Iny Lorentz – Das wilde Land (incl. Short English Review)

This book was written by a German author. For a short English review, please see further below.

Hörbuch gelesen von Anne Moll
Information zum Buch:
Taschenbuch
Verlag: Knaur TB
veröffentlicht: 2015
Seiten: 576

Klappentext:

Nach dem texanischen Unabhängigkeitskrieg von 1836 ist Walther Fichtner ein einflussreicher Mann in Texas geworden. Als seine zweite Frau, die Indianerin Nizhoni, ihre Tochter zur Welt bringt, scheint das Glück vollkommen. Bald aber ziehen Schatten über Texas auf, denn der Nachfolger von Präsident Sam Houston will die Komantschen aus ihren Jagdgründen vertreiben und betreibt im großen Stil Spekulation auf das Land der Indianer. Walthers Todfeind beteiligt sich daran und beginnt die Fehde gegen ihn mit einem Überfall auf dessen Ranch. Zwar kann der Angriff abgewehrt werden, doch fortan müssen Walther und seine kleine Familie um ihr Leben fürchten … (Amazon)

Meinung:

Handlung: Die Handlung war mir im dritten Buch diesmal nicht stringent genug. Während die Vorgänger oft einem Haupterzählstrang folgten, der zum Ende hin aufgelöst wurde, sind diesmal zu viele Erzählstränge und Zeiten abgearbeitet worden. Dabei gab es immer mal welche, die sich als Hauptstrang etablieren konnten, diese wurden dann jedoch zu früh aufgelöst, andere nicht wirklich weitergeführt. Mir hat ein wenig ein durchgehender Faden gefehlt.

Charaktere: Die Kinder von Walther sind mittlerweile größer und sind eigenständige Figuren geworden. Altbekannt Figuren sind geblieben und neue Antagonisten aufgetaucht, die aber auch nicht wirklich durchgehalten haben. Das Buch schien mir eher eine Vorbereitung auf weitere Bände und Probleme die daran auftreten können.

Stil/Sprecher: Der Stil ist immer wieder leicht und flüssig, die Details genügen, sind aber nicht zu viel. Ich hatte allerdings Probleme mit der schnellen Entwicklung und der Zeitspanne, die mit dem Buch abgedeckt wurde. Es schien mir als seien doch einige Stellen ausgelassen worden und diesmal ist es mir aufgefallen.

In English:

This is the third installment in an emigration/immigration saga in which Walther has fled Germany and has landed in North America only to be caught between Mexico and the US.

The narrative was a little jumpy as many stages in time were included and a lot seemed to be left out of the narration. A thread throughout this novel was missing. It seemed that this was more of a preparation for further books and problems that arise in the future. In the previous books there was one main narration, one adventure, one thread that was than solved in the end. Here, there were many narrative threads that could have developed to be something similar but either ended to soon or just came to nothing. It was again beautifully narrated, yet a lacked a little coherence and action.

Maria V. Snyder – Storm Glass

eBook
publisher: Harlequin MIRA
published: 2013
pages: 432

Blurb:

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowan understands trial by fire. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan’s glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal’s unique talents to prevent it from happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap into a new kind of magic. Yet the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control her powers…powers that could lead to disaster beyond anything she’s ever known. (Amazon)

In (Very) Short:

+ the first book of the second trilogy set in Ixia and Sitia
+ meeting old friends from previous books
+ witty dialogues
+ sadly a main character who is too much damsel in distress but who has the opportunity to develop in the next installments

My Opinion:

Storm Glass is the start of a new trilogy by Maria V. Snyder that takes place in the same world as the Study Trilogy featuring Yelena and Valek: Ixia and Sitia. Opal Cowan appeared in Fire Study and helped the heroine Yelena. In Storm Glass she becomes the new heroine.

Opal is called to the Stormdancers, who capture storms and imprison them in orbs. Those orbs, however, are faulty and explode. Thus, the clan asks the Magician for help and they decide to send Opal since she understands the glassmaking process. Opal, who feels useless since her magical abilities do not develop and she is treated by her fellow students as unworthy of her education, is able to help the Stormdancers, yet she slowly unravels a bigger conspiracy that will reunite her with old friends and enemies alike.

The story was similarly constructed as the previous trilogy and a similar narrative pattern unfolded in this book. Though I loved the previous books and I enjoyed this one, I had some small issues with the protagonist. Just as Yelena did, she stumbled from one misfortune and situation into the next, yet Opals were blatantly obvious. I was already rolling my eyes before she was overpowered again because I could see it coming. With Yelena it was more surprising, she was more of a fighter than Opal. Opal fitted the role of damsel in distress and she did not seem to want to shake that role.

Still, I really liked the other characters. The girl between two guys trope, however, was not my favorite, but the way this was solved was surely interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed that characters from the previous books (including Yelena, Leif, Ari and Janko) found their way into this story, and it cheered me up a loth. The dialogues were witty and funny and the situations that they were in were comical a times. I will continue this series, maybe not right away but in the hope to meet old friends again and to see if Opal develops.

Bottom Line:

A good book and solid read with wonderful side kicks and witty bantering, yet a main protagonist who still has lots of room to develop.

Rating:

Emma Grey – Schuld war nur der Tee (incl. Short English Review)

This book is written by a German author and until now only published in German. For a short English review please see further below.

Taschenbuch
Verlag: KBS Media
veröffentlicht: 2014
Seiten: 250

Klappentext:

Arroganz. Egoismus. Neid. Wie viel ist zu viel? Als eine Mordserie die Küstenregion Südenglands erschüttert, scheint die Grenze zwischen Gut und Böse zu verschwimmen. Der Täter hinterlässt geheimnisvolle Botschaften und stellt die Polizei damit vor Rätsel. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Cromwell, selbst in einer Krise, muss sich mit diesem mysteriösen Fall auseinandersetzen. Dabei taucht er nicht nur in menschliche Abgründe ein, sondern auch in eine Welt voller Genuss. Dem Team von Cromwell läuft die Zeit davon, denn der Mörder hat bereits sein nächstes Opfer im Visier Ort der Handlung: Dorset, Südengland Fesselnder Debütroman, spannend bis zum Schluss! (Amazon)

In Kürze:

+ ein England Krimi
+ ein komplexer Protagonist mit zu vielen Problemen
+ der Protagonist überschattet den eigentlichen Kriminalfall

Meinung:

Ich war zu einer Lesung der Autorin und mir hatte der Krimi bzw. das was daraus gelesen wurde, ganz gut gefallen. Trotzdem zögerte ich etwas beim Kauf, habe es dann aber doch getan.

Menschen, die nicht miteinander verbunden sind, werden auf grausame Art ermordet. Cromwell ermittelt in diesen Fällen, versucht ein Motiv, einen Täter und eine Verbindung zu finden und muss sich dabei seinen ganz eigenen Dämonen stellen.

Der Fall war interessant, der Ansatz auch, aber leider hat das Buch zu viel auf einmal gewollt. Ich habe mich aufgrund des Titels etwas mehr auf einen cozy crime gefreut, wurde jedoch von einigen Thriller Elementen in eine andere Richtung gelenkt.

Obwohl ich damit leben konnte und mich auch schnell an diese Aspekte gewöhnt hatte, überschattet einfach das Privatleben des Ermittlers den Fall. Seine Frau, sein ehemaliger Partner, sein Alkoholproblem, die Neue im Team – es waren einfach zu viele hard-boiled und andere Elemente die hier zusammengesetzt wurden. Dabei wurde kein Strang wirklich richtig verfolgt und entwickelt. Alles wurde angesprochen und etwas weitergeführt und dann kam schon der nächste Punkt – frei nach dem Motto: Uff geschafft, Haken dran.

Aufgrund der Kürze des Buches fehlte die Kapazität alle Punkte adäquat zu behandeln – da hätte die Autorin gerne auf etwas verzichten können.

Außerdem habe ich mir irgendwie mehr Tee versprochen, mehr Informationen die mir nicht bekannt waren, eine größere Rolle oder Bedeutung. Und auch wenn ich ein Freund kurzer Kapitel bin, hat es mich hier gestört, dass einige gerade mal ein paar Seiten hatten.

Ich finde das Buch hat unheimlich Potential und wenn die privaten Probleme des Ermittlers vielleicht auf unterschiedliche Bände aufgeteilt worden wären, hätte es mich hier nicht so überwältigt und den Fokus vom Fall entfernt.

Fazit:

Ein guter Ansatz, leider aber zu viele unterschiedliche Aspekte angeschnitten, die den eigentlichen Fall überschattet haben.

In English:

This crime story is set in England. As I was preparing for a cozy crime due to the title, which teased tea as a central topic, I was a little disappointed. I got used to the thriller elements (only a few) quite quickly and was fine with them, but the continuously dominating problems of the main protagonist, his dead wife, his former partner, the newbie in the team, his alcohol problem were just to many at once. The book was rather to short for all of them, so most were only touched upon and lacked development before moving on to the next one.

I also expected more on the topic of tea – more information that I wasn’t aware of, a more important role or meaning. Something really.

The premise itself was a good one and if the problems of the investigator would have been either reduced or spread over several novels it would not have overshadowed the actual criminal case which was quite interesting.

Rating:

Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain – Coffee, Tea or Murder?

Paperback
publisher: Signet
published: 2007
pages: 288

Blurb:

Ms. Fletcher learns that the friendly skies aren’t so friendly after all.
When Cabot Cove’s own Wayne Silverton debuts his new airline, he invites Jessica Fletcher and other locals on the inaugural flight from Boston to London. Jessica is thrilled for the opportunity to visit her dear friend, Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland. But the reunion hits turbulence when George is called to the airport to investigate the apparent murder of Wayne Silverton.
Jessica and George decide to put their sleuthing skills together. But there’s a full passenger list of suspects-and Jessica’s going to have to catch a killer before she can catch a flight home. (Amazon)

In (Very) Short:

+ another Murder, She Wrote novel
+ another acquaintance dead
+ another mystery to solve for Jessica (and her friend George Sutherland from Scotland Yard)

My Opinion:

Well, what can I say about a Jessica Fletcher/ Murder, She Wrote novel. I plainly enjoy them in any form and medium.

Jessica travels to London with her Cabot Cove friends when the new airline of a former member of the community is launched. The flight itself is smooth but in London Wayne Silverton is found dead. Thus Jessica Fletcher’s time with her friend, Inspector George Sutherland, is not cut short, yet dominated by another murder. The two will have to work together to find out who the murderer is before the plane flies back to Cabot Cove.

There is really only little to say: I love Jessica. The characters are likeable except maybe for the victim and some potential suspects (we gotta keep it interesting), the crime is rather cozy and less gruesome, and the writing is fluent and easy. Even though the last scenes are somewhat thrilling, I was very much at ease when I read this book.

Though at this point, if Jessica Fletcher ever comes for a visit, just run. After 12 seasons and all those books, people must just escape from the city when Jessica stops by. So many dead people in her wake and she is connected to most of them. She should barely have any friends left 🙂

Bottom Line:

A wonderful read with my second favorite sleuth – Jessica Fletcher.

Rating:

My Reading Month September

September was relatively good reading month. I did read a little less and listened to even less. But I am still happy and I enjoyed the stories I discovered this month.

• Books: 3
• Audiobooks: 5
• Pages (only books): 855
• Pages (incl. Audiobooks): 2934
• Minutes listened: 1269 (over 21 hours)

Books:

Frank M. Reifenberg und Gina Mayer – Die Schattenbande legt los

A children’s adventure crime story set in the 1920s in Berlin. As a member of their little group becomes a suspect in a murder, they quickly have to discover who the real culprit is before their friend is caught.

Josephine Angelini – Goddess

The final book in the Starcrossed Trilogy ends in quite a show down between the Greek gods and the Scions. But the question remains: Will history repeat itself?

J.M. Haag – Depravity

A retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a lot more adult romance (for whatever reason). It’s the first part of a trilogy meaning the story was just split in three – probably.

Audiobooks:

Sabine Ebert – Die Spur der Hebamme

The story about the midwife Marthe continuous as she tries to survive in the Middle Ages in Germany without being convicted as a witch. And nobody is allowed to know that she has visions, visions that foresee death and also prevent a few conspiracies.

Dr. Josephine Chaos – Dann press doch selber, Frau Dokta!

A gynecologist tells stories from the hospital ward … women giving birth, screaming, being oblivious, and the dreaded night shifts.

Ricarda Jordan – Die Geisel des Löwen

The Danish try to conquer Rugia Island in the 12th century and our rather naive heroine is captured in the middle of it all.

Emmy Abrahamson – Go for it: Wie ich London die Schau stahl (oder London mir)

We accompany Phillipa throughout her education within the holy walls of the royal drama school in London: humming, breathing, love, loss, jealousy, and greed.

Jürgen von der Lippe & Monica Cleves – Verkehrte Welt

Short stories that will definitely NOT end the way you thought they would! Just wonderfully sarcastic.