YA Weekend: Roar by Cora Carmack
Posted on June 11, 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.
Roar by Cora Carmack
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Stormheart
Publisher: Tor Teen (June 13, 2017)
Length: 380 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Roar was perhaps one of my most anticipated YA novels of the year, and I was also glad when it got a cover to match my excitement. Piqued by that powerful image and by the book’s intriguing synopsis, I crossed my fingers and hoped the story within would be just as atmospheric and impactful. After all, it’s not every day you come across a story about “living” storms and the intrepid storm-chasers who risk their lives to harvest their magic. The book sounded like it had a lot of potential.
Things began with a betrothal. Our protagonist Aurora is a scion of one of the oldest and most powerful royal Stormling families in the lands of Caelira, and following the accidental death of her older brother, she is poised to inherit the throne from her mother, the Queen of Pavan. The only problem is, Aurora has no magical power of her own, a fact that the queen has gone to great lengths to keep secret, keeping her daughter isolated and preventing her to grow close to anyone. However, the kingdom is still going to need a protector from the devastating storms that plague Pavan each Rage season, and with Aurora powerless, the only solution left is for her to marry a Stormling prince with the magic to tame storms for them.
And at first, Prince Cassius seemed nice enough. Handsome and gifted, the second son of the King of Locke appears to be perfectly happy to marry into the Pavan royal family in order to make a name for himself. But the more Aurora gets to know him, the more she starts to distrust his loyalty and motives, especially when she catches him sneaking out of the palace one night to visit a black market for storm magic. Thanks to this experience though, Aurora also finds hope. As it turns out, the ability to control storms is not restricted only to Stormlings, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for her. After all, if the regular common folk can learn to harness the power of storms, surely she can do so as well, negating the need for her marriage to Prince Cassius. Calling herself Roar, our protagonist dons a disguise and manages to convince a group of storm hunters to take her along for their next expedition, while faking her own kidnapping to throw Cassius and his guards off her trail. And thus begins her tutelage under Locke, one the group’s most talented and experienced hunters, who has taken it upon himself to teach Roar all the knowledge and tricks she’ll need to survive in the storm-ravaged wildlands.
While Roar had its ups and downs, the book ultimately turned out to be more than I expected. Cora Carmack is a new author for me, but being aware of her background as a romance writer, I knew before going in that there was to be plenty of romantic drama and was thus prepared for the intro’s slower pacing. Rest assured though, there will be storm-chasing action, even if it doesn’t come until later on. The first half of the novel is mainly world-building and character development, especially when it comes to the electrifying tensions between Roar and Cassius. At this early point, the story really teases the direction of their relationship, making you wonder which way things will go before revealing the truth of Cassius’ secret, therefore setting off Roar’s desperate final bid to escape their marriage.
The world-building was also phenomenal, and probably my favorite aspect of this novel. I love the concept of magical, quasi-sentient storms with literal hearts that fuel them, and it is this essence that drives both Stormlings and storm hunters to pursue them. Stormhearts are forever inextricably linked to the one who extracts them, though they can also impart powers to those who wield or consume their magic. A magically imbued crystal pendant can warn the wearer of an incoming storm, for example, and ingesting the powder of a Firestorm heart can even protect one temporarily from the heat of flames, explaining why the black market magic trade is so lucrative and why Stormlings are always trying to quash it. There are also multiple classes of storms, from blizzards and twisters to other natural phenomena we typically don’t think of as storms such as tsunamis or fog. Basically any force of nature that can cause major death and destruction can be considered a storm, and along with them comes the fear of the populace, some of whom even worship them as a religion. A lot of surprising revelations will also come to light on the origins of these storms, and these answers end up tying nicely into the climax of Roar’s story.
There were some hiccups, of course. For one thing I’m very particular about my romantic plot arcs and I dislike seeing angsty, melodramatic YA heroes whose love always seems to manifest as overprotectiveness and a hard time understanding the concept of personal space. I also wish that the cliché of a guy giving the girl an annoying and patronizing pet name will die a horrible, painful death. Roar also annoyed me a little. While I understood her desperation to learn magic and break off her betrothal, she gave no thought to the fate of her kingdom or to the many who died because of her fake kidnapping stunt, and that total disregard for anyone but herself made her a hard protagonist for me to truly embrace. In the end though, I suspect the biggest issue for a lot of readers may be the lack of resolution. Things don’t end on a cliffhanger exactly, but the book also has no true conclusion and does not feel complete. It definitely has the feel of a series opener, with clearly lots more still to come.
With all that said though, I’d still be quite happy and willing to continue with the sequel, though my expectations for it will probably be even higher now. I liked what I saw from Roar and had a good time with the story; now I’m curious to see where the next book will take our characters.
Book Review: Way Down Dark by J.P. Smythe
Posted on June 10, 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1 of The Australia Trilogy
Publisher: Quercus (October 4, 2016)
Length: 288 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Not knowing anything about Way Down Dark before I started, boy was I in for a surprise. Somehow, I’d gotten it into my head based on the series title that this would be a post-apocalyptic dystopian set Down Under—but no, the novel is actually a generation ship story taking place on an interstellar space vessel called the Australia. In fact, the name of the ship itself is significant and made one of the plot twists later on in the book very obvious, and therein lies one of my main problems with this novel: too many predictable developments and conflicts. That said, I really enjoyed myself. There were still plenty of unique and interesting dynamics emerging within the main storyline—laudable, especially for a Young Adult novel—and if I had expected a little too much from it, well, that is entirely my own fault.
Way Down Dark begins the way many generation ship stories start—with descriptions of a mass exodus from Earth, whose living conditions are no longer suitable for large populations of humans for whatever reason. It is a tale seventeen-year-old Chan knows well, having been passed on for generations onboard the starship Australia where she lives. One day they will find a new home, but until then, our protagonist and thousands of others remain packed within the crowded berths and decks, trapped in a hellish existence filled with danger and violence. Long ago, the ship’s occupants divided themselves, and now a savage group called the “Lows” have become a persistent threat, venturing out of their own territory near the Pit to invade and take over other areas of Australia. One thing holding them back from attacking Chan’s home in the Arboretum had been her mother Riadne, a well-respected woman rumored to have fearsome, mystical powers. But now Riadne is dead, and Chan is left alone with the truth of how she died, along with a deathbed promise to her mother to keep her head down, be selfish, and stay alive.
However, ignoring the suffering of others is something Chan simply cannot do. Before long, our protagonist is fighting back against the roving groups of Lows and rescuing the helpless victims of their cruelty, much to the chagrin of Agatha, a family friend who has sworn to Riadne to watch over her daughter. Chan saves those she can, scrambling up and down the ship to retrieve the vulnerable, bringing them to a safe haven where they can be hidden and protected. Then one day, she makes a remarkable discovery, learning about a possible way to return to Earth. Unfortunately though, this just increases the tensions on the ship, elevating the brutality and violence in the gangs of murderous fanatics. As the situation reaches its boiling point, Chan and her allies desperately attempt to uncover the secrets of Australia for a possible solution to their problem, for resources are fast running out and when that happens their refuge will succumb to the enemy.
Crossover YA is a pretty hot category these days, with its lucrative appeal to both adult and young adult audiences, and at first, I actually thought this was what J.P. Smythe had intended for Way Down Dark. Almost immediately upon starting the book, however, I had to alter those initial expectations and place it firmly on the younger end of the spectrum. Namely, the narrative lacks a certain level of complexity, glossing over details and simplifying character motives and personalities. While this is no more and no less than a lot of YA on the market, I thought the book could have taken its ideas much farther with its potential. Instead, I got pretty much what was to be expected—which isn’t a bad thing, just slightly disappointing.
Take Chan, for instance—she’s strong, willful, and independent. When Riadne dies, she makes her daughter promise that she will stay of trouble and not draw any attention to herself, because making waves and trying to be a hero is a good way to get yourself killed on Australia. What would have been really surprising is if Chan had actually listened to her mother, but of course underneath that sharp and cynical exterior is a heart of gold, and Chan can no more help running around rescuing children than she can help being a badass (though for all her bravado, she’s still a naïve teenager, making a mistake later in the story that I saw coming a mile away).
There’s little exploration into how our protagonist became this way though, just as there’s little in the way of explanation for how things got to be the way they were aboard the ship. What actually happened on Earth to warrant the need for ships like the Australia? And once my suspicions about the ship’s history proved true, I couldn’t help but wonder: What was the point? And how is it that situation deteriorated so badly? As wild, inhuman, and destructive as the Lows are, they were nonetheless able to set up a rudimentary form of social hierarchy, so why couldn’t the regular folk have done the same and set up leaders, fighters, protectors, etc.? In fact, how did the Lows even get to the point of losing all semblance of their humanity and decency?
Granted, I probably would have had a better time with the story if I hadn’t been poking around its weak spots so much, and I’m sure there will be explanations coming down the road given the big reveal in the last chapter and the epilogue. Still, just be forewarned, there will be many questions and not enough satisfactory answers, at least not in this first installment. Ultimately, Way Down Dark could have done a lot more, but for a first of a trilogy, it is not a bad start. I think part of the problem is that I went in hoping for too much, and so for the next book I will know to adjust my expectations accordingly. After all, things did end on one hell of a cliffhanger, and I absolutely want to find out what happens next.
Book Review: Elixir by Ruth Vincent
Posted on June 9, 2017 12 Comments
Elixir by Ruth Vincent
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Fae
Series: Changeling P.I. #1
Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse (May 2016)
Author Info: ruthvincent.com
Wendy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars
With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mabily Jones has been trapped as a human for 22 years after being betrayed by the Fairy Queen. Once a powerful fairy, Mab is now just a regular girl trying to make her way in New York City. The story opens with her applying to be an unpaid intern with a private eye. Despite the series’ title, the “P.I.” angle doesn’t seem to hold much sway on the over all plot, save to get her to a club where a young woman has gone missing. When she arrives, she discovers that this is no normal club, but a place frequented by fae. It’s run by a roguishly dark and handsome man named Obadiah Savage who, unsurprisingly, has some secrets. The two are forced to work together when they are seemingly framed for murder. The only way to clear their name and get to the bottom of the bigger mysteries that bind them to the Fairy Queen and Elixir — the liquid that gives humans a high, but is the very life of the fairy realm — is to travel to the very realm that Mab was evicted from. Mab must deal with the reality of a Fairy Queen who lied to her and has been stealing children from the human realm — and who holds an even bigger secret that could shatter everything Mab believes.
The elements of the plot have the potential to be very dark, but Vincent succeeds in not falling into that trap, particularly with Savage, the obligatory love interest. Savage has the dark and brooding sexy thing going on and Mab’s attractive is instant, but we quickly find out — if we trust Mab’s gut feeling — that he’s a guy with reasonably good intentions. The character isn’t dragged through the paths of dark secrets and potential betrayals, allowing Mab’s focus to remain on her mission as she learns more about the Fairy Queen’s antics.
The plot also has the potential to dig more deeply into fae mythology, but Vincent only gives this a cursory nod. When Mab crosses back into the home of her birth, the world building falls flat. What ought to be a wonderous place of magic, feels like a movie set where I can too often see behind the scenes and know that it’s not real. The writing as a whole has this problem, skirting along to touch on the various urban fantasy points of interest, without really giving them enough attention or enough uniqueness.
When the book hits its climax, I found that I was not as invested as I wanted to be. I liked that the story was not the typical dark storytelling we often find, but the revelations did not seem to weigh as heavily as they should have, mainly because Mab spends so much time telling us how she feels instead of being allowed to show it, a problem that can come from the choice to write in first person.
Overall, an interesting start to a new series, but I hope that the “changling” and “P.I.” part of the series takes on greater relevance in the future to bring more meat to the plot.
Novella Review: The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch
Posted on June 8, 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 Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 5.7 of Peter Grant/Rivers of London
Publisher: Subterranean Press (June 30, 2017)
Length: 144 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Normally I tend to skip the novellas and short stories that authors are always tacking onto or in between books of their series, but believe me when I say all bets are off when it comes to Rivers of London. The instant I learned about The Furthest Station, I just knew I had to read it. Chronologically taking place between Foxglove Summer and The Hanging Tree, the story is probably meant to be a fun little side episode to help us Peter Grant addicts curb our appetites while waiting for the next book, but ultimately I found it so entertaining that I’d readily recommend it to newcomers and old fans alike.
As a city with a long history, London is also home to a lot of ghosts. Many of them even ride the Underground each day along with—and unbeknownst to—the thousands of living Londoners on their work commute, but rarely do these spectral passengers make any trouble. So when the police start receiving a number of reports about frightening, aggressive, and disturbing ghost sightings on the Metropolitan Line, the situation is worrying enough to get PC Peter Grant and his supervisor Inspector Nightingale on the job. After enlisting the help of Peter’s aspiring magician cousin Abigail and Jaget Kumar of the British Transport Police, the four of them take to the trains in order to try and get to the bottom of this ghostly mystery.
The problem though, is that none of their witnesses can recall much of their haunted encounters. Interviews with the ghosts themselves are also out of the question, after it is found that their incorporeal bodies quickly dissolved after the sightings—a rather unusual sign. Gradually though, Peter and the others are able to collect enough clues to piece together an explanation for the ghosts’ strange behavior…and the prognosis is not good. A very real person’s life maybe in imminent danger, and it is up to the Folly as Britain’s only paranormal investigative unit to save a kidnapping victim before it is too late.
While it might help to be familiar with the series before starting The Furthest Station, it is absolutely not required and this novella can be enjoyed just fine as a standalone. In fact, the story actually features little to no mention of the overarching plotlines in the main series, so don’t expect to see anything about Lesley or the Faceless Man, and even Beverley Brook and the other aspects of the genius loci play only a small role here. In essence, this book reads like a compressed version of a normal Peter Grant adventure, without all the side dramas and extra flavors that usually flesh out an urban fantasy series. For those of us who want to see Peter and Nightingale get back to some good old fashioned sleuthing, this compact mystery tale contains an irresistible case with all the ingredients to keep us on the edge of our seats.
Likewise, The Furthest Station is also perfect for someone who just wants to dip their toes into the world before deciding to take the plunge into the novels. Everything I love about the main series this novella has in spades, including the sharp witticism, rich history and world-building, and of course the diverse and charming characters. With the cast being reduced for this shorter installment, we don’t get to meet as many of the usual contacts to whom Peter goes for advice or consulting, but we do get a couple of new faces as well as larger roles for characters who deserve more attention. Abigail for one is a treasure and I certainly hope her position as the Folly’s summer intern isn’t going to be a one-off because I would love to see her play a bigger part of this series (and given the discussion between Peter and Nightingale in the final chapter, something tells me there’s a good chance I’ll get my wish). Speaking of which, Nightingale fans are also in for a treat. I’ve always bemoaned the fact we hardly ever get to see Peter’s governor in action, even though Aaronovitch is always teasing his immense magical power. Well, this time I’m pleased to say Nightingale gets involved with a lot of the police work, and also gives us many reasons to be in awe of his wizarding skills.
All in all, this was a wonderful book and a nice break from the usual routine. I typically shy away from novellas that supplement a series because I often find I don’t gain too much from them, but The Furthest Station is actually one that I’m glad I got to read. This is the way to do it, in my opinion, by offering a complete standalone story that is both substantial and fun, as well as featuring elements that appeal to those who love the series while also being newcomer-friendly at the same time. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting PC Grant yet, this is a fantastic opportunity to do so. And if you’re a fan of the Rivers of London books, I think you’ll be pleased as well, and if nothing else, this novella should help make the wait for the next novel just a tad little easier.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Whispers Underground (Book 3)
Review of Broken Homes (Book 4)
Review of Foxglove Summer (Book 5)
Review of The Hanging Tree (Book 6)
Waiting on Wednesday 06/07/17
Posted on June 7, 2017 15 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
The Infernal Battalion by Django Wexler (January 9, 2018 by Ace Books)
This week, I’m waiting on the fifth book of Django Wexler’s Shadow Campaigns series. I’m already feeling preemptively sullen over the fact that this will be the last installment, but at the same time I’m excited because I desperately need to know how things are going to end!
“The Beast, the ancient demon imprisoned beneath the fortress-city of Elysium for a thousand years, has been loosed on the world. It absorbs mind after mind, spreading like a plague through the north. The fell army it has raised threatens the heart of Vordan, and it is under the command of the Beast’s greatest prize: legendary general Janus bet Vhalnich.
As Queen Raesinia Orboan and soldiers Marcus D’Ivoire and Winter Ihernglass grapple with the aftermath of a hard-fought military campaign, they soon discover a betrayal they never could have foreseen. The news arrives like a thunderbolt: Janus has declared himself the rightful Emperor of Vordan. Chaos grips the city as officers and regiments are forced to declare for queen or emperor.
Raesinia must struggle to keep her country under control and risks becoming everything she fought against. Marcus must take the field against his old commander, a man who has seemed an unbeatable strategist. And as Winter recovers from her injuries and mourns her losses, she knows the demon she carries inside her might be the only thing standing between the Beast and the destruction of everything in its path….”
Book Review: Tyrant’s Throne by Sebastien de Castell
Posted on June 6, 2017 19 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Tyrant’s Throne by Sebastien de Castell
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 4 of The Greatcoats
Publisher: Jo Fletcher (UK: April 6, 2017; US: June 6, 2017)
Length: 601 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
It is no exaggeration when I say that a series like the Greatcoats only comes once in a lifetime, and now that it has come to an end, I am filled with a mixture of complicated emotions. On the one hand, I am extremely pleased with the conclusion, with our heroes and heroines getting the satisfying sendoff they deserved. On the other, I no longer know what to do with myself. Like many goodbyes, this one was bittersweet, and if it hadn’t been for the final words of the author’s postscript, I would be having a much harder time right now.
Picking up not long after the events of the previous book, Tyrant’s Throne sees Falcio val Mond and his allies continuing their efforts to put King Paelis’ daughter Aline on the throne of Tristia. To do so, he would need the support of the dukes, but unfortunately most of them would forsake their kingdom than to be ruled by a young girl. To make matters even more dire, talk of war is also brewing in the mountains. More and more, the penniless and starving common folk in the northern duchies are fleeing into neighboring Avares for their salvation, and in turn the Avareans are amassing their forces and weapons, taking advantage of the political turmoil in Tristia to launch an attack. As a tribal-based warrior culture society, the Avareans have never posed a real threat before because of their inability to organize, but a mysterious Magdan has risen up in recent years, uniting the war clans under a single cause. Worse, it is rumored that he is allied with Trin, the murderous traitor who has caused Falcio and his loved ones so much pain.
Traveling under disguise, our protagonist and his best friends Kest and Brasti embark upon a dangerous mission to the north with the intention to capture Trin and bring her back to Castle Aramor to face justice. However, in Avares, they encounter another unpleasant surprise—and this time, it’s a game changer that may bring Falcio’s dreams to ruin and jeopardize everything he has ever worked for. The Greatcoats now have to face a difficult choice, for unfortunately what is just and what is lawful does not always necessarily mean the same thing. But whatever the decision, what’s clear is that it needs to be made soon, for with Avares poised to attack, Tristia might not exist long enough for any of it to matter.
Still, even in the face of insurmountable challenges and impossible odds, the greatest foe Falcio val Mond will face in Tyrant’s Throne isn’t Trin or even the threat of a bloodthirsty Avarean horde. No, our protagonist’s worst enemy has always been himself, and now he faces the moment of truth. To understand the significance of this novel, one must also understand what makes Falcio tick, and while the first three novels have shown that he is a valiant and big-hearted person to his core, there is also a darkness and complexity in him that has been lying in wait to bring about his downfall. Let’s face it, as lovable as he is, Falcio is also be single-minded to the point of recklessness and can be infuriatingly prone to self-sabotage. Certainly, he’s made his mistakes, and now his demons have all come home to roost.
If you’ve been following this series, you’ll also know that Sebastian de Castell doesn’t go easy on his characters, putting them through all kinds of extreme situations. Only through this process though, do we get to see the true measure of his protagonist. Tyrant’s Throne is no different in this sense, and I’m warning you now, there will be several bombshells that will threaten to send Falcio over the edge—hell, they certainly nearly caused ME to lose control!—and there is no end to the shocking twists. At times, Falcio will be driven to think and do some despicable things, and I won’t lie, he even made me quite angry on several occasions. Yet at the same time, it’s hard not to feel for the guy. For as long as we’ve known Falcio, his character has been defined by his love for King Paelis as well as his respect for the rule of law. Now that those two pillars of his identity are at odds, his entire world has just been turned upside down.
As usual though, you can trust the author to have everything well in hand. I’ve heard that final books in a series are notoriously difficult to pull off, but dammit, he makes it look so easy. Everything I love about the previous novels can be found once again in this one, including the epic action, laugh-out-loud humor, daring heroics and inspiring gallantry. No one can make me flip between nail-biting despair and giddy fist-pumping exuberance the way De Castell can, sending my pulse racing with every high stakes plot development. The story is compelling and intense, featuring relentless pacing and an extraordinarily rich cast. All the characters I love (along with some dazzling new faces!) are back as well, ready to kick some ass and take some names, making Tyrant’s Throne a finale to remember.
As endings go, I really couldn’t ask for more. Sebastien de Castell is a rare talent, one of the most gifted storytellers to emerge in recent years and I hope he will continue to deliver more great books for a long, long time. It heartens me to know he has plans to return to the Greatcoats world, but even if this is the last we see of Tristia’s heroes and heroines, Tyrant’s Throne is the perfect ending to cap off this stellar quartet. The Greatcoats now sits in a place of honor on my bookshelf as one of my favorite fantasy series of all time.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Traitor’s Blade (Book 1)
Review of Knight’s Shadow (Book 2)
Review of Saint’s Blood (Book 3)
Book Review: The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente
Posted on June 5, 2017 31 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 Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Superheroes
Series: N/A
Publisher: Saga Press (June 6, 2017)
Length: 160 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Ever wonder what it’s like to be a girlfriend or wife of a superhero? The answer is not so glamorous in The Refrigerator Monologues, a new book containing a series of linked short stories by Catherynne M. Valente. Inspired by “Women in Refrigerators”, a term used to describe a trope used in many comic book plots involving the deaths, disablement, and disenfranchising of female characters to forward a male superhero protagonist’s storyline, this clever collection offers both a darkly humorous commentary on the subject as well as a vicious lampoon on these kinds of story arcs as a whole.
Meet the six women of the Hell Hath Club, all inspired by well-known characters in the DC or Marvel universes so that even passing fans of comics should recognize some of their origins. There’s Paige Embry, the brilliant and driven college student who saw her bright future snuffed out when she was thrown off a bridge by her superhero boyfriend’s arch nemesis. Gwen Stacy anyone? Or how about the powerful telepath and telekinetic, taken away at a young age for a school for special powered people to fight another group of special powered people by an ostensibly well-meaning professor, who later puts Jean Gre—I mean, Julia Ash on an otherwise all-male superhero team called the “Millennial Men”? And of course there’s also Samantha Dane, based off of Alexandra Dewitt, the girlfriend of Kyle Rayner whose gruesome manner of death in the Green Lantern comics is what inspired the “refrigerated” term in the first place.
The tales go on like this, each one exploring the background of a female character who has been killed, depowered, or generally dismissed in favor of the male superheroes (and in one case, a supervillain) in their lives. Now the six of them meet regularly in the afterlife, hanging out at a quaint little joint called the Lethe Café where they share their stories, support each other, and listen to the gargoyles bands play punk rock.
The Refrigerator Monologues was a quick read, offering brief but plentiful examples to illustrate the concerning trend in comic books of having bad things happen to female characters as merely a plot device. While these are entertaining stories, I’m afraid there’s also very little lightness to them. After all, the women portrayed here are meant to represent the victims of “lazy writing” and “stock storylines”, most of them reduced to playing second fiddle to their male superhero counterparts or as pet causes for their romantic partners. Valente shines a harsh, subversive light on the injustice and absurdity of these situations, from Gwen Stacy whose death has somehow become an inextricable and defining moment in the life of Spider-Man, to Harley Quinn who is forever standing resolutely by the Joker even after the bajillionth time he leaves her to rot in Arkham. The short vignettes here capture both the tragedy and comedy of the women’s fates by putting readers in their shoes.
I also thought the length and format of the book was perfect for the author’s vision. It is clear anything less would have failed to deliver the same level of poignancy, while a longer book containing more stories would have run the risk of being repetitive. The writing style here is very distinctive, aiming for biting humor and as much as snarky finesse, though after a while I found it difficult to distinguish the different voices of the women for they all seemed to speak with the same mannerisms. By the end, I was also feeling a little weary and heartsick from the underlying tones of sadness and dejection. For you see, this isn’t a book that “fixes” things, nor was it ever meant to be—I think Valente put it best in an article I once came across where she said (and I’m paraphrasing based on memory), “I might not be able to swoop in to save the damsel, but I can turn on the mic to let her scream.” You might read these stories expecting more anger and indignation from the characters, but ultimately the Hell Hath Club isn’t so much about fury than it is about a place where its members can come together to vent, grieve, commiserate, or simply to tell their personal stories and be heard.
In closing, I also want to give special mention to the world-building of Deadtown. Aside from being the most unique and interesting aspect of the book, this brilliant setting ties all the characters’ stories together and gives this collection a special touch. Being dead isn’t easy—you’re basically stuck wearing whatever god-awful outfit you were buried in for all eternity, and there are bizarre rules like how all food can only be made from plants and animals that have gone extinct, or that the only books available are those that have been forgotten to time, etc. Still, it isn’t all bad. Residents of Deadtown share the afterlife with a population of friendly gargoyles who sure know how to have a good time!
Finally, you certainly don’t need to be familiar with comics or comic book characters to appreciate this book, but knowing some of the context would probably help. Sharply droll and acerbic, The Refrigerator Monologues offers a look at the superhero genre from a rare but important perspective. Whether these stories make you laugh or cry, pound your fists or roll your eyes, at the end of the day they’re bound to evoke emotions and start some conversations. And sometimes, that’s all that really matters.
YA Weekend: Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
Posted on June 4, 2017 26 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Book 1 of Royal Bastards
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (May 30, 2017)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
This book was a ridiculously entertaining read, putting me in mind of Marvel’s Runaways set in a fantasy world that is rife with Game of Thrones vibes. Characters tragic and comic, heroic and despicable all live within these pages, including beautiful princesses, warring kings, powerful mages, and of course, royal bastards.
As the daughter of Lord Kent of the Western Province and a Castle Waverly servant, sixteen-year-old Tillandra has always lived in a world of in-betweens. While common born and not his legitimate heir, Tilla was nonetheless loved by her father, who filled her childhood days with rides over the fields or to the forest, teaching and showing her amazing things. But ever since Lord Kent got married in a political alliance, that all changed. Once his new wife gave him trueborn children, his time spent with Tilla gradually dwindled to the point where he now barely gives her any attention at all. Tilla instead spends her day with her half-brother Jax, hanging out at the stables and drinking with the servants, though in her heart she still secretly dreams of the day her father will notice her again and perhaps even legitimize her as a trueborn Kent.
When the book opens, everything at the castle is abuzz with activity as preparations are made for the feast in honor of the visiting princess of Noveris from the ruling Volaris Dynasty. Although Tilla is invited to attend, her place in the great hall is with the castle’s other outcasts which includes Miles, an illegitimate son of House Hampstedt, as well as Zell, a Zitochi from the north who has been disowned by his warchief father. When Princess Lyriana makes her appearance though, she is nothing like any of them imagined. First, she shocks everyone by choosing to sit with Tilla and the others at the “Bastards’ Table”, and before long, she has convinced them to sneak her out of the castle after the feast to show her Castle Waverly’s beaches. However, what might have started out as an innocent late night excursion quickly turns into a nightmare as Tilla, Jax, Miles, Zell and Lyriana stumble upon a scene they were never meant to witness. Now their own parents have put a price on their heads, and the group is forced to go on the run to protect the princess and deliver back to her people. If they succeed, they’ll be able to clear their names, expose a vast conspiracy, and stop a war. But if they fail, it could spell the end of more than just their lives.
Royal Bastards was an interesting book—uncomplicated to be sure, and also unabashedly trope-filled. The writing style also has a simplistic tone and uses modern language, which initially made me think this might be a Middle Grade novel, until the swearing, violence, and sexual innuendoes quickly disabused me of that notion. For all that though, I found the author’s straightforward approach refreshing. What you see is what you get, with little attempt to be subversive or break the mold. I got the sense that Shvarts was just trying to tell a fun story about characters that he genuinely cared about, and in turn I was captivated by this book’s carefree aura, willing to be swept into whatever adventure awaits.
I’m happy to report the results were pleasantly and surprisingly positive. Sure, the characters are all textbook YA—the plucky heroine who yearns for parental approval, the broody warrior who’s always surly because “no one understands me!”, or the nerdy bookwork whom everyone dismisses until his knowledge saves all their lives, etc., etc., etc.—but happily, their individual charms more than make up for that. Despite the clichés, every single one of the Bastards had wormed their way into my heart, and by the end of the book I found myself invested in the outcome of their fates. Every triumph filled me with celebratory cheer while every loss and betrayal made me fume and rage inside. I very much cared about what happened to these characters, which made this one an easy read. Together with the fast pace of the plot, I just flew through this book.
I probably enjoyed Royal Bastards more than I should have. But books like this prove you don’t have to reinvent the genre to be successful; sometimes familiar ideas work just fine when you combine them with a story that’s fun to its very core (though you should still brace yourself for some eventual tensions and heartbreak) and characters who have great chemistry and infectious personalities. There are several major twists, a couple of which I coming a mile away, but that didn’t stop me from having a blast. If all this sounds good to you, I highly recommend giving this book a try. Personally, I can’t wait for the next installment in this planned trilogy.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on June 3, 2017 42 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!
So excited about this one! Huge thanks to Thomas Dunne Books for sending me this beautiful finished copy of A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden, a Norse mythology inspired historical fantasy starring an Orc protagonist.
Up next, a couple of surprise finished copies courtesy of Tor Teen: Night Magic by Jenna Black and Firebrand by A.J. Hartley are both sequels to great books I read last year, so I do plan to dive into them as soon as I can.
Also thanks to Subterranean Press for this trio of new arrivals: Bubba and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers by Joe R. Lansdale is described as a prequel to the classic story “Bubba Ho-Tep” and looks absolutely hilarious! Heroes and Villains by Lewis Shiner is a collection of three short novels and a fable featuring daring feats of adventure and suspense, and I’m especially looking forward to Penric’s Mission by Lois McMaster Bujold, third in a series of novellas starring the eponymous hero and his demon Desdemona. I love these characters and their quirky dynamic.
Inkshares is also coming out with a lot of great titles this summer and fall. From the awesome team at Wunderkind I received a copy of The Punch Escrow by Tal M. Klein, a futuristic sci-fi thriller about a protagonist who gets accidentally cloned during a teleportation machine mishap. There’s a lot of buzz about this one already, and I can’t wait to check it out. Then there’s Sparked by Helena Echlin and Malena Watrous which is a new one for me, but I am already intrigued by its spine-chilling synopsis. Thanks again publisher for putting this dark supernatural mystery on my radar!
And speaking of new-to-me books, I was surprised I hadn’t heard of Halls of Law by V.M. Escalada until it showed up on my doorstep, and needless to say I went to look it up immediately. From what I gather, it’s a mix of magic and military fantasy, which sounds sound up my alley. With thanks to DAW Books for the ARC; I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on this one.
Also thanks to Saga Press for this finished copy of Season One of The Witch Who Came in From the Cold created by Lindsay Smith and Max Gladstone. I’ve been loving these serialized novels from Serial Box, but I’ve been waiting for this collection to become available so I can binge read all the episodes.
Last but not least, a big thank you to Titan Books for sending me review copies of Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone and The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles by G.S. Denning. I’ve been curious about this series for a long time, and book one is already queued up on my reading list for June.
On the digital front, I’ve actually been really good these last few weeks and managed to hold off on requesting anything from NetGalley or Edelweiss, or even audiobooks. The kind folks at Tor.com have been been spoiling me though, turning my inbox into a treasure trove of upcoming gems. The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson looks so creepy and I can’t wait to read it, plus I’ve wanted to check out the author’s work for a long time. And talk about big things coming in small packages, Acadie by Dave Hutchinson is an exciting grand scale space opera in a novella-sized tale. Ruin of Angels by Max Gladstone is billed as the sixth installment of his Craft Sequence, and while I still have the previous book to read, you can be sure I’ll be tackling this one as soon as I’m all caught up. Finally, The Black Tides of Heaven and The Red Threads of Fortune by J.Y. Yang are a pair of linked standalone novellas from a new series called the Tensorate. I’m simply gobsmacked by the beauty of these covers, and I anticipate the stories within will be just as delectable.
Reviews
Here’s a roundup of my reviews posted since my last update. It’s been a pretty good couple of weeks, and coming out on top is Michael R. Fletcher’s brilliant and bloody cyberpunk thriller Ghosts of Tomorrow which takes the highlighted spot.
Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael R. Fletcher (4.5 of 5 stars)
The White Road by Sarah Lotz (4 of 5 stars)
Luna: Wolf Moon by Ian McDonald (4 of 5 stars)
A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi (4 of 5 stars)
The Berlin Project by Gregory Benford (3 of 5 stars)
The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette de Bodard (2.5 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlight:
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
The following are books I’ve “unstacked” from my shelves recently. Reviews coming soon!
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read! Let me know what you plan on checking out. Until next time, see you next Roundup!
Friday Face-Off: Moon
Posted on June 2, 2017 30 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:
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”
~ a cover featuring the MOON
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Dark Side by Anthony O’Neill
The Dark Side is a gritty, dark, and violent futuristic sci-fi mystery thriller that takes place on the moon. Our protagonist Lieutenant Damien Justus is the patently incorruptible good cop from Earth who has just arrived in the lunar territory known as Purgatory, a place where the shadier your record is the better the chance you’ll flourish and thrive. Its capital, appropriately named Sin, is a haven for criminals and lowlifes who have come to the moon to escape their old lives, but now with a new sheriff in town, their days are numbered. Justus is here to clean up Purgatory, and to him, no one is above the law. Almost immediately, he’s tasked to investigate a string of assassinations targeting the movers and shakers of lunar society.
Meanwhile though, far from Purgatory in the Seidel Crater, a black-haired, black-eyed, black-tied, black-suited homicidal android takes his first steps towards self-discovery and a two-thousand kilometer journey of death and destruction. What does a psycho-killer robot murdering his way across the lunar landscape have to with Justus’ investigation? Ah, wouldn’t you like to know…but now, it’s cover time:
From left to right, top to bottom: English (2016) – Hungarian (2017) – German (2017) – Spanish (2017) – Chinese(2017)
Winner:
My winner is the Hungarian edition, because how can you look at that and not wonder what the hell is going on in that picture? It’s also a very good depiction of the creepy, crazy, completely homicidal Mr. Black as he stalks his way silently across the desolate lunar surface.
What do you think? Which one is your favorite?
The BiblioSanctum 