Book Review: Mass Effect: Initiation by N.K. Jemisin & Mac Walters
Posted on January 14, 2018 24 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mass Effect: Initiation by N.K. Jemisin & Mac Walters
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Media Tie-In
Series: Book 2 of Mass Effect: Andromeda
Publisher: Titan Books (November 28, 2017)
Length: 304 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I’ve been on a tie-in kick lately, with Mass Effect: Initiation being my latest foray into the world of one of my favorite video game series. The fact that they also got Hugo Award winning author N.K. Jemisin to lend her writing chops to this project certainly didn’t hurt. Co-written by Bioware creative director Mac Walters, Initiation is the second prequel novel to Mass Effect: Andromeda, focusing on the events that take place in the months before the game starts. However, no knowledge or experience with the games (or any of the previous books) in the Mass Effect series is required to enjoy this story.
It is 2185, approximately half a year before the start of Mass Effect: Andromeda. Lieutenant Cora Harper, formerly of the Systems Alliance military, is returning to human territory after four years spent with Talein’s Daughters, an elite Asari commando squad, as part of an interspecies training program. Now one of humanity’s most powerful biotics, Cora is recommended for Alec Ryder’s Andromeda Initiative, a civilian-backed multi-species project to settle colonists in the Andromeda Galaxy. Called the Pathfinder, Alec is initially skeptical of Cora’s motivations (or rather, the lack of them) but nevertheless agrees to take her on, giving her what was supposed to be a straightforward assignment to recover some stolen data.
However, the mission ends in spectacular failure, with Cora barely escaping with her life. Clearly, there is more to the stolen property that Alec Ryder had tasked her to retrieve, and Cora intends to find some answers. But the more she digs, the more she discovers too many secrets, and Alec’s tight-lipped refusal to let her in on the truth means that it is up to Cora to protect the Andromeda Initiative against the incoming threat.
For a sci-fi action novel, Initiation is well-written and solid. For a media tie-in, I found it exceptional. Either way, you can’t lose. Jemisin and Walters have written a fast-paced and adrenaline-fueled adventure that packs all the entertainment and thrills expected from a Mass Effect story. If you’ve played the Andromeda, Cora Harper is one of your game-controlled squad mates, but her role as lead protagonist here gives us a lot more insight into the history and personality of the character. She comes across as genuine and real. A tough and seasoned soldier, Cora is nonetheless in a vulnerable position when we first meet her upon her return from Asari space, feeling like the odd woman out in a world that no longer feels familiar to her. She also has no idea how to deal with pushy reporters getting into her face, or the toxic, xenophobic attitudes directed at her for “betraying” humanity just because she worked with aliens. We get this sense of a lost and confused woman, cast adrift now that she feels she is no longer needed.
Fortunately, the Andromeda Initiative gives Cora the new motivational drive she’s been looking for—that, and trying to find out who’s trying to kill her. As her professionalism and tactical skills begin to shine though, we are treated to the “real” Cora—the one who possesses a fierce and unbending loyalty, impeccable discipline, and a wry sense of humor (which frequently reveals itself when she interacts with SAM-E, the experimental “virtual intelligence” she was implanted with when she first joined the Initiative). Cora is also a goals-oriented individual who is in her element when given something to fight for, and I liked that the authors took the time to highlight her bravery and tenacity.
The story was fun, very different from what I’ve seen from Jemisin so far with her work in the fantasy genre—but I sure hope she’ll continue writing more like this. I loved the exciting and intense action, which kept the book’s pacing rapid and engaging. At the same time, we got a level of character exploration not typically seen in a lot of media tie-in novels, and here, I have no doubt we have Jemisin’s influence to thank. When it comes to developing character personalities and backgrounds, she’s one of the best.
I must admit though, despite Jemisin’s name attached to this novel, I wasn’t expecting much from Mass Effect: Initiation when I first picked it up. Needless to say, I was quickly disabused of that notion within the first few pages. This was a great book, with lots of fun and lots of thrills. It just goes to show the bias against media tie-ins still runs deep, even for someone like me, who reads almost one a month. However, as more books like Initiation prove that books based on video games can be just as engaging, well-written, and worth reading, hopefully those perceptions won’t linger for long.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Wendy’s Review of Mass Effect: Nexus Uprising (Book 1)
Tiara’s Review of Mass Effect: Nexus Uprising (Book 1)
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on January 13, 2018 35 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.
Happy new year and welcome to the first Bookshelf Roundup of 2018! In other news, I am already so behind on my reading. Hopefully it won’t take me too long to get back into the rhythm; January kicks off with a ton of new releases, and it only gets better from here.
Received for Review
Thank you 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!
With thanks to Hogarth/Crown Publishing for sending me a finished copy of The Sky is Yours by Chandler Klang Smith. I’m hoping to start the book this weekend, and the excitement they’ve drummed up for this is really catching. And that’s not it – Crown also sent along the movie tie-in edition to Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It’s one of my favorite books ever and words cannot describe how much I’m looking forward to see the movie.
Patently Absurd by Bradley W. Schenck is a collection of six short stories complete with illustrations from the same author as the retro-style sci-fi novel I read last year, Slaves of the Switchboard of Doom. So when Bradley contacted me just before the end of the last year offering an opportunity to review this anthology, I very enthusiastically accepted! Thank you to Radio Planet Books for sending me an ARC.
Next up comes a trio of finished copies from Tor Books: Survival by Ben Bova is third book of Star Quest, wrapping up a trilogy (unfortunately, I have not read the first two books); Mad Hatters and March Hares edited by Ellen Datlow is described as a collection of weird tales inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; and Nemo Rising by C. Courtney Joyner is a sort-of sequel to Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, continuing the adventures of Captain Nemo. I’ve been seeing some mixed reviews, but out of these three surprise arrivals I think this last one interests me the most!
On to the digital haul, my thanks to Harper Voyager for the following e-galleys: Blood of the Four by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon is an epic dark fantasy novel which looks to have potential, given the big names behind this collaboration, and The Feed by Nick Clark Windo is a post-apocalyptic novel that explores the future of humanity in a technology saturated world.
With thanks to Penguin Random House Audio I also received a couple of audio review copies. First of these is The Defiant by Lesley Livingston. I’ve already listened to this one and I loved it! It might even be better than the first book. Keep an eye out for my review sometime next week. I’ve also resolved to read more in the thriller-mystery genre this year, which is why I also downloaded The Chalkman by C.J. Tudor, a psychological suspense thriller about a group of boys in the 80’s who are led to a dismembered body by a trail of little chalk stick men. Now grown, their past have come back to haunt them when each of them receive a single chalk figure in the mail. Sounds creepy.
And with a new year comes new novellas from Tor.com! Thank you to the publisher for the following eARCs. The Warrior Within by Angus McIntyre is a debut science fiction adventure about a man who lives with the personalities of multiple people in his head, each a master of a different set of skills. This does remind me a lot of Brandon Sanderson’s Legion, but we’ll see how this book handles the concept. The Barrow Will Send What It May by Margaret Killjoy is book two of the anarcho-punk fantasy series Danielle Cain, which began last summer with The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion. Stone Mad by Elizabeth Bear is a novella set in the the same world as Karen Memory (a great book!) following the eponymous heroine on a new story set in a steampunk/Victorian era-inspired Pacific Northwest. Memory’s Blade by Spencer Ellsworth is the conclusion of the Starfire space opera trilogy. I didn’t even realize the second book had come out! Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do. And finally, , Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach by Kelly Robson is an interesting looking sci-fi which seeks to blend time travel with climate fiction and historical fantasy.
Reviews
The flood of end-of-the-year best-of lists and looking-forward-to-in-2018 posts meant the last couple weeks were pretty light on reviews, but here’s a quick summary of what I’ve managed to put up since the last update:
Penric’s Mission by Lois McMaster Bujold (4 of 5 stars)
Black Star Renegades by Michael Moreci (3.5 of 5 stars)
Deadlands: Boneyard by Seanan McGuire (3.5 of 5 stars)
Killman Creek by Rachel Caine (3.5 of 5 stars)
Unearthed by Amie Kaufman by Meagan Spooner (2.5 of 5 stars)
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
It’s taken me some time to ease back into my regular reading and reviewing schedule, but I’m getting there. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve managed to finish the following books. A few of them have been reviewed already, with the rest 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: Knots
Posted on January 12, 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:
“More than one meaning have I”
~ a cover featuring a KNOT
Mogsy’s Pick:
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
So, yeaaaaaah. After scouring through all the books I’ve read, the only “knot” I could come up with for the theme this week is a noose. Go figure.
Let’s take a look at some of the covers:
From left to right, top to bottom:
Gollancz (2007) – Gollancz/Pyr Books (2008/2009) – Danish Edition (2016)
Bulgarian Edition (2011) – German Edition (2007) – Portuguese Edition (2014)
Russian Edition (2010) – Dutch Edition (2010) – Spanish Edition (2016)
Serbian Edition (2012) – Polish Edition (2016) – Chinese Edition (2013)
Winner:
For such a great book, this one’s sure got a lot of dull covers. I’m going to call this one a tie between the Danish and the Portuguese editions, the only two covers that really appealed to me.
What do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Novella Review: Penric’s Mission by Lois McMaster Bujold
Posted on January 11, 2018 20 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Penric’s Mission by Lois McMaster Bujold
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of Penric and Desdemona
Publisher: Subterranean Press (November 30, 2017)
Length: 264 pages
Bujold returns to her World of the Five Gods with another novella featuring Penric, a sorcerer of the Bastards’s Order, and Desdemona, the ancient and powerful demon riding in his head. We once again jump ahead in time, accompanying an older and mellower Penric as he travels across the sea to the nation of Cedonia where he will attempt to carry out a secret mission on behalf of his employer, the Duke of Adria.
But despite traveling under a false name, Penric is immediately arrested upon his arrival and thrown into a dungeon to await execution. Soon, he discovers that something similar had also happened to General Arisaydia, the contact he was supposed to meet. Although the general was eventually released, the punishment he endured during his imprisonment left him blinded and forever incapacitated, unable to perform his military duties. Somehow, the truth of Penric’s purpose in Cedonia has gotten out, and someone is clearly going to great lengths to prevent him and Arisaydia from ever meeting.
Not to be deterred, the ever resourceful Penric manages to evade death in the dungeons with the help of Desdemona. He then proceeds to track down Arisaydia, whom he finds being cared for Nykis, the general’s widowed sister. Developing a relationship with the latter while attempting to heal the former, Penric becomes entangled in web of danger which culminates in a dramatic and breathless escape from Cedonia.
For those who require a quick refresher on the series thus far, Penric is a former nobleman who became a sorcerer and temple divine following his accidental posession by the demon known as Desdemona. Although Desdemona and her kind are called “demons” in this world, these spirits aren’t considered typically or inherently evil, and most end up being more mischievous and impish than anything. Even a demon as old and powerful as Desdemona is known to partake regularly in good-natured teasing and playful banter, leading to no shortage of entertainment when it comes to the dialogue between her and Penric.
In fact, I’m sure that readers who enjoyed the friendship and lively interplay between the characters in the first two novellas will find even more to delight in with Penric’s Mission. Now thirty years old, our titular protagonist has had a lot more time to get to know Desdemona, and the genuine affection they have for each other is apparent in all their interactions. After all, when you let your literal demons out to talk to your potential romantic interest, that’s what you call trust! Pen and Desdemona’s conversations also reveal a lot more about the world-building, furthering our knowledge of the lore and mythology behind the World of the Five Gods. In addition, our characters’ journey to Cedonia opens up another little corner of the map, introducing us to a new place and culture.
Compared to its predecessors Penric’s Demon and Penric and the Shaman, which were more subdued, this third installment reads more like an action-adventure, complete with a touch of spycraft and a high-risk rescue mission. I daresay fans of the author’s more action-oriented and fast-paced military sci-fi sagas are going to feel right at home. There’s even a thread of romance—not prominent, but still well developed—between Pen and Nykis. Given how some of my favorite fictional couples have been created by Bujold (Cazaril and Betriz, Dag and Fawn), I’m understandably excited to see where she’ll take their relationship. The characters are always the highlight of her stories, so I’m especially intrigued at the possibilities that new POVs like Arisaydia and Nykis can bring to the table.
All in all, Penric’s Mission is another fantastic addition to the Penric and Desdemona sequence. A must read for fans of Bujold and followers of the series.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Penric’s Demon (Book 1)
Review of Penric and the Shaman (Book 2)
2018 Audiobook Challenge
Posted on January 10, 2018 11 Comments
We love audiobooks here at The Bibliosanctum for a variety of reasons from distraction while doing chores to just enjoying a good story being read by an awesome narrator. We also love to undertake a good challenge, especially when it coincides with our love of reading. This will be The Bibliosanctum’s fourth year participating in the event, and we’re excited to see where this year’s challenge takes us!
Hot Listens and the Caffeinated Book Reviewer are hosting the event, which is now in its sixth year of running. Make sure to check out the sign-up page for this year’s challenge, and also head on over to the Goodreads group.
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.
- Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. First update in June 30, 2018 and last update in December 15, 2018.
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+
Mogsy’s Goals
Our progress reports sort of just fell by the wayside last year, but rest assured I am always listening to audiobooks. Hence, the first part of my challenge will involve doing a better job at remembering to post updates at the end of every quarter! As for listening goals, I’m going to do what I always do: set a short term goal of My Precious, with the long term goal of going for broke with Marathoner. I listened to just shy of 50 audiobooks last year (my total was 49…so close!) so I know it’s doable if I simply push myself a little harder.
Do you listen to audiobooks? Will you try doing the audiobook challenge this year? Let us know your thoughts!
Waiting on Wednesday 01/10/18
Posted on January 10, 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
The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst (May 15, 2018 by Harper Voyager)
The first two books of Durst’s Queens of Renthia series were so wonderful; I can’t wait to see how this one will wrap up the trilogy.
“The battle between vicious spirits and strong-willed queens that started in the award-winning The Queen of Blood and continued in the powerful The Reluctant Queen comes to a stunning conclusion in The Queen of Sorrow, the final volume of Sarah Beth Durst’s Queens of Renthia trilogy.
Queen Daleina has yearned to bring peace and prosperity to her beloved forest home—a hope that seemed doomed when neighboring forces invaded Aratay. Now, with the powerful Queen Naelin ruling by her side, Daleina believes that her dream of ushering in a new era can be realized, even in a land plagued by malevolent nature spirits who thirst for the end of human life.
And then Naelin’s children are kidnapped by spirits.
Nothing is more important to her than her family, and Naelin would rather watch the world burn than see her children harmed. Blaming the defeated Queen Merecot of Semo for the kidnapping, Naelin is ready to start a war—and has the power to do it.
But Merecot has grander plans than a bloody battle with her southern neighbors. Taking the children is merely one step in a plot to change the future of all Renthia, either by ending the threat of spirits once and for all . . . or plunging the world into chaos.”
Top Ten 2017 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY Plan To in 2018!)
Posted on January 9, 2018 32 Comments
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. They created the meme because they love lists. Who doesn’t love lists? They wanted to share these list with fellow book lovers and ask that we share in return to connect with our fellow book lovers. To learn more about participating in the challenge, stop by their page dedicated to it and dive in!
This week’s topic: Top Ten 2017 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY Plan To in 2018!)
Mogsy’s Picks
Jade City by Fonda Lee
Magical jade—mined, traded, stolen, and killed for—is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. For centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.
Now the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon’s bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation.
When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone—even foreigners—wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones—from their grandest patriarch to the lowliest motorcycle runner on the streets—and of Kekon itself.
Jade City begins an epic tale of family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of jade and blood.
The Realms of God by Michael Livingston
The Ark of the Covenant has been spirited out of Egypt to Petra, along with the last of its guardians. But dark forces are in pursuit. Three demons, inadvertently unleashed by Juba of Numidia and the daughter of Cleopatra, are in league with Tiberius, son and heir of Augustus Caesar. They’ve seized two of the fabled Shards of Heaven, lost treasures said to possess the very power of God, and are desperately hunting the rest.
Through war and assassination, from Rome to the fabled Temple Mount of Jerusalem and on to the very gates of Heaven itself, the forces of good and evil will collide in a climactic battle that threatens the very fabric of Creation.
The Realms of God is the thrilling conclusion to Michael Livingston’s historical fantasy trilogy that continues the story begun in The Shards of Heaven and The Gates of Hell.
The Stone in the Skull by Elizabeth Bear
The Stone in the Skull, the first volume in her new trilogy, takes readers over the dangerous mountain passes of the Steles of the Sky and south into the Lotus Kingdoms.
The Gage is a brass automaton created by a wizard of Messaline around the core of a human being. His wizard is long dead, and he works as a mercenary. He is carrying a message from a the most powerful sorcerer of Messaline to the Rajni of the Lotus Kingdom. With him is The Dead Man, a bitter survivor of the body guard of the deposed Uthman Caliphate, protecting the message and the Gage. They are friends, of a peculiar sort.
They are walking into a dynastic war between the rulers of the shattered bits of a once great Empire.
First Watch by Dale Lucas
Enter Rem: new to Yenara and hungover in the city dungeons with no money for bail. When offered a position with the Watch to compensate for his crimes, Rem jumps at the chance.
His new partner is less eager. Torval, a dwarf who’s handy with a maul and known for hitting first and asking questions later, is highly unimpressed with the untrained and weaponless Rem.
But when Torval’s former partner goes missing, the two must consort with the usual suspects — drug dealing orcs, mind-controlling elves, uncooperative mages, and humans being typical humans — to uncover the truth and catch a murderer loose in their fair city.
In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson
Travis Stillwell spends his nights searching out women in West Texas honky-tonks. What he does with them doesn’t make him proud, just quiets the demons for a little while. But his nights soon take a terrifying turn in a desert cantina, where Travis crosses paths with a mysterious pale-skinned girl in red boots. Come the morning, he wakes weak and bloodied in his cabover camper, no sign of a girl, no memory of the night before.
Annabelle Gaskin spies the camper parked behind her rundown motel and offers the disheveled cowboy inside a few odd jobs to pay his board. Travis takes her up on the offer, if only to buy time, to lay low, to heal. By day, he mends the old motel, insinuating himself into the lives of Annabelle and her ten-year-old son. By night, in the cave of his camper, he fights an unspeakable hunger. Before long, Annabelle and her boy come to realize that this strange cowboy they’ve taken in is not what he seems.
Half a state away, a grizzled Texas ranger is hunting Travis down for his past misdeeds, but what he finds will lead him to a revelation far more monstrous than he could ever imagine. A man of the law, he’ll have to decide how far into the darkness he’ll go for the sake of justice.
When these lives converge on a dusty autumn night, an old evil will find new life—and new blood.
The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden
In South Africa, the future looks promising. Personal robots are making life easier for the working class. The government is harnessing renewable energy to provide infrastructure for the poor. And in the bustling coastal town of Port Elizabeth, the economy is booming thanks to the genetic engineering industry which has found a welcome home there. Yes—the days to come are looking very good for South Africans. That is, if they can survive the present challenges:
A new hallucinogenic drug sweeping the country . . .
An emerging AI uprising . . .
And an ancient demigoddess hellbent on regaining her former status by preying on the blood and sweat (but mostly blood) of every human she encounters.
It’s up to a young Zulu girl powerful enough to destroy her entire township, a queer teen plagued with the ability to control minds, a pop diva with serious daddy issues, and a politician with even more serious mommy issues to band together to ensure there’s a future left to worry about.
Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell
Magic is a con game.
Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage’s duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There’s just one problem: his magic is gone.
As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path.
Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi—a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She’s difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen’s only hope…
The first in a rich and compelling fantasy series bursting with tricks, traps and a devious talking squirrel cat.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
Welcome to Weep.
Owl and the Electric Samurai by Kristi Charish
The third exciting novel starring the unforgettable antiquities thief Owl—a modern-day “Indiana Jane” who reluctantly navigates the hidden supernatural world. From the pen of rising urban fantasy star Kristi Charish (Owl and the Japanese Circus) and for fans of Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Jennifer Estep, Jenn Bennett, and fantasy lovers everywhere.
The International Archaeology Association (IAA) is responsible for keeping all things supernatural under wraps. They’re also responsible for ruining the promising archaeology career of Alix Hiboux, better known as Owl.
Needless to say, Owl’s still a little sore about that.
Just to keep Owl’s life lively, the IAA has opened a bounty on the two designers of World Quest, the online RPG that is much, much more than it seems. Owl needs to locate the notorious gaming duo before the other mercenaries do. But finding the gamers won’t be easy since every clue points to them hiding out in the legendary lost city of Shangri-La. Not to mention that the last time Owl and the game designers spoke, their conversation didn’t exactly end on the best note…
Meanwhile, undercurrents of supernatural politics are running amok in Tokyo, dragging Owl and her friends into a deadly game of wits with an opponent who calls himself the Electric Samurai. The cost of losing? All-out civil war between two powerful supernatural factions.
All in all, just another great day on the job.
Steal the Stars by Mac Rogers and Nat Cassidy
Dakota “Dak” Prentiss guards the biggest secret in the world.
They call it “Moss.” It’s your standard grey alien from innumerable abduction stories. It still sits at the controls of the spaceship it crash-landed eleven years ago. A secret military base was built around the crash site to study both Moss and the dangerous technology it brought to Earth.
The day Matt Salem joins her security team, Dak’s whole world changes.
It’s love at first sight—which is a problem, since they both signed ironclad contracts vowing not to fraternize with other military personnel. If they run, they’ll be hunted for what they know. Dak and Matt have only way to be together: do the impossible. Steal Moss and sell the secret of its existence.
And they can’t afford a single mistake.
Book Review: Black Star Renegades by Michael Moreci
Posted on January 8, 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.
Black Star Renegades by Michael Moreci
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (January 2, 2018)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Known for his work in comics, Michael Moreci makes the transition to novelist in this rollicking debut which was clearly written as a tribute to his love of space-faring action and adventure sagas. Anyone familiar with popular franchises like Star Wars or Guardians of the Galaxy will no doubt see some of their plot elements and character tropes represented in Black Star Renegades, which borrows liberally from its inspirations.
First, we have a galaxy at war. The Praxis kingdom is our analog to the evil Empire, bent on subjugating all of known space to its will. Enter the “chosen one”, a Paragon whom legend foretold would arrive when the time is right, wielding a legendary weapon that will destroy the Praxis dictatorship and restore peace and balance to the galaxy. While Cade Sura might not be a simple farm boy from a desert planet, he does fit the archetype that seems to have been universally imposed on all reluctant heroes—he comes from humble beginnings, growing up hearing about the resistance and listening to exhilarating tales of their adventures, of how one day the Paragon will be the downfall of the Praxis kingdom. Still, for all the hushed reverence and admiration surrounding the prophesied savior, Cade never once imagined that he himself would be thrust into the role.
When the story begins, we follow Cade and his older brother Tristan as they travel to the mystical caves of Quarry on assignment for the Rai, an order of galactic peacekeepers that both of them belong to. However, their mission ends in disaster, and Cade emerges from the caves beaten, broken, but also in possession of the fabled weapon known as the Rokura—the very weapon that, it is said, can only be freed from its resting place by the Paragon. This was not supposed to be part of the plan, but what choice does Cade have? Either he must accept and master his new role, or Ga Halle, the evil overlord of Praxis, will come down on Cade and his friends with the full force of her military might and seize the Rokura for herself.
Initially, I was a bit torn on how to respond to a book like Black Star Renegades. The part of me that’s a die-hard, dyed-in-the-wool fan of Star Wars wanted to like this one badly, though the more measured and critical part of me knew there had to be more to a story than just repurposed old tropes borrowed from popular films. There’s a fine line between paying homage and blatantly taking someone else’s ideas for your own purpose, and there were times I felt this novel treaded uncomfortably close to the latter side of the equation. That said, I have to give credit where credit’s due; Moreci always seemed to dial back just in the nick of time, avoiding the outright lifting of ideas by applying his own twist or subversion to them. Don’t get me wrong; there’s still a want of originality, and a “I’ve definitely seen this before” feeling will be constantly tickling at the back of your mind, but at least there are a few surprises to keep things interesting.
Needless to say, the book became much more enjoyable once I accepted what it was meant to be and how it intended to get there. The story, told almost in an episodic manner, shuffles readers from one conflict to another in quick rapid-fire succession, so that there’s barely any downtime to absorb everything that’s happened. In a way, it’s actually better not to dwell on the plot too much, lest you start finding the holes in it, or realize how predictable it is. A novel like this is best taken lightly and appreciated on the basis of its spoofy themes. The characters are also quite endearing—that is, if you get over some of their hammier dispositions and dialogue.
All told, Black Star Renegades was an entertaining romp through the galaxy, even though some would argue that this “love letter” to Star Wars actually reads more like a shameless imitation. There’s plenty of charm and energy in this project to make me think there’s potential for the rest of the series, however, and Michael Moreci no doubt has the passion and enthusiasm to pull it off.
YA Weekend Audio: Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Posted on January 7, 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.
Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 2.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Series: Book 1 of Unearthed
Publisher: Listening Library (January 9, 2018)
Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins
Author Information: Amie Kaufman | Meagan Spooner
Narrators: Steve West, Alex McKenna
I felt I gave this one a fair shot, despite everything from end-of-year burnout to post-vacation blues seeming to conspire against me. In the end, this was simply not the engaging tomb-raiding adventure on an alien planet that I was expecting, and mostly found myself bored and unable to see why this book couldn’t be half the length with the same plot content.
The story begins on Gaia, a far-flung planet discovered when a message was intercepted from its long-extinct inhabitants, an ancient race which called itself “the Undying”. Aware that Earth is on its last legs due to overpopulation and environmental degradation, scientists saw this new world as the answer to all their prayers—finally, humanity has a possible home for the future, and the Undying’s advanced technology will also help Earth become sustainable again.
As a result, people from all walks of life flocked to Gaia to see mysteries and treasures can be found among its abandoned ruins. When the book begins, readers meet Amelia “Mia” Radcliffe, an American teenager from an impoverished background who is on Gaia trying to raid its temples for valuable goods in order to buy passage back to Earth. Then there’s Jules Addison, a young English researcher whose father is a leading authority on subjects related to the Undying. Educated and well-to-do, his upbringing couldn’t be any more different from Mia’s, though he also finds himself on Gaia hoping to trying to unlock its secrets.
Scavenger and scholar are soon thrust together in a tenuous alliance, despite their differing reasons for illegally traveling to Gaia. Amelia is motivated by the potential payout, though later we find that the money would be used to save her li’l sis. Still, this puts her at odds with Jules, whose intentions are mostly scientific as he seeks to further his father’s research. Nevertheless, a romance eventually develops as the two of them grow closer in their battles against hostile scavengers and dangerous booby traps.
The premise sounded great, and I truly thought I had a winner right up to the moment I realized the best parts of the book were all in the beginning, e.g. the history of Earth’s gradual decline, the backstory of how hope was rekindled when an alien planet was discovered, and how the Undying could prove to be humankind’s salvation. Even the meeting between Amelia and Jules was sweet, albeit in an awkward, stumbling sort of way. The story might have continued to interest me had it followed through with more Undying and Gaia-related intrigue, but instead the authors opted to go all-out with the romance, attempting to spruce up this unimaginative love story to pretend that it is more unique than it really is.
The alternating perspectives between Mia and Jules also caused a lot of repetition; almost every major event had to be covered twice, and the narrative expounded upon the characters’ emotions again and again. Like I said, this book could have been half as long, and I doubt much would have been lost. Admittedly, I listened to the audiobook of Unearthed over my winter vacation, which meant a lot of interruptions and starting-and-pausing, but even after days of this, it surprised me how little plot progression there was. The unnecessary exposition and internal dialogue also got in the way of the romantic elements, making this contrived pairing between Mia and Jules all the more uncomfortable to watch.
To be fair, I am super hard sell when it comes to romance. Especially YA romance. I think the authors could have struck a better balance between the romantic elements and the rest of the story, bringing the exploratory and scientific themes to the forefront while cooling it with the hasty and almost desperate way they seemed to want Jules and Amelia to fall into each other’s arms. Sorry, I just wasn’t convinced.
Overall, I see the potential here for more. However, I doubt I will stick around for the sequel, considering how even that cliffhanger at the end failed to entice me. There are better YA sci-fi adventure books out there, not to mention plenty of them probably also feature couples who have more chemistry than Amelia and Jules.
Audiobook Comments: It’s possible that some of my issues with Unearthed stemmed from the fact I was listening to the audiobook, though I doubt my rating and review would have changed much even if I had read the print edition. Still, I had a few quibbles with the narration, especially with Alex McKenna’s performance as Amelia. Maybe McKenna was just having a bad day, but her voice sounded hoarse, even sick and weak when it came to certain chapters. This was distracting and made some of her words hard to understand. On the other hand, Steve West, reading Jules’ chapters, was amazing. I could listen to that guy’s accent forever.
Book Review: Deadlands: Boneyard by Seanan McGuire
Posted on January 6, 2018 26 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Deadlands: Boneyard by Seanan McGuire
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Media Tie-in
Series: Book 3 of Deadlands
Publisher: Tor (October 17, 2017)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
While I’ve read a lot of tie-in fiction in my time, this might be one of few instances where I’ve picked up a book based on a franchise or media property that I’ve had no prior experience with. Happily, like most media tie-ins, Boneyard is completely accessible to anyone, whether or not they are familiar with the Deadlands role-playing game or have even read the previous books in the series.
For many years, Annie Pearl has been a mainstay of the Blackstone Family Circus, known for her role in growing and caring for the traveling show’s collection of unique oddities. But long before she was Mistress of Monsters, she was Grace Murphy, married to a mad scientist who conducted unspeakable experiments on his young wife. The last straw finally came when the crazed Dr. Murphy set his eyes on their daughter Adeline, prompting Annie to steal away in the middle of the night with the infant girl and their pet lynx cub in tow. After many weeks and many miles, she eventually ended up at the mercy of Nathaniel Blackstone, the kind-hearted circus owner who took in the tired mother and her sickly child. Life in the circus is not easy, however, and everyone who joins must earn their keep. Luckily for Annie, she’s a hard worker who will do anything to protect and provide for her daughter…and as it turns out, she’s pretty good at taking care of the circus creatures too. Time passes, and their menagerie of horrors grows.
But like most traveling circuses, Blackstone’s is always a knife edge between survival and starvation. To make the most out of the remaining season, they decide to steer their wagons towards The Clearing, a small town deep in the woods of Oregon where their residents are always hungry for entertainment. Word is though, one in four shows that pass through The Clearing never emerge from the wilderness again, but with the alternative to not going being the circus’s ruin, Nathaniel Blackstone judged it to be worth the risk. Ultimately, it would be a decision he would come to regret, as the crew finds itself beset by trouble soon after their arrival. Two of their members disappear into the woods after their first show, one of them being young Adeline. Together with Martin, whose girlfriend has also gone missing, Annie must brave the darkness and enter the terror-filled wilds to rescue her daughter from the monsters of the night.
These days, a lot of people still balk when they hear the term “media tie-in”, and hey, I don’t blame them. While the genre has come a long way in the last few decades, there’s still a lot of stigma surrounding books based on movies or games, because the sad truth is, a vast majority of them just aren’t that great. Thankfully though, publishers in recent years have pushed hard to try and change those perceptions, especially for their popular franchises and big-name projects. One way they’ve started to do so is by contracting well-known authors, and in this case, the makers of Deadlands have partnered up with the talented and award-winning Seanan McGuire to pen the latest novel based on the world of their Weird West RPG.
I won’t deny it; I was pretty excited when I heard, and if you’re already familiar with McGuire’s style, then you’ll probably know exactly what I’m talking about. She’s been known to write stories that are on the dark and quirky side—in other words, perfect for a Weird Western. There was also little doubt she would be bringing the full force of her creativity to the setting and atmosphere, and I was not disappointed. McGuire’s commitment to detail can be seen and felt even in the opening paragraphs, which paint a harsh but gratifying reality for those who have fully dedicated their lives to the Blackstone Family Circus. Sure, the going can get tough, but the circus takes care of its own, and Annie and Adeline find themselves surrounded by love and friendship as they travel across the frontier, entertaining crowds wherever their wagon wheels take them.
It is an existence that is at once idyllic and grim, much like the setting, which ultimately takes on a personality of its own. While the Deadlands RPG takes place in the American “Wild West” during the last quarter of the 19th century, it is also a world filled with monsters and other malicious entities, creating a combination of historical and horror elements which serves as the basis of the novel. Throw some mad science and steampunk into the mix, and the result is an intense and chilling supernatural fantasy further bolstered by an intriguing plotline and well-developed characters. In fact, if I only have one complaint, it was that the ending felt jarringly abrupt. Given the time and care spent building upon both Annie and Martin’s storylines, I would have expected the denouement to be handled with the same meticulous treatment. Instead, I just got the impression that the author was in a hurry to wrap things up.
Still, despite some pacing missteps, Boneyard managed to hit that elusive sweet spot between creepy horror and action entertainment. Seanan McGuire was able to charm me with her courageous protagonists and, more importantly, make me feel connected to a game world that was completely new and foreign to me. Weird West fans will eat this one right up, and I imagine readers with prior experience or more than just a passing familiarity with the Deadlands RPG will probably appreciate it even more.
The BiblioSanctum