YA Weekend Audio: The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

Posted on May 5, 2019 16 Comments

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

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

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

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Series: Book 1 of The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy

Publisher: HarperAudio (April 23, 2019)

Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Narrator: Sneha Mathan

I really enjoyed this. Inspired by the culture of ancient India and Hindu mythology, The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala features a cat-and-mouse game of deception and thrills between a rebel assassin and the reluctant young soldier tasked to bring her to justice.

Years ago, when Esha was a child, she and her family lived a happy existence at the palace where they were close companions to the royal family. But that was until a bloody coup took everything she has ever loved away from her. Now a fighter for exiled prince’s resistance, she has dedicated her life to avenging her murdered parents and to taking down the current regime. By day, she plays the role of the innocent merchant’s daughter, just a pretty girl selling poppy seeds at the market. But by night, Esha assumes the mantle of the Viper, a mysterious assassin who takes down important enemies for the rebels, striking quickly and mercilessly at her targets. And tonight, her mark is the ruthless General Hotha, a man who has the blood of innocents on his hands.

Meanwhile, unaware that his life is about to be changed forever, a fort soldier named Kunal extends a helping hand to a doe-eyed young woman, unwittingly bringing the Viper one step closer to completing the task of assassinating his uncle, the general. But when Esha reaches Hotha’s chambers, she realizes with a shock that someone had already beaten her to her mark. Finding herself the victim of a setup, Esha escapes the fort, determined to find out who is trying to frame her and why. But that’s just the least of her problems. With their esteemed general dead, the enemy now needs a new commander. Together with a few of his peers, Kunal is offered an opportunity to succeed his uncle—but only if he can catch the Viper before any of the others. Of course, there are clear challenges to this. Assuming the Viper is not just a myth, no one knows who he or she is, though most assume the assassin is a man, while others believe the name is an identity used by several people. With his clever mind and sharp instincts though, Kunal has the advantage. As he pursues the Viper across the land, he also begins to question his loyalties and wonder at the feelings Esha and the rebels are awakening within him.

The Tiger at Midnight was a novel that drew me in effortlessly with its vivid prose, robust world-building, and compelling story. And oh, the characters, how I loved the characters. Right away, we are introduced to Esha and Kumal in a sweet boy-meets-girl scenario of light flirtation and a bit of fun innuendo—except, of course, we soon find out there is a lot more to the situation. And yet, the two of them are just so likeable, you can’t help but want to see them wind up together. Even with the obvious direction of the story and the inevitability of a romance in the cards, there was still plenty of tension in the air knowing that both these characters have a lot of obstacles to overcome in order to find their happiness.

This tension is what resulted in much of the interest that kept me reading, and I thought author Swati Teerdhala handled it so well. It also prevented the repeated encounters between Esha and Kumal from becoming too tedious and predictable, as each of their interactions introduced something new to the relationship. I loved watching the characters grow before my eyes, maturing in their thinking and personalities, as well as the epic game of the tug o’ war regarding their emotions for each other. The romance itself was gradual and realistic, putting it a cut above the insta-love you see in too many YA books these days. In addition, it gave some of the later revelations in the plot more weight.

Speaking of which, the story contained enough familiar themes to make it easy to follow but also a fair bit of political intrigue and complexity to keep things engaging. As well, there’s an element of mystery in the plot where Esha has to figure out who is trying to frame her, and the added (if somewhat manufactured) conflict of Kumal believing she is the one behind his uncle’s murder. But overall, the chase was fun and exciting, and we were treated to rich descriptions of the Indian-inspired setting whenever there were calmer moments in the story. The world felt lush and fully-realized, and I enjoyed the magic which began as a light touch in the early sections of the book only to play a major role later on.

Overall, I don’t have many complaints, despite The Tiger at Midnight being a debut. Swati Teerdhala manages to avoid many of the missteps that plague new authors, and in general I found her storytelling and characters to be exceedingly well done. I look forward to the next installment to see what happens next.

Audiobook Comments: Sneha Mathan narrates the audiobook of The Tiger at Midnight, delivering a superb performance. She handled both Esha and Kumal very well, navigating character voices and accents with fantastic flow and ease.

YA Weekend: Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

Posted on May 4, 2019 37 Comments

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

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Series: Book 1 of Something Dark and Holy

Publisher: Wednesday Books (April 2, 2019)

Length: 385 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

With so much hype surrounding Wicked Saints before its release, I was glad I took the time to check out some of the more critical reviews before diving in. Doing so helped me prepare myself for the possibility that it might not be everything I had expected, and there were also a few things frequently mentioned by reviewers that I thought might cause me some issues as well. Turns out, they were right. While I don’t actually regret my time with this book (it had its saving graces), I can’t say I was engaged much with it either.

Set in a fantasy world which draws much of its inspiration from Slavic culture and history, Wicked Saints splits its focus between three main protagonists: Nadya, a Kalyazi cleric raised in a monastery and trained to commune with the gods; Serefin, a High Prince of Tranavia who is also a blood mage; and Malachaisz, a rogue Tranavian mage who has defected against his own people. Nadya has spent her life hidden away in the remote mountains, Kalyazin’s secret weapon to use against Tranavia in the religious war between the two nations. However, before her time could come, the monastery that has been a safe haven to her for her whole life is suddenly attacked by Tranvaian forces led by Prince Serefin.

Fortunately, Nadya was able to escape, evading capture by falling in with a group of rebels. Meanwhile, Serefin is forced to abandon the search for the cleric when he is unexpected called back home by his father. Nadya is relatively safe again for now, but for how long? The resistance fighters are determined to take their cause all the way to the palace, where they plan on assassinating the king to put an end to the violence once and for all. Despite herself, Nadya also finds herself drawn to Malachiasz, the gorgeous blood mage who embodies everything she has been taught to hate and fear in her devout upbringing by the monastery priests. Every character seems to have an agenda of their own, each of them grinding against the others like rusty gears while none of them have a choice but to go along with the tide of the times. However, inevitably when the centuries of bad blood and brutal conflict come to a head, there will undoubtedly be consequences for them all.

First, let’s start with what I liked. Admittedly, this isn’t a long list, but what’s there is significant and goes a long way in making up for a lot of the issues in the book. Number one is the atmosphere. Wicked Saints is a gothic fantasy novel and that’s obvious enough; you can practically feel its dark and broody vibes wafting off the pages like some cheap perfume. No, it’s not subtle. One might even say it’s a bit overdone, that this novel is “gothic” in the way a preteen would interpret the word—nihilistic themes, blood magic and death gods, bad boys and bad girls in black edgy clothing, etc. And yet, despite the prose dripping with angst, Emily A. Duncan’s writing is fantastic, which brings me to the second thing I liked most about this book. The author clearly has way with words, and I found her style perfectly suited to creating this gritty world full of richly decadent details.

And now for the things that didn’t work so well for me. As much as I enjoyed Duncan’s writing, it pains me to say that the very nature of it prevented me from connecting with her story and characters. While the prose may be well-crafted, I wouldn’t exactly call it easy on the eyes. In some ways, I feel like the writing may have placed too much emphasis on artistry while sacrificing readability and overall engagement. The plot was decent, but slow, and none of the character POVs managed to excite me long enough to keep the momentum going. Which brings me to the characters. I didn’t like them, nor did I dislike them. They were just there—and it was this ambivalence towards everyone in the book that frustrated me to no end. Make me love your characters or make me hate them—I don’t care. Just make me feel something, anything! The fact that I couldn’t relate in any way to the characters left me with an overall sense of ennui and coldness, and I think this was what resulted in the emotion disconnect I had with the novel.

So yes, I struggled, even though I’d be hard-pressed to point out anything that was seriously flawed about this book. In fact, despite experiencing problems early on, I still knew that deep inside I wanted to see the story through to the end. The problem though, was the incredibly difficult time I had motivating myself to pick up the book again, and in the end, what finally did it was borrowing the audiobook from the library and finishing it in another, more convenient format. It just goes to show, some books and I are simply on different wavelengths, making it hard for us to jive. I believe this was the case with Wicked Saints, which sadly proved not to be my cup of tea after all, but I’m sure it will find lots of love with others.

Friday Face-Off: Blue

Posted on May 3, 2019 32 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:

“How sweet to be a cloud, floating in the blue”
~ a cover that is predominantly BLUE

Mogsy’s Pick:

Shadowblack by Sebastien de Castell

I’ve been crazy busy lately, which made me nervous I wasn’t going to find a book in time for this week’s Friday Face-Off. But things actually turned out okay, because I immediately thought of a book the moment I saw the theme for today. It’s just a simple three-way competition this week, featuring the second book of Spellslinger, a rollicking YA fantasy series by one of my favorite authors.

From left to right:
Hot Key Books (2017) – Orbit (2018) – French Edition (2018)

Winner:

Three covers, each with their own unique strengths, but I think I’m going to have to go with the Hot Key Books edition as that’s the that’s always struck me as having the most personality. The other covers are quite beautiful too, but I just love the playing card theme and the fact that we get such a great depiction of the characters. Also–Reichis!

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

Audiobook Review: Star Wars: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray

Posted on May 2, 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.

Star Wars: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Media Tie-In

Series: Star Wars Canon

Publisher: Random House Audio (April 16, 2019)

Length:11 hrs and 42 mins

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Narrator: Jonathan Davis

I have been most impressed with Claudia Gray’s books in the new Star Wars canon, and I have to say, she has yet to disappoint me. Now she’s at the top of her game once again with Star Wars: Master & Apprentice, a novel set a handful of years before the events of The Phantom Menace which shines the light on 17-year-old padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi and his complicated relationship with his mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn.

When the book begins, the two Jedi have already been working together for several years, though deep down, both suspect that their current arrangement may be soon coming to an end. They are simply too different in their views of the Force, with Qui-Gon with his unconventional thinking and sometimes flagrant disregard for the Jedi Council’s advice while Obi-Wan is more of a stickler for the rules. These differences have created a tension between master and apprentice that both know can’t go on for much longer.

So when Qui-Gon is unexpected offered a seat on the Council to replace a retiring member, a part of him believes that the change may be for the best. No one would expect him to turn down such a prestigious position, and consequently, Obi-Wan can be transferred to a different master out of necessity. But before the older Jedi can make such a momentous decision, he knows he must meditate upon it, and in the meantime, he and his apprentice are dispatched to the planet of Pijal where an old acquaintance of Qui-Gon’s has requested their assistance in defusing a political situation between the royal house and their opposition.

This contact is Rael Averross, a rogue Jedi who was also a former student of Dooku, like Qui-Gon Jinn. Averross is currently serving as lord regent to Pijal’s princess, her Serene Highness Fanry, who is only fourteen years old and is heir to a throne fraught with a history of political tension. Her planet is now in a position to affect the economic futures of other worlds in the region, and a corporation called Czerka also has stakes in the new hyperspace lane venture that is being discussed. When terrorists threaten to place that all in danger, Averross decides to call upon his old friend Qui-Gon despite the two of them having drifted apart over the years, because he knows Pijal is going to need all the help it can get. The urgency of the situation also leads the Jedi to enlist the aid of a couple of jewel thieves named Rahara, an escaped slave from Czerka, and Pax, a social outcast raised by a crew of protocol droids aboard an abandoned ship. Despite their differences, our motley crew of characters must work together to protect Fanry and safeguard Pijal’s interests. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon also needs to figure out what to do with his apprentice, as well as sort out his doubts with regards to his beliefs in ancient Jedi prophecies.

For a media tie-in novel, Master & Apprentice is surprisingly complex and layered. There’s certainly a lot to unpack here, compared to some of the more recent releases in the Star Wars canon. However, the central theme of the book is undeniably the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Gray explores this dynamic using a number of ways, including flashing back to Dooku and Qui-Gon’s time as master and apprentice to show how an individual Jedi’s views can be shaped by their style of training and instruction. It is perhaps no coincidence that both of Dooku’s students, Qui-Gon and Rael Averross, have ended up with rebellious natures, given the kind of person their teacher was and the Dark Side path he chose.

But back to the relationships between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: in the late 90s, I started reading a series of now-Legends middle grade novels called Jedi Apprentice, the first book of which was called The Rising Force and told the story of how they became master and apprentice. As this series was marketed for children, I didn’t demand too much from it, though I do recall wishing it had been a deeper exploration of the two characters’ personalities and bond as it went along. Twenty years later, it’s like Claudia Gray has finally written the kind of story I wanted. Qui-Gon’s fear of failing his apprentice is written incredibly well, and likewise so is Obi-Wan’s struggle to understand his master and his determination not to disappoint him. It was heartbreaking to read about their anxieties, knowing that deep down, they both loved and respected each other very much.

And of course, another one of the novel’s major topics is prophecy. I mean, considering how the Jedi prophecy of the “Chosen One” was the main impetus behind Anakin Skywalker and the whole Star Wars saga, this is huge—and accordingly, Gray gives this theme the gravitas and weight it deserves. Qui-Gon’s views on prophecies, which also explained his motivations in The Phantom Menace, were addressed here in Master & Apprentice, and also sets up a number of theories for Star Wars fans to chew on with regards to the new movies.

Typical of the author’s Star Wars novels, the characterization was also done extremely well. There’s a clear emphasis on developing relationships, and there are a whole web of them here to consider. The story takes a look at both past and present, examining the relationships of multiple sets of masters and apprentices, as well as the role the Jedi Council has played in those dynamics. In addition, we have the side characters and their relationships to each other and the protagonists. Following in the footsteps of a long line of rogue Jedi in Star Wars fiction, Rael Averross’ infectious personality and emotional openness completely stole the show for me. Rahara and Pax were also a joy to read about, and their personal stories offer some commentary on darker activities that still go on in the Republic, including smuggling and slavery. And then there are the shadowy villains and other dubious organizations like Czerka and or the Opposition on Pijal, though Gray is so subtle and clever with her writing that there will be twists and surprises you won’t see coming.

Needless to say, in my eyes, Master & Apprentice is one of the new canon’s better books. Personally, I also think it’s one of Claudia Gray’s bolder Star Wars novels, where she tackles more mature themes and uses some modern vernacular and risqué language which felt a little out of place at times (keep in mind I’m talking by Star Wars standards here, and I know some people let their younger kids read Star Wars tie-ins, so reader discretion is advised). To sum things up though, I had a great time with this novel, and after reading it, I also think it would be fantastic to see more prequel or pre-prequel era Star Wars books in the future.

Audiobook Comments: I absolutely adored Jonathan Davis’ performance on the Star Wars: Master & Apprentice audiobook. He’s always been known to me as “that Star Wars narrator who can do an amazing Darth Vader voice”, but obviously he’s incredibly talented and can do a lot more than that. Short of getting Liam Neeson himself to read this book, I don’t think you could have gotten a better voice actor for Qui-Gon Jinn. Stellar performance, as always.

Waiting on Wednesday 05/01/19

Posted on May 1, 2019 18 Comments

Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!

Mogsy’s Pick

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson (December 3, 2019 by Delacorte)

Now, I know I can’t be the only one who can’t wait for this book. I mean, how amazing was Skyward? Let the countdown to December begin for the sequel!

“From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Reckoners series, Words of Radiance, the Mistborn trilogy, and the Stormlight Archive comes the second book in an epic series about a girl with a secret in a dangerous world at war for humanity’s future.

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she’s a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. The rumors of his cowardice are true–he deserted his flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them.

Spensa is sure there’s more to the story. And she’s sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars–and it was terrifying. What she learned turned her world upside down. Everything Spensa’s been taught is a lie.

But Spensa also learned a few things about herself–and she’ll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.”

Book Review: Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

Posted on April 30, 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.

Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Book 11 of Mercy Thompson

Publisher: Ace (May 7, 2019)

Length: 368 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

At eleven books, the Mercy Thompson series has become a veritable saga at this point. Pack drama and supernatural politics, this one’s got it all! And believe it or not, many of these story threads are still developing and building upon everything that has come before.

This is the case in Storm Cursed, which takes us back to the Tri-Cities area after our eventful detour through Europe in Silence Fallen—which also means we return to Tri-Cities politics. Repercussions of Mercy’s past decisions have caught up to her, and while it felt like the right thing to do at the time, nothing could have prepared her for the pressures involved in taking responsibility for the safety of everyone living in the territory of the Columbia Basin pack.

As always though, Mercy has the full support of her husband and pack leader Adam, even if some of the other werewolves only barely tolerate her—and only because they have to. But what’s done is done, and now everyone is busy dealing with the aftermath of Mercy’s proclamation, including getting rid of any intrusions on their territory or threats to their people.

Still, some major power shifts are happening. The Tri-Cities area now has the reputation of neutral ground, where negotiations can take place between the US Government and the Gray Lords of the Fae. As a whole slew of important people descends upon their home territory, Mercy finds herself playing reluctant liaison between the politicians and the supernatural community. Meanwhile though, other troubling things are happening around the place, including the emergence of zombie animals and a massacre on the local witch’s coven. With all these fires needing to be put out, Mercy barely has time anymore to put in hours at her car mechanic day job, even though the garage has reopened since being burned down a few months back.

I’ll be honest—this wasn’t my favorite Mercy Thompson novel by far, especially coming on the heels of the thrilling installment that was Silence Fallen. After that nice little break, it appears the series has settled into holding pattern again, in that this one felt like a bridge book whose purpose is to establish a foundation for what’s coming next. There also wasn’t one central conflict in the story; instead, there were several all being developed in tandem, which resulted in a lack of focus. In addition, the political aspects dragged on, not to mention how some of those parts felt awkwardly shoehorned in when there were more urgent problems to worry about, like, oh, I don’t know, how about Elizavetta’s entire family being brutally tortured and murdered and the imminent takeover by a rival coven of black witches? It certainly didn’t feel like that bombshell was given the gravity it deserved, and it’s possible all these reasons made Storm Cursed feel comparatively less engaging than some of the books that came before.

That said, if you’re still following the series at this point, you’ll know what a delight these characters are to follow. It’s impossible for Patricia Briggs to write a bad Mercy Thompson book in my eyes, because each volume always introduces something new and interesting. One of my favorite aspects is seeing all the relationships develop, not just on a personal level between characters but also on a larger scale between all the paranormal communities (Fae, Witches, Werewolves, etc.) in the Tri-Cities. I also love how this book brought back a ton of familiar faces like Zee and Stefan, while still having room to introduce newer names like Sherwood and Larry. It’s true that all the characters get hard to keep track of sometimes, and even as someone who has followed this series closely, occasionally I get forgetful and lost when the story references some past events. This is definitely a series where you have to be up-to-date with the books, and to an extent also be familiar with the Alpha & Omega universe (which I don’t read, which is probably why I’m at a slight disadvantage).

At the end of the day though, even with the Mercy Thompson series’ highs and lows, each book is still an adventure where you never know what’s around the corner for everyone’s favorite coyote shapeshifter and the rest of the gang. While Storm Cursed was a bit of a mixed bag, with a lot of things going on and sections that were less engaging than others, overall I had a good time, and as always, I can’t wait for more.

More on The BiblioSanctum:
Reread of River Marked (Book 6)
Review of Night Broken (Book 8)
Review of Fire Touched (Book 9)
Review of Silence Fallen (Book 10)
Review of Shifting Shadows (Anthology)

Book Review: Kin by Snorri Kristjansson

Posted on April 29, 2019 29 Comments

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

Kin by Snorri Kristjansson

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction

Series: Book 1 of Helga Finnsdottir

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (March 8, 2018)

Length: 352 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

I’ve wanted to read Snorri Kristjansson for a while, and I’ve had his Valhalla Saga on my reading list ever since I first heard it described as a Viking historical fantasy replete with longships plowing the glorious waves and lots of bloody axe battles. So when I found out about Kin, the first book of his Helga Finnsdottir series, I was a little surprised at the departure. No epic clashes on the battlefield here, nor bloodstained tales of Vikings burning, raiding, and pillaging their enemies. Instead, what we get is this rather moody and domestic little murder mystery taking place on a quiet 10th century Icelandic homestead, and well, I can’t say I’ve ever read anything of its kind before. It’s undoubtedly an unusual direction to take when it comes to the topic of Vikings, but I can’t say it wasn’t interesting or refreshing. In fact, I had a very good time with the novel and found it to be a fun and engaging read.

At the center of Kin is a somewhat dysfunctional family headed by retired Viking warlord Unnthor Reginsson. He and his wife Hildigunnar have four grown children who have left home and are establishing their own lives and families, but they have also adopted a girl named Helga who still lives with them. Along with Unnthor’s right hand man Jaki and his son Einar, Helga helps out around the farm. On any average day, it is just the five of them, but very soon, things are about to get a lot more crowded and busy. Unnthor has invited his children back for a reunion, and the book begins as, one by one, they arrive at the farm with their families.

First is eldest son Karl, who is short-tempered and aggressive, arriving with his wife Agla and their teenaged daughter Gytha. Then there’s second son Bjorn, who is a giant of a man but much less volatile than his older brother, though the two of them have never gotten along. Bjorn and his wife Thyri have a son, Volund, whom they believe to be a bit simple-minded. Next is clever and feisty Jorunn, Unnthor and Hildigunnar’s only daughter by birth. She arrives with her husband Sigmar, a Swede and hence viewed by the rest of the family as an outsider. And last but not least is youngest son Aslak, considered the meekest of the siblings, who arrives with his thorny wife Runa and their two little children Bragi and Sigrun.

At first, the house is full of cheer and joy with the family all under one roof again, but unfortunately the mood doesn’t last. Soon, bitter resentment and old rivalries are brought to light again, causing plenty of tension and fighting. Karl is confrontational with his crude and offensive ways, and Bjorn, ever competitive with his brother, was never one to let him get away with it. Jorunn and Sigmar are crafty and manipulative, keeping mostly to themselves. Aslak, who just wants to build a happy home is nonetheless unhappy with his family’s situation. And in the middle of this is Helga, watching Unnthor and Hildigunnar trying in vain to settle their children and smooth over conflicts. As if that weren’t enough, all of them have also heard of rumors that their father is sitting on a big hoard of hidden treasure, and each one wants a piece of it. It’s only a matter of time until this uneasy situation boils over, and sure enough, one morning Helga is awoken by a terrified scream to discover one of the family members dead, murdered in the night.

It’s true there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but if you enjoy family drama, then this will be your type of book. I suppose that’s what drew me in. This isn’t a fast-paced story by any means and there’s not much action to speak of, and yet I found myself hanging on every word. First of all, throw all your preconceived notions about family reunions out the window—this isn’t going to be anything like you expect. It isn’t a gathering full of laughter or happy tears from seeing your kin again after so many years apart. In contrast, they’re all ready to jump down each other’s throats at the slightest provocation, and keeping an eye out to take advantage of any signs of weakness. In fact, it’s crossed my mind to wonder if anyone in this strange little family actually like one another. The time and place of this novel is a whole different world from what we know, so don’t be expecting the characters to fall into conventional family roles or for any of them to act in a certain way, because chances are, you’ll be surprised. And this feeling of not being able to predict anything is what kept me turning the pages.

In many ways, a book like Kin shouldn’t have worked for me, but it did. Kristjansson presents a very strong sense of place and the atmosphere is underscored by the isolation of the setting. While there are a limited number of suspects, the narrative is no less intense or troubling because we know it had to be someone in the family—and kin or not, the justice meted out will be swift and merciless. I also loved the prose as it is very readable and easy to get into, and trust me, you’ll appreciate that you won’t have to struggle with the writing style once you realize how many characters there are to keep track of, not to mention all the possible motives.

All things considered, I’m glad I finally got to read Kin. The author’s unique handling of Vikings was a pleasant surprise for me, and I found I greatly enjoyed the story’s compelling blend of historical fiction and crime mystery, so if you’re a fan of these genres you should take a look. As the novel’s protagonist, Helga Finnsdottir was a joy to follow and I look forward to seeing her again in the series’ next book, Council.

YA Weekend: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Posted on April 28, 2019 29 Comments

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

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Series: Book 1 of The Aurora Cycle

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 7, 2019)

Length: 480 pages

Author Information: Amie Kaufman | Jay Kristoff

Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have done it again. While Aurora Rising is no Illuminae Files trilogy (but let’s face it, we all knew that filling those shoes would have been an extremely tough thing to do anyway), it does bring its own brand of excitement and entertainment to the table, offering a solid YA adventure that should satisfy any sci-fi fan looking for a thrilling space romp.

The year is 2380, and at the prestigious Aurora Academy it is the eve of the Draft, which has been on cadet Tyler Jones’ mind for as long as he has been looking forward to graduation. As the school’s star student, he would have the pick of the best recruits for his squad. However, an unwavering sense of duty leads him to answer a distress call that night, causing a huge kerfuffle resulting in Tyler missing the most important day of his life. In the aftermath, he is left with a crew of misfits, the leftover dregs of the academy that no other squad leaders want.

Nevertheless, Tyler is determined to be a good leader, resolving to live up to his reputation of “golden boy” and to do the best with what he’s got. First, we have Scarlett, Tyler’s twin who joined the academy in solidarity with her brother, and likewise she has decided to stick with him now out of a sense of loyalty, serving as his squad’s diplomat. Next, we have Cat, an ace pilot who has been friends with the twins since they were all children. It’s also something of an open secret that she’s always carried a torch for Tyler, though all of them tiptoe around the fact. And then we have Kal, a member of Syldrathi race, an alien species affectionately referred to as space-elves. Kal, however, is no willowy sprite; he’s got a fiery temper and serious anger management problems, which is why no one else at the academy would touch him with a ten-foot pole despite his legendary fighting prowess. Also, we have Zila, the squad’s brilliant science officer, except she’s so volatile and prone to get trigger-happy that not even the promise of her genius can overcome others’ fears of working with her. And finally, there’s Finian, the team’s second alien member, of the Betraskan species. Frequently underestimated by others because of his impaired mobility which requires him to wear an exoskeleton suit for support and movement, Fin is a tech expert who is the best at what he does despite the massive chip on his shoulder. Together, the six of them make up Squad 312, our novel’s heroes.

But wait! There’s one final surprise member of team, a wild card no one anticipated until she made her presence known on the crew’s first official mission after stowing away on board their ship. This is Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, a girl who finds herself in an unfamiliar world after waking up from being cryogenically frozen for the last two hundred years. And as if this strange future wasn’t scary enough, for some reason there are hostile forces hunting Auri, and she’s also developing superhuman abilities that both terrify and fascinate her. As Squad 312 struggles to decide what to do with their newest crewmate, they also must worry about their own safety as Auri’s powers grow more dangerous and her pursuers close in.

First thing I noticed about Aurora Rising is that there’s something very Star Trek-y about its setup, which immediately biased me towards its story and characters. For one thing, I’m a real sucker for ensemble casts in my space operas and sci-fi adventures, and the motley crew of this book promised great and interesting things. I also liked how the authors actually gave our characters genuine personalities and background histories. I’ve come across way too many YA novels these days that promise diverse characters, but in reality, what we end up getting is a parade of diversity labels and shallow characters who are empty husks defined only by their race/gender/sexual orientation/disability, etc. Honestly, this gets tiresome after a while, not to mention it’s a bit insulting. Which is why I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to read about Squad 312 and have them actually feel like well-rounded and authentic people who have experienced real emotions and lived real lives. And quite frankly, I would have expected nothing less from Kaufman and Kristoff, who have already shown us they can write amazingly well-developed characters with their Illuminae Files series.

But while I would have no hesitation whatsoever recommending Illuminae Files to anyone, regardless of their age, I do have to mention that Aurora Rising feels more skewed towards a younger audience, with a stronger “teen read” vibe. The characters’ attitudes, dialogue, and sense of humor seem to reflect this. Like for example, the ridiculous number of times Tyler’s attractiveness was mentioned or how he was constantly referred to as “Captain Hotness” (I swear, if I had to read about his damn dimples one more time…) Then there was Auri’s annoying way of calling Kal “Elrond” and making endless stupid Lord of the Rings references. So if this is the kind of stuff that grates on your nerves, your eyes are probably in for some epic rolling.

The premise of Aurora Rising is also not as complex as any of the books in the Illuminae Files trilogy, nor is it anywhere near as unique. It’s pretty much your standard heist plot, but in space, and I’ve read better. Still, to its credit, this book is exciting, if a bit drawn out at times—though often when we get lulls, it’s because of character development, which is why I give some of the wonky pacing a pass.

All told though, Aurora Rising was a satisfying read with fantastically developed characters (in spite of all the snark) and a decent plot with well-written action. I truly did not think it would reach the heights of Illuminae, so I’m glad I kept my expectations realistic, but still, overall I am very happy with how this book turned out.

Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on April 27, 2019 26 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.

Received for Review

My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!

Kicking off today’s roundup, with thanks to the kind folks at Ace/Roc/DAW for the following: a finished copy of Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs, the eleventh book in the Mercy Thompson series. I’ve started this one and I’m already about halfway through and enjoying myself a lot, though it’s been a while since I read the last book so I’ve been having some trouble keeping track of some of the past events being referred to in the story. Next up is a finished copy of Empire of Grass by Tad Williams, the second book of his The Last King of Osten Ard series. I only read Williams for the first time last year with The Witchwood Crown, and even though the fantasy themes in it are a bit convention, I’m looking forward to continuing the series. I also received a couple of surprise ARCs from the publisher: The Wolf’s Call by Anthony Ryan, the first book of his new series Raven’s Blade which will be a new adventure set in the same world as his Raven’s Tower trilogy, and Priest of Lies by Peter McLean, book two of War for the Rose Throne. I wasn’t all that crazy for the first book, so I’m still deciding whether or not I will be continuing this series.

Speaking of surprises, with thanks to Crown Publishing I also received an ARC of a new book I’m only learning about for the first time called The Warehouse by Rob Hart. Described as a darkly satirical near-future thriller, this sci-fi dystopian follows two characters working at an Amazon-like mega-company that has pretty much monopolized the entire country and held it hostage. It sounds really interesting so I might end up giving this a try. And with thanks to Redhook, I also received an ARC of another new-to-me title called The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry, a novel described as the “ultimate book-lover’s fantasy” featuring a protagonist who has the power to bring literary characters into the world. Um, yes? That definitely sounds like a book-lover’s fantasy to me! I’ll have to give this one a try for sure.

Also thank you to Subterranean Press for sending me the following ARCs of books by some big name fantasy authors: Houses Under the Sea by Caitlín R. Kiernan is a collection of over two dozen of her best Lovecraftian tales and is a must for any fan of the author; A Pilgrimage of Swords by Anthony Ryan is a novella set in a completely new world about a veteran warrior who makes a pilgrimage to the center of a cursed land in the hopes of seeking redemption; and Fan Service by Gail Carriger is an omnibus described as a collection of stories specifically curated to honor the author’s most devoted fans, set to release this fall to commemorate the ten year anniversary of Carriger’s Soulless.

Courtesy of Orbit books, I also received Queenslayer by Sebastien de Castell, the fifth book in his Spellslinger series. It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on the penultimate book already, I guess time flies when you’re having so much fun. From the publisher I also received a finished copy of A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World which came included with a few themed postcards. I hadn’t started the book at the time so I didn’t understand their significance, but now that I’ve finished I think they’re pretty clever. My review went up earlier this week in case you missed it!

And finally from the amazing team at Tor, I received a finished copy of Knight by Timothy Zahn, the second book in his Sibyl’s War series. I haven’t read the first book yet, but I was also sent it for review last year and I’ve considered checking it out. Reviews I’ve seen have been mixed though, so I’ll probably think on it a little bit longer.

I’ve been pretty restrained when it comes to requests, but this week I accepted a digital galley of Three Laws Lethal by David Walton, releasing from Pyr this summer. I’ve enjoyed the author’s books in the past and didn’t even know he’ll have a new book coming out! Also, I’m always up for some horror so I couldn’t resist grabbing The Toll by Cherie Priest when I saw it pop up on NetGalley earlier this week, especially since this was a book I’ve featured in a past Waiting for Wednesday.

In the audiobook pile, I was excited to receive a listening copy of Star Wars: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray from Random House Audio. Gray hasn’t disappointed me with any of her Star Wars books yet, so I’m looking forward to this one and hoping to start it soon. Earlier this week, I was also contacted by Audible Studios with an offer of an advanced listening copy of Outland by Dennis E. Taylor. Since I’ve enjoyed the author’s Bobiverse books and am also a big fan of narrator Ray Porter, I happily said yes!

Reviews

Here is a quick summary of my reviews posted since the last update:

Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse (4.5 of 5 stars)
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing (4.5 of 5 stars)
Tiamat’s Wrath by James S.A. Corey (4.5 of 5 stars)
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell (4 of 5 stars)
A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher (4 of 5 stars)
Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence (4 of 5 stars)
Dead Moon by Peter Clines (3.5 of 5 stars)
Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett (3 of 5 stars)
The Binding by Bridget Collins (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. 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: Sunrise/Sunset

Posted on April 26, 2019 27 Comments

This week’s theme is:

“The sunrise was the colour of bad blood.”
~ a cover featuring a SUNRISE OR SUNSET

Mogsy’s Pick:

The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington

Whenever I hear about an indie fantasy that makes the jump to a traditional publishing house, it always piques my curiosity, and of course, The Shadow of What Was Lost was no exception. While I didn’t think it revolutionized epic fantasy in any way, I nevertheless found it to be an engaging series-opener. Let’s take a look at the covers:

From left to right, top to bottom:
Smashwords (2014) – Orbit (2016)

German Edition A (2017) – German Edition B (2018)

Czech Edition (2018) – Russian Edition (2019)

Winner:

I’m going to have to go with the Orbit edition for this one. I love the art style and the way the monochromatic parts of the image make the orange of the sun really pop.

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