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.

YA Weekend: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Posted on July 28, 2019 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.

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (June 4, 2019)

Length: 456 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

It’s always great to see an author who is trying to push their own boundaries and reach new heights. Needless to say, I was very impressed with what Margaret Rogerson has done with Sorcery of Thorns and the fact it was such a huge step up from her debut. Not that I didn’t enjoy An Enchantment of Ravens, but it didn’t have near the same amount of attraction or that special kind of magic to make it all that memorable. In contrast, however, I believe Sorcery of Thorns has what it takes to set itself apart from a sea of fantasy YA.

We begin the story at the Great Library of Summershall, which has been a home to our protagonist Elisabeth Scrivener for as long as she can remember. Abandoned on its doorstep as a baby, she was raised among its shelves of magical tomes to be an acolyte by the librarians who work there. As a result, she grew up with a natural thirst for knowledge that frequently got her into trouble with her caretakers, who quickly became used to her way of being too curious for her own good. But one day, during her explorations of the library, Elisabeth stumbles upon a troubling discovery that points to a possible act of sabotage. An enchanted grimoire has been corrupted, turning it into a monster. However, with no other witnesses to the incident, Elisabeth herself is blamed for the crime and is consequently sent away to the city to face trial.

Enter Nathaniel Thorn, the sorcerer tasked to escort her to the capital. Of course, while he’s heard of Elisabeth and her history with mischief, nothing could have prepared Nathaniel for the challenges to come. For her part, Elisabeth is mistrustful of Nathaniel and his demonic familiar Silas at first, raised as she was to view anything and anyone to do with magic as inherently evil. But with every new obstacle they face together, the two of them gradually warm to each other and learn how to cooperate. As they try to uncover the conspiracy threatening the Great Library, Elisabeth and Nathaniel are drawn into a dangerous web of lies and deceit—just two more players in a game of power more immense and complicated than either of them could have possibly imagined.

Since one of my favorite tropes in fantasy is “books about books”, that was immediately a point in this novel’s favor. The world-building was also enticing and well developed, and I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the grimoires at the Great Library and how they almost take on a life of their own and are categorized into classes depending on how dangerous they are. They are a good illustration of how magic is perceived in this world—a powerful tool that can be helpful to society in many ways, though extremely dangerous if used irresponsibly or by the wrong people. Growing up the way she did, Elisabeth was taught to be wary of anything related to sorcery, but it took getting out into the real world for her to truly understand magic’s significance and meaning.

Speaking of which, I was pleased with the way the story developed, beginning with a rather convention premise which gradually snowballed into something much bigger and more complex as Elisabeth’s worldview expanded. I also loved the action mixed in with the magical elements, like the swashbuckling battles and swordfights against fantastical foes like demons and other creatures. At the same time, all this frenetic activity stops just short of being too overwhelming, offering just the right amount to keep the momentum going between sections that focused more on the mystery and speculation behind the conspiracy. The pacing is both comfortable and engaging, providing constant motivation to turn the next page.

And then there were the protagonists. To be honest, neither Elisabeth nor Nathaniel really dazzled, but for all that they were standard characters, I liked the easy way Rogerson got us to relate to them, and ultimately, that’s all that matters. Individually, they felt like genuine people to me, with realistic personalities that reflected their life experiences and personal backgrounds. But together, they were even better. Elisabeth and Nathaniel had fascinating chemistry and I liked watching their relationship evolve. Their romance was honest and sweet, resounding with a passionate underlying intensity, and as you know, I always appreciate a romance arc that doesn’t distract and completely take over the story.

Overall, Sorcery of Thorns is a YA fantasy I can wholeheartedly recommend. Full of magic and intrigue, this standalone novel features great characters, fantastic world-building and a spellbinding storyline. All in all, an entertaining and satisfying adventure.

Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on July 27, 2019 36 Comments

Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every other 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 round up what I’ve read since the last update 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.

So I’m back home from my vacation and still settling back in, so please bear with me as I slowly get back into the rhythm of things, which includes catching up on my huge TBR, posting reviews (because I actually managed to finish several books while I was away), and checking out everyone’s blogs! There was also a lot of activity in my mailbox during my absence, so I’m gradually sorting out new arrivals as well. Here’s what I’ve got to feature today though, and my thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received. Be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!

Received for Review

First off, a huge thanks to Orbit Books for sending along an ARC of Ghoster by Jason Arnopp. You wouldn’t believe how long I’ve been looking forward to this one! Ever since reading The Last Days of Jack Sparks (now one of my favorite books ever) I have been waiting to see what the author will write next, and the time is finally here.

Thanks also to Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers for this finished copy of Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim. I already read this book and really enjoyed it, and you can check out my full review here.

Also my thanks to the kind folks at Ace/Roc/DAW for the following new arrivals: an ARC of Revolution by W.L. Goodwater, which is the sequel to the Cold War fantasy Breach; a finished copy of Lies of Descent by Troy Carrol Bucher, an intriguing debut epic fantasy; an ARC of Walk the Wild with Me by Rachel Atwood, a whimsical fae-inspired adventure; and a beautiful hardcover of The Gossamer Mage by Julie E. Czerneda, which I really excited to check out.

I also arrived home this week to a package from across the Atlantic, with thanks to Penguin Books UK for Minecraft: The Lost Journals by Mur Lafferty. I’m so thrilled they got the author to write for this world, and since I’ve read and enjoyed the last couple of official Minecraft novels, I’m definitely going to read this one too.

With thanks also to 47North and the amazing team at Wunderkind PR the for sending me a copy of Aftershocks by Marko Kloos, the first book of a military sci-fi space opera series called The Palladium Wars.

A while back I also first discovered a book called What’s Bred in the Bone by Jan S. Gephardt from Barb over at Booker T’s Farm. Cyber-enhanced police dogs in space? Color me intrigued! So when I was contacted and offered the book for review consideration, I jumped at the opportunity. My thanks to the author and to Beverly Bambury Publicity.

Courtesy of Subterranean Press, I also received the following ARCs: A Very Scalzi Christmas by John Scalzi is a collection of fifteen short takes (stories, poems, articles, etc.) related to the holidays; The Sky Done Ripped by Joe R. Lansdale is another new SFF adventure from the acclaimed pulp novelist and creator of Ned the Seal; and My Beautiful Life by K.J. Parker is a fantasy novella about a dying narrator who looks back on his eventful life (not surprisingly, the title is supposed to be ironic).

I’d also like to thank Titan Books for the following books received for review: The Record Keeper by Agnes Gomillion is a near-future dystopian novel which you may have heard about when The BiblioSanctum took part in the tour for it last month, and I’m looking forward to read it now that it’s in my hands; Sweet Dreams by Tricia Sullivan is the new novel from the author who also wrote the mind-bending Occupy Me, which makes me very curious to see what she’ll have in store next; and Gears of War: Ascendance by Jason M. Hough is the official prequel novel to the upcoming video game Gears 5, picking up the story immediately after Gears of War 4. Having played all of these games, I am soooooo psyched! You can bet I’ll be playing the new game, and I’m sure this novel will tide me over during the wait.

With thanks to Minotaur Books, I also received Sunrise Highway by Peter Blauner, a thriller about one young cop’s hunt for a serial killer. The publisher has never really sent me books before, so this was a nice surprise, especially since I’m really into the genre these days. This is one I’d like to check out later this summer.

Big thanks also to Inkshares for this surprise ARC of Violet by Scott Thomas. I loved his book Kill Creek and was so happy to discover that he will have another horror novel out this fall, just in time for Halloween season.

And wrapping up the batch, my thanks to Dey Street Books for sending me a paperback copy of Astounding by Alec Nevala-Lee, described as a biographical portrait of John W. Campbell, Robert A. Heinlein, and L. Ron Hubbard.

In the digital pile this week, we have a few new audiobooks. With thanks to: Hachette Audio for a listening copy of The Last Astronaut by David Wellington, already finished and reviewed; and Penguin Random House Audio for Star Wars: Thrawn: Treason by Timothy Zahn, the third Thrawn novel, and Lost You by Haylen Beck, a psychological suspense thriller.

And I know I probably shouldn’t have, but I also requested a couple books from NetGalley. Both were worth breaking my self-imposed NG ban though. The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman is a supernatural horror that I’ve been eyeing for a while now, and a big thank you to Quirk Books for granting my wish. And do I really have to explain why I immediately jumped on the download for Turning Darkness into Light by Marie Brennan? I loved her Memoirs of Lady Trent series and I cannot wait to return to the world. Thank you to Tor Books.

Reviews

Here is a quick summary of my reviews posted since the last update (three weeks’ worth!):

The Philosopher’s War by Tom Miller (5 of 5 stars)
Three Laws Lethal by David Walton (5 of 5 stars)
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson (4.5 of 5 stars)
Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O’Keefe (4 of 5 stars)
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena (4 of 5 stars)
Salvation Day by Kali Wallace (4 of 5 stars)
Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep (4 of 5 stars)
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim (4 of 5 stars)
The First Mistake by Sandie Jones (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Last Astronaut by David Wellington (3.5 of 5 stars)
Seven Blades in Black by Sam Sykes (3 of 5 stars)

Roundup Highlights:

What I’ve Read Since the Last Update

Here’s what I’ve managed to “unstack” from the TBR since the last update. You’d think I would have read more, considering it’s been three weeks and I was also on holiday with plenty of beach reading time, but no, not really! I had a difficult time concentrating with this as my view (yay for the waterproof Kindle):

Anyway, that’s it for now. More reviews coming soon!

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: Upside Down

Posted on July 26, 2019 17 Comments

This week’s theme is:

“Ludo … down”
~ a cover that is UPSIDE DOWN

Mogsy’s Pick:

The Outsider by Stephen King

These days, I’m not as keen to jump on every new Stephen King book as I used to be, though I’m really glad I picked up The Outsider. The book opens by laying out the details of a horrific crime, setting the scene for a detective story. A little boy named Frank Peterson has been murdered, and based on the mountain of evidence available, including multiple eyewitness accounts and DNA and fingerprint samples, Detective Ralph Anderson arrests Little League coach Terry Maitland at a baseball game in front of the whole town. The problem though, is that Terry insists on his innocence. And despite everything the police have on him, he also has an airtight alibi. So what gives? How is it possible that a man can be in two places at the same time?

In the end, I had a good time with this book, and I loved the old-school King vibe that it had about it. But now let’s take a look at some of the covers:

From left to right:
Sribner (2018) – Hodder & Stoughton (2018)

German Edition (2018) – Finnish Edition (2019) – Serbian Edition (2019)

Hungarian Edition (2019) – Portuguese Edition (2019) – Chinese Edition (2019)

Slovak Edition (2019) – Ukrainian Edition (2019) – Bulgarian Edition (2019)

Winner:

I really like the upside down image of the dark figure on the original Scribner edition, but I also love cool blue tones of the Portuguese edition. Interestingly, I think the German cover combines the best of both worlds, and it even has the added sinister effect created by the creeping tree branches. So I think I’m going to have to go with that one.

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

Book Review: Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O’Keefe

Posted on July 25, 2019 33 Comments

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

Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O’Keefe

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 1 of The Protectorate

Publisher: Orbit (June 11, 2019)

Length: 544 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O’Keefe was a book I picked up on a recommendation from several reviewers whose descriptions of the book sounded like something I would really love—and I’m glad I decided to check it out! As space operas go, it was highly entertaining with some fantastic character development and world-building, and I couldn’t have asked for more.

As the story opens, our protagonist Gunnery Sergeant Sanda Greeves finds herself waking up naked and alone on an unfamiliar ship. Exploring her surroundings in shock and confusion, she manages to access the ship’s sentient AI, discovering that she has been asleep for more than two centuries. The war she had been fighting in is over, with both sides having destroyed themselves. The ship Sanda is on now is The Light of Berossus, an enemy ship. Bero, as it calls itself, informs her that the two of them are now alone in a dead star system, her home world of Ada Prime and their rivals from the planet Icarion having wiped each other out.

In a separate thread, we also get the story from the perspective of Biran, Sanda’s brother. When the news arrives that his beloved sister’s gunship had just been blown up in the Battle of Dralee, Biran barely has time to grieve before he is swiftly whisked off by the Keepers of Ada Prime to discuss their next step. And in another star system, a young smuggler inadvertently stumbles upon something she shouldn’t have while on what was supposed to be a routine job—a deadly secret that will have serious repercussions for the galaxy if it is discovered.

While it’s going to be difficult to review Velocity Weapon without revealing any spoilers, I’m going to try my best because some things are simply best experienced firsthand, including all the twists and shocking surprises in this book. As we alternate between the different character perspectives, more details of the plot are gradually laid bare, allowing the reader to piece together the clues and find out just what is going on. I won’t lie, the beginning will be confusing at first, and the big picture will be hazy and vague—but stick around if you can, for it will be worth it.

Each character’s point-of-view will present a conundrum, a conflict to be solved. Sanda is in the biggest bind of all, lost in space with a ship that seems to have its own personality and agenda, and it’s anyone’s guess what it has in mind for them both as they try to find their way back to civilization. Biran is in the process of being groomed to be the next Keeper of Ada Prime, though the only thing on his mind is his sister and how he will be able to get her back. What anyone could possibly do to help her is anyone’s guess, separated as the characters are by space and time, but eventually all will be answered. Kudos to O’Keefe for being able to juggle all these moving parts while keeping her cards close to the vest so by the time the revelations come, you will be floored.

Still, I have to say, one key aspect of the book I did not really care for was Jules’ part of the story. Although she ended up playing an important role in the overall plot, I thought her early sections detracted from the overall mystery and the tensions surrounding the siblings’ predicament. I think the author knew this might happen, because Jules’ chapters were packed full of intrigue and fast-paced action in order to tide us over while the character’s own arc was being developed. It’s not that I didn’t like Jules or enjoyed her chapters, but while Sanda and Biran’s threads were unfolding, all I really wanted was to get back to their part of the story to find out what happened next! The Greeves were hands down the most interesting characters, and I always felt a thrill especially whenever I returned to Sanda’s POV. One of the reasons for that is Bero. Now don’t get me wrong because I loved reading about Sanda—she’s strong, spirited, and tenacious. But as you know, I am also a sucker for ship AI characters, and Bero was a real trip. And that’s all I’m going to say on that subject!

In sum, I had a lot of fun with Velocity Weapon, and I was pretty excited to learn that there’s likely more to come as this looks to be the first book in a new series. Not much else really to say about this novel, except that it was entertaining and satisfying. I also think it opens up doors for many other possibilities, and I will be waiting with great anticipation for what Megan E. O’Keefe has in store for us next.