Book Review: Devil’s Call by J. Danielle Dorn
Posted on July 13, 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.
Devil’s Call by J. Danielle Dorn
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Inkshares (July 18, 2017)
Length: 254 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
From the moment I started reading Devil’s Call, I was rapt. J. Danielle Dorn masterfully draws the reader in with her incredible debut, a horror-fantasy western featuring an emotional and gritty tale of revenge.
Written in the form of a letter from the narrator to her unborn child, the novel chronicles the life of Li Lian MacPherson, also known as Lily, a mixed-race witch who hails form a long line of magically gifted women. It is the mid-1800s when most of America is still wild, unsettled country. Lily was raised by her mother and her coven of aunts and cousins in a roadhouse in St. Louis, but youthful wanderlust soon led to her Texas where she first met Matthew Callahan. Even though she was a runaway and the young soldier was tasked to bring her home, the two of them ultimately bonded and fell in love, got married, and moved out to build a new life together on the Nebraskan frontier. Soon, the couple was expecting a baby.
But that was when the horror came. On a dark winter night, three men entered their home and murdered Matthew in cold blood before riding off without a trace, leaving Lily alone and pregnant in a world that believes her to be responsible for her husband’s death. Turning her grief into rage, Lily sets out on a quest for vengeance, using her magic to follow the killers across hundreds of miles of untamed land. Devil’s Call is our protagonist’s record of this journey, written so that the daughter growing inside of her will one day know the story of her parents and understand why her mother took all the risks she did. Lily also knows there’s a good chance she will not survive to tell her tale in person, for eventually it becomes clear that the mysterious enemy she seeks may not even be natural or human.
Anyone who follows my reviews probably also knows that I have a predilection for western-flavored fantasy, and Devil’s Call is easily the best I’ve read in years. First and foremost I loved Li Lian, a unique heroine who is as fierce in her pride of her magical heritage as she is in her devotion to those she loves. She felt like a genuine character from the start, her words in this journal ringing true to the depths of her experiences and emotions. So moonstruck was I by the tale of how she and Matthew met and fell in love that when his eventual killers arrived and shot him dead right in front of her, the scene and its repercussions damn near broke my heart. Then there is her unborn child, whom Lily frequently addresses in her writing. Every confession and heartfelt piece of advice leaves no question as to her love for her baby, but as more is revealed about the three men she is chasing, it becomes clear why her quest is leaving her torn. Still, everything about her character exudes strength, independence, and a will to fight on. Lily is likeable, believable, and she drives the story in such a way that every page and every step of the way had me cheering her on.
There’s also no way I can talk about excellent characterization without giving mention to Roger Hawking. A butcher with a shady past who ends up allying with our protagonist and lending her support, Hawk became a major character in his own right when the anticipation of learning more about his backstory became nearly as strong as needing to find out how everything will end. The scenes between him and Lily feature some truly excellent dialogue, and the great banter between them while they traveled kept things entertaining, though in truth the plot hardly needed any help in that department; this was a fast-paced story that never had a dull moment.
And of course, I adored the setting. It probably goes without saying, but atmosphere has a lot to do with what makes a good western, and it’s one of the main reasons why I love the genre. I’m also very particular when it comes to what I enjoy. Generally, fantasy mashups are allowed a lot more leeway, but there are still a number of essential elements that I have come to expect—which this novel delivered marvelously, I might add. It stresses the harshness of Lily’s world, where violence and death are always lurking around the corner. And despite the raucous saloons and busy telegraph stations, what we get to see here is a lot more wilderness than civilization. Picture all this and wrap it all up in a light veil of magic, and this should give you a sense of what to expect from Devil’s Call.
All told, this book was a poignant and riveting experience that took me by surprise. Westerns are always fun, and westerns with revenge plots are even better, especially when the struggle between good and evil is portrayed in such a heart-wrenchingly personal and visceral way. Even before I had a chance to start Devil’s Call, I had a strong feeling that I was going to love it—I just didn’t expect how much. So far, it is one of the best novels I’ve read this year, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It had everything I wanted, from a strong and compelling heroine to a mesmerizing fast-paced plot that is guaranteed to engage, captivate and leave you breathless.
Waiting on Wednesday 07/12/17
Posted on July 12, 2017 14 Comments
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge (October 10, 2017 by Amulet Books)
I am right now reading Frances Hardinge’s A Face Like Glass and I’m finding myself so enamored with it that I just had to go look up her other books. While doing that I was happy to discover that she actually has an upcoming novel that it is set to drop this fall. I’m loving her vivid imagination and beautiful prose, and here’s hoping I’ll find more of it in A Skinful of Shadows.
A Skinful of Shadows is a dark YA historical fantasy set in the early part of the English Civil War. Kate is an illegitimate daughter of the aristocratic Fellmotte family, and as such, she shares their unique hereditary gift: the capacity to be possessed by ghosts. Reluctant to accept her appointed destiny as vessel for a coterie of her ancestors, she escapes. As she flees the pursuing Fellmottes across war-torn England, she accumulates a motley crew of her own allies, including outcasts, misfits, criminals, and one extremely angry dead bear. From Costa Book of the Year winner Frances Hardinge comes a new dark historical fantasy that’s sure to satisfy her leagues of fans who are eager for more.
An Interview with Laurence MacNaughton, Author of the Dru Jasper Series
Posted on July 11, 2017 16 Comments
Today I am thrilled to welcome back Laurence MacNaughton to The BiblioSanctum for a chat about his new novel A Kiss Before Doomsday, the second book in the Dru Jasper series which is available today wherever books are sold. In case you missed it, last week I posted my review of the book so be sure to check it out and see how much I enjoyed this fun, quirky urban fantasy which stars a bookish sorceress whose power allows her to unleash the magical properties of crystals. The end of the world is nigh, and once again Dru and her friends are going to do all they can to prevent it – trust me when I say you’re not going to want to miss this! My thanks again to Laurence for giving us some fantastic insight into his books and writing, and I hope you enjoy our Q&A!
Hi Laurence! Thanks for the interview, we’re so happy you can join us today!
Hi, thanks for having me here! Always a pleasure.
Before we start, I think congratulations are in order for the release of your new novel A Kiss Before Doomsday! Since it’s the second book of your Dru Jasper series, can you kick us off by giving us a brief description of the books, and what prospective readers can expect?
It’s a fun urban fantasy series about Dru Jasper, who owns a crystal shop in Denver, and discovers that she can use crystals to gain magic powers. Her friends (and enemies) are generally powerful sorcerers, more powerful than her. So she must use her brains and her giant library of books to save the world from one doomsday threat after another.
In the first book, she stopped the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and found a handsome (but troubled) boyfriend. In the second book, the dead have started rising from the grave, her boyfriend is missing and presumed dead, and she has to find him in order to stop doomsday.
It sounds dark, but it’s actually lighthearted and really funny. It’s fast-paced, there’s plenty of magical action, a little bit of romance, and laugh-out-loud banter.
Can you tell us a bit about your creative process? How did you first get the idea for this series, and what spurred you to invent a magic system based on the metaphysical properties of crystals?
I’d wanted to write an urban fantasy series for a while, but I set out to do something different with the magic system. Something no one had ever seen before. Taking more of a spooky-comedy approach was a fresh start, but I needed something more.
My wife has always collected crystals, and one day it occurred to me that people have been fascinated by crystals for thousands of years. For example, the ancient Egyptians invented mascara by grinding up galena crystals and painting them around their eyes to ward off the “evil eye.”
But here’s the thing: in real life, galena is a lead sulfide, which is fairly toxic, but it can activate your immune system. So if you were an ancient Egyptian with an eye infection, and you put on your Cleopatra makeup, it’s entirely possible that the galena crystal would help you fight off the infection. There’s real science to back it up.
There’s another crystal called ulexite that’s fiberoptic and transmits images. (Just search online for “TV rock” and you’ll see some examples.) It’s so cool.
So I thought: what if I pumped up those properties to a super-power level? What if Dru could use ulexite to see the invisible? What if she could use galena to ward off evil demons? I just took that idea and ran with it.
Definitely cool! What do you love about urban fantasy, and what do you hope your books will bring to the genre?
Honestly, I just want to make people laugh, and tell them a good story. I love urban fantasy, but there are so many dark, hard-edged stories out there. I want to lighten things up.
Personally, I tend to gravitate toward funny writers in any genre. Terry Pratchett, Dave Barry, even Dan Neil, the guy who reviews cars for the Wall Street Journal. They’re all hilarious. If I can get even a tenth as many laughs as those guys get from their readers, I’ll be satisfied.
What made you decide to write this series from the perspective of Dru Jasper? And speaking of characters, I just love this quirky and unique cast! From Dru to Rane, Opal, Greyson, and Salem…everyone seems to have their own individual personality and charm. Where do you draw inspiration for your characters? Do you have any who are particularly near and dear to you, and why?
My characters are all inspired by little moments I witness in real life. Maybe I overhear a fragment of a conversation, or watch someone do something unexpected, or I run into someone who has such a strong personality that they stick in your mind.
I collect sort of a mental scrapbook of these moments, little fragments of individuals. As I write, I assemble these fragments into characters. In the beginning, these character concepts are a little hazy. So I ask myself questions about their personality, their background, their relationships, anything that helps define them. As they grow, it’s sort of like getting to know a real person, with a unique combination of strengths and faults.
The funny thing about the Dru Jasper series is that the characters all came from various unfinished short stories. I had Dru in mind, but I needed other characters for her to interact with, so I pulled them all from my notes, and somehow they all fit together beautifully. They’re all so different and weird that there are plenty of opportunities for them to misbehave in highly inappropriate ways.
I absolutely adore Dru. She’s a sweet mess. She can barely afford the rent, she has guy problems, and most of her friends and customers have far more magical power than she does. But she’s smart, she’s well-read, and she’s just such a darn good person. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I always feel like Dru is just eager to tell me her story, and I’m just scrambling to keep up.
I also have a secret sweet spot for Hellbringer. Because: demon muscle car. And even though it’s not a person, it’s still an unforgettable character.
When you were writing these books, did you do a lot of research into crystal magic? How did you go about it and what would you say is the most interesting thing you’ve learned? Are you a rock and crystal collector yourself?
I can definitely say that I’ve become a rock collector! I live in Colorado, and most small towns in the mountains have some kind of a rock shop. You can just go in and dig through dusty cardboard trays full of various minerals and crystals.
The sheer variety of crystals that exist in this world is absolutely astonishing. On my desk right now, I have a piece of transparent quartz with tourmaline inclusions. It looks like someone took a thumb-sized piece of broken glass and jabbed it full of shiny black metal splinters. It looks so weird and dangerous that I just have to put it into a book. And this is a real thing, a real crystal.
That’s pretty much how all of the oddball crystals get into my books. I find something that looks cool, and then go research it to see what ancient beliefs I can find about it. Then I find a way to expand those beliefs into something epic and magical, and work it into the story.
Are you also a fan of muscle cars? What prompted you to incorporate them into the idea of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
I’m totally a car guy. In fact, before I became a writer, I was a professional test driver. That was fun. A little scary, but it gave me plenty of material to write about.
I have an old Thunderbird that I’ve had for almost twenty years now. In fact, I met my wife because of it. (She caught my attention not only because she was gorgeous, but also because she was driving a sleek old Chevy Impala that was probably too fast to be legal.)
A few years ago, we got my mean old Thunderbird out of storage, cleaned out the carburetor, and got it started. I had installed a tape deck at some point, and the moment the engine growled to life, the stereo started playing “I’m Evil” by Danzig.
And I wondered: what if there was a car that was actually evil, as in, possessed by a demon? That’s where I got the idea for Greyson’s car, the speed demon called Hellbringer. From there, it was a short jump to having the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse driving demon-possessed muscle cars.
Now that I’ve picked your brain about your books, I’d love to know more about you, the author! Tell us a Laurence MacNaughton Fun Fact, or something about yourself that might surprise readers!
I love to cook. Just give me a cast-iron skillet, a heap of raw ingredients, and a heat source: stove, grill, campfire, glowing-hot meteorite, whatever. I’ll cook up something tasty.
My favorite go-to summer dessert is grilled bananas. Just cut a banana in half along the middle, leaving the skin on. Give the halves a quick spritz with cooking oil, and put them face-down on a hot grill for a minute or less to give them some nice grill marks. Then flip them over and cook over low heat, right in the skin, until they look soft and delectably gooey. Serve with your favorite toppings: honey, shredded coconut, cacao nibs, whipped cream, anything. Your taste buds will go into orbit.
Bonus points if you lightly grill some wedges of angel food cake to go with it. Mmm.
How do you balance life with writing? What do you do when you just need to kick back and relax?
If I had my way, I’d be writing 24/7. But human beings aren’t meant to exist that way, so I make it a point to leave the house every so often. Since I live in Colorado, I have access to some of the most beautiful trails and high country in America, and I am very thankful for that. The hiking and biking is amazing here. Despite all the snow. I get some of my best ideas when I’m halfway up a mountain. I make sure to bring a pencil with me.
What’s in the future for Dru Jasper? How many books are planned for the series, and is there anything you can tell us about the next one at this point?
I’m writing Book 3 right now, and I’m very excited about what’s coming up. I desperately want to tell you more, but I’m sworn to secrecy. 🙂
However, I can tell you that there are also two Dru Jasper shorts available: a novelette called Put a Spell on You, and a short story called Magic Carpet Ride, which is free to subscribers of my author newsletter at http://www.LaurenceMacNaughton.com.
Wrapping up, are there any other projects you’re working on currently or in the near future that you’re excited about, either writing or non-writing related?
Right now, I’m working on a book for writers called Instant Plot: How to Plan Your Novel the Easy Way. It’s based on a talk I’ve given several times at writing conferences, and it’s often a standing-room-only affair. Essentially, Instant Plot is a technique that any writer can use to work out the fundamental basics of a novel in one sitting. It sounds a little crazy, but it works. I can’t wait to share it.
Thank you, Laurence! On behalf of The BiblioSanctum, I’d like to congratulate you again on the release of your new book and wish you all the best!
Thank you so very much! It’s always a treat to be here.
*** For more information about Laurence and his books, please visit his website at laurencemacnaughton.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter @LMacNaughton! ***
Book Review: The Librarians and the Mother Goose Chase by Greg Cox
Posted on July 10, 2017 2 Comments
The Librarians and the Mother Goose Chase by Greg Cox
Genre: Action/Adventure, Fantasy
Series: The Librarians #2
Publisher: Tor Books (April 2017)
Author Info: http://www.gregcox-author.com
Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
With thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was unfamiliar with The Librarians TV series when I was given the opportunity to read Greg Cox’s first tie-in novel. I immediately fell in love with the quirky characters and the fantastical adventures of librarians who guard the magic and secrets hidden in books. I also really loved that the book offered little tidbits of fact with its fantasy. An opportunity to learn a thing or two while being thoroughly entertained? I’m in!
This story takes us back to the literary creation of on Elizabeth Goose who, in 1719, published a children’s book filled with rhymes that we all know well. But as any good librarian knows, words have power. As part of the Mother Goose Treaty, the Librarian of that time was able to destroy all of the copies of Mother Goose’s spellbook–except the one that is now causing all sorts of trouble for our heroes and the distant offspring of the great storyteller.
Since reading The Librarians and the Lost Lamp, I’ve excitedly gotten into watching the show and have come to know the characters, each of whom Cox captures easily in his writing. Here, Cox has to work a little harder because the story separates the group as they chase down the three pieces of the spellbook and try to keep Mother Goose at bay. As in the show, Flynn is unsurprisingly absent from the adventure, preferring to work alone, while the other share the snappy banter. While the latter is somewhat of a loss when Ezekiel, Cassandra, and Jake are forced to work with the Goose heirs, I appreciated the opportunity to get the know the characters better on their own. Their respective chapters let them focus on the individual strengths that have made them the first group of Librarians where the order originally only had one at a time. And while they all work well together because of those strengths and balancing each other’s weaknesses, it’s nice to know that they are still fully fleshed out individual characters who can run solo when they need to.
As I’ve said, there are several moments of educational value–as there should be in a story about librarians–even magical ones. I’ve learned that vinegar is a spider deterrent and I can now recite additional verses to several classic Mother Goose rhymes.
The story itself holds up as well as any campy fantasy adventure mystery should. The Librarians never take themselves too seriously, and Cox does the same, leading to a light-hearted romp that was a delight to read and is a great way to kill time while I wait impatiently for the next season to start.
Book Review: Shark Island by Chris Jameson
Posted on July 10, 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (June 27, 2017)
Length: 320 pages
Author Information: Website
Let’s face it, guys—sharks are so hot right now. Actually, they’ve always kinda been. Ever since Spielberg made Jaws and traumatized a whole generation of moviegoers from swimming in the ocean, the ongoing popularity of books, films, TV shows about these fin-tastic fishes are proof of our obsession. I for one was thrilled when I found out about Shark Island, and literally swept aside about a hundred other books on my TBR just so I could leapfrog this one all the way to the top. My fascination for shark fic is something I can’t really explain, but if you grew up watching cheesy horror flicks and creature features like I did, I’m willing to bet this book will also tickle all the right synapses in your brain.
Our story opens on a beautiful summer day on Cape Cod. College student and aspiring photographer Naomi Cardiff and her girlfriend are sunning themselves on a boat when she notices a large herd of seals on a nearby stretch of beach. Deciding to swim towards them for some close-up shots, Naomi subsequently gets attacked by a shark, which takes off her left leg from the knee down. The incident sparks off a media frenzy and reignites the debate surrounding the seal overpopulation problem, which has been blamed for the increase of Great Whites in the area drawn to their natural prey. The solution ends up falling to a group of Woods Hole scientists who have developed an acoustic signal system that could be used to lure the seals away from the cape, and eleven months later the team is ready for its first trial run.
The result? The signal to attract the seals ends up working marvelously, as thousands of the pinnipeds flock in the wake of the scientists’ boat leading them all up to a secluded channel in Maine. What they didn’t expect, however, was how quickly the sharks would follow. Within hours, they’ve attracted more than few dozen Great Whites, and all around the boat, it’s like:
Now a journalism student, Naomi is also along for the ride, determined not to let what happened to her the previous summer keep her away from the ocean she loves. However, a powerful Nor’easter has blown in, causing torrential rain and massive storm swells. After the frenzying sharks ram and breach the hull of their boat, Naomi and the six other passengers’ only hope of survival is a rusty old watchtower situated atop a tiny piece of rock named Bald Cap. But with the water rising faster than you can say “you’re gonna need a bigger island”, how long can the survivors hold out before the seas swallow up their refuge and let the sharks in to play?
Okay, let’s see what we’ve got. Outlandish premise? Check. Rampaging sharks? Check. Lots and lots of blood and gory death? Check and double check. We’re neck-deep in pulpy, guilty-pleasure reading territory here…and quite honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. In fact, I’d even hazard to say there was probably less cheese than I expected in the story—sure, Shark Island is a book that’s meant to be far-fetched fluffy fun, but I was a little surprised to find it also had plenty of substance, especially in the wonderful and diverse cast. Damn you, Chris Jameson! Damn you for writing sympathetic characters, making me actually care about them before you consign them to their watery, shark-infested graves! When I picked up this book, I expected the usual B-movie style disposable and interchangeable archetypes, but instead you gave me all of these multifaceted and well-realized characters that I genuinely felt bad for as I watched them being chomped up into bloody bits.
And yes, there was a lot of screaming, dying, and limbs getting ripped off. No one is truly safe, so you’re always going to be on the edge of your seat wondering who will be the next victim. So if you’re the kind of reader who just wants to get their gruesome shark porn fix and doesn’t give a fig about anything else, chances are you’ll also be perfectly happy with what Shark Island has to offer. The story is fast-paced and jam-packed with shark action, saving up the grisliest and most intensive heart-pounding moments for the gripping climax near the end.
In any case, if Shark Island sounds like your kind of thing, then it might just well be your perfect summer read. Speaking as someone who enjoys kicking back with the occasional pulpy horror novel about killer creatures running amok, this one seriously hit the spot. When I head up to the beaches of Cape Cod for my vacation later this summer, I’m sure I’ll be thinking of this book fondly from the safety of dry land.
Book Review: Godblind by Anna Stephens
Posted on July 9, 2017 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1
Publisher: Talos (June 20, 2017)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Godblind is a book that would seem tailor made for my tastes in grimdark. It’s epic in scope, characters, and setting. There are multiple points of view. Plenty of action. Lots of gut-churning violence. I enjoyed this novel, I won’t lie. But it is also a debut, and it kind of shows. The writing is solid, but the plotting is predictable and scripted, as if the author placed certain elements into her story that she felt should be in there, and not necessarily because they really had to be.
First on the checklist is the multiple perspectives—we have an enormous cast here, lots and lots of POV characters. One of the first ones we’re introduced to is Rillirin, an escaped slave who has spent years suffering at the hands of the Mireces after she refused to worship their cruel Red Gods. She eventually finds her way to the Rilporian people, enemies of the Mireces, bearing them a warning: the old Mireces king is dead, and with him dies the truce between their two peoples. Ambitious new leaders have seized power, one of them being Rillirin’s own brother Corvus, a fanatical convert to the Red Gods. Accompanied by his dark priestess, Corvus plans to march on Rilpor and subjugate everyone to the religion of blood and sacrifice.
While all of this is happening, Rillirin also meets and develops a close relationship with Dom, a seer who receives visions of the future. Dom’s p0wer allows him to commune with the benevolent gods of Rilpor, but when the Dark Lady takes notice of him, his dreams become filled with pain and death. Meanwhile, not all is well with the Rilporian throne. The king is slowly losing his mind, still grieving for his late wife, who was murdered. With the killer still at large, Durdil the guard commander is at his wit’s end trying to solve the murder but keeps running into dead ends, and amidst the heightened tensions, a captain named Crys has been assigned to accompany Rilpor’s two royal princes on a diplomatic mission and protect them from threats.
And that’s as far as I’ll go describing the summary because I don’t want to risk revealing too much. Though if I’m to be completely honest, I think anyone following the story closely would be able to guess many of the story’s plot twists. In case you’re curious why I gave Godblind only three stars despite enjoying the book, well, that’s the main reason why the rating took a hit. Rather than grow out organically, the story felt forced and contrived, unfolding in a very ordered and controlled way. The novel’s format made me feel like the author was following an epic/grimdark fantasy “how-to” template, and even the manner in which important events unfolded made me think they were included simply because they were expected. As a result, many of the shocking revelations lacked their intended impact. Fight scenes had plenty of blood and action but no spirit. Character relationships were complex and yet failed to feel genuine. And the most unfortunate part? Some of the brutal scenes of torture, killing, rape…they felt gratuitous. Don’t get me wrong, as an avid reader of grimdark I am used to books filled with cold-blooded violence and every act of unspeakable sadism, but most of the time these elements are consequential and don’t have the feeling of being blatantly tacked on. There were several scenes like this in Godblind that just leaped out at me, not so much because of the disturbing situations and actions they portrayed, but more because of the way they were written. It’s difficult to explain, but they just felt randomly excessive and out of place.
The characters were interesting, but because the narrative was spread over so many POVs, only a couple of them really stood out. The beginning of the book really set a precedent for this; one after another, characters were fired off at us in rapid succession, without developing those who have already been introduced and letting them sink in. I had trouble remembering who everyone was every time I returned to the book from a break. The author also has this habit of splitting up a single event or scene, e.g. a big battle, into multiple short POV chapters—even when all the characters are together for the duration—whereas everything told via a single POV in a longer chapter might have be more effective and less distracting. When chaos erupts and a fight is in full swing, all I want is to be lost in a scene, and not have to reorient myself every time we switch to a another character’s perspective.
As this is a debut though, I was not surprised to run into some of these issues. Godblind has its flaws but I definitely want to highlight some of the things Stephens did really well, including keeping the story interesting and fast-paced. I also mentioned a couple characters that stood out for me, and they were Durdil and Gilda. Damn, but latter is an old lady with grit! And Durdil’s chapters were often full of suspense and cutthroat palace intrigue.
Overall, despite its predictability Godblind is actually pretty decent for a debut, with a few stumbling blocks that I can see being overcome once Stephens writes more books and gains more confidence in the art with time. As it stands right now, I think this book is an above average entry into the genre, with potential to develop and grow into something greater over the next couple books. I hear the series will be a trilogy, and I shall wait for news of the sequel with interest.
YA Weekend Audio: Now I Rise by Kiersten White
Posted on July 8, 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.
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Book 2 of The Conqueror’s Saga
Publisher: Listening Library (June 27, 2017)
Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Fiona Hardingham
While The Conqueror’s Saga may be more of an alternate history rather than a true fantasy series, it is nevertheless based on a genuinely fascinating premise. Imagine if Vlad the Impaler, one of the most brutal figures in history, known for his cunning and penchant for cruelty and who served as the main source of inspiration for Dracula, was instead…a princess? As I wrote in my review for the first book, it’s this subversion of the archetypical YA heroine trope that initially drew me in, and I was looking forward to see how the author would continue this story.
Now I Rise is a sequel that picks up shortly after the end of the first book, following Lada’s split with Radu and Mehmed in order to return to Wallachia. Our protagonist is determined to regain control of her country, which she knows she is destined to rule. Though she is without power or allies at this point, Lada is not about to let anything stop her, gathering whatever forces she can to harry the countryside and put the pressure on her enemies.
Meanwhile, her brother Radu has been sent undercover to Constantinople by Mehmed, who has become Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Once the object of Lada’s affections, Mehmed is now consumed by a new vision to retake the city from the Byzantines, driven by a prophecy that has foretold his rise. Radu, who harbors his own secret feelings for Mehmed, is unable to deny the Sultan anything and thus agrees to be his spy behind the walls of Constantinople.
But as Radu carries out his mission for Mehmed, he cannot help but think of his sister Lada, who is far away fighting her own war for a throne. Ever since they were children, the siblings have always depended on each other, with Radu providing Lada with his wisdom and strategic advice while she shielded them both with her strength and confidence. But Radu also can’t help his heart, which cleaves him to the Ottomans’ mission. Torn in his love between the two most important people in his life, ultimately Radu will have to decide where his true loyalties lie.
Reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised to see how unconventional the story felt compared to most other YA novels. It is in essence a retelling of the fall of Constantinople and the retaking of Wallachia—based very loosely on the true events. Thus in many ways, this novel read like a military fantasy, featuring a plot that concerned itself more with war campaigns and waging a siege. I think it would be fascinating too if you are familiar with some of the true history, watching Kiersten White combine fact with fiction to create something new and exciting.
At first, I was also apprehensive about the fact that our three main characters—Lada, Radu, and Mehmed—are mostly split up in this book, and that the main story threads rarely crossed. Thankfully though, for all that the story featured little to no real interaction between them, it didn’t turn out to be much of problem at all. The distance between the characters actually gave each of them a chance to reflect on the ties that were already in place, and I also liked how this gave them the opportunity to form new relationships and motivations.
In particular, I loved Lada’s perspective in this novel, and her struggle with her identity. While the world sees her as merely a woman, she knows in her heart she is a soldier, and woe to those who underestimate her. The ending was testament to this, and it was at once both difficult and satisfying to read. Then there was Radu, who just damn near broke my heart. I can see how many would find him exasperating and unlikeable, but somehow I can’t bring myself to hate this poor lost boy. It’s possible I may also be influenced by residual sympathies I had for him in the last book, in which he was my favorite character. The story was sensitive to the subject of his sexuality and I thought White’s writing captured his internal struggle very well.
Now I Rise is, in a nutshell, a wonderful sequel that delivered on everything it promised, including lots of character growth and even more dark thrills in the plot. The execution of this series has been very impressive so far, as are the new directions the story has taken, and I find myself looking forward to the next book in the saga.
Audiobook Comments: Fiona Hardingham is fast becoming one of my favorite audiobook narrators, and she was the main reason why I decided to switch formats and review the audio for the second book in The Conqueror’s Saga. As always, Ms. Hardingham delivers a fine performance, and I can find no major faults with her narration. If you’re considering the audiobook versions for this series, I would highly recommend it.
Friday Face-Off: Gold
Posted on July 7, 2017 26 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:
“All that is gold does not glitter”
~ a cover featuring GOLD
Mogsy’s Pick:
Gilded Cage by Vic James
So this book didn’t really work for me, but I did appreciate a lot of the different covers and some of the fascinating imagery featured on them. And of course, whenever you see anything gilded, you get the color gold. Now let’s take a look at these covers…
From left to right, top to bottom: Del Rey (Cover A) – Del Rey (Cover B) – Pan Macmillan (Cover B) – Pan Macmillan (Cover B) – La Galera (Spanish) – Nathan (French)
Winner:
Just like last week, the winner I’ve chosen in this face-off looks a lot better in real life than in a 2D image! To see what I mean, here’s a photo I found of the French edition. I make it no secret that I love gold foil on book covers, and it doesn’t hurt that it goes so beautifully well with the intricate wrought iron gate design. It’s simple, stylish, and classy.
What do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Book Review: A Kiss Before Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton
Posted on July 6, 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.
A Kiss Before Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Dru Jasper
Publisher: Pyr (July 11, 2017)
Length: 290 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
A Kiss Before Doomsday is the second novel in an urban fantasy series starring Dru Jasper, a bookish sorceress whose power allows her to unleash the magical properties of precious stones and crystals. Pretty cool, right? Now Dru and the whole gang are back in another madcap adventure to prevent the end of the world, and once again the results are as entertaining and fun as you would expect.
Since the story begins in the immediate aftermath of the first book, I would highly recommend reading It Happened One Doomsday before tackling this one if you haven’t yet. I won’t spoil any of the details, but suffice it to say that our protagonist did not exactly come out of the previous ordeal unscathed. Dru’s store The Crystal Connection has been left completely destroyed, and her new boyfriend Greyson is missing after he and his demonic muscle car Hellbringer were blown up in the Netherworld. Dru doesn’t know what’s worse: the idea that Greyson is dead, or that he is still alive but still afflicted by the curse that transformed him into one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
In the meantime though, the city of Denver is facing other problems. Despite our characters’ efforts in the previous book, the world is still heading towards Doomsday, with signs that someone is still trying to fulfill the prophecy of the apocalypse scroll. The latest disaster is a plague of undead, and for some reason, they seem to be targeting all of the area’s magic users, including Dru and her friends.
If you’ve read my review of It Happened One Doomsday, then you’re probably aware already that I’m all over this fantastic series. With a flood of new urban fantasy titles coming out every year, it’s always refreshing to come across something that immediately leaps out at me, even if it’s because of seemingly minor things like a twist in the usual story formula or a really cool magic system. Little details like that are just as likely to catch my attention, and that’s exactly what happened when I read the first book last year and fell in love with the idea of crystal magic. Laurence MacNaughton did a great job taking off with the concept, allowing Dru to harness a crystal’s power depending on its properties (and there’s just something so charming about the idea of our main character running around with an arsenal of different crystals stuffed in her purse, so that she’ll be ready for any situation). The best part is, now that Dru’s magic is even stronger in this sequel, we get to see even more of her in action.
Then there are the characters. I love them all so much! Rane, my favorite Amazonian metal woman from the first book is back, and this time around she even has a mini-side plot involving her and a former flame, a jerkwad sorcerer named Salem. Opal also returns with a bigger role in this novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the three friends working together to figure out why the dead are rising from the grave to attack sorcerers.
On the other hand, there was not as much of Greyson. This also meant less of Hellbringer, which was a shame since I am a big fan of that demon car. Still, Greyson and his hot rod taking a step back also meant the story got to really focus on our three ladies and their mission to kick some ass and rescue the guy for a change, so this was definitely a silver lining. That said, a part of me still wishes we could have seen more development into Dru’s relationship with Greyson, because while theirs was a whirlwind romance from the start, I wasn’t quite convinced that our protagonist would be the kind of girl to turn into a weeping mess over someone she’s only known for a couple weeks.
Apart from those minor quibbles though, I really have no complaints. With this solidly written sequel, Laurence MacNaughton really seems to be hitting his stride, giving readers more of his quirky characters and their action-packed adventures. Indeed, if the series continues in this exciting and lighthearted vein, it is sure to become smashing hit and be warmly welcomed by myself and other urban fantasy fans. A Kiss Before Doomsday was another excellent, fun-filled read, and I can’t wait for more.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of It Happened One Doomsday (Book 1)
Guest Post: “Creating Crystal Magic” by Laurence MacNaughton
Waiting on Wednesday 07/05/17
Posted on July 5, 2017 14 Comments
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk (January 16, 2018 by Tor Teen)
What can I say? Ancient Rome historical fantasy is like my drug, and after the fantastic time I had with The Valiant by Lesley Livingston earlier this year, I’m feeling in the mood for more stories about female gladiators.
The action-packed tale of a 17-year-old warrior princess and a handsome gladiator who dared take on the Roman Republic–and gave rise to the legend of Spartacus….
Roma Victor. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to build an empire–an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.
Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master’s favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.
Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end–and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus….
The BiblioSanctum 