YA Weekend Audio: Windwitch by Susan Dennard
Posted on January 7, 2017 36 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, Young Adult
Series: Book 2 of The Witchlands
Publisher: Listening Library (January 10, 2017)
Length: 14 hrs and 46 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
To be fair, Windwitch wasn’t bad at all, but I was in the minority in that Truthwitch didn’t blow me away and I went into this sequel hoping it would help me decide whether or not to continue the series. There’s a lot of potential here, and wouldn’t it be a shame if I gave up on something great just because I was on the fence about the first book? After all, sometimes a series just needs a little extra time to develop.
I was also left curious about the fates of the characters after the events of the previous novel. “Threadsisters” Safi and Iseult are still separated, each struggling with their own predicament. The windwitch admiral Prince Merik is also dead, or so the world is led to believe after his ship was devoured by a fiery explosion. The truth is much complicated though. Caught between life and death, the prince has returned broken, scarred, and bitter, filled with anger towards his sister whom he believes betrayed him. After making his way to the capital, he begins rallying the tired and starving refugees there under the guise of the Fury, a legendary figure who fights for freedom of the oppressed.
The bloodwitch Aeduan has a greater role now too, realizing the sizeable bounty he would collect if he could find the threadwitch Iseult and bring her to those hunting her. In a twist of fate though, Iseult somehow manages to get Aeduan on her side, convincing him to help her track down her best friend Safi. While the bloodwitch and threadwitch end up forging a precarious alliance, truthwitch Safi finds herself stranded in the pirate-infested wilderness after her shipwreck, with none other than the Empress of Marstok in tow. Alone and with no defenses, if the outlaws or mercenaries don’t get to them first, then the elements will—and that’s only if the two young women don’t succumb to their thirst and hunger.
Like I was saying, I didn’t dislike Windwitch, but it was also far from being the huge improvement over Truthwitch that I’d hoped for. In fact, I might even have liked it a bit less. First off, so much for having a strong female friendship at its core. This aspect, which was supposed to be a major selling point for the first book, ended up being severely lacking. The author continues to tell instead of show Safi and Iseult’s closeness, and maybe it’s time to just accept she’s more interested in developing their respective romances at this point. The title itself is also telling because it points to Merik as the character getting most of the attention, but unfortunately I felt he was one of the blander, more exasperating characters from the first book and this sequel didn’t do much to change that. Iseult remained my favorite, and I wish there had been more focus on her and Aeduan.
In terms of the story though, this book is definitely more complex than its predecessor, and I enjoyed the multiple plot threads. Some might argue that the political, magical, and action elements presented here are just the same tired old narrative tropes, but Dennard deserves credit for knowing what readers want and how to spice things up. My one complaint was how long it took for this book to build. Admittedly the first half was pretty sluggish, though once everything fell into place, things took off from there. There’s a moment where it all comes together and the story kicks into high gear; you can’t miss it.
Still, my future with this series is up in the air right now. Not too long ago, I would have been a lot more open to the idea of continuing with book three, especially since I really liked how this book ended. But given the insane number of series I’m currently following, this year I’m resolving to be pickier when it comes to deciding which ones to keep reading. Windwitch was a decent sequel, but I had pinned my hopes on it being more exceptional. The “click” I’d wished for just didn’t happen, so I’ll probably set The Witchlands aside, at least for now.
Audiobook Comments: I was glad I got to check out Windwitch, if nothing else because I was able to experience the audiobook edition. Cassandra Campbell did an excellent job as narrator, adding her own flair to the characters with interesting accents and inflections. Somehow the world of The Witchlands felt bigger for it. Reading the first book in hardback format, it hadn’t occurred to me what the characters might have sounded like, and pondering their different origins gave context to the vastness and diversity of the setting. Despite my mixed feelings for the story, I have no complaints about Campbell’s wonderful reading.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Truthwitch (Book 1)
Book Review: Pathfinder Tales: Reaper’s Eye by Richard A. Knaak
Posted on January 6, 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.
Pathfinder Tales: Reaper’s Eye by Richard A. Knaak
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Media Tie-In
Series: Pathfinder Tales
Publisher: Tor (December 6, 2016)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Over the years I’ve had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Richard A. Knaak. No stranger to his tie-in fiction, I have tried most of his novels for the World of Warcraft franchise, a couple of which were pretty solid, but just as many have been utter disappointments. But still, I was intrigued when I first learned about Reaper’s Eye. While the Pathfinder Tales series comprises the official stories based on the Pathfinder RPG, I also think authors might be less restricted when it comes to exploring their own characters, settings, and aspects of the various peoples and cultures in this world—which often leads to more interesting storytelling compared to other books based on a media property.
Reaper’s Eye follows a team of adventurers on a quest to a lost temple to stop an ancient threat from being released. One of our main characters is Daryus Gaunt, a former crusader who deserted his unit after disagreeing with a battlefield decision. He has been on the run ever since, constantly keeping an eye over his shoulder lest his past catch up with him. However, old habits die hard, and one night he finds himself charging into the thick of battle in response to a cry for help, only to discover later that the victim he rescued is a strange talking weasel named Toy. Taking the little animal at face value, Daryus takes it home and listens to Toy’s disturbing tale of an evil witch with a scheme to unleash disaster upon the world.
Meanwhile, our other protagonist Shiera Tristane is an ambitious archaeologist working on a plan to win herself the glory she feels she deserves. Her hopes are finally answered when she uncovers a mysterious artifact marked with some curious symbols, but translating them only brings more questions. She is soon commissioned to go on an expedition to find out more, and one of her first tasks is to find a bodyguard for the journey, which is how Shiera ends up hiring Daryus. Desperate to get out of the city, Daryus isn’t too interested in the specifics of the mission, happy enough to collect his fee and take himself and Toy onto the road.
Perhaps having several Pathfinder Tales novels under my belt now has made me a lot pickier about them, but Reaper’s Eye was probably one of the weaker ones I’ve read. It also didn’t help that this one followed the incredible Shy Knives by Sam Sykes, which is bar none the best Pathfinder book I’ve read thus far. Knaak’s characters simply didn’t capture my attention the same way. Daryus and Shiera were decent characters, but neither of them achieved greatness as both their backstories and personalities were relatively uninspired. The protagonists’ motivations were also hardly explored, so we only get the surface-level understanding of why they’re doing the things they claim are important to them. Ditto for the villain. In fact, the only one that really interested me was Toy, and let’s just say there’s something seriously wrong when your most engaging character is a talking weasel.
To Knaak’s credit though, he’s incredibly skilled when it comes to writing action scenes, which are good enough to carry the story. The plot itself isn’t overly complex, but it works for providing simple popcorn entertainment. Now also might be a good time for me to clarify that I don’t think this is a bad book—it is fun and it delivers what I think the audience expects—but it’s clear that the newer, better, and more inspiring crop of tie-in novels that have been released in recent years are leaving books like Reaper’s Eye behind. The bar has been raised, and readers like me are expecting a lot more now.
Simply put, if you’ve never read anything in the Pathfinder Tales sequence, this isn’t bad, but compared to some of the other really good ones I’ve read, it falls only in the mediocre range. In sum, I would recommend reading Reaper’s Eye if you’re a fan of the series or the author, but probably not if you’re new to the world of Pathfinder fiction and are curious to pick up your first Pathfinder Tales novel. Since most of the books are written as standalones, you aren’t going to be limited to any kind of strict reading order, and in my opinion there are better ones out there that will make a better and more enjoyable starting point.
Book Review: The Dead Seekers by Barb & J.C. Hendee
Posted on January 5, 2017 27 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 Dead Seekers by Barb Hendee & J.C. Hendee
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Dead Seekers
Publisher: Ace Books (January 3, 2017)
Length: 336 pages
Author(s) Information: Website | Twitter
For so long I’ve been wanting to read something by Barb and J.C. Hendee, and with The Dead Seekers being the first of a new series, I figured there’s no better time and place to jump onboard! Better yet, later I was even more excited to learn that the book is set in the same world that was made well-known by the authors’ popular Noble Dead Saga.
Things kick off with a prologue which introduces readers to the story’s two protagonists. What should have been a happy time instead turned to sorrow as Tris, the baron’s only son and heir, was born without breath. But even when the baby was revived, the disturbing circumstances around his apparent miraculous recovery only causes more fear and unease. Thirteen years later in another time and another place, young Mari was in the woods with her family making camp after a long day of travel when they were suddenly ambushed by violent spirits. Being a shapeshifter, Mari was able to take her cat form and escape, but everyone else was killed. Ever since that day, she has been searching for the one she believes is responsible for her murdered family—the mysterious figure known as the Dead’s Man who is said to have the ability to command spirits.
When the main story starts in earnest, both Tris and Mari have grown to adulthood and are living very different lives, though without knowing it, the two are linked by their tragic pasts. Tris had experienced something very similar to what Mari saw in the woods all those years ago, and now he travels to wherever he is called, banishing spirits for a living. While a close encounter with a spirit would usually mean death to any normal person, Tris however possesses a remarkable power enabling him to touch ghosts and destroy them. It is this ability that initially makes Mari suspect that Tris may be the Dead’s Man she is looking for, though at their first meeting she has to admit he is nothing like she expected. Wanting to make sure she has found the right mark before killing him, Mari decides to stick around and observe Tris as he makes his way to his next assignment to banish a particularly troublesome spirit.
The Dead Seekers is perhaps best described as a mystery in three distinct parts. First Tris and Mari travel to a small village, where the ghost of a girl who died under peculiar circumstances has been coming back to haunt the people she knew. But this humble intro soon leads our protagonists to uncover an even bigger conspiracy in the middle section, requiring them to travel to a border garrison where they realize their spirit problem isn’t so simple anymore. The last third of the book is the resolution where everything ties together and ends in a satisfyingly explosive way. As plotlines go, it’s a pretty straightforward and “on-rails” experience even if the story is no less enjoyable because of it. However, this also meant the authors had to rely mainly on flashbacks and memory sequences to explain anything that took place in the past, and these weren’t always integrated very smoothly.
This also might not be a terribly deep or sophisticated fantasy novel, but it will hit the spot if you’re simply looking for a light and fun read. Most notably, I found the book weaker in the areas of world-building, though to be fair I am a newcomer to the Hendees’ work and the bulk of this novel’s audience will probably know the world already from the authors’ previous series. That said, I don’t want to make is sound like world-building aspects are completely lacking though, because I definitely saw enough to make me care and want to know more. I also loved the characters. Mari and Tris are fascinating and memorable, and so easy to root for. I’m really enjoying their dynamic so far (they are a good example of an amazing non-romantic male/female team-up!) and the story even leaves plenty of room for their alliance to grow.
The Dead Seekers is a great introduction to a new series that’s all about ghostbusting, fantasy-style. What the story lacks in impact, it makes up for with pure, fantastic fun. There’s an addictive quality to it that will make you want to pick up the next book and dive straight back into this world to spend time with Tris and Mari. Already I’m looking forward to see what our protagonists will be up to next.
Waiting on Wednesday 01/04/17
Posted on January 4, 2017 22 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
Iron Gold by Pierce Brown (August 22, 2017 by Del Rey)
This summer, Pierce Brown will be following up his Red Rising trilogy with the first book a new series that’s said to begin approximately ten years after the events of Morning Star. So far everything’s pretty hush hush, but I’ve heard that Iron Gold will star new characters (though a few from the original trilogy may return) and the story will explore the aftermath of Darrow’s rebellion. Cool, only eight or so more months to wait… *taps foot and checks watch*
“When you break the chains, what do you unleash?
The new trilogy takes place after the end of Morning Star and will center on the consequences of the hero’s actions as well as on those folks now living and growing up in a landscape that’s had its ruling order shattered.”
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the author explains more about plot of the book:
“The new Solar Republic, led by Darrow and Mustang, has replaced the Society on Mars, Earth, and Luna, and is locked in an existential struggle with the remaining Golds of the Core. A decade-long peace still exists between the Republic and the Golds of the Rim worlds, but something stirs in the darkness out beyond the asteroid belt.”
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2017 Debuts I’m Excited For
Posted on January 3, 2017 45 Comments
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. They created the meme because they love lists. Who doesn’t love lists? They wanted to share these list with fellow book lovers and ask that we share in return to connect with our fellow book lovers. To learn more about participating in the challenge, stop by their page dedicated to it and dive in!
This week’s topic: Top Ten 2017 Debuts I’m Excited For
Mogsy’s Picks
Discovering new books is always fun but it’s even more exciting when they’re debut novels, so let’s give them some love!
The Empire’s Ghost by Isabelle Steiger
The empire of Elesthene once spanned a continent, but its rise heralded the death of magic. It tore itself apart from within, leaving behind a patchwork of kingdoms struggling to rebuild. But when a new dictator, the ambitious and enigmatic Imperator Elgar, seizes power in the old capital and seeks to recreate the lost empire anew, the other kingdoms have little hope of stopping him. Prince Kelken of Reglay finds himself at odds with his father at his country’s darkest hour; the marquise of Esthrades is unmatched in politics and strategy, but she sits at a staggering military disadvantage. And Issamira, the most powerful of the free countries, has shut itself off from the conflict, thrown into confusion by the disappearance of its crown prince and the ensuing struggle for succession.
Everything seems aligned in Elgar’s favor, but when he presses a band of insignificant but skilled alley-dwellers into his service for a mission of the greatest secrecy, they find an unexpected opportunity to alter the balance of power in the war. Through their actions and those of the remaining royals, they may uncover not just a way to defeat Elgar, but also a deeper truth about their world’s lost history.
Borrowed Souls by Chelsea Mueller
Callie Delgado always puts family first, and unfortunately her brother knows it. She’s emptied her savings, lost work, and spilled countless tears trying to keep him out of trouble, but now he’s in deeper than ever, and his debt is on Callie’s head. She’s given a choice: do some dirty work for the mob, or have her brother returned to her in tiny pieces.
Renting souls is big business for the religious population of Gem City. Those looking to take part in immoral—or even illegal—activity can borrow someone else’s soul, for a price, and sin without consequence.
To save her brother, Callie needs a borrowed soul, but she doesn’t have anywhere near the money to pay for it. The slimy Soul Charmer is willing to barter, but accepting his offer will force Callie into a dangerous world of magic she isn’t ready for.
With the help of the guarded but undeniably attractive Derek—whose allegiance to the Charmer wavers as his connection to Callie grows—she’ll have to walk a tight line, avoid pissing off the bad guys, all while struggling to determine what her loyalty to her family’s really worth.
Losing her brother isn’t an option. Losing her soul? Maybe.
Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza
Empress
Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.
Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he’s forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.
Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.
A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.
The Waking Land by Callie Bates
Lady Elanna Valtai is fiercely devoted to the King who raised her like a daughter. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Elanna is accused of his murder and must flee for her life.
Returning to the homeland of magical legends she has forsaken, Elanna is forced to reckon with her despised, estranged father, branded a traitor long ago. Feeling a strange, deep connection to the natural world, she also must face the truth about the forces she has always denied or disdained as superstition powers that suddenly stir within her.
But an all-too-human threat is drawing near, determined to exact vengeance. Now Elanna has no choice but to lead a rebellion against the kingdom to which she once gave her allegiance. Trapped between divided loyalties, she must summon the courage to confront a destiny that could tear her apart.
Soleri by Michael Johnston
The ruling family of the Soleri Empire has been in power longer than even the calendars that stretch back 2,826 years. Those records tell a history of conquest and domination by a people descended from gods, older than anything in the known world. No living person has seen them for centuries, yet their grip on their four subjugate kingdoms remains tighter than ever.
On the day of the annual eclipse, the Harkan king, Arko-Hark Wadi, sets off on a hunt and shirks his duty rather than bow to the emperor. Ren, his son and heir, is a prisoner in the capital, while his daughters struggle against their own chains. Merit, the eldest, has found a way to stand against imperial law and marry the man she desires, but needs her sister’s help, and Kepi has her own ideas.
Meanwhile, Sarra Amunet, Mother Priestess of the sun god’s cult, holds the keys to the end of an empire and a past betrayal that could shatter her family.
Detailed and historical, vast in scope and intricate in conception, Soleri bristles with primal magic and unexpected violence. It is a world of ancient and elaborate rites, of unseen power and kingdoms ravaged by war, where victory comes with a price, and every truth conceals a deeper secret.
Gilded Cage by Vic James
Not all are free. Not all are equal. Not all will be saved.
Our world belongs to the Equals — aristocrats with magical gifts — and all commoners must serve them for ten years. But behind the gates of England’s grandest estate lies a power that could break the world.
A girl thirsts for love and knowledge.
Abi is a servant to England’s most powerful family, but her spirit is free. So when she falls for one of the noble-born sons, Abi faces a terrible choice. Uncovering the family’s secrets might win her liberty, but will her heart pay the price?
A boy dreams of revolution.
Abi’s brother, Luke, is enslaved in a brutal factory town. Far from his family and cruelly oppressed, he makes friends whose ideals could cost him everything. Now Luke has discovered there may be a power even greater than magic: revolution.
And an aristocrat will remake the world with his dark gifts.
He is a shadow in the glittering world of the Equals, with mysterious powers no one else understands. But will he liberate—or destroy?
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.
Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer
At the highest level of a giant forest, thirteen kingdoms fit seamlessly together to form the great city of Canopy. Thirteen goddesses and gods rule this realm and are continuously reincarnated into human bodies. Canopy’s position in the sun, however, is not without its dark side. The nation’s opulence comes from the labor of slaves, and below its fruitful boughs are two other realms: Understorey and Floor, whose deprived citizens yearn for Canopy’s splendor.
Unar, a determined but destitute young woman, escapes her parents’ plot to sell her into slavery by being selected to serve in the Garden under the goddess Audblayin, ruler of growth and fertility. As a Gardener, she yearns to become Audblayin’s next Bodyguard while also growing sympathetic towards Canopy’s slaves.
When Audblayin dies, Unar sees her opportunity for glory – at the risk of descending into the unknown dangers of Understorey to look for a newborn god. In its depths, she discovers new forms of magic, lost family connections, and murmurs of a revolution that could cost Unar her chance…or grant it by destroying the home she loves.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.
Graveyard Shift by Michael F. Haspil
Alex Menkaure, former pharaoh and mummy, and his vampire partner, Marcus, who was born in ancient Rome, once hunted evil vampires for UMBRA, a super-secret unit of the NSA. That was before the discovery of a blood substitute and a Supreme Court ruling allowed thousands of vampires to integrate into society.
Now, Alex and Marcus are vice cops in a special police unit. They fight to keep the streets safe from criminal vampires, shape-shifters, blood-dealers, and anti-vampire vigilantes.
When someone starts poisoning the artificial blood, race relations between vampires and humans deteriorate to the brink of anarchy. While the city threatens to tear itself apart, Alex and Marcus must form an unnatural alliance with a vigilante gang and a shape-shifter woman in a desperate battle against an ancient vampire conspiracy.
If they succeed, they’ll be pariahs, hunted by everyone. If they fail, the result will be a race-war bloodierthan any the world has ever seen.
Book Review: Snuff by Terry Pratchett
Posted on January 2, 2017 17 Comments
“I tell you, commander, it’s true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they’re doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.”
Snuff by Terry Pratchett
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Discworld #39, Ankh-Morpork City Watch #8
Publisher: DoubleDay UK (October 2011)
Author Info: terrypratchettbooks.com
Wendy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Why did no one tell me Terry Pratchett was so awesome??? No, that’s not fair. A few people have said so, and a trusted advisor on all things geeky did recommend a few of Pratchett’s Discworld books to me, but only now am I finally getting around to reading one. And I am just about blown away!
As I understand it, this isn’t necessarily the best of Pratchett’s Discworld work, and as far as cop fiction goes, it is fairly rote. But after getting through 20% of the book with no actual plot happening, yet loving it all anyway, I figure Pratchett is definitely doing something right. I was immediately charmed by Pratchett’s dry wit and found myself genuinely LOLing several times, particularly in relation to poop, a subject which I certainly had not expected to learn quite so much about.
The story centres on Sam Vimes, commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, who is off on vacation in the country side. As with any cop drama, it is impossible for a cop not to cop, even while on vacation, and especially when murder inconveniently happens during that time. In this case, the victim is a goblin. According to the mainly human perspective, goblins are barely worth anyone’s time, but Vimes is a man that respects life in its many forms, and especially in its living, breathing, thinking, feeling forms.
As my first introduction to Vimes, I am equally charmed by the man as I am with his creator. I am also quite fond of the relationship between Vimes and his not so gentlemanly gentleman, Willikins. The pair reminded me of Cesare and Micheletto from The Borgias, only, older, with more humour, less giving of fucks, and fewer angst-ridden forbidden romances.
Dropping into part 39/8 of a long-standing series isn’t generally wise, but the book does a fine job of not making me feel completely out of sorts. Certainly there are historical, political, and personal references, as well as some inside jokes, that I likely missed out on, but it was nothing that kept me from enjoying the book on its own. It just means that I have something to look forward to when I pick up more from the series.
Looking Ahead to the New Year: “Can’t Wait” Books of Early 2017
Posted on January 1, 2017 41 Comments
Happy 2017! As we get ready to begin another year, it’s time to look ahead and geek out over the Science Fiction and Fantasy reads I’m most excited about. Not only is it fun to organize my reading and to make lists, they also have the added benefit of focusing my attention to the highly anticipated releases that I’d like to check out. There’s already an impressive tower of books on my TBR pile, and these are only from the first quarter of 2017. While I’m under no illusions that I’ll be able to read them all, hopefully I can get to most of them (and also put some new books on people’s radars)!
What’s on your early 2017 reading list?
January
Dead Man’s Steel by Luke Scull (January 3) – The final installment in the Grim Company trilogy, and I can’t wait to see how it ends.
The Dead Seekers by Barb & J.C. Hendee (January 3) – A new series set in the same world as the authors’ Noble Dead Saga.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (January 10) – A magical debut inspired by Russian fairy tales and folklore.
Little Heaven by Nick Cutter (January 10) – An epic horror tale set in midcentury New Mexico from the author who brought us The Troop. I wonder if it’ll be just as gory.
The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman (January 10) – The third book in the Invisible Library series. Yay for more adventures with Librarian spy Irene and her dragon prince apprentice, Kai!
The Last Harvest by Kim Liggett (January 10) – This book was pitched to me as a horror novel set in Oklahoma that’s been described as Rosemary’s Baby meets Friday Night Lights. Awesome.
Heartstone by Elle Katharine White (January 17) – A historical fantasy that re-imagines Pride and Prejudice in an world of dragons and other mythological creatures.
Dreadnought by April Daniels (January 24) – A superhero novel about a trans teen who inherits the powers of the world’s greatest superhero.
Department Zero by Paul Crilley (January 24) – A book about a man who stumbles upon a network of universe-hopping gates, giving him access a secret multiverse of alternate realities.
Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty (January 31) – A space adventure where the murdered crew on a ship are resurrected through cloning, and they must solve the mystery of who their killer was.
Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer (January 31) – A fantastic looking debut that is set in the canopy of a giant mythical rainforest controlled by a pantheon of living gods.
The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (January 31) – The sixth book in the the Rivers of London/Peter Grant sequence, which is one of my favorite urban fantasy series.
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough (January 31) – A thriller-suspense about a love triangle from hell. Apparently, the ending is a shocker! I’m a huge fan of Pinborough and I’m really excited about this one.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber (January 31) – One of my most highly anticipated YA releases, Caraval is about two sisters who escape their cruel father to end up at Caraval, a once-in-a-lifetime magical show.
February
A Darkness Absolute by Kelley Armstrong (February 7) – The sequel to Kelley Armstrong’s most excellent City of the Lost, featuring Rockton town detective Casey Duncan.
With Blood Upon the Sand by Bradley Beaulieu (February 7) – The second book in the Song of Shattered Sands trilogy continuing the harrowing adventures of Çeda, now a Blade Maiden in service to the kings of Sharakhai.
Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey (February 14) – A retelling of The Tempest by one of my favorite authors, Jacqueline Carey.
In Calabria by Peter S. Beagle (February 14) – A new unicorn fable from Peter S. Beagle, whose books I’ve wanted to read for a while!
Winter of the Gods by Jordanna Max Brodsky (February 14) – I loved The Immortals and now I’m ready for even more myth-meets-reality in this high anticipated sequel.
Gilded Cage by Vic James (February 14) – A Young Adult novel about an alternate Great Britain controlled by aristocrats with magical gifts, and all commoners must serve them for ten years.
Luna: Wolf Moon by Ian McDonald (February 14) – Luna: Wolf Moon takes place eighteen months after Luna: New Moon. The first book was incredible, and I have a feeling this sequel will live up to it.
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab (February 21) – This final installment of the Shades of Magic trilogy will see the epic battle between four magical Londons come to a conclusion.
Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire’s End by Chuck Wendig (February 21) – The conclusion of the Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy. The second book was an improvement from the first one, so I hope the pattern continues for this finale.
Thunderbird by Chuck Wendig (February 28) – Wendig is on fire this month. Finally, we’ll be getting book four of the Miriam Black series. It feels like I’ve been waiting for this sequel forever!
Bane and Shadow by Jon Skovron (February 28) – The follow-up to Hope and Red. It’ll be interesting to see what our eponymous protagonists are up to in this sequel.
March
Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan (March 7) – A new epic fantasy series from the author of the Powder Mage trilogy, set in the same world.
Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop (March 7) – So sad this will be the final book of the series! But I am looking forward to see how everything ends.
Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs (March 7) – March is an exciting time for urban fantasy, with another new installment of the Mercy Thompson series.
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco (March 7) – Witches and necromancy? Count me in. Really curious about this YA novel which is already getting tons of praise.
Empress of the Fall by David Hair (March 9) – The beginning of The Sunsurge Quartet, a sequel series to The Moontide Quartet, which I’m a bit behind on. Hopefully that won’t prevent me from enjoying this one!
Star’s End by Cassandra Rose Clarke (March 21) – A new space opera from Cassandra Rose Clarke. I love her books.
Phantom Pains by Mishell Baker (March 21) – The sequel to Borderline, which was an amazing book! Can’t wait to catch up with Millie and the Arcadia Project.
The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi (March 21) – It feels a bit strange pondering a new space opera novel by Scalzi that’s not from the Old Man’s War sequence, but I’m looking forward to this start of a new series nonetheless.
April
Brimstone by Cherie Priest (April 4) – A new dark historical fantasy from Cherie Priest. This one sounds right up my alley!
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (April 4) – Mark Lawrence begins another new series with Red Sister, an epic fantasy about a secret order of holy warriors.
Gauntlet by Holly Jennings (April 4) – Sequel to Arena, a sci-fi thriller about the world of competitive virtual gaming. I’m ready to plug back in.
Tyrant’s Throne by Sebastien de Castell (April 4) – I’m beginning to think Sebastien de Castell can do no wrong. This will be the fourth installment of the Greatcoat series, which I adore.
Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel (April 4) – I had mixed feelings about the execution behind the first book, but the story of Sleeping Giants itself was tantalizing enough that I am pretty intrigued by the sequel.
Star Wars: Thrawn by Timothy Zahn (April 11) – One of the most iconic villains in Star Wars history has returned to the new canon. I saw him in Star Wars Rebels and I’d love to know more about this reiteration of Thrawn.
Ararat by Christopher Golden (April 18) – A supernatural thriller set on Mount Ararat in Turkey. It seems I have a thing for horror novels set in cold places.
Skullsworn by Brian Staveley (April 25) – A new standalone epic fantasy by Brian Staveley that returns to the world of his Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series.
Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan (April 25) – Another one of my favorite series will be coming to an end this year, with the fifth and final Memoir by Lady Trent book.
Wendy’s 2016 Happy Holidays Round-Up
Posted on December 31, 2016 12 Comments
Happy holidays everyone! I hope you are enjoying some peaceful family time on this special day. I’m being sarcastic. My Christmas holidays are anything but peaceful, but if you get to enjoy a silent night, then power to you! If the holidays just aren’t your thing, or you don’t celebrate them at all, perhaps a stroll through my 2016 reads might inspire some additions to your to-read pile to keep you occupied while everyone else is hungover on eggnog and bright lights.
Worlds Without End
Worlds Without End houses all my challenge needs thanks to its Roll-Your-Own-Reading Challenge that people more diligent than I have put together a diverse collection of challenges to inspire readers. I particularly like these challenges as they help keep me focused on the books I already own, helping to curb the temptation to buy more (one of my resolutions next year is to stop impulse buying, but that doesn’t count for books, right?) . I am pleased with my results there year (I grabbed these images before I finished Star Wars: Bloodlines and Brown Girl In the Ring, so add those to the pretty — but I shamelessly admit to a few tweaks along the way to make sure my list is the best that it can be…).
Goodreads
Good old Goodreads never fails with its reading challenge. It’s a basic challenge — read X many books — but its simplicity is what makes it a constant for me. And now that they provide these fantastic summaries of the year, well, I’ll never leave you, Goodreads. Never. (I swear I only checked out Litsy for a few minutes.)
I keep my challenge goal at 100 books now to avoid over reaching. I usually don’t have a problem getting to 100, and the few that go over are a nice bonus. As I look forward to the new year, I’m already stacking my shelves for the next challenges. What will you be reading?
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on December 31, 2016 25 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.
Whew, Christmas celebrations are over and I’ve been enjoying a welcome break for the past week, spending time with my family with a nice staycation. It’s hard to believe that 2016 will be ending at the end of the day and soon we’ll be ushering in 2017. I hope everyone also had a wonderful time over the holidays, and I wish you all a happy new year!
Received for Review
It has been another light week of activity due to the holiday break, but there were still a handful new arrivals in the mail. 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!
Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood – Shakespeare retellings seem to be all the rage these days. My thanks to LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read Margaret Atwood’s modern day re-imagining of The Tempest.
The Liberation by Ian Tregillis – The third book of the Alchemy Wars trilogy. I approach this finale with both sorrow and excitement, since the series has been such an amazing journey so far. With thanks to Orbit.
Gauntlet by Holly Jennings – I can’t wait to check out this sequel to last year’s Arena, a futuristic action-adventure sci-fi novel about the gritty world of competitive virtual gaming. My thanks to Ace Books.
The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman – Hooray for another highly anticipated sequel, this time the third novel in the Invisible Library series. I’m ready to jump back into the world of librarian spies! With thanks to Roc Books.
Dead Man’s Steel by Luke Scull – It feels like I’ve been waiting on this one forever! Finally, the third and final book in the Grim Company series is here, and perfect timing too; I’ve been hankering for some dark fantasy. Thanks again to Roc Books.
The Last Harvest by Kim Liggett – I’m so excited for this one! So grateful to Tor Teen for sending me this Young Adult horror novel which features football, wheat fields, cattle and Satanic panic.
Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel – While the first book was not without its flaws, it did succeed in leaving me curious about where the story will go next. The sequel was “Read Now” to me on NetGalley, so there went my self-control! With thanks to Del Rey.
City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett – Speaking of not being able to control myself, I also went ahead and requested this third book of The Divine Cities series. But you can hardly blame me, right? Thank you, Broadway Books and NetGalley.
Buffalo Soldier by Maurice Broaddus and Chalk by Paul Cornell – More awesome novellas courtesy of Tor.com! They’re coming out with some great looking titles in the spring of 2017 and these are just two I’m very interested in checking out.
Reviews
A quick roundup of the reviews I posted since the last update:
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers (4 of 5 stars)
Steeplejack by A.J. Hartley (4 of 5 stars)
The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington (3.5 of 5 stars)
Ocean of Storms by Christopher Mari & Jeremy K. Brown (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Burning Isle by Will Panzo (3.5 of 5 stars)
Outpost by F.T. McKinstry (3 of 5 stars)
Snowed by Maria Alexander (3 of 5 stars)
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
This past fortnight did a real number on my reading schedule. The week leading up to Christmas weekend I finished almost no books at all because I was so neck deep in holiday preparations, though I made up for it in the following week when it was more relaxing. There were a few last minute 2016 titles I managed to sneak in before the year was over, and I was even able to get a jump on some January 2017 releases. Reviews of those 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!
Book Review: The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington
Posted on December 30, 2016 16 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 Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Licanius Trilogy
Publisher: Orbit (November 8, 2016)
Length: 693 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Whenever I hear about an indie fantasy that makes the jump to a traditional publishing house, it always piques my curiosity and of course The Shadow of What Was Lost was no exception. Fast forward to the moment I finished reading the book, and I all I have to say is: I am impressed. This is James Islington’s first novel, and though that sometimes shows in the raw quality the writing, overall it is a solid series opener and I can certainly understand the reason for all the attention and praise.
The first part of the story introduces us to an interesting lore-filled world. Two decades have passed since the Augurs were defeated and wiped out. These were powerful individuals with god-like abilities which they used to enslave the Gifted, other magic users who were forced to serve their stronger masters. The Gifted themselves were only spared retribution following the rebellion because they agreed to uphold the Four Tenets, promising to adhere to the rules which would keep their own powers in check.
One of our main protagonists is a young Gifted named Davian who has always lived in the shadow of the war. He and his friends Wirr and Asha attend a school for those like them, a place where they are sheltered and trained to use their magic. However, even then they are in no way safe. At the end of their time at school, Gifteds are required to pass a final test to prove they can control their powers, and those that fail must face the lonely fate of being ostracized and forgotten—their memories and abilities wiped away. Now Davian’s final trial is fast approaching, and he still has not been able to master drawing on Essence, the element that fuels magic. Worse, he is beginning to suspect there is something wrong with his own gift, which sounds suspiciously like something that the Augurs used to wield.
If anyone finds out about his secret, it could spell very bad news for Davian. But before his test could come to pass, he is visited in the dead of night by a mysterious newcomer, who gives our young hero a quest to undertake that could change his own fate and that of the world.
Reminiscent of Wheel of Time? Definitely. At the same time, I didn’t get the sense that Islington was out to shake up the genre when he wrote this book, and in fact parts of it feel almost like a loving homage to the classic themes in epic fantasy. It was therefore no surprise when I went to the author’s bio and saw Robert Jordan listed among his influences. In a way, there’s actually something very refreshing about Islington’s straightforward approach as well as his unpresuming commitment to simply writing an enjoyable, down-to-earth character driven story. While I read a lot of epic fantasy and it’s always nice to come across something completely new and unique, at the same time I also have no problems with getting a dash of the classic quest narrative, as long as I know that’s what I’m in for.
Many reviews have also made comparisons to Brandon Sanderson, and his name also came to my mind while reading, though probably not in the way you would expect. Islington’s writing, especially the stark play-by-play style of his action sequences, reminds me of early Sanderson, around his original Mistborn trilogy era. The prose is simple but polished, and the characters that range from the reluctant hero to the royal son in hiding are relatively archetypal, but still sincere in their motives and purposes. The page count probably could have been pared down, it’s true, particular in the middle sections where pacing dragged a little. To the book’s credit though, the story eventually evolves into a more nuanced, politically and magically layered narrative. The plot overall might be on the predictable side, but there will still be plenty of surprises along the way to keep things interesting for the reader.
Like I said, The Shadow of What Was Lost isn’t out to revolutionize epic fantasy, but nevertheless it is an engaging read and a series-opener that starts off on the right foot. The story and characters might come across a little clichéd at the beginning, but from what I’ve seen so far, both aspects have the potential to grow into something more. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing even better things in the sequel, which I’m now looking forward to with great excitement and anticipation.
The BiblioSanctum 