The BiblioSanctum

#RRSciFiMonth Book Review: Ninth City Burning by J. Patrick Black

Posted on November 18, 2016 22 Comments

Sci-Fi November is a month-long blog event hosted by Rinn Reads and Over The Effing Rainbow this year, created to celebrate everything amazing about science fiction! From TV shows to movies, books to comics, and everything else in between, it is intended to help science fiction lovers share their love and passion for this genre and its many, many fandoms.

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Ninth City Burning by J. Patrick Black

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 1

Publisher: Ace (September 6, 2016)

Length: 482 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Ninth City Burning is an impressive debut, built upon an array of inventive ideas and wildly original world-building. It may be a science fiction novel at its core, but it also contains plenty of elements that would not be out of place in a fantasy epic. The story, which takes place hundreds of years in the future, is told through no less than half a dozen diverse narratives all woven together to form its brutal premise of war between humanity and an invading alien race. Despite this feast of creativity though, in some respects, Ninth City Burning is also an excellent example of too much not always being a good thing. It is ambitious for sure, but like a lot of debuts, I feel it also stumbles a bit from attempting to accomplish more than it can handle.

Five hundred years ago, Earth was nearly destroyed by the “Valentines”, named for the day they attacked. They brought a seemingly unstoppable weapon, a reality-bending force known as thelemity which they used to raze entire cities to the ground. But in doing so, the aliens also unwittingly “unlocked” the latent ability to use thelemity in a number of humans, thus giving Earth a fighting chance.

However, even though humanity now possesses the same weapon as the enemy, the Valentines are still gaining ground, putting pressure on the various Earth precincts to provide more resources and soldiers for the war. Involuntary drafts are in effect to keep fighters flowing to the front, and those with a talent to manipulate thelemity are swiftly identified by the Legion and sent to military academies to hone their power. Those who refuse to fight are banished to the far realms, forced to live as disassociated wanderers and outcasts.

Pretty much every group involved in the war is represented in this novel, starting with Jax, a 12-year-old boy already with the weight of the world on his shoulders. As a Fontanus, he has been identified by Legion as a source of thelemity, which means his survival on the battlefield is paramount and entire squads are trained on how to keep him safe. But though he is always surrounded, Jax has always felt a sense of loneliness created by the distance between himself and fellow soldiers. Then there is Naomi, a young girl from one of the unincorporated groups who had no idea that humanity was even at war with aliens. Her world turns upside down when she is suddenly identified as one of the rare individuals who can bend thelemity. Naomi’s sister Rae, a woman in her late teens faces a similar shock as she is sent to a military academy to train with students much younger than her. Another key character is Torro, a factory worker in a settlement that churns out soldiers and supplies for the war effort who becomes a reluctant but brave fighter after he is caught in the draft. On the Legion side of things, there’s Vinneas, an officer and a brilliant tactician, as well as Kizabel, an eccentric engineering genius.

There were probably a couple more POVs, but at this point I think I’ve named all the memorable ones. As I had alluded to before, this book could have been improved by cutting back in some areas, and the first thing I would have reduced is the number of perspective characters. The story reached the critical mass of POVs early on and I felt that more actually became unnecessary, distracting, and even ineffectual.

The concept of thelemity could have been introduced earlier as well, and that might have been possible if the introduction had been shorter and less cumbersome. Even so, I actually enjoyed the first half very much; it was the second half that ultimately took away much of my initial excitement by expounding on the details of the war against the Valentines. So, maybe just an overall trimming down of the various plot threads to improve pacing and flow wouldn’t have been such a bad thing either.

Still, there were some great ideas in here, when the story wasn’t struggling under their weight; I loved the concept of thelemity, which in akin to magic in many ways, and there were also numerous examples of fantastic and original world-building. One thing I can say for this book is that it is wholly unique, and it also has genuine wide appeal for audiences across the YA and adult spectrums.

In sum, Ninth City Burning might not be perfect, but it would also be a mistake to dismiss it out of hand. It is a solid, dynamic debut with some strong ideas, and J. Patrick Black is clearly a talented writer with lots of potential. This being the start of a new trilogy I hope that the sequels will move away from “first book” problems as the series matures.

Book Review: The Gates of Hell by Michael Livingston

Posted on November 17, 2016 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 Gates of Hell by Michael Livingston

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 2 of The Shards of Heaven

Publisher: Tor (November 15, 2016)

Length: 400 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

As the second volume in a historical fantasy series about Ancient Rome, The Gates of Hell can be viewed as the “next chapter” of the events following the Final War of the Roman Republic. Approximately five years have passed since Alexandria fell. Marc Antony and Cleopatra are dead. Their daughter Selene has been taken into their conqueror’s household, becoming one of Augustus Caesar’s adopted children. But for all that, she knows she is still a hostage and the longing for avenging her parents still burns inside.

The book begins with Selene taking matters into her own hands, seeking her own Shard of Heaven after finding out about the godlike abilities they can grant to the people who wield them. She manages to find and obtain one disguised as a statue in the Temple of the Vestals, bringing another of one these powerful artifacts into play. Meanwhile, her arranged marriage to Juba of Numidia, an adopted son of Julius Caesar, ultimately grew into to be a relationship based on love and respect. Together with her husband, who also possesses a Shard of Heaven, they begin to experiment and practice with their artifacts, learning how to harness their power.

At the same time in another place, a secret group of guardians are in the act of securing the Ark of the Covenant, rumored to be the most powerful Shard of all. Former legion soldier Lucius Vorenus decides to travel to Library of Alexandria to meet with the Head Librarian to discuss certain theories they’ve developed about the holy Ark. Unknowingly, he attracts the attention of a disgraced astrologer named Thrasyllus, putting all that vital information into the hands of a desperate man who knows Augustus Caesar will do anything to know the location of another Shard of Heaven.

Whether our characters are driven by love or greed, faith or revenge, all their actions culminate into a harrowing conclusion that spells a threat to come for everyone. Like the previous book, The Gates of Hell was another great read. While it does have the distinct feel of a “middle book”, it comes without the baggage normally associated with one. Pacing is dynamic and swift, and perhaps even a bit too brisk in some places when all I wanted to do was bask in the atmosphere of the setting a little while longer. Like I wrote in my review of The Shards of Heaven, the author has an extraordinary talent for evoking the time period. The people, places and events surrounding the Ancient Roman Empire have always fascinated me, but I don’t consider myself an expert and need the historical background or details in the narrative from time to time.

In that respect, I find Livingston’s writing and storytelling style to be very readable; even someone with just the bare knowledge of the subject matter can enjoy this novel, because of the perfect balance he strikes when injecting history into his fiction and vice versa. I also thought it was really interesting how almost every character was based on a real figure or an account of them in the historical record, and in many cases I only found out after reading the glossary at the end of the book. Livingston offered enough historical detail without overwhelming the reader, and to be honest, could have afforded to give more if he had wanted to.

Then there are the characters. Selene, a personal favorite (both in this book and in written history) is back with a bigger role in this sequel, carrying on her mother’s memory and legacy. She has been adopted into the family of Octavian/Augustus Caesar, but there’s no love lost there. She was also made to marry Juba, though to her surprise she grows to love him. The two of them bond over their shared experiences of having their parents and homelands conquered by Rome, but Juba still has mixed feelings towards Octavian, his brother by adoption. There are some incredibly complex emotions surrounding these characters, and with those, the reader might start to see Octavian from a whole different perspective.

My only criticism is that Selene, Juba, and Octavian might have been portrayed a little too well, with the result being that some of the supporting characters, including Thrasyllus and Vorenus, were overshadowed. Also, without giving away too much of the story, some parts were predictable in the sense that we were repeatedly told over and over how “in love” a certain couple was, which we all know is code for “something bad will happen.” As such, when the other shoe dropped, there were no surprises.

As a follow-up to Michael Livingston’s fantastic debut though, The Gates of Hell carries this series incredibly well. Everything that worked in The Shards of Heaven is back here in this sequel, including compelling history, powerful storytelling, and engaging characters. There’s some great set-up for the next novel, and I can’t wait to read it.

More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Shards of Heaven (Book 1)
Guest Post: “Five Amazing Women in Ancient Rome” by Michael Livingston

Waiting on Wednesday 11/16/16

Posted on November 16, 2016 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

Luna: Wolf Moon by Ian McDonald (February 14, 2017 by Tor Books)

Of all the blurbs I’ve come across in recent years claiming to be “like Game of Thrones”, I have to admit Luna: New Moon came quite close – if you can imagine the Starks and Lannisters as two rival families with competing mining operations on the moon. The first book was like an epiphany; I loved it. That I’m looking forward to this sequel and conclusion (the series is just going to be a duology, I hear) is a massive understatement. I’m hoping Luna: Wolf Moon will be just as amazing.

“A Dragon is dead.

Corta Helio, one of the five family corporations that rule the Moon, has fallen. Its riches are divided up among its many enemies, its survivors scattered. Eighteen months have passed .

The remaining Helio children, Lucasinho and Luna, are under the protection of the powerful Asamoahs, while Robson, still reeling from witnessing his parent’s violent deaths, is now a ward–virtually a hostage– of Mackenzie Metals. And the last appointed heir, Lucas, has vanished of the surface of the moon.

Only Lady Sun, dowager of Taiyang, suspects that Lucas Corta is not dead, and more to the point—that he is still a major player in the game. After all, Lucas always was the Schemer, and even in death, he would go to any lengths to take back everything and build a new Corta Helio, more powerful than before. But Corta Helio needs allies, and to find them, the fleeing son undertakes an audacious, impossible journey–to Earth.

In an unstable lunar environment, the shifting loyalties and political machinations of each family reach the zenith of their most fertile plots as outright war erupts.

Luna: Wolf Moon continues Ian McDonald’s saga of the Five Dragons.”

#RRSciFiMonth Spotlight: Cyber World edited by Jason Heller & Joshua Viola + Soundtrack Giveaway (Int’l)!

Posted on November 15, 2016 13 Comments

***The giveaway is now over, thanks to everyone who entered!***

Cyberpunk. It isn’t gone, and in some ways feels more relevant than ever. Granted, this genre has been hit or miss for me in the past, and likewise when it comes to anthologies, but when I came across Cyber World: tales of Humanity’s Tomorrow and its collection of stories featuring subjects like cybernetics, neuroscience, transhumanism and nanotechnology, I just had to take a look. Not to mention, check out that awesome author line-up, with writers like Paolo Bacigalupi, Nisi Shawl, Madeline Ashby, and so many others.

Cybernetics. Neuroscience. Nanotechnology. Genetic engineering. Hacktivism. Transhumanism. The world of tomorrow is already here, and the technological changes we all face have inspired a new wave of stories to address our fears, hopes, dreams, and desires as Homo sapiens evolve—or not—into their next incarnation. Cyber World presents diverse tales of humanity’s tomorrow, as told by some of today’s most gripping science fiction visionaries.

FOREWORD by Richard Kadrey
INTRODUCTION by Joshua Viola
SERENADE by Isabel Yap
THE MIGHTY PHIN by Nisi Shawl
REACTIONS by Mario Acevedo
THE BEES OF KIRIBATI by Warren Hammond
THE REST BETWEEN TWO NOTES by Cat Rambo
THE SINGULARITY IS IN YOUR HAIR by Matthew Kressel
PANIC CITY by Madeline Ashby
THE FAITHFUL SOLDIER, PROMPTED by Saladin Ahmed
YOUR BONES WILL NOT BE UNKNOWN by Alyssa Wong
STAUNCH by Paul Graham Raven
OTHER PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS by Chinelo Onwualu
WYSIOMG by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN by Angie Hodapp
A SONG TRANSMUTED by Sarah Pinsker
IT’S ONLY WORDS by Keith Ferrell
SMALL OFFERINGS by Paolo Bacigalupi
DARKOUT by E. Lily Yu
VISIBLE DAMAGE by Stephen Graham Jones
THE IBEX ON THE DAY OF EXTINCTION by Minister Faust
HOW NOTHING HAPPENS by Darin Bradley
AFTERWORD by Jason Heller

“This is old-school cyberpunk written by new-school talent–the caliber of writers found in this book is like a dream-team of storytellers ready to hack your skull and implant their tales into your brain-meats. Cyber World gives the cyberpunk genre a much-needed reboot.”

—CHUCK WENDIG, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF STAR WARS: AFTERMATH AND ZER0ES

“This is the upgrade: the new, real sound of diverse futures, mad and magnificent, the world on a wire. Essential.”

—WARREN ELLIS, AUTHOR OF GUN MACHINE AND TRANSMETROPOLITAN

Cyber World also comes with exciting extras including a soundtrack (by renowned electronic/synth musician Klayton) and even trading cards and an upcoming dynamic PS4 theme. This collection is now available where books are sold! For more information please visit the website of Hex Publishing.

Cyber World Soundtrack Giveaway

We’re celebrating Sci-Fi Month, and today we have something very cool and a little different for Week 3 of our science fiction giveaway fest! As you know, the folks at Hex have released a soundtrack to go with the Cyber World anthology. Featuring music by Celldweller, Circle of Dust, Mega Drive, and Scandroid, the soundtrack provides the perfect ambient atmosphere to immerse yourself in these stories (especially you enjoy that “80’s vibe”).

Right now, we have a code for one digital copy of Cyber World: Soundtrack of Humanity’s Tomorrow to give away to a lucky winner! Best of all, this giveaway is for a code and hence open internationally! So what are you waiting for, music lovers? Simply comment on this post with your interest to enter, and just be sure to leave us a way to contact you if you win. A winner will be chosen after the giveaway closes on Monday, November 21, 2016 at 11:59pm Eastern time. Good luck, and let us know your thoughts on Cyber World!

#RRSciFiMonth Book Review: The Host by Stephanie Meyer

Posted on November 14, 2016 17 Comments

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Science fiction, post apocalyptic, romance
Series: The Host #1
Publisher: Little Brown and Company (May 2008)
Author Info: stepheniemeyer.com
Wendy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

“This place was truly the highest and the lowest of all worlds – the most beautiful senses, the most exquisite emotions.. the most malevolent desires, the darkest deeds. Perhaps it was meant to be so. Perhaps without the lows, the highs could not be reached.”

I’ll never read the Twilight series or even watch the movies, but I thought it only fair to Meyer that I at least check out one of her books. This was it.

A race of parasitic aliens has traveled the galaxy for ages, taking over the bodies and minds of the dominant species of a planet and making it their home. They change the worlds to suit them and, obviously, the species themselves. These aliens believe themselves to be doing the right thing. To be fixing the wrongs that the previous species committed to their world, to each other, and to other species on their planet. Until they meet up with those gosh darn plucky humans and some of the aliens are forced to rethink their way of life.

Wanderer has lived many lives. Now the “soul” is faced with the reality of Melanie, her host. Melanie is a young woman with a strong desire to live, trumped only by her strong desire to protect the people she loves. Her mental and emotional strength make it impossible for Wanderer to overcome the host’s impulses, and worse, as Melanie’s memories and dreams continue to plague her, Wanderer finds herself growing to love the very same people Melanie is trying to keep her away from. The two must come to a grudging truce in order to deal with this situation, and end up on a desert trek to find the human hold outs against the alien invasion.

So. This is a great concept. Melanie and Wanderer’s interactions are intense as the latter tries to understand this new reality of a host who fights back and the latter desperately tries to keep on fighting. The opposing forces of their personalities are evident in many ways, including, and most notably, in Melanie’s strong-will versus Wanderer’s mousiness. This dichotomy is important. We are constantly hearing about the need to see more “strong female characters” but there’s a lack of understanding in what that actually means. Melanie is indeed strong-willed, but what makes her a strong female character is that she’s a reasonably well fleshed out character. So is Wanderer, even with her constant state of fear and tears.

Unfortunately, I’ve read a few reviews that criticize Wanderer for her “weakness.” While I understand that it can be hard to empathize with such a character and the desire to see heroes who we can look up to in our entertainment as they overcome adversity … the thing is, there are a lot of women — a lot of people — who struggle with standing up and facing down their fears and to condemn them for that certainly doesn’t make it any easier. It also moves things dangerously into the realm of victim blaming. “If she is going to just sit there and cry, then she deserves it.” Leave the weak one to their fate rather than helping them find their inner strength.

Fortunately, Wanderer does find her inner strength, with encouragement from Melanie rather than belittlement. She doesn’t get up guns a’blazin’ all of a sudden to save the humans she’s come to love. She shows her strength in other ways, but alas, because she’s spent so much of the book folded in on herself and her fear, some readers might not give her credit for this. Wanderer and Melanie serve as a reminder that strength and weakness come in many forms and exist on a sliding scale. They are not separate entities, the one to be reviled and the other praised. They are intrinsically linked and we will all have our moments of both.

Everyone has a right to cry.

That said, this book does have a problem. It comes with the men in Melanie and Wanderer’s lives, and seems to be a common theme in Meyer’s work, based on what I do know of Twilight. Melanie is in love with Jared, and by default, Wanderer comes to love him too. A threesome, just as we have in Twilight. But wait! There’s more! Ian gets into the mix and he is quite fond of Wanderer. Wooo a foursome with three bodies! This is meant to be a romance, but none of this is sexy or romantic as the men frequently battle it out physically and verbally over the women, and impose their will upon them, either through the hatred Jared feels over losing Melanie, or the over-protectiveness Ian has for Wanderer.

This is where the victim blaming thing becomes extra dangerous because, while Melanie could fight back against the manly manliness on display, Wanderer is not conditioned to and therefore it is quite easy for both men to impose themselves on her. This is a situation that many abuse victims find themselves in and are unable to get out of, no matter how easy one might think it is to just “get up and leave.” Meyer tries to address this several times through various characters, but in the end, she ties everything up in a nice bow that involves stealing someone else’s mind and body so that everyone can live happily ever after. Not gonna lie. I enjoyed the book for the most part, right up to that epilogue which had me cringing for many reasons.

Meyer does at least give the two a far more important and healthier relationship with a male, which is Melanie’s younger brother, whom they both will do anything to protect. The story might have been far more powerful if more weight was given to this relationship, instead of the airtime that the foursome gets.

3stars

Wendy 2

Novella Review: The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne

Posted on November 13, 2016 30 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 Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Book 8.5 of The Iron Druid Chronicles

Publisher: Subterranean Press (September 30, 2016)

Length: 112 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

What a fun little book! Not to be missed by fans of Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles, but even if you don’t follow the series, it might be worth taking a look. When this novella landed in my lap, I briefly debated whether or not I should read it, since I am woefully behind on the main series and I know a lot has happened to the characters since I last visited this world. I worried that I would get too confused or lost.

Well, for readers who might be wrestling with the same doubts, let me put your minds at ease: no prerequisite reading is required before jumping into this one. Of course, if it would help if you know a little of the basic foundation behind the Iron Druid Chronicles, i.e. our protagonist is Atticus O’Sullivan, a 2,000-year-old druid living in modern times with his faithful Irish wolfhound Oberon. Everything else is going to be pretty easy to pick up along the way, not to mention The Purloined Poodle is a whole different animal anyway. Pun absolutely intended.

For one thing, the entirety of the tale is told through the eyes of a dog. That’s right, Oberon fans, urban fantasy’s most popular pooch gets his very own book. In the main series, Atticus’ ancient druidic status gives him access to a full suite of nifty powers, including shapeshifting and having an ability to commune with the natural world. That also extends to being able to talk with his dog, and in every Iron Druid book I’ve read so far, Atticus and Oberon’s conversations always manage to become the highlight. This probably goes without saying, but if you find the two’s psychic exchanges as entertaining as I do, then you will love this.

What I enjoyed most about this novella was how “dog-like” Hearne managed to sound while writing from the POV of Oberon. I was laughing from the very first page, reading about his thoughts on canine butt-sniffing etiquette. Like his human, Oberon is also well-versed in all forms of geek culture, so expect tons of pop-culture references. But humor is only one part of this equation; the story quickly builds into a mystery, as a routine walk through the park leads to Oberon and his owner to discover a string of abductions in the Pacific Northwest involving prizewinning dogs. Local police already have their hands full dealing with people cases, so it’s up to Oberon to convince Atticus to help the victims’ owners to look for their stolen pets.

Right away, I knew I’d missed some key events in our characters’ lives, since the last time I saw them they were still in Arizona. The main cast seems to have expanded a bit too. Happily, these are just background details. This novella is part of the main series timeline, but it’s probably more accurate to call this one a short side-story, a lighthearted little detour. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t caught up anyway, because we’re not going to be focusing on the humans too much.

Not only is this narrative all about the dogs, I simply love how this book portrays the relationship between Oberon and Atticus. It’s clear that the two of them are best friends who dote upon each other, and when latter indulges the former, I can’t help but think of one of my own dogs, who’s also a big, lovable goofball like Oberon. It just makes me want to take this book and shove it into the hands of all my dog-lover friends, because I know they will appreciate the beauty of the human-dog bond that Hearne captures here so well.

And like I said, the story is also entertaining and funny as hell. Knowing what I do about its doggy protagonist, I went into The Purloined Poodle expecting a few chuckles, but Oberon really brought down the house with this one. I was impressed that an entire story told from his perspective would work so well, figuring that being inside his head would start to get on my nerves or his narrative get stale after the first twenty minutes. Not so, though. The novella format was well-suited for a story like this—just long enough to be satisfying, but also short and sweet enough that it doesn’t wear out its welcome.

Dog lovers, urban fantasy enthusiasts, and Iron Druid fans take note: if you are one or any combination of the above, I would highly recommend reading The Purloined Poodle. It won’t take long and it’s the perfect escape; a great way to spend a rainy afternoon or a quiet evening in, curled up on the couch with your special fur baby and this wonderful little novella.

Book Review: Chasing Embers by James Bennett

Posted on November 12, 2016 17 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Chasing Embers by James Bennett

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Ben Garston

Publisher: Orbit (September 6, 2016)

Length: 464 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Chasing Embers is an urban fantasy that seems to have a little bit of everything. There are dragons, magical spirits and mages, the Fae, and even a generous helping of ancient Egyptian mythology. The strange thing is though, even with so much going on in this novel, I actually find myself with very little to say about it. The story was a fun romp, but I enjoyed it on a very “surface” level without forming many deep attachments to its people, places, or events. That said, being the first book of a series, it has strong potential and room to grow.

The story stars Ben Garston, who’s no ordinary UF hero. For one thing, he is a dragon (which I don’t think is a spoiler, since it’s revealed almost right off the bat, not to mention it is blatantly hinted at in the synopsis and on the cover). Centuries old, “Red Ben” now walks the streets in human form, bound by a pact that was made long ago between all the magical creatures of the world. To prevent widespread chaos and fear, Ben and others like him had to agree to hide their existence and live among the mortals as one of them. In turn, guardian knights will protect them and ensure that the pact remains unbroken.

However, the peace is about to be shattered. Recent events make Ben suspect that his protections are no longer in place, and already there have been a couple attempts made on his life. But Ben has more than himself to worry about. From years of hiding in plain sight among the humans, he has come to learn to look like them, live like them, and even care for them. Even knowing from the start that their relationship is doomed to fail, Ben has nonetheless fallen in love with a mortal, a young woman named Rose. It is in his nature to protect those he treasures, even though he can never tell Rose who he is—or what he really is—and all those unspoken truths have strained things between them. Now an old enemy has resurfaced to hunt Ben, and worse, they know all his secrets.

I enjoyed Chasing Embers; I really did. I thought it had a lot to offer UF fans, including a unique twist on the paranormal creatures that usually populate this genre. James Bennett deftly combines fantasy with real world elements, sometimes blurring the lines between mythological lore and history. I particularly enjoyed the story of Ben’s origin, which touches upon so many aspects of his character (both as a dragon as as a “human”). While heartbreaking, the details of these past events also make it easier to understand his complicated relationship with Rose, and reveal much about the tragedy that sparked an old rivalry. In fact, I actually thought a lot of the flashbacks and past sequences were done very well, going against the norm of how I usually feel about nonlinear storytelling.

But while I could list many more things that I thought were interesting or cool about this book, there was also this nagging sense of distance between myself and the plot and characters, that try as I might, I could not shake. It’s a dissonance that’s hard to explain, but we often use the term “bring something to life” to describe how an author can not only create something interesting but also make them exciting and easy for readers to feel passionate about. Part of my problem was that I never managed to reach this point with Ben or the world of Chasing Embers. I’m not sure why, since on the whole I found the book well-written and put-together. A few forced metaphors aside (how does one grin widely enough to “fill a car park”, exactly?) I also thought Bennett’s prose was complex and rich but also easy on the eyes. Still, something prevented me from feeling fully invested. In the end, perhaps it simply boils down to having too much to absorb in a very short time. There is, after all, a lot going on in this book.

The good news though, is that Chasing Embers has established a strong foundation for future books in this series. Now that most of the world-building, history and background of the lore has been covered, hopefully the sequel won’t be as bogged down and will be freer to delve deeper into the characters and expand on plot development. If I sound like I’m placing some high expectations on the next book, the truth is that most urban fantasy series take a time to build, and it’s not uncommon for one to take more than one installment to hook me. This might be the case here. Chasing Embers gave me a good taste of what’s to come, piquing my interest even it did not sweep me off my feet, but I am definitely curious to see what else Bennett has in store.

#RRSciFiMonth Book Review: Robogenesis by Daniel H. Wilson

Posted on November 11, 2016 13 Comments

“It’s hard to guess how smart the machines are, but a good rule of thumb
is that they’re always smarter than you think.”

Robogenesis by Daniel H. Wilson

Series: Robopocalypse #2

Genre: Apocalyptic, Science Fiction

Publisher: Doubleday (June 2014)

Author Info: danielhwilson.com

Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Robopocalypse did not impress me and I had no intention of reading on, but hey, I needed another book from my apocalyptic stories reading challenge at Worlds Without End, and the library happened to have a copy soooo…

Previously, on robots take over the world, the AI, Archos-14, was defeated by plucky humans and a few free robots. But, as it turns out, Archos-14 wasn’t exactly the bad guy, despite its decimation of the human population and the physical alterations it made to some of the survivors. It was, as it promised, doing this for humanity’s own good. Because it knew that there had been 13 other attempts at creating an AI before it, and that the results had not simply been destroyed as they should have been. The True War that must be fought now is against Arayt Shah, an AI that cares only for power and survival and knows how to use humanity’s desire for the same to orchestrate further genocide. This isn’t simply a battle of AI vs AI. Both have to convince the surviving humans — as well as the surviving free robots — to build their armies and to fight their battles for them. As often occurs in stories where AIs determine humanity’s fate, the AIs failure is in its logic and lack of understanding of human emotions. This time, things are a little bit different, because it can be said that both Archos-14 and Arayt Shah understand human nature very well, albeit in different ways and for different purposes.

This is a much more grim story that reminds us that war never really ends, even for the survivors. They either have to continue struggling to rebuild what was lost and adapt to the new, or worse, they discover that there’s still another battle over the horizon. It’s not a book for anyone looking for a happy ending, or even hope for the future. It is bleak. It is harsh. It is ugly. It is realistic in its portrayal of war and how easily people can be used and discarded for the whims of those in power.

One of the things that I disliked about the previous book was the format of retelling each of the many characters’ first person accounts. Wilson discarded the impractical piecing together of the tales here. There are still many characters, some of whom we met previously, but the third person, straightforward format used this time more effectively and sensibly tells the story.

Book Review: An Import of Intrigue by Marshall Ryan Maresca

Posted on November 10, 2016 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.

An Import of Intrigue by Marshall Ryan Maresca

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 2 of the Maradaine Constabulary

Publisher: DAW (November 1, 2016)

Length: 389 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

An Import of Intrigue is the second installment in the Maradaine Constabulary series and another impressive achievement in storytelling and fantasy world-building by author Marshall Ryan Maresca. While this book may be the follow-up to last summer’s A Murder of Mages, it is also the fourth novel set in a bigger universe featuring Maradaine, a vibrant and exotic city filled with diverse characters and rich stories.

Once again, readers are following inspectors Satrine Rainey and her partner Minox Welling on a murder investigation involving baffling circumstances. This time, we’re in the neighborhood of Little East, a section of Maradaine home to a large number of different cultures and traditions. Druth, Fuergan, the Imach, Tsouljans, the Kierans, and the Lyranans all make their home in this largely forgotten part of the city, where it’s not uncommon for one to walk down its tumbledown streets and hear a multitude of conversations spoken in the languages of the speakers’ respective home countries or regions.

However, not all of Little East’s denizens always get along, and this latest case involving the death of an important foreign dignitary seems to be an attempt by the killer to stir up even more trouble, knowing that the tensions between the different groups are already on a knife’s edge. Evidence at the crime scene appears to implicate several of them, and Satrine and Minox spend the bulk of their investigation following up on leads in all the various cultural districts. Meanwhile, being an uncircled mage, Minox is starting to feel the adverse effects from his ongoing struggle with his magical powers and the stress of it is threatening to consume him, and Satrine is forced to confront her past as a figure from her former life comes to warn her away from digging too deep.

Just as I expected, I had another rollicking good time with the dedicated duo of Constables Rainey and Welling. I also really enjoyed the story, though if I was forced to pick favorites, I still have to go with first book. An Import of Intrigue had a lot to offer, exploring the political and social factors that affect the lives of everyone in Maradaine, but in terms of readability and flow, A Murder of Mages is the clear winner. Don’t get me wrong, for this sequel featured a plot that was just as strong and entertaining, but admittedly it suffers a little from pacing issues. The book’s introduction winds up being quite a slow builder, weighed down by the storm of people, places, and other names that reader has to quickly absorb in order to get the full picture of this murder mystery.

On the one hand, I love that Maradaine is such a multicultural city full of amazing sights and sounds. On the other, the half-dozen or so cultural groups involved in the investigation, along with the huge cast of characters that are introduced in such a short period of time made this already complicated case even more confusing. I found myself having to start and stop again and again in order to get all the various pieces of this story straight, which had an overall negative impact on the book’s energy and momentum. Not to mention, we also had to take several detours away from the main arc to focus attention on Satrine and Minox’s own personal conflicts. It just seemed like a lot to throw at readers, and better transitioning between the multiple plot threads could have helped smooth out the pacing.

The characters though, they were as ever well-written and top-notch. From an interview with Maresca, I learned that he is planning to be writing at least four series set in the world of Maradaine. To make each one unique and stand out from the others, I think the author’s creative approach to characterization will be the key. He has built complex lives for both Minox and Satrine, and An Import of Intrigue continues to flesh out their personalities and backstories. Minox has finally come to a point where he has to address his uncircled status and how that lack of training might be affecting his work, but it is undoubtedly Satrine who steals the show in this one with the revelations about her past life as a spy. Several of her secrets are blown wide open here, and I can’t help but wonder what this will spell for Satrine’s daughters as well as her severely disabled husband, who depends wholly on her to support him.

The plot thickens, as they say, and I am still just as curious and enthusiastic about the characters and their stories now as I was after I finished reading A Murder of Mages. If you enjoy fantasy and mystery, you’ll find both genres terrifically combined here within the pages of the novels in the Maradaine Constabulary series. Marshall Ryan Maresca continues to impress. Needless to say, if you liked the previous book, An Import of Intrigue is not to be missed.

More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of A Murder of Mages (Book 1)
Marshall Ryan Maresca Q&A and Guest Post

Begin #SPFBO Phase 2: A Spotlight on the Final Ten

Posted on November 9, 2016 3 Comments

In case you are just joining us now for the coverage of the 2016 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, The BiblioSanctum is part of a panel of ten blogs acting as judges to choose the winning book from out of 300 entries submitted this year. The first phase of SPFBO ended last month, which resulted in ten finalists that will be moving on to compete for the top spot.

This post serves to introduce and mark the start of Phase 2, which officially began on November 1, as well as to lay out our action plan. Also, we’d like to update everyone on the books that our reviewers will be looking at in this next stage of the competition, in case you missed the announcements elsewhere. We most definitely want to spotlight the final ten! Below you’ll find their covers and descriptions, along with links to their Amazon pages if you want to take a closer look. Congratulations to the authors!

Fionn: Defence of Ráth Bládhma by Brian O’Sullivan

Ireland: 192 A.D. A time of strife and treachery. Political ambition and inter-tribal conflict has set the country on edge, testing the strength of long-established alliances.

Following their victory over Clann Baoiscne at the battle of Cnucha, Clann Morna are hungry for power. Meanwhile, a mysterious war party roams the ‘Great Wild’ and a ruthless magician is intent on murder.

In the secluded valley of Glenn Ceo, disgraced druid Bodhmall and her lover Liath Luachra have successfully avoided the bloodshed for many years. Now, the arrival of a pregnant refugee threatens the peace they have created together.

Based on the ancient Fenian Cycle texts, the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series recounts the fascinating and pulse-pounding tale of the birth and adventures of Ireland’s greatest hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Larcout by K A Krantz

Blood-beings can be chattel or char.

Fire seethes through the veins of every Morsam, demanding domination and destruction. Combat is a hobby. Slaughtering the inferior blood-beings is entertainment. Life is a repetitious cycle in the prison fashioned by the gods. But mix-race abomination Vadrigyn os Harlo suspects the key to freedom lies with safeguarding the blood-beings; until her blood-born mother uses foreign magic to turn the Morsam against Vadrigyn. Betrayed, bound, and broken, Vadrigyn struggles against the dying of her essential fire. Yet the ebbing flames unleash the dormant magic of her mixed heritage…

The magic to destroy free will.

Seized by the gods and dumped in the desert nation of Larcout to stop history from repeating, Vadrigyn discovers her mother’s legacy of treason and slaughter still festers. To survive the intrigues of the royal court, the roiling undercurrents of civil war, and the gods themselves, Vadrigyn must unravel the conspiracy behind her mother’s banishment. But manipulating free will unleashes a torrent of consequences.

If she fails the gods, she will return to the Morsam prison, stripped of all magic and all hope.

If she succeeds, she can rule a nation.

Kasthu. Roborgu. Inarchma.

Live. Learn. Burn.

Paternus by Dyrk Ashton

The gods and monsters of myth have returned. In a breathtaking story that takes place in a single day, two ordinary humans are caught up in the final battle of a war that’s been waged since the dawn of time.

Gods, monsters, angels, devils. Call them what you like. They exist. The epic battles between titans, giants, and gods, heaven and hell, the forces of light and darkness. They happened. And the war isn’t over.

17 year old Fi Patterson lives with her stuffy English uncle and has an internship at a local hospital for the aged. She doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life, misses her dead mother, wonders about the father she never knew. One bright spot is caring for Peter, a dementia-ridden old man whose faraway smile can make her whole day. And there’s her conflicted attraction to Zeke — awkward, brilliant, talented — who plays guitar for the old folks.

Then a group of very strange and frightening men show up for a “visit”…

Fi and Zeke’s worlds are shattered as their typical everyday concerns are suddenly replaced by the immediate need to stay alive — and they try to come to grips with the unimaginable reality of the Firstborn.

“Keep an open mind. And forget everything you know…”

The Moonlight War by S.K.S. Perry

Three caravans have vanished traversing the Cowcheanne Way. The legendary Tahsis platoon, warriors thought by most to be invincible, are dispatched to investigate and are never heard from again. Rumours of native uprisings and bandit armies grow wilder and more widespread every day, while the more devout whisper about the return of the Horde, a mythic foe from ages past.

The truce between the warring Kael-tii and Ashai nations is put to the test when a new caravan is outfitted and they are forced to travel The Way together. As an ancient evil is unleashed upon them, a group of heroes, friend and foe alike, must band together for survival.

When the true nature of their mission slowly comes to light, the growing distrust between the Kael-tii and Ashai camps threatens to tear the caravan apart. Can they set aside their differences in time to combat the menace that imperils them all, or are they doomed to join the ranks of lost souls claimed by the cursed Cowcheanne Way?

Outpost by F.T. McKinstry

In a war-torn realm occupied by a race of unseen immortal warlords called the Fylking, trouble comes with a price. Using the realm as a backwater outpost from which to fight an ancient war, the Fylking taught human seers to build and ward over an interdimensional portal called the Gate. The Fylking’s enemies, who think nothing of annihilating a world to gain even a small advantage, are bent on destroying it.

After two centuries of peace, the realm is at war. Seers are disappearing and their immortal guardians are blind, deceived by their own kind. A Gate warden with a tormented past discovers a warlock using Fylking magic to gather an army of warriors that cannot die. A King’s ranger who defends the wilds of the realm is snared in a political trap that forces him to choose between love and honor. And a knitter touched by the gods catches the eye of a dark immortal with the power to summon storms.

Forced to find allies in unlikely places, these three mortals are caught in a maelstrom of murder, treachery, sorcery and war. When they uncover the source of the rising darkness, they must rally to protect the Gate against a plot that will violate the balance of cosmos, destroy the Fylking and leave the world in ruins.

The god they serve is as fickle as a crow.

The Music Box Girl by K.A. Stewart

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC, FOR THE MUSIC OF LOVE

Steam and steel are king, nowhere more so than Detroit, the gleaming gem of the world’s industrial crown. A beacon of innovation and culture, it is the birthplace of the mechanical automatons, and the home of the famed Detroit Opera House. It is where people come with their dreams, their plans, and their secrets.

A young man with the voice of an angel and dreams of stardom.

A globe-trotting heiress with a passion for adventure and memories of a lost childhood love.

A mysterious woman with a soul made of pure music and a secret worth killing for.

Beneath the glitter and sparkle, something sinister lurks at the opera, and three lives will collide with tragic consequences.

The Path of Flames by Phil Tucker

The first book in the new epic fantasy series readers are comparing to David Gemmell and Raymond E. Feist.

A war fueled by the dark powers of forbidden sorcery is about to engulf the Ascendant Empire. Agerastian heretics, armed with black fire and fueled by bitter hatred, seek to sever the ancient portals that unite the empire – and in so doing destroy it.

Asho–a squire with a reviled past–sees his liege, the Lady Kyferin, and her meager forces banished to an infamous ruin. Beset by tragedy and betrayal, demons and an approaching army, the fate of the Kyferins hangs by the slenderest of threads. Asho realizes that their sole hope of survival may lie hidden within the depths of his scarred soul–a secret that could reverse their fortunes and reveal the truth behind the war that wracks their empire.

The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French

LIVE IN THE SADDLE. DIE ON THE HOG.

Such is the creed of the half-orcs dwelling in the Lot Lands. Sworn to hardened brotherhoods known as hoofs, these former slaves patrol their unforgiving country astride massive swine bred for war. They are all that stand between the decadent heart of noble Hispartha and marauding bands of full-blood orcs.

Jackal rides with the Grey Bastards, one of eight hoofs that have survived the harsh embrace of the Lots. Young, cunning and ambitious, he schemes to unseat the increasingly tyrannical founder of the Bastards, a plague-ridden warlord called the Claymaster. Supporting Jackal’s dangerous bid for leadership are Oats, a hulking mongrel with more orc than human blood, and Fetching, the only female rider in all the hoofs.

When the troubling appearance of a foreign sorcerer comes upon the heels of a faceless betrayal, Jackal’s plans are thrown into turmoil. He finds himself saddled with a captive elf girl whose very presence begins to unravel his alliances. With the anarchic blood rite of the Betrayer Moon close at hand, Jackal must decide where his loyalties truly lie, and carve out his place in a world that rewards only the vicious.

Assassin’s Charge by Claire Frank

A cold-hearted assassin. A boy with a price on his head.

Rhisia Sen is one of the Empire’s highest paid assassins. Living a life of luxury, she chooses her contracts carefully, working to amass enough wealth so she can leave her bloody trade. She is offered a new contract on the outskirts of civilization, and almost refuses—until she sees the purse. It could be the last job she ever has to take.

But when she reaches the destination, she discovers her mark is a child.

The contract, and her reputation, demand she kill the boy—if she can banish his innocent face from her mind. But another assassin has been sent to kill her, and a notorious bounty hunter is on her trail. She doesn’t know why the boy is a target, or why her former employer wants her dead. Saving the child could be her only chance at survival.

The Shadow Soul by Kaitlyn Davis

When Jinji’s home is destroyed, she is left with nowhere to run and no one to run to–until she meets Rhen, a prince chasing rumors that foreign enemies have landed on his shores. Masquerading as a boy, Jinji joins Rhen with vengeance in her heart. But traveling together doesn’t mean trusting one another, and both are keeping a deep secret–magic. Jinji can weave the elements to create master illusions and Rhen can pull burning flames into his flesh.

But while they struggle to hide the truth, a shadow lurks in the night. An ancient evil has reawakened, and unbeknownst to them, these two unlikely companions hold the key to its defeat. Because their meeting was not coincidence–it was fate. And their story has played out before, in a long forgotten time, an age of myth that is about to be reborn…

Here’s what will be happening in Phase 2: each book listed above will be read and scored out of 10 by the ten blogs, with those numbers going on to generate a cumulative score that will then be used to determine the overall winner. Over the course of the next six months though, we anticipate we’ll be bringing you full reviews for each of these books as well, again with the three of us sharing the work.

To follow along with Phase 2 progress, check out this page on SPFBO founder and author Mark Lawrence’s website, which will be updated with reviews and scores as they come in from the judges. The race is heating up, and we are excited to see how things will play out!