YA Weekend Audio: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Posted on December 24, 2017 29 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 Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Book 1 of The Folk of the Air
Publisher: Hachette Audio (January 2, 2018)
Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Caitlin Kelly
This was my first Holly Black book and I think I’m in love. And to think, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it when I initially heard it was going to be about faeries, figuring I’m going to get a slightly different version of something I’ve seen a thousand times before. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong! If you find yourself sick and tired of the boring, formulaic YA novels that are flooding today’s market, then The Cruel Prince may be the answer to your woes.
This is a story about Jude, who was only seven years old when she witnessed her parents slaughtered before her eyes. Their killer, a Fae general named Madoc, next proceeded to drag her and her sisters back to his realm, where the girls were raised as his own daughters. Ten years later, all Jude wants is to be accepted at the Fae high court, but instead, she and her twin sister Taryn are treated as outsiders and bullied mercilessly because of their mortal blood.
Cruelest among their tormentors is Prince Cardan, the youngest son of the High King. His older brother, however, is a lot more politic and judicious, recognizing Jude’s ambitions as an opportunity for an alliance. Thinking she’ll earn a place in his court once he becomes king, Jude agrees to work for him, only to inadvertently place herself in the crosshairs of a bitter battle for the throne.
No joke, The Cruel Prince may well be one of the best YA novels about faeries I’ve read in ages, simply because it does not unfold in an expected manner. The story actually took a long time to build with the crux of the conflict not revealing itself until almost halfway through the book, but when it did come, it hit me like a bombshell and from that moment on I was hopelessly and helplessly hooked.
And while I may be new to the author’s writing, already I’ve read enough to know I love her style. Holly Black left me utterly spellbound with her lusciously rich and dark prose, bringing the dangerous, seductive world of Faerie to life. She’s also a master at creating tension, beguiling me both with scenes of brutal gut-wrenching violence and descriptions of intricate political maneuvering and power plays.
But my favorite part of the book was the character development. While I might not be Jude’s biggest fan, I nonetheless found her extremely well-written and genuinely interesting. Her personality is also a bit of a mess—but in the good way. I know that doesn’t really make sense, and it’s a little tough to explain her appeal, but if you’ve ever had the pleasure of rooting for a damaged and morally ambiguous character, then perhaps you understand.
Then there’s Prince Cardan. What a piece of work he is. But here’s the thing: I want to believe that even the most loathsome characters can have a chance at redeeming themselves. And while Cardan may have burned his bridges with Jude by being such a nasty little shit, part of me still wanted to see that he was capable of doing the decent thing. But as much as I adore a good character redemption arc, the sad fact is, very few authors can actually pull one off. However, Holly Black managed to open my eyes to a whole new way of doing things. More than that, I don’t want to say for fear of revealing too much, but I’ll just say there’s a third-act shocker that will have you reeling.
In case you couldn’t tell, I really enjoyed this book. Blurring the lines between love and hate, kindness and cruelty, truth and deceit, The Cruel Prince was a powerful, lyrical, and captivating read. I think we can safely call my first experience with the work of Holly Black a great success, and I’m definitely signing up for more.
Audiobook Comments: I truly think one of the reasons why I was so engrossed in this audiobook was because of Caitlin Kelly’s narration. I’ve not heard any of her other performances before, but if I get another chance to listen to her read again, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. Well narrated and well worth it.
Audiobook Review: The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter by Michael J. Sullivan
Posted on December 23, 2017 11 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter by Michael J. Sullivan
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 4 of The Riyria Chronicles
Publisher: Audible Studios (December 5, 2017)
Length: 13 hrs and 41 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Tim Gerard Reynolds
As much as I’m enjoying Michael J. Sullivan’s other series The Legends of the Lost Empire right now, I have to say, nothing quite beats the feeling of coming back to good old Hadrian and Royce. The Riyria Revelations may have concluded years ago, but I swear I will never ever stop loving this awesome duo, and one of the best things the author did for his fans was to continue their legend in a series of standalone prequel stories called the Riyria Chronicles, intended to explore the early years of this partnership.
Like the other books in the series, The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter is a self-contained adventure featuring Hadrian, an idealistic ex-mercenary, and Royce, a cynical former assassin. Approximately three years have passed since the two were first brought together by fate, becoming the clandestine enterprise known as Riyria, selling their services as rogues-for-hire. Their latest client is Gabriel Winter, a wealthy merchant who has traveled a long way to seek out Royce, having heard of his reputation as a ruthless killer. That’s because Winter wants bloody vengeance—six months ago, his daughter Genny was wed to the Duke of Rochelle, a marriage that her father was vehemently against. Now she is missing, presumed dead after her carriage was ambushed on the way back from the market and left in a gore-soaked ruin. Suspecting that the Duke and his people are behind Genny’s death, Winter wants Riyria to put a violent end to those responsible.
Ever the optimistic one, Hadrian is not entirely convinced that Genny is dead, but nevertheless he and Royce agree to travel to Rochelle to investigate and see if they can suss out any information regarding what happened to Winter’s daughter. When they arrive though, they discover an uncooperative and tight-lipped citizenry, cagey about the fact that a couple of outsiders are poking around. The people in this old-world city with its murky history and tangled political relationships don’t seem to want to talk about their missing duchess, and Royce and Hadrian’s line of questioning soon lands them on the receiving end of some unwanted attention.
The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter was another solid entry in the Riyria Chronicles, and I daresay it might even be my favorite of the four books out so far. As a reader, it always amazes me to watch an author’s skill grow over time, and indeed Sullivan’s writing has become a lot more polished since the days of The Riyria Revelations and even when compared to The Crown Tower and The Rose and the Thorn. His stories are also becoming more interesting and complex, as this latest installment shows—proof that this series is showing no signs of slowing down or growing stale. It is truly impressive how Hadrian and Royce’s adventures have stayed so fresh and utterly captivating even after all these years and so many novels.
On the subject of the plot itself, I always love a good mystery, so this book was perfect for me. From the very first chapter, I was trying to figure out what happened and how everyone was involved. Rochelle also made for a compelling setting, with its strict customs and superstitions. It’s a city of extremes where the nobility live in decadent excess, claiming descent from imperial aristocracy, while the Mir and other non-humans scrounge for scraps in dirty alleyways. Royce and Hadrian arrive in town during the festival in which a new king will be crowned, so the inns and taverns are also full to bursting and the streets are packed day and night. Despite the atmosphere of revelry, however, the tensions in the air are palpable, with undercurrents of hopelessness, anger, and resentment. Hats off to Sullivan for managing to capture this soupy mélange of chaos and confusion, using descriptive prose to arouse vivid imagery in the readers’ minds so that we are transported right into the heart of Rochelle.
But of course, no review of a Riyria novel would be complete without mentioning the relationship between Hadrian and Royce. It’s the essence of this series, after all, and when The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter begins, the boys are just starting to get used to working as a team. Minor personality clashes aside, they’ve become accustomed to each other’s styles, with genuine fondness to be gleaned from their banter even during disagreements. There are some great moments in this book where we get to see their bond strengthen, with trust forming as they learn to depend on one another and watch each other’s backs.
Overall, I couldn’t have been more pleased with this newest addition to the chronicle. Fans of Riyria, I guarantee you will not be disappointed! Not only is this another prequel novel done right, I believe it to be the strongest of the bunch. Even after four books, there’s still so much potential in this series for more exciting and new adventures, and I hope Michael J. Sullivan will continue to keep these Hadrian and Royce stories coming for those of us who simply can’t get enough.
Audiobook Comments: There’s no doubt that Tim Gerard Reynolds is the voice of Riyria. Once again, he delivers a fine performance, capturing the novel’s humor and heart with his pitch-perfect narration. He’s the main reason I opted to listen to the audiobook even though I’ve had the ebook version for weeks now, because I know anytime he reads a Michael J. Sullivan book, he’ll do an amazing job. Glad I was right!
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Crown Tower (Book 1)
Review of The Rose and the Thorn (Book 2)
Review of The Death of Dulgath (Book 3)
Friday Face-Off: Game or Puzzle
Posted on December 22, 2017 23 Comments
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
“Oh, we loves games! Doesn’t we, precious?”
~ a cover featuring a GAME OR PUZZLE
Mogsy’s Pick:
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Did someone say “Game”? I have just the book! Ready Player One is a sci-fi dystopian set in the year 2044, and the world has become a very grim place. However, a man by the name of James Halliday has created a virtual world known as the OASIS which people can plug into and escape their daily troubles. Upon his death, Halliday revealed that he has hidden the key to his vast fortune somewhere inside the OASIS, and our protagonist Wade Watts is determined to find it first. He has devoted the last five years studying all facets of Halliday’s life, hoping to glean something from the man’s obsession with 1980’s pop culture which would help Wade navigate the puzzles inside the virtual world.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of every available cover for this book (there are just way too many), but I’ve rounded up some of the more popular ones and those that are more puzzle-y or game-y.
From left to right, top to bottom:
Crown (2011) –Broadway Books (2012) – Cornerstone Digital (2011)
Czech Edition (2012) –Estonian Edition (2017) – Finnish Edition (2012)
French Edition (2013) –French Edition (2015) – German Edition (2012)
Spanish Edition (2011) –Norwegian Edition (2011) – Portuguese Edition (2016)
Serbian Edition (2011) – Romanian Edition (2016) – Turkish Edition (2016)
Winner:
Truth is, there was ever only one possible winner for me this week. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Broadway Books edition, which captures the gritty reality of Wade’s world. Sure, it’s not as awe-inspiring or glamorous as anything you can find inside the OASIS, but that’s part of why I like it so much.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Mogsy’s Best of 2017 and the Year in Review
Posted on December 21, 2017 44 Comments
It’s once again that time of the year where I look back at the last twelve months and round up my favorite reads! As always, my methods are going to be rather haphazard, but as you know I read a TON of books and having to narrow it down to just “Top 10” or even “Top 20” is a difficult (if not impossible) task. That’s why I’ve opted not to do a traditional list, and instead I’m going to be breaking this post down into different genres/categories to highlight all the books that 1) were my favorites of the year, 2) I thought were most memorable, or 3) I think should be getting more love and attention. The one thing they have in common is that I loved them all.
You can see my reviews and more information about the books by clicking on the images and following the links.
Fantasy
As always, we begin with Fantasy which is always the biggest category, and this year saw some epic sequels like Brandon Sanderson’s Oathbringer, Sebastien de Castell’s Tyrant’s Throne, Katherine Arden’s The Girl in the Tower, and Michael J. Sullivan’s The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter. In addition, Angus Watson also started a brand new series with You Die When You Die, and Brian Staveley made a return his world The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne with the standalone Skullsworn. It was also a big year for fantastic debuts, including Devil’s Call by J. Danielle Dorn, The Nine by Tracy Townsend, Age of Assassins by R.J. Barker, An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock, and Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames. My 2017 also had one big surprise in the form of The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French, which won SPFBO 2016 and has since been picked up by a traditional publisher.
Science Fiction
This was also an excellent year for Science Fiction. Top reads include Children of Time by new-to-me author Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Punch Escrow from debut author Tal M. Klein, and brilliant sequels like The Last Iota by Robert Kroese and Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey. A couple of my favorite authors also made it onto the list, like Brandon Sanderson’s Snapshot and Michael R. Fletcher’s Ghosts of Tomorrow.
But wait, there’s more! This year The BiblioSanctum once again participated in the month-long Sci-Fi November event, so if you’re interested in seeing a more detailed list of all my favorite sci-fi reads this year, be sure to check out the Top Ten post I put together for the wrap up!
Horror
Compared to last year, 2017 was not exactly a big year for Horror releases, but there were still a few standouts, including The Boy on the Bridge by M.R. Carey, Kill Creek by Scott Thomas, and Ania Ahlborn’s spine-chilling The Devil Crept In.
Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
I didn’t read as many Urban Fantasy or Paranormal books this year, so the ones I loved really stood out. Mishell Baker’s Phantom Pains was actually my first five-star read of the year, Daryl Gregory impressed me once again with Spoonbenders, and I also discovered a new favorite series with G.S. Denning’s Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone.
Children’s and Young Adult
Hate to say it, but overall it was a disappointing year for me when it comes to the Young Adult and Middle Grade categories, with many highly anticipated releases that fizzled. But thankfully, there were also a number of amazing reads that balanced out those disappointments. Among them are books like The Fall of the Readers by Django Wexler, The Valiant by Lesley Livingston, Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts, and Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray. New favorite author Frances Hardinge even appears on this list twice, with A Skinful of Shadows and A Face Like Glass!
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
This is a brand new category, because in 2017 I read more in the Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller genres than I had in any previous year. There were quite a few that I loved too, like 13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough, The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne, and Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine. I can hardly wait for all the authors’ next projects.
Overview: Books Read in 2017
We still have about a week and a half left in the year so these numbers aren’t going to be final, but the below charts and statistics taken from Goodreads should provide a good general overview of my 2017 in books.
Goodreads Ratings:
On My Shelves…
By a Male Author: 49.5%
By a Female Author: 48.0%
Unknown/Male & Female Co-Authored: 2.5%
Audiobooks: 24.5%
For Review: 96.4%
Genres (some crossover):
Fantasy: 44.4%
Science Fiction: 30.6%
Horror: 9.7%
Urban Fantasy and Paranormal: 17.3%
Children’s and Young Adult: 19.4%
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Mogsy: Best of 2014 and The Year in Review
Mogsy: Best of 2015 and The Year in Review
Mogsy: Best of 2016 and The Year in Review
Waiting on Wednesday 12/20/17
Posted on December 20, 2017 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
European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss (July 10, 2018 by Saga Press)
Today I’m featuring the sequel to The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, which I’m excited to learn is releasing next summer! I had a great time with the first book, and I’m looking forward to catching up with Mary Jekyll and the rest of the daughters of literature’s most notorious mad scientists.
“In the sequel to the critically acclaimed The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, Mary Jekyll and the rest of the daughters of literature’s mad scientists embark on a madcap adventure across Europe to rescue another monstrous girl and stop the Alchemical Society’s nefarious plans once and for all.
Mary Jekyll’s life has been peaceful since she helped Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solve the Whitechapel Murders. Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, Justine Frankenstein, and Mary’s sister Diana Hyde have settled into the Jekyll household in London, and although they sometimes quarrel, the members of the Athena Club get along as well as any five young women with very different personalities. At least they can always rely on Mrs. Poole.
But when Mary receives a telegram that Lucinda Van Helsing has been kidnapped, the Athena Club must travel to the Austro-Hungarian Empire to rescue yet another young woman who has been subjected to horrific experimentation. Where is Lucinda, and what has Professor Van Helsing been doing to his daughter? Can Mary, Diana, Beatrice, and Justine reach her in time?
Racing against the clock to save Lucinda from certain doom, the Athena Club embarks on a madcap journey across Europe. From Paris to Vienna to Budapest, Mary and her friends must make new allies, face old enemies, and finally confront the fearsome, secretive Alchemical Society. It’s time for these monstrous gentlewomen to overcome the past and create their own destinies.”
Book Review: Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey
Posted on December 19, 2017 15 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 7 of The Expanse
Publisher: Orbit (December 5, 2017)
Length: 608 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
What do you do when your epic space opera series is seven books in, you’ve already put your readers through some of the most intense storylines they can imagine, and now you need to do something even bigger and better to usher it into the next phase with style? Well, you hit the “soft reset” button, so to speak. Not exactly starting things over, but there is certainly a sense we’re getting a new beginning of sorts in Persepolis Rising. That’s the impression I got anyway, when I opened the book, and the first line literally started with “Almost three decades had passed…”
I confess, at first there was a momentary feeling of panic. Were we really skipping ahead thirty years? That’s one heck of a time gap between this book and the last, and never has this series seen such a huge jump forward. But it’s true; Persepolis Rising returns to our heroes who are now quite a bit older, maybe a little wiser, and the solar system and the new colony planets beyond the ring gates are enjoying a protracted period of peace not seen since before the arrival of the protomolecule. That being said, life has not been easy for the fledgling colonies. Survival depends on the flow of supplies through the gates, and some planets have attempted to gain an advantage by cheating the Transport Union systems. Minor as they are, these transgressions cannot be tolerated, lest things descend into chaos, so Transport Union President Drummer hires teams like Holden and the crew of the Rocinante to lay down the law.
Decades of doing such odd jobs can take their toll though, and now that Holden and Naomi are getting on in years, they’re thinking it’s time to call it quits. But of course, it’s inevitable that a momentous decision like that will precipitate something big, and indeed, Holden’s retirement has barely begun when an old foe makes his return. For close to thirty years, this enemy has been hidden away on the lost colony world of Laconia, developing new technologies and amassing the strength required to invade the solar system and make all of its Union worlds a part of their new empire.
The Expanse series definitely has a special place in my heart. For years I have followed these characters, come to know them and love them. It would be impossible overstate my relief at finding them all here in Persepolis Rising, even after the passage of almost three decades in the timeline. We’re talking the entire crew of the Roxi—Holden, Naomi, Alex, Amos, Bobbie, Clarissa—and even my favorite foul-mouthed UN politician Chrisjen Avasarala. Older they may be, but in all the ways that matter, they are still the same. It felt very much like returning home to good friends.
It was while reading this book, however, that it really hit me just how far we’ve come since Leviathan Wakes. As much as I’ve enjoyed the earlier installments, they feel almost simplistic and jejune now compared to some of the more intricate plot lines since Cibola Burn. Clearly, we’re well beyond the days of vomit zombies, though I was also happy to see that the protomolecule still had a role to play in Persepolis Rising. The difference is, the concept has now been adapted and expanded on a scale that affects thousands of worlds and a countless number of people, and if you thought things couldn’t get any bigger and badder than what we’d already seen in the last couple books, think again.
But as I’ve stated before in my reviews of the previous novels, the reason why I keep coming back to this series is because of the characters and their relationships. If the crew of the Rocinante felt like they were a family before, they’ve only gotten even closer since the last time we saw them together, and if I have one regret about the thirty-year time skip, it’s that we’ve missed all those interactions between them in the intervening period. Still, some things haven’t changed, thankfully. Holden is still a hopeless do-gooder. Bobbie is still a total badass. Avasarala is still a master maneuverer. I loved how we got to fall back into the old conversations and routines like no time has passed at all.
Plus, let’s not forget the other side of the story. To me, the fact that the focus is not solely limited to the “good guys” is what makes The Expanse a special series. This time, Persepolis Rising includes the perspective of Governor Singh, a young and inexperienced officer tasked to bring the rebellious inhabitants of Medina Station into the fold of the Laconian Empire. Grossly underqualified for the job he must do, Singh is a tragic figure who engenders feelings of both dislike and sympathy due to his duo roles as severe authoritarian in public versus the loving family man he is in private. Believing wholeheartedly in the Laconian cause, he will become the ruthless soldier he needs to be if it means securing a better future for his young daughter.
Before this, I wouldn’t have thought it possible to be more excited about The Expanse, but authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck AKA James S.A. Corey have managed to fire me up once again. Their decision to jump ahead so many years after the previous novel may have been a bold move, but it’s one that ended up paying off, giving the series the shakeup it required. More than just a brilliant sequel, Persepolis Rising is also a beginning, and indeed, in a series that is supposed to include nine novels, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume this is the first book of a concluding arc. Regardless, whatever happens next is bound to be exciting, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Abbadon’s Gate (Book 3)
Review of Cibola Burn (Book 4)
Review of Nemesis Games (Book 5)
Review of Babylon’s Ashes (Book 6)
Book Review: The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso
Posted on December 18, 2017 18 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Swords and Fire
Publisher: Orbit (October 24, 2017)
Length: 438 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Looks like my list of best fantasy debuts of 2017 grows yet again, and I have another new author to keep my eye on. Although there’s no magic formula to determine what makes a good novel (not to mention I can’t always explain why certain books simply work well for me while others do not), there are still a few key elements I generally look for, including believable and compelling characters, realistic atmospheric and world-building, and writing that is smooth and easy to get into. The Tethered Mage managed to check all these boxes and also succeeded in delivering an absorbing plot with an altogether rewarding blend of intrigue and fantasy. If this is what Melissa Caruso has to offer for her debut effort, then she will go very far indeed.
Set in Raverra, a canaled city reminiscent of Renaissance Venice, The Tethered Mage is the first novel of the Swords and Fire trilogy which introduces us to a pair of young women who come from very different backgrounds. As the only daughter of Lissandra Cornaro, who is also known as La Contessa because of the powerful position she holds on the ruling Council of Nine, Lady Amalia is heir to one of the most powerful aristocratic families in the Empire. But unlike her mother, Amalia doesn’t have much of an interest in politics, preferring to involve herself in more bookish pursuits, secretly tracking down and acquiring rare texts in her spare time.
But on a fateful day while returning from one of her book-hunting excursions, Amalia happens to stumble upon a thin and bedraggled young woman being harassed by a group of thugs, prompting her to step in and lend a hand. Of course, that was before Amalia realized the other woman was fire warlock, who’s more than capable of taking care of herself—and burning the whole city down with her. To save Raverra, Amalia makes the split second decision to help Lieutenant Marcello Verdi of the Falconers, the only magical enforcer on the scene. However, by doing so, she has unwittingly broken a law forbidding any members of a ruling family to bind a mage. Whether she likes it or not though, Amalia is now a Falconer, and the political implications of this are profound.
The fire warlock, a young runaway named Zaira, is not entirely happy with the new arrangement either. She’s spent most of her life trying to avoid the Falconers, only to now find herself tethered to, of all people, the heir of La Contessa. For their own safety (and for the safety of the city), mages are typically identified as children and brought under the care of the Falconers in a comfortable and secure place known as the Mews. It’s not a bad life by any means, but for Zaira who has tasted freedom, having her powers controlled and being monitored at all times does not sit right with her. Above all though, what Zaira hates most is being treated like a pawn—and unfortunately, that is exactly what the powers that be have in mind for her, hoping to use Amalia’s connection to a fire warlock to their advantage.
From beginning to end, The Tethered Mage was a joy to read. Though not the most original story ever, the familiar elements still resonated strongly with me because of how well everything was put together. Characterization was excellent, which for a book like this is essential, since relationships make up the bulk of the narrative. And of course, at the heart of this weave of bonds and attachments, our protagonist Amalia acts as the thread that binds everyone together. Readers also get to discover Raverra through her eyes, and learn of the complexities and dangers behind the politics of the Empire.
But first, like I said, The Tethered Mage is all about the relationships. For one, there’s La Contessa, our protagonist’s mother. Initially, her disapproval of Amalia’s hobbies and clandestine trips out to the city made me picture a strict and uncompromising woman, but don’t be fooled. While the matriarch of the Cornaro family is not someone you would want to cross, that exterior harshness actually belies a fierce love for her daughter. On occasion, she even allows Amalia to spread her wings and explore her interests—unless, of course, that interest is Marcello Verdi, whose status as a Falconer puts him well below the station of a Cornaro heir. Still, despite herself, Amalia is attracted to the Lieutenant, and he is drawn to her as well. This might be a good time to mention that I am very picky about my “forbidden love” stories, but Amalia and Marcello’s romance actually turned out to be very beautiful and sweet, especially since it developed so naturally.
And then, of course, we come to the most important relationship of all—the one between Amalia and Zaira, the mage and her Falconer. In my opinion, between romances and friendships, I actually think the latter is tougher to write convincingly. Book reviewers often slam “insta-love”, and for good reason because it’s just not realistic. Friendships are the same way—they have to be earned, and trust has to build. These things take time and can’t be rushed. And while for many readers, Amalia and Zaira eventually becoming friends may have been a foregone conclusion from the start, this doesn’t mean Caruso ever stops trying to make her characters’ journey to trust and friendship as plausible and compelling as it can be. The vast effort and level of detail the author puts into these kinds of things is obvious, and I respect that tremendously.
I haven’t even really talked about the plot yet, but I think it is enough to say I was kept entertained through the entire novel, even when we got the slower chapters which were dominated by Raverran politics. There’s a good amount of tension as well as deftly crafted intrigue in this story, which also throws us plenty of action and danger to keep us on our toes.
All in all, I am pleased beyond all my expectations. If you’re looking for a traditional fantasy that hits all the right buttons of a great debut, I highly recommend checking out The Tethered Mage. I am already craving the sequel.
Book Review: Weave A Circle Round by Kari Maaren
Posted on December 17, 2017 18 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Weave A Circle Round by Kari Maaren
Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor (November 28, 2017)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Weave A Circle Round was a book I’d been really looking forward to, but I realized almost as soon as I picked it up that it was going to be very different from what I had in mind. As a result, I found it to be a difficult read, though to be fair, my struggle with it was not so much in a “this is a terrible book” kind of way, but rather more in the sense that “This isn’t what I signed up for, and I want off this ride.”
And to be honest, this story did feel a little like a roller coaster—albeit a nauseatingly chaotic one which would get bogged down and stuck at times. It follows fourteen-year-old Freddy, an awkward freshman who just wants to get through the next four years of high school without drawing too much attention. At home, she also prefers spending time by herself, making little effort to get to know her stepbrother Roland, who is deaf, or to get involved in her little sister Mel’s interests. Their parents are never around, so the kids are mostly left on their own to take care of themselves.
Then one day, a woman and a teenage boy move into that peculiar house down on Grosvenor Street. There’s only one word that can describe Cuerva Lachance and Josiah: Strange. Impossible things seem to happen whenever they’re around, and nothing they say ever seems to make any sense. True to form, Freddy wants nothing to do with her new neighbors, but to her horror, Josiah turns up at her school the next day, and he’s in all her classes. Suddenly, all her efforts to stay under the radar are going out the window as Josiah seems bent on making a spectacle of himself in front of all the students and teachers while dragging a mortified Freddy along with him. Very soon, it becomes clear that Cuerva Lachance and Josiah are more than just a couple of your typical run-of-the-mill weirdos—they might not even be completely mortal. And for some reason, they seem way too interested in Freddy, Mel, and Roland.
Beyond this, it’s really hard to describe the story without giving away some serious spoilers, so I’ll just leave one more little tiny nugget of detail here: Weave A Circle Round involves time travel. And yet, it’s not really a time travel book—at least in not in any conventional sense. Although we get to travel through a time portal, visiting such places and time periods such as Prehistoric China or Medieval Sweden, at its heart this book is a coming-of-age tale about growing up, accepting yourself, becoming a better person. As such, it wasn’t too surprising to find a lot of YA themes.
That said, my main issue with Weave A Circle Round was the overall juvenile tone of the story, specifically the adolescent voice of the protagonist making this book feel more Middle Grade than Young Adult. By itself, this wouldn’t have been an insurmountable problem, as I actually quite enjoyed the mystery of the earlier chapters. Unfortunately, the childishness combined with the hot mess that was the time traveling sections eventually crushed my interest in the book’s second half. Moreover, the dialogue and antics of Cuerva Lachance and Josiah were so absurd that the characters came across more idiotic than endearing, making them both extremely unlikeable.
Granted, I don’t always do well with “weird” books, and this one really tested my limits in that regard. There was just too much going on, with all these topics ranging from classic English poetry to Norse mythology simply thrown together without much coherence. The book’s themes of chaos vs. order also meant that the plot itself involved a fair bit of confusion, and at times I found it sluggish and hard to follow.
All told, while Weave A Circle Round had a few high points, ultimately it failed to draw me in. I struggled to connect with the story or any of the characters, who either felt way too young or way too weird. Quite honestly, this was just not a book for me, but if you enjoy bizarre or uncanny stories with a lot of imagination and quirk, then you might want to take a look, and hopefully you’ll enjoy it more than I did.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on December 16, 2017 36 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
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 the kind folks at Ace Books for kicking us off with this gorgeous new arrival – an ARC of Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence! I can’t wait to catch up again with Nona Grey in this second installment of the Book the Ancestor series.
A pair of intriguing looking ARCs also arrived earlier this month, courtesy of St. Martin’s Press: Black Star Renegades by Michael Moreci is a space opera described as a “galaxy-hopping space adventure” in the tradition of Star Wars. Well, that’s certainly got my attention! Wonderblood by Julia Whicker on the other hand is set in a dystopian 500 years in the future where a mad cow-like disease has killed off most of the population. Sounds a little disturbing, but still very cool.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster, I also received these two new-to-me titles. First is Immortal Life by Stanley Bing, a sci-fi dystopian about the battle for immortality. A Big Tech mogul has poured his wealth into finding the cure for death, but not surprisingly, the human being specifically created to house his consciousness has other ideas. The second book is this ARC of School for Psychics by K.C. Archer, the first volume in what looks to be an entertaining series about a young woman who discovers she has psychic abilities. Sounds right up my alley, and I’m excited to check it out.
Tor Books also surprised me earlier this week with this finished copy of Mississippi Roll edited by George R.R. Martin, a Wild Cards novel. I’ve never read anything from this series, believe it or not. The recommendation for current fans and and new readers alike makes me think this might be a good place to start, though!
And speaking of surprise arrivals, I would also like to thank Delacorte Press for sending me a finished copy of The City of Sand by Tianxia Bachang. I did some research into this one and discovered it is a translation of a very popular Young Adult fantasy novel in China, now available in English for the very first time. Unfortunately, the reviews on Goodreads have been pretty dismal, which makes me wonder if there might be something lost in translation. Regardless, I’d like to give this one a try, given its unique origin, and it looks to be a pretty fast read.
Next up, I make no secret my love for video game tie-in novels so I was pretty excited to receive Mass Effect: Initiation by N.K. Jemisin and Mac Walters, the second book in the Andromeda sequence. I haven’t read the first one yet, but I’m pretty sure these novels can be read as standalones – good thing too, because a Mass Effect book by Jemisin is not something I want to miss. My thanks to Titan Books!
Finally, rounding up my physical books is Kill Creek by Scott Thomas. It appears the poor thing spent the last three weeks or so stuck in transit, this being a busy time of the year for the post office and all, but I’m glad it eventually arrived safely. In case you missed it, I read this one back in October around Halloween, and I loved it. Thank you Inkshares for the finished copy!
On to the digital pile! From William Morrow I requested Noir by Christopher Moore, a book I’d actually featured for Waiting on Wednesday last week so I’m absolutely thrilled to have been approved. I also decided to pick up Gunpowder Moon by David Pedreira when Harper Voyager sent me the widget, because you know I just can’t resist a good sci-fi murder mystery. From G.P. Putnam’s Sons, I also downloaded The Hunger by Alma Katsu after finding out about this supernatural reimagining of the Donner Party from a fellow blogger.
I also went a bit heavy with the audiobook requests this month, but seeing as I have more time to listen than to read these days, I’m finding it to be a more convenient format. From Audible Studios, I received The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter by Michael J. Sullivan, which I’ve already finished. It’s the fourth book in the Riyria Chronicles, and I think it might actually be my favorite one so far!
I’m also grateful to Macmillan Audio for Glass Town by Steven Savile and One of Us Will be Dead by Morning by David Moody. I actually have ARCs of these two titles, but being able to switch back and forth between the print and audio will ensure that I can get to them much quicker – and I really do very badly want to read both!
And courtesy of Hachette Audio, I received The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. I’ve never read her before, which is why I’m doubly excited about this one. I don’t expect to be disappointed!
Rounding things up, a big haul From Penguin Random House Audio: The Queen of All Crows by Rod Duncan is a return to the author’s Gas-Lit Empire universe with a new series about one woman trying to prevent the world descending into endless war. Star Wars: Canto Bight by Saladin Ahmed, Rae Carson, Mira Grant, John Jackson Miller is a collection of four interconnected stories taking place in the eponymous casino city as seen in The Last Jedi movie. From the Listening Library collection, I also received Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu which is the second DC Icons novel, this time featuring the Dark Knight himself; Runaways by Christopher Golden, which offers a fresh take one of my favorite Marvel series ever; and finally Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, a YA sci-fi adventure featuring some tomb-raiding action on an alien planet.
Reviews
A quick summary of the reviews I’ve posted since the last update:
The Nine by Tracy Townsend (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Fall of the Readers by Django Wexler (4.5 of 5 stars)
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty (4 of 5 stars)
The Squirrel on the Train by Kevin Hearne (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Core by Peter V. Brett (3 of 5 stars)
All Those Explosions Were Someone Else’s Fault by James Alan Gardner (3 of 5 stars)
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
Interviews & Guest Posts
A huge thanks to author Tracy Townsend for stopping by The BiblioSanctum this week with a guest post discussing the motivation behind her debut novel, The Nine!
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
Here’s where I list the books I’ve “unstacked” from the TBR since my last roundup post. The last couple of weeks were mostly spent cleaning and doing holiday prep around the house since I have family coming over for Christmas, and some days it would take hours for a big job to get done. That’s when audiobooks really came in handy. Depending on how time-consuming my task was, sometimes I would even finish a book a day if I had it on at faster playback speeds! Stay tuned for my reviews of the following books.
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: Potion or Perfume Bottle
Posted on December 15, 2017 21 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:
“Hubble bubble toil and trouble”
~ a cover featuring a POTION/PERFUME BOTTLE
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose
This week, I’ve chosen a historical tale of mythology, suspense, and lovers separated by time. While I can’t really say I enjoyed this novel, it does fit this week’s theme very well, following protagonists Jac L’Etoile and her brother Robbie who are heirs to a preeminent French perfume company.
Haunted by memories of her mother’s suicide, however, Jac moves to America to become a TV show host, leaving her brother to take care of the family business. While going through some of their old archives, Robbie stumbles across a collection of ancient pottery shards and a family secret about a scent rumored to enable a person to remember past lives. He has big plans for the discovery, but there are others who would do anything to stop them from happening. When Robbie goes missing, leaving the dead body of a stranger at the scene of the crime, Jac desperately joins the search, becoming embroiled in politics, suspense, passion, and a mystery that goes back thousands of years.
I was actually surprised to discover there were at least a dozen covers for this book; I really wasn’t expecting to find so many. Let’s take a look at them now:
From left to right, top to bottom:
Atria Books (2012) – Atria Books (2013) – Center Point (2012)
Random House Australia (2012) – Spanish Edition (2013) – Italian Edition (2012)
Portuguese (2012) – German (2012) – Bulgarian (2013)
Portuguese (2014) – Russian (2015) – Polish (2015)
Winner:
Ironically, neither of the two covers that appeal to me the most feature perfume bottles. At first, I was drawn to the warm colors and simplicity of the Random House Australia edition, but then at the last minute, I caught sight of the Polish edition and found myself quite taken by its delicate beauty. I think that’s our winner, folks.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
The BiblioSanctum 