Waiting on Wednesday 08/07/19
Posted on August 7, 2019 25 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
False Value by Ben Aaronovitch (November 19, 2019 by DAW)
Not only was I ecstatic when I found out there will be an eighth Rivers of London book, I was even more excited by the release date which would be in 2019 – let’s hope it won’t get pushed back the way it was with some of the previous books because I don’t think I can handle a long wait. As usual, we have a brilliant cover, even if the color choice is a bit unusual for this series!
“Now in hardcover, the eighth book of the bestselling Rivers of London urban fantasy series returns to the adventures of Peter Grant, detective and apprentice wizard, as he solves magical crimes in the city of London.
Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with émigré Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner’s brand new London start up—the Serious Cybernetics Company.
Drawn into the orbit of Old Street’s famous ‘silicon roundabout’, Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle. But magic is not finished with Mama Grant’s favourite son.
Because Terrence Skinner has a secret hidden in the bowels of the SCC. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological—and just as dangerous.”
Book Review: The Toll by Cherie Priest
Posted on August 6, 2019 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor (July 9, 2019)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
The Toll by Cherie Priest is a disturbingly dark tale of the supernatural, tinged with gothic horror and eldritch elements. The story takes us to a tiny backwater town on the edge of the Okenfenokee Swamp in Georgia called Staywater, where every thirteen years or so, someone always goes missing. Their disappearance is usually preceded by reported sightings of a mysterious seventh bridge along the west-to-east route on State Road 177, though of course, only six bridges exist according to any map. Spooky!
On an unusually cool spring day, Titus and his wife Melanie are driving along 177 towards the state park where they will be spending their honeymoon, when they come across a one-lane rickety bridge leading into the swampy darkness. The next thing Titus knows, he is waking up on the side of the road, his SUV behind him is empty with its doors flung open, and Melanie is nowhere to be found. After calling for help and being told by the police that they’re doing all they can to find his wife, Titus accepts a ride to the nearby town of Staywater to find room and board. Filled with worries and unable to sleep, he heads to the dive bar down the street in order to drown his sorrows. There, the locals tell him not to worry, that most likely his wife simply lost her way in the swamp while trying to look for help. It happens often enough to the tourists and campers who come out this way, after all, and the police will certainly make sure Melanie comes home safe.
But in their hearts, the residents of Staywater know better. They all sensed the shift in reality when it happened, the first time in thirteen years. The swamp keeps what it takes, or rather, the thing that lives there does. The bridge has helped it claim another victim, and Titus will probably never see his wife again. No one knows this better than Claire and Daisy, two elderly cousins who have lived in Staywater their entire lives, watching it crumble and slowly die over the years. They thought they had put a stop to whatever was terrorizing the town, but apparently its connection to their world was too strong. And now, the cousins have even more to lose. The two of them have been raising a teenage boy named Cameron, who was left on their doorstep as a baby. No one knows where he came from, but Claire and Daisy knows that the thing in the swamp likes to take outsiders. All they want is for Cameron to grow up and one day escape Staywater, but until the problem in the swamp is taken care of once in for all, they know that things can never be safe.
To tell the truth, even though I thought The Toll was a decent read, it’s hard not to feel slightly let down by some of its incongruencies and flaws, especially in light of how much I adored Priest’s last novel The Family Plot. I can’t help but wonder though, if some of the constraints mentioned in the author’s acknowledgements—that she worked on the book in stages over a hectic period in her life or the fact that the manuscript had multiple editors—could have played into the novel’s overall sense of incompleteness and certain elements in it that felt out of place. For instance, despite its floundering status, Staywater is a town full of quirky idiosyncrasies that I would have loved to know more about: its resident ghosts, the old department store where the mannequins apparently come to life in the night, or the old blind dog in the tree. At the end of the day though, all these things felt like they were thrown willy-nilly into the story, with no intention to ever go back and explore them. Likewise, I felt the same way about the teases about Cameron’s origins, the real deal with the cousins, or what is truly going on with Jess. And those are just a few examples; scattered across this novel are a lot more of these poor orphaned threads that don’t seem to go anywhere or aren’t sufficiently explained. Like I said, it’s just disappointing.
The ending also felt a bit rushed, and failed to live up to the long and suspenseful build-up. To be sure, there’s a strong element of horror to The Toll, but at the same time I wouldn’t say it was particularly scary. Most of the story reads like a mystery, steadily paced while dropping delicious clues about the phantom bridge and what might have happened to Melanie. And I suppose that is also why the last section of the book felt so random when it switches tack and goes full tilt on horror and thrills, which made for some great reading. However, in terms of satisfaction, the ending might have missed its mark. To put it bluntly, it felt like a copout, with too many questions and conflicts left unresolved.
Bottom line? I didn’t love this, but I didn’t hate it either. My experience with Cherie Priest’s work has always been hit or miss in the past, but I still get that flutter of excitement in my chest whenever I find out she’s writing a new book. I went into The Toll with rather high expectations because of the story’s intriguing premise, but while it was well written and entertaining enough, in the end something felt missing. I guess I just expected a little more in terms of answers, cohesion, and horror.
Book Review: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Posted on August 5, 2019 25 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Del Rey (July 23, 2019)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I’ve become a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia in recent years, with books like Certain Dark Things and The Beautiful Ones. I just love her imagination and vision, and so when I first heard about her new book set in the Jazz Age, my curiosity was immediately piqued. Then I found out that it was going to be a fairy tale-like story steeped in Mayan mythology, and I was officially excited!
Gods of Jade and Shadow takes place in a small town in southern Mexico in the 1920s, following young Casiopea Tun who spends her days working as a servant at her wealthy grandfather’s estate. Between running her tedious errands and being tormented by her infuriating cousin Martin, Casiopea has about had enough with the status quo around the place. Dreaming of one day leaving her rural little town and tired of being ordered around, she decides to break the rules and open the wooden chest in her grandfather’s room that he keeps locked up at all times. Expecting the old man to have squirreled away gold or something equally valuable, Casiopea is instead surprised to crack open the box and find a dusty pile of bones.
But little did she know, she had just freed the spirit of Hun-Kame, the Mayan God of Death, from his prison. He informs Casiopea that he was a victim of treachery from his own twin brother, who killed him years ago and trapped his spirit in a locked box with the help of her grandfather. Now Hun-Kame is determined to take back his throne, but to do that, he’ll need help. To Casiopea, he makes an offer to make all her dreams come true, if she would agree to accompany him on his journey across Mexico to gather his resources and enact his revenge. Even though the costs of failure are high and the road ahead is unknown, Casiopea agrees after only a slight reluctance for she knows this is her chance to see the world. Not that she has much of a choice. Thanks to a small shard of Hun-Kame’s bone embedded in her skin, their two fates have become inextricably linked.
And so, a peasant girl and a Mayan god embark on a road trip across the country. And yes, this is as fun as it sounds. I loved traveling to new places experiencing the sights and sounds, meeting all manner of vibrant characters, both earthly and supernatural. The easy and smooth style of the writing also made the time period come to life on the page so that you could practically feel the energy in the air and in the bustling crowds around you, or see the colors of the clothing people are wearing and smell the food scents wafting in the breeze. Moreno-Garcia is just so good at transporting her readers to new times and places, which is why I love her books.
I also enjoyed the dynamic between Casiopea and Hun-Kame. She’s a simple girl from a simple village, he’s a death lord of Xibalba, and you think to yourself, heck, this will either be a train wreck or totally awesome. Happily, it was the latter. Considering how many things could have gone wrong with this premise and all its moving parts, it’s even more impressive how the author has managed to bring it all together. Casiopea is a delightful protagonist, innocent in her youthfulness and sheltered life but definitely not fragile. She’s a force to be reckoned with, holding her own against a proud and broody god who doesn’t always seem to know what to make of his traveling companion. Compared to everything Casiopea has had to go through, poor cousin Martin didn’t even stand a chance, despite the lengths he goes to try and stop her and Hun-Kame.
There’s really not that much more left to say, not only because I think I’ve made my love for this book clear, but also because I don’t want to spill any more of the story’s secrets. I had high hopes Gods of Jade and Shadow and Silvia Moreno-Garcia surely did not disappoint, her creativity and writing talents as ever phenomenal. Dazzling, evocative and passionate, this novel is definitely best experienced firsthand, so if you’re a fan of irresistible characters, grand adventures, and mythological fantasy, don’t wait to pick this one up.
YA Weekend: Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman
Posted on August 4, 2019 13 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Thriller, Young Adult
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: jimmy patterson (August 6th 2019)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I first discovered the talents of Derek Milman with his debut Scream All Night, a YA contemporary dramedy portraying its protagonist’s complicated relationship with his quirky family. So when I heard that he had another book coming out, I was immediately intrigued, though of course Swipe Right for Murder is something of a different beast. It’s a straight up thriller, it complete with edge-of-your-seat suspense and action.
The book stars Aidan, a gay teen visiting New York City with his friends while on holiday from his boarding school. Bored and restless, while at his posh hotel he uses a hookup app to meet up with an older man. But soon after, Aidan wakes up next to the man’s dead body, seemingly assassinated by a sniper bullet through the window while he was sleeping. In a panic and trying to figure out what’s going on, Aidan looks around and discovers a huge sum of cash in the dead’s guy’s bag. And then there was also the phone call, which turns Aidan’s life upside down.
Suddenly, our protagonist finds himself on the run, not knowing who to trust. All he knows is that someone is after him, but he’s not who they think he is. In a case of mistaken identity gone horribly awry, Aidan now has a target on his back, and he has also become a person of interest to the FBI, who think he is member of a group called the Swans, an extremist LBGT group targeting anti-gay politicians. People are dying in these acts of terrorism and Aidan is trying to convince everyone that he has nothing to do with them, yet the Swans have somehow managed to trap him in their murderous schemes, making him an unwilling pawn. They believe he is holding onto a key piece of information necessary to pull off their next attack, leaving Aidan with no choice but to go undercover for the FBI in the hopes of putting a stop to whatever the Swans have planned.
For all this book reads like an unputdownable thriller, I was also excited to find a similar emotional poignancy and character depth I found in Scream All Night. Those are traits I’ve been associating with Milman’s writing and storytelling style, and I’m glad that’s not going to change anytime soon. Still, it took a while for this aspect to emerge, for when we first open the story with an introduction to Aidan with his friends, we’re treated to a heavy dose of self-absorbed, obnoxious teenage sass. Not gonna lie, I didn’t find the protagonist likeable at all when I first met him; he was annoyingly snide, shallow, and in short, a bit of a jerk. But as events unfolded, we’re also given occasional glimpses into Aidan’s mind, learning his background and what makes him tick. And I have to say the more I found out, the more he endeared himself to me.
As you know, I always appreciate a book about LGBT characters that go beyond identity labels to explore them as genuine and fully realized individuals. Deftly, the author balances this character development with elements of mystery and intrigue, creating a fast-paced thriller with a lot of heart. In between all the hectic action like the shootouts and chaotic car chases we still find time to get to really know Aidan and discover why he is so dismissive, aloof and full of self-doubt. The traumas go beyond growing up gay in a family and a society that’s not always ready to accept him, with roots also in his personal history involving a death of a brother as well as a tragic affair with a friend’s father that ended very badly. These events still haunt Aidan, making him feel lonely and directionless. Add to that the conflicted feelings he has about the Swans and their movement and you have yourself a very complex situation and a protagonist you can sympathize with deeply, and truly I did not expect a YA thriller to have so much profundity and heavy themes to chew on.
Speaking of the themes, Swipe Right for Murder deals with a lot of moral questions, including the costs of political and social change and the issue of extremist ideology. Aidan is put in a difficult situation where he despises the violence and death and yet he can’t help but sympathize a little with the Swans’ agenda. And then there’s the raw and emotional coming-of-age aspect of Aidan’s journey to come to terms with his identity, sexuality and matters of love. Suicide, depression, drug use, an underage affair—all these topics and more are touched upon via an unflinching approach. But rest assured, it’s not all somber angst and grit; as I said, the narrative is full of compelling thrills and plot twists, not to mention a healthy dose of humor and witty pop culture references to keep things light and flowing. I must have read the entire second half of the book in one session because I could barely tear myself away from its pages, and the ending practically reads like an action movie.
In short, Swipe Right for Murder was a fantastic read. I would recommend it for fans of thrillers, though I believe novel’s diverse cast of characters as well as its heartfelt themes will appeal to all readers no matter who you are. Derek Milman has impressed me once again, and with this novel he has cemented his status as a rising star in the world of YA fiction.
YA Weekend: Minecraft: The Lost Journals by Mur Lafferty
Posted on August 3, 2019 13 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Minecraft: The Lost Journals by Mur Lafferty
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Media Tie-In
Series: Stand Alone/Book 3 of Minecraft
Publisher: Century (July 11, 2019)
Length: 251 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My kids are more heavily into Minecraft than I am these days, while for myself I’ve been more interested in checking out the tie-in novels. I had a good time with the first two books in the series (The Island and The Crash) and so my attention was piqued when I found out about a third one coming out, especially when I realized that it was going to be written by Mur Lafferty, an author whose work I’ve enjoyed in the past.
Titled The Lost Journals, this latest young adult novel taking place in the Minecraft universe follows Alison and Max, two friends who live in the blocky, digitized world of the game. In this dangerous setting, both of them have experienced tragedy in the past. In fact, Alison now lives with Max and his family because hers perished in a terrible incident involving a creeper attack. Max himself almost died from drowning while swimming in the cove, leaving his mother paranoid and overprotective. Alison and Max are thus watched closely, never allowed to have too much fun in between doing their chores at the farm.
But the pull of adventure is too powerful. Max, ever the one to look for new fun things to do, comes up with an idea after finding an old and weather-worn journal containing plans on how to craft a portal to a mysterious realm called the Nether. At first, Alison is hesitant about going along with Max’s plans, but then he tells her that the journal’s owner is his uncle Nicholas, also known as the Enchanter. Max clearly has a personal connection to the situation, so the two friends decide to embark on a quest to the Nether in order to find Nicholas. But once on the other side, an accident traps them both in this strange new world along with another girl named Freya and and her wolf dog Bunny Biter.
As you can probably tell, The Lost Journals skews towards younger readers, more so than the previous volumes, in my opinion. The style feels closer to Middle Grade, based on the behavior of the characters and the language used in the book. Lafferty appears to have a good grasp on the audience to write for, creating in Max and Alison a couple of protagonists that kids can relate to. Both of them are thirsty for a grand adventure, but Alison is a little more mature and prudent, while Max is a little more inclined to throw caution to the wind. Despite their frequent squabbles though, their friendship feels innocent, genuine and easygoing, with both of them offering each other a good support system. Their relationship is closer to that of a brother and sister, especially ever since Alison moved in with Max’s family, and even in the face of all the challenges and threats they find in the Nether, their bond remains strong.
If you’re not familiar with the Minecraft world though, I think this book will be somewhat challenging to get into. From the game’s distinctive environment all the way down to its little idiosyncrasies like the crafting and building systems, everything described in it will feel very strange. And while I enjoyed reading The Lost Journals, I can’t really say it really drew me in the same way previous Minecraft book did. Unlike The Crash which takes place in the context of the real world, this one feels like it has more in common with The Island, with its story unfolding entirely in-game so that the world of Minecraft is the “norm” for our characters. Not only is it more difficult to feel connected with a book like this, I also thought its tone and ideas were more simplistic, whereas The Crash dealt with some pretty mature topics and heavy themes like death, grief, or games as therapy.
In comparison, The Lost Journals was more a fluffy fun adventure strictly for kids, offering a very surface level experience. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, especially if you like a lot of action, the kind involving battling skeletons and pitting your survival skills against the elements. The characters are also so energetic and likeable, in a way it’s like watching a couple of highly imaginative kids playing Minecraft, and it’s hard to have a bad time with that. Still, this book isn’t going to be for you if you’re looking for something deeper and more memorable, and if you’re coming to this directly from The Crash, you’ll feel the difference even more keenly.
In other words, I’d probably only recommend this one for Minecraft enthusiast or for fans of the author who must read everything she writes. It was fun for what it was, but I must also confess that my expectations were raised after the poignancy of The Crash, the deepest and most meaningful of the Minecraft novels thus far. The Lost Journals felt younger and more simplistic in comparison, but Middle Grade age readers who love Minecraft will probably have a blast with it.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Island (Book 1)
Review of The Crash (Book 2)
Friday Face-Off: Children
Posted on August 2, 2019 22 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:
“There are children here somewhere. I can smell them.”
~ a cover that features CHILDREN
Mogsy’s Pick:
Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner
I confess I only picked up this Middle Grade book in audio because I heard it was narrated by the sultry-voiced Claudia Black, but it actually ended up being quite a fun magical adventure. Set in the tyrannical city of Jewel, the story introduces readers to young Goldie Roth on the eve of Separation Day, the day on which children like her will finally be free of their oppressors, the Blessed Guardians. But when it is announced that Separation Day is canceled, Goldie runs away and ends up taking refuge in the mysterious Museum of Dunt, where she makes new friends with a strange boy named Toadspit.
Museum of Thieves is entertaining and dynamic, enjoyable even for adults, though its message of growing up and gaining independence will probably be more appropriate for younger readers, as evidenced by the whimsical covers. Let’s take a look at them now:
From left to right:
Delacorte (2010) – Allen & Unwin (2010)
Spanish Edition (2015) – German Edition (2010)
Polish Edition (2016) – Ukrainian Edition (2019)
Winner:
Speaking of whimsy, I like how most of these covers manage to capture the fantastical and sometimes eerie nature of the Museum of Dunt. But in particular, I just love the detail in the Delacorte cover and the way the light and shadows play over the Goldie and Toadspit as they gaze upon the strange and wonderful knickknacks of the museum. And as a bonus, it even depicts the brizzlehound Broo, in this “little” form. Needless to say, that’s no ordinary dog.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Thriller Thursday: The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
Posted on August 1, 2019 28 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 Escape Room by Megan Goldin
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (July 30, 2019)
Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Ah, escape rooms. Popular for parties, family activities, and corporate outings to enhance team building and synergy. That’s what Sam, Jules, and Sylvie believed they were in for when each of them received an order from their team leader Vincent to show up for a late-night meeting at the request of their employer Stanhope. And at this high-powered financial company, one of the most prestigious and elite in the world, no one ever says no. So despite the high irregular time and location of the meeting, the four of them show up without question, all of them dropping their plans at the last minute to be there.
At first, the activities are everything they expected—mentally challenging and designed to make you work with others, but on the whole manageable. But then came the part with the elevator. In this highly immersive and realistic scenario, Vincent, Sam, Jules and Sylvie are trapped in the dark with only the light of a small monitor that gives them their next instructions. They have entered the Escape Room and they have figure out a way to escape the elevator before the time runs out. But here is when thing start to get a bit weird. The challenges they are given get a little too personal, the things they need to do get a little more disturbing. Rather than encourage them to work together, the room’s scenario appears designed to sow mistrust and put them at each other’s throats. As bitter grudges come to light, slowly the years of pressure at working in a demanding and cutthroat environment like Stanhope start to get to unravel their nerves. Soon, insults and confessions are flying, as damaging secrets and other scandals are unearthed and brought to light. Inevitably, one of their clues turn them towards the topic of Sara Hall, a former colleague who died years ago.
But what does any of this have to do with Sara? Nearly half the book is actually told from her point of view, set at an earlier time, telling the story of how she graduated at the top of her class at business school only to enter the workforce in the middle of the market crash. Practically no one is hiring, and those getting the jobs are the candidates with connections, of which Sara has none. But thanks to a stroke of luck, she manages to land a position at Stanhope, knowing that she’ll have to fight tooth and nail to earn her place and stay there. But of course, it’s an uphill battle for a single young woman in a workplace dominated by men, where the attitude is everyone for themselves. It also doesn’t help that Sara’s new supervisor Vincent is really hard on her, and her teammates Sam, Jules, and Sylvie are a bunch of pretentious, backstabbing sharks.
This is the premise of The Escape Room, and it’s a very powerful and enticing one. Because of the story’s structure, however, it does take a while for it get off the ground. For much of the first half, our characters are left quite literally in the dark, while we as the readers are just as clueless and confused as they are. Alternating between the present and the past, the narrative attempts to do multiple things at once, teasing the increasingly desperate situation unfolding in the elevator while also endeavoring to show us the culture and life at Stanhope via the flashback chapters told through Sara’s eyes. While these early sections were key in helping establish the setting and cement the tone of the story, admittedly this constant back and forth made for a slower intro.
The portrayal of the company and the people who work there was also a bit hokey, in my opinion. I once worked for a corporate headhunting firm in a big city, dealing with many of the kinds of people described in this novel from both the client and candidate side. Sure, there were the ambitious types, and the ones who thrived in that dog-eat-dog culture and had no problem running the rat race as long as it meant lots of money and the perks. And yes, there were the assholes. But Megan Goldin’s depiction of life at Stanhope felt way too exaggerated, sometimes even clichéd to the point of cartoonish. Practically every stereotype about the corporate world was dialed up to 11. It’s like she took everything she knew about the culture and its people from primetime TV dramas.
And then there was that ending. When it comes to thrillers, after a while you start to learn the art of suspending your disbelief and I’m cool with that. But the big revelation and the explanations for it were simply ridiculous. You pretty much had to throw out everything you thought you knew about the characters in order for it to work, and that just didn’t sit right with me. Not to mention the twist was so predictable, I had to wonder if the author felt the need to inflate things to such absurd levels just to keep things interesting.
Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly blown away by The Escape Room, but still, it wasn’t all bad. I listened to the audiobook, which helped move things along when things were a little sluggish at the beginning. The voice team made up of January LaVoy and Ramon De Ocampo was also fantastic, and I liked that they went with two narrators to keep the POV switches engaging and immersive. Overall, this wasn’t anywhere close to being the best thriller I’ve read so far this year, but I didn’t dislike it. I just thought it could have been so much more, but it was a decent entertainment regardless.
Waiting on Wednesday 07/31/19
Posted on July 31, 2019 15 Comments
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
Dead To Her by Sarah Pinborough (February 11, 2020 by William Morrow)
I was so excited to find out Sarah Pinborough will have another novel coming out! Looks like psychological thriller is her new jam, and as far as I’m concerned she can keep running with it because everything she’s written in the genre has been stellar so far.
“For fans of Liane Moriarty, Liv Constantine and Lisa Jewell, a twisty psychological thriller about a savvy second wife who will do almost anything to come out on top from the New York Timesbestselling author of Behind Her Eyes.
Being the second wife can be murder . . .
“Once a cheat, always a cheat,” they say. Marcie Maddox has worked hard to get where she is after the illicit affair that started her new life a few years ago. But her world of country clubs, yachts and sumptuous houses in Savannah, Georgia, isn’t easy to maintain, no matter how hard she tries. Nor is keeping her husband, Jason, truly interested.
So, when Jason’s boss brings home a hot new wife from his trip to London, the young Mrs William Radford IV isn’t quite the souvenir everyone expected. Sexy, drop-dead gorgeous and black—Keisha quickly usurps Marcie’s place as the beautiful second wife. But when Marcie sees the extra spark in the room when Keisha and Jason are together and their obvious, magnetic attraction, the gloves come off.
Revenge is best served cold, but in the steamy Savannah heat, blood runs so hot that this summer it might just boil over into murder.”
Favorite Books A-Z
Posted on July 30, 2019 43 Comments
I borrowed this idea from the Bionic Book Worm, who hosts the meme Top 5 Tuesdays where for the month of July the themed topics are books that start with a letter of the alphabet. Having seen the fun posts around the blogosphere, it got me wondering if I could come up with a favorite book for each letter myself! With all the craziness in July, I practically missed the whole thing, so today I’m going to do a lot of catching up and run through the full alphabet from A to Z.
Yep, it was tough. With some letters I was hard pressed for options, while others I had so many favorite books to choose from it was hard to narrow it down to just one. I had a fun time putting this list together though, as it also gave me a chance to feature some books I haven’t thought about in a while.
A is for AN ALCHEMY OF MASQUES AND MIRRORS BY CURTIS CRADDOCK
An Alchemy of Masques and Shadows turned out to be an incredible surprise and one of the most engrossing reads I’ve had in a long time. Evocative and creatively imagined, it is a gorgeously written debut encompassing an interesting mix of speculative genre elements. There’s something for everyone, whether it’s science fiction, fantasy, historicals, steampunk, action or adventure that captures your attention.
B is for BLOOD OF ASSASSINS BY RJ BARKER
In general, I find that most second books of a trilogy rarely live up to the first one, and so I foolishly thought this would be the case here as well. Well, I’ve never been happier that I was wrong. RJ Barker has topped the first book Age of Assassins with a spectacular sequel containing even more intrigue, more action, and more heart.
C is for CHILDREN OF TIME BY ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY
Children of Time was my first novel by this author, and wow, what a way to start my initiation into the Adrian Tchaikovsky fan club! I have never read anything quite like this book before, and I have to say the praise it’s gotten has been well deserved. I just loved this.
D is for DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST BY JULIET MARILLIER
This is simply a gorgeous book, filled with pain and sadness but also hope, healing and love. There is a heavy element of romance in here, but it is so well embedded in the overall story that it hardly distracts, despite being so intensely passionate. I really can’t recommend this one highly enough, especially if you love mythology and fairy tales.
E is for EARTH GIRL BY JANET EDWARDS
Earth Girl takes place in the far-flung future, narrated by eighteen-year-old Jarra. She is among the one in a thousand born with an immune disorder that confines her to Earth. Humans have developed portal technology at this point, using it to colonize a multitude of worlds, but Jarra can’t visit any of them. Very little about this story falls prey to clichés, and it is a refreshing change to anyone looking for a different kind of YA novel.
F is for THE FIFTH HOUSE OF THE HEART BY BEN TRIPP
Horror, humor, and a heist all in one? I couldn’t have asked for more. Say what you want about vampires being a tired old trope, but they can still be pretty terrifying, especially when you have an author who knows how to portray them like the monsters that they are—the way they’re meant to be. So if you want some terrifyingly good entertainment, read this book.
G is for THE GRACE OF KINGS BY KEN LIU
A combination of East Asian sources with Western elements, The Grace of Kings also features elements from a variety of genres including epic fantasy, mythology, and even a bit of steampunk. Its themes speak to the human condition, exploring the corrupting force of absolute power and the chaos that inevitably follows great change.
H is for HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON BY NAOMI NOVIK
Who can resist the Napoleonic wars but with dragons? But yes, while there were indeed many scenes of airborne dragon battles, the bulk of the book also focused on the main character and his relationship with his dragon. Don’t get me wrong, while I loved the action, it was the bond between Laurence and Temeraire that I adored.
I is for INK AND BONE BY RACHEL CAINE
Ink and Bone may be a YA novel, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re a teen or an adult, it’s a must-read for all those who treasure the gift of the written word. A perfect mix of breathtaking fantasy and edge-of-your-seat dystopian fiction, this is a masterfully written novel guaranteed to hook you in.
J is for JURASSIC PARK BY MICHAEL CRICHTON
A classic Crichton, Jurassic Park is one of the first books I ever read by the author. Fast moving, intensely action-packed and suspenseful, the story also amazed me with the insanely smart science and technology. And of course, who can forget the dinosaurs? Needless to say, it led me to pick up a lot more of his other books.
K is for KUSHIEL’S DART BY JACQUELINE CAREY
Epic in scope and oh so sensual, Kushiel’s Dart was a book I read in college and I still love it as much today as I did back then. In fact, it’s one my favorites of all time. Beautifully written, Carey’s prose flows so well and is so gorgeously evocative, it’s hard to believe this was her debut.
L is for THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA BY SCOTT LYNCH
The Lies of Locke Lamora felt a little like Oliver Twist meets Oceans 11 meets The Godfather – is there a more delectable combination? But once the world and the characters get a chance to establish themselves, that’s when the story begins to take on a personality of its own. I couldn’t have stopped reading even if I tried.
M is for THE MECHANICAL BY IAN TREGILLIS
Tregillis dazzles with an inventive blend of mind-blowing fantasy, history, steampunk, and existential philosophy. This time we see humble French metallurgy pitted against the demonic alchemy of the Dutch, in a story set in the early 1900s. Even if you’re not into those genres or that historical period, the writing makes this worth checking out and the story is truly unlike anything I’d ever read before.
N is for THE NATURALIST BY ANDREW MAYNE
Talk about a page-turner! The Naturalist was exactly what I wanted out of a mystery-thriller—fascinating, addictive, and dramatic in all the best ways. It also captivated the science geek in me by featuring a protagonist who is a computational biologist, using the study of plant and animal behavior and physiology to solve crimes. Think The Da Vinci Code, but with biology.
O is for OUTPOST BY W. MICHAEL GEAR
There’s a lot going on in this book: survival, politics, romance, and even a mystery with the reappearance of a ghost ship that went missing two years ago. There’s also a lot to love—so many places to go, people to meet, and stories to discover. I enjoyed every moment reading this book, which reminded me of everything I love about colonization sci-fi.
P is for THE POPPY WAR BY R.F. KUANG
To say I wholeheartedly recommend The Poppy War would be a massive understatement. Inspired by the Second Sino-Japanese War in the early half of the 20th century, the story includes many parallels to real events, but the setting more resembles the culture and civilization of the Chinese Song Dynasty, where religion and worship of folk gods played a large part in the people’s daily lives. The result is a heady mash-up of fantasy and historical fiction, peppered with many elements derived from Chinese mythology, and it was everything I wanted and more.
Q is for THE QUEEN OF BLOOD BY SARAH BETH DURST
Color me pleasantly surprised–a book that ostensibly bore many hallmarks of your average possibly-YA-but-maybe-not fantasy novel in fact turned out to be a very refreshing and unique read. I honestly didn’t expect to like this book so much, but the once the plot escalated into high-stake dramatic circumstances, I just really liked how everything came together.
R is for RIVERS OF LONDON BY BEN AARONOVITCH
I didn’t even get past a quarter of the way through this book before I thought to myself, “Okay, this one is totally going on my ‘favorites’ shelf.” In a word, it was fun. So, so much fun. It helps if you’re a fan of urban fantasy, but I think even non-readers of the genre would enjoy this book because of its originality and humor.
S is for SKULLSWORN BY BRIAN STAVELEY
Brian Staveley returns to the world of The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne with this standalone novel starring one of the its most intriguing characters, Pyrre Lakatur. When we first met Pyrre, she was shrouded in mystery, but this is her incredible story. Even if you haven’t read Staveley’s debut trilogy, this book would make a splendid introduction to his work.
T is for TRAITOR’S BLADE BY SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL
There are so many things I love about this book, but most of all I love how it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It was lighter in tone than I expected, which was a huge plus because I always appreciate a bit of humor with my fantasy. Very few books are perfect, but some stories have a way of bringing you to a place where you’re just having too much fun to care. That’s where Traitor’s Blade took me.
U is for UNDER HEAVEN BY GUY GAVRIEL KAY
Under Heaven tells the story of a middle son of a Kitan general who spends two years in the mountains burying the bones of soldiers from a war that took place there, and is given 250 “heavenly” Sardian horses for his honorable deed. As always, I appreciate the immense detail Kay puts into his books, which makes the world of Kitai come to life.
V is for THE VALIANT BY LESLEY LIVINGSTON
From the moment I saw the publisher description for The Valiant, I knew I had to read it. I make it no secret that I am fascinated with anything to do with Ancient Rome, and so historical fiction set in this time period is like an instant must-read. And secondly, female gladiators! By combining history and ideas from her own imagination, the author brings this incredible world to life.
W is for THE WAY OF KINGS BY BRANDON SANDERSON
Believe it or not, I wasn’t always into fantasy fiction, but The Way of Kings was one of the gateway books that helped me discover and fall in love with the genre. It’s still one of my all time favorites, and when you just want to curl up with a big book and escape into an immersive epic world, no one is better at delivering that than Brandon Sanderson.
X is for X-FILES: COLD CASES BY JOE HARRIS, CHRIS CARTER, AND DIRK MAGGS
I wasn’t exactly swimming in books starting with X, but luckily there was this audio drama tie-in featuring a full cast including David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and several other actors from the original X-Files TV show returning to voice their respective characters. Needless to say, the nostalgia factor was insane, giving me a chance to skip down memory lane.
Y is for YOU DIE WHEN YOU DIE BY ANGUS WATSON
You Die When You Die was a crazy wild ride I never wanted to end. After having a blast with Angus Watson’s Iron Age trilogy I had a good feeling that his new book would be another glorious full-hearted adventure through new frontiers of dark fantasy, and I was right. It’s a story that commands your full attention from the very first page, whisking readers away on a journey set in an imaginative world full of riveting characters and gritty adventure.
Z is for ZERO WORLD BY JASON M. HOUGH
So, what can I say about this book that would do the sheer ingenuity of its premise justice? It’s like James Bond meets Memento meets an episode of Star Trek. Let’s just say the tagline of Zero World–“This will be the most interesting mission you’ll ever forget”–serves its story well, a promise of adventure and thrilling action packed into those ten simple words.
Book Review: The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall
Posted on July 29, 2019 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 Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Retellings
Series: Book 1/Stand Alone
Publisher: Ace (June 18, 2019)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I’m a big fan of Sherlock Holmes retellings, and to my joy, I found The Affair of the Mysterious Letter to be very similar to the Warlock Holmes series that I love in terms of its quirky light tone and cheeky style of humor, though it also possesses a lot of its own unique charms. For example, this retelling takes a queer friendly approach to our characters, where Sherlock Holmes is Ms. Shaharazad Haas, a “consulting sorceress,” and Watson is John Wyndham, our trans narrator who has spent the last five years fighting a war in another universe. Recently returned to the city of Khelathra-Ven, it was his search for a place to live which had first landed him on Ms. Haas’ doorstep at 221b Martyrs Walk.
Needless to say, it doesn’t take long for Wyndham to find out just what it means to be Shaharazad Haas’ new housemate. For one thing, they get a lot of interesting guests. The book begins with a visit from Miss Eirene Viola, who has sought out her former lover Ms. Haas with a plea to help her solve a dastardly case of blackmail. Drawn into the investigation, Wyndham joins his new partner on her hunt to identify the mysterious extortionist, accompanying Haas to all kinds of shady and magical places in the underbelly of the city that he never knew existed, from dingy alleyways to gaudy art houses where you’ll meet all sorts of fantastical creatures and bizarre characters.
What a delight this book was, and I guarantee you’ve never read a Sherlock Holmes retelling quite like this one. It’s jam packed with imagination and twists on the classic that were absolutely fun to discover, and not just on the diversity front. In addition to our wonderfully drawn characters and genderqueer cast, we are also treated to world steeped in fantasy and practically overflowing with magical elements. We have sorcerers and demons, multiple universes, and, believe it or not, even a touch of cosmic horror. At the same time though, I’m pleased to report that the framework of the Sherlock Holmes tradition remains strong, a familiarity which also allows readers to form an immediate connection to our protagonists Haas and Wyndham.
And then there’s the humor. Wyndham is an engaging narrator, and very entertaining in that completely lovable and incognizant way of his. Prim and proper, he’s completely taken aback by Haas and her sorceress lifestyle, not to mention her very candid and audacious personality. Nothing seems to faze her, while on the other hand, we frequently find poor flustered Wyndham struggling to find the politest ways to describe all the shocking scandal and debauchery they witness while on the investigation. Obviously the two of them are complete opposites, but in spite of that they manage to mesh well on the page, creating a wonderfully powerful and energetic dynamic that was never boring.
But for a few hiccups, I probably would have given this novel a higher rating. I thought there was plenty of material to keep the plot interesting, unpredictable, and chugging along at a good pace, but some of the repeated jokes started to wear on my nerves after a while, like Wyndham’s stubborn refusal to say naughty words, instead coming up with all kinds euphemisms for cursing or to describe sexual acts. Yup, I think I got the gist of it after the first 257 times, thanks. There were definitely moments where I felt the book was trying too hard, tripping up and falling from clever and witty into downright cheesy territory, and at times like this I did feel that the humor got to be a bit too much for me. Fortunately, there weren’t too many of these instances, and always the author pulled things back before they got too out of hand.
So all in all, I would say The Affair of the Mysterious Letter was a good read. Wildly entertaining and charismatic, this novel features a cast of captivating characters, utterly fascinating world-building, and a punchy storyline that zipped along at an exciting pace. Fans of inventive retellings and readers interested in broadening their horizons with something diverse and completely unique will certainly want to check this one out.
The BiblioSanctum 