Reviewing ‘In Her Name: From Chaos Born’ by Michael R. Hicks

4.5/5

Despite the fact that Mr. Hicks says that you can go into this novel not having read any of the previous novels I have to sincerely disagree. Now, do you have to have read all of them? No. But I think having read In Her Name: Empire saved me from being completely confused. There are a lot of cultural references for the Kreela that if you have not read anything before might seem confusing, especially their almost brutal form of life in such an advanced race.

For me this hurt the book none at all. I’ve read something, I understood the culture, and therefore could foam at the mouth as I read further and further. Foaming in enjoyment. Okay, salivating.

The book mostly reads like a very well thought-out prequel. This is the first book in a new trilogy and it shows in an almost marvelous way. Instead of giving us a story and then writing about how it came to pass later, Hicks decides to give us how the story starts and then will move on from there.

To touch on the plot there is an evil queen, good warriors, good priests and acolytes, and a lot of mind-rape, another thing interesting about this society. In the end it comes down to protecting one child. There are a slew of characters, none who you get too much of a feel for other than Ayan-Dar, a bad-ass priest with one arm and an open attitude.

Excellently told to the point you may never guess this was written by an independent author if you did not already know, this story is captivating and keeps the interest of the reader from beginning to end. This is one of those novels that absolutely plot-driven as opposed to character driven. Here’s two things to know about me and my choices and why giving this 4-5 stars is amazing: I typically hate sci-fi, I typically prefer character-driven. While this is less sci-fi than Empire and more in the realm of fantasy, it still touches on it enough that normally I might have cringed. Instead, I’m celebrating, and thinking everyone who enjoys fantasy, sci-fi, or a well told story should read it.

Reasons to Read:

- Better blue aliens than Avatar

- Interesting culture

- Sci-fi/Fantasy fan

- You enjoy trilogies

- You enjoy good books

Reasons Not To Read:

- You can not enjoy a plot-driven novel

- You have not read a previous In Her Name novel

- You can not get in to sci-fi or fantasy on any level

The Missing Wrestlemania 28 Match

Wrestlemania is so jammed pack full of gimmick matches that have little to do with storylines people care about that they left out a glaring error, because they forgot they were supposed to be pushing tag matches again. Epico and Primo hold the tag team titles but who remembers that? It’s not the men’s fault but sadly misused booking. Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins have been used better and they are on NXT.

Speaking of Reks and Hawkins… Oh yes, you knew I would go there.

Solace’s Dream Missing Match

Before the start of the show Reks and Hawkins are up to their usual antics of being bullies and utterly cool while doing so. When they run into Epico and Primo they make fun of them for not having a match even though they are tag champs and for having to be managed by a woman whose only talent is dancing. This is where Regal does his thing and comes in to announce that since there was some time to fill on the card and people want to see their tag team champs he is going to make an impromptu tag match. However, if Reks and Hawkins lose they get to clean the entire arena once everyone leaves with a pro showing them how it’s done. Reks and Hawkins agree on the condition that Regal will do the sweeping instead if they win. Regal agrees because he believes there is no chance that Reks and Hawkins can win.

Epico and Primo put on a great show, and even get a little help from their former stable-buddy Hunico, but they just can’t hold up to Reks and Hawkins. Reks and Hawkins ultimately win the tag titles from Epico and Primo. No, not because I prefer Reks and Hawkins, but because Reks and Hawkins have done more to show what tag teams should be like in the last six months than anyone else has. These men should be the two going around and crushing any and all other tag teams, while helping to build groups who want to take them down.

After the show Reks and Hawkins hand Regal his broom and wish him luck on cleaning. Oh, and they found his pro, the ever handsome Scott Stanford, who is the lone man cleaning the arena corridors. As soon as Reks and Hawkins leave, and Scott starts saying how happy he is to work with Regal and how he could use the help, Regal instantly starts making excuses. His twins need him. His wife found out about Maxine. Etc. Leaving poor Scott to sweep on his own and Regal calculating a better revenge on Reks and Hawkins.

Of course I found a way to incorporate Scott into this. What were you expecting?