Waiting on Wednesday 04/29/20
Posted on April 29, 2020 30 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
Battle Ground by Jim Butcher (September 29, 2020 by Ace)
Hot on the heels of Peace Talks, which is due out in July, the seventeenth Dresden Files book will be releasing this fall. Now, I don’t usually feature sequels for Waiting on Wednesday unless I’m caught up with the series, but I think we can make an exception for this one because I pretty much devour Jim Butcher’s books as soon as I get my hands on them.
“THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET SERIOUS FOR HARRY DRESDEN, CHICAGO’S ONLY PROFESSIONAL WIZARD, in the next entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files.
Harry has faced terrible odds before. He has a long history of fighting enemies above his weight class. The Red Court of vampires. The fallen angels of the Order of the Blackened Denarius. The Outsiders.
But this time it’s different. A being more powerful and dangerous on an order of magnitude beyond what the world has seen in a millennium is coming. And she’s bringing an army. The Last Titan has declared war on the city of Chicago, and has come to subjugate humanity, obliterating any who stand in her way.
Harry’s mission is simple but impossible: Save the city by killing a Titan. And the attempt will change Harry’s life, Chicago, and the mortal world forever.”
Book Review: The Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan
Posted on April 28, 2020 26 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 Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Redhook (April 7, 2020)
Length: 448 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
The Age of Witches is the third of Louisa Morgan’s historical supernatural standalone novels about witches, and once more we are treated to a journey of incredible depth and magic led by strong female characters. In this one, readers are spirited away to the late 1800s where seventeen-year-old protagonist Annis lives in New York with her wealthy father and stepmother. But while other upper-class girls her age are concerning themselves with marrying well and being proper, Annis instead has dreams of becoming a horse breeder one day, starting a new line with her beloved stallion Black Satin.
What our protagonist does not realize though, is that she is actually descended from a long line of magical women. But at some point in the past, there was a disagreement in ideology which split the family. Now Annis finds herself in the middle of a secret war of wills between two formidable witches: Harriet Bishop, her great aunt who believes that their powers should be used ethically; and Frances Allington, her stepmother who has thrown her lot in with black magic. Frances had ensorcelled Annis’ father to become the wife of one of New York’s richest and most prominent businessmen, but it’s not enough—chasing a noble title, Frances now wants to drag Annis across the ocean to England where she knows that the Marquess of Rosefield is almost broke and is looking to wed a wealthy young heiress.
Annis is furious upon learning about Frances’ plans but has no choice but to acquiesce when her father threatens to sell Black Satin. Reluctantly, she agrees to travel to England and meet the Marquess, but the truth is she has no desire to ever get married. Frances, however, has a secret trick up her sleeve. Using the same type of magic she used on Annis’ father, she concocts a spell to force an engagement between her stepdaughter and the young lord. Fortunately, Harriet is well aware of the depths Frances could sink to in order to get what she wants. Catching up with Annis, Harriet reveals everything about their lineage to the young woman. Together, they work to foil Frances’ agenda while protecting James, the strait-laced but kind-hearted Marquess of Rosefield, whom Annis has decided isn’t actually all that bad.
What I love about Louisa Morgan’s novels about witches is that they each stand out individually, despite sharing many genre elements and motifs. Thematically, they all have a historical component with a focus on multiple generations, not to mention a strong feminist message championed by female characters who chafe against the expectations of their respective societies. In a way, this makes Annis quite typical of the author’s protagonists, but she also sets herself apart with the force of her personality and unique passions. She’s fiercely independent, for one, and can be single-minded to the point of exasperation. This girl also loves horses—and I mean, loves them—to the point where it pretty much drives every single aspect of her life.
But of course, there’s also the magic that shapes Annis. I liked how The Age of Witches was probably the “witchiest” of the author’s books so far, packed with all manner of spells, cantrips and charms. The conflict of “good magic” versus “bad magic” was also explored in an interesting way, pitting family members on two sides of an age-old rift against each other. Still, like the previous books, I felt some of the feminist messages came through a bit muddled. In A Secret History of Witches, for example, it was the frustrating way the women boasted of their powerful magic but seemed only to ever use it to put men under their spell and get them pregnant. Here, Harriet is constantly expounding on the importance of using magic responsibly, yet she and Annis always seem to have a ready excuse for using it to take away someone’s free will—just because it’s minor influence or payback against some prejudiced idiot shouldn’t make it okay.
Still, I think we’ve made great strides in the characters in this one. While her women are always written extremely well, the author’s male characters in her other books have always struck me as overdone to the extreme with regards to their oppressiveness and abuse, so that they come across like caricatures rather than real people. Compared to them, James in this book was like a breath of fresh air, as he seemed to be written in a way to address those problems. And really, he was a perfect match for Annis, who came to realize that while there are plenty of terrible men like her father in the world, there are also kind souls like James with whom she can build a happy and healthy marriage.
There were some downers in this book, such as what ultimately becomes of a certain character, but I did appreciate how Morgan was able to make readers feel sympathy for someone who probably doesn’t deserve it, and that’s a clear mark of a skilled writer. But overall, I would say the tone of The Age of Witches is generally lighter, and my heart melted at the happy ending which reminded me somewhat of a regency romance. At the end of the day, I had a very enjoyable time with this novel and would not hesitate to recommend it to fans of the author’s previous novels or if you are keen to try a historical fantasy about magic and witches.
Book Review: Looking Glass by Christina Henry
Posted on April 27, 2020 16 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Looking Glass by Christina Henry
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Retellings
Series: The Chronicles of Alice
Publisher: Ace Books (April 21, 2020)
Length: 304 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Novellas and anthologies? Typically not my thing. But since this collection was not only written by Christina Henry but is also part of her incredible Chronicles of Alice world, I knew I would make an exception. Looking Glass features four new stories set in the same universe as Alice and Red Queen, which reimagines Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland through a dark horror lens. It is not a sequel per se, but seeing as this grim quartet of interlinked short tales serves as a continuation of the saga, it would be helpful to have read the previous novels.
Lovely Creature – 4 stars
This opening story was my favorite of the bunch. It follows a young girl named Elizabeth who lives with her family in New City. The first time she heard the name “Alice” spoken in their house was after the news came that the asylum burned down, and Elizabeth was perplexed by the reaction. Her father was quick to dismiss it, while her mother seemed heartbroken, and it wasn’t until later that Elizabeth learned the truth: Alice was the name of an older sister she never knew, and it was because everyone thought she was mad so she was sent away.
Clearly though, the memory of Alice stayed. Everyone says Elizabeth reminds them of her, and she’s sick of hearing it…especially from the voices in her own head. The thing is, what nobody knows is that Elizabeth has magic. And though it has helped her get out of trouble in the past, now having the talent also draws danger to her.
This story was a great one to lead with, for several reasons, and not least because it was one of the stronger ones. Elizabeth was a charming character, full of the innocence and delight of a small child. But while she may be sheltered, she’s no dummy—she knows her world is not a nice place, and there are plenty of bad folk out there who would harm little girls…bad folk like Cheshire, Caterpillar, and the Rabbit. This story also introduces the harsh world of the Chronicles of Alice, and the wealth disparity seen between New and Old City. Elizabeth is thrown into a situation where everything is new to her, and none of it is pleasant. But by using her magic and her wits, she not only manages to teach the villains a lesson, she also proves she is clever and can save herself.
Girl in Amber – 3 stars
Alice wakes up from a dream about her little sister at the beginning of this story, and we find out that she and Hatcher are between homes at the moment, looking for a place to settle down and put down roots. But before they can get too far, winter sets in and the two of them find themselves stranded in the middle of a blizzard. They decide to have Hatcher shift into his wolf form in order to scout ahead, though that does mean Alice will have to continue alone for a while. Freezing, she has no choice but to take shelter in an abandoned house full of strange horrors.
This story was probably my least favorite in the collection. For lack of a better term, it just seemed pointless—most of it was about Alice stumbling around in the snow and in the dark. Once inside the creepy house of horrors, it felt like this story was simply throwing any and all kinds of unsettling experiences at her, from scary visions to monstrous creatures, but the truth was none of it was actually all that frightening. I get what message Henry was trying to send here, but I wish she’d gone about it in a more memorable way.
When I First Came to Town – 3.5 stars
Before Alice, Hatcher had a very different life. His name was Nicholas, for one, and he also had a wife and child. When I First Came to Town is a story about how he met his beloved Hattie, flashing back to his teenage years working at a fight club trying to make enough money to get out of Old City. So when his boss sets him up to fight the hulking man known as Grinder—called that because he always leaves his opponents dead or injured so badly they never fight again—Nicholas has little choice but to accept, because the money was just too good. Luckily for Nicholas though, he has a trick or two up his sleeve. He realizes he has magic, which will give him an advantage in the ring, but will it be enough to keep in alive?
I love the character of Hatcher, and it was interesting to get this glimpse into this past, though it is difficult to reconcile the teenager in this story to the broken man he is now, since the two are so different. However, we certainly got to see where his gentle and caring side came from, and the way it led him to Hattie. Still, even in his youthful heart, Nicholas also had a steely resolve in him, which helped him face up to the pure evil in this tale.
The Mercy Seat – 3.5 stars
This final tale was all right, not the best or worst of the collection, but I do feel it deserves special attention because of the way it brings closure to the series. Chronologically, it takes place shortly after Girl in Amber, following the harsh winter in which Alice and Hatcher finally finds shelter with a kind witch named Olivia. At the beginning of this story, Alice makes a startling discovery, and knows it’s a sign they must leave to find a permanent place to settle down.
But once more, Alice and Hatcher’s journey is fraught with peril. They come upon a seemingly peaceful village, only to find out that beneath its idyllic surface, a terrible secret is what keeps everyone in line. As the two of them fight to protect each other, Alice and Hatcher realize what they truly mean to one another, and what they both want out of this life. Given this, the central conflict in this tale seems almost incidental in light of the more significant revelations and other major themes at play here, but it does end on a happy note, which I think is ultimately what readers will latch onto. After all, these characters have been through hell and then some, and it’s high time they deserve some peace. The Mercy Seat, while short, gives Alice and Hatcher their perfect ending, and so as a collection, Looking Glass earns a thumbs up from me.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Alice (Book 1)
Review of Red Queen (Book 2)
Audiobook Review: Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
Posted on April 26, 2020 18 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Random House Audio (April 21, 2020)
Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Julia Whelan, Lauren Fortgang, and Hillary Huber
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown was a very different thriller than I expected, and in fact, I would even hesitate to describe the overall story as “thrilling” in the traditional sense, though it was still plenty suspenseful and full of twists.
One of the reasons for this is the unconventional way the novel unfolds. As much of it takes place in the present as in the past, revealed in flashbacks. We have Nina Ross, a con artist, though she had dreams of becoming more once. Life had different plans for her, however, and rather than a respectable career, she instead followed in her mother’s footsteps. After all, Mama Ross was the original grifter, who taught her daughter everything she knows. Still, Nina wouldn’t have needed to do this if she weren’t so desperate. Ever since her mom got sick, she’s been struggling to pay her astronomical medical bills on top of her rent and student loans. And in any case, Nina has decided together with Lachlan, her on-again-off-again boyfriend and partner in crime, that they only steal from those who can afford it.
Enter Vanessa Liebling, heiress to a vast fortune—and Nina and Lachlan’s next target. Vanessa’s father has just passed away, leaving behind Stonehaven, the Liebling family mansion on the shore of Lake Tahoe. It is here where Vanessa has retreated, to deal with her grief and find peace away from her glitzy yet shallow life as an Instagram influencer. What Vanessa doesn’t know though, is that she and Nina share a past connection, and Nina and Lachlan would like to keep things that way, in order for their scam to work.
Plus, not only is Nina going after Vanessa’s money, she’s doing this for payback. Posing as a couple taking an extended break from their city lives, Nina and Lachlan move into a rustic-style cottage on Stonehaven grounds and begin working on Vanessa. The plan is the befriend her and gain her trust, so that they can gain access to the mansion, whose halls Nina actually knows intimately. Somewhere deep inside is a safe containing the answer to all her problems, and yet everything could still fall apart if she cannot keep up the charade. Being back in that massive house, surrounded by its secrets and memories is affecting Nina in ways she had not expected, but she knows if she can’t hold it together, it will cost her everything.
As I alluded to before though, this story doesn’t always feel like a thriller, and it certainly doesn’t begin like one. In fact, so much of the first half was slow developing, but I do want to emphasize this does not mean it was slow-moving, because the truth is Brown was able to keep things very interesting. It’s true we have plenty of flashbacks, but it soon becomes clear that these sections delving into the past will become as, if not more, important than the events taking place in the present. We do this first with Nina, and then with Vanessa, before all will be revealed. And then, mwahahahaha! The real fun begins.
What impressed me was how cinematic this one felt to read, and when I found out earlier this month that it had been picked up by Amazon for a series adaptation, it didn’t really surprise me at all. In many ways, Pretty Things seemed made for the screen, featuring a deadly game of secrets and lies between two brilliant but broken women. You even have a gorgeous and decadent old mansion set against the scenic backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains to complete the picture. And though I thought the mystery element was somewhat lacking, as there were quite a few “twists” I predicted well ahead of time, there were still a good number of surprises left in store, and of course no one can deny the moments of intense suspense especially once the ball starts rolling on Nina and Lachlan’s big con.
The characters are also fascinating, developed in great detail. After all, without this aspect, the premise would not have worked nearly as well, nor would the crux of it have come to fruition the way it did. I won’t go into any more detail than that, in order to preserve the mystery, but suffice it to say I found this to be an entertaining read featuring with great characters and a heist plot that won’t go in the direction that you think!
Audiobook Comments: I loved that this audiobook featured some of the finest voice talent in the industry. Julia Whelan, Lauren Fortgang, and Hillary Huber are all powerhouse narrators and needless to say their performances were amazing. Each reader portrayed their character to perfection, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Pretty Things in audio.
Bookshelf Roundup 04/25/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on April 25, 2020 32 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!
This was a super light week, though I did recently receive a few mailing alerts which could mean more books coming my way soon, so maybe it’s a good thing I’m getting a little breather. I got another package from the awesome team at Subterranean Press this week, and I’m excited about both these books that were in it: Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard and A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong! I was also very excited that my copy of Eden by Tim Lebbon finally arrived! Thank you, Titan Books!
I only made a few audiobook requests this week since I already have quite a backlog to go through, so there’s not much in the digital pile either. I did, however, snagged a couple of YA titles with thanks to Listening Library: Forged in Fire and Stars by Andrea Robertson because it sounded interesting, as well as Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff because it’s the second book in the Aurora Cycle and I loved the first one. I also finally bit the bullet and requested the audiobook of The Last Emperox by John Scalzi, with thanks to Audible Studios. I was close to skipping this one because of my disappointment in the previous book, but some of the positive reviews from my fellow bloggers convinced me that I should give it a chance. And since it’s the last book in the trilogy, I figure I might as well just finish it.
Reviews
Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett (4 of 5 stars)
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (4 of 5 stars)
The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey (3 of 5 stars)
The Companions by Katie M. Flynn (2 of 5 stars)
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: Armor
Posted on April 24, 2020 31 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:
“Pretty armour doesn’t make a warrior”
~ a cover that features ARMOR
Mogsy’s Pick:
Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
The story of Blood Song is about a young boy who trains and grows up to become a leader and one of the greatest warriors in the kingdom. It’s a tried-and-true formula in epic fantasy which by all rights I should have been sick to death of, but Anthony Ryan managed to pull it off without making me feel like I’m getting the same old, same old. But how do the book’s covers fare? Let’s take a look:
From left to right:
Ace (2012) – Orbit (2013) – Turkish Edition (2014)
Dutch Edition (2013) – Bulgarian Edition (2015) – French Edition (2014)
Portuguese Edition (2016) – Romanian Edition (2015) – Czech Edition (2015)
Russian Edition (2014) – German Edition (2014) – Serbian Edition (2019)
Winner:
Armor on book covers in the epic fantasy genre are nothing new, but I’ll let you in on a little secret: I can’t stand them! They just scream “generic” to me, and as you can see from the collection of covers here, many of which just feature a close-up for a chest plate and/or gauntlets, they do tend to blend together and one looks like the next. So it’s a tough choice this week, but I think I’ll have to go with the Portuguese edition. It’s unfortunate that the text is so frightful and takes up so much of the cover, but the image itself is quite gorgeous.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Book Review: The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey
Posted on April 23, 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 Book of Koli by M.R. Carey
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1 of The Rampart Trilogy
Publisher: Orbit (April 14, 2020)
Length: 416 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Oh, hype raises its ugly head once again. As you know, I’m big a fan of M.R. Carey and I was very excited to read The Book of Koli, the first volume of his new dystopian series called The Rampart Trilogy. From its description though, I already knew it was going to be quite different from his previous work that I’ve enjoyed. And that’s the kicker, isn’t it? Different can mean good or bad things; you never know what you might get.
The Book of Koli transports readers into the far-flung future, where our young protagonist Koli Woodsmith lives in a village called Mythen Rood. It is a bleak setting, filled with hardship and hidden dangers, most of them caused by the hostile fauna and flora. The plant life here has evolved to consume flesh, for example, and for Koli and his family, who are sawmill workers, this means they must be extra careful to only harvest and build with wood that is completely dead.
As the story opens, Koli has just turned fifteen, the age when all children must partake in a rite of passage that tests for their ability to awaken the treasured pieces of technology kept by the people of Mythen Rood. If they pass, they become leaders called Ramparts that are granted the responsibility to use tech to protect their village. It’s an honor Koli desperately wants, not only because he hopes for more out of life, but also because there’s a girl he’s seriously crushing on, and being a Rampart would definitely help him catch her attention.
But of course, nothing ends up going the way Koli wanted. After failing his test, our distraught protagonist sets off on his own, but not before swiping a mysterious piece of tech that turns out to be so much more than he realized, opening his eyes to a whole new world of knowledge.
So first, let’s talk about my mixed feelings for this book. It wasn’t bad by any means, and yet I was still disappointed, not having enjoyed it as much I’d hoped. The Book of Koli was my fifth novel by Carey, and it’s my least favorite by far, for a couple of reasons. I mentioned how it feels different from the author’s books, and certainly the strange dystopian setting along with the jarring narrative voice had a role to play in this. However, these are just surface level examples of “different,” most of which I did not mind at all. No, in truth, what let me down had more to do with the banality of the story’s overall structure and its uneven pacing, neither of which were issues I expected to encounter from the creative mind who brought us such brilliantly imaginative and suspenseful works such as The Girl With All The Gifts.
The characters, for example. I liked them…for the most part. Ironically, Koli was probably one of the least interesting, despite being the star of the show. His story arc begins like any number of YA dystopians do—an idealistic teenager with ambitions bigger than himself or his village, who must pass a ritualistic test in order to realize all of his life’s dreams. But of course, after the inevitable failure comes, instead of succumbing to defeat, our hero stumbles upon an earth-shattering secret, one that will have major consequences for the future of the world unless he undertakes this all-important journey. Sorry, but YAWN. Is it any wonder the book got leaps and bound better once other characters like Ursala and Monono were introduced? I’ll let you discover why for yourself, but I was just glad we had more compelling personalities along for this ride, because Koli and I were really not making a connection.
I also liked the world-building. In fact, that might be the one aspect with which I could find little fault, because I love the idea of killer trees and hostile wildlife. Yes, I know it’s become a popular trope in recent years, but I’ve always been a sucker for clever ways of incorporating biological concepts into SFF, which isn’t new for the author. The magic and the tech element was also very cool, and it’s a shame I can’t go into the reasons why because that would spoil too much. I do wish we’d gotten the opportunity to learn more though, because there were only a few places that touched upon the history and lore of the world. I feel like it could have added a special quality of a bit of uniqueness to an otherwise run-of-the-mill bleak dystopian setting.
Was I expecting too much? Probably. I was surprised to find the plot so formulaic, the themes and ideas so recycled and clichéd, but I do have to wonder: would I have been so critical if this had been by another author, someone whose work I was not as familiar with or whose previous books I didn’t hold in such high esteem? Regardless, I’ve decided to give this series another chance to win me over; I’ll most likely pick up the second book and continue Koli’s adventure. After all, there are clear signs that many of the issues I had with this one may improve, such as pacing and character development. But one thing I know for sure, I’ll definitely keep my hype in check next time.
Waiting on Wednesday 04/22/20
Posted on April 22, 2020 18 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
Memoria by Kristyn Merbeth (December 8, 2020 by Orbit Books)
I do so enjoy Kristyn/K.S. Merbeth’s books! From her post-apocalyptic Wastelanders duology to her first sci-fi novel Fortuna, they’re great to kick back with for some fun and action. That’s why I’m looking forward to this second book in the Nova Vita Protocol series and hope that it will have the same excitement and energy as the first.
“Two planets are on the brink of war in Memoria, the thrilling second book in an action-packed space opera trilogy, The Nova Vita Protocol.Book Review: Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett
Posted on April 21, 2020 37 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Founders
Publisher: Del Rey (April 21, 2020)
Length: 512 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Looking back at my review for Foundryside, it seemed I loved the book, so I was actually surprised at how little I retained from the story. Luckily, its sequel Shorefall does a hell of a job catching readers up, and soon I was feeling comfortably back in the magical world of the series. That said, the initial disorientation may have impacted my overall experience, not to mention the “wearing off of novelty” effect that commonly affects sequels, because I didn’t think this novel was as strong as its predecessor, though it was still a very good, solid read.
Once more, readers are transported back to the city of Tevanne, where magic and industry co-exist and work hand in hand. A few years have passed since the end of the first book when we last left our protagonist Sancia, who has given up her thieving ways to help her employer Orso Igancio make the world a better place. Their scriving firm Foundryside is growing in reputation and influence by the day, making great contributions to the knowledge of magic while helping the city by teaching people how to utilize it.
And yet, it is not enough. Tevanne may be large and prosperous, but its successes are only enjoyed by a few at the top, and not surprisingly, the leaders of the ruling merchant houses are not too keen on sharing. To prevent themselves from going under, the Foundrysiders hatch up a plan to stay in the game, and make previous inaccessible magical technology available to the public besides. So, okay, maybe Sancia’s thieving days aren’t quite over, exactly.
But no sooner do they start celebrating their triumph than a new threat appears on the horizon, and this is one enemy that not even the merchant houses can avoid, despite all their riches and power. A legendary hierophant named Crasedes Magnus has resurrected, scrived to the wazoo, and he is bent on shaping the city and its population into his vision. Only Sancia may have the guts and the skills to take him on, but unfortunately, Crasedes already has his eye on our protagonist and her little group, believing that they have what he needs.
I was so excited when Shorefall opened with the adventurous energy and tone of a bold caper. Pretty soon, though, the story begins shifting into darker and more suspenseful territory, edging slightly into horror. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t perceive this as a negative, but it did cause my expectations to change slightly. Speaking of which, one thing I did miss was the humor. I may have forgotten quite a few things from Foundryside, but what had always stayed with me were the laughs, most of them resulting from the banter between Sancia and the sentient golden key Clef. Shorefall, on the other hand, was decidedly lighter on these moments of levity, which made sense, seeing as how Clef did not feature as prominently in this sequel (though he still had a very significant role).
In addition to a more somber and direr tone, you should also expect the writing to place more emphasis on the characters’ relationships rather than their exploits. While we still have action and intrigue aplenty, where Shorefall shines is the story’s in-depth exploration of Sancia’s friendships, with particular attention to her loyalty. Her Foundryside crew is her family, and we get to see this in her respect for Orso and Gregor, and of course her love for Berenice. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that there are several developments in this book that cause each of them to reflect upon their trust for one another and bring them all closer together.
The world-building also remains ever impressive, but then, who’s surprised? Robert Jackson Bennett has always excelled in this area, and I find myself constantly recommending his books to fantasy fans who are looking for unique and interesting magic systems. In a nutshell, the concept of scriving involves using magical commands etched in the ancient language of the Hierophants to “convince” everyday objects to behave in a certain way. Following the same concept, talented scrivers like Sancia can also tap into these scrived objects and use magic to persuade them to be something they’re not. The idea is brilliant in its elegance and simplicity, but still, by expanding the magic system in this sequel, I think Bennett was forced to make it more complex. As a result, some of his explanations struck me as forced or too convoluted, and there were moments where I felt things got away from him. For example, certain solutions to magical problems were glossed over, and several times I felt like we were expected to just roll with whatever arbitrary explanations were given to describe how some new aspect of the magic worked.
But in the end, my criticisms were few, while reasons to love Shorefall were many. It’s a fantastic follow-up to Foundryside no matter how you look at it, with so much to add to the series’ story arc, characters, and world-building. If you enjoyed the first volume, you’ll likely find lots to love in this sequel as well, and after this be even more excited for the trilogy conclusion in the next book.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Foundryside (Book 1)
Audiobook Review: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Posted on April 20, 2020 45 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 Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing (April 7, 2020)
Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Bahni Turpin
Grady Hendrix’s books are always such a joy to read, combining humor and horror with just the right amount of weirdness and even a touch of the disturbing. Once more, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires is no exception, and it might even be my favorite book by the author so far.
Our story opens on a closely-knit neighborhood in South Carolina sometime in the late 1980s. Patricia Campbell is our protagonist, a stressed out and overworked mom and homemaker who should have known better than to join a book club. Between the household chores, afterschool activities, doctor’s appointments, teacher conferences, vet visits, shopping trips, and millions of other little errands on her to-do list, she barely has time to read beyond the first page of this month’s pick, Cry, The Beloved Country. Normally, this wouldn’t be such a big deal…except she’s supposed to be leading the discussion at the club’s next meetup! After attempting to and failing to wing it, however, Patricia realizes that it’s not her lack of time that’s the problem, it’s the classic books they are forced to read. She’d so much rather be burying her nose in true crime or horror, so together with her fellow friends and stay-at-home moms, they started their own book club, reading only what they want to read while letting their husbands think they are a Bible study group.
Other than that though, life in the neighborhood is predictable as usual. That is, until a newcomer moves in across the street. James Harris claims to have arrived in town to take care of an elderly relative, but after they passed away, he decided to stay and put down roots. No one knows where he came from, but he has a lot of money and is well-connected. He quickly insinuates himself into the old boys’ club made up of the neighborhood men, charming his way into their businesses and lives. Despite this, Patricia senses something not quite right about James, and suspects he has something to do with some local children that have gone missing. Unfortunately, no one will believe her, not even her closest friends. Deep in her heart, Patricia knows she’s right, but how will she get others to listen?
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires is my fourth book by Grady Hendrix, and like I said, it is probably my favorite of his so far, for several reasons. First of all, I felt an immediate connection to the main character, a mom whose workload and responsibilities never seems to end! Motherhood is an unending list of chores to do, errands to run, not to mention kids to feed, clothe, house, and shuttle back and forth to wherever they need to be. They’re not always the most thankful either, so I can relate. Plus, like Patricia, I love a good book and the satisfaction of letting one transport me to another world. Still, there were many aspects about our protagonist’s life that were new and fascinating to me too, such as her southern traditions and the fact her world felt distinctively late 80s/early 90s. It was a different time, and there were expectations for women like her to act and live a certain way.
Another thing I loved was the story. In a word, it was fun. Creepy too, at times. Of course, I would expect nothing less from a horror novel, except Grady Hendrix always brings his own unique brand of quirk to his work. You’ll get that here in spades, making this one a vampire book like no other, even though there’ll be plenty of classic Dracula references to tide you over (this is a book about a book club, after all). When it does its scary thing though, this book is nuts with the ick-factor and going overboard with the truly gruesome and macabre. Juxtaposed with the southern hospitality and the well-kept homes and manicured lawns, it just makes the horror even more pronounced with the overall wrongness of it all.
But now for the criticisms. None of these are dealbreakers by any means, but I’ve noticed how some of keep popping up again and again in the author’s books. One is the issue of cohesiveness. Hendrix’s stories feel like a bunch of pieces thrown together, and while most of these fit together the way they’re supposed to, every once in a while you’ll get a few plot orphans that go nowhere or they seem to hang untethered like a loose thread. One reason for this is the awkwardness of transitions, particularly the one big jump in time that occurs around halfway through the book. Also, the ending is just awful, anti-climactic and not very fitting. It’s like the author suddenly decided to throw as much blood as possible into the mix, and I’m just here shaking my head thinking, shock value does not a good ending make.
But overall, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires was an entertaining read, no doubt about that. It was even more enjoyable in audiobook format, narrated by the incredible Bahni Turpin. I’ve listened to her narration on other books, but this was by far one of her best performances, considering the wide range of voices belonging to characters varying in age, gender, race, and class that she had to portray. Just a spot on and pitch perfect narration which I can’t praise or recommend highly enough.
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