Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book enough to finish it. While I think it would appeal to readers who enjoy action, the humour didn't appeal to me.

DNF'd at 50%. By the time I started reading, I had forgotten the blurbs that compared the plot to Die Hard. Slowly coming to the realization that this was a retelling of Die Hard was the final disappointment that broke the book for me. It's hard to understand why the author chose to divide the story in such impractically short chapters; a book that doesn't make it to 200 pages has no reason to have 62 chapters. The result is a jarring rhythm that feels hostile to the reader. This book is more interested in pulling off its gimmick than in telling its own story.

This was such a thrilling read. It got me hooked. Highly recommend this to others. Great read !! Great plot

Unfortunately, it did not work for me. I will not post any reviews on my social profiles or GoodReads.

The premise sounds ridiculous... and it is. But the world created here - with wizards who "weave" elements as their magic - is reasonable effective. The main problem I had with this novella is the fact that it's a Die Hard parody. A hostage situation in a high rise building, a bunch of foreign bad guys, hero's driver waiting below, authorities outside. And the hero actually paraphrases well-known phrases from the movie, like "welcome to the party" and "now I have a machine gun" (along with a dead guy in an elevator). Once you notice this, all you're reading for is the next reference. Ultimately, this was a disappointing read attempting to be clever.

This is quite a bizarre book and one that I am really not sure about. I read it and sort of enjoyed it but I also felt a bit lost reading it. For me, this book had a lot of things going on and I did struggle to understand the connections. A mix of fantasy, set above a volcano, with a western gunslinger, some strange magic and a retelling of a Die Hard film.

A novella which brings many genres together.

Absent husband Black Jack is going to an ambassador's party at a building situated in the mouth of an active volcano. Magical terrorists attack and Jack, naked except for his hat and a pair of gloves, must fight them with whatever means possible to free everyone and save his wife and daughter.

Jumping straight into the story, this is a busy narrative throwing info at you in an almost dizzying manner that showcases the author's imagination. The cleverly named short chapters heighten the whimsical shine of the storytelling as does the quirky dialogue. It mixes old-timey things like horse carriages and knights with advanced technology like reverse gravity.

Sometimes the action is confusing, and even though I love all the awesome things the author thinks of, the story needed more time to breathe and more details to explain some things better (what the .... is a fashiral?) It feels like it's written as if the author was afraid the ideas would get away from him.

This is Die Hard with magic in a fantastical world — an entertaining adventure of a quick read.

“Tap and Die” is a rollercoaster ride through a fantastical world filled with magical creatures, political intrigue, and a cowboy who finds himself in the most unexpected of situations. The book’s premise is undeniably unique, blending elements of fantasy, action, and humor. However, it’s a journey that might not be for everyone. The story follows a cowboy who, separated from his wife, ends up at an ambassador’s gala above an active volcano. Chaos ensues as magical terrorists attack, leaving our protagonist naked and separated from his family. With a lightning wand in hand, he must confront an invading army and save the diplomats from captivity. It’s a wild and wacky concept that sets the stage for what could have been a memorable adventure. One of the standout features of “Tap and Die” is the world-building. The author introduces a richly detailed and imaginative world filled with magical creatures and concepts. However, this aspect of the book can sometimes be overwhelming for readers. The abundance of unfamiliar names, powers, and potions can lead to confusion and detachment from the story. At times, I found myself lost in the intricacies of the world rather than fully engaged in the plot.

Despite the world-building challenges, the main character shines as a source of humor and entertainment. His witty and humorous personality provides some much-needed levity in the midst of the chaos. Some moments in the book are genuinely funny and keep the reader entertained. Additionally, the short length of the book helps maintain interest, as it doesn’t overstay its welcome. On the downside, the writing, plot, and character development leave much to be desired. The writing can be sloppy, making it difficult to immerse oneself in the story. The plot feels disjointed at times, and the character names are often unpronounceable, further hindering the reader’s connection with the story. These issues detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

There are also bizarre and questionable elements in the story, such as the protagonist being naked for no apparent reason and the inclusion of strange and off-putting details like “piss magic.” These elements may leave readers scratching their heads and questioning the author’s choices. In conclusion, “Tap and Die” is a book that falls short of its potential. While the world-building is ambitious, it can be overwhelming, and the writing, plot, and character development leave much to be desired. The humor provided by the main character is a saving grace, but it may not be enough to fully redeem the book. If you’re familiar with the author’s other works and enjoy quirky and wacky plots, you might find some value in this book. However, for most readers, it may be a challenging and confusing read that doesn’t quite hit the mark.

This fantasy/Western re-telling of the first Die Hard film was a strange book to read. We are given very little explanation of the world building and the reader is left to fend for themselves to work out what on earth is going on. I think this is mostly successful as the context is generally sufficient to be able to understand, but at times the world is so very strange that it takes some time to grasp.
The near scene-by-scene rewrite of everyone's favourite christmas film is quite clever and gives the book a good level of pace and humour as we meet a version of John McLane from the other side of the universe, who has not only taken off his shows and shirt to overcome the jet lag.
This was a good silly, fun read as long as the reader has the ability to move on without detailed magic systems and world building (picture the opposite of Sanderson/Jordan).

I have to admit this reminded me of Die Hard.

That is no bad thing.

For a short story this had just about everything going for it.

Great characters and plenty of action.

Thoroughly enjoyed this

I didn`t like it very much. It didn`t feel like something I would recommend much to other people. Its not all bad you know, but it is really not my cup of tea. I didn`t like the way it was developed and I thought it was a little boring too.

Realy enjoyed this book and I think it will have a good audience at my library. Definitely will be ordering.

Lance Schaubert's historical fiction book "Tap and Die" transports readers to a vivid and turbulent time in American history. Schaubert creates a gripping and thought-provoking read with his vividly rendered characters, dramatic setting, and fascinating narration.
"Tap and Die" brings readers to the early 20th century, a period of social upheaval, economic advancement, and the hardships of the working class. The narrative follows the competent mechanic Jack who works in a factory, as they deal with the difficulties of their line of work, face injustice, and look for their place in a world that is changing quickly. Jack is a compelling and complex figure who symbolises the aspirations, difficulties, and working class people of that time. The supporting cast, which includes friends, rivals, and other factory workers, gives the story depth and diversity and sheds light on a variety of facets of the society at the time.
The evocative and descriptive writing of Schaubert transports readers to the industrial settings and the grim realities of the characters' existence. The environment is brought to life in the novel by the author's careful study and attention to historical accuracy. The story is interesting and well-paced, which enables readers to completely believe in the protagonist's journey and the difficulties they encounter.
In addition, "Tap and Die" examines issues of class conflict, social injustice, and the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of difficulty. Schaubert goes deeply into the moral choices the characters must make, the costs they bear, and their quest for a better life. The book sheds light on the social problems and hardships of the working class at that time while providing insights into the historical setting.
Although "Tap and Die" is a gripping work of historical fiction, some readers might feel that some plot points should have been extended or explored more thoroughly. The speed can also change at times, with slower narrative and reflective pauses. Any minor flaws are made up for, though, by the beautifully rendered characters, the moody location, and the examination of societal themes.
I would recommend "Tap and Die" to readers who love getting transported to a bygone era of industrial advancement and social upheaval through its compelling and thought-provoking historical fiction. This novel is an absorbing and satisfying read thanks to the skilled narrative of Lance Schaubert, the thoroughly researched location, and the compelling characters. "Tap and Die" is a book that will stay with you if you like historical fiction that examines the difficulties and victories of regular people under unusual circumstances.

Sadly this was a DNF because I simply couldn’t get on with the writing style. The plot synopsis was interesting, things started well… but the chapters are ridiculously short and it’s hard to keep up with what’s happening. If this was a TV show, the editing would be ridiculous as we swap between characters so fast that my head was spinning.

Sadly not for me.

Lancelot Schaubert's "Tap and Die" is a collection of short stories about the lives of individuals in a tiny Midwestern town. The book is written in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner, with short chapters that make it a quick read.

I enjoyed how exciting the stories were and how they had me on the edge of my seat. Each chapter focuses on a different character or event, and the author does an excellent job of connecting the events and making the people appear to be in the right place at the right time.

However, this is a disadvantage because the story focuses on a single incident from various points of view rather than being part of a bigger story. I would be glad if the book can be developed more. But overall, I still enjoyed reading the book and thought it was well-written.

Personal rating, 3.5 stars

I love a good novella, and I don't have a problem with something being short if it covers the full story. (I see a lot of people leaving reviews on novellas in general and saying "I wish this was a full book!") The problem I had with TAP AND DIE is that it takes on so much, and then rushes through it. There are a lot of characters, but we don't really get to know any of them. There's a lot of action, but because the magic system is complex but never fully explained, I had a really hard time visualizing the settings and the action. Because of that, it was really hard to connect to the characters and understand the concepts, and at some point I just checked out.

Now, to be fair to this author, the world seems REALLY COOL. The whole story takes place inside of a tap... king of a giant mine inside a volcano. There are scifi elements, there are magic spells, there's a fair bit of world-building that seems fully thought out. It was just hard for me to keep up and care about the characters when the story skipped around so much. If we had stuck with Jack more throughout the story, or spent more time getting to understand things, I think I would have really enjoyed this. As it was, it felt rushed, and there were a ton of POVs that we kept hopping between.

If you like cool world-building and action, I'm sure you'll have a better time with this book than I did. It simply wasn't for me, since I'm always more invested in character development than in pure plot.

Fast paced, action packed fantasy. A western/Die Hard vibe with magic thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed this short book. A nice bit of humour throughout. The story’s characters are entertaining. This is a complete stand alone story, but I hope the author returns soon to write more about these characters, especially the trouble Dove could get into. Thank you to Lancelot Schaubert and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I saw many positive reviews of this book, so I thought I would give it a go. I was underwhelmed by a predictable storyline reminiscent of the Die Hard film. Every single element of the tale was included, with the addition of a daughter and some other tiny differences. Black Jack Dawes made a decent John McClane, but I felt that Tayfye (Hans Gruber) was utterly forgettable.

The fantasy setting was well portrayed and I loved learning about the lore behind the story. The book was well written.

If you like fantasy-style books with good lore then you would be the perfect reader for this book

How do you make a character so riveting in so short a time span? Well, you call him Black Jack, strip him naked and set a furious pace while revealing his character. Even Ser Forty was built awesomely that he could be his own series. This story line could have played out to everyones delight yet sadly it ended too soon.

Awesome short story. I want a full novel or a series about Black Jack!

This book has certainly an alluring cover and an intriguing premise. The story is a fast-paced action-fantasy, featuring a unique amalgamation of magic and technology. While the writing style is compelling, I felt that the story lacked character development and world-building. The pace moves at lightning speed, leaving scant room for exposition or backstory, making it an adrenaline-fueled read. The eccentric and bizarre magic forms held my attention, leaving me uncertain whether the author intended it to be satirical or serious.

All in all, the work is a thrilling and enjoyable read, perfect for those seeking a quick, action-packed adventure. However, I hope that in future works, the author expands on the universe and characters. The potential is immense, and with additional character depth and a more detailed backstory, the story could be an outstanding read.