Friday Face-Off: Potions
Posted on August 21, 2020 28 Comments
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
“Hubble bubble”
~ a cover featuring POTIONS
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Sin Eater’s Daughter Series by Melinda Salisbury
I am sad to say I never did finish this series, but the covers for the books were just too hard to pass up for today’s theme! I don’t even think I can choose a clear favorite, as they’re all so vivid and a little unsettling and hypnotic in their imagery. Honestly, I really like them all. So here are the Scholastic Press edition covers for all four books (it’s a trilogy with a companion novella collection) and you guys can decide!
Audiobook Review: Silver in the Wood & Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
Posted on August 20, 2020 22 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Silver in the Wood & Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Greenhollow Duology
Publisher: Tantor Audio (August 18, 2020)
Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Matthew Lloyd Davies
Silver in the Wood is an interesting take on the Green Man myth—a fabled figure often seen as a symbol of rebirth and the circle of life. Emily Tesh’s debut novella spirits us away to Greenhollow Wood, which has been protected for the past 4oo years by its caretaker Tobias Finch. To the people who live in the surrounding villages, he is known as the Wild Man, a creature out of legend and best left alone. In truth though, that’s the way Tobias prefers it. A recluse, he’s fine caring for the Wood by himself, with just his trusty cat by his side.
But then one day, Henry Silver turns up on his doorstep in the middle of a rainstorm. He’s handsome, he’s charming, and he is as curious about Tobias as Tobias is about him. Against the odds, a delicate friendship forms between these two disparate men, which eventually blossoms into something more. But when Henry, an avid historian and collector of folktales, goes chasing a dark legend and puts himself in danger, Tobias will need to come to terms with his loyalties and face down the down the shadows of his past.
This is a short but very lovely tale, combining earth and nature magic with mythology. It’s the very definition of enchanting, thanks mostly to the lush atmosphere surrounding Greenhollow Wood. Tesh has created a vibrant setting, literally alive with dryads and other natural spirits of the forest. The characters themselves almost feel secondary to their environment, for while Tobias and Henry are both well written, there is simply not enough time to develop their relationship, which reminds me of a fairy tale—and not exactly in a good way. These types of romances always sound wonderful and idyllic on paper, but the emotions involved are too often underdeveloped and not very persuasive, so that was my one big disappointment.
The story also struggled to hold my attention early on, but once we stopped exploring multiple threads and started focusing on a single one, things gradually got back on track. While I still think the relationship between Tobias and Henry could have used more fleshing out, I did enjoy the ending which, believe it or not, raised my satisfaction levels somewhat. All I’ll say is that it was an apt conclusion, one that perfectly matched the overall dark, ethereal tone of the book, though I’m also glad there will a follow-up to hopefully address everything that transpired.
Drowned Country picks up a little while after the end of Silver in the Wood, and reintroduces our characters Tobias Finch and Henry Silver, albeit in their new roles. Henry, however, is having a little trouble adjusting, and Greenhollow Wood has suffered for it. Things got to be so bad that his mother, Mrs. Adela Silver, had to get involved. Together with Tobias, she manages to pull Henry out of his mope and convince him to help them on a monster hunt. Out on the coast, in the dingy town of Rothport, a young woman has been abducted by an ancient vampire, and they’re going to need all the help they can get to stage the rescue.
I definitely preferred this follow-up to the first book, for several reasons. First, while Silver in the Wood was more about Tobias, Drowned Country turns the focus on Henry, who has a much more charismatic, infectious personality. Sure, he can be such an absolute child at times, and I’m also pretty sure a lot of his recalcitrance was exaggerated for effect. Still, this book made me feel more connected to the characters, in a way. It made the people feel more real.
And second, this was a much more entertaining tale. Again, I think much of this had to do with Henry at the helm. He’s a talker with a way of drawing the reader into his sphere. Through his point-of-view, Emily Tesh’s knack for storytelling really got to shine in a way that it couldn’t with Tobias.
Third, we get vampires and the fae. Seriously, what more can I ask for? The story takes us to brand new realms which are both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Despite the charming voice of our protagonist, this remains a brooding tale involving themes of yearning and devastating compulsion, mirroring the darker tones of the first book.
And finally, I loved the more nuanced dynamics in Tobias and Henry’s relationship. Things are definitely much more complicated this time around, but it isn’t simply drama for the sake of drama. I don’t necessarily demand happily-ever-afters, but I do like (and on some level expect) to see emotions grow and evolve in sequels, and I was also filled with hope at the way this ended, as a sort of counterpoint to the earlier tensions and sorrow.
All in all, this was a captivating duology. There were certain aspects that were weaker at the beginning but found their feet later on in the sequel. A shift in character perspective also helped me look at the story and its overall themes in a different light. I would recommend reading Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country together if you can, because the two novellas complement each other quite nicely, providing a complete and rewarding experience.
Audiobook Comments: I had a great time with the audio edition, which conveniently contains both books in the duology so you can finish the first one and move on to the next without skipping a beat. Matthew Lloyd Davies was a phenomenal narrator, varying tone, volume, pitch and rhythm in his voices to create an incredibly immersive listening experience. He was brilliant as Tobias and even better as Henry Silver, and the way he was able to step into the personas of the different characters was beyond impressive. So if you’re thinking of checking out the Greenhollow duology, definitely keep the audiobook in mind, I highly recommend it.
Waiting on Wednesday 08/19/20
Posted on August 19, 2020 22 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
The Councillor by E.J Beaton (March 2, 2021 by DAW)
This upcoming debut recently landed on my radar, but I’m definitely keeping my eye on it because of the description of a “Machiavellian fantasy” and the fact it features a scholarly main character. Definitely my kind of protagonist!
“This Machiavellian fantasy follows a scholar’s quest to choose the next ruler of her kingdom amidst lies, conspiracy, and assassination
When the death of Iron Queen Sarelin Brey fractures the realm of Elira, Lysande Prior, the palace scholar and the queen’s closest friend, is appointed Councillor. Publically, Lysande must choose the next monarch from amongst the city-rulers vying for the throne. Privately, she seeks to discover which ruler murdered the queen, suspecting the use of magic.
Resourceful, analytical, and quiet, Lysande appears to embody the motto she was raised with: everything in its place. Yet while she hides her drug addiction from her new associates, she cannot hide her growing interest in power. She becomes locked in a game of strategy with the city-rulers – especially the erudite prince Luca Fontaine, who seems to shift between ally and rival.
Further from home, an old enemy is stirring: the magic-wielding White Queen is on the move again, and her alliance with a traitor among the royal milieu poses a danger not just to the peace of the realm, but to the survival of everything that Lysande cares about.
In a world where the low-born keep their heads down, Lysande must learn to fight an enemy who wears many guises… even as she wages her own battle between ambition and restraint.”
Book Review: Automatic Reload by Ferrett Steinmetz
Posted on August 18, 2020 21 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Automatic Reload by Ferrett Steinmetz
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1/Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor Books (July 28, 2020)
Length: 304 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
After a string of disappointing reads, I was in desperate need of a certain kind of fast-paced, action-packed frivolity—the kind I was certain Ferrett Steinmetz could provide, if my experience with his ‘Mancer series was anything to go on. And I was right. While on the surface, Automatic Reload might have been a novel of pure mindless escapism, it was also the perfect remedy to lift me out of my reading funk.
The story takes place in the near-future, and we are following protagonist Mat, a former soldier turned freelance mercenary who now works the black market. In a world dominated by tech and automation, the more of it you have, the more powerful you are, which makes Mat one of the top dogs in his field, having decked himself out in the most advanced weaponry, replacing his limbs with military-grade armaments.
But the reality is, beneath his more-machine-than-man exterior, Mat’s still a big softie. He’s a professional who will do the job he’s paid to do, but he’ll also try not to cause more pain and death than is necessary, which is tough sometimes, considering the explosive and violent nature of his work. On his latest mission, however, he is tasked to protect a highly valuable asset in transit. As it turns out though, the cargo is actually a woman named Silvia, and she, as Mat soon learns, is not your typical charge. She’s a genetically engineered super assassin, created and ruthlessly experimented on by an unethical shadowy corporation. Recognizing something of himself in her traumatic experiences and torment, Mat makes the choice to rescue her, betraying his employer whose agents will now come at him with everything they’ve got in order to get Silvia back.
What can I say, but Automatic Reload was just plain fun. It’s quirky, it’s adventurous, and the story moves at breakneck speed. There’s also healthy dose of humor, and if you’ve read the author before, you’re probably already familiar with the unabashed geek pride that he shows off in his books. It’s also the perfect sci-fi novel for non-sci-fi fans. If you’ve ever wanted to try cyberpunk but was intimidated by the hard science, emotional gravity and social intricacies of the genre, you should give this one a look. Sure, Steinmetz can sometimes go a little overboard with his descriptions of advanced tech and weaponry (you can tell he’s enthusiastic about both) but on the whole the book is highly accessible with lots of mass appeal. Action, comedy and even romance all find a place in Automatic Reload.
The only trade-off here is the memorability and questionable impact. I believe the narrative intended to do and say a lot more, especially with regards to mental health issues like anxiety, self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorders. I’ve got to give the book credit for that, though any message it tries to send is somewhat awkward and simplistic in its delivery and is often overshadowed by the unsubtle deluge of geeky pop culture references and movie in-jokes. The romance, albeit sweet, was also a tad flimsy. While they may be delightful and fun, Mat and Silvia are not exactly what I would call deep or multidimensional characters, which is why their love story fell a bit flat. There’s hardly any build-up, with the expectation the two of them were simply meant to be because they made an instant connection. I mean, I get that Steinmetz had to keep things snappy, given that this is more of an action-oriented book, but insta-love in any form just doesn’t really fly with me.
Still, I needed a good escapist book, and I got a good escapist book. At the very least, the enjoyment I got from Automatic Reload was surely worth its few minor hiccups. Ultimately it was a blast to read, even if it could have used a bit more depth, and although its value was mostly in its ability to provide punchy entertainment, I nevertheless found a lot more to it than I expected.
Book Review: The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea
Posted on August 17, 2020 22 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Series: Book 2 of Rory Moore/Lane Philips
Publisher: Kensington Publishing (July 28, 2020)
Length: 368 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I’m a sucker for forensics. So when I found out about Charlie Donlea’s The Suicide House, a mystery thriller featuring a crime solving forensic reconstructionist and psychologist duo, I knew I had to check it out. No worries that this is actually the second book in a series; I jumped on board and was pleased to find it can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Situated in the lush picturesque forests of Indiana, Westmont Preparatory High School is an elite institution that demands excellence from its students. However, the school’s impeccable reputation has been recently marred by the grisly murder of two of its students. The murderer, a teacher who tried to throw himself in front of a train afterward, was ultimately charged and convicted after the failed suicide attempt left him in a vegetative state. But now, a year later, Westmont Prep is making headlines once more with a disturbing string of cases involving students suddenly and inexplicably killing themselves. Even more unnerving, all those involved were witnesses from the night of the murders, and they all ended their lives by throwing themselves in front of a train.
The story has since been seized upon by true crime podcasts and bloggers, especially when one of them, Ryder Hillier, unwittingly captures one of the suicides on video. However, it is her rival Mark Carter who ends up stealing the story, sending his popularity soaring, while she is slapped with a lawsuit. But the media coverage has also caught the attention of forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore, who has a fascination with unexplained deaths. When her boyfriend, former FBI psychologist Lane Philips is called to Indiana to investigate the Westmont Prep suicides, she decides to show up and surprise him—only to find him and the podcast host Mark Carter trapped inside a burning home. With Lane put out of commission by his recovery from the fire, Rory all but takes over the case, uncovering clues and other details which might shine some light on the night of the murders and subsequent suicides.
Meanwhile, we also have Gwen, one of the remaining witnesses left alive after all her other friends have killed themselves. She and five other students were together when two of their number were murdered, and the gruesome memories from that night still haunt her…especially when it appears she may know more than she lets on. Hidden behind the high expectations and rigorous curriculum at Westmont Prep is a dangerous and toxic culture, one that involves hazing, a secret late-night hangout in the woods, and a sinister game known as the Man in the Mirror.
As someone new to the series, all I knew before heading into The Suicide House was that Rory Moore and Lane Philips were supposed to be the protagonists—their names are in the series title, after all. Therefore, I was a little surprised to find they did not feature as prominently as I expected. The story was filled with so many character POVs that the two of them ended up sharing the page time equally with others or were mostly relegated to the background. In some ways, this felt more like Ryder or Gwen’s story, with Rory playing the role of piecing the mystery together while Lane cheers from the sidelines. On the face of it, there’s nothing wrong with this setup, other than the initial confusion of keeping track of so many moving parts. Because on top of the all the character perspectives, the narrative also plays out through multiple timelines and it’s not always clear when we are, or even who we’re reading about, because those facts are deliberately obfuscated by the author in order to preserve the mystery.
I also appreciated the touch of occult spookiness. As if the idea of a bunch of kids all drawn back to the same place to commit suicide isn’t creepy enough, there is the element of prep school secret societies and the ritual with the Man in the Mirror. It’s the stuff of teen horror movies: a group of misguided high school students partake in a Bloody Mary-type game, thinking it’s all harmless fun…until one of them winds up brutally impaled on a wrought iron fence.
Normally, I think I would be more critical of a book that had such a scattered focus and tried to do too much. But The Suicide House gets a pass because although it took a while for all the connections to come to light, everything made so much sense once they came together. I doubt this story could have been told any other way. I also enjoyed reading about Rory and Lane, for the amount of time I got to spend with them. Rory is on the autism spectrum and has some OCD tendencies, but her disorders do not define her character. However, I am sure they will present some interesting opportunities to explore her relationship with Lane, as the feelings between them deepen in future installments.
With that said, I am definitely on board to read more of this series, and maybe even go back to read the first book. The Suicide House also ends on a scene that opens the door to limitless possibilities, and I want to be there when Rory and Lane take on their next case.
Book Review: Driftwood by Marie Brennan
Posted on August 16, 2020 22 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1/Stand Alone
Publisher: Paperback: Tachyon Publications | Audiobook: Tantor (August 14, 2020)
Length: PB: 240 pages | Audio: 5 hrs and 34 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Welcome to Driftwood. It’s a place where worlds go to die. When a world approaches the end of its lifespan, they are enveloped by the Mist, where they will slowly fade away to nothing as they are gradually pulled towards a central zone called the Crush. But while this is happening, neighboring worlds are also experiencing the same slow creep towards oblivion, and so are brought together in a clash of cultures and geographies.
In the middle of all this is a character called Last, known for being Driftwood’s most enduring survivor, who saw his own world disappear a long time ago. People like to gather around and tell stories about him, for his reputation is legendary. Some say he is immortal; others desperately seek his guidance or try to learn his secrets and follow in his footsteps.
And thus, we have the book Driftwood, a collection of these tales, all linked together by the remarkable figure named Last. At the same time though, it’s not your typical anthology, as evidenced by the strange setting, the subject matter. Each story comes from a different viewpoint and reveals one of many faces of Last, whom we come to realize is a complicated character.
As a huge fan of Marie Brennan’s The Memoirs of Lady Trent series, I’ll read anything this amazing lady writes. Needless to say though, Driftwood is a completely different beast. You won’t be getting a linear or focused narrative here, as there’s absolutely nothing conventional about it, with its abstract premise and complex themes. The individual tales are more like short vignettes connected to each other by only a few tenuous threads, with little rhyme or rhythm to them otherwise. And because of its nontraditional format, there is an overall feeling of disjointedness.
I’ll admit, while these types of books aren’t typically my cup of tea, there’s just something so artful and charming about this one that I just couldn’t help but be drawn in. Granted, I think knowing the storytelling style beforehand helped a lot, as I was braced for a weird and possibility confusing read. As it turned out, I liked Driftwood more than I expected, and much of it has to do with the breathtaking world Brennan has created. Driftwood the world as a concept is an achievement of creativity and challenges the imagination. The notion is expansive, but at the same time easy to visualize and understand. Against the odds, I found myself enjoying the hodge-podge feel of multiple worlds and peoples colliding, co-existing.
Of course, the gorgeous writing didn’t hurt. Brennan takes difficult concepts, presents them clearly and concisely, and has time to ponder some significant questions about social malaise, belief systems, and the inevitability of fate besides.
My only complaint? This probably won’t be too surprising, but at a mere 240 pages, there simply was not enough room to capture the entire book’s potential, especially given its fragmented structure. Furthermore, not all the tales are created equal, and some of the transitions are jarring. The world of Driftwood is an odd place and to a great extent you are expected to go with the flow, and so if you are the kind of readers to expect explanations and answers, you are likely to be left unsatisfied.
As you can probably tell, in the end I’m of two minds about Driftwood. On the one hand I probably would have enjoyed the book a lot more if it had been more to my tastes, but I was also pleasantly surprised at how readable it was, not to mention how quickly I took to it considering the lack of a traditional plot structure, central characters or a clear focus. I only wish there had been a little more “oomph” to some of the vignettes, a little more reason to care about the people and their stories. Nevertheless, Marie Brennan has created something special here, and it’s worth reading if you don’t mind trying something different.
Bookshelf Roundup 08/15/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on August 15, 2020 27 Comments
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
Received for Review
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!
With many thanks to the kind folks at Blink and Kaye Publicity, I received this pair of gorgeous hardcovers: Twin Daggers by Marcykate Connolly and Ignite the Sun by Hanna C. Howard! I think I will start the latter first, and have plans to get to it soon.
Also thank you to Subterranean Press for surprising me earlier this week with an ARC of Take a Look at the Five and Ten by Connie Willis. It’s a Christmas novella due out at the end of November, right in time for the holidays!
I also received some ALCs from Harper Audio at the beginning of the month, including Final Cut by S.J. Watson, the new thriller from the author who brought us Before I Go to Sleep; Lies, Lies, Lies by Adele Parks, a domestic suspense of family secrets and drama and more; as well as the terrifyingly titled Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare, a YA slasher horror that’s pretty self-explanatory.
And I guess I must have missed the release of this one last month, but with thanks to Penguin Audio I was able to snag a listening copy of He Started It by Samantha Downing. I loved her debut My Lovely Wife last year, and I can’t wait to dive into this one. While I was checking out the publisher’s new releases, Blood World by Chris Mooney also caught my eye, and I requested the audio since I’ve been hearing a lot of intriguing things about it lately. And finally, from Listening Library I received Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis, because while I may be a lot pickier when it comes to my YA reads these days, I still find it hard to resist a creepy horror story.
Reviews
The Living Dead by George A. Romero and Daniel Kraus (4 of 5 stars)
Every Sky A Grave by Jay Posey (4 of 5 stars)
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin (4 of 5 stars
The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
This Week’s Reads
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read! Let me know what you plan on checking out. Until next time, see you next Roundup!
Friday Face-Off: Glasses
Posted on August 14, 2020 12 Comments
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
“One could mention many lovable traits in Smee. For instance, after killing, it was his spectacles he wiped instead of his weapon.”
~ a cover featuring GLASSES
Mogsy’s Pick:
Dead to Her by Sarah Pinborough
This week’s topic was a challenging one! I probably could have come up with more options if I’d had more time to pore over my shelves, but today I give you a straightforward head-to-head featuring a recent book I read by one of my favorite authors.
William Morrow (2020) vs. HarperCollins (2020)
Winner:
A tough call this week, as I love both covers! Even though they’re very different, I feel that each one does a fantastic job capturing an element of the story. While the William Morrow edition perfectly encapsulates the “Southern Gothic” mystery vibes, the HarperCollins cover simply screams “Summer thriller.”
In the end, mood and visual appeal won out. There’s just something about the image of a sparkling swimming pool that makes me want to dive right in.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Book Review: The Living Dead by George A. Romero & Daniel Kraus
Posted on August 13, 2020 32 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Living Dead by George A. Romero and Daniel Kraus
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor Books (August 4, 2020)
Length: 656 pages
Author Information: George A. Romero | Daniel Kraus
In 2017, the man known as the father of the zombie film George A. Romero passed away from lung cancer, leaving his novel unfinished. But thanks to the efforts of his estate and co-author Daniel Kraus, this final project, the 700-page opus that is The Living Dead was able to find its way into readers’ hands.
Like so many big things, this book’s story started out small: with a single death. On the night of October 23, like any other night, medical examiner Dr. Luis Accocola and his assistant Charlene “Charlie” Rutkowski headed in to work at the morgue to see to a John Doe who was brought in earlier in the evening. But as it turns out, there is something wrong with this particular body—namely, the fact that it isn’t exactly…well, dead.
Soon, this crisis of the dead coming back to life begins spreading across the globe, with the reanimated corpses relentlessly targeted the living, adding to their numbers. In Washington DC, a statistician and researcher named Etta Hoffman receives news of patient zero and, recognizing it as the spark that creates a wildfire, begins to put together a detailed timeline documenting what is the beginning of the end of the world. Meanwhile, in a trailer park in Missouri, teenager Greer Morgan steps out her door on the way to school, only to find a scene of nightmare unfolding on her front steps. As her neighbors tear each other apart, she barely manages to escape. Elsewhere, in a newsroom in Atlanta, anchorman Chuck Corso is barely holding it together as he watches the complete destruction of the country happening right in front his eyes, but undead hordes be damned, he resolves to continue broadcasting the news as it comes in, even if doesn’t know whether his reports will reach anyone. And finally, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, US Navy officer Karl Nishimura also watches in horror as he and his crew aboard the aircraft carrier Olympia become overrun by zombies, leading to a complete breakdown of the chain of command.
Although there are many more viewpoints scattered here and there to flesh out the narrative, most of the novel’s sprawling scope is provided by this handful of main characters. From the way you are made to care about them, to the way we’re allowed to witness the undead apocalypse from its beginning to its aftermath, I was somewhat reminded of Stephen King’s The Stand in terms of the story’s sheer scale and complexity. And the more I thought about it, the fact that this book was written by two authors, with Kraus completing what Romero started, became more and more impressive. For the most part, things flowed well with far fewer hiccups than you would expect from a project published posthumously after the main creator’s death. While Kraus is no stranger to collaborations, this one must have presented unique challenges, the least of them being to decide what Romero might have intended for the direction of his novel. Because of this, the author’s note at the end was a fascinating read into the process.
As for my thoughts on The Living Dead, I am one of course to enjoy a good zombie story every now and then, but what I loved most about this one was the way it felt so personal. Sure, with regards to the amount of blood and gore we have our share of both and more, but what I also delighted in was the intimate treatment of the individual characters and moments spent with them in their quieter, more introspective moments. This is a story about how our society might react to a horrible crisis, but it also explores actions and motivations of the individual. The result is a fuller experience with a book that’s as much about people as it is the zombie apocalypse, and if you’ve ever watched a zombie film wishing there had been more of that balance, then this is most certainly for you.
In terms of criticisms, well, there’s no getting around the fact that this is a long book, and as with most veritable tomes following an ensemble cast, you inevitably run into issues with pacing and maybe a few time jumps that don’t go so swimmingly. To be fair, many of these issues also stem from the novel’s structure, which is both a strength and a weakness. Comprised of multiple parts, it reads like a retrospective chronicling of events long past, allowing for the level of attention to detail I enjoyed, though it also robs the storytelling of a sense of urgency. While some of these problems can’t be helped, a few sections didn’t even feel like they had much of a plot, floating around like lost little islands in a great narrative sea (though I did wonder if this might just be an unavoidable side effect trying to put together a whole from unfinished pieces) and when you follow so many characters, some of them will also start to feel more interesting than others.
Still, I always try to evaluate a book as a whole, and I think there’s a beauty to the way all these disparate threads ultimately came together for the climax. The ending is raw, bitter, harsh…and in my opinion, completely apt. Plus, it’s not difficult to overlook a few faults when the overall the novel is so diligently put together and epic.
All in all, even in the face of its hefty length, The Living Dead was a worthwhile read and a must-have for every zombie enthusiast and George A. Romero fan, which probably doesn’t need to be said. Offering a deeper, more expansive and intricate story than anything you could show on a movie screen, this novel represents an incredible effort by Daniel Kraus to interpret and consolidate Romero’s ideas, which culminated in a final product that lives up to the legendary filmmaker’s vision.
Waiting on Wednesday 08/12/20
Posted on August 12, 2020 19 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec (February 9, 2021 by Ace Books)
A witchy book that’s a mix of magic, mythology, and history…this one was tailor-made for me!
“When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this fierce, subversive debut novel that reimagines Norse myth.
Angrboda’s story begins where most witch’s tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to give him knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him grows reluctantly into a deep and abiding love.
Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who she is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life–and possibly all of existence–is in danger.
Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she’s foreseen for her beloved family…or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales, this novel forges a story of love, loss and hope for the modern age.”
The BiblioSanctum 