beginning to end.

Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

WARNING: SPOILERS!

Synopsis

It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy and Rose is close to graduation, but since making her first Strigoi kills, things haven't felt quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all . . . might be seeing ghosts.

Consumed by her forbidden love with her tutor Dimitri and protecting her best friend, the Moroi princess Lissa, Rose is in no state to see the deadly threat that will change her entire world - and make her choose between the two people she loves most.

Book three and apologies but I can't review this series now without some spoilers but I promise not to reveal the outcome of each book. Spoilers aside, I was ready for things to change rather than a return to St. Vladimir's but fortunately although they are back at school it's straight into Guardian practical exams for Rose. I wasn't at all surprised that she didn't get partnered with Lissa, however Rose is surprised and extremely peeved to find herself shadowing Christian. An added complication is that Rose has started seeing ghosts and one particular one makes an appearance early on leaving her wondering if she's suffering post traumatic stress from the events of Frostbite.

I'm seriously impressed by Mead's mythology and world building in this book. Previously we learnt about the bond between Rose and Lissa and later discovered that the bond can work both ways. Through Rose's research into the original St. Vladimir and his shadow kissed partner Anna we get to understand more about what that bond really means. It's obvious that the story arc has been planned from book one. I never get the impression that backstory is forced in mid-book to make things work. I'm discovering that this is one of Vampire Academy's strengths and it ensures that whatever the characters do they have an amazing level of structure and plotting behind them.

Back to the story and due to the ghosts Rose is in danger of flunking her practical exam. She's also finding it difficult to control her emotions making teachers worried that she might be suffering from stress after the happenings in Frostbite. There's a fantastically funny scene with a psychiatrist and I loved Rose's true-to-character responses to the questions she's posed. As ever Rose and Dimitri's relationship is a mixture of heartbreak with flashes of hope and love. They make progress, so it's not as frustrating as I worried it may be. Events of Frostbite and the Strigoi's new attack methods return here. Some Moroi are supporting the belief that they should start to learn how to defend themselves. Moroi's have magic and specialise in one of the four elements (except Lissa of course who is a rare spirit user). Christian's specialised in Fire and is eager to use this against the Strigoi. We see more of the politics at work at court regarding this and other matters and I really felt for Rose, Lissa and friends as there's clearly more going on than they understand.

On to the finale (which I'm not going to spoil) and an awesome fight scene. I did see this coming but it didn't ruin the end of the book for me. I found myself flipping pages a million a minute to see if it was true! The ending was perfect (and necessary I feel) and means that everything has to change which, as I've mentioned before, is another strength of this series. Each book could go over the same ground but they remain fresh as characters grow and learn more about themselves. I was most impressed with Rose's realisation that the one thing she thought she wanted was in fact not something she was as prepared for as she thought. I rushed on to the next book and couldn't wait to get lost again in the world that Mead has created.

Vampire Academy: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Synopsis

It's winter break at St Vladimir's, and a massive Strigoi vampire attack has put the school on high alert. This year's trip away from the academy to the wintery peaks of Idaho has suddenly become mandatory.

But Rose's troubles seem to follow her wherever she goes - dealing with the pain of knowing that her relationship with her tutor Dimitri can never be, things get even more complicated when one her closest friends admits his feelings for her.

The glittering winter landscape may create the illusion of safety but Rose - and her heart - are in more danger than she ever could have imagined...

Book two of the Vampire Academy series and I was interested to see where this one would go after the excitement of the first book. So, major world building aside would there be enough story line and characterisation to keep me interested? The book begins with Rose and Dimitri driving to an important Guardian's house so she can take one of her essential exams to enable her to graduate from school with the rest of her year. They arrive to carnage and it becomes clear that only a human could have breached the charmed wards on the property to enable a group of Srigoi to slaughter the inhabitants. The enormity of what this means for the Moroi and their safety means that the school's winter break takes place at a ski resort in Idaho whilst the Moroi community decides how to deal with a group of travelling Strigoi.

Rose as a character grows a great deal in this book. After just a brief mention in book one of her legendary Guardian mother Janine Hathaway, I was pleased to see that she appears in person in Frostbite. Both Janine and Rose regard each other with a great deal of skepticism and animosity. In fact Rose is pretty sure that she doesn't have any sort of meaningful relationship with her mother at all. What I love about this series so far is that no miraculous and unbelievable leaps in character development take place. Rose and Janine have a long way to go and manage to take the first few steps (both forwards and backwards) in book two. Likewise, although Rose learns a great deal about herself she's still an, "act first and think later," kind of girl.

I (unforgivably) didn't mention Christian in my last review. He's a Moroi whose parents willingly turned Strigoi which leaves him as persona non grata for the rest of his life. In Vampire Academy he formed an unlikely relationship with Lissa which I found touching. He's snarky and full of resentment but Lissa smooths his corners. In Frostbite they're a proper couple and Rose has to deal with losing the full attention of her best friend. I liked that Rose was both jealous but then angry with herself for resenting Christian - it felt very real. Rose is trying to accept that there can be nothing between herself and the wonderful Dimitri and tries to return the interest that Mason clearly has in her. But then Tasha Ozera, Christian's aunt, turns up for the ski break and makes it quite clear that Dimitri (or Dimka as she calls him) is welcome to become her Guardian with benefits. I gritted my teeth with Rose as she deals with her spiralling resentment and discontent.

Another great character, Adrian Ivashkov, makes his first appearance in Frostbite. He's a rebellious Moroi who relies heavily on alcohol to get him though the day. He takes a fancy to Rose and ensures that Dimitri also feels his own measure of jealously at their friendship. Without spoiling the plot for you he has a reason for his alcohol intake and some interesting skills to share with Rose, Lissa and the gang. He adds a great deal to the plot and benefits from being somewhat older and more independent than the others. By the time the book races to its conclusion Rose has to deal with Mason's and Adrian's feelings and her own for Dimitri.

The conclusion is dramatic and somewhat shocking. Rose is pushed to test her own strength and learn hard lessons about how her actions can affect others. I loved how Frostbite didn't relax into just another school term at St. Vladimir's but sought out new locations which helps keep a fresh feeling. The characters all develop and change and new questions are raised that left me eager to read the next instalment.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Synopsis

St Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school - hidden away, it's a place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them.

Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St Vladimir's where the girls must survive a world of forbidden romances, a ruthless social scene and terrifying night time rituals. But most of all, staying alive.

With the imminent release of the final of the Vampire Academy series, Last Sacrifice, I thought I'd take a look at this series for the first time. I'm not sure how I managed to bypass the whole VA thing but I think you'll agree that these lovely new UK covers will be hard to miss. I much prefer these to the originals, the blood dribbles at the top right corner are a particularly nice touch! So, apart from being embarrassed that these have passed me by I was also a bit daunted when I saw the size of them. The first two are quite slim but the rest, not so much. However, I really want to get them all read in time for the release of Last Sacrifice on the 7th December 2010.

So I sat down with the first one and found that I needn't have worried. The press release describes them as a guilty pleasure and this is certainly true. Rose is a kick-ass heroine: a rebel, fond of the odd tipple, mother issues and not adverse to making out with guys. I loved her from the first page and Richelle has given her a strong voice that carries you with her. In the world of Vampire Academy there are two types of vampire; Moroi ("good" vampires who don't kill) and Strigoi ("bad" vampires who are immortal and kill when they feed). Moroi aren't great fighters and need protecting from the Strigoi who are set to destroy the whole Moroi race. This is where Dhampir's come in who are trained to be Guardians and defend the Moroi from harm.

Rose and her friend Lissa have been found after escaping from their school and going on the run for two years. As the story unfolds we find that the two are bonded and Rose can not only feel Lissa's emotions but can also slip inside her head and see what Lissa sees. This is a great addition to the flow of the story as the only problem with first person perspective is that we're often stuck with one point of view. However, this way we can feel and see what Lissa does which is a very neat solution.

The mystery about why Lissa needed to run is gradually revealed. To be honest the social network at St. Vladimir is pretty terrifying but, daunting as it is, Lissa and Rose used to thrive on the pressure. Rose is able to handle the likes of gloriously bitchy Mia and boys who kiss and tell like Jesse and Ralf. However, there's far more to the mystery than this. Lissa and Rose haven't been back long before a dead fox is left on Lissa's bed. Someone seems determined to send Lissa mad. Lissa starts to doubt herself and has a secret that only Rose knows which they're desperate to keep quiet.

Mystery aside there's also Dimitri, a Guardian who is assigned to help Rose get back up to standard after her two years away. Dimitri is a serious hottie and despite the age difference I found myself willing them together. There's some great will-they-won't-they action going on throughout which is yet another ingredient which adds to the whole guilty pleasure of these books. Honestly though, the first book of any series is almost always exciting. There's world building, characters to get to know and the whole freshness of the story to add to its appeal. I've got high hopes for this series as Rose is a different kind of heroine. She's feisty, punches first and thinks later and makes a million mistakes - not your usual main character. Much to look forward to in Frostbite and I'm interested to see if the page-turning pace continues.

Whitechapel Gods - S.M Peters

In Victorian London, the Whitechapel section has been cut off, enclosed by an impassable wall, and is now ruled by two mysterious mechanical gods. Mama Engine is the goddess of sentiment, a mother to her believers. Grandfather Clock represents logic and precision.

A few years have passed since the Uprising, when humans fought the gold cloaks, the black cloaks, and even the vicious Boiler men, the brutal police force responsible for keeping humans in check. Today, Whitechapel is a mechanized, steam-driven hell. But a few brave veterans of the Uprising have formed a new resistance, and they are gathering for another attack. For now they have a secret weapon that may finally free them... or kill them all.

Firstly, I confess to being seduced on sight by the cover of Whitechapel Gods- a very tasty bit of art.

As the name suggests, the action takes place in Whitechapel, tucked away in a Victorian, Steampunk London, albeit a dystopian version thereof. It’s a world under the dominion of two mechanical gods, Mama Engine and Grandfather Clock, who rule with an iron fist in every sense of the word, using the ruthless brass and iron cyborgs known as the Boiler Men to carry out their bidding. Choking smog blankets Whitechapel, carrying with it mutagens that can cause cancer-like growths of metal and wire to manifest in their victims. It’s a bleak and unforgiving setting, where not even death can offer a respite from the unremitting horror.

It’s an interesting premise, and one I was keen to explore. However, things don’t always turn out the way you want them to. My enjoyment of the vigorously paced story was undermined by a few things- there are a lot of voices trying to be heard in W.G, as the viewpoint shifts to various characters throughout. It’s a device which I think falls short of what was intended to bring to the story, and made it difficult to figure out which voice I was supposed to be listening to. Then there’s the powerful imagery that’s woven through the story; this is not usually a bad thing, but being reminded of the bleakness of the setting in every other passage takes it to the point of distraction and verges on overpowering.

There are several questions which beg to be asked- when did this start? how? what’s happened to the rest of England? but the answers are only hinted at in the vaguest of terms, which is a pity as it would have filled in a lot of blanks and stiffened the inherent structure.

There’s so much potential here, but it just missed the mark for me, which is a real pity as I desperately wanted to like this. It’s certainly the product of a rich and fertile imagination and I hope we’ll be seeing more from Peters in the near future.

Sniper One, Dan Mills

Sniper One is Dan Mills first person account of the siege of Al Amarah, one of the most protracted engagements the British Army’s been engaged in recent history.

It’s a fast paced, gripping and overall a surprisingly good read. There’s no philosophical navel gazing, it really does what it says on the box and puts you right there with Mills and his cohorts from the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment. You’re firmly in the passenger seat as they come under attack from all sides; Mills certainly doesn’t pull any punches and gives what is in my view the best personal account of combat I’ve read since Moore & Galloway’s We Were Soldiers Once, told honestly and without bravado.

Admittedly some of the slang used might be a bit obscure for non-UK readers but shouldn’t prove a major stumbling block, certainly not for fans of the genre.

If you see this lurking on a supermarket shelf, do yourself a favour and drop it in your trolley.