Audiobook Review: Devolution by Max Brooks
Posted on June 23, 2020 25 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 (Overall): 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Random House Audio (June 30, 2020)
Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Judy Greer, Max Brooks, Jeff Daniels, Nathan Fillion, Mira Furlan, Terry Gross, Kimberly Guerrero, Kate Mulgrew, Kai Ryssdal, Steven Weber
Max Brooks, the creative mind behind World War Z, returns to horror with another epistolary-style novel, this time taking us deep into the forests of the pacific northwest where an unfortunate group of neighbors have a deadly encounter with Bigfoot. The story is presented to us in the form of a series of documents collected by a journalist writing a book on the incident, but most of it is made up of entries from the diary of Kate Holland, the closest thing we have to a main character. She and her husband Dan have just moved into the secluded community of Greenloop near the base of Mount Rainier in Washington, a small little piece of paradise developed by tech tycoon Tony Durant who also lives there with his family. The other residents are also as you would expect—wealthy loners or progressive intellectuals who want to live off-the-grid and be “one with nature,” but also can’t do without their modern comforts and high-tech gadgets.
Sure, it’s an isolated life, but there’s no denying it’s peaceful, comfortable, and above all, idyllic. It’s the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, and for a while, Kate truly believed she and Dan could be happy here. But of course, that was before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Rainier, causing chaos in the entire region and cutting off all access and lines of communication to Greenloop. With no way to get the word out or any supplies in, the residents hunker down for what they expect to be a long time before any rescue comes. With a new vegetable garden planted and a rationing system in place, they might just make it…until they realize that all along, they have been sharing these forests with another predator. These creatures have also been displaced by the volcanic eruption, and they too have been driven to desperate measures to survive.
So, first let’s talk about the positives. Much like World War Z, Devolution is a fictionalized oral-history-or-firsthand-account-type piece of investigative work that seeks to piece together a momentous event in the past. Possibly, Brooks was hoping to catch lightning in a bottle twice by attempting a similar style and format for this novel, which is good news if that’s what you had in mind. Personally, I loved it—the novelty clearly hasn’t worn off for me yet, but then again, I’ve always been a sucker for epistolary novels despite some of their limitations, which I’ll talk about in a bit.
Because now, for the not-so-great, which is really a compounding of a bunch of minor gripes that made Devolution less than convincing. Yeah, yeah, I know, writing a believable Bigfoot story would be a tall order (har har) even under the best of circumstances, but there was simply too much here that felt…off. First of all, to create the perfect storm of conditions which would allow this book to make sense, we had to put together an extreme situation where a group of people would be completely cut-off, isolated, and pathetically helpless in the woods should a major disaster strike—and so we have Greenloop, populated by residents that read like they’re torn right out of a straight-to-the-Syfy-channel B-list movie.
Needless to say, it’s difficult to find too many of these characters likeable. Even with Mostar in the picture, I also find it hard to believe that a bunch of bleeding hearts could suddenly make an incredible transformation into Rambo overnight. There’s actually a line in the book where an observer notes the similarities between the Greenloop residents’ defenses and the guerilla warfare tactics used during the Vietnam War, and marvels at the way such ideas can span space and time. Nah, the reality is, one of Kate’s friends probably just saw it in a movie somewhere. It’s this attempt to make everything seem more profound than it is which kind of grated on me, though to its credit, the novel did get one thing right: Mother Nature does not play nice. Still, even then, the author fudges a lot of the details to try and make this point. In college, I had the pleasure of studying primatology in order to complete an anthropology degree, and while much of the science behind great ape biology and social behavior in this book is true including chimpanzee aggression and intelligence in group hunting, when it comes to his Sasquatches, Brooks can’t seem to decide if he wants them to be highly intelligent or mindlessly savage, so he switches between the two willy-nilly in order to suit his needs.
And then there’s the writing. I mentioned the limitations of the format, the biggest one being the challenge of creating a sense of in-the-moment urgency from something that you know was written in the past. As such, Kate’s diary entries do not actually read much like diary entries, no matter how many times she tries to convince us she’s writing like this to preserve a perfect record for posterity. Still, most readers are well aware this is not how average normal people write in their diaries, but we are willing to overlook it anyway for the sake of enjoying a story. However, the problem stems from the sheer number of action scenes in Devolution, which after a while make Kate’s narrative feel awkward. Worse, it even gave some of the more intense, brutally violent and gory sequences the opposite effect, making them feel over-the-top and goofy instead.
There were a few more issues here and there, but I think by now I’ve covered the major ones. This will probably come as no surprise, but I can’t say I thought Devolution was amazing, though I suppose it delivered a fair bit of entertainment. If having that is your goal, then this book will do just fine, but I confess to being somewhat disappointed considering I really enjoyed World War Z and was so looking forward to a new novel by Max Brooks. At least the audiobook, read by a full cast including such big names as Judy Greer, Nathan Fillion, Jeff Daniels, Kate Mulgrew and more was simply a blast, and I’m glad I got to listen to it.
Audiobook Review: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Posted on June 22, 2020 20 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Penguin Audio (June 30, 2020)
Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Cady McClain, Jon Lindstrom
I love a good haunted house book, and it’s been a while since I read one. That said, I might have hyped myself up a bit too much for Home Before Dark, because I did not find it as scary as others have said it to be. Still, it did its job and scratched a long-neglected itch.
Told via dual timelines, this novel is the story of the Holt family. Twenty-five years ago, Ewan and his wife Jess and their young daughter Maggie moved into Baneberry Hall, an old mansion nestled in the Vermont woods. A struggling writer, Ewan had always dreamed of living in a place like this, though money was always an issue. Baneberry Hall, however, was surprisingly affordable—and of course, there’s a good reason for that. The house has a dark past, filled with memories of grief, pain and death. Yet for Ewan, who possesses a fascination for the extraordinary, the estate’s macabre history simply made it that much more appealing.
But in the end, the Holts barely even made it three weeks in their new home before they fled terrified into the night, vowing never to step foot in the house again. Not long after that, a local reporter catches wind of the bizarre police report filed about the incident, sparking national interest in the Holts’ story, leading Ewan to write a tell-all account of what really happened at Baneberry Hall. The resulting book, called House of Horrors, became an instant hit, placing the family in the world’s spotlight.
For Maggie, who was only a little girl when it all happened, there was never a time she could remember not having that damn book define her life. Growing up, it felt like she was either shunned for being a freak or smothered with attention from morbid fans who are hungry for more details. Joke’s on them, though—for Maggie has no recollection of her time at Baneberry Hall. In fact, she thinks her dad made it all up. Why else would he refuse to ever talk about his book with her? And now, having lost his long battle with illness, he will never get the chance. At yet, Maggie’s not about to give up her search for answers, and following the shock and confusion of finding the deed to Baneberry Hall still under her late father’s name, she decides that the only way forward is to return to the place where it all started.
As you’ve probably guessed by this point, one of the timelines—the present one—is told through the now adult Maggie’s eyes, while the other is the book House of Horrors itself, written by Ewan Holt. These two threads are intertwined though alternating chapters, which on its own is already a brilliant concept, but what’s even more impressive is how well it was handled. Although twenty-five years separate the narratives, the transitions between them were executed in a way that allowed them to build upon each other. Needless to say, for the story to flow seamlessly and coherently, the timing had to be dead on, and kudos to the author for nailing it.
That said though, while I think the writing is superb, it did feel like there was something missing. Sager clearly knows horror, as he’s certainly got all his haunted house tropes down, drawing obvious inspiration from The Haunting of Hill House, The Amityville Horror, The Shining, and other genre classics. Still, it’s possible that this overreliance on the familiar drew his attention away from other areas, like atmosphere building. The story’s pacing could have something to do with this; simply put, I loved that we moved through the plot at breakneck speed, but sometimes we moved so fast that there wasn’t even enough time for any atmosphere to build. Plus, there’s only so many times you can reuse the same old tricks before they lose their effect—things like unexplainable bumps in the night, shadows at the corner of your eye, etc. (Although if you have a fear of snakes, be prepared for a pretty rough time overall.)
Of course, your mileage may vary, seeing as I don’t scare easily. But what’s not in doubt is how much fun I had in spite of that. While Home Before Dark might be the first book I’ve ever read by Riley Sager, I promise it won’t be the last. Several of his previous novels were already on my to-read list, and after this I’ll certainly be making it my priority to get to them, and you can also bet I won’t wait to check out whatever he does next.
Audiobook Comments: The Home Before Dark audiobook was narrated by Cady McClain and Jon Lindstrom, who both performed their respective parts really well. I did feel like there were some missed opportunities though, such as sound effects or singing (I guarantee you will never look at The Sound of Music the same way again), which might have helped the audiobook feel even more immersive.
Book Review: The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison
Posted on June 21, 2020 25 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 Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor (April 1, 2014)
Length: 432 pages
Author Information: Website
Sherlock Holmes with angels—which is pretty much The Angel of the Crows in a nutshell. It certainly wasn’t the book I thought it was going to be, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially since it was so very obvious a pet project for Katherine Addison, who explained in her author’s note the concept of “wingfic” and the impetus behind this novel. Its unique provenance resulted in some hiccups, it’s true; but on the flip side, there’s no denying the author’s passion for her work behind every word.
Opening in an 1880s alternate London, our story is told through the eyes of Doyle, our “Watson” in this retelling. He’s also a hellhound, recently come home after sustaining an injury from a fallen angel in the war, where he served as a military doctor. The search for a new roommate leads him to 221B Baker Street, where he meets the inimitable Crow, the declared Angel of London.
The rest readers can probably work out for themselves. As London is his domain, Crows feels obligated to lend his services to the police whenever they need help cracking a tough case. At the moment, a ruthless killer known as Jack the Ripper stalks the streets, taunting Scotland Yard with the butchered bodies of his victims. It’s up to Crow and Doyle to solve the mystery of his identity and stop his reign of terror on the city. Meanwhile, fans of the original Sherlock stories will also be able to enjoy re-imaginings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic tales, including A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles and other such favorites—all seen through an inventive, supernatural lens.
While the concept of Sherlock Holmes as an outcast angel is a fascinating one, a fantasy twist on the original source material certainly isn’t new. I think that’s why I finished this novel feeling like I wanted more. In recent years, I’ve read a number of Sherlock retellings, and in particular, G.S. Denning’s Warlock Holmes and The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall came to mind frequently as I was reading The Angel of the Crows. There are many shared elements between the three works, and while each featured their individual and unique qualities, I couldn’t help but wish Addison had done more to break away from the pack. Undoubtedly, it would have helped this novel stand out more, as we’re currently still seeing this trend where retellings are all the rage.
Still, it’s hard to say anything negative about the world-building, especially the little details. Like the fact there are vampires, werewolves, angels and demons, and a whole host of other supernatural creatures populating these pages. Or the fact that angels are portrayed a little like the fae, like how Crow can’t lie and true names have power. And also hemophages, which are DEFINITELY not the same as vampires. In fact, I only wish the book had gone a little further into clarifying some of the questions readers will inevitably have, considering all these intricate details of the world. Among angels, for example, there are the Fallen and the Nameless, just to name a couple, and the explanations into their origins and traits, etc. simply aren’t sufficiently enough as it stands. In sum, much of the world-building is fantastic, but just feels incomplete.
The characters are also great, and I enjoyed every moment of the dynamic friendship between Crow and Doyle. Truly, there are some incredibly wonderful and heartwarming moments to be found there. Again though, I just wished there had been more. In part, some of the limitations could have been due to the format of the novel, which, as I mentioned before, retells a series of Sherlock Holmes stories. This led to many shifts in focus and lots of zipping around, which had a pesky way of getting in the way of developing relationships or at times interrupting interesting plot threads.
All told, I can understand a lot of the middling ratings I’ve been seeing for The Angel of the Crows, mainly because so many of my own thoughts echo these reviews. But of course, I also had fun with the book and found absolutely nothing disagreeable at all about it. I’ll simply say it one final time: I just wish it had been more. Still, it’s a decent read for any fan of Sherlock Holmes looking for fantasy retelling, and the wingfic angle definitely gave it an interesting spin. Worth checking out, if the premise appeals to you.
Bookshelf Roundup 06/20/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on June 20, 2020 25 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!
After my TBR exploded in last update, it’s nice to have a lighter week to catch up. I did receive a few ARCs in the mail though, first with thanks to Henry Holt and Co. BYR and Kaye Publicity for a copy of They Threw Us Away by Daniel Kraus, the first book of a middle grade series which was pitched to me as Toy Story meets Lord of the Flies. How could I resist?
With thanks to Tachyon Publications I also received Nucleation by Kimberly Unger, a debut author and game designer who has written a sci-fi techno-thriller involving VR, nanites, corporate espionage, a murder mystery and more. Whew, that’s a lot! But it’s certainly hooked my interest.
As well, it’s great to see Subterranean Press has started up their mailings again. Earlier this week I received Fishing for Dinosaurs and Other Stories by Joe R. Lansdale, the author’s latest collection containing tales of fantasy legends and adventure, including a brand new original novella. My thanks to the publisher!
Not a lot in the digital haul this week either, just a couple of eARCs which were NetGalley widget invites. A Dance with Fate by Juliet Marillier is the sequel to The Harp of Kings, and hitting the button was a no-brainer since she’s a must-read author. However, I was also intrigued by The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson, a debut about multiverse travel described as perfect for fans of Interstellar, Mad Max, and Looper. With thanks to Ace Books and Del Rey Books respectively.
Reviews
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs (4.5 of 5 stars)
Ballistic by Marko Kloos (4 of 5 stars)
Under Ordshaw by Phil Williams (4 of 5 stars)
Hella by David Gerrold (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Hightlights:
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: Time
Posted on June 19, 2020 25 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:
“Time waits for no one”
~ a cover featuring TIME
Mogsy’s Pick:
Replay by Ken Grimwood
This is a book that’s been around since the late 1980s, which is amazing to me, as aside from the references to the dates, it has aged extraordinarily well for a sci-fi time travel novel. The story begins with the death of 43-year-old Jeff Winston, who inexplicably awakens back in 1963 as his 18-year-old self. With his memories of his previous life intact, Jeff thus begins to “replay” his life again. Like a time-loop, this happens again and again, with Jeff dying at 43 each time, but awakening later and later in his life, losing more time each cycle. Each of Jeff’s replays become vastly different, due to his attempts to change events.
It’s really a fascinating book, and over the years there have been many editions. In fact, there are too many covers to show them all here, so I’ve only selected a handful of the most interesting to feature:
From left to right:
Grafton (1987) – Thorndike Press (1986) – William Morrow (1998)
Gollancz (2019) – Polish Edition (2002) – Japanese Edition (1990)
Portuguese Edition (2014) – French Edition (1988) – French Edition B (1997)
Indonesian Edition (2010) – Bulgarian Edition (2018) – Chinese Edition (2014)
Winner:
Notice I said “most interesting” and not the “best”, because I’m not really in love with any of the covers this week. But I’m always drawn to a splash of color. I really like the combination of bright reds and yellows on the Portuguese edition, and I confess it was one of the few that stood out to me.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Audiobook Review: Hella by David Gerrold
Posted on June 18, 2020 23 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 (Overall): 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tantor Audio (June 16, 2020)
Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Travis Baldree
It’s no secret that I love colonization sci-fi. There’s just something about the thrill and adventure of settling on an uncharted world that appeals to me, including the challenges of setting up a new governing system, learning about the planet’s environment, and discovering its native (and often dangerous) fauna and flora. I also adore survival stories in general, so naturally I find myself drawn to a book like Hella by David Gerrold which focuses on a group of colonists trying to carve a life for themselves on an unfamiliar world fraught perils and unknowns.
This story, which takes place in the far future on the newly established human colony of Hella, is told through the eyes of Kyle, a very unique protagonist as he was born with a syndrome whose effects are very similar to that of autism. To help him manage his emotions, Kyle was implanted with a chip at a young age connecting him to the colony’s computer network, in theory allowing him to regulate the information load to his brain as well as to improve his communication with his family. But this real-time connection to the system also gave Kyle access to all the data at his fingertips, making him one extremely smart boy. Obsessed with details and facts, he is also something of a walking encyclopedia, becoming a highly sought out person for his knowledge and logical thinking skills, though socially he remains a misunderstood outsider.
As the book opens, Hella is preparing for its next scheduled arrival of colonists. Even though the planet has been settled for more than a hundred years and thousands now call it home, the colony is still woefully unprepared for the influx of newcomers—especially when none of them will be prepared for the hardships that await them. To help the new colonists understand what they’re up against, Kyle has been tasked to make a series of informational videos to send up to the incoming ship, a job he is determined to take deadly seriously. Leaving out none of the dangers or challenges, he proceeds to paint the most realistic picture of life on Hella as he can, but is flummoxed when he discovers that not all of his audience is happy with his portrayal. Some of the colonists, both on Hella and on the ship, are upset that Kyle is making it all look too harsh, while others are glad he’s making it clear that life on Hella is no free lunch. Whatever the case, it’s causing dissent within the colony, and there are certain factions on the planet who will take advantage of this unrest to further their own agenda.
In the end, I finished this novel with mixed feelings. I was reminded of two sci-fi novels that I read in recent years, Outpost by W. Michael Gear and Semiosis by Sue Burke, both of which feature strong themes of colonization and survival, though the former contained more action and space operatic elements while the latter emphasized the science. Hella, bless its heart, tried to do both. As such, I found its lack of a focal point to be one of its main weaknesses, followed by a difficulty to connect with the characters. Regarding the first point, I felt the plot was all over the place. The opening chapters were intriguing enough, as the story begins with Kyle and his mom and brother preparing for their annual migration to Winterland Outpost to escape the cold weather. But once Kyle receives his task of video documenting Hellan life, that interest went downhill fast as readers are inundated with description, both important and trivial. Sparing no detail, Kyle describes everything the incoming colonists need to know, everything from what they will eat to where they will sleep.
To be fair, not all of it was the dry, technical stuff. In fact, I loved the level of world-building Kyle’s perspective provided, especially the descriptions of the planet’s wildlife. Hella’s gravity is much lower that Earth’s, allowing its creatures to grow to gargantuan proportions. Huge dinosaur-like animals roam the its surface, while its trees can reach over a mile high. These were the details that fascinated me in Kyle’s archives, as well as facts about the world’s harsh weather patterns, like the extreme seasonal changes which force the colonists to move back and forth between winter and summer outposts.
Of course, I would have preferred all this to be presented in a more engaging manner, but since we were seeing through Kyle’s eyes, I understood why the delivery had to be more clear-cut, pragmatic, and to the point. While it was good to have a perspective from a “neuro-atypical” and “emotionally challenged” character, and Gerrold certainly went all in with the characterization, having Kyle as our protagonist actually ended up being a double-edged sword because it made the narrative feel a little stiff and bland.
Still, I did mention earlier that there was an action-thriller side to Hella, which came through near the end when the focus of the story shifts towards its political conspiracy plotline. Kyle’s character arc also became more personal. I’ll be honest, this felt like a breath of fresh air and a nice change of pace after all the info dumping and reams of pedantic societal commentary that we had to slog through to reach this point. It’s just a shame that the excitement came a little too late.
All in all, I guess you could say Hella was a somewhat frustrating read. There were probably as many ups as there were downs, but it did end on a high note, which was a plus. I’m also happy that I got to listen to this book in audio, because I have a feeling the print experience would have been a struggle. As the audiobook’s narrator, Travis Baldree’s voicework gave Kyle’s matter-of-fact words some life and personality, at least. Overall, he did a great job and delivered a strong performance.
Waiting on Wednesday 06/17/20
Posted on June 17, 2020 20 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 Nesting by C.J. Cooke (September 29, 2020 by Berkley Books)
It’s been a while since I featured a horror title, so today I wanted to talk about a book I’m very excited about: a blend of Nordic fable, modern Gothic chills and psychological suspense, The Nesting also takes place in a snowy setting. It’s like this one was meant for me!
The woods are creeping in on a nanny and two young girls in this chilling modern Gothic thriller.
Architect Tom Faraday is determined to finish the high-concept, environmentally friendly home he’s building in Norway—in the same place where he lost his wife, Aurelia, to suicide. It was their dream house, and he wants to honor her with it.
Lexi Ellis takes a job as his nanny and immediately falls in love with his two young daughters, especially Gaia. But something feels off in the isolated house nestled in the forest along the fjord. Lexi sees mysterious muddy footprints inside the home. Aurelia’s diary appears in Lexi’s room one day. And Gaia keeps telling her about seeing the terrifying Sad Lady. . . .
Soon Lexi suspects that Aurelia didn’t kill herself and that they are all in danger from something far more sinister lurking around them.
Book Review: Ballistic by Marko Kloos
Posted on June 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: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 2 of The Palladium Wars
Publisher: 47North (May 26, 2020)
Length: 318 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Hands down, The Palladium Wars by Marko Kloos is one of most character-oriented military sci-fi series I’ve ever read, and I think that’s why I’m enjoying these books so much. Ballistic is the second installment following hot on the heels of Aftershocks, picking up shortly after the cliffhanger we were left with, and fans will be happy to know it maintains a snappy pace and continues the trend of telling personal stories.
In Ballistic, we return to our four main characters: Aden, a former soldier for the Gretians; his sister Solvieg, heir to her family’s corporate empire; Idina, a Palladian now working as part of the occupying force on Gretia; and Dunstan, a commander in the Rhodian Navy. Through the eyes of these four characters, we watch as this incredible space epic continues to unfold, with a keen awareness that everything is pointing to another inter-planetary war between the three major factions.
For Aden, his problems just don’t seem to end, even after his release from a prisoner-of-war camp. Having fought for the Gretians, who are now on everyone’s shit list, he’s hoping a new identity and a new job on a merchant ship crew will be enough to start fresh. However, their team’s newest contract have them smuggling potentially illegal goods through dangerous space, which might bring unwanted attention to his credentials and blow his cover. His new crewmates have been good to him, but he’s not sure how long that would last once they realize who he really is. Meanwhile on Gretia, Idina has been transferred to a new post following the ambush that killed all her squad mates. She thought she would resent the job, but instead finds an unexpected camaraderie with her new partner, a highly competent law enforcer named Dahl. Within the Rhodian fleet, Dunstan is also coming to terms with the responsibilities of his position, handling space patrols and answering the calls of distressed ships. A feeling of foreboding settles upon him though, when he and his crew come upon the remains of a ruined vessel, at a loss as to what destroyed it.
It almost feels as though history is repeating itself, and everyone who can remember the last war knows just how bad this news is indeed. No one is more aware of this than Solvieg, who barely knows her brother because of the falling out between him and their family when the conflict started. Now she’s poised to take over more of the family business but still finds herself chafing under the overbearing thumb of her father, who expects complete obedience.
Without a doubt, the characters are the strongest aspect of this series, and this remains evident in Ballistic. A lot of military sci-fi gets hung up on politics, warfare, and the tech—after all, who doesn’t love powered suits of armor, laser pulse weapons and that cool stuff? The great thing about The Palladium Wars, though, is that it features all of this without forgetting the human factor. Kloos makes it a point to explore the effects of war on populations and also the individual soldier; whether we’re seeing the story from Aden, Idina, Dunstan, or Solvieg’s points of view, we’re focusing on their relationships and motivations on a very intimate level. With that said, if you’re a reader who prefers more tactical strategy and combat in your MilSF, this would not be so much up your alley, but if you enjoy rich character development and relationship dynamics, then you’ll probably love this.
Speaking of which, I’m struggling to decide which of the four main characters is my favorite this time. I was quite partial to Aden and Idina in Aftershocks, but in this sequel, all the POVs are quite strong. Aden’s chapters are perhaps the most suspenseful and adventurous, traveling around in deep space with the crew of the Zephyr as they play smuggler with an unknown and highly suspicious piece of cargo. Idina’s sections were most heartwarming, as I simply adored the unlikely friendship that developed between her and Dahl, which spoke to themes of putting aside differences and finding common ground. Dunstan, who admittedly wasn’t too inspiring in the first book, became quite an interesting character in this one, as he headed up a mysterious story arc that immediately put me on edge (in a good way). Even Solvieg, who didn’t really get a chance to shine before, got to step up into a leadership role and show her father that she is her own woman.
The ending really knocked me for a loop too. Similar to the way Aftershocks concluded, we’re left with a momentous, earthshattering event that will greatly alter the course of the characters’ lives, but readers are left holding their breath to see what will happen next. It’ll doubtlessly annoy some people, but at the same time, if you’ve already made it past the first book to this one, then this type of cliffhanger ending was probably expected and shouldn’t bother you too much.
Still, not gonna lie, it’s going to be another tough wait. Marko Kloos really knows how to keep readers begging for more, and I am looking forward to getting my hands on the next book—no way I’m missing it!
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Aftershocks (Book 1)
Audiobook Review: Under Ordshaw by Phil Williams
Posted on June 15, 2020 15 Comments
I received a review copy from the author. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Under Ordshaw by Phil Williams
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Ordshaw
Publisher: Phil Williams (April 28, 2020)
Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Fran Burgoyne
As a popular entry in the 2019 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition, Under Ordshaw has actually been on my radar for a while, but a busy schedule prevented me from getting to it earlier. As it turned out though, that became a happy opportunity for me to check out the audiobook edition which came out this spring. Urban Fantasy tends to be a genre I prefer in the audio format, and this one ended up being a very entertaining listen.
The story stars protagonist Pax Kuranes, a professional card player who has just won big at a poker game one night, and is in the process of heading home with the considerable prize money when a distraction causes her to be robbed. Before she can do anything, however, the young thief is swiftly apprehended into government custody, raving about minotaurs and underground labyrinths beneath the city and other such nonsense. Frustrated and desperate to get her money back, Pax decides to do some digging of her own, tracking down the man’s hideout and stumbling upon some interesting writings stashed away in his belongings—more disjointed ramblings and drawings that seem to be the product of a very confused mind.
Returning home, though, Pax finds someone waiting for her. It appears her activities have attracted attention from certain factions. From the Ministry of Environmental Energy is Agent Casaria, who hopes to win Pax to their side by opening her eyes to the reality of Ordshaw’s underground ecosystem, a secret world inhabited by monsters and faeries and other supernatural creatures. Meanwhile, trying to move on and live his life again is also Barton, a man who once had an unfortunate run-in with the Sunken City beneath Ordshaw, and has been trying to forget it since. A husband and a father, Barton has kept the truth from his family for many years in order to keep them safe, but now it seems his past has finally caught up to him despite his efforts.
The story wastes no time plunging readers into the action. In fact, it makes Pax all the more sympathetic because in many ways we can understand the confusion and overload of information she must feel. The details and explanations come at us hard and fast, and the pacing hardly slows which is something I can appreciate when it comes to UF, though it does make for slippery transitions. At the beginning, it’s especially imperative to pay attention to everything and stay on top of things, lest you get left behind and become lost. Despite my best efforts, even I found myself floundering in some places, wondering if the narration had skipped over an important detail or if I might have blanked out momentarily and missed something.
But the strengths of the book are most definitely its characters. Although Pax is a great protagonist, surrounded by so many other interesting and out-of-this-world personalities, she almost seems mundane in comparison. I loved Letty, one of the fae in Under Ordshaw who are tiny winged creatures but with feisty dispositions to make up for their size. In my mind, I pictured her looking something like a foul-mouthed Tinkerbell. And then there’s Casaria, whose POV I felt was the most complex. One moment he feels like a villain, and the next, he comes across as someone I should pity. At times, his little crush on Pax and other delusional daydreams for the future almost makes me feel bad for him, but then he’ll inevitably lose all goodwill again by going down some misguided track. Following the alternating perspectives in their so-called partnership made for some unexpectedly funny moments though, because Casaria is so often way off base with his perceptions of what’s actually happening between him and Pax.
Then there’s Barton, who currently lives as an average citizen but his history with the denizens of Sunken City has come back to haunt him, putting his family in danger. In my mind, his storyline was the glue holding all the different parts of the plot together, a thread that highlighted both the ongoing conflicts beneath Ordshaw and the repercussions unfolding above.
Overall, this was a standout introduction to the world of Ordshaw, and I know that there have been more books and stories added to the series. Hopefully, that they will also come to audio at some point, because Under Ordshaw was fantastically performed by Fran Burgoyne, who made getting into this story so easy with her smooth narration and expressive voices. It would be awesome if the other novels will the same treatment, and I look forward to checking them out.
Audiobook Review: What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
Posted on June 14, 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.
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Brilliance Audio (May 15, 2020)
Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Elizabeth Knowelden
Whoo boy, describing the mother-daughter relationship in this story as “dysfunctional” is an understatement. You might think you have issues with your family, but wait until you read about Maggie and Nina. What Lies Between Us is the kind of book that makes you wonder what kind of secrets people around you might be hiding behind their seemingly average lives and the perfectly normal facades of their everyday jobs and everyday homes.
Every evening, Nina comes home from work to the house that she and her mother Maggie share. Every other night, she also fixes dinner for them, where she’ll cook something she knows her mother will despise, but Maggie that will compliment like nothing is amiss. After they finish eating, Nina would escort Maggie back up the stairs to the attic, where the older woman stays locked up the rest of the time, making sure that her mother’s shackles are reattached firmly to the heavy chains bolted to the wall. Then they’ll say goodnight, before Maggie is once more abandoned to her lonely imprisonment until the next time she is called down for a meal. This is her existence now, ever since her daughter discovered the terrible things Maggie has done, and this is her punishment.
What Nina doesn’t understand, however, is that whatever she thinks her mother did to her, Maggie is insistent that they were all done for her out of love. But it is probably a good thing Nina doesn’t know everything, because there are even more secrets in Maggie’s past that her daughter hasn’t managed to figure out—yet. If she ever does, Maggie is certain that Nina will come to realize why those actions had to be taken, but she is also terrified to consider what her daughter might do to her then. Nina already believes Maggie has done the unforgiveable, hence the conditions of her imprisonment and cruel treatment. But learning the whole truth might just set Nina off for real, sending her to a place where neither of them can return from.
I vowed after reading The Passengers that I would check out more by John Marrs, which was what led me to What Lies Between Us, even though it sounded like a very different kind of story. Still, I was glad I read it, because even among thrillers, this one was pretty insane. Told from Nina and Maggie’s points of view via two main timelines, the present and the past, the sick and twisted details of this complicated relationship between the novel’s two leading women are gradually revealed to us in all their glory.
Anyway, I debated long and hard about whether or not I should talk about some of these in my review, just surface-level details about the plot that won’t lead to any spoilers, before deciding not to risk even that. The shenanigans these characters get up to are simply too crazy and delicious to reveal! That said, I will say that despite some of its more over-the-top themes, the story does make a few rather introspective and poignant observations about the nature of parenthood. As parents, no one knows our children better than we do, what their strengths and weaknesses are. All we want is the best for them, try to guide them in the right direction and pray we don’t end up screwing their lives up too much. And basically, what this book does is take these ideas and throw them off the deep end.
Bottom line, I had an extraordinarily fun time reading What Lies Between Us, even with its contemptible characters, warped ideas and all. I certainly wouldn’t expect anyone to find either Maggie or Nina likeable, because ultimately they’re both horrible people. Hands down, though, the best part was letting the novel gradually tease out the complexities of their pasts and reveal their awful secrets. The ending was unsettling, but I would have expected nothing less after the intense journey it took us on. If you want a gripping thriller where you’ll practically sweat and shiver from the suspense, you’ll definitely want to check this one out for yourself.
Audiobook Comments: Absolutely brilliant narration by Elizabeth Knowelden. Normally I would I prefer more than one reader for multi-POV books, but she did such an incredible job reading both Nina and Maggie’s parts that I would have thought they were voiced by different narrators. Varying her accents and tones, she gave each character a uniqueness and individuality that went beyond the text, and I couldn’t have been more impressed with her performance.
The BiblioSanctum 