Review: ReMade Season 2 created by Matthew Cody
Posted on March 29, 2018 12 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
ReMade Season 2 by Matthew Cody, Gwenda Bond, Andrea Phillips, E.C. Myers, and Amy Rose Capetta
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Series: Book 2 of ReMade
Publisher: Serial Box (March 29, 2018)
Length: 452 pages
Serial Box has published a number of gems since their launch, and to me, the most surprising has been their first foray into the Young Adult genre with ReMade, a futurist sci-fi thriller told in an episodic format similar to Lost. The first season was immensely enjoyable, and so with the second season now available in its entirety, I looked forward to continuing with the saga.
The second season sees our protagonists forging ahead in their new world—one that has seen them all “remade”. At the beginning, there were twenty-three, but since their run-ins with killer robots and other threats, their numbers are now considerably fewer. The group has also split up in the hopes of increasing their chances of survival. One team has decided to venture forth into unknown territory, searching for the human stronghold known as Sanctuary using coordinates found from the ruins of Arcadia, while the other team has opted to remain behind, giving time to those who need to recuperate as well as to maintain a defensible camp.
But then, one of the teams discovers something amazing. Led by Inez, the group comes across Jing Wei, alive and well, even though they all saw her die at the hands of a rampaging caretaker. Somehow, she had been remade again, sending Inez’s suspicions ringing, especially since this second version of Jing-Wei recalls nothing of her time with the group and is also accompanied by a robot of her own. Though Jing-Wei insists Sparky is harmless, the others are not convinced, terrified by his resemblance to the mechanical caretakers who have been slaughtering them. They decide it’s not safe to bring Jing-Wei back into their fold, in case she is on the side of the killer robots. As the search for Sanctuary intensifies and bears fruit, the characters also uncover even more secrets about their mysterious world, and of the artificial intelligence designed to run it—though unfortunately, none of the information they find spells good news.
Season two of ReMade contains fourteen episodes, and the first few were perhaps the most challenging to read. “Patch Job” kicked things off by dropping the bombshell about Jing-Wei, though the pacing immediately turned sluggish afterward as we returned to the flashbacks, killing whatever excitement had been created with the reintroduction of a character once thought dead. I understand that some of these pacing issues can’t be helped on account of the authors choosing to tell this tale via a very difficult format, though nonetheless, I’d expected a little more from an opening episode to a brand new season. Inez, whom I adored from the first season, also became an unbearable tyrant, and it was hard to reconcile the spunky courageous girl I knew with this power-hungry and out-of-control bitch queen who seems to have taken over her personality. Some minor character inconsistencies are to be expected when it comes to multi-author projects, but I was still surprised to see how unbalanced and paranoid Inez has become.
It wasn’t until around “Save Point”, episode four, where things started to pick up. No surprise that this is also the episode where the characters find Sanctuary. The pacing remained measured, however, as the group discovers that the human stronghold is not what it was purported to be. Again, we keep returning to the past in flashbacks, and certain characters have more interesting memories than others. Part of the problem is that we’ve covered some of the more dramatic and important ones back in first season, so the flashbacks in season two feel a lot more random and they don’t always seem to serve their purpose of explaining character motivations or personalities. Fortunately, there were still a few perspectives the authors had left in reserve, and we finally got to see them here, like in the case of Hyrum. Still, I have to wonder what will happen once we go through everyone, especially since the most interesting characters seem to keep dying off.
The highlights for me though were some of the later episodes, like “The Bones of Sanctuary”, “Siege Mentality”, or “Actus Reus”. Not only do we finally get some action, these episodes are the ones that start fleshing out the series, focusing on the group’s interactions and future plans. The tone also becomes more emotional as the characters start to form deeper connections with each other, including new romances and alliances. Previously relationships are also tested when one person betrays the group, and we are left on edge with questions as to how the characters will deal with the traitor. Gradually, the teens are starting to come around to the fact that they are the remnants of humanity, and the decisions they make here will set the course for what’s to come.
Overall, it was another great season, though perhaps not as strong as the first. The opening episodes probably wouldn’t have kept me waiting in anticipation each week, though some of the more exciting ones towards the end of the season might have, and this unevenness in serial novels is why I typically choose to read them once they are complete in a collected edition format. With the way things have unfolded in this second season, I’m looking forward to reading the third.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of ReMade (Season One)
Waiting on Wednesday 03/28/18
Posted on March 28, 2018 21 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
Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey (November 6, 2018 by Orbit Books)
It might seem strange to be looking forward to books in the fall already when it still barely feels like spring, but the months of October and November are some of my of my favorite times of the year when I get to round up some chilling reads to suit the atmosphere. Can it get any more perfect with a new book from M.R. Carey? I think not!
“From the author of the million-copy bestseller The Girl With All the Gifts comes a heart-stopping high-concept thriller with a gripping supernatural twist that you won’t see coming.
SHE LOOKS LIKE ME. SHE SOUNDS LIKE ME. NOW SHE’S TRYING TO TAKE MY PLACE.
Liz Kendall wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s a gentle woman devoted to bringing up her kids in the right way, no matter how hard times get.
But there’s another side to Liz—one which is dark and malicious. A version of her who will do anything to get her way, no matter how extreme or violent.
And when this other side of her takes control, the consequences are devastating.
The only way Liz can save herself and her family is if she can find out where this new alter-ego has come from, and how she can stop it.”
Book Review: Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe by Marshall Ryan Maresca
Posted on March 27, 2018 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.
Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe by Marshall Ryan Maresca
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of The Streets of Maradaine
Publisher: DAW (March 6, 2018)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Nobody does light frothy fun better than Marshall Ryan Maresca, and his latest series set in Maradaine seems like the perfect avenue to showcase his skill and passion for stories featuring boisterous action and rollicking adventure. Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe is the second installment of The Streets of Maradaine starring the Rynax brothers and their ragtag crew of con artists and thieves, and like its predecessor, it is once again a heist novel.
In the aftermath of the events seen in The Holver Alley Crew, Asti and Verci Rynax finally have proof of what they suspected all along—that the fire that gutted their entire street, robbing them and their neighbors of their homes and livelihoods, was in fact no accident. But to get to the roots of the conspiracy, they’ll need to dig deeper. After uncovering a development project funded by some powerful people, the brothers follow the clues to a Lord Henterman, a rather empty-headed nobleman who likes to throw a lot of parties—hardly the criminal mastermind they’ve envisioned. But then, of course, looks can be deceiving, leading the crew to devise a plan to infiltrate Henterman’s next big soiree to see what he’s all about.
Meanwhile, the gangs of the city are becoming unsettled as a new boss known only as Treggin begins to move in on their territories. He’s quickly amassing a fair number of followers, enough to make Josie, the Rynax brothers’ patron, a little nervous. The constabulary forces have also stepped up their game, sniffing around the neighborhood for the perpetrators of the crew’s last heist, forcing them all to lay low. Asti himself is trying to deal with some personal demons, and the constant struggle to reign in his beast is putting him off his game. Even without all the distractions, their plan to infiltrate the Henterman party is a little more slapdash than usual, and that’s before they discover the truth about the lady of the house, which is when all hell breaks loose.
Indeed, the energy of the story was rather subdued until this point. Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe had a slower start compared to the first one, and it wasn’t until halfway that things began to pick up. As a result, I thought this sequel was a little weaker than the original, and also because the story wasn’t as tightly told. Heist books can be tricky, and the best ones are always those that involve elaborate plans and unexpected plot twists which keep up the level of suspense. Unfortunately, readers have come to expect the Rynax brothers’ plans to become “skunked”, which in turn diminishes any surprise or appreciation for their cleverness that might have been felt. In truth, the characters’ plans felt sloppy in this one, and there was also too much chaos. For instance, the heist on Henterman’s house was proposed by Asti with no distinct goal in mind, and yet the rest of the crew was simply content to go along with his idea to just wing it and see what happens? I just don’t buy it.
The aim of a heist book is also to get the reader to root for the main characters who are essentially the criminals trying to break the law and get away with their nefarious schemes. As such, your crew needs to be likable and they must have a sympathetic cause. While finding out who ruined their lives with the Holver Alley fire is unquestionably a good reason for everything the Rynax brothers are doing, I nonetheless found myself starting to become frustrated and annoyed with them both. Asti is a lot more careless and irresponsible in this sequel, and his dogged determination became more of a nuisance than a strength. And Verci, I just wanted to shake him for going along with Asti’s half-baked plans. Loyalty to your brother is one thing, but Verci’s choices repeatedly put the lives of his wife and young son directly at risk, making you wonder what the hell is going through his mind and why Raych puts up with him when he’s always choosing reckless Asti’s side over her and Corsi. There was really only one character who stepped up in this book, and that was Mila. She came across as more perceptive and competent than both brothers combined, often taking matters into her own hands and bringing the real leadership.
Still, in spite of the book’s weaknesses, I found it entertaining. Even though I didn’t think it was quite as good as the first book, Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe is a solid sequel and readers who enjoyed The Holver Alley Crew will want to continue the series to see how the characters have grown and how their quest has developed. Fans of heist stories should put this series on their list right away.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Holver Alley Crew (Book 1)
Book Review: Dayfall by Michael David Ares
Posted on March 26, 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor (March 13, 2018)
Length: 288 pages
Website | Twitter
Dayfall is a novel that takes place in the near future where nuclear winter has plunged much of northeast United States into darkness. In New York City, the isolation and perpetual night has caused crime rates to soar, and residents now face a new threat in the form of a brutal serial killer wreaking havoc across the city. Enter Jon Phillips, a small-town cop from Pennsylvania who idolizes Philip Marlowe of Raymond Chandler fame and has always dreamed of becoming a great detective to solve big cases like his fictional hero. Very soon, he catches his big break. After single-handedly stopping a high-profile serial killer in his own town, Jon attracts the attention of the New York City mayor Rialle King, who recruits him to do what the corrupt Manhattan police force have not been able to do—stop a knife-wielding maniac from committing more murders, a mission that has become even more imperative in the final hours counting down to “Dayfall”, an event which would bring dawn to a city that hasn’t seen natural sunlight in years.
The atmosphere that greets Jon’s arrival is one of tension and dread. Everyone is on edge, not knowing what Dayfall will bring. Already, the fearmongering groups are out in force, warning that the sunlight can bring unexpected reactions and behavior, and that people should prepare for the worst. Jon also realizes there’s more to the situation than Mayor King is letting on, especially with the impending election and her rival the millionaire Gareth Render gunning for her job. Jon is paired up with an experienced but vulgar detective named Frank Halliday, and together they must navigate the tricky web of deceit and corruption to catch the serial killer before all hell breaks loose.
On paper, the premise of Dayfall sounds brilliant, but its execution left something to be desired. First, I also had to get over the hurdle of adjusting to the prose, which felt a little clunky and wooden. The author employs a style that involves a lot of telling-not-showing, and his stark, rapid-fire way of stating what’s on the page makes me think writing might work better in a movie. His characters are also caricature-like (again, something that could possibly work better in a popcorn Hollywood blockbuster rather than a science fiction crime novel) starting with his protagonist who strives to model himself after Philip Marlowe. The blatant attempt to call to mind real world politics with the portrayal of Mayor King and her rival Render also felt cheesy and forced. In fact, the only character I found interesting was Frank Halliday, despite—or perhaps because of—the shocking and crude things to come out of his mouth, due to the fact he would at least serve up a surprise every now and then.
Ironically, the world-building was an area that could have used more detail. The idea of New York City detective trying to hunt a serial killer in darkness was what initially drew me to this tale, but many of the concepts behind this premise were patchy and ill-defined. Far-reaching changes should have had an impact on almost all aspects of life, but we only get a few examples (though to be fair, these often involved some really cool ideas). The reader is left to fill in a lot of the missing information about the history of this world, or simply suspend their disbelief and accept the environmental and social realities of what’s happening in the setting.
Speaking from my own experience, if you can do this, the story should become immensely more enjoyable. The novel’s greatest strength is its plot, which is character-driven and fast-paced. The mystery is intriguing, and Jon and Halliday’s investigation takes as many twists and turns as Manhattan’s flooded streets itself. Some of the later, more action-oriented scenes are almost cinematic and highly riveting in the way they are written, which is where Michael David Ares’ no-nonsense style actually works in his favor.
Ultimately though, this one is a first novel, and it shows in many ways. The general idea behind the story is sound, but the actual content presented seems disjointed and the characterization and world-building aspects are lacking in some of their finer details. That said, my criticisms aside, Dayfall is a quick read and might even prove to be an enjoyable one if you can overlook some of its flaws, so my final rating is three stars for this average debut.
Book Review: The Feed by Nick Clark Windo
Posted on March 25, 2018 14 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: William Morrow (March 13, 2018)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
We’ve all heard the cautionary tales involving social media, about the dangers of being constantly plugged in. Nick Clark Windo’s dark thriller debut takes this idea even further, imagining a future where people are permanently connected via implants so that access to everything is instantaneous as well as continuous. This is “the Feed” that the novel’s title is referring to—a new tech that humans have become so dependent on, and so addicted to, that society can no longer function without it. And so, when the Feed collapses one day, the results are predictably catastrophic. Some of the most basic skills and knowledge are lost to the digital abyss as everyone must now learn how to survive offline and fend for themselves in this Feed-less new world.
For couple Kate and Tom, the adjustment has not been easy. But they have managed to keep going the past few years, living with a group of survivors as they raised their daughter Bea, who was born post-collapse. But then one day, Bea goes missing, snatched away by raiders, and so Kate and Tom must embark on a treacherous journey to bring her back.
It’s said that things have to get bad before they can get better, and likewise, some books make you go through some really rough patches before you can get to the good parts of the story. The Feed was a book like that. For most of the first half, I struggled with nearly everything—the characters, the plot, the world-building. From the moment the story opened, my patience was put to the test. I found both protagonists horribly off-putting. Kate was especially annoying, as a heavy user of the Feed before its collapse. She was an attention monger, self-absorbed and totally oblivious. To be fair, she was probably written this way by design, but in this case the author might have overplayed her personality. Tom, on the other hand, struck me as bland and lacking in any spirit or agency. I didn’t feel like I could connect to either of them at all, which made the first part of this book a difficult slog. I also struggled with the world-building and the exaggerated side effects of the Feed. Humans are biologically hard-wired for curiosity, and I found it hard to believe that almost the entire population would simply surrender themselves to the Feed unquestioningly and let themselves become so helpless.
And then the collapse happened, and subsequently, Bea’s disappearance really turned things around. Not to the point where I suddenly loved the book, mind you, but the story did become immensely more enjoyable once Tom and Kate finally had something to fight for. The second half of The Feed unfolded a lot more like a traditional dystopian novel, following our protagonists as they traversed the post-apocalyptic landscape, encountering violence and suffering. However, there is also a unique element to this world, which comes in the form of a very specialized threat. Even after the collapse, the sinister legacy of the Feed remains as those who possess the biological implants live in fear of being “taken”, a term to describe the process of being hacked and having your consciousness along with your personality and memories wiped clean and replaced. The result is a lot of chaos, mistrust, and panic, along with an “us vs. them” mentality among the survivors. While The Feed is not a zombie story, you can see how the overall tone and some of its themes can sometimes make it feel like one.
There is also a monumental twist near the end that changed nearly everything, and I’m still not entirely sure what to make of it simply because it was so out of left field. Did it make this book more interesting? Yes. But in terms of whether it made the story more coherent or feasible, probably not. That said, I’m impressed with how Windo handled the challenges that came about because of this surprising development. Everything could have fallen apart, but ultimately he was able to keep the threads of the story together and saw things through to the end.
I won’t lie, there were a lot of issues with this novel, particularly with the pacing and balance of the story’s numerous concepts. Still, there were plenty of fascinating ideas in here that I appreciated for their originality, especially once I got past the initial hurdles. There’s an almost sputtering, sporadic feel to the plot; in some ways, it’s like an engine that needs to be primed several times before it catches, but once it starts running, the ride smooths out and becomes a lot more enjoyable. The journey was certainly not boring, and that’s probably the best thing I can say about a novel in a saturated market like the dystopian genre.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on March 24, 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.
Received for Review
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received! For more details and full descriptions of the books, be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages.
From the kind folks at Wunderkind PR and Harper Perennial, I received an ARC of The Oracle Year by Charles Soule. This one was recommended to me with high praise, so I’m looking forward to checking it out! Another exciting ARC, The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French, was another surprise arrival from Crown Publishing. Yes, this is the novel that won SPFBO 2016! The BiblioSanctum was on the judging panel that year (which is why I’ve already gotten to review it), and I’m so pleased that the book has since been picked up by a traditional publisher because it certainly deserves more attention. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it. From the wonderful team at Subterranean Press, I also received an ARC of The Future is Blue by Catherynne M. Valente, a new anthology from the author which includes three never-been-printed before stories. I’m not a big reader of short story collections, but for Valente, I would totally make an exception!
Courtesy of Ace Books, I also received a 50th anniversary edition of Dune by Frank Herbert. Can you believe I’ve never actually read this book? I tried a long time ago, but never managed to finish. This was years before I started reviewing and at the time I was also an impatient kid and a sci-fi noob, so maybe this is a sign that it’s time to try again. Thanks also to DAW Books for sending me a finished copy of A Veil of Spears by Bradley P. Beaulieu, the third book in The Song of Shattered Sands. I still need to read the second one, but I’m hoping to knock out both books very soon. And speaking of finished copies, a hardcover of The Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S. Buckell also arrived a few weeks ago from Saga Press. I’ve already read it and posted a review, so in case you missed it, you can read it here.
Continuing with more goodies from Simon & Schuster, I received a surprise copy of Lost in the Beehive by Michele Young-Stone which is a little out of my wheelhouse, but I have a feeling this will be a good one for fans of historicals and moving reads! Lately, I’ve also been digging the prep school setting trope, so when I saw S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett at Blogging for Books, I put in a request. Not one week after the book arrived though, I found out that BfB is closing down, which is sad – but that means I’m going to try and get this one finished quickly so I can put in one last review for them before they go away. And from the awesome team at Orbit Books, I received The Wolf by Leo Carew. The publisher has been putting out amazing debuts lately, so I have pretty high hopes that this will also be a good one!
Next up is The Hollow Tree by James Brogden, and you might recall his cool guest post last week about Birmingham’s mummy cat! Huge thanks to Titan Books for sending a review copy my way, because I’m really excited to read it. From Tor I also received a couple goodies: Good Guys by Steven Brust is the start of a new urban fantasy about an agency that solves magical crime, and from YA imprint Tor Teen, Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black is a historical mystery that I hope to read closer to its release date in August.
And then there’s this beauty! From the wonderful team at Entangled Teen, I received this drop dead gorgeous ARC of Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf, the first book of a new fantasy trilogy about a girl tasked with stealing a prince’s heart…literally. Also in the package was a lovely Book Beau book sleeve, which will definitely be protecting my copy wherever it goes. Thank you, Entangled Teen!
In the digital pile, I was happy to be approved for an eARC of The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. Thanks so much, William Morrow and Edelweiss!
From NetGalley, with thanks to Del Rey I downloaded Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne which is described as a new series in the tradition of Terry Pratchett meets The Princess Bride. Sounds fun! And with thanks to Knopf Books for Young Readers, I’m also so excited to be approved for LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff. I’ve been really looking forward to this!
From First to Read, I used some of my points that have been piling up to request an e-galley of The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green, who is author I’ve been wanting to read for a while. My thanks to Viking Books for Young Readers.
And finally, in the audiobook haul is The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus, which technically isn’t a novel based on the film since the book was written as the same time the movie was being made. The blurb actually describes the story as one developed as “a two-tiered release”, so it should be interesting to experience this written interpretation. I also received an audio copy of Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi which has gotten a ton of great reviews so far, and I can’t wait to listen to it. Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio for these gems!
Reviews
Here are the reviews I’ve posted since the last update. A lot of great reads this week!
Looking Glass by Andrew Mayne (5 of 5 stars)
Blood of Assassins by R.J. Barker (5 of 5 stars)
A Dragon of a Different Color by Rachel Aaron (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller (4.5 of 5 stars)
Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (4.5 of 5 stars)
Lake Silence by Anne Bishop (4 of 5 stars)
Pacifica by Kristen Simmons (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
Interviews & Guest Posts
A huge thanks to the authors who stopped by The BiblioSanctum this week!
“The Cat-Mummy of Curzon Street Station” by James Brogden
“The Problems of Location” by Tim Lebbon
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
We had two snow days this week, which totally messed up my schedule with me having to watch the kids at home while they drove me up the wall with their pent up energy! But here’s what I’ve managed to “unstack” from the TBR since my last roundup post. Keep an eye out for the reviews that haven’t been posted yet!
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: Tower
Posted on March 23, 2018 31 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:
“When she was a child, the witch locked her away in a tower that had neither doors nor stairs”
~ a cover featuring a TOWER
Mogsy’s Pick:
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Rooted in folk legends in the vein of Grimm Fairy Tales, Uprooted blends magical elements and traditional Polish fairy tale influences to tell a story of a young woman named Agnieszka, who lives in a simple village with a dark secret. Surrounding her valley home is the ever encroaching Wood, a forest filled with dark energies and spirits, whose corrupting force has stolen the lives and minds of many. To combat this evil, the village has made a deal with a wizard who lives in a tower; every so often, he would descend into the valley and work up powerful spells to drive away the malicious effects of the Wood, but in return he exacts a steep price: every ten years, he chooses one young woman and takes her away to live in his tower until she is released and the next choosing begins again. No one really knows why he takes the girls, but there is speculation and none of it is good.
I loved this book. Uprooted was beautiful, magical, and truly captivating, and I’m pleased to see that many of its covers reflect this. Let’s take a look at them now:
From left to right, top to bottom:
Del Rey (2015) – Macmillan (2015) – Pan Macmillan (2016)
German Edition (2016) – Hungarian Edition (2016) – Croatian Edition (2016)
Ukrainian Edition (2017) – Korean Edition (2017) – Hebrew Edition (2016)
Spanish Edition (2016) – Estonian Edition (2016) – Slovenian Edition (2017)
Winner:
I like so many of these covers – the Del Rey edition, the German edition, the Spanish edition, the Korean edition…all of them are just so lovely. However, every so often there will be one cover in a batch that my eyes can’t help but keep coming back to, and for me this week, it’s the Hungarian edition. I love the image of the girl running through the forest, and the art style is very befitting for a story inspired by a fairy tale. I also love the simple application of colors, with the white sinewy branches standing out starkly against the black, and just a hint of gold to highlight the figure of Agnieszka and the tower in the background. This is the winner for me.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Guest Post: “The Problems of Location” by Tim Lebbon
Posted on March 22, 2018 11 Comments
The BiblioSanctum is pleased to be a stop on the blog tour for The Folded Land, the follow up to the critically acclaimed Relics by horror and thriller writer Tim Lebbon. Today we have a guest post by the author himself, in which he talks about the methods of researching the setting for his new novel from Titan Books, which is available in stores now. Check it out, and be sure to join the fun and visit the other stops on the tour!
THE PROBLEMS OF LOCATION
by Tim Lebbon
I really wish I could afford to travel and research the places where I set some of my novels. If I could afford a research trip every nine months, my novels would undoubtedly be set in ever-more exotic locations. A apocalyptic tale based around Alaska … a supernatural murder mystery in Sweden … an adventure thriller in the Himalayas.
Actually, talk amongst yourselves while I make some notes.
In reality, quite a few of my stories are based close to where I live, for the obvious reasons. Sometimes, however, the story demands that the setting for a novel is thousands of miles away.
Relics was set in London, a city I know pretty well. For The Folded Land, I knew that I wanted a larger, more epic landscape. It needed to be somewhere away from that first novel for several reasons (which I can’t go into for risk of spoilers). And those who’ve read Relics will know that some of the characters end up in the USA. As I was thinking more about The Folded Land, the USA seemed the perfect setting.
Even though I’ve been to the USA a dozen times, I was faced with very obvious problems whilst writing the book, the very least of which was ‘sidewalk’ instead of ‘pavement’! I tried to help myself as much as possible by placing certain important scenes in places similar to those I’ve been before, but in many cases it was time to research. Research is a writer’s friend.
I spent a lot of time on Google images, looking around towns and rural locations which I thought approximated the places I wanted to write about (which are partly made-up, partly real). I delved into memories of a holiday I took with my family on Cape Cod. I looked at maps, zooming in and looking at the landscape and natural features. I’m certain I’ve got a lot wrong, but hopefully I’ve got enough right to beg some forgiveness for that.
When it came to the Folded Land itself (and I won’t say much about that place because I don’t want to spoil anything about the novel), I used a lot of what I knew from my love of the countryside and wild mountains.
I once wrote a book set in New Orleans (The Map of Moments, with my great friend Christopher Golden), and we had a lovely email from a resident of that city saying how true we’d been to NO, and commenting on how much time we must have spent there. Chris has been there once, a while back. I’ve never visited.
Research is a writer’s friend!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I love writing, reading, triathlon, real ale, chocolate, good movies, occasional bad movies, and cake.
I was born in London in 1969, lived in Devon until I was eight, and the next twenty years were spent in Newport. My wife Tracey and I then did a Good Thing and moved back to the country, and we now live in the little village of Goytre in Monmouthshire with our kids Ellie and Daniel. And our dog, Blu, who is the size of a donkey.
I love the countryside … I do a lot of running and cycling, and live in the best part of the world for that.
I’ve had loads of books published in the UK, USA, and around the world, including novels, novellas, and collections. I write horror, fantasy, and now thrillers, and I’ve been writing as a living for over 8 years. I’ve won quite a few awards for my original fiction, and I’ve also written tie-in projects for Star Wars, Alien, Hellboy, The Cabin in the Woods, and 30 Days of Night.
A movie’s just been made of my short story Pay the Ghost, starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are other projects in development, too.
I’d love to hear from you! Website: http://www.timlebbon.net Twitter: @timlebbon
Waiting on Wednesday 03/21/18
Posted on March 21, 2018 12 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
Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst (December 4, 2018 by Crown Books for Young Readers)
This winter, from the author of The Queens of Renthia series (which I enjoy quite a bit) comes a new tale about a young woman from family of thieving were-dragons. At this point, I’m not sure what is more exciting to me – the fact that we’ll have shapeshifting dragons, or the fact that this is a heist story. I guess it’s all good.
“In Sky Hawkins’s family, leading your first heist is a major milestone–even more so than learning to talk, walk, or do long division. It’s a chance to gain power and acceptance within your family, and within society. But stealing your first treasure can be complicated, especially when you’re a wyvern–a human capable of turning into a dragon.
Embarking on a life of crime is never easy, and Sky discovers secrets about her mother, who recently went missing, the real reason her boyfriend broke up with her, and a valuable jewel that could restore her family’s wealth and rank in their community.
With a handpicked crew by her side, Sky knows she has everything she needs to complete her first heist, and get her boyfriend and mother back in the process. But then she uncovers a dark truth about were-dragon society–a truth more valuable and dangerous than gold or jewels could ever be.”
Book Review: Looking Glass by Andrew Mayne
Posted on March 20, 2018 23 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: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Series: Book 2 of The Naturalist
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (March 13, 2018)
Length: 316 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Before I started Looking Glass, I made sure to clear my schedule for the rest of the day because I had a feeling I wouldn’t want to be interrupted. As it turned out, I was right. God help anyone who would have dared disturb me, it sure wouldn’t have been pretty! This was a book I finished in just one sitting, and in that time, you couldn’t have pried it loose from my hands with a crowbar.
This second installment of The Naturalist follows protagonist Theo Cray as he once again digs his heels into a case involving the missing victims of a serial killer. You can jump into it without having read the first book, but just bear in mind there will be some references and spoilers to his time in Montana if you ever have plans to go back and read it. In the aftermath of those events, Theo has become a bit of national celebrity for helping catch a prolific killer, but at the same time, his involvement in such a high-profile case has also made him anathema to the academic community. Stuck doing soul-draining work for the government, Theo finds himself drawn to the hunt again when a distraught father of a missing boy shows up on his doorstep with a request to look into his case.
The only problem? Little Christopher Bostrom disappeared nine years ago, and for most investigators this would mean a cold case with no chance of being solved. Theo, however, is scientist who finds patterns, and after crunching some numbers and doing some database searches, the results he finds are disturbing. Not only was Christopher a likely victim of a serial child abductor and murderer, there is evidence that this killer is still on the loose and active today. The only clues Theo has to go on are a couple of kids’ drawings and an eerie urban legend told among elementary school children about a mysterious figure called the Toy Man.
The author has done it again. I spent most of this book with my heart in my throat, because even when there wasn’t much action on the page, Mayne was able to keep up the intensity and fast pace with his vivid descriptions of the scientific processes and fascinating facts. Looking Glass was an electrifying book that never had me bored for a second. Because so much of what Theo does also involves computational biology, or the study of the development and application of biological data to generate patterns and models, readers with an interest in any of the related scientific fields will likely eat this one right up.
In addition, Theo Cray is fast becoming one of my favorite protagonists. As a vigilante scientist, he’s an unconventional hero, a bit socially awkward and tactless because he’s more used to dealing in facts and not feelings. He’s also frighteningly clever and fast on his feet, using what he knows of social and behavioral patterns to spin elaborate scenarios and identities for himself to get out of sticky situations. What’s more, ever since the events of The Naturalist, Theo’s heart has become hardened which has in turn emboldened him, making him more focused and gutsier when it comes to getting what he needs. When he’s not keeping me on the edge of my seat with his high-risk escapades, he’s making me laugh with his reckless yet ingenious stunts like that one particular incident involving an Amazon delivery box and glowing bacteria. At the end of the day, Theo Cray is a weirdo nerd, and I love him for both his intellect and humor.
As for the story, I won’t be going into too much detail because the less you know going in, the better it is going to be. Suffice to say Mayne knows how to get a reader’s blood racing. One small lead from a cold case ends up snowballing into a series of bombshell clues which lead to even bigger and more shocking discoveries. From my experience with The Naturalist, I already know the author is not afraid to go all out, even if it means delving into the realm of the incredible and far-fetched, though in the context of this tale it was easy to just follow along. I’m certainly glad I did with Looking Glass, because I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun with a book.
Hard to believe the first book could have been topped, but I believe Andrew Mayne has done it. I love this series so much, it’s almost ridiculous how badly I want to read more right now. I’m thrilled to discover a third book is already in the works, but the bad news is that it’s not listed to come out until early next year. Oh, this wait is seriously going to suck…
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Naturalist (Book 1)
The BiblioSanctum 