Song of Ice & Fire 4v: A Game of Thrones, a Clash of Kings, a Storm of Swords, and a Feast for Crows: A Song of Ice and Fire 1-4

Reviewer rating: 

4

Pros: 

Long. Intense detail. Many complex characters.

Cons: 

Long. Intense detail. Many complex characters.

Right up front — no spoilers, here or bite-sized impressions…

Gone Tomorrow: (Jack Reacher 13)

Reviewer rating: 

5

Pros: 

The epitome of a fast-paced, gripping thriller featuring an all-action hero.

Cons: 

Requires a strong stomach at times.

On paper, the semi-political adventures of an ex-military policeman didn’t sound like something that would appeal to me, but Jack Reacher, the 6’ 5” hard man with a soft side, completely won me over. I read Gone Tomorrow, which is a narrative written from the first person perspective – something I gather Child doesn’t do with all the books? – and the inside of Reacher’s head turns out to be a beguiling space to inhabit.

The Hunger Games

Reviewer rating: 

4

Pros: 

Fantastic and intelligent volumes about media as a tool of oppression and war as entertainment

Cons: 

Fans can be disappointed by Mockingjay, which is true to the spirit of the books but purposefully confounds our expectations of action heroes.

The Hunger Games is a trilogy featuring a dystopian society in which the oppressed populace must surrender a selection of children each year for The Hunger Games, a ritual and gladiatorial blood letting, to emphasise the total power of the State. 

The Hunger Games are mandatory viewing for the populace and each tribute has a prep team which shapes their look and on-screen persona. Popularity as a celebrity is essential if the tributes are to have a chance of survival. 

The Charlemagne Pursuit

Reviewer rating: 

3

Pros: 

Does what it says on the tin: fast-paced entertainment.

Cons: 

Archaeological discoveries don't get more exciting by being interrupted by shoot-outs.

It's a story that's hauntingly familiar: a father has gone missing while exploring distant lands, strange artefacts from a lost civilization might hold the clues to his disappearance, and old monastaries must be searched to put all the pieces together. Political intrigues and assassins abound. There are even Nazis involved, although at one remove. And Berry plays it well, and puts it together so that you don't notice the seams even when you're looking for them.