Playboy Gary Hart: My Life in Wrestling

by Gary Hart
Playboy Gary Hart: My Life in Wrestling cover
Good Books rating 3.88
Technical
  • ID: 4523
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
librarything.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
great 4.00

The reviewer thoroughly enjoyed Ed McDonald’s Black Wing, praising its fast-paced, gritty narrative and intriguing magic system. They appreciated the protagonist's complex backstory and the novel's hard-boiled crime fiction style, though they felt some characters could have been more deeply developed.

The reviewer thoroughly enjoyed Ed McDonald’s Black Wing, a fantasy novel set in a world where eternal wars rage between Deep Kings and Nameless Demi-Gods. The story follows Ryhalt Galharrow, a bounty hunter with a troubled past, as he navigates a grimdark landscape filled with action and intrigue. The reviewer found the novel's magic system, based on moonlight stored in batteries, particularly intriguing and the protagonist's reluctant heroism reminiscent of hard-boiled crime fiction. They appreciated the novel's focus on characters driven by their pasts and the dark, apocalyptic setting. However, they felt that some characters, like Nenn and Tnota, could have been more deeply developed and that shifting perspectives might have added richness to the narrative. Overall, they rated the book 4 out of 5 stars, acknowledging some moments of sentimentality but enjoying the story as a whole.

Quick quotes

    Thoroughly enjoyed reading Ed McDonald’s Black Wing, a work set in a fantasy world where Deep Kings and Nameless Demi-Gods vie for control in a eternal war that has been ongoing for millennia with no signs of stopping.

    Ezabeth fucking Tanza. Not a memory I’d wanted to dredge up again. Decades had crumbled away since I first sat across the table from her.

    All in all I’d rate this first book a 4 out of 5 stars.

ebay.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-10-21
amazing 4.50

The reviewer found 'Blackwing' by Ed McDonald to be an amazing post-apocalyptic fantasy with a well-built, dark world and fascinating monsters. The protagonist, Ryhalt Galharrow, is a cynical bounty hunter whose emotional arc and strong friendships make the story immersive and gripping.

The reviewer was initially drawn to 'Blackwing' after hearing positive reviews about the series. The book is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans battle Deep Kings, with the help of Nameless and the Engine. The protagonist, Ryhalt Galharrow, is a bounty hunter who becomes entangled in a conspiracy that threatens his world. The reviewer praised the dark and unfamiliar world, well-written monsters, and Ryhalt's emotional arc, which made the story immersive. The book also features strong friendships and differing loyalties that add depth to the characters. Overall, the reviewer found 'Blackwing' to be an emotional and gripping read and is eager to continue with the series.

Quick quotes

    This book is amazing!

    And what an amazingly dark world it was.

    I don’t think I’ve read many grimdark fantasy stories but this was such an emotional and gripping read.

prowrestlingstories.com · Unknown · 2023-03-03
good 3.50

The reviewer praises the book's strong start, imaginative magic system, and well-executed writing, but notes that the plot becomes confusing and wandering in the middle. They ultimately enjoy the resolution and the big fight at the end.

The reviewer starts by highlighting the book's strong opening, which reminded them of other popular fantasy works. They appreciate the imaginative magic system and the clear, effective writing. However, they find the middle sections confusing and wandering, with a plot that is deliberately convoluted and a protagonist who spends a lot of time mooning over an unrequited love. Despite these issues, the reviewer enjoys the resolution of the plot and the big fight at the end. They also appreciate the originality of the world-building and the depth of the characters.

Quick quotes

    The magic in the book is interesting, exciting, and imaginative. It's certainly not what you would call a system though. Think Tolkien rather than Sanderson ... at least if Tolkien had magic going off left right and centre.

    The writing is very good. Always clear and to the point, and with the occasional well executed flourish.

    I can see why Blackwing has been one of the more successful fantasy debuts of 2017.

slamwrestling.net · Unknown · 2009-10-27
good 3.50

The book is praised for its vivid descriptions, well-crafted characters, and intense fight scenes, but the protagonist's repetitive melancholy musings detract from the overall enjoyment.

The reviewer loved the weird creatures and detailed backstories of the characters in this book. The vivid descriptions and intense fight scenes were particularly enjoyable, especially a passage where two wizards battle inside the protagonist's mind. However, the protagonist's frequent and repetitive melancholy musings about his past and unrequited love dragged down the experience, leading the reviewer to skim those sections. Despite this, the book is recommended for fantasy fans.

Quick quotes

    There are Darlings who look like children but are super powerful sorcerers with adult voices who throw out mind-worms that burrow into brains and make the person do their bidding.

    I didn’t quite bond with Galharrow, but nevertheless enjoyed seeing the world through his eyes.

    Galharrow’s frequent (and repetitive) melancholy musings, “I’m a worthless drunk”, “I feel guilty about my kids”, “I’ve done some bad things in my past”, “unrequited love boo hoo” dragged big time for me and I found myself skimming those woe-is-me internal monologues, of which there were quite a few.

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