Solomon Kane

Title: Solomon Kane

Director: M. J. Bassett

Year Released: 2009/2010

Starring: James Purefoy as Solomon Kane

Star Rating: 3.5/5

Thoughts: This movie was a fun watch, especially for anyone who is familiar with Robert E. Howard's Solomon Kane stories.  James Purefoy does an excellent job in the titular role, and never fails to look the part (except maybe at the very beginning).  There are a few problems with the film, especially in its last third when everything seems to happen in a rush, but that does little to take away from an overall highly enjoyable experience.

Recommendations: Highly recommended for fans of Robert E. Howard's work.  

The Shadow of What Was Lost

Title: The Shadow of What Was Lost

Author: James Islington

Number of Pages: This is a review of the Kindle electronic edition.

Date Finished: January 2022

Star Rating: 3.5/5

Thoughts: First book in The Licanius Trilogy.  The cast of characters is very well drawn, and the world building is excellent.  The plot is good, but, at least for the first two thirds of the book, lacks any real sense of immediacy.  That changes during the final third, however, which flies by, and leaves me itching for the next volume.

Recommendations: This is a must for any fantasy fan looking for a new series to start reading, particularly if they are fans of Robert Jordan, Raymond E. Feist, or Brandon Sanderson.

Green Rider

Title: Green Rider

Author: Kristen Britain

Number of Pages: This is a review of the Kindle electronic edition.

Date Finished: January 2022

Star Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: This a fun read.  Early on, there are parts that are reminiscent of Tolkien and Terry Goodkind, but the author lingers on these similarities only for a short time before the story begins to stand on its own.  Kerigan -- the book's central character -- never fails to shine, but is really the only fully-fleshed character in the story, something that I'm sure will change in future Green Rider volumes.

Recommendations: If you're a fantasy fan, and you're looking for a story with a strong main character who is female, this is a must read.  

The Institute

Title: The Institute

Author: Stephen King

Number of Pages: 655 paperback

Date Finished: January 2022

Star Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: This was an entertaining read.  While not among King's best, it still has plenty of moments that are at least as good as anything he's ever written.  The biggest problem I had was that the book started with Tim, then switched to Luke, who we stayed with for so long that, when Tim came back, it was difficult to remember who he was (this could also have been a side effect of how long it took me to read the book, which I started reading back in late summer of 2021).

Recommendations: I would recommend this to any Stephen King fan, or any fan of suspenseful thrillers.  It is also suitable for a more general audience, as there are no explicit connections to any of Stephen King's other works.