Audiobook Review: Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray
Posted on September 30, 2017 13 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Media Tie-In, Young Adult
Series: Star Wars Canon
Publisher: Listening Library (September 1, 2017)
Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
As far as I’m concerned, Claudia Gray has already proven herself capable of writing a damn good Star Wars novel, with fantastic examples like Lost Stars and Bloodline. So when I found out she was penning a new YA novel about Leia, it was automatically added to my must-read list.
The book, titled Leia, Princess of Alderaan, is a look back at the titular character’s early life as a daughter and heir to the throne of one of the most cultured, beautiful, and prosperous core worlds in the galaxy. Before she became a leader of the Rebel Alliance, before she became burdened by the guilt and grief that resulted from the destruction of her home planet, the iconic Princess Leia was vivacious and high-spirited young girl who faced every challenge with a determination to succeed. At sixteen years old, having just officially declared her royal service to Alderaan, Leia is preparing for a series of tests that will prove her worth in the areas of body, mind, and heart. The trials will involve grueling survival courses. Intense political training. Charity missions and relief efforts. Leia is resolved to master them all, and to make her adoptive parents proud.
Unfortunately though, her mother Breha and father Bail Organa appear to be distracted by other matters lately—like throwing dinner parties and other social gatherings with their allies in the Senate. Frustrated by their unwillingness to let her in on their activities, Leia decides to conduct her own investigations, and in doing so, unwittingly uncovers a network of rebel cells and activities operating right under the nose of the Empire’s leaders. And the greatest shock? It looks as if her parents—her peace-loving, diplomatic parents—are at the heart of it all. Realizing that they cannot shield their daughter from the truth anymore, Breha and Bail come clean, leaving Leia with the first of many hard choices she will make in her long and storied life. Will she embrace her parents’ work and help fight the Empire, or focus her efforts on protecting the citizens of Alderaan, her people that she has sworn to serve?
Needless to say, this a book that Leia fans will certainly not want to miss. On the timeline, it takes place in the Star Wars: Rebels era in the period leading up to the events of Rogue One and A New Hope. It is a formative year for Leia Organa, in which she will experience many firsts, including the first time she makes an appearance before Alderaan in an official capacity, the first time she is exposed directly to the harsh conditions of the Empire, the first time she hears about the rebellion, and—most unexpected of all—the first time she falls in love. The lessons she learns from her achievements (and mistakes) here will end up shaping the rest of her life.
And as Claudia Gray has already written a book about Leia, she knows the character inside out and I honestly can’t imagine any other top-class author writing about the Alderaanian princess as well as she does. Despite being a young adult novel, its themes are mature and serious enough that this can be enjoyed by Star Wars fans of all ages, not to mention the compelling plot and rich characters that held my attention from beginning to end. I enjoyed seeing this rare version of Leia, one that is still very much innocent and naïve, though as always, her heart is in the right place. She doesn’t realize what the Empire is capable of yet, and as such, her inexperience leads her to play dangerous games and fall into traps. This story, however, is also bigger than Leia, focusing on the efforts of Breha, Bail, Mon Mothma and the other secret allies in the Senate to fight back against the Empire. Not only do we get a lot of background information into Leia’s origins, we also get a wealth of history about how her resistance force started.
Lore buffs will also delight in the many references to all the movies, with Easter Eggs that go back even to the prequel trilogy. Those paying attention will notice a couple of familiar faces making surprise cameos, and some of the mentions made about Leia’s past in the films are given context as well. And because technically this novel falls under the umbrella of Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, there may be some light foreshadowing related to Leia’s role in the upcoming movie. Bail Organa’s work in establishing the rebel network has been touched upon in many stories including this one, and there are perhaps hints here as to how his daughter will continue his legacy in the places he used to spend his time.
All in all, Claudia Gray is fast becoming one of my favorite Star Wars authors and I hope she will write many more. Leia, Princess of Alderaan is another important piece in the new canon, perfectly encapsulating the personality and spirit of one of the most beloved characters in geek fandom as she comes of age during a tumultuous time. If you love Star Wars and if you love Leia, you will need to read this book—period.
Audiobook Comments: Saskia Maarleveld may be a new narrator to me, but her credits include years of audiobook narrating and voice-over work, and this impressive amount of experience is apparent in her performance. She was a fine choice of reader for this audiobook, and I thought she did a fantastic job portraying young Leia.
Friday Face-Off: Heart
Posted on September 29, 2017 28 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:
“Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady”
~ a cover featuring a HEART
Mogsy’s Pick:
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
I wanted to challenge myself this week by choosing something that’s unexpected, and this was a book I read a while ago which I haven’t thought about for a long time, but only came back to me recently as I was scouring through my shelves trying to come up with ideas for this topic. At its heart (haha), Warm Bodies is a “zombie book”, but it’s also definitely not your typical post-apocalyptic survivalist horror story involving gory encounters with the savage, brain-eating hordes. On the surface, the zombies here appear to of the usual shambling, moaning and in various-stages-of-decay variety, but dig deeper and you will find that they are able to maintain a semblance of a structured society. Communication between them is just good enough to allow things like organized hunts or a rudimentary class system, and zombie couples even have wedding ceremonies and are given zombie children to teach and raise.
The book also gives a plausible reason as to why zombies like eating human brains, explaining that it gives them a cerebral high while letting them relive the memories and experience the emotions of their victims. It is in this way that R, our zombie protagonist and narrator, becomes fixated with Julia, a girl he encounters on a routine hunt after killing her boyfriend and chowing down on his grey matter. And the rest, as they say, is history. “Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady” indeed.
And now, time to look at the covers:
First row, from left to right: Random House Vintage UK (2011) – Atria (2011) – Spanish Edition (2011)
German Edition (2013) – Vintage (2013) – Turkish Edition (2011) – Italian Edition (2011)
Winner:
I’m not in love with any of these, to be honest. But since I dislike the movie-edition covers, that helps narrows down my choice of winner. I’m going to have to go with the Spanish edition, which was also the cover that inspired me to use this book for today’s topic in the first place. It drew my eye, not to mention the fact that it brings to light the not-so-hidden “Romeo & Juliet” allusion.
What do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Book Review: The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones
Posted on September 28, 2017 25 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 Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (September 5, 2017)
Length: 400 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
It’s a year for pleasant surprises, it seems. The Salt Line is a book that first caught my eye because of its thriller-dystopian premise, but it’s more than just that; author Holly Goddard Jones has created an exciting high-drama experience, the kind that would not go amiss in a Crichton novel, but her story also contains a high level of literary quality that challenges most genre labels.
Taking place in the not-so-distant future, The Salt Line features a world defeated by an enemy smaller than the size of a pea. The United States has even ceded most of its natural territories to this tiny terror, a tick that serves a as a vector to a deadly pathogen. Getting bit by one of these things is scary enough—their life cycle and what it does to the human body is like something straight out of an Alien movie—but the true killer is in fact Shreve’s disease, carried by a large percent of these ticks. For this reason, most people now live in safe zones in which these pests have been eradicated. These enclosed areas are separated from the wilderness, which is where the ticks thrive, by a physical wall as well as a burnt-out dead zone called the Salt Line, a large swath of land that has been purged of all life by fire and chemicals designed to keep the ticks at bay.
Still, there are people who live beyond the Salt Line—some by choice, others by necessity. Then there are the thrill-seekers who pay big money for their chance to go out there, to have a grand adventure to see what’s left of nature. Our story begins with such a group, receiving their first orientation from the tour company that’s being paid to bring them outside the quarantine zone. Those among the expedition include Edie, a former bartender in her 20s who somehow ended being roped into this dangerous excursion by Jesse, her reckless popstar boyfriend. Then there’s Marta, who may seem like just a simple housewife, except she is actually married to a notorious robber baron whose illicit activities she has endured for years because of her love for her children. And of course there’s also Wes, a young billionaire tech prodigy who founded Pocketz, the financial app that has taken the world by storm.
Most of the people on this tour are there because of what the company brochure promised—a chance to experience the untouched beauty of nature. For some, being able to witness sparkling waterfalls and sunrises without the filter of pollution is worth the hundreds of thousands of dollars and the risk of death from a tick bite. But for those mentioned, they have other reasons for wanting to take this trip. And when the expedition is waylaid by a group of rebels and held captive in an outer-zone commune called Ruby City, those secrets begin to come to light, with dire consequences for their chances of returning home.
The unofficial tagline for this book should be The Salt Line: come for the creepy ticks, stay for outstanding characterization and the in-depth exploration of social themes. Those who want suspense and intrigue will get plenty, but there’s no doubt that the novel’s strength is in its rich, character-driven narrative and fantastically written cast. Our key players are all fleshed out with robust back stories, complete with their individual moral dilemmas, conflicting desires, and other very human concerns (I especially loved Marta and Wes). They also come from varied backgrounds, representing the different strata of this troubled society with its extreme socio-economical class divisions. The arrival of the deadly ticks has altered daily life at all levels, impacting issues related to the environment, healthcare, immigration, technology, and more. Though the price of safety and security is high, many appear willing to pay it even if it means being trapped in poor circumstances.
Still, despite its social commentary, I appreciated the way our story maintained its focus on adventure and suspense. Love them or hate them, the characters are at the heart of this novel, and the ambiguities behind their ambitions are the fuel that drives the plot, keeping things engaging. All this and more are presented in a seamless package containing a fine balance of horror, dystopian, and thriller elements.
Would I recommend The Salt Line for fans of dystopian fiction? Yes, but with an added proviso that this genre description merely scratches the book’s surface—a good thing, in my opinion. I got a lot more out of the story than I expected, and enjoyed spending every tense moment in this world with its multifaceted characters. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another novel by Holly Goddard Jones in the future.
Waiting on Wednesday 09/27/17
Posted on September 27, 2017 17 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 Raptor & the Wren by Chuck Wendig (January 23, 2018 by Saga Press)
Of all of Wendig’s books that I’ve read, his Miriam Black series is by far my favorite. While the last volume wasn’t as good as the previous three, this next installment seems to indicate a return to the gritty, violent and horror-filled darkness that made me love the earlier books so much. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
“In the fifth book of the “wildly entertaining” (Kirkus Reviews) Miriam Black series, Miriam continues her journey to find answers on how to change her fate and begin to make right some of what she’s done wrong.
Armed with new knowledge that suggests a great sacrifice must be made to change her fate, Miriam continues her quest and learns that she must undo the tragedies of her past to move forward.
One such tragedy is Wren, who is now a teen caught up in a bad relationship with the forces that haunt Miriam and has become a killer, just like Miriam. Black must try to save the girl, but what’s ahead is something she thought impossible…”
Book Review: An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard
Posted on September 26, 2017 21 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Saga Press (September 26, 2017)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
A solid 3.5 star read. Kat Howard enchanted me with her debut Roses and Rot last year, so I was excited to check out An Unkindness of Magicians, her sophomore novel about a hidden world of magic and power. In this “Unseen World”, members of elite magical houses come together every few years to duke it out in a tournament called the Turning, with each family represented by their chosen champion. Ostensibly held to place each house in a hierarchical order based on magical proficiency, the competition may in fact be a front for a more nefarious purpose, as this twisted and snappy tale will soon reveal.
Unlike Howard’s first novel which was written in the first person, An Unkindness of Magicians features a larger cast and bounces between multiple third-person perspectives. Our key players include Sydney, a relative unknown who bursts upon the scene with her extraordinary and unmatched talent with magic; Laurent, an outsider who hopes to enter the Turning for a chance to establish his own House; Grey Prospero, Laurent’s best friend who was disinherited from his House as the result of a serious and undisclosed transgression he committed; Harper, an independent magician determined to infiltrate the Unseen World to discover the truth behind her best friend’s mysterious death; and of course, there are also Miles Merlin and Miranda Prospero, two powerful House leaders who each have a stake in how the Turning plays out.
The situation gets a little muddy though, as the heirless House Prospero takes on Ian Merlin, the beloved son of Miles, as their champion. Left with no other choice, House Merlin must put forth Ian’s sister as champion, potentially pitting the siblings against each other in a fight to the death. Meanwhile, acting as a free agent, Sydney has decided to partner with Laurent and compete on his behalf, and Grey, who is taking a page from his best friend, has decided to try and establish his own House as well, by representing himself in the Turning.
That’s a lot to take in, right? But wait—there’s more, believe it or not. I haven’t even gotten into the “serial killer” part of the plot yet, involving magical women who are murdered for their power-infused finger bones. Then there’s the House of Shadows, a prison for slaves and sacrifices, because unfortunately, magic isn’t an unlimited resource and using it exacts a cost. This is where the Shadows come in, paying the price for the great Houses’ power. As a child, Sydney was a prisoner of the House of Shadows, but she survived and is on her way to winning her freedom, as long as she can fulfill her orders and emerge victorious in the Turning, even if it means having to kill Ian Merlin, whom she has become romantically involved with.
If your head is spinning right now, I don’t blame you; I felt much the same while reading this book, especially in the first half while I struggled to keep all the names and their relationships straight. There’s almost too much going on here for a mere 350-page novel, and as you can imagine, the story felt extremely rushed. Character development also suffered because of this, with the focus being so dispersed on the different storylines and people involved. As a result, I found it nearly impossible to connect with anyone, a stark contrast from my experience with Roses in Rot, which mainly centered on the main protagonist and the deeply compelling relationship with her sister. Possibly, Howard is still trying to find her feet when it comes to writing a large cast and multiple perspectives, finding a balance between pacing and characterization that works. Things were a little shaky with An Unkindness of Magicians, which failed to impart the same level of emotional impact due to weaker characters as well as the breakneck speed at which we whipped through important events.
That said, the story itself is fascinating, and so is the Unseen World in which all of these magical power struggles take place. Furthermore, the second half of the novel is stronger than the first half—not coincidentally, perhaps, since this is also where Howard begins to stitch together the many pieces of the plot. Once the bigger picture starts to take shape, this is when the author’s writing really shines. While her prose in this book is not as beautiful or as deft as it was in Roses and Rot, it does come through every now and then, especially during some of the story’s quieter moments.
All told, I didn’t think Kat Howard’s An Unkindness of Magicians was as meaningful or as gorgeously wrought as her debut, but it does make up for that in other areas, like having a fantastic premise and imaginative world-building. Lack of character development and uneven pacing are perhaps the novel’s main weaknesses, but in spite of that, I still enjoyed myself. I’ll continue to be on the lookout for the author’s future work.
Book/Graphic Novel Review: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Posted on September 25, 2017 7 Comments
One of the books on those well-read lists is Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. It’s been mentioned many times over the years, and I’m aware of the dark and stormy night, but it never reached high enough on my radar to motivate me to read it. All that changed when the trailer for the 2018 film adaptation dropped a few months back. Suddenly, my reasons to read the source material became legion, foremost among them:
- My new found appreciation for Chris Pine after his humble and respectful performance in Wonder Woman.
- My belated discovery of director Ava DuVernay and the vibrant vision that she brings to a stagnant Hollywood landscape.
- The intense joy it brings me to know that I can take my daughters to a movie where they can see someone who looks like them on the screen.
- Oprah.
My reaction was almost instantaneous — that is, after I showed the trailer to my daughters and spent a few minutes retweeting all the things about the movie on my timeline. I immediately hopped onto Chapters.ca and ordered the quintet as well as the graphic novel of the first book. We have some research to do, I told my girls, and as soon as the books arrived, we were cuddled up in bed each night discovering the imagination of Madeleine L’Engle.
Meg Murray is a young girl whose father has vanished. His disappearance very likely has something to do with his scientific research into the fifth dimension–time travel. All his family can do is wait for him, until one dark and stormy night, when Meg, her savant little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are visited by a most unusual stranger. Upon further investigation and the introduction, and the introduction of a new friend, Calvin, Meg and Charles learn that their father is indeed alive, but he is falling victim to a great darkness that threatens their world and many others and only these three young children can save him.
So sets the stage for an adventure that places the utmost demands on the imagination. L’Engle’s language and descriptions are sparingly precise. Enough to help the reader paint their own unique picture in their mind, all within the world L’Engle wants to present. This became more obvious as I read the book alongside the graphic novel, adapted and drawn by Hope Larson. Her artistic style is childlike and expressive, and the limited colour pallette lends to the sense of mystery and foreboding that looms over the story. Larson’s depictions of the witches’ alternate forms, for example, are not what I initially imagined, but it is always fascinating to see different interpretations of works of prose. And of course, DuVernay’s movie goes above and beyond, changing things even further to suit the new medium and take us into the world as she sees it.
The graphic novel adaptation loses some of the beats of the book, but the imagery balances what is lost. And to be honest, the differences are only noticeable because I read them side-by-side. I love that publishers and educators are recognizing graphic novels as the literary tools they are, and look forward to seeing more students (and grown ups) reading this story in either form in response to the film and beyond.
Reading this for the first time as an adult means that it loses much of the sense of wonder that it could have had if I’d read it as a child, but reading it alongside my daughters helps me to retain some of that innocence and naivete necessary to appreciate children’s books all the more. Meg’s insecurities, her fears, her anxieties, and even her glasses and braces are all things that my daughters could relate to, and I know I could have related to more closely had I read this when I was younger.
The story itself is a powerful one and a familiar one, taking a group of young children through difficult and even deadly challenges. I fault Dumbledore for much of Harry Potter’s horrible fate and the risks he forced upon a young boy, but there’s something to be said about stories where adults give children credit for being able to do far more than we believe they can. In a society that too often coddles children for fear of them losing their innocence, such stories are reminders that children are young and naive and innocent, but guiding them on and through even the darkest paths, giving them the tools of faith and love and trust to forge their way, are the best gifts an adult can give so that they can face the darkness–without losing themselves to it.
The metaphors in the book are many, with some being more obvious than others, and they offered many opportunities for discussion with my girls. I already have March 9, 2018 marked in my planner, and cannot wait to see the movie with them.
YA Weekend: When I Cast Your Shadow by Sarah Porter
Posted on September 24, 2017 10 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
When I Cast Your Shadow by Sarah Porter
Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor Teen (September 12, 2017)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
When I Cast Your Shadow is a very different kind of story about a haunting. In it, we follow teenagers Ruby and Everett Bohnacker, twins who are still grieving for their older brother Dashiell following his tragic drug overdose. In life, Dash had been a popular, handsome, and charming young man, but underneath that perfection was also a cruel and manipulative side. Now not even death can stop him, as his devious spirit returns to the world of the living in order to coerce his siblings into helping him finish what he started.
First, Dash sets his sights on Ruby, knowing that her love for him would make her a malleable and compliant target. He invades her mind while she sleeps, convinces her to let him drown her in her dreams, which would then allow Dash to possess her waking body like a puppet. Not content with just having his little sister under his thumb though, Dash does the same thing to Everett next, using the boy’s concern for his twin as a weapon. With the ability to possess both his younger siblings, Dash proceeds to drag his family into a dangerous game, involving Ruby and Everett in his battle against some powerful dark forces in the Land of the Dead.
On paper, this book sounded awesome. The premise hinted at a possible new twist on ghosts and had the potential to be a creepy YA horror. Unfortunately though, the story ended up falling short of my expectations due to poor execution, as well as an overall sense of “strangeness” about it that just didn’t really sit well with me.
First were the unlikeable characters. Dash, whose role made him something of a trickster, was obviously meant to be unpleasant, but instead of making me feel more sympathetic towards Ruby or Everett, this only made me grow more frustrated with both of them. The twins are naïve and exasperating in their own ways. Totally blinded to Dash’s faults and unable to see him for the toxic influence he is, Ruby’s hero-worship of him made me feel incredibly uncomfortable, especially with the strong implications that her love for him went beyond the sisterly-brotherly type. Everett was also infuriating with his tunnel vision and complete lack of agency or ability to make any meaningful impact for most of the story, which is a shame because this was due to his character being treated like a footnote for the first half of the book.
On top of that, it was difficult to form any lasting connection with any of the characters because of how utterly bizarre and unrelatable they were. Most of what they said and did struck me as either strange, silly, or lacked common sense. Character development for Ruby and Everett wasn’t so much as non-existent as it was a complete mess, as they seemed to be always flip-flopping on their motivations or feelings. The worst was Dr. Bohnacker, who would be a loving father one moment, but in the next he would be spouting off some of the vilest, most spiteful things that not even a parent in their darkest moments of grief should ever say—especially in front of their surviving children. Speaking of which, a lot of the dialogue was also clunky and awkward, which often made me cringe and think, “No one actually talks like that.” The less said about the cloying nicknames Dash has for Ruby and Everett the better, and their annoying constant repetition.
To the novel’s credit, the plot was actually quite imaginative, though it would have been better if it hadn’t been so confusing. While I enjoyed the concept behind the Land of the Dead and thought that many of the ideas regarding the spirits and possession were creative and suitably chilling, I was disappointed in the lack of explanation into Dash’s conflict with the story’s main antagonist, Aloysius. He was just the “bad guy”, with no context to justify his endgame.
The result was this muddled narrative punctuated with brief periods of brilliance and clarity—because to be fair, the story here did have some outstanding moments. I just don’t want to make this sound like a terrible book with no redeeming qualities as that is simply not the case, though my ambivalence after finishing this novel did prevent me from giving it more than a mediocre star rating. Ultimately the story, characters, and writing all fell short of my expectations, but hopefully others drawn to this book will end up enjoying it more than I did.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on September 23, 2017 45 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 Tor Books for the following: When I Cast Your Shadow by Sarah Porter is a paranormal YA which I’m actually currently reading (and very close to finishing). It’s a bit of an odd and disturbing book, and not exactly in a good way, but I’ll have a better idea of how I feel once I’m done! Then came this surprise ARC of Weave a Circle Round by Kari Maaren in the mail, which of course I’m very excited about because it’s one of the books on my “Can’t Wait” list for this fall.
Another surprise arrival, White Bodies by Jane Robins is a little bit outside my wheelhouse, but seeing how this year has been a good year for me when it comes psychological thrillers, I might give it a try if I can find some time this fall. With thanks to Touchstone Books.
Also a huge thanks to Titan Books for all their help in ensuring that these gorgeous finished copies of The Race and The Rift by Nina Allan got into my hands! Apparently there was a spot of trouble with the shipping at the warehouse and as a result things took a while, but eventually the books arrived safe and sound. I’ve always wanted to try this author and I’ll be starting these very soon.
Next up is an interesting one. I’d almost given The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne a pass but then an article about the science-y aspects of the book caught my eye, making me realize it was more than just a typical mystery thriller. It sounds like a suspenseful read and I have plans to tackle it in early October. My thanks to the publisher Thomas & Mercer and Wunderkind PR.
I’m also very excited about Blackwing by Ed McDonald, which has already gotten plenty of amazing reviews from its UK release earlier this summer. A post-apocalypic grimdark-ish fantasy? Sign me the hell up! With thanks to Ace Books for the finished copy.
And finally, my thanks to Harper Voyager for Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill. This is another book which gotten plenty of accolades and praise from reviewers, so I’m really curious to check it out. When the package arrived, I was also surprised to see that the publisher had included An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King, a dystopian novel set in near-future China that explores the country’s “One Child Policy” in a culture that favors sons. With everyone plotting to have a boy, the result is that in 2030, there are 40 million unmarriageable men who can’t find wives. Having spent a good chunk of my life growing up in China and having seen the effects of the One Child Policy first hand, this topic is pretty close to my heart and it sounds like there could be more truth than fiction in the book’s premise. I’d love to give this one a read this fall if I have time.
On to the digital haul, my thanks to Tachyon Publications for sending me an invite widget to read Starlings by Jo Walton, an anthology collecting some of the author’s short stories. Over at NetGalley I also couldn’t help myself and requested Ironclads by Adrian Tchaikovsky. My first experience with his work went very well earlier this year and now I’m addicted. With thanks to Solaris for approving my request.
Thanks also to Tor.com for sending me an e-galley of The Armored Saint by Myke Cole. I’ve enjoyed his Shadow Ops books in the past, so I’m quite interested to give this one a try too.
Next up, thanks to Tor Books for sending me eARCs for a couple of amazing looking upcoming releases. As a military sci-fi fan, Valiant Dust by Richard Baker is sounding really good to me. And I became very interested in The Midnight Front by David Mack when I found out that the author has written several Star Trek episodes as well as a bunch of other tie-in work. I’m a Trek lover, so that’s all the endorsement I need!
From First to Read, I also received Seventh Decimate by Stephen R. Donaldson. Despite the book receiving some mixed reviews already, I decided that the author of the famed Thomas Covenant books starting a new series is something I really don’t want to miss.
And my thanks to Inkshares for Kill Creek by Scott Thomas – they knew how much I was looking forward to this book and sent me an eARC in advance of the hard copy that’s also on the way to me right now. I’m so excited to read this creepy haunted house horror, which is appropriately schuduled to come out on Halloween.
Rounding up my new arrivals are a couple of audiobook review copies. With thanks to Listening Library for That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston – I really enjoyed the author’s Star Wars book last year and I figured it was high time I tried some of her other YA stuff – and also for Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao, which I hope will live up to its hype!
Reviews
A quick summary of the reviews I’ve posted since the last update:
Age of Assassin by R.J. Barker (4.5 of 5 stars)
Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda (4 of 5 stars)
Revenant Winds by Mitchell Hogan (3.5 of 5 stars)
Warcross by Marie Lu (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Twilight Pariah by Jeffrey Ford (3 of 5 stars)
At the Table of Wolves by Kay Kenyon (3 of 5 stars)
The Dinosaur Princess by Victor Milán (2.5 of 5 stars)
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen (2 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
Here’s what I’ve “unstacked” from the TBR since my last roundup post. I’ve already posted reviews for a couple of these, and the rest are 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!
Audiobook Review: Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Posted on September 22, 2017 10 Comments
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Malazan Book of the Fallen #3
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (December 2006)
Narrator: Ralph Lister
Author Info: steven-erikson.com
Wendy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
“War has its necessities…and I have always understood that. Always known the cost. But, this day, by my own hand, I have realized something else. War is not a natural state. It is an imposition, and a damned unhealthy one. With its rules, we willingly yield our humanity. Speak not of just causes, worthy goals. We are takers of life.”
When I first stepped into the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, I had no idea what I was really getting into. When I finished that first book, Gardens of the Moon, I had no idea what I had just left behind. All I knew was that I loved Erikson’s writing and was fascinated by the myriad of unique characters.
Prompted by the high praise for the entire series, I dug a little deeper to discover that the Malazan series is the epic dream child of Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont, fellow gamers who created this world as part of their GURPS roleplaying campaign. The series holds fast with its four and five-star reviews across almost 20 books–a testament to the authors’ dedication and creativity. That kind of writing deserves some attention, especially when far more mediocre series garner undeserving accolades.
Last year I read the second book, Deadhouse Gates, and though I did not enjoy it quite as much due to several of the characters, I knew that characters I did care about would be back soon enough and I’d learn more and more about this world as the tapestry weaved itself together. I was not at all wrong. Listening to Ralph Lister expertly navigate so many voices was a highlight of my long commutes this past month, and several times I found myself flailing over amazing scenes in the middle of traffic.
This book brings together the armies of the previous two books. Once enemies, they have formed an uneasy alliance in order to face a far greater threat. No, not the Night King. The Pannion Domin empire threatens to devour all, and the Crippled God’s poisonous quest for revenge is seeping into the world. He remains in chains, but how long will that last?
This series is world building at its finest. Many authors I have read try and fail to comprehend the commitment necessary to truly achieve this. Some go overboard, interjecting too much detail inorganically (looking at you, Sanderson), while others skimp on details and cheat by simply excusing everything with “magic” (looking at you, GRRM). No doubt Erikson and Esslemont’s roleplaying experience gave them a significant advantage, and they use their experience to the fullest. While their settings may be a bit generic, they fill in their worlds with rich cultures and characters, and demographics that cover all sorts of pantheons. Gods and humans and undead and others sweep across the pages in all their glory.
In my Malazan exploration, I have also come to appreciate Erikson’s sense of humour even more. While I found his Willful Child science fiction satire to be a bit too much of a good thing, I am quite fond of the way he sharply interjects his wit into scenes that are anything but happy. And then there’s Kruppe, the portly man who is more than he seems, speaking in third person and knowing far more than he should. I hear Ralph Lister no longer narrates this series after the third book. I am going to judge the next narrator very harshly based on his version of Kruppe.
Admittedly, I still find myself somewhat confused by the overall motivations of the Pannion Domin and the political tides of the book. As such, I have spent some time in the Malazan wiki. I don’t count this as a flaw of the writing though. The first book took a huge risk in dumping the reader into the middle of a battle and then demands that we keep up and learn along the way as the information is parceled out and relationships develop. My mind tends to wander here and there, so it’s my own fault for missing a detail or 30. Still, as I said with the first book, the writing is superb, and the characters are almost all so enthralling that I have very much become invested in their intertwined fates.
Friday Face-Off: Purple
Posted on September 22, 2017 20 Comments
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
“As purple as the heather ”
~ a cover which is mostly PURPLE
Mogsy’s Pick:
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
One of my earliest experiences with the cyberpunk noir genre was Altered Carbon, a novel that takes place in a future where humans are implanted with a cortical stack which stores their consciousness including memories and personalities digitally. This information can be transmitted and downloaded to new bodies, called sleeves. So if a person dies, their stack can be recovered and resleeved or stored indefinitely, resulting in a kind of artificial immortality.
Thing is, only the very wealthy can afford to acquire replacement bodies on a continual basis. One of these people, Laurens Bancroft, is so rich that he even has remote storage that automatically backs up his stack every two days. When Bancroft dies of an apparent suicide, he was resleeved from the latest backup, which has no memory of what happened in the previous 48 hours. He doesn’t buy he killed himself and instead believes he was murdered, and hires our protagonist Takeshi Kovacs to investigate his case.
As with most highly regarded novels, this one has a ton of editions and different covers. I am only going to feature a selection of the cooler looking ones, and fortunately several of these fit today’s theme of “Mostly (Shades of) Purple”.
First row, from left to right: Tantor Audio (2005) – Del Rey (2006) – Hungarian (2006) Portuguese (2008)
Gollancz (2002) – Gollancz (2008) – German (2014) – Greek (2005)
Portuguese (2017) – Italian (2004) – French (2003) – Del Rey (2003)
Winner:
Oh boy, how to choose a winner, when there’s such a huge range of art styles to choose from? To be honest though, I don’t think I have a favorite, but there are a few interesting ones here for sure. In the end, it wasn’t a purple cover that jumped out at me; it was the dark and gritty, rust-colored and industrial-style look of the Portuguese (2017) edition that caught my eye. I certainly wouldn’t mind it as a poster on my wall.
What do you think? Do you have a favorite?
The BiblioSanctum 