Book Review: The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Posted on October 19, 2023 14 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 Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Delacorte Press (October 17, 2023)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website
I have to say, when I was pitched this fantasy novel about a woman who risks everything to break an age-old curse on her family, the last thing I expected was a time travel story! That said though, there is plenty of magic in it as well—but the kind found in the emotional and existential exploration of fate, love, and impact of time on relationships rather than in what we think of as traditional sci-fi or fantasy elements.
In The Unmaking of June Farrow, our eponymous protagonist is a 30-something-year-old worker on a flower farm in Jasper, a small town nestled at the edges of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. All her life, June has been living in fear of the future, dreading what it has in store. That’s because she knows that one day, the madness that has plagued the women in her family will come for her too—just as it did for her mother, Susanna Farrow, right before she disappeared, leaving a very young June to be raised by her grandmother.
The fear has been with June for as long as she can remember, shaping her life choices such as her decision never to have children so that the curse would die with her. And yet, despite all her preparations, the onset of the first symptoms still managed to catch her off guard. It has been a year now since June started seeing and hearing things—faint voices calling out her name, or visions of the unexplainable, like doorways appearing out of nowhere. She believes them to be signs of the madness, but she hasn’t gotten up the courage to admit it to herself or anyone else just yet.
But then, her grandmother passes away, leaving behind a letter filled with cryptic messages and clues, including an old photo taken almost a century ago depicting a woman who looks exactly like Susanna Farrow. In fact, June is certain it is her mother. But how could that be possible? Might there be more to Susanna’s disappearance? As these questions mount, June’s hallucinations also continue, and one day, the door that materializes before her seems more solid and tangible than ever before. This time, she opens it and walks through…
While I have read several of Adrienne Young’s YA novels, The Unmaking of June Farrow is my first experience with her adult fantasy, though this is actually her second foray into the genre. Her first one, Spells for Forgetting, is one that I regretfully missed, and I told myself I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice! Truly, I am so happy I decided to pick up this book. So many authors who attempt to make the jump from YA to adult often fail to capture the maturity and depth required for a different audience, but not so in this case. What we have here is a captivating narrative that is nuanced, thematically complex, and emotionally resonant.
And yet, whenever time travel is involved, things do have the tendency to get complicated. Following June’s venture through the strange door, she finds herself transported to 1951, which at least provides some possible theories on why her mother would be in a photo dated back to the turn of the century. How this relates to June, and why the door and the voices have called her here, demands a lot more work untangling this web of mysteries, however. In this past timeline, June realizes she’s lived another life, one that she doesn’t remember because she hasn’t lived it yet. And if that sentence caused some short circuiting in your brain, can’t say I blame you! It took me a good long while to grasp the situation myself, and that was with the help of notes to help me map out the timelines and family trees and such.
After a while though, as the story reveals more about the quandary of the Farrow women while introducing a murder mystery and even a poignant romance, a greater clarity emerges as everything starts to come together. That we forgo any sort of attempt to actually explain the family “curse” is a good thing, really, seeing as the plot is already convoluted enough, not to mention how no explanations are necessary to appreciate the overall story.
For me, The Unmaking of June Farrow was a delightful departure from my experience with Adrienne Young’s YA—a surprising journey not only through time and space, but through a range of intricate emotions and familial bonds as well. While the plot may initially seem confusing, it ultimately gives way to a narrative that explores the deeper meaning of the characters’ love and intertwined destinies. I hope Young will continue to write more adult fantasy, as I eagerly await her next novel.
Waiting on Wednesday 10/18/23
Posted on October 18, 2023 14 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
The Trials of Empire by Richard Swan (February 6, 2024 by Orbit)
“The third novel in an epic fantasy trilogy, which follows the tale of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice – a detective, judge and executioner all in one.
THE TIME OF JUDGEMENT IS AT HAND
The Empire of the Wolf is on its knees, but there’s life in the great beast yet.
To save it, Sir Konrad Vonvalt and Helena must look beyond its borders for allies – to the wolfmen of the southern plains, and the pagan clans in the north. But old grievances run deep, and both factions would benefit from the fall of Sova.
Even these allies might not be enough. Their enemy, the zealot Bartholomew Claver, wields infernal powers bestowed on him by a mysterious demonic patron. If Vonvalt and Helena are to stand against him, they will need friends on both sides of the mortal plane—but such allegiances carry a heavy price.
As the battlelines are drawn in both Sova and the afterlife, the final reckoning draws close. Here, at the beating heart of the Empire, the two-headed wolf will be reborn in a blaze of justice . . . or crushed beneath the shadow of tyranny.”
Book Review: Edenville by Sam Rebelein
Posted on October 17, 2023 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.
Mogsy’s Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: William Morrow (October 3, 2023)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website
Edenville may have the distinction of being my biggest disappointment in 2023, and as it stands now, it’s also probably my lowest rated book of the year. I’m not even going to do my usual rundown of the plot because, quite honestly, I’m not even sure I knew what the hell was going on! For the sake of clarity though, here’s the gist: We have a young couple who move to Edenville because Cam, a failed author with no real job prospects, has taken job at the local college, and his girlfriend Quinn reluctantly follows along because she grew up nearby and has heard all kinds of creepy urban legends about the town. Soon after they arrive, however, Cam starts having these terrible nightmares, and Quinn realizes there may be more than a grain of truth to the horror stories she’s heard growing up.
At this point, I feel I should mention that this was also the year I started DNF’ing books, and the only reason Edenville was spared from this ignominious pile was due to my 25% rule—that is, if I’m not interested in reading any more by the time hit the quarter mark, then it’s time to throw in the towel. Somehow, this novel managed to squeak by this threshold despite being a snoozefest for the first fifty pages or so, mainly because right before 25% was when Cam and Quinn finally made it to Edenville. I thought to myself, well, at the very least, I really should give the novel a chance to win me over now that its namesake has—at long last!—entered the picture.
Which turned out to be a huge mistake. Things not only failed to improve but took a turn for the worse as the plot grew increasingly confusing and nonsensical. As I mentioned before, the opening chapters were a struggle, and most of this was due to the overly indulgent and cumbersome prose. The writing itself is pretentious to the extreme and exudes an air of someone who feels awfully clever and satisfied with themselves. This just made all the jokes unfunny, the profanity crass instead of witty, and robbed any satire of its sophistication. Unfortunately, this attitude of excessive self-satisfaction continues through the entire book. Meanwhile, more important matters like succinctness and lucidity go out the window.
Then there were the characters. Cam was an insufferable snob, but believe it or not, Quinn was the bigger disaster. Girl had no agency, no backbone, no mind of her own. Randomly, she would say, do, or think things that were so jarringly stupid or absurd, many times I found myself wondering if the author was purposely doing this for shock value, or if Quinn was really just that badly written. Evidently, there’s a belief that some male writers struggle to portray female characters realistically, and I’m thinking maybe there’s some of that happening here.
Moving on to the horror aspects. To be fair, this was perhaps the one bright spot of this entire debacle. I do love myself some cosmic horror, which I confess I did not expect from Edenville going in, and it was the singular reason I stayed riding on this trainwreck for so long even after every instinct was screaming for me to bail. In any case, I was already past the point of no return, and I wanted to see things through. There is some serious gross-out gore and body horror within these pages; I only wish the author had exhibited such lack of subtlety from the outset because maybe then the beginning wouldn’t have felt so clunky and ostentatious.
I could go on, but I think I’ve written enough to get the point across. Obviously, I don’t recommend Edenville, and while I won’t deny experiencing a certain degree of catharsis from banging out this review, in retrospect I probably should have listened to my gut and saved myself from this bloated, overly ambitious novel.
Book Review: An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka
Posted on October 16, 2023 14 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Stephen Oakwood
Publisher: Ace (October 10, 2023)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website
As a fan of urban fantasy, I’ve been curious about Benedict Jacka’s hugely popular Alex Verus books, but as it is currently sitting at about a dozen installments, I’ve always felt a bit intimidated about getting into such a well-established series. However, when I learned that the author was kicking off a new project featuring a new world and characters, I seized upon the opportunity to jump on board.
An Inheritance of Magic introduces Stephen Oakwood, a young man at a crossroads and unsure about what to do with his future. All his friends are building careers, settling down, and making something of themselves while he is still hammering away at a temporary job and living in a rented room in London with his cat named Hobbes. No one understands that all that really matters to him is drucraft—or magic. Two years ago, an eighteen-year-old Stephen made a promise to his father, just before he disappeared, that he was going to do everything he could to keep practicing and improving his skills. Unfortunately, with no one to turn to, he’s had to figure out most of it for himself, and there is still a lot he does not know.
One day after work, Stephen returns home to find a mysterious young woman waiting at his door with a message. That night, he learns that he is a member of the powerful House Ashford and also makes some dangerous enemies. Things take a grave turn when he is attacked by a couple of goons jacked up on drucraft, and Hobbes is beaten badly and put in the hospital. Desperate to save his cat, Stephen has no choice but to seek outside help and unlock his magical potential. As excited as he is to finally learn more about the world of drucraft, he never asked to be a pawn in the Ashfords’ game, and if he is to survive being the target of his insanely rich and psychotic cousins, he’ll need to get stronger—and fast.
It’s been a while since I picked up an urban fantasy, and I was delighted that some of the themes from An Inheritance of Magic reminded me of the Rivers of London series. You begin with a protagonist who is considered an outsider to magic, watching him gradually hone his amateur skills to become more capable and powerful. The magic system is dynamic but also limited by rules—rules that may seem arbitrarily established at first but reveal an intricate design as the story unfolds. Built around the concept of magical items called Sigls, the effects of drucraft are determined by the properties of these extraordinary artifacts and the way they are created. But there is another layer of complexity to this system, one that involves social class and wealth.
For you see, drucraft has become a big money maker for individuals and corporations who control its products and resources, like the essentia wells that provide the fuel to power drucraft and create Sigls. Someone like Stephen who practically lives hand to mouth has almost no chance of breaking into the world of drucraft dominated by super-rich families like House Ashford, with our protagonist receiving a rude awakening when he realizes that even getting his foot in the door will require going further into debt.
Despite the intricacies of the magic system, I liked how I was eased into the world of drucraft alongside Stephen, who is also just now picking up on ins-and-outs as he learns on the fly. This does mean that huge chunks of the book are dedicated to simply throwing explanations at you, though to its credit, the narrative never blatantly resorts to info dumping, nor does the pacing ever truly suffer despite having to take care of some “housekeeping duties” that don’t pertain directly to the plot.
Like most urban fantasy series, I do expect we’ll have to go through a book or two before things really pick up, but I believe An Inheritance of Magic is a fantastic start that has a lot of potential. It’s also an entertaining but comfortable read if you’re a fan of the genre, meaning it won’t break too much new ground but at least you’ll have a lot of fun reading it. Stephen Oakwood is your everyman character—sympathetic and relatable in these harsh economic times—and I’m interested in finding out more about his life and his journey. Especially in light of the huge surprise the final page leaves us with, you can definitely count me in for the next book.
Bookshelf Roundup 10/15/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on October 15, 2023 12 Comments
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every 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 summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week 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
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!
Red River Seven by A.J. Ryan (Orbit): So curious to read this horror sci-fi amnesia story by fantasy author Anthony Ryan writing as A. J. Ryan.
The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse by Tom Holt (Orbit): Switching gears to humor and…Christmas? And on the topic of pen names, K.J. Parker writing as Tom Holt can always be counted on for some wild and quirky stories.
Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead by K.J. Parker (Orbit): And from K.J. Parker himself, the first book of a trilogy about a battlefield salvager taking advantage of the conflict between a nation at war with its neighbors. The book description doesn’t offer much, but my interest is definitely piqued.
The Devil You Know by P.J. Tracy (Minotaur): As we approach the paperback publication of this third book of the Detective Margaret Nolan series, this was a surprise arrival and I’m sad to say I still have yet to try any of these books but I do find the concept behind these police procedural stories intriguing.
Exordia by Seth Dickinon (Tordotcom): I’m actually a little nervous about this one since it’s been years since I read The Traitor Baru Comorant, and even though I loved it, I hated its sequel. I definitely want to give the author a try again though, with this sci-fi novel of first contact.
Mister Lullaby by J.H. Markert (Crooked Lane Books): Last week I featured this book for Waiting on Wednesday and I was so excited when my request for a review copy came through!
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy (Macmillan Audio): Another horror novel being compared to Rosemary’s Baby, 2023 seems to be the year for them. But I just can’t resist!
Reviews
As I look back at my reviews in the last few weeks, I see that very few books have broken the 3.5 star barrier. Needless to say, I’m hoping to get back to a good run like I had at the end of summer, and soon! Things have gotten busy since early October, so my reading has slowed down, giving me a chance to catch up with my write-ups. For anyone counting, that’s six more reviews to write before I’m all caught up, and it was eleven a month ago. Yay, progress!
- 4 of 5 stars to The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
- 3.5 of 5 stars to Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
- 3 of 5 stars to Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
- 2.5 of 5 stars to The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
Recent Reads
Like I said, my reading has slowed down and I only finished two books this week. After the Forest was okay, but I’m starting to wonder if we’ve reached peak saturation when it comes to historical fantasy fairy tale retellings. It just feels like I’ve read a variation of this story many times before. An Inheritance of Magic was a nice change of pace though – literally. It was action-packed and moved fast, and I had a great time with it.
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!
Audiobook Review: Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
Posted on October 14, 2023 12 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (September 12, 2023)
Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
Author Information: Website
Narrator: Angela Dawe
A group of people are trapped on a remote private island on Lake Superior in Kelley Armstrong’s Hemlock Island, a novel which ostensibly starts off as a domestic thriller but then spirals off into something else entirely…but more on that in a bit. The book follows Laney Kilpatrick, a recent divorcee who has been forced to rent her lake house out as a summer retreat to vacationing strangers. It’s not ideal, but the house was a gift from her ex-husband Kit, and after a brief marriage when their relationship fell apart during the pandemic, this was the only way she could keep and maintain the expensive property.
One night, Laney receives an angry call from a renter, this one different from the typical complaint she usually gets. The caller is upset over finding blood all over a bedroom closet, and in light of recent reports about occult activity in the area, Laney decides to check in on the situation herself. With her niece Madison in tow, Laney arrives on Hemlock Island where she meets up with Kit and his sister Jayla who have also come to check on the house over concerns brought to their attention. Four eventually become six when Sadie, an old school friend-turned-enemy, as well as her older brother Garrett, a police officer, turn up uninvited.
Initially, Laney attributes the blood and the other strange occurrences to local pranksters but is quickly disabused of that notion when a dead body is discovered. Not only that, their only means off the island has also been sabotaged, cutting them off from outside help. Things go from bad to worse amidst a storm blowing in from the mainland, meaning that our characters are stuck on the island—right where the killer wants them.
I have seriously mixed feelings over this one. On the one hand, the early sections had me thoroughly engaged with a premise that exuded promise and I was completely hooked on its tension-filled atmosphere. Armstrong can always be counted on to build a palpable sense of anticipation, and her long experience writing mystery and thriller fiction clearly shows. For the first half of this book at least, I felt genuinely invested in the evolving narrative of our characters and curious to see how the plot would unfold.
However, my enjoyment took a nosedive the deeper we ventured into this story. From reading the author’s other books, I know she has the ability to craft characters who resonate with readers, but Laney and Co. are not those. In fact, they almost have a disposable quality to them, like you know this novel is going to be a one-off, so why bother spending too much time on their development? Their personalities and backstories lacked the usual depth, often overshadowed by the relentless pace of the action and thrills.
Speaking of which, the transition from earthly thriller to supernatural horror territory felt awkward and caught me by surprise—and not in a good way. Towards the end, things took a bewildering turn, which wouldn’t have been so bad if it didn’t also feel so rushed. And while I can certainly appreciate the gorier elements of horror, it just felt so out of place here. As a result, this sudden shift in tone after being catapulted into the realm of the inexplicable left me with a sour taste in my mouth and a bad case of whiplash.
Still, I did say I was left with mixed feelings, and they weren’t all negative. Kelley Armstrong sure knows how to write a page-turner, and it’s true I was never bored. While the novel’ execution could have been better, especially when the narrative abruptly shifts from the mundane to the supernatural, this development may very well appeal to readers who enjoy that kind of otherworldly horror. The audiobook version I listened was also highly entertaining, expertly narrated by Angela Dawe. At the end of the day, if you go into Hemlock Island with a ready mindset for unforeseen twists, then you should do just fine.
Book Review: The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
Posted on October 12, 2023 10 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1/Stand Alone
Publisher: Tordotcom (August 22, 2023)
Length: 488 pages
Author Information: Website
Inspired by what is considered one of the greatest classic novels of Chinese literature, The Water Outlaws is a gender-flipped reimagining of Water Margin, a story about 108 rebels who come together to form a rebel force against a corrupt government during the Song Dynasty. It introduces Lin Chong, a master arms instructor for the emperor’s soldiers—and one of only a few women in the imperial service. However, after running afoul of a high-ranking official abusing his power, she is imprisoned and sentenced to death, and only after a friend begs for clemency is our protagonist saved from execution.
Branded a criminal and exiled to a penal colony on the far reaches of the empire, Lin Chong manages to escape death a second time when she foils a plot by the official, Gao Qiu, to have her killed on the way. With the help of Lu Da, the Flower Monk, she finds her way to the Liangshan bandits, a group of women and other societal outcasts who have made their home in the swamp.
After a lifetime of working hard, following the rules, and generally doing what was expected of her, Lin Chong initially has a hard time settling into this new world. In this cutthroat society where ferocity is a measure of strength and provocative philosophies are not only allowed but encouraged, nothing you were or did before matters. The past is dead. Lin Chong has no choice now but to pluck up the courage and determination to face the future and move on. No longer will she have the option to go quietly on her own way into obscurity and solitude, as she must learn to embrace her new family and fight together as a single force against their common foe.
In Chinese culture, Water Margin, also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, is as ubiquitous as the legend of Robin Hood. It is everywhere, adapted into movies, TV shows, stage plays, graphic novels—you name it, it’s been done. As such, I have been familiar with its story since childhood and was very excited when I learned about this retelling by S.L. Huang. Again like Robin Hood, the original story of Water Margin contains themes of rebellion against oppressive rulers for the benefit and protection of the common people. It also features martial arts in the wuxia tradition and other elements of ancient Chinese history. In other words, it’s pretty damn epic.
So, you can imagine my surprise and frustration, given the epicness of the inspiration behind The Water Outlaws, I felt that much of this retelling was quite a slog. If I hadn’t been so curious to see how the whole “reimagined” aspect of it would pan out, I might even have been tempted to set this one aside. The real kicker is that the first quarter of the book was actually very good, as I was completely captivated by Lin Chong as a protagonist. Here was a woman who has always kept her head down, taking comfort and pride in doing the right thing, yet powerful men were still able to seize her freedom and dignity through no fault of her own. Even as her entire worldview was crumbling around her, Lin Chong’s will to survive made me admire her resilience and strength.
Unfortunately, it’s the middle section that drags, weighed down by exposition and uneven pacing. Any momentum that was built up during the intro runs right smack into a brick wall soon after Lin Chong meets up with the bandits—ironic, seeing as one of the main themes of both Water Margin and The Water Outlaws is comradeship. But to tell the truth, I preferred the book so much more when we were mainly following Lin Chong. The narrative loses its focus once the cast list expands, trying to spread the attention between multiple characters, ultimately struggling to provide any deep or meaningful exploration of any single one.
The result is a scattered storyline that lacks the depth and emotion of the earlier chapters, not to mention it simply much too long. Instead of rehashing the same thing over and over again via multiple perspectives, I would have preferred to see more development into the fantasy element, which was disappointingly light. The magic system, based on artifacts that can grant its wielders supernatural abilities, was an overly simplistic one which felt tacked on as an afterthought.
In the end, I liked the overall concept of The Water Outlaws as a genderbent Water Margin retelling, a unique take which led to an exploration of more resonant themes like justice and rebellion through the lens of feminism. And yet, this novel could also have benefited greatly from rigorous editing, as I think huge chunks of its narrative could have been tossed out or condensed and nothing too much would have been lost. As it is now, certain sections of it are way too drawn out and tedious, and considering the original inspiration, there is just no excuse for any part of this book to be boring.
Waiting on Wednesday 10/11/23
Posted on October 11, 2023 14 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
The Spellhouse by Sarah Beth Durst (July 9, 2024 by Bramble)
“The Spellshop is a cottagecore cosy fantasy following a woman’s unexpected journey through the low-stakes market of illegal spell-selling and the high-risk business of starting over . . .
Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.
She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.”
Book Review: The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
Posted on October 10, 2023 21 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Series: Book 1 of The Hexologists
Publisher: Orbit (September 26, 2023)
Length: 386 pages
Author Information: Website
I confess, I wasn’t a huge fan of Josiah Bancroft’s first series, The Books of Babel, but as soon as I read the few pages of The Hexologists, I just knew it was going to be a very different book and one that is more to my liking. After all, it’s not every day you get to read a story about a king who wants to be baked into a cake.
For married couple Isolde “Iz” and Warren “War” Wilby, however, it’s just another typical day on the job for them as magical investigators. After questioning the royal secretary on the king’s apparent madness (he was even about to climb into the oven), our protagonists learn that the monarch is being blackmailed with a devastating, decades-old secret that can throw the line of succession into question and alter the destiny of the kingdom. Despite having no love for the nobility, Iz reluctantly agrees to look into the case by examining the piece of evidence that started it all—a letter written by someone claiming to be the king’s bastard son, stamped with a royal signet ring that supposedly went missing years ago—not to mention, rampaging golem attacks tend to have a way of forcing a decision.
Thus begins an adventurous and sometimes meandering journey through a steampunkish Victorianesque world with Iz and War as they pry into every nook and cranny in search of evidence. Often, these bold undertakings lead our hexologists to discover much more than they bargained for, from resentful old chums from magic school to an epicurious dragon who lives in an enchanted carpet bag. Bolstered by their love for each other and their commitment to helping people, this dynamic husband-and-wife duo never hesitates to dive headfirst into danger to solve even the darkest and most perplexing cases.
As much as I ended up enjoying this novel, I have to say, the first few chapters weren’t easy. While I was hooked on the premise from the start, the writing style did take some time to get used to. No doubt inspired by the setting, stylistically the prose came across vaguely Victorian in that it exhibited a sense of formality that can be felt in both the narrative and dialogue. Occasionally, these long, overly ornate sentences would just jump out at me because they were so awkwardly dense and clunky. It didn’t help either that the early plot was all over the place, making it easy to lose track of what the Wilbys were even supposed to investigate.
Of course, all of this is also my way of complimenting Bancroft, who has managed to capture the setting’s tone so perfectly. Fortunately, too, I found my footing after a few chapters and the rest of the novel went more smoothly. I was able to start connecting to the characters, appreciating their individual quirks and charms. One thing I absolutely loved about The Hexologists is that it features a married couple as its main protagonists, and hence, what romance you see in the story will be very different than what you’d normally get in other books of this type. For one, it’s on the lighter side, but when those little moments of devotion between Iz and War do show up, they’re tender, sweet, and beautiful.
From silly puns to situational irony, there’s also a lot of humor, which starts coming through in spades once the story establishes a solid foundation. The characters’ antics definitely got a few smiles out of me as well. Mystery and action-adventure elements combine to send the plot deeper and deeper into territory both strange and wondrous, and my early doubts eventually gave way to fascination and excitement.
To conclude, while The Hexologists had a somewhat shaky start with occasional moments of disorientation, it ultimately evolved into an engaging narrative of intrigue and daring. With its rich setting and clever wit, I would recommend this novel for readers who enjoy stories that weave together the charm of detective mysteries with paranormal magic. That said, for me it’s Iz and Warren Wilby who totally stole the show. They are simply the most wonderful and endearing pair of protagonists I’ve ever met, and I hope we’ll get to see more in this series starring these two soon!
Book Review: Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
Posted on October 9, 2023 18 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Sword Catcher
Publisher: Del Rey (October 10, 2023)
Length: 597 pages
Author Information: Website
Years ago, in the bustling city-state of Castellane, a boy named Kel was plucked from an orphanage and brought to the palace to take on the important role of Sword Catcher, the title given to the body-double of the royal heir, due to his resemblance to the young Prince Conor Aurelian. But even as time passed, the two boys remained inseparable, not just out of necessity, but also because of true friendship. After all, they were raised together, for in order to be a convincing stand-in for Conor, Kel must know the prince as well as he knows himself—his thoughts, his mannerisms, his habits. One day, he may even be expected to die for Conor, a sacrifice Kel would make gladly, not only because it is his duty as his bodyguard, but because the two are as close as brothers. However, problems begin to arise as Conor approaches marriageable age, and Kel realizes his protection can only go so far, especially as the prince has grown into a reckless and impulsive young man. When Conor gets mixed up in some trouble, as always, it falls to Kel to clean up his messes.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Lin Caster is a member of the Ashkar, a community of magic users who are shunned for their abilities. A healer by trade, all Lin wants to do is to further her studies in medicine but is told that certain books and resources are barred to her people. However, to save a dear friend who is very ill, Lin simply cannot stand idly by. If the city won’t help her, then perhaps the Ragpicker King will. As the reigning crime lord of Castellane, he has the power to grant many favors—but for a price. Left with few options, both Lin and Kel find themselves turning to him for answers but end up being caught up in a dangerous web of political intrigue and shady schemes instead.
This is my first book by Cassandra Clare, well known for her immensely popular work in YA. Sword Catcher being her first crack at an adult fantasy series, I really had no idea what to expect, though as always, I was curious to see how an author deals with a switch in genres. Still, one thing I had heard is that Clare can be very descriptive and overly detailed with her writing style, and thus regarded as long-winded by some readers. Admittedly, when I looked at my copy of Sword Catcher, a veritable tome at nearly 600 pages, I did wonder if that might be true.
Ultimately, here’s what I thought: The good news is that, indeed, the author excels at bringing an immersive and intricate world to life. The setting of Castellane was simply phenomenal, a living and breathing backdrop that allows readers to envision it easily in their minds. The city is bursting with life, from its decadent palace halls to the dark alleyways of the criminal quarter. It is also steeped with corruption from top to bottom, which the narrative masterfully and successfully portrays. That said, yes, the writing can be a little verbose at times, though to be fair, I was never bored even when it led to slow pacing. Of course, one can also argue that a more efficient writer could achieve just as much in fewer pages, and, not going to lie, there were times where I found myself reading several chapters only to look back and realize not much has actually happened.
Another thought that I had: Habits die hard. Sword Catcher may be an adult novel in that it features older protagonists and deals with more mature themes, but stylistically, it still shares a lot of YA elements, especially in the way characters interact with each other in dialogue and how the romantic subplots are handled. Nevertheless, character development shines through, and despite their growth falling on the more simplistic and predictable side, all the POVs were sympathetic and relatable, even if I would have preferred to see more of Lin.
At the end of the day, even with a few minor hiccups, Sword Catcher was a captivating read and the start of a series I am definitely motivated to continue. While is officially described as Cassandra Clare’s adult debut, I would say it has enough crossover appeal to satisfy readers of YA as well. As for the novel’s length, could the story have benefitted from a bit of tightening? Perhaps. But in the end, it comes down to personal preference. I’m all for a more streamlined narrative, but in this case, I can also appreciate and see value in the author’s lush prose, making this book a good choice for readers who enjoy complex fantasy worlds featuring rich lore and magical systems.
The BiblioSanctum 