YA Weekend: The Archer at Dawn by Swati Teerdhala
Posted on May 24, 2020 24 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 Archer at Dawn by Swati Teerdhala
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Book 2 of The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 26, 2020)
Length: 449 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I adored the first book, The Tiger at Midnight, and thought it was an incredible intro to the gorgeous, resplendent world created by Swati Teerdhala. Inspired by the culture of ancient India and Hindu mythology, this story takes readers to a kingdom in rebellion, and at the heart of the conflict are two characters—once at odds—who are now slowly becoming friends and perhaps something more.
Esha, known as “The Viper”, is an assassin for the rebels. Kunal was a soldier for the empire, tasked to hunt her down. However, fate had other ideas, and now they find themselves on the same side, fighting to retrieve a long-lost princess from the clutches of her captors. The Archer at Dawn picks up where the first book left off, with our characters planning a daring mission to infiltrate the Sun Mela, an event that is both a celebration and a competition of wills held at the grand palace. Kunal’s experience in the Senap Guard puts him in position to be the perfect spy; he will return and take up his old post, providing security during the festivities while keeping his eyes and ears open for news of Princess Reha. Esha, on the other hand, will don a disguise and play advisor to Prince Harun, who needs to make a visible presence at the Sun Mela to recruit more allies to the resistance.
Unfortunately, problems arise not long after their operation begins. Esha discovers that those who murdered her family are in attendance and is overcome with the desire for revenge, even though it will jeopardize the rebels’ mission. As well, they are not the only faction with a hidden agenda, as the Crescent Blades learn of other players pulling the strings in this deadly game. Kunal also returns to the guard and finds that things are no longer the same between him and his former comrades now that his eyes have been opened to the truth of his commanders as well as rebellion’s cause. Not to mention, as the situation between him, Esha, and Harun grows more complicated, difficult questions are raised and loyalties are tested.
All told, The Archer at Dawn was a proficient sequel, though I feel it is quite common for second books to struggle to maintain the same momentum. This one doesn’t suffer the same way, per se, but I did find it just a shade less engaging as The Tiger at Midnight. The storytelling wasn’t as tight this time around, nor was it as exciting, though given how significant the theme of subterfuge was for the premise, perhaps that’s understandable. Admittedly, I was also a tad annoyed with the love triangle that was being teased here. Granted, it wasn’t overpowering, and I appreciated the author’s attempt to make it subtle. Still, it begs the question, then why bother have it at all? The plot would have been perfectly fine without it, and we wouldn’t have had to put up with Esha’s constant whining about her tortured feelings for Harun as she and Kunal grew closer. It just seemed like an unnecessary point of drama.
That piece of criticism aside though, I enjoyed seeing our characters continue to grow and find themselves. Kunal probably went through the most drastic change here; he has so much honor and discipline, but his time with Esha and the rebels has made him see that things are not so simple. Although he has a new reason to fight, there are still ties to his past that can’t be forgotten so easily, especially when he finds himself back in his old life trying to play at being the loyal soldier. Esha also continues to grow on me, despite her hemming and hawing over her relationships issues. We knew from the start the romance between her and Kunal would be a journey fraught with obstacles, but it was definitely handled better in the first book when it was a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse replete with innuendo and sexual tension. I do enjoy the progress they’ve made in their relationship, but at the same time I don’t want this tug-o-war of emotions to get too stale.
Still, there’s so much to get excited about. The world-building is superb as always, and we’re showered with even more historical and mythological elements in this sequel. The Sun Mela celebrations and games provided many opportunities to showcase the people and cultures of the world, and Teerdhala deftly weaves magic and wonder into the mix. There were also some rather cool revelations towards the end, which certainly ratcheted up the pacing and interest in the next installment.
Bottom line, if you were a fan of the first book, you owe it to yourself to pick up The Archer at Dawn to find out how the story continues. I found myself amazed and delighted, even though this novel took the series in a slightly different direction by emphasizing subterfuge and political intrigue. Ultimately, it was done in a clever and compelling way, and I am eager to see how the trilogy will wrap up in the next book.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Tiger at Midnight (Book 1
Bookshelf Roundup 05/23/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on May 23, 2020 31 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!
A few surprise arrivals this week. First was a package from the kind folks at St. Martin’s Press containing an ARC of Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis, who was a Hugo nominee in 2019 for best-related work. I’ve had my eye on her sci-fi debut for a while, so receiving this was a real treat. Next up, with thanks to Titan Books I received Hope Island by Tim Major, who always seems to have the coolest covers for his books! I’m curious to check this one out too. And the most awesome surprise of all came courtesy of Orbit and their friends at Redhook, from whom I received an ARC of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. I really enjoyed her last novel, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, so I’m quite looking forward to this one.
Things aren’t too crazy in the digital pile this week. From Edelweiss, I was really excited to see The House of Whispers by Laura Purcell available for download because I’m a huge fan of her Gothic horror. Although I’m a bit perplexed by the drastic change in title for the US edition (in the UK, it’s known as Bone China), I’m happy enough the book is finally coming stateside. From Listening Library, I also grabbed just one advanced listening copy: The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant. And from the amazing team at Kaye Publicity I also received digital galleys to a couple of highly-anticipated titles coming soon from new HarperCollins YA imprint Blink, including Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly and Ignite the Sun by Hanna C. Howard. Can’t wait to check out both of these.
Reviews
Network Effect by Martha Wells (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne (4 of 5 stars)
If It Bleeds by Stephen King (4 of 5 stars)
Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
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: Sorrow
Posted on May 22, 2020 26 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:
“Sorrow”
~ any cover that makes you SAD
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Drowning Girl by Caitlín R. Kiernan
When I saw the topic for this week, my mind immediately went to the Roc cover of The Drowning Girl, whose subject matter and colors have always gives me a deep sense of melancholy. When I looked to see if the novel had any other editions, I was delighted to find more than fit the theme. Let’s take a look at them now:
From left to right:
Roc (2012) – German Edition (2019) – Polish Edition (2014)
Spanish Edition (2014) – Portuguese Edition A (2014) – Portuguese Edition B (2015)
Turkish Edition (2014) – French Edition (2014) – Romanian Edition (2015)
Winner:
Covers like the Portuguese editions just make want to shout at publishers PLEASE STOP PUTTING YOUR FUGLY STICKERS ON YOUR MARKETING IMAGES! I’m not a huge fan of any of the ones for this week in any case, all the images of drowning girls are too disturbing. If I had to choose, I guess my pick would be the German edition because at least in that one the woman looks peaceful.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Thriller Thursday Audio: The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne
Posted on May 21, 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.
The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Series: Book 1 of Underwater Investigation Unit
Publisher: Brilliance Audio (May 1, 2020)
Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Susannah Jones
Well, it’s not The Naturalist, but still so good! What’s also pretty awesome is that last summer I caught the author on the Discovery Channel Shark Week special Andrew Mayne: Ghost Diver, and now I can’t help but wonder how much of his experience doing for that show had ended up influencing this book. Plus I believe I read somewhere that Mayne grew up among scuba divers and law enforcement, so when I first learned about The Girl Beneath the Sea, I became curious to see how he would incorporate those ideas and concepts into this new thriller.
As the opening volume to a new series, The Girl Beneath the Sea begins by whisking readers off to the south Florida coast where protagonist Sloan McPherseon works for the Lauderdale Shores police department as an evidence recovery diver. On a routine dive in the canal one day, she comes across a recently dead body in the water—a woman who must have been killed and dumped not moments before Sloan got there. Unfortunately, that timing was just a coincidence too great for the police to ignore, landing Sloan on their suspects list. Of course, it also doesn’t help that she comes from family of eccentric treasure hunters and drug smugglers, with an uncle who’s in prison. Then comes an even greater shock—it turns out that the dead woman had a connection to Sloan’s past, making the authorities even more suspicious.
Now the only one who can help her is the McPhersons’ greatest enemy. George Solar is the DEA agent whose testimony had been pivotal in putting Sloan’s uncle behind bars all those years ago, and the memories of how that had devastated her family are still fresh in her mind. Solar’s history, however, has also been known to be rather shady, which means he may have the knowledge and connections to help Sloan out of her mess, leaving her with no choice but to trust him. As the two of them team up to investigate the murder though, they stumble into a vast conspiracy brewing amidst widespread corruption, and the deeper they dig, the more they may be putting both themselves and their loved ones in possible peril.
While it’s definitely tempting to compare The Girl Beneath the Sea with Mayne’s Naturalist series, I realize it’s not that simple. The two are very different, for one, and quite honestly I think that’s a good thing. Ultimately, I would love to see Underwater Investigation Unit establish its own identity as a series and stand on its own merits, and based on this first installment, I think it’s off to a great start. The good news is that we also don’t sacrifice any of the over-the-top action and thrills that are the hallmarks of the author’s books, though the difference is, The Girl Beneath the Sea reads more like a police procedural in its structure and pacing, emphasizing law enforcement and interagency detective work. The storytelling style itself is very similar to the crime dramas you might see on primetime TV.
Since it’s Florida, there are also gators, sharks, and the drug war. Sloan and Solar’s battle with the cartels and corruption among the ranks might not prove as thrilling for some, but to me the plot was fast-paced and exciting. As well, Sloan is a great character, maybe a bit rough around the edges. Like many of the author’s protagonists, her greatest fault seems to be her impulsivity and tendency to act quickly with little consideration of the consequences (but hey, that’s what makes his books so fun, right?) I ended up liking Sloan, despite the fact she’s a bit of a maverick and one hell of a troublemaker, mainly due to her courageous spirit and her big heart which makes up for her shortcomings. She’s also a single mom in a family with a lot of quirky members and complicated relationships, as you might imagine given the McPhersons’ history with the law and Sloan’s career with the police. Throw in her prickly situation with Solar as well, and you just know there will be no end to the surprises.
What all this means is, if you’re into Andrew Mayne’s clever, funny, and over-the-top style, I think you will also enjoy The Girl Beneath the Sea. In a way, I think the novel’s premise actually makes it more plausible than many of his other works (relatively), but the approach he takes to the crime drama procedural is certainly still unique and very interesting. Bottom line, this was an entertaining adventure and I had a hell of time. It also looks like the sequel Black Coral already has a cover, synopsis, and release date, so I guess I’ll be circling my calendar and waiting not so patiently!
Audiobook Comments: I listened to the audiobook edition, a decision I don’t regret at all. I often find that thrillers are more effective in this format especially when you have a good narrator, and Susannah Jones completely nailed it. Everything about her performance was outstanding, from her voices to her timing. She kept me hanging on every word, ending up making me stay up way past my usual bedtime so I could find out how the book ended. So if you’re considering The Girl Beneath the Sea, I do highly recommend this one in audio.
Waiting on Wednesday 05/20/20
Posted on May 20, 2020 15 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 Forever Sea by Joshua Phillip Johnson (January 19, 2021 by DAW Books)
To celebrate Wyrd and Wonder, I’ll be featuring fantasy/paranormal-related picks for my Waiting on Wednesday posts for the whole month of May! This was a book that I just found out about recently, and I love the idea of an “environmental epic fantasy.” The cover is gorgeous too!
“The first book in a new environmental epic fantasy series set in a world where ships kept afloat by magical hearthfires sail an endless grass sea.
On the never-ending, miles-high expanse of prairie grasses known as the Forever Sea, Kindred Greyreach, hearthfire keeper and sailor aboard harvesting vessel The Errant, is just beginning to fit in with the crew of her new ship when she receives devastating news. Her grandmother–The Marchess, legendary captain and hearthfire keeper–has stepped from her vessel and disappeared into the sea.
But the note she leaves Kindred suggests this was not an act of suicide. Something waits in the depths, and the Marchess has set out to find it.
To follow in her grandmother’s footsteps, Kindred must embroil herself in conflicts bigger than she could imagine: a water war simmering below the surface of two cultures; the politics of a mythic pirate city floating beyond the edges of safe seas; battles against beasts of the deep, driven to the brink of madness; and the elusive promise of a world below the waves.
Kindred finds that she will sacrifice almost everything–ship, crew, and a life sailing in the sun–to discover the truth of the darkness that waits below the Forever Sea.”
Audiobook Review: If It Bleeds by Stephen King
Posted on May 19, 2020 33 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): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Mystery
Series: Short Story Collection
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (April 21, 2020)
Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Will Patton, Danny Burstein, Steven Weber
What a great collection to ease myself back into the work of Stephen King! I used to read a lot of his stuff, but admittedly not so much these days. In fact, The Outsider was my first King book in almost eight years, but because I enjoyed it so much, it also motivated me to pick up If It Bleeds, a collection of four novellas including the title story which features another harrowing adventure with Holly Gibney. Below are my thoughts on each one.
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone – 4.5 stars
A sweet but at times unsettling story of a boy’s unique friendship with his elderly neighbor, this opening tale had vibes of Hearts in Atlantis and ended up being one of my favorites.
Initially set in the late 2000s, it introduces readers to Craig, our young protagonist who does odd jobs for Mr. Harrigan, a retired business magnate. One day, Craig wins several thousand dollars from a lottery scratch ticket gifted to him by Mr. Harrigan, and having just recently received his very own iPhone, the boy decides to surprise the old man by getting him one as well. Considered cutting-edge technology at the time, the phone quickly becomes a focal point of their relationship, leading to the two of them discussing apps and sharing what they’ve learned with each other on a regular basis—until the day Mr. Harrigan passes away unexpectedly.
I loved the concept behind this story, and the central theme of technology bringing together people from different generations and disparate walks of life. Mr. Harrigan was a great character, and Craig’s friendship with him was very unique and special without sacrificing sincerity. There’s also an element of the supernatural which occasionally pushes the narrative into horror territory—nothing too frightening or dramatic, but do expect plenty of chills down your spine from this one.
The Life of Chuck – 3 stars
King tends to adapt his style to whatever he’s writing, and I find this to be far more noticeable when it comes to his short stories. I’m not usually a fan of his more abstract and metaphysical stuff, which might explain why I didn’t connect with this novella as much as the others.
Told backwards in several parts, this story starts with the coming apocalypse. The world is falling apart, and suddenly, everything comes down to a dying accountant named Chuck. It’s hard to describe the plot to this one, since the very nature of its structure makes it confusing and disjointed. The style almost feels experimental, which I did not really enjoy. No doubt some readers will have a blast with this story, especially if you’re into King’s brand of weirdness, but due to its lack of cohesiveness and closure, I can’t say it left me too satisfied.
If It Bleeds – 4 stars
And here we come to the title story and the longest novella in this collection. It is highly recommended you read The Outsider before tackling this one because it is something of a sequel, catching up with Holly Gibney following her encounter with a creature of pure evil.
Without spoiling too much of the story, If It Bleeds begins with detective Ralph Anderson receiving a cryptic note from Holly along with a package containing a drive full of evidence from her latest case. In the event she should die during the course of her investigation, the message reads, Ralph must be careful if he decides to finish what she started. In essence, Holly is convinced that she has found another outsider, a creature that feeds off misery and can change its form to avoid detection, after a horrible explosion at a school in Pennsylvania.
Obviously, being a novella, this story isn’t as rich or powerful as The Outsider, but it does contain many of the same themes as well as similar levels of action, thrills, and suspense. But of course, the big bonus here is that readers will get to spend more time with Holly, who simply won’t stop stealing our hearts with her determination and moxie.
Rat – 4 stars
And now we come to the final story, which I totally ate up because it exuded that old-school horror vibe. The protagonist, Drew Larson, is an aspiring writer with a dream of completing his very first novel. Taking a sabbatical from his teaching job, he travels to a remote cabin in the Wyoming woods where he can work without the distractions from his family or work. But try as he might, the creativity juices just wouldn’t flow—until a bad storm blows in, bringing an unexpected visitor.
This one’s your classic make-a-bargain-with-the-devil story, which always ends badly. While it didn’t have the unique hook of Mr. Harrigan’s Phone or the heart-pounding urgency of If It Bleeds, I still enjoyed this one a lot. It’s the most eerie and chilling of the four tales, and that’s certainly a high note on which to end things.
Audiobook Comments: There’s a reason why Will Patton is so beloved among Stephen King fans, simply because his narration is amazing and his voice has this way of adding that extra bit of gritty magic to the author’s books. Steven Weber and Danny Burstein also add their talent to the mix, resulting in an incredibly rich and immersive listening experience for the If It Bleeds audiobook.
Book Review: Network Effect by Martha Wells
Posted on May 18, 2020 27 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Network Effect by Martha Wells
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 5 of The Murderbot Diaries
Publisher: Tor.com (May 5, 2020)
Length: 350 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Martha Wells once again shows us why her Murderbot series is so beloved with a new installment. This time though, there’s also extra reason to rejoice, because our favorite serial-watching, cynically cranky rogue SecUnit is back in its first full-length standalone novel, and speaking as fan who has been eagerly anticipating Network Effect ever since its announcement, the book was well worth the wait.
So, what’s a Murderbot to do when its pesky human charges can’t seem to stay out of trouble? Step in and save their hopeless asses again, of course. Even after hacking its own programming to free itself, Murderbot can’t seem to be rid of certain commitments, like once more feeling the need to intervene when its crew’s latest mission goes horribly wrong. However, this time the situation ends up being more complicated and disastrous than anyone could have imagined, involving no less than a brazen kidnapping, a hostile takeover, multiple alien threats, and an unexpected reunion with an old friend.
Well, so much for being left in peace to binge watch the latest soap drama.
To begin, it’s probably no surprise that what makes this series is the character of Murderbot itself. For an artificial intelligence, our protagonist is surprisingly full of heart, yet at the same time, unmistakably non-human. Still, for every machine-like trait it has, there is a perfectly relatable one to balance things out. This, I believe, is the key to the magic behind the series and its successes, because I’m sure most of us have an inner introvert that allows us to see something of ourselves reflected in Murderbot’s thoughts and actions—even if it’s as simple as an addiction to a TV show, or like being extremely annoyed by the human race.
The storyline of Network Effect is also very rich, and if you enjoyed the previous Murderbot Diaries novellas wishing they had been longer or that they had delivered more, then you will be very pleased indeed, not to mention how fans of the second one, All Systems Red, will be receiving an extra treat. Of the four novellas, that one had been my favorite because of a certain character, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled by his return (after a period of panic, that is, when Wells almost ripped out my guts with a devastating plot point before revealing everything was not as they seemed. Which was good, because I would have never forgiven her.)
It really is impressive, when you think about how far this series has come in such a short time. While I loved the novellas, I’ve never made it secret that I much prefer full-length novels because I feel they are more conducive to meaningful story and character development. Certainly, it helped a lot to have the background of the novellas under my belt before heading into this, but I also felt that Network Effect was the book which finally gave Murderbot the breadth and scope it deserved. I’ve been a fan of Martha Wells for a long time now, having discovered her work through Books of the Raksura. Clearly though, she’s found a new niche in sci-fi, and I think what makes her so damn good at it is the nature of the Murderbot series and its protagonist, which allows her to really let loose with her imagination, humor, and passion for adventure.
All in all, if you enjoyed novellas one through four (and I do highly recommend reading those before tackling this one), I see no reason why you wouldn’t love Network Effect as well. It is everything great about those stories, but even more fun, more action-packed, and more intense. Readers will love journeying with Murderbot again in a bigger and wilder adventure guaranteed to leave you craving more. Needless to say, I’m already burning to get my hands on the next one.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of All Systems Red (Book 1)
Review of Artificial Condition (Book 2)
Review of Rogue Protocol (Book 3)
Review of Exit Strategy (Book 4)
YA Weekend Audio: Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen
Posted on May 17, 2020 10 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Book 2 of Dark Shores
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (May 5, 2020)
Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: DeVante Johnson, Stephanie Willis
So, I’m a bit torn about this book. While it wasn’t bad for a sequel, I thought it somehow lacked the magic of the original. Sure, part of it might be due to the fact Dark Skies wasn’t a traditional follow-up, featuring a plotline that runs concurrently with the one in Dark Shores so that it could show a different side of the story. It might also be the fact the book switches focus to a new set of protagonists, who simply did not inspire the same level of interest for me.
In Dark Skies we follow Lydia and Killian. We’ve actually met Lydia before, briefly in the previous book as Teriana’s bookish scholar friend, but this time we get to experience the lead-up to the war through her eyes. The adopted daughter of a senator, Lydia has always felt like an outsider despite a life of privilege among the upper class of Cel society. Her features clearly mark her as a foreigner, and of course it also doesn’t help that she has a close friendship with Teriana of the Maarin traders. This causes Lydia’s father much concern about her future, especially with him in ill health. If he dies, Lydia would be left with nothing, putting her at the mercy of his political enemies. Thus, in an act of misguided love, he arranges a marriage between her and Lucius Cassius, the man poised to become the head of the Celendor Empire, believing that this would keep her safe.
However, Lucius has something else in mind, forcing Lydia to flee her home to escape his murderous schemes. She ends up on the far side of the Endless Seas, where she finds herself in Mudamora, which itself is trying to fight off an invasion from the Corrupter’s tireless armies. Killian is a commander who had already failed his people once, but he’s not about to let it happen again. Now sworn to the crown princess, he is under obligation to fulfill his royal bodyguard duties, though the position also grants him a new perspective on the political comings and goings of Mudamora. Joining forces with Lydia, the two of them must figure a way out of their predicament in order to save the kingdom.
Strangely enough, while the beginning parts were slow, they were perhaps my favorite sections of the book. I loved getting to know Lydia, particularly since I barely remembered her from Dark Shores. She was trapped in a dangerous conflict, a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” type of situation where she found herself at the mercy of her father’s terrible choices, yet you couldn’t even really hate him because he was doing it all out of concern for his daughter.
Killian’s chapters, on the other hand, did not interest me at all, harsh as that may sound. He’s also trapped in his own way, struggling with immense pressure and the expectations placed upon his young shoulders, forcing him to take up a position with Princess Malahi after his disgrace. But for all that, I found him to be really bland with not much to distinguish him from an endless lineup of overdramatic male YA heroes who beat themselves up for not being able to save the whole world.
As the plot progressed, I started enjoying both POVs a bit more, though admittedly not by much. To be fair, we’re dealing with a pretty strange dynamic here where certain sections were rehashes of events from the previous book, and while I get that the novels are meant to complement each other so they can be read in either order, the feeling of repetitiveness lead to some frustration on my part. Quite honestly, I also missed the awesome maritime action and seafaring themes which were heavier in book one. And while we’re comparing notes, as I recall, things started off pretty slowly in Dark Shores as well, but improved once Teriana and Marcus’ paths crossed and the two started connecting on a deeper level. Sadly though, I didn’t quite catch that spark with Lydia and Killian, since I personally feel they lacked chemistry as a couple.
That said, I don’t want to make it sound like Dark Skies was a complete bust, because it absolutely wasn’t. I liked the way this book expanded the world-building, adding a lot more to what we know about the Endless Seas, including the lore of its people and their politics, religion, and culture. I would still seriously consider picking up the next installment, especially since I’ve read that the author plans to bring the characters and storylines of Dark Shores and Dark Skies together, and that’s something I would very much like to see.
Audiobook Comments: Being able to experience Dark Skies as an audiobook was pretty amazing actually, especially since it helped make getting through some of the more repetitive parts easier. Stephanie Willis and DeVante Johnson gave fantastic performances as the book’s narrators, infusing the characters’ voices with so much life and energy.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Dark Shores (Book 1)
Bookshelf Roundup 05/16/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on May 16, 2020 20 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!
Boy, do I miss book mail! But a couple more packages landed on my doorstep this week, both from the kind folks at HarperCollins. With thanks to their William Morrow imprint, I received a hardcover of Eagle Station by Dale Brown. I’ve never read the author’s books, but my husband is a fan, so his ringing endorsement was definitely a factor in my decision to accept this one for review. Plus, its description of a “geopolitical technological” thriller-adventure grabbed my attention. Up next, I also received Sunshield by Emily B. Martin with thanks to Harper Voyager. This book was already on the reading list for this month, but I’m happy to have a finished copy!
I hauled a lot in the digital pile this week, mostly audiobooks. But from NetGalley, I couldn’t resist snagging Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power with thanks to Delacorte Press when I saw it pop up in my auto-approvals. I’ve been kicking myself for missing out on the author’s Wilder Girls, and I’m not about to make the same mistake with this one. And as you might recall, earlier this month I also featured It Will Just be Us by Jo Kaplan for Waiting on Wednesday, and I was so happy when my request for the e-galley was approved, with thanks to Crooked Lane Books.
And now for the parade of new horror and thriller titles! With thanks to Harper Audio, I received This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf, which I’ve been hearing great things about. I was also fortunate enough to receive a trio of exciting listening copies, courtesy of Brilliance Audio. I had already gotten a copy of The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne from my Amazon Prime offers earlier this year, but I would definitely prefer listening to it in audio format especially as it is narrated by the incredible Susannah Jones! I also received What Lies Between Us by John Marrs, which sounds absolutely terrifying and insane. And speaking of terrifying, while this next one isn’t exactly new, the audiobook edition certainly is, and considering how much I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous work, I was thrilled to received a listening copy of If You See Her by Ania Ahlborn.
Finally, with thanks to Penguin Audio, I also received an advance listening copy of Death In Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh. It’s not your typical thriller, but the synopsis makes it sound so intriguing!
Reviews
You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce (4.5 of 5 stars)
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell (4 of 5 stars)
Something She’s Not Telling Us by Darcey Bell (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
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: Pink
Posted on May 15, 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:
“As pink as cotton candy”
~ any cover that is PINK
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch
The US/UK covers to this series have always been very striking. Add some pink to it though, and they really stand out! Here’s a comparison of all the available covers:
From left to right:
Gollancz (2016)/DAW (2017) – Gollancz Paperback (2017)
German Edition (2017) – Czech Edition (2018)
Winner:
I was all set to pick the classic pink Gollancz/DAW “map” cover for my favorite today, but that was before I discovered the Czech versions of this series. And if you actually get a chance to see the Czech editions for the previous books as well, they’re all so cute! Hate to say it, but I’m gonna have to go with the Johnny-come-lately this week, but it was a close one!
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
The BiblioSanctum 