Waiting on Wednesday 10/17/18

Posted on October 17, 2018 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

The Philosopher’s War by Tom Miller (July 16, 2019 by Simon & Schuster)

Last year’s The Philosopher’s Flight from debut author and ER doctor Tom Miller was perhaps one of the biggest surprises of 2018. Set in an alternate World-War-I-era America and blending together historical fiction and fantasy, The Philosopher’s War will continue the story of Robert Weekes, who becomes the first man allowed to fly in the US Sigilry Corp’s Rescue and Evacuation service in a world where magic is a field dominated by women. I’m curious to see how the protagonist will continue navigating the gender-flipped society as well as the war-torn skies of the First World War.

“The second book in the thrilling series that began with The Philosopher’s Flight finds Robert Canderelli Weekes as a rookie Rescue and Evacuation flier on the front lines of World War I in France. He came to save lives, but has no idea how far he’ll have to go to win the war.

Thanks to a stunning flying performance and a harrowing shootout in the streets of Boston, Robert Canderelli Weekes’s lifelong dream has come true: he’s the first male allowed to join the US Sigilry Corps’s Rescue and Evacuation service, an elite, all-woman team of flying medics.

But as he deploys to France during the waning days of the Great War, Sigilwoman Third-Class Canderelli learns that carrying the injured from the front lines to the field hospital is not the grand adventure he imagined. His division, full of misfits and renegades, is stretched the breaking point and has no patience for a man striving to prove himself. Slowly, Robert wins their trust and discovers his comrades are plotting to end the Great War by outlawed philosophical means. Robert becomes caught up in their conspiracy, running raids in enemy territory and uncovering vital intelligence. Friends old and new will need his help with a dangerous scheme that just might win the war overnight and save a few million lives. But the German smokecarvers have plans of their own: a devastating all-out attack that threatens to destroy the Corps and France itself. Naturally, Robert is trapped right in the thick of it.

The Philosopher’s War is the electrifying next chapter in Robert Weekes’s story, filled with heroic, unconventional women, thrilling covert missions, romance and, of course, plenty of aerial adventures. The second book in a series “that grabs readers from its opening lines and doesn’t loosen its grip or lessen its hold all the way through” (Associated Press), Tom Miller again brings Robert’s world to life with unrivaled imagination, ambition, and wit.”

Book Review: Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Posted on October 16, 2018 32 Comments

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

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction

Series: Book 2 of Villains

Publisher: Tor Books (September 25, 2018)

Length: 480 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Vengeful was probably the best book I’ve read by Victoria/V.E. Schwab since…well, its predecessor Vicious. I really wish she would write more adult novels like this. I think letting loose gives her the opportunity to go beyond a lot of the usual story clichés that seem to plague the YA fantasy genre, allowing her to develop a more nuanced and mature approach to the personal voices in her stories.

If you’re like me, and you read Vicious back when it first came out, you’re probably going to need a quick refresher course. Vengeful is a direct sequel that expands upon the world of ExtraOrdinary humans, or EOs—individuals who are possessed of superpowers. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to our characters since we saw them last; Victor Vale died at the end of Vicious, before he was brought back to life by Sydney Clarke and her resurrection powers. His former friend and college roommate Eli Cardale was imprisoned. Now Victor is struggling with the aftereffects of being reanimated, because something went terribly wrong with the process.

Meanwhile, a new EO has emerged and is raising hell in the town of Merit. The wife of dangerous mob boss, Marcella Riggins, has survived an attempted murder by her husband—and she is seriously pissed. A mean piece of work even before she got her powers, Marcella is not only out for revenge, but she wants to destroy everything and build her own empire from the ashes. Inevitably, both Victor and Eli become caught up in the destructive wake of her power grab, although for different reasons. Victor has had a chance to re-evaluate many of his viewpoints since the events at the end of the first book. Eli, for his part, has also had to live with the consequences of his choices. Forced to work with an organization dedicated to the capture and containment of EOs, Eli is cooperating for now, but secretly he is biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment when he can confront Victor again.

Vengeful had the benefit of starting out very strong with a hefty amount of history already behind its premise and characters. I find it interesting that Vicious was my first book by the author, but it has been entrenched in my mind like no other book I’ve read from her since. Victor, Eli, Sydney, etc. are some of the best characters she has ever created, and what this sequel manages to do is raise the stakes by developing them even further.

The book kicks off in high gear with an introduction to Marcella, who is easily the best of the new character additions. Yes, her personality was a little extreme and over-the-top, but in not holding back, Schwab may have done her villainess the biggest favor. Admittedly, I’ve not always been a fan of her female characters; more often than not, I’ve found them to be obnoxious, disingenuous, badass-for-the-sake-of-being-badass, and on the whole weak on substance. Maybe the author is simply trying to channel the exaggerated tone of a superhero movie or comic book here, I have no idea, but what I do know is that it worked. Marcella perfectly embodies the phrase, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” She was ruthless, she was scary, she was awesome.

But rest assured, Schwab can do subtle too. Vengeful is a continued exploration of an idea fans have always known—that Victor and Eli are two sides of the same coin. However, both have also changed in ways you can only pick up if you’ve been paying attention. Speaking of which, one of my favorite things about this book is how it not looks forward into the future, but back into the past as well. The heart-wrenching details of Eli’s backstory are laid bare for us to scrutinize, and it’s up to the reader to decide whether he is deserving of sympathy. It’s important to note that there are no true heroes in the Villians universe; with only a couple exceptions, most of the characters fall into shades of grey. This aspect of the series has always been my favorite thing about it, setting it apart from the more pedestrian tales of good vs. evil.

In terms of criticisms, I was not a fan of the sporadic time jumps—though I could also understand why they would be required. Schwab needed to do a lot with this sequel, and had her work cut out for her when it comes to balancing all these moving parts. Given all of her goals for this novel, she did as well as could be expected—which is saying a lot.

As we built towards the climax, Vengeful delivered excitement and then some. In the end, this is a sequel worth reading, especially if you were as taken with Vicious as I was. Once more, V.E. Schwab has woven a compelling tale about the emotional costs of great power, exploring the themes of dubious morality, vengeance, and fate.

More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Vicious (Book 1)

Book Review: The Stars Now Unclaimed by Drew Williams

Posted on October 15, 2018 19 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 Stars Now Unclaimed by Drew Williams

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 1 of The Universe After

Publisher: Tor (August 21, 2018)

Length: 448 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

For readers getting ready to head into The Stars Now Unclaimed, you may want to strap in first. The story wastes no time in dumping our protagonist into a mission embroiled in a deep thicket of secrets, intrigue, and action. Jane, who starts off unnamed until her purposes behind remaining anonymous are revealed halfway through the book, is an agent for the Justified, an organization dedicated to locating and retrieving gifted young people scattered throughout the galaxy. Years ago, when the mysterious Pulse happened, whole worlds were changed when they lost all their technology due to the radiation, but one of its side effects also caused children to be born with strange, incredible powers. The Justified believe that these special children are the key to fixing the damage caused by the Pulse, which is why Jane has been dispatched to a wild and untamed planet to find one of them now, a teenager named Esa.

But almost immediately, things go to hell as Jane is ambushed by the Pax, an army of aggressive conquering zealots who were largely unaffected by the Pulse and believe that gives them the right to rule the entire galaxy. The retrieval job quickly devolves into a rescue mission as Jane desperately tries to get Esa off-world to some place safe, recruiting the help of some new and old allies, including her ship’s AI, a sentient robot named Preacher, a Justified information broker, as well as her roguish ex-lover Javi. Together, this ragtag team will need to help each other navigate through some dangerous and explosive conflicts in the hopes that they might stop the enemy from plunging the galaxy further into chaos.

If you wanted non-stop action, then you’ve come to the right place, my friend. Over the years I’ve read a lot of space opera, and The Stars Now Unclaimed blows them all away in terms of number of action scenes and battle sequences. But is this necessarily a good thing? Generally, I prefer beginning my reviews on a positive note, but today I’m leading with something that might be considered a double-edged sword. Your mileage may vary, of course, but personally I found the action scenes here to be too frequent, too drawn out, and much too bombastic. “The more, the better” is not always true, and I would point to this book as the perfect example. Having too much action can in fact rob a scene of its desired dramatic effect, and this was something I noticed again and again, especially with the final battle where I found myself feeling tempted to skim to the end.

The world-building is also fantastic, but like a lot of debut novelists, Drew Williams noticeably struggles with “show, don’t tell.” To his credit, Williams tries to get around explaining all the ins-and-outs of his huge and sweeping universe by pushing all those details into dialogue, but the resulting info dumps are still just as off-putting. That said, I do love the setting he has created, a world containing a mishmash of themes and concepts which feels to me like a loving tribute to a number of sci-fi intellectual properties. In addition to Firefly and The Expanse (the two touted by the publisher’s description), I also caught whiffs of everything from Star Wars and Star Trek to Guardians of the Galaxy and Mass Effect, making me think science fiction fans and pop culture geeks will be sure to fall comfortably into this one.

As for the characters, I appreciated how the narrative was mainly focused on a small, tightly-knit cast. Most of them felt lightly sketched, derivative and archetypal, and again, I was hit with the sensation that I’ve met them (or characters like them) before. For whatever reason though, I thought it worked, giving the book a throwback old-school vibe, all done in the spirit of fun more than anything else. The reason I felt so endeared to these characters was precisely because I recognized them for what they were from the moment I met them. They played off each other well, giving rise to many instances of sharp dialogue and interesting dynamics.

On the whole, The Stars Now Unclaimed gives me the impression of a debut that could use a little more polish, but broadly speaking, it’s pretty solid. In my view, a lot of the effort put towards the action could have been better served developing the characters or world building in a less info-dumpy fashion, but overall I was quite pleased with this novel and I probably wouldn’t say no to checking out the sequel.

Book Review: Mystic Dragon by Jason Denzel

Posted on October 14, 2018 11 Comments

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

Mystic Dragon by Jason Denzel

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 2 of Mystic

Publisher: Tor (July 17, 2018)

Length: 352 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

It’s been a while since I read Mystic, so I wasn’t at all surprised that getting back into the world with its sequel felt like a completely new experience. In a way though, that’s exactly what Mystic Dragon was going for. Seven years have passed since we last saw our protagonist Pomella, who, against all odds, had managed to best the competition and become apprenticed to the new High Mystic, despite being a commoner. But while she is proud of her achievements, a part of Pomella still wants more. She feels that her mentor, the Grandmaster Faywong, isn’t teaching her fast enough.

But now, everything is about to change. A rare celestial event approaches, disrupting the delicate balance between the Mystical realm of Fayün and the mortal world of Pomella’s home. The two sides are beginning to overlap, with Fay creatures pouring through in greater and more dangerous numbers. Soon, people are disappearing or dying. Called upon to do something about the threat, Mystics everywhere are gathering for an important ritual on Moth, the small island where Pomella resides. One of the new arrivals is a young female apprentice named Shevia, whose strange power immediately draws the attention of our protagonist. With familiar echoes of the first book, the story also includes a third perspective featuring Sim, Pomella’s old friend who has spent much of the intervening time traveling as a ranger.

While Mystic Dragon is a sequel, there’s no doubt it was written to be a standalone so that readers can start here without having read the first book. Normally, I would be a big proponent of reading a series in order to gain a full picture, but in this case, Jason Denzel has truly made this book a perfect point to jump on board. One reason for this is the seven-year leap ahead, which makes the story feel like a bonafide fresh start. But even then, newcomers aren’t left hanging. The narrative does a superb job introducing you to the main characters and filling out their background, which includes providing a general idea of what Mystic was about and what has happened since.

That said, everything that made Mystic Dragon such a great standalone also left me with a sense of wistfulness and regret. In my review of Mystic, I called the book one of the most charming fantasy debuts I read in 2015. Much of that was due to the protagonist Pomella, a pure-hearted and somewhat naïve teenager at the time, whom nonetheless refused to let her doubts get in the way of a goal that seemed impossible to achieve. In addition, many of the story’s important coming-of-age themes contributed to its charm and magic, making the protagonist’s emotions and experiences feel very relatable and genuine.

While in general I enjoy seeing character evolve over time, I was taken aback by how much Pomella has changed in Mystic Dragon, which went simply beyond growing up into a more mature and confident Mystic. Of course, I was aware how different a person could become in seven years, but still—gone was the charisma I so adored about her in the first book, to the point I actually found myself struggling to stay interested during her chapters. A part of me also felt disappointment at jumping so far ahead in time, missing the many formative years Pomella had trained with Master Faywong. Needless to say, I did not expect to feel any of this wistfulness when I first picked up the book, which made the early reading experience somewhat difficult and frustrating.

Happily, other characters stepped up to win my heart. Shevia was a fantastic introduction, and I loved her backstory and the role she was given to play. My biggest surprise, however, was Sim, mostly because he was a character I barely remembered from the first book, but he was given a chance to really shine in Mystic Dragon. It was fascinating to get a glimpse into some of things he’s been up to the for the last seven years, and his chapters also reminded me of many things I enjoyed about Mystic, from the imaginative world-building to the well thought out magic system.

In sum, while I did stumble a bit in the early parts of Mystic Dragon, I eventually grew to enjoy it. It also bears mentioning that Mystic was a book that made a strong impression on me; whatever negative feelings I had towards this sequel, the fact that it was not the comfortable return to the familiar characters and setting I had expected probably played a role in them. Your own mileage will certainly vary, whether you are also continuing this journey or just now deciding to visit the world of the Mystic series for the first time. Regardless, I really do think Jason Denzel has written a decent sequel.

More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Mystic (Book 1)

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

Posted on October 13, 2018 37 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

The books are hitting my mailbox fast and hard again, so here are some from both this month and last month as I do my best to catch up. Big 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!

My thanks to Viking for introducing me to The Winters by Lisa Gabriele, a psychological thriller marketed as a modern retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. This is going straight to the top of my fall reading list!

With thanks also to Simon & Schuster for sending me Rabbit & Robot by Andrew Smith. The finished copy is even more vibrant and eye-popping than the ARC! Still planning on giving this one a look if I have some extra time this month.

From the kind folks at Ace/Roc/DAW, I received a surprise copy of Search Image by Julie E. Czerneda, the first book of a new series set in the world of the author’s Web Shifter series. Naturally I’m drawn to this one because I’ve always been curious about Czerneda’s work, but this being a spin-off has me a little concerned that it might be tougher for a newcomer like me to follow. Next up is a finished copy of The Way of the Shield by Marshall Ryan Maresca, the start of yet another series set in his Maradaine universe. I’m already juggling a couple of them, so only time will tell if I’ll be able to take on one more! And a tip of the hat to Kaye Publicity for hooking me up with an ARC of Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch, the next installment in his Peter Grant/Rivers of London series. I’ve already started this one, since I love these books so much; I should have my final review up in time for its release next month.

Also thanks to Del Rey for surprising me with a finished copy of Bright Ruin by Vic James, the third novel in the Dark Gifts trilogy. I wasn’t crazy for the first book so I never got around to the second, but depending on how this final volume is received, I might be convinced to finish the series one day.

My warmest thanks also goes to the amazing team at Pyr Books for sending me a finished copy of No Sleep Till Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton. I reviewed this book earlier in the week, and in case you missed my final verdict, I had a great time with it.

A shout out as well to HarperCollins for introducing me to November Road by Lou Berney. When this showed up on my doorstep, my first instinct was to dismiss it as “not my thing”, but after some research, I learned some new details about the book that made me reevaluate. Set to the backdrop of the JFK assassination, this historical drama also has elements of suspense, crime thriller, and a love story between two people on the run.

With thanks also to HarperVoyager for sending me a review copy of Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep. Would you believe I’ve never read this author before? She’s been pretty prolific in recent years, so I’m glad I’m finally getting the chance to read her work. I’m about halfway through this one right now, and I’m enjoying it a lot.

Last month I was also lucky enough to score an ARC of Four Dead Queen by Astrid Scholte from the Bookish First program. I’m usually wary about this type of YA fantasy, but I previewed an excerpt and found it to have a lot of promise, so I guess we’ll see. With thanks to Penguin Teen.

And a long overdue thanks to Tor Teen for sending me a finished copy of Dare You To Lie by Amber Lynn Natusch. The reviews coming out for this have been stellar, and for a YA mystery thriller, the average ratings have been impressive. This will be going onto my “must read” list.

Thanks to Tor Books, I also received a finished copy of Vengeful by V.E. Schwab, the long-awaited sequel to her first adult novel, Vicious. I wish she would write more adult books, because I think this has been her best work in years. My review of it should be up sometime next week, so stay tuned. And finally, I also received a hardcover of Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson. You just know anything by Sanderson is going to be solid, and this was no exception. My review went up earlier this week, so check it out if you haven’t already.

But wait! That’s not it from Tor. Earlier this year, the publisher launched a campaign called #FearlessWomen, showcasing a number of their new SFF releases written by female authors. The BiblioSanctum took part in this event and you have have seen some of the spotlights on these titles. As thanks for being a part of the campaign, Tor sent along a care package this week containing some books and swag, including a signed copy of The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal, its sequel The Fated Sky, the new and updated edition of Vicious by V.E. Schwab, and a beautiful finished copy of Death Doesn’t Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I also love the tote, pen, and sticker!

And in the digital pile, so much for the self-restraint I showed last week. From NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press approved my request for For the Killing of Kings by Howard Andrew Jones, the first book of a new epic fantasy trilogy described as a cross between Roger Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber and The Three Musketeers. I’ve actually featured it before for Waiting on Wednesday, so you bet I’m looking forward to this one. From the wonderful publicity team at Entangled: Teen, I also received widget invites to a couple of their most highly-anticipated titles: Valiant by Merrie Destefano and Toxic by Lydia Kang. The publisher has been killing it lately with their YA fantasy titles, so I just couldn’t resist accepting.

From HarperVoyager via Edelweiss, I also picked up Slender Man, which I think will make for some perfect reading later on in the month.

Up next, a parade of audio listening copies: The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta from Listening Library; Street Freaks by Terry Brooks from Audible Studios; Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa from HarperAudio; Phantom Wheel by Tracy Deebs from Hachette Audio; and Shadow of the Exile by Mitchell Hogan with special thanks to the author for providing me with a code to review the audiobook!

Reviews

A list of my reviews posted since the last update:

No Sleep Till Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton (4 of 5 stars)
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson (4 of 5 stars)
Rosewater by Tade Thompson (4 of 5 stars)
Murder on Millionaires’ Row by Erin Lindsey (4 of 5 stars)
Voyage of the Dogs by Greg Van Eekhout (4 of 5 stars)
Beyond the Sixth Extinction: A Post-Apocalyptic Pop-Up by Shawn Sheehy & Jordi Solano
Ravencry by Ed McDonald (3 of 5 stars)
Priest of Bones by Peter McLean (3 of 5 stars)

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: Mystery

Posted on October 12, 2018 29 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:

“The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances”
~ a cover for a MYSTERY novel

Mogsy’s Pick:

13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough

This week’s theme is pretty open-ended, allowing for more options and flexibility. I opted to go with one of my favorite Sarah Pinborough books, a mystery surrounding the near-drowning of a prep school student named Natasha Howland. Smart, rich, and beautiful, Tasha was the most popular girl in school. Then one day, in the dark and early hours of a winter morning, her unresponsive body was pulled from the frigid waters of the River Ribble. Paramedics were able to revive her, but doctors say she was technically dead for thirteen minutes.

Upon waking up from her coma, Tasha can remember nothing about the incident except the horrible sensation of drowning. She does, however, have a sick feeling that her best friends Jenny and Hayley might have been involved with why she was in the woods by the river that night, after noticing the strange way the two of them have been acting around her since she regained consciousness at the hospital. Not knowing who to trust, Tasha turns to Becca, her plain and self-deprecating childhood friend with whom she fell out when the girls reached high school. Told through the eyes of these two teenagers, 13 Minutes is the story of how they unravel the events of the night Tasha went into the river.

Let’s take a look at the covers:

From left to right:
Gollancz (2016) – Flatiron Books Hardover (2017) – Flatiron Books Paperback (2018)

French Edition (2018) – Turkish Edition

Polish Edition (2018) – Serbian Edition (2018) – Russian Edition (2017)

Winner:

The French edition wins again this week! Just looking at that cover gives me chills.

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

Review: Beyond the Sixth Extinction by Shawn Sheehy and Jordi Solano

Posted on October 11, 2018 19 Comments

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

Beyond the Sixth Extinction: A Post-Apocalyptic Pop-Up
created by Shawn Sheehy and illustrated by Jordi Solano
Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
Publisher: Candlewick Press (October 9, 2018)
Length: 40 pages

Pop-up books: a thing of your childhood? Think again. Pop-up books are coming back and they’re doing it in a big way. We often see them as a simple way to entertain the little ones, but very often they can be magnificent works of art that even grown-ups can enjoy, and recently we’ve been seeing more and more of these playful books marketed for adults.

In 2014, Elizabeth Kolbert wrote about the five mass extinction events in Earth’s history and posited the idea that humans are currently causing the sixth in The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. Each of these events have been followed by the emergence of new and diverse lifeforms, repopulating the planet with extraordinary adaptations. Enter Beyond the Sixth Extinction, a post-apocalyptic themed pop-up featuring the elaborate handiwork of paper engineer Shawn Sheehy and illustrations by Jordi Solano. In this book, the creators use stunning pop-ups to portray the types of hypothetical creatures that would have evolved to survive the apocalyptic fallout in the year 4847, on a planet affected by conditions such as elevated global temperatures and high levels of radiation.

Beyond the Sixth Extinction Book Trailer

The eight creatures featured here are the Rex Roach, Clam Fungus, Mudmop, Peteybug, Brownfield Pigeon, Bloomworm, Cagoan Dragon, and Rotrap. Their ancestors managed to survive the extinction event, and with each subsequent generation, weird and creepy adaptations have allowed their species to not only be successful but also dominate the post-apocalyptic wastelands.

Each animal is brought to life in an intricate and well-crafted pop-up, followed by fully-illustrated pages detailing their characteristics. For example, the information page for the Rex Roach declares it to be “the largest known insect ever to have lived” and that the 3-D pop-up model we get to see is only slightly smaller than life-size (now that’s a big bug!) The page also details data such as its scientific name, habitat, anatomy, as well as specialized adaptations which have enabled the creature to flourish and thrive, theorized in an all-too-believable way.

As you can imagine, overall the visual presentation is a feast for the eyes. The book, measuring approximately 10.6 x 2.1 x 11.9 inches, is colorfully packed with pop-ups, sketches, charts, and much, much more. From the field guides and timelines to diagrams and even a habitat map of the District of Cago (the ruins of what used to be Chicago), there’s something for everyone to appreciate.

Bar none, Beyond the Sixth Extinction is one of the coolest books I’ve ever had the pleasure of receiving in my 6+ years of book blogging. It is an absolute beauty that I could admire for hours. Brilliantly crafted and well-conceived, the creatures in here are strange and wonderful, balanced on that fine line between the familiar and alien, with the imagination and talent displayed here simply beyond words. Hence, for the rest of this review, I’ll just let the pictures do the talking. Whether you’re an art book fan or an enthusiast of all things post-apocalyptic, you’re guaranteed to be captivated and mesmerized by this delightful masterpiece which celebrates sci-fi in the most riveting and creative way.

ABOUT THE CREATORS

SHAWN SHEEHY (Liber creātōris)

HABITAT: The streets of Chicago
BIOREMEDIATION: Award winning author of Welcome to the Neighborwood
MUTAGENESIS: He loves working with the pop-up book format and presents workshops on pop-up engineering across the country.

JORDI SOLANO (Liber artis)

HABITAT: Spain
BIOREMEDIATION: Illustrator of Swimming with Sharks by Heather Lang
MUTAGENESIS: Jordi is always drawing and plotting to leave the city and go somewhere green and boring, near a waterfall.

Waiting on Wednesday 10/10/18

Posted on October 10, 2018 17 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

War of the Bastards by Andrew Shvarts (June 4, 2019 by Disney-Hyperion)

So many reasons to be excited for this one, not least of which is the fact that we finished the second book on such a shocking ending. I’m enjoying this series so damn much, and assuming it will be a trilogy, I’m looking forward to see how things will end.

“A year has passed since the fall of Lightspire. The Inquisitor Miles Hampstedt has usurped the throne and rules Noveris with a blood-soaked iron fist. Tilla and her friends have become hardened rebels in the Unbroken, a band of guerilla fighters hiding out in the fringes of the Kingdom. Tilla is plagued with doubt and regret; Lyriana struggles with the burdens of being a fugitive Queen; Zell atones for his guilt by killing for the cause. And even as they all fight, they know their cause is doomed, that with very passing day Miles’ power grows, his army of Bloodmages spreading to cover the continent.

Then a raid on an outpost produces two unexpected prisoners: Lord Elric Kent himself, now a prisoner obsessed with revenge, and Syan See, a strange girl from the Red Wastes. Tilla struggles with the emotional weight of confronting her father, but it’s Syan that offers the true revelation. She demonstrates a new incredible kind of magic, and speaks of a secret civilization hidden in isolation in the mysterious Wastes. With Miles’ forces closing in, Tilla and her friends (alongside a hostage Lord Kent) set out to make contact with Syan’s people, to make an pact that could turn the war. The journey will test their character, forge unlikely alliances, reveal the horrifying true nature of magic, and set in motion a battle that will determine the fate of Noveris itself.”

Book Review: No Sleep Till Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton

Posted on October 9, 2018 25 Comments

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

No Sleep Till Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Book 3 of Dru Jasper

Publisher: Pyr (October 9, 2018)

Length: 288 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

The apocalypse has finally arrived in this third Dru Jasper novel starring the crystal sorceress and her ragtag group of friends as they continue in their fight against the Harbingers. No Sleep Till Doomsday opens with a brazen attack on The Crystal Connection, perpetrated by a mysterious red-headed enchantress who breaks into the store’s vault to steal an object of unimaginable power. This artifact, called the Amulet of Decimus the Accursed, can be used to activate the sixth seal of the apocalypse scroll, bringing about the end of the world. To stop that from happening, Dru and her friends will either have to track down the sorceress, or locate the apocalypse scroll itself.

But doing so won’t be easy. Dru’s boyfriend Greyson is still under a curse binding him to his demon-possessed muscle car Hellbringer, and the old Dodge Charger senses something else going on that his human handlers do not. Meanwhile, Dru’s friend Rane gets mixed up with a gang of protean sorcerers who use magic to shapeshift into animals, and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Salem also has his amulet of power stolen by a bat-man, which can’t possibly be a coincidence. A carefully planned and coordinated war is being waged upon the world by demonic forces, but to turn the tides, our characters must first learn to sort out their differences and gain each other’s trust. One in their circle is wary of Greyson and his influence on Dru, a rift that might not be mended in time before doomsday comes.

If you enjoyed the first two books, you’ll be sure to find plenty to love in No Sleep Till Doomsday as well. In this fast-paced and action-packed installment, Dru and her colorful band of allies are thrust into another situation where they have save the world. It helps that our protagonist has come a long way in her journey, embracing her status as a full-fledged sorcerer, no longer trying to hide her power behind a mask of normalcy. So what if her boyfriend is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Own it, Dru! I was so proud of her character for sticking by her guy, despite some of the doubts expressed by her friends. That said though, Dru still wants to help Greyson, and she hasn’t yet given up on trying to find a way to break the curse.

I also liked how this book, to a greater degree than the previous volumes, expanded the scope to include more of the supporting cast. It makes sense—ever since A Kiss Before Doomsday, Greyson, Rane, Opal, and Salem have become a more integral part of this series. They each have been given their own mini plot arcs in this one, and the narrative alternates between each group, giving the the book a well-balanced perspective. Even Hellbringer gets an opportunity to chime in once in a while, delighting fans with a glimpse into the “mind” of a demonic muscle car.

Because there was so much going on, admittedly the plot structure of this book did feel a little bit crowded and messy, at times even repetitive. For example, Rane and Salem would have their tussle with the shapeshifting protean sorcerers, only to have their foes escape to do it all over again with Dru and Opal, and then this process would repeat itself for the final showdown. Notwithstanding the fate of the whole world on the line, the actual conflicts of the book also lacked weight. One reason is that the possibility of doomsday has already been hanging over the characters’ heads for so long, readers have become desensitized to the threat. Another reason is simply the nature of these books, intended to be a quirky urban fantasy series, delivered in a fun and lighthearted manner.

By the way, nothing wrong with that at all—the first two Dru Jasper books were great popcorn reads, and I was happy that No Sleep Till Doomsday followed in their footsteps. Written with plenty of wit and humor, this one featured even more wild shenanigans and funny banter with our cast of eccentric characters. The multiple storylines following their antics were also entertaining, and I was compelled to see how everything would fit together. Curious to find out more, the energy behind plot kept me turning the pages.

All in all, No Sleep Till Doomsday was another fine installment to the Dru Jasper series. If you’re looking for a different kind of urban fantasy that doesn’t feature the usual paranormal and magical tropes, especially if you enjoy quirky humor and action-packed fun, then this one’s for you. (P.S. This book had the feel of a conclusion, but after I wrote this review I found out that apparently there will be one more book out to wrap up the series next year, so it’s good to know the fun ain’t over…)

More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of It Happened One Doomsday (Book 1)
Review of A Kiss Before Doomsday (Book 2)
Guest Post: “Creating Crystal Magic” by Laurence MacNaughton

Book Review: Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson

Posted on October 8, 2018 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.

Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction

Series: Books 1-3 of Legion

Publisher: Tor (September 18, 2018)

Length: 352 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

If you haven’t checked it out yet, Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds is the perfect opportunity to read Brandon Sanderon’s beloved series featuring everyone’s favorite schizophrenic genius detective. Featuring the trilogy of novellas, including the never-published-before Lies of the Beholder, this omnibus collects all the adventures starring our eponymous hero in one handy volume. Speaking as someone who has only listened to the first book in audio back when it was originally released (but somehow never managed to get around to the sequel for years after that), I was happy to finally experience the completed evolution of this extraordinary character and see how his remarkable story arc came to be resolved.

Our journey begins with Legion, the first novella introducing Stephen Leeds. To the outside world, our protagonist appears to live by himself in his sprawling mansion, but that is a very different picture from the reality he perceives. Affected with a mental condition that allows his mind to generate a variety of hallucinated people—who are all unique in their individual personalities, skills, and knowledge—Stephen is never truly alone. His hallucinations, or aspects, share his space with him, taking turns advising him whenever he needs more information on certain topics. This has earned him the label of “genius” as well as celebrity status among psych experts who long to pick his brain, resulting in a never-ending line of people showing up at his door with requests for his help on some highly unusual cases.

Legion features our first mystery, involving the search for a stolen camera that can apparently capture images from the past. I read this one again for my review and found that I loved it as much as I did six years ago when I first listened to the audiobook, for everything about it is pure Sanderson. Despite it being a departure from the types of stories he is known for, the concept of Legion and Stephen Leeds’ aspects is as well thought out and unique as any of the author’s magic systems, and I believe even readers who are skeptical of the author’s non-epic fantasy will be able to come around to this novella’s modern, urban setting and science fiction vibes.

The second novella, Skin Deep, features Stephen and his aspects (even though they number in the dozens, there are only about three or four who are always tagging along with our protagonist) on a case to recover the stolen body of a biotech mogul who was known for using himself as a guinea pig in a lot of his experiments. Needless to say, everyone believes his corpse holds the key to all kinds of ground-breaking technological advancements and dangerous secrets related to his work. Not surprisingly, this sequel had the distinct quality of being a fast-paced thriller; to prevent the devastating spread of an unstable piece of biotechnology that can cause cancer, Stephen must race against the clock to find the one responsible for the theft, once more tapping into the expertise of his hallucinations for the knowledge he needs to solve this bizarre crime.

Finally, we come to the third and final novella, which this omnibus makes available in published form to readers for the very first time. Lies of the Beholder attempts to address several key questions that have popped up over the course of the series, including the nature of Stephen’s relationship with the mysterious Sandra, who has been brought up multiple times in the first two books. This one also seeks to bring the main character’s story arc to a close as we continue to explore the way his mind works, probing into his heavy dependence on the aspects’ knowledge and companionship. Is Stephen’s condition a blessing or a curse? What would happen to him if his hallucinations were no longer around?

The three stories featured here are light mysteries, to be sure. But like a lot of Sanderson’s work, one can find deeper themes and meaning these novellas if you care to look. Religion, ethics in research and science, mental health, and many other subjects are touched upon and discussed in the context of these mini-adventures that offer a lot more than just light-hearted entertainment. Beneath the clever and often funny banter between Stephen and his aspects, we also have messages about the value of relationships. While no one else can see his hallucinations, to Stephen they are as real as the world around him, but the question is whether it will be enough. This forces him to confront some difficult truths, some of which he may have tried to bury for far too long.

I’ll be honest, I had initial concerns about how Sanderson would stick the ending. He’s a brilliant guy and I’m a huge fan, but he tends to write endings that, for lack of a more appropriate term, piss me off (see Mistborn, The Reckoners, and even his middle grade series Alcatraz). I grew even more worried when I saw Stephen’s rapid descent into confusion and instability as soon as Lies of the Beholder started, believing this final volume would be a rush job which would fail to provide a satisfying conclusion. To my surprise though, I was actually quite happy with the way things ended. Perhaps it was because I’d braced myself for potential disappointment, but whatever the case, I felt this final novella was in fact a worthy sendoff for our characters. I won’t deny it had its gut-punch moments, not to mention that as a series, this isn’t exactly Sanderson’s most polished or mind-blowing, with more than a few loose ends and plot holes. Still, I found the Legion novellas magnificent and inspiring in their own way.

So would I recommend this omnibus? Without a doubt, yes. Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds is another masterful piece of speculative fiction from the talented mind of Brandon Sanderson. It is a little different from a lot of his other work, but with his trademark brand of creativity and style still on full display here, fans are guaranteed not to be disappointed.