Book Review: A Queen in Hiding by Sarah Kozloff

Posted on January 30, 2020 35 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 Queen in Hiding by Sarah Kozloff

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Nine Realms

Publisher: Tor Books (January 21, 2020)

Length: 496 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Oh, I can already tell this series is going to be one fantastic journey, not to mention now I have a much better understanding of why Tor Books has chosen to publish all four installments in quick succession, over the next few months. A Queen in Hiding is a solid novel, but it is also very clearly just the opening chapter of a much bigger, more comprehensive, powerful and important saga, and I have a feeling readers will appreciate the short wait to get their hands on book two while their blood is still up, events still fresh on their mind.

But here’s what it’s all about: A Queen in Hiding kicks off a new fantasy series called The Nine Realms by debut author Sarah Kozloff. While the book’s description focuses on Cérulia, Princess of a land called Weirandale, the story actually begins with her mother Queen Cressa and the events that lead to her eventual exile. Throughout history, the women of the royal family have always been gifted with a “talent” by the spirit worshiped by the people of Weirandale. This typically manifests as a supernatural ability well before a girl turns eight, which is why Queen Cressa is growing frustrated and concerned because it appears her young daughter has yet to display any powers.

However, the truth is, Cérulia does have a talent—a very rare and useful one, though no one seems to realize it. When she tells others that she can talk to animals— and that they even talk back!—everyone simply dismisses her claims as a child’s fanciful imagination. Except one day, that power ends up saving Cérulia’s life and her mother’s. The incident is a wake-up call for Cressa, who realizes war has come to Weirandale’s doorstep, and that she is no longer safe at the palace which is crawling with traitors and spies. Cressa decides to flee the country, but not before hiding her daughter with a family of peasants. Next, the exiled queen heads for the ocean, where she plans on biding her time until she is strong enough to repel the invaders from Weirandale and retake her throne. After all, she’d promised Cérulia that she will return for her one day—but for now, the safest place for the girl is in hiding.

While what I am about to say is not meant to be disparaging in any way, A Queen in Hiding does seem to have the feel of a prologue—and a very long one at that. By the end of the book, it becomes indubitably clear this is a story about Cérulia, but of course, the bulk of it is also about her mother, Cressa. Once you start reading it though, you’ll start to understand why the author decided to tell the story this way, beginning with a strong foundation that not only sets up where Cérulia came from, but also why circumstances have forced her into an unpleasant situation. Furthermore, this allows for plenty of world-building, giving readers a chance to learn more about the ways of Weirandale, including the people’s reverence for nature spirits and the importance of talents bestowed on their queens. War plays a big role in the novel too, and Cressa’s chapters also serve to give us a rundown of the political climate and the reasons her reign is such a mess, opening her up to threats of treason and invasion.

If I’m making the novel sound like a lot of world-building and setup, well, that’s because it is. Considering that it’s nearly five hundred pages long, admittedly not a whole lot actually happens in it, with the bulk of the activity hitting us in a flurry closer to the end, yet the whole thing could still probably be summed up in a handful of sentences. And yet, therein lies the brilliance of this book. Kozloff packs a mighty amount of info into A Queen in Hiding, but even the meatiest concepts are made interesting and effortlessly simple to understand, perfectly spread out and well-paced across the entire novel. Rather than feel like I was being inundated with detail, I felt like I was absorbing all that I needed to know from the background, the way I would while watching a movie play out in front of me. Which is why, despite much of the novel feeling like one long intro, I can’t say I really minded at all.

Of course, it helped having some great characters. On the whole, I thought the book really started to take off once we reached an important turning point, which occurred around the halfway mark. This led to a sort of transformation for both Cressa and Cérulia, so that they each came into their own in their respective ways. Cressa became the leader she’d always meant to be, fending off pirates with her dashing sea-faring husband, and it was glorious. I could read about her battles on the high seas all day, but alas, all good things must come to an end. What’s more poignant and intense though, is the way Cérulia changes. Adopting a new identity, going from princess to peasant, she alone knew the truth of her mother’s plans. In this period of loneliness, she only had her animal friends to turn to for comfort amidst her losses, and I’m curious to see where the story will take her talent, especially since I have a feeling it will play a big role in her future.

In sum, all great intros leave you excited and impatient to know more, and this is definitely the mindset A Queen in Hiding has put me in. Now that my appetite’s been whetted, I’m hooked and hungry to dig into the meat of this series, so I expect you’ll be seeing me review the next book quite soon, given the quick release schedule of these books. Here’s hoping it’ll be just as enjoyable.

Waiting on Wednesday 01/29/20

Posted on January 29, 2020 14 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

A Chorus of Fire by Brian D. Anderson (August 4, 2020 by Tor Books)

Hot on the heels of my review of The Bard’s Blade, today I’m featuring its sequel, A Chorus of Fire. Actually, I’ve been noticing its cover and blurb floating around for a while now, but I always feel weird “waiting on” a later book in a series when I haven’t read the previous ones yet. It’s silly, but I always worry that I’ll be jinxing myself and end up hating the first book. Luckily though, I loved The Bard’s Blade, and as I said in my review, I really can’t wait to see what happens next.

“The second book in a new epic fantasy trilogy from successful self-published author, perfect for fans of the Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth.

A shadow has moved across Lamoria. Whispers of the coming conflict are growing louder; the enemy becoming bolder. Belkar’s reach has extended far into the heart of Ralmarstad and war now seems inevitable.

Mariyah, clinging to the hope of one day being reunited with Lem, struggles to attain the power she will need to make the world safe again. But a power like this is not easily acquired and will test the limits of her mind and body. She will need to look deep inside herself to find the strength to achieve what even the Thaumas of old could not.

Lem continues his descent into darkness, serving a man he does not trust in the name of a faith which is not his own. Only Shemi keeps his heart from succumbing to despair, along with the knowledge that he has finally found Mariyah. But Lem is convinced she is being held against her will, and compelled to do the bidding of her captors. He is determined to free her, regardless the cost.

Their separate roads are leading them to the same destination. And once they arrive they will have to confront more than the power of Belkar. They will have to face themselves and what Lamoria has forced them to become.”

Book Review: The Bard’s Blade by Brian D. Anderson

Posted on January 28, 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.

The Bard’s Blade by Brian D. Anderson

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Sorcerer’s Song

Publisher: Tor Books (January 28, 2020)

Length: 432 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

It’s always good to get back to the basics, and this, I think, was the key to the huge appeal behind The Bard’s Blade, which I enjoyed immensely. Author Brian D. Anderson reminds us all that an epic fantasy novel isn’t required to be filled with sweeping battles, an indecipherable morass of politics and magical systems, or enough characters to fill a small village in order to be a hit with readers. Sometimes simple is best, even though finding that sweet spot between originality and conventionality can be tricky. However, I think Anderson manages to strike the right balance.

In this opening volume of a series called The Sorcerer’s Song, our story first begins in a sheltered little realm called Vylari which is magically protected by a barrier hiding it from Lamoria, the dangerous world beyond. Vylari is also home to Mariyah, the daughter of a wine merchant, as well as her betrothed, a talented musician named Lem. Like any young couple, they are planning for their future, even with its countless obstacles. Mariyah, with a good head for business, knows she will need to stay and help her family, but neither does she want Lem to have to give up his traveling and music, knowing how much it means to him. Young and in love though, the two of them are confident they can overcome any and all challenges, as long as they are together. Life was simple, happy and good.

However, all that calm is shattered one evening, as Lem receives an urgent summons from his uncle Shemi to come home. Upon returning to the house, Lem finds a strange visitor waiting, bearing an ominous message prophesizing the return of an ancient evil. The stranger also claims to have come from Lamoria, which shouldn’t be possible, as no one should be able to breach the magical wards—except, as Shemi reluctantly admits, it’s actually happened once before. Lem’s mother had purportedly passed over and come back, bearing him in her womb. Rocked by these revelations, Lem is driven by the need to know the truth of his origins as well as to fulfill his quest on this new path destiny has set for him. To stop a rising darkness and protect those he loves, he will need to leave Vylari—and, as much as it breaks his heart, Mariyah.

What Lem didn’t count on though, is his beloved’s strength and daring. Frightened for him, and also furious that he had left without even saying a last goodbye, Mariyah decides to follow Lem into Lamoria, despite Shemi’s fervent objections that his nephew would want her safe in Vylari. But ultimately, both of them end up crossing the barrier, on what will be a long and harrowing journey to find and help Lem.

What follows is a rollicking adventure, told on two fronts. One thread follows Lem as he attempts make a life in Lamoria, navigating its strange and alien customs in order to secure himself a source of income and a place to stay. The people he encounters are nothing like the kind, hospital folk of Vylari; instead, many of them are cutthroat, scheming, and openly aggressive towards newcomers. In spite of this, Lem manages to find work as a musician, gradually making a name for himself. Meanwhile, Mariyah and Shemi are dealing with troubles of their own. Their kind and trusting natures, shaped by a lifetime of living in friendly Vylari, have now become their greatest weakness, making them vulnerable and naïve to the realities of Lamoria. In this storyline, Mariyah learns the hard way how seriously the people of this world take their religion, landing in hot water when she and Shemi are arrested for being heretics, for there is no tolerance even for outsiders unfamiliar with the ways. By the time Lem discovers that they had followed him to Lamoria, it may already be too late.

I’m very tempted to call the tone and style of The Bard’s Blade traditional, and yet, that’s also not quite accurate. Sure, there are certain themes of the novel that fit my expectations of a conventional fantasy quite comfortably, like a well-worn cozy sweater. Take the guileless young hero, for example, setting off on an epic quest to stop the evil bad guy from destroying the world. However, try to look beyond that, and you might see that the story actually offers a lot more. You have Lem and Mariyah, a courageous young couple who are more than they seem. Indeed, while their devotion to each other drives much of the narrative—especially in the second half, where both are coerced into their respective new vocations—this is not going to be your typical “love will conquer all” story. Plenty of exciting developments and surprising twists await you, and Anderson does a fantastic job with his storytelling, maintaining a high level of intrigue while providing great fun.

I’m also impressed at how streamlined everything feels. Tightly plotted with none of the bloat, The Bard’s Blade was a novel I breezed through effortlessly, as the story kept up an energetic and driving pace. Though the world-building was on the lighter side, I appreciated the fact that we were constantly moving forward, unhindered by bulky exposition or extraneous detail bogging things down. In this way, it was easy to become completely drawn in and addicted to the narrative.

All told, if you’re in the mood for an invigorating adventure, I can’t recommend The Bard’s Blade enough. For pure and perfect escapism, it doesn’t get any better than this, especially if you’re looking for a modern fantasy told in an old-school flowing style to whisk you away. High recommended, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Book Review: The Other People by C.J. Tudor

Posted on January 27, 2020 22 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Other People by C.J. Tudor

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 28, 2020)

Length: 288 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

C.J. Tudor has done it again with The Other People—another twisty, creepy, suspenseful page-turner that leaves your gut wrenched and heart pounding. This is her third novel, and like the others, it is a dark psychological thriller, stark and raw in its honesty and emotion in the face of life’s harsh realities, yet it also leaves something scratching at the back of your mind, teasing at the possibility of something more supernatural and sinister at play.

The story begins with an introduction to our protagonist Gabe, an overworked husband and father who recognizes deep down that his time away is likely hurting his relationship with his wife Jenny and their young daughter Izzy. It’s the reason he made a solemn promise to his family that he would be home early that day, and yet it appears the bumper-to-bumper traffic in the rush-hour commute is about to make a liar out of him—again. To take his mind off the time and his frustration, Gabe turns his attention to reading the gaudy bumper stickers on the rusty old junk bucket in front of him, but then notices the face of a small, frightened child suddenly appear in its rear window. It is only a brief flash, but Gabe would recognize the girl anywhere, with her pigtails and bright eyes and the gap in her mouth from a recently lost tooth. It’s his five-year-old daughter Izzy. And the last he sees of her is in the back of that old car, mouthing one word: “Daddy.”

Fast forward a few years and Gabe is alone and the life he once knew is gone—shattered the day he saw that car drive off with Izzy. Unable to give chase due to the horrendous traffic, he had returned home to find police crawling all over his house, telling him his wife and daughter had been murdered in a burglary. But Gabe was sure he saw Izzy that day, in spite of what witnesses and the coroner’s report might say. He knew his little girl had to be alive and was still somewhere out there, waiting to be found. He vowed he would never give up until he found her, and so he spends his days driving up and down that same stretch of highway, hoping to catch a glimpse of that car with its bumper stickers that has haunted his dreams every day for the last three years. Eventually, his search does bear fruit—though perhaps not the kind he wanted. Vague hints lead him to the dark corners of the internet, where he learns of a group who call themselves The Other People. If you’ve lost a loved one, The Other People claim, they can help. All they ask for is a favor in return.

As always, the draw of Tudor’s novels is the way they hook you so thoroughly. It always starts with the characters, who have deeply complex backgrounds, but sometimes the whole truth isn’t made clear until much later. This was definitely the case with The Other People. We have Gabe, a tortured soul who tragically lost his family, and the only thing that gives him reason to go on is the belief that his daughter is still alive. Everyone else has given up on him, dismissing his obsession as a symptom of his grief and delusion. I won’t lie, the author’s books tend towards darkness, with an atmosphere of hopelessness and despair. I felt Gabe’s pain like a gut punch, especially as a parent. It was easy to sympathize because he was so desperate, dejected, and broken. Then there was Kate, a waitress at a service station diner he frequently stops by on his drives up and down the motorway. Kate herself is a stressed out single mom working long hours to make ends meet. She’s also lonely and unhappy, but she sees how Gabe is and hopes that one day he will find what he’s looking for. And finally, there is Alice, whom we know the least about. She and her mom Fran are on the run from something, but she’s never told what. All Alice knows is that they must remain hidden, and that’s why they’ve moved from place to place, never setting down roots anywhere, for as long as she can remember.

And that brings us to the other aspect of C.J. Tudor’s books that make them so riveting: the mystery. It digs itself into your skin and settles into your bones. You keep turning the pages because you just need to know what everything is building up to—the whys, whats, and hows. Why are Alice and Fran on the run? What exactly did Gabe witness in the car that day? How could he have seen Izzie if she had been murdered, as the police say? And of course, the biggest mystery of all: Who are The Other People? The pieces of this puzzle will fall into place eventually, but on the journey to this point there will be questions upon questions to keep you guessing. I’m deliberately being vague to avoid revealing any spoilers, but what I will say is this: all the characters have secrets, and the things they’ve done in the past will be the key. Layer by layer, the narrative will reveal the truth behind all the years of lies and deceit.

All told, I highly recommend The Other People if you enjoy darkly clever psychological thrillers tinged with just a slight hint of supernatural horror. If you’re a fan of C.J. Tudor previous novels, there’s also a good chance you’ll like this one too. I love how they’ve all been quite different in terms of premise and plot, but the amazing characters along with the delicious atmosphere that infuses all her work is what keeps me coming back to her stories.

YA Weekend Audio: Infinity Son by Adam Silvera

Posted on January 26, 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.

Infinity Son by Adam Silvera

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 2.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Series: Book 1 of Infinity Cycle

Publisher: HarperAudio (January 14, 2020)

Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Narrators: Robbie Daymond, Kirby Heyborne, Maria Liatis, Elliot Knight

Infinity Son by Adam Silvera is a YA urban fantasy about twins Emil and Brighton Rey who live in a world where magic is real and those with the abilities to wield it—called “celestials”—are practically worshipped like celebrities. Unfortunately for the brothers though, who have always dreamed of becoming celestials, they have never shown any signs of manifesting any powers whatsoever. But as their eighteenth birthday approaches, all that is about to change.

While attending a public event one day, the two of them inadvertently get into a scuffle with a gang of potion dealers who were peddling their illicit concoctions meant to grant non-magical people the temporary illusion of being a celestial. Without knowing why or how, all of a sudden, a burst of phoenix fire power is unleashed by Emil, right there for all to see. The open display, caught on camera by Brighton, quickly catapults Emil into fame and stardom, earning him the moniker “Fire Wing” from the celestial groupies who follow the exploits of their heroes online.

As thrilled as he is to finally have powers, however, Emil remains troubled. Where did his new-found magic come from? And why now? Before long though, he and his brother are faced with even more pressing concerns. It appears his high profile has attracted some unwanted attention, drawing the twins into a brutal war between two celestial factions who have very different visions for the future. One side wants equality and acceptance for their kind in a world that is still mistrustful of anything to do with magic, while the other values strength and power above all else and will let nothing stand in the way of their goals for domination.

While this is my first novel by Silvera, who made his name with his contemporary YA, finding out that this is his fantasy debut is actually not very surprising. Considering that it was a decent attempt overall, I hate to be critical, but there were some glaring holes in the world-building and other missteps that made the author’s inexperience with the genre quite telling. For one thing, there was little coherence in the lore of the magic in this world, no encompassing “big picture” that I felt connected celestials, phoenix powers or whatever, and other magical elements in this world. While each system made sense on their own, it was hard to see how it all fit together. In some ways, it felt like a jumble of random ideas were thrown haphazardly into the story, not really because they were necessary but simply because they seemed cool.

Then there was this awkwardness of always falling back on pop culture references and tropes to describe character emotions and actions. All throughout the novel, Emil and Brighton do a whole lot of this “in the movies, this is what would happen” or “I wish I was like the hero of so-and-so story so I would know what to do, but I’m not…” It’s like, dude, I don’t care what you think some other character in some other fictional world would do, I want to know how YOU feel. This kind of gimmick has always struck me as lazy writing, and while it’s fine once in a blue moon to add some humor to contemporary or urban fantasy, it’s annoying when it’s constantly happening.

And sadly, I couldn’t get into the characters either. The two Rey brothers are two of the most self-absorbed and narcissistic protagonists I’ve ever met, especially Brighton, a celestials vlogger who embodies the worst behaviors and habits of every obnoxious social media personality you know. Half the time I wanted to scream at him, NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR DAMN FOLLOWER COUNT, YOU COMPLETE ASS. Emil was also bland and uninspiring, much like the premise of this book which obviously takes its influences from Harry Potter and comic books especially X-Men. Nothing wrong with that, except it doesn’t really do much to help this book stand out.

All in all, I just couldn’t see much reason for the hype. A pretty standard fantasy YA with good diversity, but not much else special to write home about, which is becoming a disappointing trend with a lot of new YA releases these days. I didn’t love or hate Infinity Son, and though it was enjoyable while it lasted, I am not holding out hope this will stay with me long.

Audiobook Comments: While the novel itself was pretty meh, I enjoyed the narration by the full cast of Robbie Daymond, Kirby Heyborne, Maria Liatis, and Elliot Knight. In fact, I think the multiple narrators helped negate a lot of the potential issues which could have resulted from the frequent POV switches and unstable pacing. Solid narration overall.

Bookshelf Roundup 01/25/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on January 25, 2020 27 Comments

Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.

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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!

Kicking off this roundup, a big thanks to Titan Books for Light of Impossible Stars by Gareth Powell, book three in the Embers of War series. I’m very excited to finish up this trilogy, right after I catch up with Fleet of Knives, very soon! Also thank you to Saga Press for sending along a finished copy of A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris, an unexpected but very welcome surprise. I loved the first book An Easy Death, and I look forward to reading this sequel. With thanks also to Orbit books for The Shadow Saint by Gareth Hanrahan, which was a solid follow-up to The Gutter Prayer. In case you missed it, I reviewed the first book in audio earlier this month.

Courtesy of the kind folks at William Morrow, I also received a copy of No Bad Deed by Heather Chavez. They’ve been spoiling me with some nice looking thrillers lately, and this is one I’m curious to check out. And the awesome team at Del Rey also sent the following: a finished copy of A Blight of Blackwings by Kevin Hearne, which is the sequel to Plague of Giants. I’ll be honest, I did not like the first book at all, but I haven’t discounted continuing the series yet. Guess I’ll just have to see what my reading schedule is like and the mood I’m in. But I’m super pumped for this next arrival, an ARC of Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett. Feels like I’ve been waiting for this one forever, and finally its release is nearly upon us.

In the digital pile, I received quite a few new audiobooks. With thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio, I received The Tenant by Katrine Engberg, which I actually reviewed earlier this week. To read my thoughts on this addictive murder mystery, check out the link below in the Reviews section. Next from Macmillan Audio, I received Burn the Dark by S.A. Hunt. From Penguin Audio I received the sci-fi dystopian The Last Day by Andrew Hunter Murray, and from their YA imprint Listening Library I received The Queen’s Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz.

And because I’m on a roll when it comes to thrillers, I also grabbed Bitter Falls by Rachel Caine with thanks to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. This is the fourth book of the Stillhouse Lake series which has been going really strong, and I’m hoping to start it by the end of the month. And huge thanks to Kaye Publicity for hooking me up with eARCs of Bent Heavens by Daniel Kraus, a YA horror sci-fi coming out from Henry Holt & Company, as well as The Living Dead by George A. Romero and Daniel Kraus, a zombie horror coming out from Tor Books this summer. Daniel Kraus is the author who co-wrote, with Guillermo del Toro, the novel The Shape of Water (which I loved) based on the movie of the same name. I’m very excited about these next projects of his, especially in the case of The Living Dead, which is the novel left unfinished by George Romero when he died, and Kraus was tapped by his estate to do the honors of completing it.

Reviews

The Tenant by Katrine Engberg (4 of 5 stars)
The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez (4 of 5 stars)
The Night Country by Melissa Albert (4 of 5 stars)
Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman (3 of 5 stars)

This Week’s Reads

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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: Chinese New Year

Posted on January 24, 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:

“Year of the Rat”
~ Chinese New Year

Mogsy’s Pick:

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Happy Lunar New Year! January 25, 2020 officially kicks off the Year of the Rat, which is especially important to me, because the Rat is my year 🙂 For a lot of Chinese families, this is probably THE most significant and biggest holiday of the year, and growing up, mine has always celebrated with lots of fireworks, catching up with friends and relatives, feasts and lots of color and brightness–in other words, not typically the things you’d find on book covers in the western publishing world featuring rats, which aren’t really the darlings of the animal world, I’m afraid. So today, in honor of Chinese New Year, I’ve decided to feature a book with covers that are inspired by Chinese culture instead.

And so, I give you The Poppy War, which is an incredible book, and I’m also glad to see it has some beautiful covers:

From left to right:
Harper Voyager (2018) – Bulgarian Edition (2019) – Indonesian Edition (2019)

German Edition (2020) – Polish Edition A (2020) – Polish Edition B (2020)

Winner:

So many great choices, but I think I gotta go with the Indonesian edition this week. So gorgeous, with the poppies in the foreground and the phoenix in the back.

But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?

Audiobook Review: The Tenant by Katrine Engberg

Posted on January 23, 2020 17 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 Tenant by Katrine Engberg

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Series: Book 1 of Kørner/Werner

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (January 14, 2020)

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Author Information: Website

Narrator: Graeme Malcolm

Apparently, I have been living under a rock because I hadn’t heard of Danish mystery author extraordinaire Katrine Engberg until now, but in my defense, this isn’t my usual genre, and I’ve only started branching out into crime noir fiction recently. Considering this, I think I scored pretty big stumbling upon The Tenant, the first book of the Kørner/Werner series which is already on its third volume in its original language but has just now been translated into English for its US release. I was in the mood for a gritty and compulsive murder mystery, and this one sure didn’t disappoint!

True to form, the novel started off with the discovery of a body. In the wee hours of the morning, an old man discovers the door to one of his neighbor’s apartment standing ajar, and peers in to find a grisly sight. The tenant of the unit, a young woman named Julie Stender, has been brutally murdered, her beautiful face mutilated by mysterious symbols carved into her flesh. Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and his partner Anette Werner are called in to investigate, and the two waste no time in questioning the victim’s family, friends, and acquaintances. Very soon, they have themselves a list of suspects, but still no reason for motive or why anyone would want to kill Julie, who was seemingly just an ordinary university student from a good background and well-to-do family.

Still, there is more to the case than meets the eye. The building’s owner and Julie’s landlady, a retired professor and an aspiring mystery writer named Esther de Laurenti is shocked to hear that one of her tenants had been murdered on the property, but there is also confusion and guilt when she hears about the details of the crime. Somehow, the circumstances around the killing are eerily similar to the plot of her novel-in-progress, a story where the female victim—incidentally based on Julia—is targeted by a charming yet psychopathic predator. What’s more troubling is that according to a close friend, Julie had just started seeing someone new recently, a man with whom she seemed to have fallen madly in love after only a few weeks—again, mirroring Esther’s book—which is very unlike the young woman. It should be impossible, but life seems to be imitating art, even though the work in question is still unfinished and few are even aware of it.

If you’re looking for classic whodunnit mystery, The Tenant will check all the right boxes. This is a story that involves good old-fashioned detective work, where the clues are unearthed gradually, piece-by-piece with steadfast tenacity by our protagonist, Jeppe Korner. Though we also see events unfold from the points-of-view of a few other characters, including Anette and Esther, Jeppe seems to get the lion’s share of the page time. As well, he’s the lead on the case, so he’s our guide as the threads of the mystery slowly come together to reveal who killed Julie and the others—because you can damn well bet that by the time we come to end, this one racks up a body count.

Speaking of which, while some of the mystery elements of The Tenant may feel a bit familiar, that doesn’t mean there aren’t also plenty of unexpected twists. I liked how the plot was built on top of the conundrum surrounding Esther’s novel, and how was even a meta factor in the way her story played out versus the progress the police were making in their investigation. The best feeling was being aware how all the characters had to be somehow connected, but you just didn’t know how—though that didn’t stop me from guessing. Reading this book was like putting together a huge jigsaw puzzle watching the image become clearer and more complete, but until the final pieces click into place, you are still left in taut suspense until the end. Sprinkle in some personal relationship issues and a few juicy scandals, and you have yourself a nervy, addictive read.

The writing was also superb. I had some early misgivings, as I often do with translated works, knowing how sometimes even the best translations can miss out on certain nuances. Happily though, I found the prose surprisingly easy on the ears (I listened to the audiobook) and very natural. The setting also felt distinctly Danish/Scandinavian or what some folks call “Nordic Noir”, though not jarringly so, and while there were certainly a few quirks in the writing which were strong tells that this was not originally written in English, these did not distract from the overall experience or my enjoyment of the story.

And despite The Tenant being more of a plot-driven novel, as most in its genre usually are, I still found myself drawn to its characters, especially Jeppe. He makes some pretty questionable (and downright unethical) decisions here, but I can’t help but feel for him and hope that brighter times will come to him in the next book.

Needless to say, I’m excited to have found a new mystery series to follow—and now I just have to patiently wait for the rest to be translated.

Audiobook Comments: I was very impressed with the narration by Graeme Malcolm, who I think has a great voice perfectly suited for a gritty murder mystery—he brought life to the characters, plot, setting—everything. I really enjoyed his performance overall and couldn’t have asked for more.

Waiting on Wednesday 01/22/20

Posted on January 22, 2020 19 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

Out of Body by Jeffrey Ford (May 26, 2020 by Tor.com)

Ever since reading Twilight Pariah, Jeffrey Ford is an author I’ve been wanting to try again. Out of Body sounds like something I would like better though, and not least because the concept of sleep paralysis intrigues me. I’ve experienced it only once before, and it was both scary and disturbing, but somehow that only makes me want to read this all the more!

“The horrors of sleep paralysis become so much more in Jeffrey Ford’s new novella Out of BodyA small-town librarian witnesses a murder at his local deli, and what had been routine sleep paralysis begins to transform into something far more disturbing. The trauma of holding a dying girl in his arms drives him out of his own body. The town he knows so well is suddenly revealed to him from a whole new perspective. Secrets are everywhere and demons fester behind closed doors.

Worst of all, he discovers a serial killer who has been preying on the area for over a century, one capable of traveling with him through his dreams.”

Book Review: The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

Posted on January 21, 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 Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Del Rey (January 14, 2020)

Length: 400 pages

Author Information: Website

I enjoyed The Vanished Birds very much, which surprised me, because it ended up not being the kind of book I would typically like at all! I would definitely recommend it, though I think convincing others that they should check it out will be tough, since the novel is difficult to categorize and the story itself can be a bit strange. By the end of it though, it filled me with a mix of complex emotions, some happy and bittersweet.

Told in multiple parts, and via multiple timelines across a huge time frame, the beginning of The Vanished Birds first introduces to Nia Imani who captains a transport ship, carrying goods and harvest products from their origin planets for her employers, the all-powerful Umbai Company. On one of her runs to a backwater planet, a mysterious boy falls out of the sky and into Nia’s life, giving it a new purpose and meaning. The boy doesn’t speak, but through music, he begins to form a connection with Nia, playing beautiful songs on his flute that tugs on something inside of her. There’s something about the boy, whose name is Ahro, as Nia and her crew eventually find out. He is special, though none of them really know why, but his existence eventually catches the attention of some influential and dangerous people.

Readers also get to meet aerospace engineering designer Fumiko Nakajima, who helped create Umbai’s massive space stations that allowed them to dominate the industry. It’s a decision she has always regretted, since it had meant choosing her work over love many years ago. But her employers are ever demanding more from her, including a way to make travel through space faster and more efficient. When Fumiko learns of a boy who has abilities that could potentially revolutionize space travel, she reaches out with an offer to Nia, who has since grown close to Ahro.

Shifting between points-of-view of characters, some of whom are more than hundreds of years old due to the time dilation effects of space travel and technology like suspended animation, the novel tells a saga that spans more than a millennium. In this way, the story explores a lot of the themes and issues that affect human civilization and history, among them environmental and resource depletion, corporate greed on steroids. That said, the book also takes a look at life on a more personal level, as the plot follows the loves, desires, and ambitions of characters over a thousand years. Not a lot of futuristic fiction have the advantage of being told on a scale this vast, which gives The Vanished Birds a somewhat unique angle on a premise that is already very imaginative.

However, this can also make the book quite difficult to parse, with its convoluted timelines and beginnings that aren’t really beginning and endings that aren’t really endings. If this sounds confusing, that’s because it is; this story has many layers, and they gradually peel away to reveal all the connections and answers that ultimately make this novel so satisfying. The experience requires patience and commitment to the characters and their individual journeys, because their purpose might not become clear until much later, even as the circumstances surrounding them become stranger and more abstract.

Luckily though, this is a very character-focused novel, and becoming invested in them isn’t difficult. Simon Jimenez’s writing is deep and soulful in its handling of our characters’ secret hearts and minds. The overall tone of the story can be described as quiet and emotional, but what it lacks in excitement and action it makes up for with meaningful relationships and the weight of personal decisions. I loved the bond between Nia and Ahro, which grew into something very beautiful and pure. Fumiko’s sacrifices for knowledge and progress damn near broke my heart. And speaking of heartbreak, I won’t be giving away any details of the ending, but certain elements of it did leave me feeling devastated and stricken. And yet, amidst all the losses, there is still light, and I hold tight to the hope that the words on the final page made me feel.

So if The Vanished Birds sounds like something you might like, I highly encourage you to give it a try, bearing in mind some of its twisted complexities, apparent agendas, and aspects that are just downright bizarre. However, if you are a fan of character-driven novels with emphasis on interpersonal relationships and choices that shape the world and their future, it is absolutely worth your time and attention. This is an excellent, thoroughly enchanting debut by Simon Jimenez.