Southern Highway Gospel Companion
by Richard Holeman
Faithless Drifter Choosing Random Roads
An Indie Book Review by Joseph Poopinski
4 stars
We join our protagonist a few years into a hitchhiking career. Although unwanted, haunted, down on his luck & on a mission of soul searching, he’s not on the lam & probably meets more nice folks than the wicked sort. Often there’s a little of both. His nightmares are rather Stephen Kingly with faceless shadows & various warped rainstorms. I love this book’s masterful hyperboles (“a preacher was screaming at the top of his lungs about the quiet peace of God’s everlasting arms”), the best curse you didn’t know you were missing (“[something]-fire”), the troll’s insane giggles, universal truths (Creeps make their own excuses, it’ll never matter what their victims say or do. No one rides for free.) & the biggest of messianic hoots, bobblehead Jesus agreeing or disagreeing depending upon the road’s bumpiness. I suppose, the narrator’s resolution leans against the world or society’s grumpiness, hypocrisy & abundant dangers, yet belays ultimate condemnation, thanks to occasional pockets of camaraderie & kindness. But there’s ample room for other interpretations! Memories of Blood & Shadow by Aaron S. Jones
Zatoichi, Spartacus & Kill Bill
An Indie Book Review by Joseph Poopinski
4 stars
The bulk of this epic 600-page story is the mature protagonist’s exciting, retroactive tale told to a present-day assassin, so we know Tavar won’t die. Optimists may suspect a forthcoming sequel, however, realistic/pessimistic readers can safely doubt how it could possibly have a title even half as awesome. Within this adventure spanning many years, our hero meets friends, enemies & the ever-dreaded both at the same time (Carver doesn’t disappoint). They train, battle, escape, skirmish, vie to the death in an arena & war; that’s the blood part & I’ll not spoil the shadow elements here.
My internal skepticism alarm chimed at the sea monster fight, but I do love Beany & Cecil. Frequent minor editing snafus (“stumbled from into the courtyard”) & profuse eff words were entirely non-problematic. These top charming factors or strengths made this book memorable: A diverse ensemble of characters whose tolerance & camaraderie gave them a fighting chance to win against impossible odds. Brutal honesty (“I wouldn’t trust us either”), a smattering of emotional inflections (“letting the man hear the honesty ring in his statement”) & nuance (“the higher up on [society’s status] ladder you climbed, the more intricate the mask you had to wear”).
A Krewe, their Quest & a Talking Sword
My internal skepticism alarm chimed at the sea monster fight, but I do love Beany & Cecil. Frequent minor editing snafus (“stumbled from into the courtyard”) & profuse eff words were entirely non-problematic. These top charming factors or strengths made this book memorable: A diverse ensemble of characters whose tolerance & camaraderie gave them a fighting chance to win against impossible odds. Brutal honesty (“I wouldn’t trust us either”), a smattering of emotional inflections (“letting the man hear the honesty ring in his statement”) & nuance (“the higher up on [society’s status] ladder you climbed, the more intricate the mask you had to wear”).
Paladin Unbound by Jeffrey Speight
A Krewe, their Quest & a Talking Sword
An Indie Book Review by Joseph Poopinski
4 stars
Centuries ago, all the gods wanted the world’s peoples to independently choose their own destinies, except for one rogue deity who wished to rule them as slaves. After a violent election, the majority won, banishing the dissenter to hell. Fast forward to today, the devil god’s clandestine cult menaces the population but everyone thinks it’s thieves. Our hero, the Paladin from the title, endures racism, heresy & loss yet never loses sight of his convictions or mission.
The knightly honor/sincerity-rich dialogue seems appropriately quaint for the realm. As Umhra’s new guild gathered from parts unknown, I had a “getting the band back together” feeling, touched with nostalgia from Lord of the Rings’ fellowship & who’s who (tank, healer or DPS) for any video game dungeon party composition. With all the numerous side quests, I feared the main showdown may be postponed until a sequel. Although there is a second installment in this series, Paladin Unbound provides much more of a Final Boss encounter than I had hoped for. Additional delights: The Narnian life-turned-to-stone forest, Drog the Mancleaver’s top-tier name & the talking genius of a legendary sword that glows (“Sheathe me, you fool!”).
The knightly honor/sincerity-rich dialogue seems appropriately quaint for the realm. As Umhra’s new guild gathered from parts unknown, I had a “getting the band back together” feeling, touched with nostalgia from Lord of the Rings’ fellowship & who’s who (tank, healer or DPS) for any video game dungeon party composition. With all the numerous side quests, I feared the main showdown may be postponed until a sequel. Although there is a second installment in this series, Paladin Unbound provides much more of a Final Boss encounter than I had hoped for. Additional delights: The Narnian life-turned-to-stone forest, Drog the Mancleaver’s top-tier name & the talking genius of a legendary sword that glows (“Sheathe me, you fool!”).
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