The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin (The Passage Trilogy, Book 3)

The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 2010, I was lucky enough to read a book titled, The Passage, by Justin Cronin. It was the best book that I read that year and probably for the previous few as well. It was the story of Amy, the Girl from Nowhere and the end of our civilization due to a virus that changed those infected into "virals", a savage, killing machine that was intent on decimating and changing the population through its bite. The Passage covered over 100 years of future history and was fascinating. in it's detail of just how this madness happened. The story continued in The Twelve, which ramped up the stakes and gave us a harrowing glance at just what is at stake in the war of survival with the virals and how it affected individual lives. Cronin's characters are real. They are noble and flawed like we are, and trying to set a course for humanity's continuation at what ends up being a great cost.
Now, in The City of Mirrors, Cronin finishes his masterpiece. I cannot tell you how good this book was. How many times I had to put it down because it became a little too intense and my love for his people was that strong. How many times I would reread a passage of the book just because the writing was so beautiful that it would bring tears to your eyes. Or many times I kept hoping that it would never end. But, as with all good things and end must come, and what an end.

Great books tend to linger in our memories for years and sometimes decades. While others are what I call "popcorn fiction", satisfying while you are experiencing it, but after you are finished, no lasting contentment. These books are different. I have met many people who have told me that they just couldn't get into The Passage. Please, give it another chance. You will not be sorry. Read these three books and become filled with wonder and fear, horror and delight, and most of all, appreciation for a story well told in the hands of a great writer.

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Make Me by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #20)

Make Me by Lee Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I discovered Lee Child and Jack Reacher in 1997. I looked forward to every new Reacher and for the first 5 or so, I kept wondering when readers would finally discover these books in a big way. I still kick myself that I didn't buy a first edition hardcover at the time.

So, roughly 20 years later how is Reacher doing? Better than ever. It is extremely hard to keep the quality of a series and a character going for 20 years. (see Cussler, Patterson, etc..) Child really knows how to keep it fresh. Make Me is no exception.

Widow's Rest is the name of the town that Reacher leaves the train for. Just because it sounds interesting. Why is it called that? Is there a story about it? A monument to some forgotten widow?
Reacher ends up finding out a lot more than he probably bargained for with a beautiful, ex-FBI agent turned PI and another missing PI. Couple this with the townsfolk who are very tight lipped and uncharacteristically so. Something deeper is going on her than a long forgotten widow.

Reacher is who every man wants to be. Strong, practically unbeatable in a fight and the ladies kind of like him. In Make Me, Reacher and PI Michelle Chang end up crossing the country, being chased and fighting back to discover the secret of this corn growing farm town. What they find is about as evil as it gets.

If you have read Child and Reacher, you know what to expect. If you have never read a Jack Reacher book, pick up Killing Floor and get comfortable, nobody writes like Child.

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Staked by Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid #8)

Staked by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What more can I say about Kevin Hearne than I have said before. He is one of the really, undiscovered writers out there that has a following, but nowhere near the following he should have. He should be a household name in the fantasy genre. maybe after his massive,epic fantasy debuts later this year he will be.

This is the 8th novel in the Iron Druid series. It is full of action and the humor that Hearne employs to good use. Picking up where #7 left off, there is still the small matter of Atticus vs. the vampires, mainly the ancient, Theophilus, who was responsible for the massacre of most of the druids during Roman times.

In Staked, the narrative is divided between, Granuaile, Owen and Atticus. Each are pursuing their own courses and passions. For Granuaile, it is her crusade to help Gaia (Earth) by delivering a blow to her gas and oil tycoon of a stepfather, which also is very personal for her. Owen wants to begin his own grove, training a new generation of druids to swell their ranks from the current 3 to many. many more. As for Atticus, the title of the book speaks for itself. But, in the end they all get together for the final showdown which would be cinematic magic.

As with all of the Iron Druid books, there is a great amount of banter between Atticus and his wolfhound, Oberon as well as interesting looks into what we all thought was just mythology, but in reality lives right under our noses. Yes, Gods, Druids, vampires, werewolves, trolls and the fae court are all alive and well and just so much fun.

Do yourself a favor. Pick up Hounded and get going. You will not be sorry.


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