Book review - The Stars Malign by Loren Niva

The Stars Malign by Loren Niva

This novel leads by example as a method of dealing with the current world economic crisis and depression. Most of the characters are fuelled by a combination of various drugs and alcoholic drinks and take little interest in current affairs.

Although this world is not one I am familiar with the novel gives a great insight into the people who party through life on various cocktails of emotions. Most importantly it is entertaining and the characters are sufficiently varied.

Loren is depressed following an extended stay in Norway and based on what he tells us it is difficult to see why his girlfriend dumped him. Whatever he does thereafter back at his base in Florida there is little to mask his feeling of loss. The main story of the book is his plot to have a major party (his 30^th birthday) at which he will commit suicide. He continually emails his ex-girlfriend without any reply and in the hope she will arrive before his suicide.

Before the main party there is a weekend away with his best friends in Miami. The partying is extreme and not to be missed. It brings together a bunch of friends who just about get on together whilst partying in different manners ranging from getting drunk to getting high or just totally out of it.

Overall it is a great page turner and the only disappointment was the ending. I did realise later that the ending did however create an opportunity for a sequel.

I may, in my younger years, have engaged briefly in one or two activities similar to those described in the novel. In summary though my life does seem boring compared to the antics these guys get up to.

Fallen Angel by Kaleb Quist

Book review

Fallen Angel by Kaleb Quist

This novel demonstrates to us how easily it could be for society to divide and fall apart. The trigger for collapse may seem to be an important newsworthy event but not as important as changing the world as we know it. From my own personal interest I was pleased that author made occasional reference to other parts of the world that were continuing as normal despite the problems in the US.

In common with most thrillers there are goodies, baddies and ‘goodies who later turn out to be baddies’. Vincent, the hero and patriot, had lost his parents during a political murder trial (his father was a barrister). Vincent’s godfather, Ford, was a cop and took him under his wing. The relation between these two characters goes through many events, twists and turns and ultimately

The barrister turned president, Sammael, a Lord, is the chief baddie. His end is predictable but nonetheless enjoyable. The author demonstrated how the ruthless search for more power does not lead to satisfaction, actually the opposite. He turns out to be a rather hopeless character.

There is action, violence, occasional unsavoury imagery and love, but together it does seem realistic and believable; that is the most important issue in these types of novel and why it is important that the characters are well thought out.

The twist at the end I certainly did not see coming but the identity of the angel did make sense and completed the plot well. I particularly enjoyed the final part where the author unveiled how Vincent’s story made it around the world.