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.
Review: The Companions by Katie M. Flynn
Posted on April 19, 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.
The Companions by Katie M. Flynn
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 2 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Gallery/Scout | Audiobook: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: 272 pages | Audiobook: 7 hrs and 59 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Michael Crouch, Ramon De Ocampo, Hillary Huber, Erin Moon, Rebekkah Ross, Candace Thaxton, Jesse Vilinsky, Emily Woo Zeller
The Companions by Katie M. Flynn gave me mixed feelings after I finished it. Even now, I find myself struggling to put my thoughts into words, but it’s probably clear from my rating this book wasn’t for me.
Set in the near future, in a dystopic quarantined California amidst a deadly virus, the story begins with an introduction to two seemingly average friends, Lilac and Dahlia, though pretty soon the full explanation behind their complicated relationship is revealed. Welcome to a world where death doesn’t always mean the end. New technology has made it possible to transfer the minds of the recently deceased into robot bodies, creating “companions” for survivors of the virus, now under lockdown and unable to venture outside their sealed towers. Some companions stay with their families, while others are sold or rented to the general public, for purposes ranging from caretaking to sexual slavery. The point is, they are considered property, denied the basic rights of human beings because they are believed to be bound to their programming. Lilac, for example, had been acquired by Dahlia’s mother to serve her daughter, yet the two girls sometimes end up sharing stories into the night.
But from recounting details from her life before her death and the outbreak, Lilac starts to remember more about what happened to her—like the fact she was murdered—as well as the people she used to know, such as her beloved childhood friend Nikki. Escaping the wrath of Dahlia’s mother, Lilac sets out to find answers hoping they will also lead to Nikki, thus kicking off a narrative that explores the past and future, spanning time and geography while featuring numerous other characters from a wide range of backgrounds.
Since we’re in the middle of a pandemic-driven shutdown of our own right now, I thought it would be fun to torture myself by picking up a book about a virus outbreak and quarantine, but instead this one proved painful to read for all kinds of other reasons. I guess I just don’t do well with fractured rambling stories, which pretty much describes The Companions trying to cram multiple books’ worth of content into a mere 272 pages. The result is a convoluted mess filled with characters who inspired no emotional connection, and they were lucky if I could even remember their names for this review. The fact that many of them made so little impact tells you more than needs to be said about their development. While the writing wasn’t bad, and even shines through with a lyrical gem every now and then, the problem was in the story’s style and structure and how awkwardly its different parts came together.
Granted, the concept behind the book was interesting, but speaking as someone who has been reading sci-fi and dystopian fiction for years, I found nothing new and innovative here that would make me drop everything and pick up The Companions over other books that address a lot of the same themes and topics. So many the world-building elements felt incidental or just tacked on, like the entire quarantine aspect. Again, this appears to stem from a failure to bring everything in the story together in a way that captured my imagination, and it’s a shame because there’s actually a lot of potential in the setting and premise.
My final thoughts? Even with its familiar and well-trodden themes, I think The Companions could have added a lot to the genre if it hadn’t tried to do too much or if we’d been given more time to explore the characters and their relationships through the decades covered in this book. Instead, the way things came across felt too convenient and disorienting, and that in turn reduced the story’s emotional impact. Overall, I confess I came away more confused than satisfied, but others may do better with it if they can keep up with the plot and characters. There are good ideas here, the writing is decent and I wanted to like this book, but sadly things just didn’t come together for me.
Bookshelf Roundup 04/18/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on April 18, 2020 33 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 week, a couple of new books from the awesome folks at Subterranean Press! I received The Kraken’s Tooth by Anthony Ryan, which is the follow up to A Pilgrimage of Swords (which I still need to read), as well as Dancers in the Dark & Layla Steps Up by Charlaine Harris, featuring two intertwined stories from the world of Sookie Stackhouse.
Also thanks to Tachyon Publications for an ARC of Driftwood by Marie Brennan! I had picked up an eARC of this one a few weeks back, but it was a nice surprise to get a hard copy in the mail!
In the digital pile, it’s a colorful assortment of books this week. From Simon & Schuster Audio, I picked up If It Bleeds by Stephen King, a collection of four previously unpublished novellas including the title story, which revisits Holly Gibney after The Outsider. And because it’s looking unlikely that a hard copy will be coming my way soon with the country still locked down, I also picked up The Cerulean Queen by Sarah Kozloff, the final book of the Nine Realms quartet, with thanks to Macmillan Audio. I’ve also been craving more thriller/mystery lately, so thanks to Penguin Random House Audio I grabbed a couple of new titles including In Her Shadow by Kristin Miller and The Closer You Get by Mary Torjussen.
I still hope to pick up the paperback when it releases because it’s such a gorgeous book, but at this time I finally hit the button over on Edelweiss for Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven just to have it on hand in case I get a hankering for some fantasy-romance. I was also thrilled to be approved for Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, which I just featured for Waiting on Wednesday this week! My thanks to Ace Books and Saga Press, respectively.
Reviews
Crush the King by Jennifer Estep (4 of 5 stars)
The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James (4 of 5 stars)
The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold (3.5 of 5 stars)
A Broken Queen by Sarah Kozloff (3 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: Out of Focus
Posted on April 17, 2020 23 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:
“Double vision or all a blur”
~ a cover that is OUT OF FOCUS
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Haunted by Danielle Vega
Well, I certainly didn’t think this one was as scary as some others, but it was decent enough from an entertainment standpoint I suppose. At least there are a couple of interesting covers!
From left to right:
Razorbill Hardcover (2019) – Razorbill Paperback (2020) – Russian Edition (2019)
Winner:
First of all, what were they thinking with the paperback edition? How does one go from a cool cover like the 2019 HC edition to something that looks so…well, low effort? Apologies if you like it, but I personally find it too plain. And much too green. With that said, my favorite this week is hands down the Razorbill hardcover. I’m not sure how many versions of it are out, but my finished copy that the publisher sent me also had this fun lenticular effect on its cover/sleeve which I thought was extra cool!
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Book Review: The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James
Posted on April 16, 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 Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Minotaur Books (March 17, 2020)
Length: 368 pages
Author Information: Website
The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James genuinely surprised me. Normally I am skeptical whenever I see books described as “modern Gothic” because often I find the term never means what you think it means, but whether it was because I had no expectations or something else, I really enjoyed this one.
Told through alternating past and present timelines, this haunting novel takes us to the Cornwall coast, where an old ruined estate called Winterbourne Hall sits overlooking the sea. Rumored to be cursed because of its unusual provenance in the early 19th century and the strange stories which have surrounded the mansion since its construction, it was home to Captain Jonathan de Grey in 1947, who hired a young governess named Alice Miller to look after his son and daughter following the death of their mother. Upon arrival, Alice immediately falls under the house’s quiet and alluring spell, becoming infatuated with her handsome new employer. She also becomes charmed by his twin children Edmund and Constance, despite their troubled and sometimes mean-spirited natures.
Skip forward to the present day, New York City art gallery curator Rachel Wright has always felt adrift, longing for a family history she’ll never know, having been adopted. After discovering that her birth mother had died years ago, Rachel had long since given up hope of finding out where she came from, until out of the blue one day, she receives a letter of inheritance from across the ocean from an unknown English aunt, leaving her Winterbourne Hall. Seizing at this opportunity to learn more about her heritage, Rachel travels to Cornwall to see the house that now belongs to her, hoping to reveal the secrets of the past and how she is connected to the de Grey family who used to live there.
But within Winterbourne, Rachel uncovers a lot more than her family history. Tragedy and madness once lurked here, the decades of rage and grief trapped in the mansion’s dark halls. At times, Rachel feels like there’s a presence in the house with her, even when she knows she’s alone.
I had no idea what I was walking into when I picked up The Woman in the Mirror, but it certainly wasn’t this fascinating mix of mystery and suspense, with even a touch of horror thrown in. Initially, I found myself preparing to settle in with what I thought was a post-war historical drama, following naïve and starry-eyed Alice Miller as she takes on her new position as the de Grey governess. Having experienced her own losses during the war, she is looking forward to starting her life over in this idyllic setting, and soon even begins to regard Jonathan, Edmund, and Constance as her new family. Before long though, there’s a noticeable shift in the tone of the novel as Alice’s thoughts gradually turn from optimistic hope to disturbing obsession. That, and the spooky environment of the house starts playing tricks on her mind, making her hear and see things that might not be there. Oh, and we certainly can’t forget about the twins. Those creepy, creepy twins. Seriously, why do children in these Gothic novels always have to be so freaky?
Then, interspersed with these 1947 chapters are the ones following Rachel Wright in the present. Again, things in her storyline start off rather innocuously, painting a picture of a successful but unsatisfied woman. Winterbourne was supposed to be her chance to find some answers and finally move on, yet instead she finds herself drawn deeper into the estate’s secrets, unable to leave even when urged by her boyfriend to sell the land and return to New York. As more is revealed about Winterbourne’s complicated past, Rachel is determined to see this mystery through to the end, even though she risks the house’s malicious essence seeping deeper into her bones. I was pleasantly surprised to find a speculative element, however light it might be, threaded through the storyline, just a hint of ghostly paranormal horror to spice things up. The final parts of the book were also worthy of a pulse-pounding thriller, complete with a twist and too conveniently explained ending, but at least it was satisfying.
Overall, I was impressed with Rebecca James’ ability to create this dark, suspenseful and eerie mood, the way it creeps up on you when you least expect it. The sense of mystery was well-maintained, driving my interest in the dual storylines unfolding. The Woman in the Mirror was a good read, living up to its Gothic atmosphere, and I will be interested to see what the author writes next.
Waiting on Wednesday 04/15/20
Posted on April 15, 2020 28 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
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (October 13, 2020 by Saga Press)
I thought the next Rebecca Roanhorse book I’d be looking forward to would be the third one in her Sixth World series, but then comes this new book in a new trilogy called Between Earth and Sky, inspired by “the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic.” Well, when you put it that way. that sounds really good too. I’ll take it!
“A god will return
When the earth and sky converge
Under the black sun
In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world.
Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.
Crafted with unforgettable characters, Rebecca Roanhorse has created an epic adventure exploring the decadence of power amidst the weight of history and the struggle of individuals swimming against the confines of society and their broken pasts in the most original series debut of the decade.”
Book Review: Crush the King by Jennifer Estep
Posted on April 14, 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.
Crush the King by Jennifer Estep
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of Crown of Shards
Publisher: Harper Voyager (March 17, 2020)
Length: 416 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
This fun fantasy trilogy has come to an end, and like the previous two novels, this one was a blast. Once more we return to the kingdom of Bellona where Queen Evie continues to fend off threats to her crown. After all the attempted coups and assassination attempts, she has learned a great deal and now must go on the offense instead of waiting for the next attack. She also needs allies, and there is no better opportunity than the upcoming Regalia Games to kill two birds with one stone.
During these games is when dignitaries from all over the world come together to watch their greatest warriors compete in the various events to show off their sporting and fighting skills. Evie makes a note to keep a careful eye on the king of Morta, who has already tried to kill her many times. However, she is also hoping to make some friends and cut a few deals, and to do that she will need to impress the right people. As with all plans though, things don’t go exactly as she wants them to, forcing her to think and act fast on the fly. Although she has her magic to help her, there is still a lot to learn in order to reach her full potential.
Crown of Shards is one of those series you can kick back and relax with, knowing all the books will deliver straightforward entertainment and a good time. Granted, the action has died down ever since our protagonist became queen and her gladiator roots have faded a little into the background, but now we have some extra intrigue to make up for it. Evie doesn’t stop for a second in this book, whether she is scheming behind the scenes or practicing for the dance-off of a lifetime. They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but what to do when your archnemesis and her evil conniving brother are literally in the next camp over plotting your demise? There’s a lot of manipulation to be sure, of Evie trying to stay one step ahead of Maeve and Maximus, as well as some surprising gamechangers.
That said, if I had to nitpick and find one point of criticism, it is that there is barely any suspense or feeling that Evie is ever in any real danger. There’s always her magic to save her, or her incredible foresight has somehow yet again prevented her from certain death. Still, this was what I as alluding to when I said you can truly let your guard down with this book and let it take you on a carefree trope-laden journey where you know everything will turn out just fine—and I do mean that in the best way possible. I don’t deny we’re treading a lot of familiar ground here, but if you’ve been following this series since the beginning, you already know about its penchant for clichés and well-worn plot points. And like me, if you’re still here, you don’t mind.
Besides, just because something’s tropey doesn’t mean it can’t be satisfying. Case in point, I loved how the book ended. Sure, it wasn’t the most unexpected of endings, but it was the right one for this trilogy, and for Evie’s character. I also liked that we had just the slightest touch of romance. A main concern for me after finishing the first book was that the rest of the series would be focusing too much on the love story between Evie and Sullivan, but this was definitely not how things turned out. In fact, of the three books, Crush the King was probably the lightest on romance, which was a good move as it allowed the political intrigue in the story to really shine through. In addition, there was nothing to overshadow all of Evie’s successes which she achieved by herself by employing her own intellect and courage.
So once again I had a great time with a Crown of Shards novel, and I think this would be a great choice for anyone looking for a lighter fantasy series as a counterpoint to some of the darker, more overly-complicated stuff out there. Reaching the end of this trilogy also made me glad that I picked up Kill the Queen to begin with, as it was my very first book by Jennifer Estep. For her first try at an epic fantasy, I thought it was very impressive, and clearly she found an easy, sassy style that worked for herself and for readers. I look forward to her next project, and if we’re lucky, hopefully she’ll continue to explore the genre.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Kill the Queen (Book 1)
Review of Protect the Prince (Book 2)
Book Review: A Broken Queen by Sarah Kozloff
Posted on April 13, 2020 12 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
A Broken Queen by Sarah Kozloff
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of The Nine Realms
Publisher: Tor Books (March 24, 2020)
Length: 419 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
To start, I have to say I’m a little disappointed with this installment, considering how strong the first two were. This one was still good but not my favorite, given the shift away from our main character to focus on some others. Pacing also took a hit as the author was clearly pulling things back, rearranging the stage in preparation for the next book, the conclusion.
The Broken Queen by Sarah Kozloff picks up not long after the end of the previous book, The Queen of Raiders. After the epic battle, Cérulia is left beaten, burned and, well…broken. Luckily for her, she is rescued by a group of travelers, who take her to be healed and nursed back to health. Unfortunately though, the damage has been done, and Cérulia’s trauma is more than just the physical, as this setback has also demoralized her and made her doubt her purpose.
Still, while her quest for revenge may have almost gotten her killed, it did provide her with a new sense of clarity. Cérulia realizes now that her fate lies back home in Weirandale, where she is meant to retake her mother’s stolen throne. But first, she’ll need to retain her strength and muster up her resources and allies. Her connection to her talent, the power to speak with animals, has also been affected when she was grievously injured, so she must learn to feel comfortable using her abilities again.
If only this novel’s focus had been more on Cérulia and her journey to physical and mental recovery, I think I would have felt a deeper connection to the story. Instead, Kozloff misses this opportunity further explore our protagonist’s internal conflicts, choosing to follow different characters for most of the book, so that Cérulia’s tale is almost relegated to the backburner. It is also starting to grate on me that she takes on so many aliases, especially now that these bird nicknames are getting a little contrived and cheesy—she calls herself “Phénix” in this volume, for example, and that’s just a little too put on for me.
Fortunately, Cérulia takes back control her own story in the second half and towards the end. But before this can happen, we must cycle through a bunch of POVs, many of which failed to interest me much, to be completely honest. I realize that Kozloff wanted to show readers what else is happening around the realm, but it was done at the cost of “parking” Cérulia and not giving her the extra page time she deserved during this crucial stage of her development, and I don’t know if I can get past that. None of the other characters, from Thalen and the resistance to Matwyck really called to me in this book, and while the political situation in Weirandale was important to know, reading about it was also a drag so that admittedly killed some of my enthusiasm.
Still, a lot of great things also came out of this installment, not least of them the expansion to the world-building or the attention given to the spirits, who are becoming a more influential force on the lives of our characters. Apparently, the lives of gods are as complicated and full of drama as the mortals. We’re also edging our way ever closer to the end of the series, with all the pieces being maneuvered into their proper places on the gameboard. Cérulia is becoming stronger, and by the end of the novel, she is exactly where she needs to be, poised to strike.
The good news is, all these are signs we’re building up to an unforgettable conclusion, and I am still excited to read the fourth and final book, despite being slightly disappointed with The Broken Queen. I’m sure lot of my dissatisfaction had to do with the reasons discussed here, though I also think some of it was due to the diminished status of Cérulia herself. After all, it’s tough watching a character you love brought low, but at the same time, there is always the promise of them coming back stronger and more interesting than before. This is where I think we are now, and if I’m right, The Cerulean Queen will be a stunning finale.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of A Queen in Hiding (Book 1)
Review of The Queen of Raiders (Book 2)
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