Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on July 14, 2018 34 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.
Welcome to Bookshelf Roundup, the On-The-Road edition! As you can see I’m vacationing in Canada at the moment, and this being my first time back home in almost ten years, I’m very excited. I know I haven’t been around to visit everyone’s blogs, but I promise to catch up and comment again once I get back. Since this is also a pre-scheduled post, with my physical copies at home and the post office holding some book packages for me, I’ll be featuring only my digital book haul this week. As a result, this is going to be a shorter update, but as always I’d like to thank the publishers and authors for the review copies received. For more details and full descriptions of the books, be sure to check out the links to their Goodreads pages!
Received for Review
My thanks to HarperVoyager for the following eARCs: Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers is the third book in the Wayfarers sequence, once again featuring new characters in a new adventure so presumably it can be read as a standalone like the previous installments. I love this universe and I can’t wait to return to it! I also received Temper by Nicky Drayden which I’m really excited about – I still want to read her book The Prey of Gods which came out last year, but figured that I’ll try to get to this one first.
From NetGalley, I requested Seventh Born by Monica Sanz because I was intrigued after reading its description. My thanks to Entangled: Teen for approving me; they sure have been putting out a lot of really good looking titles lately!
In the audiobook pile, I received The Raptor & the Wren by Chuck Wendig from the awesome folks at Audible Studios. Feels like I’ve been waiting forever for this fifth book in the Miriam Black series to come out in audio, and it was finally released earlier this month. And courtesy of Listening Library, I was also lucky enough to snag an advance listening copy of Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson. I’ve enjoyed her books in the past and I’m looking forward to reading more!
Reviews
A list of my reviews posted since the last update:
Starless by Jacqueline Carey (4.5 of 5 stars)
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (3.5 of 5 stars)
Damselfly by Chandra Prasad (3.5 of 5 stars)
Born to the Blade created by Michael R. Underwood (3 of 5 stars)
The Oddling Prince by Nancy Springer (3 of 5 stars)
The Singularity Trap by Dennis E. Taylor (3 of 5 stars)
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay (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: Ghost
Posted on July 13, 2018 20 Comments
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
“There’s more of gravy than of grave about you.”
~ a cover that features a GHOST
Mogsy’s Pick:
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Cas Lowood is a ghost hunter who travels the world in search of urban legends, vanquishing evil spirits that kill and terrorize innocent people. After receiving a tip, he ends up in Thunder Bay where the spirit of a teenage girl has been haunting the locals since her death in 1958. A murder victim, she is called “Anna Dressed in Blood” because her ghost still wears the white dress she had on the day she died, except now it is dripping and stained red with gore. She can be found in the house where she used to live, and every person who has ever stepped foot inside has met a gruesome end by her hand.
If you ask me, when it comes to evil ghosts that need busting, no one deserves it more than Anna. I so looked forward to Cas ending her reign of terror. And therein lies the rub – I wanted Cas to kill Anna, not fall in love with her!
Ah well, I guess that’s a rant for another day. Today, we’re looking at some covers:
From left to right:
Tor Teen (2011) – Thai Edition (2013) – Turkish Edition (2014)
French Edition (2016) – Russian Edition (2017) – Turkish Edition (2014) – Vietnamese Edition (2015)
Winner:
I love the black-red-and-white combo as a color scheme, but unfortunately I dislike the art style of many of these covers, preferring the more photorealistic options. My choice came down to the Thai or Turkish editions, and I ultimately went with the former even though the cover makes the book look a lot scarier than it actually is.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Audiobook Challenge 2018: 2nd Quarter Update
Posted on July 12, 2018 18 Comments
It’s that time again. Summer is in full swing as the 2nd quarter of the Audiobook Challenge comes to a close, and that means another update on my progress and a quick rundown of the audiobooks I’ve completed in the last three months!
Challenge Details
- Runs January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018. You can join at anytime.
- The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2018 than you did in 2017.
- Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
- ANY genres count.
- Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
- You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
- If you’re a blogger grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.
Levels
- Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
- Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
- Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
- Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
- Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
- My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
- Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+
This quarter I finished 13 audiobooks, which bumps the grand total of audiobooks I listened to this year up to 28. I’m now sitting comfortably in the Binge Listener level, and with two more quarters left to go, My Precious and even Marathoner should be a cinch. I hope everyone is doing well on their reading challenges!
Waiting on Wednesday 07/11/18
Posted on July 11, 2018 19 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
Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs (March 5th, 2019 by Ace Books)
The next Mercy Thompson book has a description and a cover, and it’s GLORIOUS! I can’t wait for it to get here.
In this powerful entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Mercy Thompson must face a deadly enemy to defend all she loves…
My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.
And a coyote shapeshifter.
And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.
Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn’t stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.
The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.
But we are pack, and we have given our word.
We will die to keep it.
Book Review: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Posted on July 10, 2018 30 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Del Rey (July 10, 2018)
Length: 480 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I know I’m in the minority here, but I didn’t love this book. Oh, I enjoyed it well enough, because it’s Naomi Novik and her prose is always excellent, and Spinning Silver was beautifully written. However, I’ve also had enough experience with work (especially with the Temeraire series) to know her books can be very hit or miss. Believe me, I was thrilled when she started writing fairy-tale-inspired fantasy novels, and I absolutely adored Uprooted, but I just wasn’t as taken with this one as I expected to be.
The story of Spinning Silver contains several POVs, but the closest we have to a main protagonist is Miryem, the daughter of a very bad moneylender. Everyone knows her father will let late payments slide, and is too timid to chase down what is owed. As a result, Miryem’s family lives in poverty while her father’s borrowers flourish, until one day, our protagonist has had enough, and she sets out into the village to knock on the door of everyone with outstanding payments. And as it turns out, Miryem makes a rather formidable moneylender. Very quickly, she turns a pouch of silver pennies that her father loaned her into a big bag full of gold.
But even more quickly, rumors of a girl who can change silver to gold began to spread far and wide, eventually reaching the ears of the Staryk, cold-hearted beings of folklore who desire gold and riches above anything else. Miryem catches the attention of their wintry ruler, who orders her to transform his vast stores of silver into gold, and in return he will make her his queen.
First, I’ll go into what I loved about the book: the atmosphere and folksy fairy tale vibes that bring to mind the dark, mysterious charms of a Brothers Grimm story. If the plot of Spinning Silver reminded you a bit of Rumpelstiltskin, that’s because the novel is loosely inspired by that tale, though you’ll also likely catch snippets and elements from a lot of different fairy tales while reading. One of the most impressive things the author has done here is the way she incorporates these stories and their themes into a new narrative, focusing on relatable and genuine characters while still preserving a lot of the original wonder and magic. This has always been Naomi Novik’s forte whether she’s writing about dragons in the Napoleonic Wars or a persistent moneylender’s daughter from a rural village. Whenever she reimagines a world, she does it in a way that’s rooted in history and folkloric tradition, but the end result is always complex and creative enough to make it stand out from the rest.
And now, for the things I didn’t like so much. Unfortunately for me, the second half of this book was kind of a slog. Part of the problem was Spinning Silver wasn’t just a story about Miryem, and over time, more characters are introduced to the mix. I didn’t mind it at first; Wanda for one was a wonderful new addition, and I loved the strength she showed even through hard, trying times. Then there was Irina, a girl born into the royal court, but while she may be rich in possessions, she is poor in love. Despite her upbringing though, she is selfless and caring, only wanting to do right by her people. Later on, however, we also have a few other minor POVs join their voices, and that’s where things started to get a little messy. First of all, I didn’t feel that all these perspectives were really necessary, as overall they didn’t add as much as I would have liked. Second, whereas I found myself completely rapt by the intro and first half of the novel, the rest of it felt convoluted and a bit bloated. Also, the book was probably longer than it had to be, which, admittedly, was an issue with Uprooted as well. The difference there was that I was able to push through some of the slower and more meandering parts, but here I found it was a struggle to even stay focused. It’s a shame because I loved the first half of the book, but the momentum and interest I found there did not extend all the way through to the end (though to be fair, things did pick up again just in time for the conclusion).
Like I said, I enjoyed Spinning Silver, but I also don’t think it’s a standout for the genre, especially when fairy tale retellings and stories grounded in folklore are all the rage at the moment, with so many recent book releases that feel thematically and narratively similar. It’s also not my favorite book by Novik, and incidentally, I preferred Uprooted a lot more. Truly, I wish I had loved this one just as much, but I simply couldn’t get over some of my frustrations with the slower, more tedious, and convoluted parts. Still a very good read, however, and I encourage you to pick this one up if you are a fan of the author or imaginative retellings.
Review: Born to the Blade created by Michael R. Underwood
Posted on July 9, 2018 17 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Born to the Blade by Michael R. Underwood, Marie Brennan, Cassandra Khaw, Malka Older
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Born to the Blade
Publisher: Serial Box (July 27, 2018)
Length: 552 pages
The complete Season One of Born to the Blade is the latest omnibus to arrive from Serial Box, and I was especially excited about this one because of the high fantasy setting. Readers are introduced to a world in the sky, where the many floating nations are constantly vying for dominance. For centuries, the Warders’ Circle on the neutral islands of Twaa-Fei have served as the key factor for keeping the peace, settling disputes through formal magical duels. However, with the threat of invasion by the Mertikan Empire looming, the Circle finds that its influence is waning amidst too many tensions on the islands. Furthermore, dire news from trade nation of Quloo comes as it is revealed that the aerstones in foundation are being diminished, causing them to sink.
Young and ambitious, Kris Denn has come to Twaa-Fei in the hopes of winning a seat for Rumika in the Warder’s Circle. To do so, a contender will have to face all six warders in the dueling circle and triumph, or alternatively, gain their support through earning their respect. Meanwhile, Kris has been forging a strong bond with Warder Odo Kante, who knows his nation of Quloo will need Rumika’s help and precious supply of aerstones in order to stay afloat. Readers are also introduced to Michiko, another new arrival whose nation was recently conquered. Her mission to serve her country and empire hits an unexpected snag, however, when she discovers a secret link between herself and a recently executed prisoner, causing her to question everything she knows about her past.
While I ended up enjoying Born to the Blade, I feel it suffers from a lot of the same problems that plague serials. Namely, the format lends itself to unbalanced pacing, and it’s true that some episodes are better than others. A series is also heavily reliant on the first few episodes to catch the reader’s interest, ensuring they will return for more, and in this sense, they work very much like a season of a TV show. The authors were clearly aware of this, because the first four episodes (from “Arrivals” to “The Gauntlet”) were intensely packed with action, using fighting scenes and other violent conflict to draw the reader in. However, in terms of actual plot, these early sections felt somewhat lacking.
There was also an obvious push to cram as much character development into these first few episodes, but the execution itself was disorganized, likely due to having multiple authors on the same project. The result was an atmosphere of chaos and confusion which made it difficult for me to connect with the early parts of the story, and inconsistencies in the way several of the characters were portrayed certainly didn’t help. Further muddying up the waters, each author also had a different style and approach to the narrative so that some episodes would focus heavily on developing the characters but spend little time on progressing the plot, and consequently we would end up with episodes that were straight-up filler (“Baby Shower” immediately comes to mind.)
To be completely honest, I don’t think I would have continued with Born to the Blade based on my feelings on the first few episodes, which is why I always prefer a serial to be complete so I can binge read the entire season and experience it as a whole. Despite the potential in the intro and incredible world-building, the first four episodes were arguably some of the weakest. For me, the story did not pick up until the fifth episode “Trade Deal”, in which a real conflict was finally introduced. This was a turning point for the series in more ways than one, because not only did this episode raise the stakes, the writing also smoothed out once the plot got rolling, no doubt a result of the authors falling into a comfortable rhythm as they adapted to each other’s styles. Things only improved from here on out, with later episodes feeling a lot more integrated and having better flow.
If I had to rate each episode individually, many in the first half would probably receive 2-3 stars while most in the second half would receive solid 4s. Born to the Blade is simply that kind of story, a slow-burning narrative that requires time to grow. While this process might not work as well for the serial format, the end result is the same in that patience and determination to stick it out will eventually pay off for the reader. Despite some early stumbles, I enjoyed myself, and chances are really good that I’ll continue with the second season.
Book Review: The Oddling Prince by Nancy Springer
Posted on July 8, 2018 22 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Oddling Prince by Nancy Springer
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tachyon Publications (May 15, 2018)
Length: 288 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Long ago in the highlands of Northern Scotland there lived a kind and just king. However, one day he returned home from a hunting trip with his son Prince Aric and found that a cursed ring had suddenly appeared on his finger. With no way of removing it, the ring quickly caused the king to sicken until he was close to death. But just as his father was about to slip away, Prince Aric noticed a mysterious young man riding hard for the castle. Using his magic, this newcomer was able to remove the ring just in time to save the king’s life. He then introduced himself as Prince Albaric from the Faerie realm, revealing that he was also Prince Aric’s half-brother, conceived when the Fae queen seduced the king and transported him to the otherworld. His story also explained how the enchanted ring first came to be on the king’s finger.
But rather than feel grateful towards Albaric, the king refused to even acknowledge him as his son. Worse, as Aric and Albaric grew closer, their brotherly bond only caused their father’s hostility to worsen. No longer good and just, the king became bitter, paranoid, and angry. Concerned for his father and troubled by the changes wrought on the kingdom, Aric also started to worry for his half-brother. Exiled from the land of the Fae and with no home to return to, Albaric’s only hope was to be accepted by his mortal father, but sadly, the king’s mind would not be easily swayed.
In order to save the kingdom, Aric must somehow find a way to help Albaric make peace with their father before the king’s resentment can bring ruin upon them all. In essence, this familial conflict serves as the backbone of The Oddling Prince. A fantasy inspired by folklore and mythology, the novel lends itself to be compared to stories of Arthurian legend, as it is written in a style that evokes that same kind of quaintness and sentimentality. Much of this is due to the book’s somewhat archaic tone and language, which was elegant and lyrical but also served to bog down the prose. As a result, it took me quite a while to get into the flow of the story, for the same elements used to impart an old-fashioned flavor also made it very awkward and slow to read.
Tales of this type are also often heavy in metaphor and deep in meaning, but lighter in terms of character and story development. So even though I found The Oddling Prince to be a sweet and charming little book, I was not surprised to feel little to no connection to the characters. Like a Disney movie, you just knew deep in your heart everything would work out fine, despite all the seemingly insurmountable challenges thrown in the protagonists’ way. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say this novel was completely devoid of surprises, there were simply no genuine threats or high stakes to make you feel any real concern. There was also this thick layer of idealism in the depiction of Aric and Albaric’s relationship—which was intentional, I am sure, given the sentimental nature of this story. But again, this just made them feel like cardboard heroes out of a fairy tale, not real enough to relate to.
Still, there were a lot of aspects I really liked. Despite the book’s fanciful tones, there were some powerful tensions between Aric and his father. I wouldn’t say this story had a real antagonist, but with the king being such a huge jerk, I would say he came the closest. In the face of his irrational fury and jealousies though, Aric remained steadfastly on Albaric’s side, refusing to be cowed. This loyalty to his brother was heartwarming and beautiful, and ended up being the highlight of this book. And even though she was a rather late introduction, I also loved the character of Marissa. The portrayal of her relationship with Aric may have left a lot to be desired, but her personality was so lovable that she immediately became a favorite.
In the end, I thought The Oddling Prince was an enjoyable read, though at times it felt a little too light and lacking in substance. However, if you like reading fantasy stories that are heavily inspired by fae-related folktales or mythological influences, this one might be worth checking out. The underlying wistfulness and dated feel of the writing may take some getting used to, but all the same, these elements might prove to be the novel’s biggest selling point for those seeking an evocative tale told in an old-timey, sentimental style.
Audiobook Review: The Singularity Trap by Dennis E. Taylor
Posted on July 7, 2018 18 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 Singularity Trap by Dennis E. Taylor
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1/Stand Alone
Publisher: Audible Studios (June 5, 2018)
Length:11 hrs and 22 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Ray Porter
After completing his Bobiverse trilogy, Dennis E. Taylor tries his hand at something a little deeper and more serious in The Singularity Trap. Despite the slight drop in humorous moments and the pacing being a little uneven in places, it was still a very entertaining read complete with an old-school sci-fi feel and plenty of nods to hard science.
The story begins on the mining ship Mad Astra where readers are introduced to protagonist Ivan Pritchard, the most recent addition to the crew. With no other options left for him on Earth, Ivan has risked everything he has left on this venture in the hopes of providing a future for his wife and kids. But the asteroid mining business can be risky too, and if the Mad Astra can’t pull off a successful run this time, Ivan will be even worse off than when he first started.
Against all odds though, the miners wind up hitting pay dirt, finding an asteroid loaded up with all kind of valuable materials…among other things. While investigating an anomaly on the rock, Ivan unwittingly triggers an extraterrestrial booby trap which releases an unidentifiable substance onto his arm. Despite the crew’s best efforts to cut off the contaminated parts of his suit before returning him to the Mad Astra, the next morning Ivan wakes up to a shocking sight. The affected arm has been transformed completely into living metal—and it doesn’t seem to be stopping there. Even amputation is no use, as it is discovered that alien nanites have infected Ivan’s bloodstream, and they would simply strip the ship for resources to rebuild the missing limb.
Little by little, Ivan becomes replaced by the new alien technology. Soon, he even begins hearing a voice in his head, the one belonging to the artificial intelligence that has taken over his body. It reveals it mission: to convert and upload all life it encounters for its masters—and unfortunately for humanity, it’s next on the list.
If you enjoyed the Bobiverse books, the good news is that The Singularity Trap will scratch a lot of the same itches. It’s another unique premise offering a few twists on some classic ideas, and it also presents hard sci-fi concepts in an fun and accessible package.
However, it’s also clearly meant to be a more serious endeavor. For one, it’s not as light as the Bobiverse books, with less action and humor. There’s also a lot more exposition as the author waxes on about technological and scientific concepts. All this is interesting stuff, though admittedly not as engaging when it’s constantly hampering the flow of the plot. The book suffers pacing issues near the beginning, taking a long time for the story to get started, and then again in the middle as the parties involved in determining Ivan’s fate are locked in tireless discussion over what to do with this nanite-infested self. I won’t lie; staying focused was a struggle at times, and Ivan as a character was nowhere near as likeable or endearing as any of the Bobs. He didn’t seem to do much either, playing a relatively passive role for much of the book until the very end.
Still, despite my gripes, I suppose The Singularity Trap was enjoyable enough. The ending was satisfying, even if the climax was not as intense as it could have been. I think I had expected something a bit more from Taylor, after seeing what he was capable of in his previous trilogy, but overall I had fun.
Audiobook Comments: I was really happy to see Ray Porter on this project, because anyone else narrating a Dennis E. Taylor book would be a travesty. His reading was brilliant as always, adding an extra layer of immersion to the story. Sound effects were also a pleasant surprise and a nice touch!
Friday Face-Off: Windswept
Posted on July 6, 2018 23 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 north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow.”
~ a cover that is WINDSWEPT
Mogsy’s Pick:
Windwitch by Susan Dennard
Windwitch is the sequel to Truthwitch, following “threadsisters” Safi and Iseult as they each struggle to survive their own journeys after being separated after the events from the previous novel. Their friend Prince Merik is dead, or so the world is led to believe after his ship was destroyed in a fiery explosion. But in truth, the prince has survived, returning to the capital a scarred, broken, and bitter man who believes his sister betrayed him. Hungry for revenge, he begins to rally the tired and starving refugees of the city under the guise of the Fury, a legendary freedom fighter and hero of the oppressed.
Meanwhile, Iseult is busy dodging bounty hunters and winds up teaming up with the bloodwitch Aeduan, convincing him to help her track down her best friend. Safi finds herself stranded in the pirate-infested wilderness after her shipwreck, with none other than the Empress of Marstok in tow. Alone with no defenses, the two young women will need to rely on their wits and each other to survive dangers like bloodthirsty outlaws and roaming mercenaries–and that’s only if they don’t die of thirst and starvation first.
This book didn’t exactly blow me away (pun intended, and yes, I’m lame) but the covers are pretty nice at least:
From left to right:
Tor Teen (2017) – Tor UK (2017) – Tor Paperback (2018)
Romanian Edition(2017) – German Edition (2018) – Serbian Edition (2018)
Winner:
I’m seeing a common theme in a lot of these covers–a hooded figure, cloak billowing in the wind, standing in a swirl of blowing leaves. I think the prettiest one of these is the Tor Teen cover though, with the added effects of the city in the background, rain, and lightning, so I’m going with that as my winner.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Book Review: Starless by Jacqueline Carey
Posted on July 5, 2018 36 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor (June 12, 2018)
Length: 592 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I’m a huge fan of Jacqueline Carey and will read anything she writes no matter the genre or subject, but I do believe she is in her element whenever she tackles epic fantasy because the format lends itself well to her style. Hence, I was so excited when I found out about Starless. Carey is a master worldbuilder who has also written some of my favorite characters of all time, and I feel that opportunities like these are when she can really let loose and show off the full scope of her incredible talent.
Steeped in rich history and mythology, the world was Starless was a delight to discover and experience. The book’s title refers to the skies above Zarkhoum, which are completely devoid of celestial bodies save for the sun, Zar, and his three companion moons. They were the parents of the many stars whose light used to fill the night skies, until the children grew rebellious, causing Zar to cast them all down to the earth, where their punishment bound them in exile forever more. But while they could not return to the heavens, the stars lived among mortals as gods, and some of them even took to the task of protecting the land and its inhabitants. Pahrkun the Scouring Wind was one such god. Deep in the desert, there lives a brotherhood of warrior-priests who dedicate themselves to his service, and it is here that we find our protagonist, Khai.
There is much more to Khai than meets the eye, however. On the rare occasion that a member of Zarkhoum’s royal family is born during an eclipse, it is said that the child’s shadow, or soul’s twin, is also born at the same time. Thus, all babies born during the eclipse are gathered for a test to find the one destined to be the new royal child’s protector, which is how, when the Princess Zariya was born, the infant Khai was identified as her shadow. But being chosen by their god also meant that Khai was entrusted to the Brotherhood of Pahrkun to raise and train as a warrior—and there was just one major complication. While the solution ultimately presented itself in the form of an age-old desert tradition, it meant that Khai had to grow up without knowing an important truth.
Split into several parts, the story first begins in the desert, where readers get to catch a glimpse of Khai’s early years growing up within the Brotherhood. Hands down, I think this was my favorite part of the book. I’ve always had a fondness for fantasy stories that involve a training school component of some sort, and Carey has once again managed to come up with a very imaginative scenario. This will probably come as no surprise, but one of my favorite books ever, her novel Kushiel’s Dart, also started in a similar manner, following a protagonist who comes of age as an apprentice training for their life’s calling.
In the case of Starless, Khai trains in preparation to become Princess Zariya’s shadow and future bodyguard. It’s also interesting to note how the Brotherhood of Pahrkun gains some of its members. Any man convicted of a crime deserving of execution can instead choose to be judged by the Trial of Pahrkun, which involves fighting three of the Brotherhood’s members in the Hall of Proving. If the supplicant can best them all, his sins are wiped away, and he joins the Brotherhood, enriching their ranks with his new skills and knowledge. This was how Khai ended up with some of the best and most interesting mentors, including Brother Merik, Brother Saan, and of course, the unforgettable Brother Yarit. Without a doubt, the characters were the key element that made this opening section of the book stand out. I loved the different personalities and the fascinating interactions between all of them.
The second part of the book opens up the world a bit more, introducing readers to the court of the royal family. Khai also finally gets to meet Princess Zariya for the first time, making a shift from a monastery full of men to close quarters dominated by women. Without revealing too much, I thought gender roles were explored very well in these chapters. As an issue, gender is important in this novel, though the author handles the topic with such subtlety and finesse, it simply integrates itself seamlessly into the story’s larger themes. As always, Carey’s emphasis is on character development and backstory, so that a character’s identity choices end up coming across as natural and as much a part of them as any of their other thoughts, actions, and emotions.
Then, the story shifts gears almost completely in the final part of the book, throwing readers headfirst into a more traditional fantasy quest narrative which puts more emphasis on action and adventure. Khai and Zariya find themselves joining up with a ragtag crew of “prophecy seekers”, embarking on a swashbuckling journey on the high seas to prevent the fallen god Miasmus from rising again. Even though I enjoyed these ocean-bound sections just slightly less than the desert chapters at the beginning, I have to say the overall energy found here was very addictive. I loved getting to travel with our characters to all these exciting new places, encountering fantastical creatures and meeting interesting people. There’s also the easy friendships among this diverse cast, creating a lively atmosphere that made this book just plain fun to read.
The truth is, I hadn’t wanted to hype myself too much for Starless. Despite Jacqueline Carey’s return to the epic fantasy doorstopper genre, somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it would be foolish and a little unfair to compare it to her past work, or to expect this book to sweep me completely off my feet like Kushiel’s Dart. But damn, after finishing this one, I gotta say—it sure came wickedly close. This is one breathtakingly rich and evocative novel. Even more impressive is that Carey was able to pull off this powerful tale in one single volume. I maintain that she is one of the fantasy genre’s most brilliant and precious talents, and a book like Starless only strengthens that belief.
The BiblioSanctum 