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)
Audiobook Review: A Dragon of a Different Color by Rachel Aaron
Posted on March 19, 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.
A Dragon of a Different Color by Rachel Aaron
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 4 of Heartstrikers
Publisher: Audible Studios (September 12, 2017)
Length: 21 hrs and 26 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Vikas Adam
Ah, I love the Heartstrikers! I don’t know why it took me so long to read this book. Maybe it’s because I initially thought it was going to be the final installment and I just didn’t want the series to end! But A Dragon of a Different Color is in fact the penultimate volume, and I’m glad I finally got to read it. The story picks right up from the end of the previous book, so as always, the standard caveat applies for all my sequel reviews: spoilers for the previous books are possible, so avert thine eyes if you’re not caught up to the end of No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished yet.
Once again, we meet up with our protagonist Julius, the youngest and nicest dragon of the Heartstriker family. To stop his clan from literally killing itself, Julius had set out to change the way things worked—by overthrowing his tyrannical mother, Bethesda, and forming an elected council so that none of them would have to resort to bloody violence ever again. But in accomplishing his goals, Julius has also lost so much. As the book opens, we see him mourning for the death of a dear friend. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, his grief is soon compounded by another shocking revelation about his siblings Bob and Amelia. Julius can’t bring himself to believe that Bob, the Heartstriker seer and the brother who has always been so kind to him, would commit such an unthinkable act, but the evidence doesn’t lie. It also means there are now even fewer people our protagonist can trust.
Meanwhile, the powerful spirit of the lake Algonquin is stirring, and unfortunately, in the midst of all these changes, the Heartstrikers are in no state to defend themselves. It also appears that their weakness has not gone unnoticed by the Chinese dragons and their Golden Emperor, who are now seizing this opportunity to invade Heartstriker territory. But is everything truly as it seems? Julius soon learns why the Golden Emperor is so powerful and how he has reigned for so long. But the Golden Emperor has his secrets too, and clearing the air may be the Heartstrikers’ only chance to come out of this catastrophe in one piece.
With so much happening in this book, it’s no wonder that there was never a dull moment and the pacing remained energetic and non-stop throughout. The narrative mainly bounced between two different threads, the first being the dramatic events occurring at Heartstriker Mountain, where Julius has his confrontation with the Golden Emperor, and the second being a more metaphysical subplot involving the afterlife and discovering what happened to the world’s magic all those centuries ago. Algonquin, who has thus far been a powerful force in the background, also gets a bigger role in this book and readers are even provided a glimpse into the events from her point of view.
But for me, the highlight of this novel was everything that unfolded at Heartstriker Mountain. As fascinating as it was to learn about the history of the Merlins and magic, it couldn’t hold a candle to the emotions and action being tossed all around at Bethesda’s former stronghold. Julius puts his diplomatic talents to good use, and shows how being “nice” doesn’t necessarily have to mean being a doormat. Undoubtedly, the traumatic events of the previous novel must have taught him some lessons, because I loved how he has developed more of a backbone in this one, pushing back when the situation calls for it.
But of course, in other respects, Julius is not quite so quick on the uptake. By the end of No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished, I think most readers have already figured out the big secret involving his sister Chelsie, given all the obvious hints. If you’re anything like me, then you’ve probably been impatiently waiting for the moment Julius the Oblivious finally gets it, and this book will be immensely satisfying for you. Chelsie has become one of my favorite characters, which is really incredible if you think about how she began this series as a kind of bogeyman figure for Julius, as the clan enforcer everyone feared. Now I just can’t get enough of her, and it delighted me to see her open up in some downright touching and tear-jerking moments in this novel.
To be honest, aside from some of the more mystical elements got in the way of the flow sometimes, and the fact we also didn’t get to see as much of the rest of the Heartstriker family like Justin, there really weren’t too many flaws with this book. Besides, I believe that the strengths more than made up for these minor weaknesses. Everything is shaping up quite nicely for an epic finale. As sad as I am that the next book will indeed be the concluding volume, I’m making a promise to myself that this time I won’t wait as long to read it.
Audiobook Comments: I’ve gone back and forth between the audio and print for this series and personally I find both formats to be equally enjoyable. After reading the print edition of the previous book, returning to Vikas Adam’s narration was a nice change of pace. I enjoyed his performance (except his Bob still sounds way too goofy for my liking, even if it’s all part of his character) and his huge range of accents and voices means he’s fantastic at making each individual’s personality stand out.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Nice Dragons Finish Last (Book 1)
Review of One Good Dragon Deserves Another (Book 2)
Review of No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished (Book 3)
Book Review: The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller
Posted on March 18, 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.
The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Series: Book 1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (February 13, 2018)
Length: 432 pages
Author Information: Website
The Philosopher’s Flight might be my first genuine surprise of 2018. Backed by a fascinating premise that blends together historical fiction and fantasy, this novel held my attention captive from beginning to end. Set in an alternate World-War-I-era America, at the core of this tale is “magical science”, also known as empirical philosophy, a system of magic that uses the artform of “sigilry” to perform amazing feats like summoning the wind, sculpting clouds of smoke, teleporting from one place to another, or even defying gravity.
Told in the form of a memoir, the book stars protagonist Robert Weekes who recounts his time as a young man at Radcliffe College studying to pursue his dream of flying Rescue and Evacuation for the US Sigilry Corps. But here’s the twist: in this world, empirical philosophy is a field dominated by women. The greater affinity for magic in the female sex means that they are stronger and more powerful philosophers, which also makes them better conditioned to become flyers—a discipline that few men can master. Robert, however, has flying in his blood. His mother, the indomitable Major Emmeline Weekes is his inspiration and role model, a war hero who has served many years as part of the elite all-women R&E team saving countless lives on the battlefield. Determined to follow in her footsteps, Robert decides to apply to Radcliffe, becoming one of only three men enrolled in the school.
And here’s where the story gets interesting. Few things in this book unfold the way you’d expect, despite the frosty reception Robert finds on his first day. Facing strong pushback from some of his professors and fellow students who believe he doesn’t belong, our protagonist must work twice as hard to prove his worth and be accepted in a role that’s traditionally been closed to men. How dicey, I initially thought, to have a story centered around a male protagonist who must struggle against gender discrimination, considering the current feminist movement and how these days books actually tend to feature the opposite scenario. And yet, at the same time I found it to be a refreshing change, not to mention the gender-flip was executed in a thoughtful way that treats women with respect and reverence. With the exception of the Trenchers (more on them later), the world generally views empirical philosophy as a gift—and women, as the wielders of that wonderful and magical power, are held in high esteem. They are America’s greatest heroes and legends that girls (and boys like Robert) look up to and dream they can become.
However, the author also does not patronize his readers by glossing over the situation. Every slice of the population will have its bad eggs, and Robert encounters his fair share of prejudice, intolerance, and injustice from some of the women at Radcliffe, and some social norms are just so ingrained that they are hard to break. In addition, there are the aforementioned Trenchers, a radical group that opposes everything related to empirical philosophy (hence many of their messages are also anti-women) and they aren’t above resorting to violent means to achieve their ends. Among these tactics is a hit list targeting well-known philosophers like Robert’s mother Emmeline Weekes and his girlfriend Danielle Hardin for assassination. Ultimately, it’s the Trenchers who are the main antagonists of this book, whom Robert works tirelessly and passionately with his fellow Radcliffe students to oppose.
This is a multi-faceted story with lots of positive messages about fighting for change, serving your fellow citizens, doing good for the world, and reaching for your dreams—all done in an unconventional yet sympathetic way. It’s also a tough book to categorize, because of its many themes. At its heart The Philosopher’s Flight is a coming-of-age new adult tale about growing up, which also has elements like sweet romance (experiencing first love), pulse-pounding action (training to perform dangerous and daring aerial maneuvers), light-hearted humor (making lifelong friendships), as well as thrilling adventure (competing in school spirit events and flying contests). All this is set before an alternate historical fantasy backdrop that feels genuine and well-realized. The college setting also makes me think this would be great for readers looking for a more serious and mature “magic school” story—think Lev Grossman’s The Magicians, except a lot more fun and not as soul-suckingly depressing (not to mention with decidedly more likable characters).
It is my hope that this book, like its protagonist, will reach new heights because it is certainly deserving of all the praise. Tom Miller has written a complex and deeply nuanced debut that examines the way lives can be shaped by social beliefs and experiences, but it is also a wild tale full of warmth and fun. I was glad to learn that The Philosopher’s Flight is the first book of a new series, because I am absolutely on board for more.
YA Weekend: Pacifica by Kristen Simmons
Posted on March 17, 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian, Young Adult
Series: Book 1/Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor Teen (March 6, 2018)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I had high hopes for Pacifica, even more so after I read the author’s foreword and realized the story was in part inspired by the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II—a topic that gets touched upon relatively rarely in this genre. And yet, despite the book’s poignant themes, I felt that much of their significance was lost amidst some plot, pacing, and characterization issues. I still had a good time with the novel overall, but ultimately it failed to reach the heights I expected.
The future is bleak in Pacifica, which opens in the year 2193 featuring a world ravaged by natural disasters and epidemics. The North American continent has become unrecognizable after numerous changes to the land and flooding, and what used to be the state of California is now an archipelago. Noram City, the capital of what’s left of the country, is home to both the elites who live safely at high elevations and to the indigent Shoreling population who struggle to survive down near the coasts. With resources dwindling, the government has proposed a new bill called the Relocation Act which will resettle five hundred of Noram’s poorest citizens on a new island called Pacifica.
Understandably, the announcement was met with mixed reactions. Some Shorelings were optimistic, hoping to be chosen for the voyage so that they would have a chance at a fresh start. Others, however, were more skeptical. After all, if Pacifica was such a wonderful paradise, why weren’t the wealthy citizens clamoring to be the ones to go there first?
As the unease sweeps through the city in response to the Relocation Act, Ross Torres, the seventeen-year-old son of the president, gets it into his head to have a bit of fun. Along with his friend Adam Baker, the vice president’s son, the two young men decide to sneak past their security details to check out the riots, subsequently falling into a situation they can’t handle. In the chaos, they meet Marin, the exiled daughter of a pirate king who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, finding herself caught up in the protests. When Adam becomes separated and abducted in violence, Ross is forced to team up with Marin, taking to the seas with her in order to rescue his friend.
This book took a long time to take off. Admittedly, before I knew more about the story, I was drawn to Pacifica because of the promise of pirates and seafaring adventures. Well, none of this good stuff came until much later, because first we had to sit through a long intro of politics and getting to know our protagonists—none of whom were very likeable, if I’m to be honest. Ross’s character was a study in stupidity and arrogance, who just couldn’t seem to take responsibility for his own mistakes or see beyond his own self-interests. It’s also terribly unoriginal, i.e. the rich politician’s son who doesn’t get enough freedom or attention because dad’s too busy with work and mom’s too doped up on prescription drugs. Marin herself fares no better, embodying the cliché of the pirate princess with a heart of gold, complete with a mandatory soft spot for orphaned children. The world-building isn’t very imaginative either; it’s the same old post-apocalyptic dystopian scenario with the earth all messed up because of climate change, and strained resources leading to a huge disparity between the rich and the poor.
But as predictable as this story gets, things do pick up considerable around the halfway point when Ross and Marin finally set sail. Also, fans of YA romance will probably enjoy this book, since I found that aspect to be done very well. More authors should take a page from Pacifica when it comes to gradually exploring and establishing trust between characters before proceeding with the romance. Ross also makes leaps and bounds with regards to his personal growth and development—even if all those changes were to be expected. In spite of this, reading about his eventual epiphany and insight into the situation made the journey worth it in the end.
In sum, more focus on the deeper and more important issues coupled with less reliance on well-trodden tropes would have probably made this one better. While nothing about Pacifica really blew me away or made it stand out from other YA books in the same genre, the story provided an entertaining diversion (especially once it gained momentum in the second half), making this a decent choice if you’re looking for a light, fluffy read.
Friday Face-Off: Doll or Puppet
Posted on March 16, 2018 37 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:
“I got no strings to hold me down”
~ a cover featuring a DOLL or PUPPET
Mogsy’s Pick:
Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes
This week was a tricky one. As you know, I have a fear of dolls so I’m not exactly jumping to read any books about them, but after browsing through my Goodreads shelves, I did find a book I’ve read which I could use. Broken Monsters is a supernatural crime thriller which opens with a bizarre and grisly discovery – the top half of a boy’s corpse fused with the bottom half of a deer’s corpse, left behind by the disturbed killer for the police to find.
This is definitely not a book for the squeamish. Needless to say, there are some rather macabre covers on display this week. Let’s take a look at them now:
From left to right, top to bottom:
Mulholland HC (2014) – Mulholland PB (2015) – HarperCollins (2014) – Harper (2015)
Chinese Edition (2016) – Vietnamese Edition (2016) – Indonesian Edition (2017)
Dutch Edition (2015) – French Edition (2015) – German Edition (2015) – Spanish Edition (2016)
Winner:
There’s really only one cover I like out of this batch, one that’s all around solid in terms of visual appeal and how well it fits the story. The winner I’ve chosen this week is the Indonesian edition, which manages to convey all the twisted horror and creepiness of the novel without resorting to grotesque imagery, and I also really like the colors.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
The BiblioSanctum