And the BiblioSanctum #SPFBO Finalist is…
Posted on October 17, 2016 14 Comments
Since revealing our short list in the summer, we have been busy reading and reviewing our top six books in order to determine who will submit for the final rounds of the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. While each of us has read all six of the books, we have posted reviews for two of those books each. Now it’s time for us to sit down and chat about our favourites and our not-so-favourites. What worked for Tiara? Why did Mogsy really like that book? Why did Wendy end up disappointed with her picks? Join us in our Sanctum Sanctorum as we sum up our thoughts and whittle it down to our finalist!
To start, let’s take a look at our six books again…
Assassin’s Charge
by Claire Frank
Reviewed by Mogsy: I enjoyed this book so much. The writing was strong from the get go, and I only became more intrigued after getting to know the protagonist. I think the characters are this book’s greatest strength, but you can also easily get sucked into the fast-paced story. While the cat-and-mouse pattern of events gets a little repetitive over the course of the story, Claire Frank does a fine job keeping things interesting with plenty of action and mystery. If you like fantasy and adventure, I think this one will make you very happy.
Wendy: Strong female character is a catch phrase these days, with people not quite understanding what that means. Rhis is a fantastic example of the right way to write a woman who is well-rounded and comes complete with a healthy sexual appetite, flaws, and mad skills. This is what struck me first about this book and I am pleased to see how well Frank followed through with Rhis. Her adventure, including her relationships, show some great character development. The plot is fast-paced, but it could have served better with some stronger worldbuilding. A lot of interesting seeds have been planted though.
Tiara: This was an engaging fantasy adventure story. I loved the writing style and thought the author did an amazing job with the descriptions without being too wordy.
Beyond the Starline
by Austin Hackney
Reviewed by Wendy: What a delightful romp this was! A non-stop adventure above and beneath the clouds, featuring pirates, space squid, and a French-speaking sky monkey. This is intended for a younger audience, but has that swashbuckling Disney adventure vibe that works for all ages. It does touch on some mature themes that Harriet, the young girl at the heart of the story, must come to terms with as she unravels the truth about her parentage.
Mogsy: I agree, this was lots of fun, and one of my favorites as well. All things being equal though, I would probably give the edge to an adult novel over children’s fiction, but that’s just a matter of my own personal taste. I might not be this book’s target audience, but it really is an excellent and well written story.
Tiara: A fun steampunk adventure. Very fast paced with characters that you really grow to love. It’s geared more toward younger readers, but adults can the magic of this story just as easily.
Transition
by O. Rising
Reviewed by Tiara: I’m a huge superhero fan and I’ll consume superhero stories in whatever format I can get my hands on. While the story itself is familiar since many hero stories start with some type of huge event that gives ordinary people powers, Rising’s storytelling and worldbuilding was excellent. But it is very much a New Adult story, which may be a bit of a turn-off for some readers. Also the story could’ve been knit together a bit better than it was, but I think overall this is a good starting point that might be worth following into another book.
Mogsy: This book was so unique! And the writing was SO SO SO GOOD. I guess my only issue with this novel was the structure. I would have preferred the three character POVs to be woven together throughout the novel versus separated like three novellas. It was hard to stay interested in the story if I didn’t like one of the characters, for example. But since I love character-focused novels, I guess I can’t complain too much!
Wendy: There was a lot that I liked about this book, not the least of which is the superhero aspect and the descriptions of the various abilities and how this all came to be. But the structure did not work well for me. The introductions for each character were solid, but, as Mogsy notes, there was little to bind them all together within the overarching plot. Hopefully this will all come together as the series continues.
The Alignment
by Kay Camden
Reviewed by Wendy: This paranormal fantasy lured me in with delicious descriptions, quietly teased supernatural elements, and sharp dialogue, and it kept me going with so much plot foreplay. But after awhile, foreplay can get monotonous. I found myself wishing for a payoff that really didn’t come as the protagonists, Liv and Trey, go from despising each other, to being unable to keep apart once the stars align. As part of a series, there was ample opportunity to move the story forward within this first book instead of padding things out with the literal day to day goings on of the couple as they try to sort out the predicament their star-crossed relationship has gotten them into to thanks to Trey’s mysterious family problems.
Mogsy: I agree 100% with Wendy here. The writing is gorgeous. Loved how it brought out the atmosphere of the setting. The main reason this story didn’t work for me though, is that Fantasy Romance isn’t really my thing, and the amount of detail here surrounding our two main characters’ relationship simply went beyond what I personally felt invested in. But if you are into the genre, you’ll love the interplay.
Tiara: Well, this started out promising, but I found myself distanced from the story as I continued on. There was just something so frustrating about this story that turned me off as I moved further into the story.
The Dragon’s Blade: The Reborn King
by Michael R. Miller
Reviewed by Tiara: To be honest, when I first started this book, I didn’t know if I was going to like it much. Once it hit its stride though, I found myself invested in the story of these people and their conflict. Despite the page count, this is a fast, fun story that doesn’t spend too much dawdling. With that being said, this might come off a little tedious to some readers and parts of the book that can be a little predictable at points, but that doesn’t take away from this being a mostly fun read. Miller certainly does an excellent job in baiting readers with just enough of the story to keep them hanging on for the next book.
Mogsy: I found this one to be, in true epic fantasy style, very weighty and very dense. This is not meant to be a criticism by any means. It’s just that, like many books of its genre, it does take a while for the story to get going and build interest. But once I got through the initial five chapters, I was soundly hooked.
Wendy: Sometimes it’s nice to get back to the basics, even with fantasy. Dragons, elves, demons — not that this story is basic in any way. It takes those fantasy standards and makes them its own. There are a lot of details that go into painting this world, which can slow the story down at times, but the result is a rich and complex fantasy that I really enjoyed.
The Warlock and the Wolf by Delfy Hall
Reviewed by Mogsy: I love Historical Fantasy and I have a real soft spot for animal characters, which was why this one captured my attention right away. I enjoyed this one a lot overall, though not being too familiar with the historical setting I wish the story had provided more context. I think the book’s lack of other memorable characters besides Mina and the wolf also hurt it a bit and perhaps caused the slow down in momentum towards the end. That said, there’s plenty to like here and lots of potential for more.
Wendy: The juxtaposition of science and magic captured my attention immediately, as did Mina and her views on both and her relationship with the wolf. But beyond these elements, the story did not manage to keep my attention.
Tiara: This story had a great female character spearheading the story, and it turned out to be much better than I was expecting. This was a very thoughtful story and showed plenty of promise.
And now the time has finally come! We just want to say thank you to the authors in our final six. All of their books were well written and has much to appeal to their respective audiences. For the purposes of this competition though, there can only be one. After careful thought and examination, the three of us compared notes and we’ve decided that the book we’re putting forth to the final competition round will be…
Winner:
Assassin’s Charge by Claire Frank
Runner up:
The Dragon’s Blade: The Reborn King by Michael R. Miller
Congratulations to Assassin’s Charge by Claire Frank! We would also like to give an honorable mention to our runner-up, The Dragon’s Blade: The Reborn King by Michael R. Miller. It came down to these two books as our final two, and it was a very tough choice since both books spoke to us in their own way. We definitely encourage you to check out both.
Congrats again, Claire, and we wish you the best of luck in the next phase of SPFBO, where each blog will be reviewing the other nine blogs’ picks. We’re looking forward to it!
YA Weekend Audio: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Posted on October 16, 2016 13 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Six of Crows
Publisher: Audible Studios (September 27, 2016)
Length: 18 hrs
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Brandon Rubin, Jay Snyder, Elizabeth Evans, Fred Berman, Peter Ganim, Lauren Fortgang, Roger Clark, Kevin T. Collins
I’m so pleased to say this was the ending I wanted and what this wonderful duology deserved. I think I even liked it more than the first book, even though I rated both books the same, because while Six of Crows may have come up short of my admittedly soaring expectations, Crooked Kingdom actually surprised me by shattering any doubts that it would deliver a satisfying conclusion.
By the way, if you haven’t picked up Six of Crows yet, avert thine eyes now because there may be mild spoilers for readers who have not caught up. We pretty much pick up right where we left off, so being a bit hazy on my memories of what happened at the end of the previous book, there was a brief period of confusion to orient myself to what was happening to all these characters. As you know, there are quite a few of them. First and foremost is the man of the hour, Kaz Brekker. As the leader of his own little gang of thieves, he’s taken it upon himself to plan a daring rescue of one of their own by the villain Jan Van Eck.
The crew’s only bargaining chip is the key to the powerful yet dangerously addictive drug known as jurda parem, but you can bet Kaz isn’t about to give that up so easily. Also at stake is his revenge on Pekka Rollins, the man who destroyed Kaz’s life and took everything away from him, but until they can get their teammate back, everything unfortunately has to be put on hold. Slowly, however, a plan starts to come together where they can potentially score everything they want and more—a payback and a payday in the same package, essentially—but only if they can manage to survive all the crazy schemes and hidden traps.
On an entertainment level, this one clearly wins. I felt the plot of Six of Crows stumbled over itself multiple times in its attempt to juggle the backstories of all these characters, and as a result, the big heist itself became overshadowed. Crooked Kingdom, on the other hand, had the advantage of being able to focus more on the action and adventure since we already got the character introductions out of the way. That’s not to say the complexities of their relationships and dynamics were diminished though, because if anything, I think those connections were only strengthened in this sequel. We only have to look at Kaz, Inej, Nina, Wylan, Jesper, and Mathias to see how far all of them have come since the beginning of the first book.
Weaving in more flashbacks, personal drama, and even surprise family reunions, the author has managed to grow these characters while still keeping up the tensions of the main story, and I feel she’s achieved this balance a lot better this time around. This is so important, especially when you’re dealing with as many as half a dozen POVs. It is very obvious when you have underused characters, like Wylan and Jesper in Six of Crows for example, or when you had Nina and Matthias whose roles were clearly there to provide romantic drama while doing little to advance the overarching plot of the first book. Happily, I found little to none of this frustration in Crooked Kingdom as all members of the crew kept their eyes on the prize for the most part, and they all had their important roles to play. Any detours into past memories or side plots were also kept to a minimum and integrated in a way that felt more natural. The pacing was also quick, powering through and hitting no slumps.
What we have here is more character development, as well as more thrills, and more suspense. Honestly, I have no cause for complaint. I know I had my issues with the first book, but I did say it was a great start with some serious potential, and I am glad that my anticipation for the sequel was supported because Crooked Kingdom in no uncertain terms met that potential. I also liked the ending, which was satisfying and provided closure without making it all sunshine and rainbows. It’s perfect in that it is a wonderful balance of joy and heartbreak. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Audiobook Comments: After my fantastic experience with the audiobook of Six of Crows, I once again opted to go with this format for the sequel. Needless to say I am quite fond of productions with multiple cast members, and I was glad to see that the production team had brought on no less than eight narrators, with many of them reprising their roles from the first book. It’s a feast for the ears if you’ve enjoyed other Young Adult titles performed by some of these narrators, and I’m particularly partial to Elizabeth Evans (of the Throne of Glass audiobooks) who does an amazing Nina, Lauren Fortgang (who narrated Bardugo’s other series The Grisha) who is great for Inej, and Fred Berman (whose gravelly voice I just adored from his reading of Morgan Rhodes’ Falling Kingdoms series) is simply perfect for Kaz’s chapters. Everyone delivered great performances.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Six of Crows (Book 1)
Audiobook Review: Children of the Different by S.C. Flynn
Posted on October 15, 2016 16 Comments
A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Children of the Different by S.C. Flynn
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
Series: Stand Alone/Book 1
Publisher: The Hive (Audiobook: August 19, 2016)
Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Stephen Briggs
Children of the Different is the fantasy debut from author S.C. Flynn that has been making some waves around the blogosphere, and I was delighted when I discovered that it was also available in audiobook format. The reality of the busy fall season means these days I find myself with less time to curl up with book; it’s much more likely that I’m bustling around listening to one in my ear, rather than actually sitting down turning the pages. Needless to say I immediately leapt upon the opportunity to review this one, especially since I’ve been curious about it for a while.
The first thing that struck me was the uniqueness of the setting. Post-apocalyptic novels are a big trend these days—especially in the Young Adult genre—but Children of the Different manages to avoid clichés and stand out with its offbeat approach. First, I really like that the book takes place in south-western Australia, in a forest where our protagonists live. Arika and her twin brother Narrah were born after “The Great Madness”, a catastrophic event that happened nineteen years ago, unleashing a brain disease that decimated the earth’s population. Curiously though, many of the survivors were those who had brain diseases or mental conditions from the world before, and came out of the Great Madness miraculously cured. Others, unfortunately, were transformed into cannibalistic zombie-like monsters called “Ferals”.
And now, children born into this new reality are at risk. At the start of their adolescence, all of them must experience a trance called the “The Changing”, a process which sends their consciousness into a dreamscape. At the end of that journey, they either emerge endowed with a special mental power…or they become Feral. After the intro of this book, both Arika and Narrah have come out of their Changings, thankfully with their minds intact, but the things they saw in the Changeland have shaken them, terrified them. A malicious force known as the Echidna, or the anteater, has fixated its attention on the twins. In order to survive, the siblings will have to rely on their newfound powers, and their love for each other, to face and defeat this nebulous new threat.
I’ll admit, because so much of the beginning dealt with the Changing and what our characters experienced in the Changeland, it took me a while to find my bearings and get a feel for this story. I don’t always do well with metaphysical themes in fantasy, and many of the scenes described during the dreamscape sections came dangerously close to being too weird for me to handle.
My initial confusion ebbed, however, once we got past the introduction and into the meat of the story. I liked how the author linked the concept of the Great Madness and the Changing to the post-apocalyptic world, creating a premise which feels at once familiar and but also very fresh. It’s a nice blend of many genres, with themes from both sci-fi and fantasy mingling happily together, and hey, why not throw in some elements from the zombie horror genre as well, or even some survival suspense-thriller?
And no doubt about it, a huge part of the book’s appeal also comes from its atmosphere. I have not been back to Australia in many years, but I still have fond memories of my visit to its cities and wilderness. While the version of Australia in Children of the Different may be a crumbling, lawless place and civilization is virtually nonexistent after the devastation of The Great Madness, S.C. Flynn still retains some of the setting’s charm in the diversity of the landscape, wildlife, and culture of the survivors.
It’s worth noting as well that, even though the book’s description makes no statement whether this is an adult or YA novel, I think it would work well for both audiences. It’s true that this book stars teenage protagonists and has strong coming-of-age vibes, but for readers who are open to those themes, I think this story would have good crossover appeal.
Finally, because I reviewed the audiobook, I just want to end with some comments about the narration. I’m really glad I got to experience the novel in this format, because I the narrator Stephen Briggs was absolutely fantastic. He does amazing accents for the characters, giving readers that extra layer of immersion with his performance. The production team could not have chosen a better reader for this novel, and if you are curious about checking out Children of the Different, I would highly recommend the audio edition.
Book Review: Reanimatrix by Pete Rawlik
Posted on October 14, 2016 15 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Night Shade Books (October 18, 2016)
Length: 364 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Make no mistake, Lovecraft-inspired stories are a real hot thing right now and I am gobbling it all up. This year the types of Lovecraftian fiction I’ve already read have ranged from bloody gorefests to dark comedies, and there just seems to be a style for every persuasion. And if your tastes happen to run in the direction of weird fiction and pulp noir, then Reanimatrix is sure to make you very, very happy.
Unfolding through a series of diary entries and letters, this story follows the strange lives of two main characters, Robert Peaslee and Megan Halsey. It is the 1920s, and Robert was an officer in the Great War returning to his home town of Arkham to work on the police force, handling the sensitive cases that the other cops don’t want to touch. One fateful day he meets Megan, a young heiress with a troubled past, and immediately feels drawn to her. Years later, however, Robert is called to work a crime scene by the docks where a body of a woman has been discovered, and he is shocked and heartbroken to later learn that it is none other than Megan Halsey.
Before the investigation can move forward though, her body goes missing. Robert soon becomes consumed with the case of what happened to Megan, especially once he suspects that she might not really be dead. Determined to solve the case, Robert attempts to retrace Megan’s steps, going to places she visited and reading through her diary entries in the hopes of gleaning some clues, but what he finds is way more than he bargained for.
Written in a style reminiscent of the classic hardboiled detective pulp stories, Reanimatrix is a mystery narrative interspersed with tales of the occult and supernatural. This combined with the influence of Lovecraftian themes makes for an entertaining read, though admittedly I felt the pacing stumbled a little due to the book’s unique structure. Divided into multiple parts, the story alternates between Robert and Megan’s perspective and takes a while to get started, and the mystery behind Megan’s “death” does not even come into play until well into the novel. The prose is also very thick, almost like the author is channeling the works of the time, so coupled with the extended introduction I wouldn’t be surprised if some readers might find things rough going at first.
The epistolary format also feels disorganized at times, especially with the random journal entries that feel “inserted” and don’t necessarily have anything to do with the main story. In fact, afterwards I found out that some of them were actually short stories that have appeared in other anthologies. Personally, I had mixed feelings about this. In most cases, these sections added nothing to the overarching plot and I often had to fight the temptation to skim them so that we could get back on track. That said, hardcore Lovecraft fans might appreciate these little detours a lot more than I did, and to be fair, some of the chapters were genuinely interesting, especially when they delved into the gruesome, the macabre, and even the raunchy. This book definitely isn’t for the squeamish, not to mention the handful of over-the-top explicit sex scenes that are sure to raise a few eyebrows.
To be sure though, Reanimatrix is true to the pulp tradition, and as such, there’s a strong element of sensationalism at play here. For me, the pacing was a little inconsistent and the prose a bit hard on the eyes, but I loved the atmosphere and characterization of the two main leads. Robert and Megan’s twisted tale of love and un-death is guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, and the nod to the scary works and worlds of H.P. Lovecraft is also a clever touch. Pete Rawlik does a fine job subverting the genre while also paying loving homage with this novel of weird science, occult horror, and monstrous trappings, and if that sounds like something you would enjoy, then you’re definitely in for a special treat.
Book Review: We Eat Our Own by Kea Wilson
Posted on October 13, 2016 16 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Literary
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Scribner (September 6, 2016)
Length: 320 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
So, I’ve never seen Cannibal Holocaust. Its huge cult following and legacy as a definitive film in the exploitation horror genre notwithstanding, I already know that kind of movie is not my bag, and my queasiness from viewing its Wikipedia page alone is confirmation enough of that. And yet, when I saw the description of this book I was immediately intrigued, especially by the part about the story being inspired by the true events surrounding the making of the film. If you aren’t familiar with the controversy there, when Cannibal Holocaust came out in the early 80s it achieved massive notoriety for its gruesome and violent content, but also when it came to light that there were unsavory practices on set that proved quite disturbing.
We Eat Our Own is essentially the novelized incarnation of that story. It tells of an unnamed struggling actor, only referred to as his on-screen name “Richard”, getting a call from his agent out of the blue about a once in a lifetime opportunity—an Italian art film director is in need of a new lead because his original actor quit right on the tarmac after seeing the script. This could be the big break “Richard” needs, but the catch is, he’ll need to pack up and leave right this instant. The rest of the crew are already shooting in the Amazon rainforest, and production is already behind schedule and over-budget. The plane to Bogotá leaves from the airport in six hours; just be on it.
Not long after “Richard” arrives on set though, he wonders if he’s made a mistake. The director is a nutcase, who seems to be making things up as he goes along. Many of his methods are unorthodox and unethical, especially when it comes to the treatment of animals on set as well as his attitudes towards the native extras. There is no script, not enough set materials, and hardly any safety. They’re in the middle of nowhere far from civilization, in an area made unstable by the activity of the drug cartels and M-19 guerilla fighters. The jungle itself is oppressive, the air hot and wet, the river brown and soupy and full of parasites. Despite the hours of acting classes and theater school, nothing could have prepared our main character for any of this.
For me, this book was a total surprise, but I’m still trying to decide whether it was a positive or negative one. To be perfectly honest, I’m not even sure what I expected beyond having glimpsed a description of the style as being “literary horror”, but it’s probably safe to say the book turned out even more artsy than I’d anticipated. The prose is innovative and ambitious, bordering almost on experimental. For instance, the author uses a number of unconventional literary devices including the second person narrative for “Richard’s” chapters, often emphasizing just how far out of his depth he is by starting the character’s sections with “Here’s what you don’t know…”, while of course empowering the reader because we are afforded the luxury of seeing the whole picture. As well, we bounce between points-of-view, making the narrative as a whole feel somewhat disjointed and choppy. Dialogue is also presented without the traditional quotation marks, and tends to run together.
The real kicker though, is that while I could grasp the overall gist of what the author was attempting to do, the unusual style sadly had the effect of alienating the reader, taking a lot away from the impact she was hoping to convey. The philosophy and social commentary also gets lost in all the muddled narratives and side plots, and the problem is compounded when none of the characters are all that likeable (though in all fairness, this is by design) or sympathetic enough for me to care about them. Wilson has created an incredible thing here, and it’s especially impressive for a debut novel…but still, something felt missing.
I’ve been pondering how to put my feelings into words, and in the end I think it amounts to this: We Eat Are Own is a book that will be more appreciated for its bold structure and its artistry, rather than for its story or ideas. While the original inspiration behind it is fascinating—and I think Cannibal Holocaust enthusiasts will get a kick out of it—I just never felt connected to the narrative on a level beyond, “Hey, this is a pretty neat premise for a book.” Fans of literary fiction will probably enjoy the thematic parallels to classics like Heart of Darkness and other works that explore the savagery and moral confusion deep within the human condition. Readers of more traditional horror on the other hand, though, are likely better off looking elsewhere.
Waiting on Wednesday 10/12/16
Posted on October 12, 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
The White Road by Sarah Lotz (May 30, 2017 by Mulholland Books)
I’ve been in full Dark Fantasy/Horror-reading mode lately, which probably has a lot to do with my pick this week. But when it comes to fave author Sarah Lotz, the fact that she has an upcoming book is reason enough to get excited.
“A cutting-edge thriller about one man’s quest to discover horror lurking at the top of the world.
Desperate to attract subscribers to his fledgling website, ‘Journey to the Dark Side’, ex-adrenalin junkie and slacker Simon Newman hires someone to guide him through the notorious Cwm Pot caves, so that he can film the journey and put it on the internet. With a tragic history, Cwm Pot has been off-limits for decades, and unfortunately for Simon, the guide he’s hired is as unpredictable and dangerous as the watery caverns that lurk beneath the earth. After a brutal struggle for survival, Simon barely escapes with his life, but predictably, the gruesome footage he managed to collect down in the earth’s bowels goes viral. Ignoring the warning signs of mental trauma, and eager to capitalize on his new internet fame, Simon latches onto another escapade that has that magic click-bait mix of danger and death – a trip to Everest. But up above 8000 feet, in the infamous Death Zone, he’ll need more than his dubious morals and wits to guide him, especially when he uncovers the truth behind a decade-old tragedy – a truth that means he might not be coming back alive. A truth that will change him – and anyone who views the footage he captures – forever.”
Book Review: The Librarians and the Lost Lamp by Greg Cox
Posted on October 11, 2016 21 Comments
The Librarians and The Lost Lamp by Greg Cox
Genre: Action/Adventure, Fantasy
Series: The Librarians
Publisher: Tor Books (October 11, 2016)
Author Info: www.gregcox-author.com
With thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer! I am not a librarian and had not seen the television series prior to reading this book, but now that I have read it, I’m going to remedy at least one of these things!
Flynn Carsen used to be the one and only Librarian in a long line of those tasked with protecting the world from the magic hidden within the pages of our favourite books. Ten years ago, he went up against the villainous Forty Thieves to stop them from accessing the powers of Aladdin’s Lamp. A decade later, Carsen is no longer alone in his duties, as he is joined by a new generation of Librarians, and their Guardian, who must once again save the world from the Forty and a djinn who’d really like to bust out of his cage…
I had not even heard of this series before (thanks a lot, Canadian television) prior to receiving this book, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but Cox quickly sets the tone with the introduction of Carsen, the quirky and charming Librarian who gallivants around the world in a tweed suit. He doesn’t exactly sound formidable, especially considering what he’s up against, and as the story progresses, we see that his skills are mostly limited to his vast knowledge of books. But we’ve all known how surprisingly cool librarians can really be and what they bring to the adventure table, after Evie made her proclamation and proved her worth in The Mummy.
Flip to the future, where the new group of Librarians bring some other interesting skills to their role, with characters that don’t fit the typical mould of either the librarian, or art historian, mathematician, or world class thief, as well as the former military officer who protects them. But of course they work together well enough to save the day and offer a lot of fun for the reader while doing so.
While I was expecting magic and fantasy to feature prominently in the story, what with Exaclibur showing up early on, I was extremely pleased with the inclusion of historical events and geographical details, many of which are very much relevant now. In particular, when Carsen’s adventure takes him to Baghdad, there is ample time spent on the city’s rich cultural history in juxtaposition with the destruction that has been wrought by war.
Like I said, I’m no librarian myself, but I’d like to think that actual librarians would appreciate the fun–which is why I’ve now suggested the series to my librarian friends and will definitely be checking it out myself.
Audiobook Review: Forsaken Skies by D. Nolan Clark
Posted on October 10, 2016 15 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Forsaken Skies by D. Nolan Clark
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1 of The Silence
Publisher: Hachette Audio (September 6, 2016)
Length: 20 hrs and 5 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Jack Hawkins
It’s Seven Samurai set to a backdrop of a rollicking space opera in D. Nolan Clark’s (pseudonym of horror writer David Wellington) Forsaken Skies, the first book of The Silence series. This is the kind of science fiction story I love listening to in audio, so I was grateful to be offered the audiobook version to review.
From the depths of space comes a new enemy, and their first victim is a remote planet called Niraya, home to colony of peaceful farmers and religious exiles. In a desperate gambit, Elder McRae and Aspirant Roan stowaway on a freighter bound for the Hexus space hub in the hopes of finding help. When the two women arrive though, it’s to apathy and apologetic shrugs. Worse, they are even swindled by an unscrupulous officer named Lieutenant Maggs, who would have gotten away with his scam too had it not for the intervention of two good Samaritans, legendary pilot Aleister Lanoe and orbital traffic controller Tannis Valk.
Lanoe had happened to be on the Hexus after pursuing a suspected murderer to the space hub. The fugitive, a young man named Thom, had indeed killed his own father, but purportedly in self-defense. Feeling for the kid, Lanoe decides to take him under his wing. No one had any clue though, that the boy’s actions would precipitate a chain of events culminating into an adventure of such epic proportions, because struck by Elder McRae and Roan’s plight, Lanoe also decides to come to the aid of the Nirayans. He immediately recruits the help of a couple more buddies from back in the war, including his old flame Bettina Zhang as well as a Marine named Ehta. With Maggs, Valk, and Thom also on board, their group makes for a pretty ragtag crew, but with years of battle experience and piloting skills between them, Niraya may yet have a chance against their cold, ruthless foes.
For the first book of a new series, Forsaken Skies sure knows how to kick things off with style. It is an action-filled space adventure, and yet the story is notable for its extremely detailed look at its group of characters. This is one of the main reasons why the book runs so long. While the author presents a scenario where a helpless planet is under an imminent threat, he also wants the readers to really get to know his heroes, so the story takes its time shining a light on each of our key players.
For character-oriented readers who are looking for more than just a wham-bam adventure, this may be the best thing about this book. Hands down, my favorite part was the intro, watching the tangled lives of all the characters gradually converge. The introduction to each person may seem rather slapdash at first—everyone was so different, and events felt randomly thrown out and disjointed—but rest assured, everything will ultimately come together like pieces of a puzzle. Once the connections started to form, and the relationships began to make sense, I was hooked.
If you want things to move quickly though, then this might not be a book for you. While it has its fair share of space battles and disaster sequences, this isn’t exactly a story where heart-thumping action sequences will come flying at you around every corner either. Instead, much of it is given to developing the characters and their relationships, examining their backstories and how their pasts have shaped who they are now. Like I said, this is very much a novel that focuses on characters. It likes to slow down every now and then to build on them, and I won’t lie, as much as I love character development, there were times I just wanted things to move along. I concede, maybe this book could have been edited down a little. It made me glad I was reviewing the audio edition though, since any parts that dragged were probably offset by the fact I was listening and not reading the physical print.
And speaking of the audio format, the narration for the audiobook of Forsaken Skies is excellent. For a book with this many characters, my main concern for the audio was whether or not I could distinguish who was speaking, but narrator Jack Hawkins laid my worries to rest almost immediately with his deft handling of dialogue. He had a distinct voice for everyone—Lanoe had a certain accent, for example, and Maggs had a cocky inflection that was perfect for his character—and there was never any confusion who was talking, even in scenes where multiple people were gathered and having a conversation. Hawkins may have been another new-to-me narrator, but going forward, I’ll definitely be on the lookout for his future performances.
Final verdict? When I first saw the runtime of Forsaken Skies, it did strike me as a bit long compared to similar offerings in the same genre. I later came to realize it was because so much of the book was about giving a thoroughly detailed picture of all the characters—and there are quite a few of them. This does draw things out and slows down the pace, robbing the situation of its urgency somewhat, but if you like space operas that are more than just plain action though, featuring characters you get to know and care about, this might be worth a read. The audiobook and Jack Hawkin’s talented narration also adds an extra layer of humanity to the characters, so if you are considering the audio edition, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
YA Weekend: Like A River Glorious by Rae Carson
Posted on October 9, 2016 15 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Like A River Glorious by Rae Carson
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Series: Book 2 of The Gold Seer Trilogy
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (September 27, 2016)
Length: 432 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I was super excited to read this sequel to Walk on Earth a Stranger, and not least because the first book was one of my favorite Young Adult reads of last year. Knowing how rare it is for a series to strike gold twice though (pun intended) I wasn’t surprised to find that I didn’t find Like A River Glorious quite as earth-shattering as its predecessor, but it was still an excellent sequel and a fun YA fantasy western.
At the end of Walk on Earth a Stranger, a novel which takes place in the midst of the great California Gold Rush, protagonist Leah “Lee” Westfall and the survivors of her party had managed to reach their destination at last. They’d wasted no time in settling in and staking their claims, and thanks to Lee’s remarkable secret, she and her friends have done pretty well for themselves.
After careful consideration though, Lee decides to let her trusted circle in on how she’s been helping them find the best plots. The truth is that she has a mysterious magical ability to sense gold in the environment around her, and being in gold-rich California, her powers have been practically humming within her. However, Lee also wanted to come clean to her friends to warn them that being close to her may have its own dangers. Her uncle Hiram, who knows about her secret, is still hunting her and wants to use her gold sense to his advantage. He had already killed Lee’s parents, and now she’s afraid that she’s put everyone associated with her at risk too.
Lee had good reason to be worried. Despite their best efforts to remain discreet, news of Lee and her group’s success begins to spread, and it’s just a matter of time before Hiram tracks them down. Unwilling to put her friends through more pain and grief, Lee ultimately decides to take matters into her own hands and begins to plot a plan to confront her uncle.
First, the good stuff: Readers who felt that the first book did not have enough “fantasy” in it will be a lot happier with this sequel. Lee’s gold sense plays a bigger role this time around, and has a much greater impact on the outcome of the story. Her power is also evolving, growing stronger somehow. And as to why this is happening, that’s a mystery Lee is also trying to figure out for herself.
Then there’s the romance. While it wasn’t a big part of the first book, Rae Carson did plant a seed of something between Lee and her best friend Jefferson, and those feelings finally come to fruition. The pacing of the romance remains slow-burn though, which for me is a breath of fresh air especially after having read a string of YA novels featuring instalove, or female protagonists who immediately hurl themselves at a guy the moment he shows a hint of interest. I liked how Lee kept a level head despite her growing feelings for Jeff, keeping in mind what she would be gaining and sacrificing for marriage in an era where women have little power. It may seem like a rather cold, unromantic way to think about love, but it does show that Lee is mature, independent and insightful—traits that I admire in a protagonist.
Despite the book’s strengths though, I did have some issues with the depiction of Lee and her friends, especially given the historical setting and social climate of the times. I understand that, especially in a YA novel, we need our protagonists to be the good guys to cheer for and look up to, and true to form, Lee is heroine who wants to buck the system and fight against injustices. The problem is that it’s not subtle at all, and it’s immersion-breaking when looking at this book through a historical fiction lens. When it comes to historical novels I think it’s important to look at how context shapes character motivations and attitudes, and while I can understand why a lot of Lee’s experiences would shape her opinions on land ownership, slavery, religion, women’s rights, etc., a lot of the actions of her and her settler friends do come across a bit revisionist. At some point in this novel, Lee also started to feel too much to me like a present-day teenage character transported to the 1850s, but this probably didn’t bother me as much as it would have if this had been an adult novel.
Other than that minor issue, I honestly have no complaints. Overall I really enjoyed Like A River Glorious, and like the first book this one was also blessedly free of pesky cliffhangers. I like how both installments have so far ended with all its major story conflicts resolved, while still being a part of a greater narrative. This is another chapter in Lee and Jefferson’s lives, and I loved the happy conclusion. Looking forward to where the next book will take them.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on October 8, 2016 42 Comments
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every other weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I round up what I’ve read since the last update and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
I’m back from my trip to Cape Cod, where we got to sneak in some time at the beach on probably what were the last few warm days of the year.
Bass River Beach, South Yarmouth, MA
The kids loved it. They had a fun time with their grandmother and I got some nice downtime to relax, catching up with plenty of reading and also getting lots of audiobook listening done during the long stretches of driving. And when I got home, the post office delivered all my held mail and sure enough there were some exciting books waiting upon my return…
Received for Review
Huge thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and for more details and full descriptions of the books, be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages!
The Facefaker’s Game by Chandler J. Birch – Pitched as perfect for fans of Patrick Rothfuss and Scott Lynch, there are certainly some high expectations for this fantasy novel, but I’m looking forward to digging in, probably sometime later this month. My thanks to Simon & Schuster/Simon451 for the finished copy!
Dreadnought by April Daniels – This was an awesome arrival from Diversion Books (and the fact that they send me surprise mystery teas certainly doesn’t hurt!) Not only was I thrilled to learn all about this upcoming novel, it’s also going to be an excellent #WeNeedDiverseBooks title for readers looking for YA titles with LGBTQIA themes. Dreadnought is a superhero story starring a transgender teen facing the confusion of coming out while also struggling to master her powers in order to save the world. Thank you so much to the wonderful team at DB for introducing me to this amazing looking book and I can’t wait to check it out.
The Apothecary’s Curse by Barbara Barnett – Thank you to Pyr Books for this finished copy! They’re really hitting it out of the park this year with interesting and very unique books, and this Victorian era inspired steampunk is definitely calling out to me. I’m hoping to read it soon.
The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst – I just love, love, love the sound of this one, and the tantalizing draw of the mythical forest setting is especially irresistible. Thank you Harper Voyager for the finished copy!
The Dreaming Hunt by Cindy Dees and Bill Flippin – The arrival of this one reminded me that I still need to get caught up with the first book. This is a series I’ve been interested in for a long time. With thanks to Tor for the finished copy.
The Rains by Gregg Hurwitz – Also courtesy of Tor comes this apocalyptic YA horror novel featuring what looks to be zombies. I didn’t even realize until I saw the finished copy that there are actually a pair of icky, rotten undead hands reaching for the characters at the bottom of the cover! Yikes! I’m going to try very hard to fit this one in for October, because it sounds like a lot of fun.
Pathfinder Tales: Shy Knives by Sam Sykes – I’ve been really enjoying these Pathfinder books, but even if I hadn’t been getting into the series I’d like to think this one would have jumped out at me. A Pathfinder novel by the wickedly funny Sam Sykes? Yes, a million times yes, please. Thank you, Tor Books!
Unhonored by Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman – One final finished copy from the good folks at Tor, and it is the second book in the Hickmans’ Nightbird series. I am still deciding whether or not to tackle it since I had mixed feelings about book one, but if I have time I’ll probably go for it! My thanks to the publisher.
Black Feathers edited by Ellen Datlow – This was an unsolicited arrival, but color me intrigued! Being a huge bird nerd, naturally I’m drawn to anything feathery, including the darker side of the avian world. Some of the creepiest, most horrifying stories and movies revolve around birds, which, if you think about it, is actually kind of weird and cool–much like this book. Edited by renowned anthologist Ellen Datlow, this collection features writers of horror and dark fantasy like Paul Tremblay, Seanan McGuire, Alison Littlewood, Stephen Graham Jones, and that’s only a sample of the few names I could remember from my quick gander (heh!) at the author line-up. Huge thanks to Pegasus Books for the ARC.
At the Sign of Triumph by David Weber – This was a surprise arrival, and though I’ve always wanted to read Weber, gah, not sure I could start with book nine of a series! The Safehold saga is one I’ve heard a lot about though, and it’s actually on my list of series I hope to start one day. My thanks to Tor Books for the ARC.
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo – Audiobook, with thanks to Audible Studios. One of the main reasons I decided to go with the audio version over the print is because of the multiple cast production. They’ve brought on eight narrators for this book, and I just adore audiobooks where each POV character has his or her own voice for the chapters. I’m really excited to start listening, and hopefully by the time this post goes live, I will already be well into this.
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence – This book isn’t out until next spring and it’ll probably be some time before I start reading, but I just could not resist requesting when I saw it pop up on NetGalley. A new Mark Lawrence book always has that effect on me! My thanks to Ace Books!
Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop – Another book I could not resist requesting, but I could hardly be blamed for my impulsiveness, right? So what if I’ve essentially destroyed my NetGalley stats this week? This is the final book of The Others series and I am like GIMME NOW. Thank you to Roc Books!
The Mirror’s Truth by Michael R. Fletcher – Well, this is certainly a Bookshelf Roundup full of exciting eARCs, because this week I also received this second novel in the Manifest Delusions series. Beyond Redemption is one of the best grimdark books I have ever read so I was bummed when I heard the publisher wasn’t picking up the sequel. Thankfully the author has decided to self-published, and I was thrilled to be offered a review copy. If you haven’t checked out the first book yet, I highly highly highly recommend it! Do yourself a favor, and go read it now. You can be sure I’ll also be preordering this bad boy as soon as it becomes available.
Passing Strange by Ellen Klages and Cold Counsel by Chris Sharp – More novellas, courtesy of Tor.com! Both of these covers are gorgeous, especially the one for Passing Strange which really captures that nostalgic vibe of the 1940s, which is when this book takes place. Cold Counsel also looks great, because who doesn’t love trolls?
Reviews
Review roundup time! The Last Days of Jack Sparks is featured as a top read, and if you’re still looking for spine-chilling read this Halloween, I simply cannot think of a more perfect book. The Bloodsworn was also a stunning conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. I highly recommend the series if you enjoy fantasy and adventure mixed with a healthy dose of romance.
The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp (5 of 5 stars)
The Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey (4.5 of 5 stars)
Penric’s Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold (4 of 5 stars)
Penric and the Shaman by Lois McMaster Bujold (4 of 5 stars)
The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis (4 of 5 stars)
Of Sand and Malice Made by Bradley P. Beaulieu (3.5 of 5 stars)
Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Rift Uprising by Amy S. Foster (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
An old rock pier at Falmouth, Cape Cod
I managed to fit in a lot of reading on my trip, and as you can see I’m also well into my “Read all the horror books” phase to get into the spirit of the season. Some of these books have already been reviewed; stay tuned because the rest will be up 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!
The BiblioSanctum 