Garrett for Hire: Deadly Quicksilver Lies, Petty Pewter Gods, Faded Steel Heat

Title: Garrett for Hire: Deadly Quicksilver Lies, Petty Pewter Gods, Faded Steel Heat

Author: Glen Cook [Macmillan][isfdb][Goodreads]

Publisher: ROC

Series: Garrett, P.I., Bks 7-9

ISBN: 9780451464958

Length: 870 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I've been reading the series.

Comments:

As a whole these stories fall right within my interests.  Magic, PI or Detective, grim, etc. Individually...

Deadly Quicksilver Lies

Garrett is told someone is coming to hire him, and come she does.  But everything else he's been warned about is different, and the strangeness just keeps piling up from there.  Garrett is thrown into an insane asylum - apparently to get him out of the way - and meets some interesting new characters.  He's been paid to do a job, but his client is no longer around.  Every hint, clue, and discovery seems to be lie on top of lie...and all these lies are adding up to a very dangerous case for Garrett.

Petty Pewter Gods

Garrett has encountered all sorts of creatures and monsters in the previous 7 books, but now he's been dragged into a case by the "gods" themselves.  Some have called them "petty pewter gods" and boy does the name fit.  Being in the middle of a squabble between simplistic and self-serving gods is the most dangerous case Garrett has been on to date, not just for Garrett, but for all of TunFaire and the world.

Faded Steel Heat

Garrett just wants some peace, but the political landscape is heading up, prejudice is rampant causing great tension and threatening to cause war right there in TunFaire.  Now that the war to the Cantard has been won and all TunFaire's human males are coming home, they've found that many nonhumans have filled in doing all the many jobs that needed doing while they were away.  Garrett doesn't want any part of this bigotry, but he seems to fit the profile of the desired member and could potentially worm his way in a sort of "undercover" role.

In the meantime, the one job he held on retainer has also heated up with the local brewing family being threatened.  And to top it all off there is something going on with shapeshifters - a creature unlike one Garrett has dealt with before.

I definitely intend to read more of the series, but I'll need to have a block of time set aside for these.

Garrett Takes the Case: Old Tin Sorrows, Dread Brass Shadows, Red Iron Nights

Title: Garrett Takes the Case: Old Tin Sorrows, Dread Brass Shadows, Red Iron Nights

Author: Glen Cook [Macmillan][isfdb][Goodreads]

Publisher: ROC

Series: Garrett, P.I., Bks 4-6

ISBN: 9780451464361

Length: 680 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I read the first three in the series, and I was interested in reading more.

Comments:

Garrett's world continues on it's grim path, with more magic and evil, mystery and intrigue along the way.

Individually...

Old Tin Sorrows

This is a ghost story.  Garrett has gone to a creepy mansion with secrets (of course) and danger (of course), and has been hired to keep the General from being assassinated.  But Garrett's developing more questions than answers (as usual).  In the meantime he keep seeing a mysterious woman.  (One thing about these books is Garrett's relationship with women.  I generally feel like I should be offended.  Mostly I just find myself shaking my head and muttering, "Again?!"  Anyway, Garrett has woman things going on amidst the rest, because apparently he is irresistible and can't help himself.).

Dread Brass Shadows

I'm coming at this months after reading and having trouble remembering enough to write impressions.  I've re-read a blurb, and I recall various events, but my thoughts and feelings of the time?  They escape me.

Red Iron Nights

Garrett is working with the police as they rebuild and try to catch a serial killer in this one.  I'm going to leave it at that since now these stories are beginning to blend together for me.

Introducing Garrett, P.I.: Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts, Cold Copper Tears

Title: Introducing Garrett, P.I.: Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts, Cold Copper Tears

Author: Glen Cook [Macmillan][isfdb][Goodreads]

Publisher: ROC

Series: Garrett, P.I., Bks 1-3

ISBN: 9780451463975

Length: 694 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I saw it recommended in comparison with another author (I can't remember where).

Comments:

As a whole these stories fall right within my interests.  Magic, PI or Detective, grim, etc. Individually...

Sweet Silver Blues

This first story in the series introduces Garrett and his world.  A world where war is constant, magical beings like centaurs, unicorns, vampires, elves, trolls, and witches all exist and aren't cute and friendly, mixed peoples called "breeds" are common but looked upon poorly, and life is hard.  Garrett is hired to find and bring back the recipient of his war buddy's estate - or if she isn't interested in coming back, he's to bring back the proper documentation that she has released her claim.  But this isn't an easy task on any level.  She lives in the midst of the war zone, she's Garrett's former flame, and did I mention the not-so-nice magical creatures?

Bitter Gold Hearts

Garrett's been tasked with looking into a kidnapping... sorta.  More like his reputation has been hired to put a little scare into the kidnappers before the son of a local wealthy and very powerful woman returns from her current task in the ongoing war.  But all is not as it seems and Garrett runs into lie, after deceit, after secret as he tries to get to the bottom of it all - whether anyone wants him to or not.

Cold Copper Tears

Garrett once again again encounters plenty of secrets and lies.  Even refusing the jobs that come his way isn't enough to prevent trouble from finding him.  This time we have fanatic cults, even more dangerous, destructive and deadly magical creatures, and enemies.  Now Garrett's in this for the sake of his life and peace.

I definitely intend to read more of the series.  I've requested another three-volume omnibus through ILL.

Angel's Ink

Title: Angel's Ink

Author: Jocelynn Drake

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Series: Asylum Tales, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780062117854

Pages: 338

Obtained: Advance Reader Edition provided to the local library... then made available for employee's to take

Comments:

I was giddy with pleasure when I found this on a cart in the staff lounge of my library.  I read the first couple books in Jocelynn Drakes Dark Days series, and I'll be honest I didn't keep up with it.  But I knew I liked her writing so finding this uncorrected proof was exciting.  And I enjoyed the story too.

In her author bio, Jocelynn says her writing "influences" include: Raymond Feist, Simon R. Green, and Kim Harrison, as well as Oscar Wilde and Mary Shelley.  I could see Simon R. Green and Kim Harrison in this (not that she copied anything, there was just a familiar feel).  I haven't read any of the others named so I couldn't say how similar or dissimilar this is when it comes to them.

Anyway, I really liked Gage, his friends, and the world-building.  Gage did seem to get into way more trouble than any character could possibly handle, and the ending... well it's a conclusion in a way, but it was more cliff than I like.

This book is due out in October of this year.  And I'm definitely planning on reading the next book in the series (it seems untitled as of now).  I need to know what's happening to Gage next.

The Hobbit

Title: The Hobbit

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien (John Ronald Reuel Tolkien)

Publisher: Ballantine/Fantasy

Copyright Date: 1937, 1938, 1966

Print Date: May 1978

ISBN: 0345272579

Pages: 287

Series: "The Enchanting Prelude to 'The Lord of the Rings'"




Book Description (from back cover):

In this delightful and enthralling tale, J. R. R. Tolkien first created the imperishable world of fantasy called Middle-earth, and those charming, indomitable creatures, the hobbits, whose adventures are continued in "The Lord of the Rings."

Comments:

I was supposed to read this for The Lord of the Rings Readalong. I didn't finish it until early April and have yet to start LOTR.

Anyway, about the book itself. It took me awhile to get past the first couple chapters, not because they weren't interesting, but because I was only reading this in those little moments of the day when I'm waiting in a car, etc. Once I did really sit down to read it I found it quite interesting.

I guess I should first say, while I haven't read LOTR, I have watched the movies. As I read this, I tried to compare it to what I remembered from those movies. For instance, I was trying to think of what the dwarf in LOTR's connection was to the dwarves in The Hobbit.

One thing that rather impressed me was just how real Gandalf was in this book. I guess I always saw him (without much thinking about it) as a more two-dimensional character. But, despite his flaws (or, rather, because of them), he was a much fuller character in this book.

Jenny (@ Jenny's Books) mentioned in the Readalong discussion that the elves seemed more campy. I think I'd say giddy more than campy, but I definitely understood what she was talking about. I remember them as being much more solemn in the LOTR movies.

The other big thing that kept playing in my mind was the ring. I knew from the movies that Bilbo finds the ring during his adventures. I was eagerly awaiting when it would come into his possession. I wasn't disappointed as far as how it worked out, but for the entire rest of the book, I was waiting for that ring to play a part of evil. Isn't that what was supposed to have happened to Gollum? And isn't that what I saw throughout the movies? But in addition to being useful, the ring seemed harmless. Maybe that's part of its charm.

Regarding other events of the story... I was glad when Bilbo finally came into his own. I felt a bit grumbly when I realized Gandalf and the dwarves had played the same stunt on Bilbo that they did on Beorn. (And speaking of Beorn... I know that name is familiar, but I can't remember how it fits into LOTR either.) I don't even know what else to say without this becoming spoiler central.

I want to read LOTR, but the motivation (even with the prospect of flubbing the challenge) may not be enough to happen anytime soon, so...