Week 2: The Lies of Locke Lamora Read-Along
Posted on April 14, 2016 9 Comments
“Come along on an epic adventure! Flights (of fancy), accommodation (ethical) and food (for the imagination) included. Poison not guaranteed. All travel is at your own risk. Late nights, sore eyes, and an overwhelming desire to spend hours in the kitchen creating something wonderful may ensue. All belongings are the responsibility of the traveller; travel will not be reimbursed if limbs are lost to sharks, or hearts to thieves.”
You are cordially invited to join The Lies of Locke Lamora read-along. Our itinerary is as follows:
- April 7th: Prologue and Book 1 – hosted by Imyril at X+1
- April 14th: Book 2, Ch4-6 – hosted by Imyril at X+1
- April 21st: Book 2, Ch7-8 – hosted by Wendy at The Bibliosanctum
- April 28th: Book 4 and Epilogue – hosted by Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow
1) Last week we saw the Capa in theatrical mode taking young Locke’s oath on his enchanted shark’s tooth. This week we see the former scholar carving up the surviving Full Crowns and swearing vengeance on the Grey King. What do you think of his responses to the Grey King’s assaults?
Wendy: His response is most certainly understandable. Considering the epic long con he initiated to take up this role in the first place, he knows exactly what is at stake and has every right to be afraid. His paranoia is justified, but it has moved him beyond reason and he is showing weakness in trying to keep himself and his family safe, as everyone else around him seems to be aware. It was frustrating to read the scenes with him torturing the member’s of Tesso’s gang when they obviously didn’t know what happened. But my frustration comes from knowing that there are ways to delete memories, or drugs that can make you lose time. Alchemy and magic are known to exist, but do people like Capa Barsavi know what those things can truly do?
Tiara: The Capa is paranoid, but I guess anyone would be. In our reading last week, the Grey King didn’t even seem to register on anyone’s–or well, at least the Gentlemen Bastards’–radar. In the Bastards view, the Grey King seemed… I don’t want to say harmless, but he was mostly a non-issue to them despite the fact that there seemed to be some stirrings. However, it seems that the Grey King has been ruffling feathers more than they thought, and it’s now starting to spill over into their business as shown with the Capa. I felt a little perplexed like Locke as I was reading the section where Nazca was trying to explain to Locke just how far gone her father was since the reader is only learning as Locke is learning. Macbeth came to mind as I was reading the Capa’s paranoid ramblings. It was like listening to a Macbeth rant. Also, nothing summed up my current (this could change) thoughts better than these lines from Macbeth:“Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble […] By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. “ Let’s see what that something is.
2) We get our first glimpse of magic this week. What do you make of the Bondsmagi (and especially of the Falconer and Vestris)?
Wendy: My immediate thought was of the Technomages in Babylon 5 whom I have just recently met in my first time watch of the series. Alchemy permeates this world, as well as ‘alien’ architecture. I get the sense that there is a lot that the vast majority don’t know about these things and those in the know could be using that ignorance to their advantage. Basically, at the moment, I believe that the Grey King and the Bondmagi are masters of sleight of hand, alchemy, and illusion. If you look too closely, you might spot the man behind the curtain, but because their reputation is so solidly steeped in blood and fear, no one is going to be looking at anything except the direction they are running, which would hopefully be far, far away.
Tiara: First, let me say how much I LOL’d at the memory of Chains telling Locke to be deferential to a Bondsmage if he should ever come face to face to one, and the first thing Locke says to the first Bondsmage he meets (in the present day) is: “Nice bird, asshole.” Then, when I think it couldn’t get worse, he follows up with, “So eat hemp and shit rope, Bondsmage.” Oh my God, Locke, can you not? I mean, I felt pretty impressed with the gall because fuck that guy that’s why, but Locke, no! I don’t like this the Falconer or his damned bird right now. So, no matter how much I typically tend to like (and be impressed by) mages because magic, I reserve my right to be a petty bitch right now. I mean, Kanye West level petty. I’m with Bug on this one. Let’s get to poisoning fools. Yeah, I can go from Shakespeare to petty in less that five seconds flat.
3) The Gentleman Bastards make plans for a hasty exit, but resist the urge to drop everything and go, because reasons. Seemingly entirely reasonable reasons. Do you think our boys are right to stay?
Wendy: Locke seems to have learned his lessons well from Chains and others and understands that in this case, the cut and run might buy time for the moment, but he’s become very good at looking at the consequences such actions will bring upon himself and the others. He’s even factored in the need to continue with the current con they are working on — not just because they want more money (well they do, but not out of need), but because he wants to ensure a solid conclusion to this job. It might seem silly to stay when the situation is so volatile, more so when the Grey King actually pulls Locke into it in the most unexpected way, but the result of running away would leave Locke in ignorance of what is going on, and I don’t get the feeling the Locke deals well when he can’t analyze all the bits and pieces of the puzzle to determine how to make those pieces work for the Gentlemen Bastards.
Tiara: I come from the Master Shake Aqua Teen Hunger Force School of Philosophy when it comes to things like this:
“Master Shake: I’m goin’ to Mexico, until all this bill business chills out.”
Except replace “bills” with this undesired scenario. Any undesired scenarios. All the undesired scenarios. However, there wouldn’t be much of a story if they ran. I can’t decide if I think they’re smart or foolish not to run. I feel like they’re being pretty foolish, but at least there are some half-assed contingencies in place if things don’t go as planned. I’m sure things aren’t going to go as planned. Why would they?
4) We’ve now seen a lot more Eldren architecture, including the spectacular rooftop ‘rose garden’ Don Maranzalla trains his students in. Do you think the Elderglass is a creation of magic, science or something else entirely?
Wendy: It seems to me that the Eldren understood science well enough to make things like appear magical to those who don’t understand the intricacies of such construction.
Tiara: Right now, I don’t know what I think about it. It could be some amalgam of both. I feel like, at this point, it’s one of those unexplained things that we may or may not find the origin of in the long run.
Book Review: Sawbones by Melissa Lenhardt
Posted on April 13, 2016 28 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Book 1 of Sawbones
Publisher: Redhook (March 29, 2016)
Length: 358 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Sawbones was a book that caught my eye the moment I saw it, because HELLO! Western setting? An independent, determined woman doctor as its protagonist? Only problem was, its genre was straight-up historical fiction without even the ittiest bittiest hint of a speculative element, and I was already being crushed under the weight of review books that I’ve committed myself to on behalf of my Sci-fi & Fantasy book blog. Reluctantly, I decided to give Sawbones a pass at the time, and probably wouldn’t have thought about it again if it weren’t for a strong recommendation I received weeks later, from someone whose bookish opinions I highly respect. Now I’m on the other side of reading it to say how utterly thankful and glad I am to have given this one a try after all, because it was damn brilliant and I absolutely loved it!
The book’s blurb likens the story to “Outlander meets post-Civil War unrest” which is a comparison I find both very appropriate and also a little misleading. Like I said, Sawbones is completely devoid of any magic or sci-fi, time traveling or otherwise, but that said, I believe it would indeed appeal to fans of Diana Gabaldon’s series who might be looking for a similar blend of romance and adventure set in a very harsh time and place, whose brutal realities we are not spared from at all. It is especially hard for our protagonist Dr. Catherine Bennett, a New York woman practicing medicine in the 1870s in spite of those who regard her profession as scandalous and highly unseemly for someone of her sex.
That is why when Catherine is falsely accused of murder, she finds little support in her societal circles and is forced to go on the run with a $500 bounty on her head. And for anyone looking to start a new life or to disappear, the answer lies west. With her loyal maid Maureen in tow, Catherine escapes to Texas and joins the Warren wagon train under the new identity of Dr. Laura Elliston. Even though female doctors are rare enough to draw attention, Catherine—now Laura—loves her work too much to give it up, and hopes to start fresh with her own practice out in the uncharted territories of Colorado where no one will know her face.
But of course, things don’t go as planned. Those who already know what became of the Warren wagon train can probably guess, but if not, I’m not going to spoil the details of the plot’s early bombshell. I think up until this point, I was still expecting a whole different kind of book, but afterwards it finally hit me what I was really in for. Suffice to say, if you’re like me and picked this one up thinking it would be your typical lighthearted historical romance, you’re going to be in for a huge surprise. To tell the truth, the first 20% of the novel didn’t impress me overly much, but when things took a graphically violent, traumatic, and heart-wrenching turn for our protagonist, that was the moment I realized the kind of story author Melissa Lenhardt has set out to tell, and she’s not pulling any punches. This book had my full attention after that.
The first thing you should know about Sawbones is the merciless, no holds barred portrayal of life on the frontier. Lenhardt confesses to taking a few minor liberties with history in order to make the story work, but a lot of the people, places and events in this book were real. Much research and effort was clearly put in to bring the setting and historical era to life in all its harshness. Racism was rampant. Women had very little say about anything, even when it came to their own business. Settlers in this part of the country were frequently raided by native tribes and white bandits alike. People were raped, killed, mutilated, abducted and abused in the worst of ways. The injured often did not survive, succumbing to infection, bad weather, poor nutrition, or any number of factors that could doom you. This book does not gloss over any of those gory, gut-twisting details.
The second thing you should know is that the characters are amazing. Told from Laura’s point of view, readers are accorded a real treat going deep into the mind of an unconventional protagonist who has followed her heart and given up so much to keep pursuing a dream. Her personal growth as a character follows a riveting arc made even more complex by the subtler themes, which come full circle by the end of the book when Laura is forced to acknowledge that life is not so clear-cut in the isolated wilderness of the west. As a doctor, her principle tenet is to save lives and do no harm, but when push comes to shove, she is also capable of making the difficult choices. Even in her stubbornness, she is likeable and relatable, and I wanted to see her succeed.
There’s also a fantastic love story, featuring a forbidden romance that is at once passionate and convincing. From the moment Laura saves the life of Captain William Kindle, they set off an undeniable chemistry. I enjoyed their sweet interactions and the well-written dialogue between them, making it easy to get on board with their blossoming relationship. Kindle himself is a dedicated and honorable soldier, good to his men and kind to Laura, so I’m glad that the romantic interest in this novel ended up being someone worthy of our protagonist’s devotion and respect.
It was this mix of loveliness with the book’s vicious, ruthless side that made Sawbones so compelling. I must emphasize again that this one is not for the faint of heart, but if you have a strong stomach for some of the more unpleasant things I described in this review, you might find plenty to like in this splendid hidden gem of a historical novel. The story is pretty much self-contained, even if the ending felt just a tad abrupt, but I was ecstatic to find out that there will be a follow-up called Blood Oath coming out later this year. You can be sure I’ll be devouring it as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Waiting on Wednesday 04/13/16
Posted on April 13, 2016 12 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
Star Wars: Bloodline by Claudia Gray (May 3, 2016 from Del Rey)
I’m a big Star Wars fan, and I make it no secret that I enjoy reading the tie-in novels. With the new canon, I had originally planned only to hit up the adult titles, but last year I ended up picking up Claudia Gray’s young adult Star Wars: Lost Stars due to the interesting things I heard about it and it turned out to be one of the best Star Wars books I’ve ever read. When I found out Gray will be penning another SW novel (not a YA this time) I immediately put it on my reading list. Star Wars: Bloodline will be hitting shelves later this spring on May 3, just in time for Star Wars Day.
“WITNESS THE BIRTH OF THE RESISTANCE
When the Rebellion defeated the Empire in the skies above Endor, Leia Organa believed it was the beginning to a lasting peace. But after decades of vicious infighting and partisan gridlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope seems like a distant memory.
Now a respected senator, Leia must grapple with the dangers that threaten to cripple the fledgling democracy — from both within and without. Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. Desperate to take action, senators are calling for the election of a First Senator. It is their hope that this influential post will bring strong leadership to a divided galaxy.
As the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia faces with distrust the prospect of any one person holding such a powerful position — even when supporters suggest Leia herself for the job. But a new enemy may make this path Leia’s only option. For at the edges of the galaxy, a mysterious threat is growing…”
Book Review: The Palace of Glass by Django Wexler
Posted on April 12, 2016 11 Comments
A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Palace of Glass by Django Wexler
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Children’s
Series: Book 3 of The Forbidden Library
Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books (April 12, 2016)
Length: 368 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Middle Grade fiction really isn’t an age category I delve into all that often, but two years ago I discovered The Forbidden Library and never looked back. At the time, I was already a big fan of Django Wexler’s adult epic fantasy series The Shadow Campaigns, so I thought I would try more of his work even if I’m not the target audience. Now we find ourselves three books into the series, and I am completely hooked.
The Palace of Glass puts us right back on track, beginning with Alice’s newfound resolve to do something about her situation. For one thing, a terrible truth has been revealed to her; now she knows that “Uncle” Geryon, the master Reader who took her in, actually had a role in the disappearance of her father. Stricken with grief, Alice begins to plot her revenge.
But Geryon is a powerful Reader, and Alice is just an apprentice. To have any chance to succeed at all, Alice will need someone to teach her some new tricks. Enter the labyrinthine called Ending, the mysterious giant black cat that guards the estate’s forbidden library. Ending offers to tell Alice how to trap Geryon, but it involves a spell from a book rumored to be kept in the notorious Palace of Glass, a prison for dangerous magic.
When Geryon announces that he is leaving on a week-long trip, Alice decides to make her move, secretly traveling through a portal book to begin making her way to the Palace of Glass. However, her task may be more difficult that she first thought. Geryon’s sphere of influence is vast, and there’s no telling what would happen to all the magical creatures under his control, even if Alice does manage to take her master out of the picture.
After the wild ride that was The Mad Apprentice, which was a relatively self-contained adventure set in a twisty dark labyrinth, The Palace of Glass once again sees Alice back to doing what she does best—jumping through portal books, discovering new worlds, and meeting new races of magical beings. A lot happens in this book, as the plot surges ahead to take us through the molten tunnels of the fire sprites to the frozen kingdoms of the ice giants before taking us into the Palace of Glass, where our protagonist must face the challenges that await her. But that’s not all! The excitement continues to build until it reaches its peak at the end when Alice is forced to take a stand, leading to the book’s final epic showdown. There’s no coming back from some of the huge decisions she makes, and I’m thrilled at the overall climactic tone of this novel.
Plus, Alice gets to forge some new alliances along the way. First, she meets Flicker, a young flame sprite. Here, Wexler’s sheer imagination is on full display again as he comes up with creative ways to describe Flicker’s appearance and culture, such as using fire metaphors to explain the way the fire sprites procreate, or even likening a clearing of a throat to a the sound of flames crackling in the hearth. Then there’s Erdrodr, the ice giant girl who would prefer to draw rather than fight, much to the chagrin of her warrior mother. Alice, Flicker, and Erdrodr have some great moments in this book together, including the time where they find out that turtles are the world’s biggest jerks.
The Palace of Glass comes together in a great mix of humor and adventure, but there are some deeper, more sobering themes to it as well. Alice of course continues to grow as a character, asking the important questions about her powers and responsibilities as a Reader. Now that she knows Geryon can’t be trusted, she’s also starting to understand why Readers are feared by the magical portal community. After all, being able to bind all kinds of exotic creatures to your will and use their magical abilities might sound like a pretty cool idea in practice, but in order to gain the power of a creature, a Reader has to kill it or force it to submit.
Plus, have you ever wondered how some of the creatures—some of which are intelligent, sentient beings—got into their prison books in the first place? The answers revealed in this book are pretty unsettling, involving a cruel tribute system. For the first time, Alice’s eyes are opening to all of this, and she begins to truly think about the morality behind the things Readers do, which is a significant development for her character.
The author has said that The Forbidden Library will be a four-book series, and judging by the way The Palace of Glass ended, I’d say we’re in for some pretty big things in the fourth and final installment, which of course I’ll be reading. Looking forward to getting my hands on the sure to be epic conclusion, I really can’t wait to see how it all ends!
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Forbidden Library (Book 1)
Review of The Mad Apprentice (Book 2)
Exploring the Forbidden Library: An Interview with Django Wexler
Book Review: Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis
Posted on April 11, 2016 23 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Pyr (April 12, 2016)
Length: 300 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
This spring, Masks and Shadows rocketed its way up to my most highly anticipated list. With its themes of palace intrigue, passionate romance, secret conspiracies and dark magic, the book sounded right up my alley and I am pleased to say that Stephanie Burgis’ first adult historical fantasy did not disappoint.
The story takes place in 1779, transporting readers to the extravagant court of Nikolaus I, Prince Esterházy of Hungary. Charlotte is a widowed young baroness, invited to stay at the palace during her mourning period by her sister Sophie, the prince’s mistress. The entire place is also abuzz with the arrival of Europe’s foremost castrato singer Carlo Morelli, here to enjoy the operas and grand musical productions that have made the Eszterháza so famous. Other visitors and guests that have come from afar include a Prussian spy and a notorious alchemist, setting the stage for the main event.
However, tragedy strikes as the prince’s opera troupe loses two of its most important performers. Franz Pichler, another actor, is punished in connection to his colleagues’ disappearance, while Anna, a young maid in Charlotte’s employ is suddenly vaulted to stardom when she is chosen to replace one of the missing singers. A sinister plot is hatching in the hands of a shadowy group at the palace, and as both Charlotte and Carlo are drawn into their mysterious web, the two of them are in turn drawn to each other even though they know deep down that a future together is forbidden. Still, if the threat to the royal family is not stopped, there might not even be a future for anyone at the Eszterháza.
Even though Masks and Shadows features a large cast of characters, it was surprisingly easy to follow along with the story. In fact, the book was a very fast read, thanks to its great plot and smooth pacing. And despite being a historical fiction novel, never once did I feel that the narrative was bogged down by extraneous historical detail. The story’s main focus was on the characters and their relationships, which worked really well for me.
Two of the more prominent players were Charlotte and Carlo, whose interactions provide the basis for the main romantic arc in this novel. Their romance is a deliciously slow-burning one that doesn’t feel like it overshadows the rest of the story, which I found really refreshing. The two of them are also unconventional protagonists, one being a noble woman who has just lost her husband and the other being a common born castrato singer. Despite his incredible talent and fame, few people at court see Carlo past the fact he is a castrated man and his lower status as a performer. Meanwhile, Charlotte is prevented from following her heart by her selfish flake of a little sister, to whom she still feels loyal even though the younger woman treats her like crap. I despised Sophie, and wished that Charlotte had shown more backbone in the face of her sister’s disparaging, but this also underscored how Charlotte’s personality was shaped and why her actions later on in the book are so significant.
Like I said, the romance is just one thread in a story which also features a mystery plot as well as a coming-of-age tale. The speculative element comes in the form of an alchemist’s dark magic and ability to summon entities from another realm, and gradually it is revealed how this plays into the larger picture. Anna the 16-year-old former-maid-turned-opera-singer also has a strong presence throughout the novel, making me think Masks and Shadows might be as much about her as it is about Charlotte. I was impressed at how flawlessly everything came together and resolved the story without leaving any loose ends.
You also don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy the story; I knew next to nothing about this period or the historical figures, but I had a great time with the book all the same. And actually, it was fascinating to learn more about the setting afterwards to find out how much of real history Burgis had incorporated into her story, like how 1779 was indeed a watershed year for famous composer Joseph Haydn, whose principle patron at the time was Nicolaus I, or the fact that the Eszterháza main opera house did burn down that very same year (though the book has a much more interesting explanation for that fire!) There must have been a lot of research devoted to this novel.
On the whole, I was really pleased by the balance. It feels like there’s something for everyone in this enchanting novel, whether you’re a fantasy reader, an enthusiast of European history, or even a music lover. Masks and Shadows is a captivating read with genuine wide appeal, which I’m sure will garner Stephanie Burgis many new fans.
An Artificial Night Read-Along Week No.1
Posted on April 10, 2016 5 Comments
We’re journeying through the third book in the October Daye series. If you’re interested in joining this Read-Along, visit the SF/F Read-Along group for more information and to join the discussion.
“October “Toby” Daye is a changeling-half human and half fae-and the only one who has earned knighthood. Now she must take on a nightmarish new challenge. Someone is stealing the children of the fae as well as mortal children, and all signs point to Blind Michael. Toby has no choice but to track the villain down-even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael’s realm, home of the Wild Hunt-and no road may be taken more than once. If Toby cannot escape with the children, she will fall prey to the Wild Hunt and Blind Michael’s inescapable power.”
Week 1: Saturday 9th April, Chapters 1-7, hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 2: Saturday 16th April, Chapters 8-17, hosted by Books By Proxy
Week 3: Saturday 23rd April, Chapters 18-24, hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Saturday 30th April, Chapters 25-End, hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
1. The book opens with Toby at a birthday party for Mitch and Stacy’s youngest child, and follows with an early-morning meet-up with Connor. Both scenes serve to keep previously introduced characters in play and show us how life is progressing for Toby, but in very different ways. What do you make of these scenes after all that’s gone before?
Honestly, I am tired of Connor. After three books, that song and dance is starting to get a little old between Connor and Toby. I really tried to sympathize with him because his life is privileged, but he’s obviously not happy. Maybe if I truly believe that he needed a friend and not someone to fall in bed with, I might really feel some sort of sympathy for him.
I was glad to see more about some of Toby’s friends, and I love that her life is moving forward slowly yet surely. It’s nice to see her actually interacting with others and having a life. I know everything isn’t perfect for her, and she still has many threads in her life that’ll eventually need addressing (such as her issues with her own daughter). However, it was nice to see her in such a relaxed setting actually enjoying herself. Also, seeing how she interacted with her friends gave the later scenes more impact because we know how close she is to Stacy and Mitch.
2. As we may have come to expect by now, things rapidly go downhill from there… What are your thoughts right now on this interpretation of the Wild Hunt?
I love the Wild Hunt in stories. One of my favorite interpretations is from The Witcher series. I’m very curious about these children that Blind Michael takes. She’s repeatedly told not to trust them by Luna, so I’m going to assume that she’s going to be faced with some of them later in the book. I was also interested in this idea of using human children as steeds. I’m wondering how that works. It’s mentioned that they’re changed. Does that mean that they’re changed into some kind of beasts? I’m hoping so because I keep laughing at the mental image of fae children riding piggyback on other children. LOL.
FORWARD TRUSTY STEED!
3. And (because it wouldn’t be a Toby read along if I didn’t celebrate him) Tybalt is back! After what was apparently a lengthy absence… What do you suppose kept Tybalt away after the events in A Local Habitation…?
Hello there, Tybalt!
I’m not sure. Maybe since he’s been having all these weird interactions with Toby he decided to take a step back. Maybe he had something important to do. Or maybe he’s a cat and therefore capricious and was probably doing whatever it is that cats do such as sticking themselves in things they shouldn’t be in and sleeping.
This is probably what Tybalt was doing.
4. Back to the real drama – Toby (eventually) gets some answers from Luna after a non-starter meeting with Lily. Everyone’s being mysterious, but Luna is acting especially strangely – as is Sylvester, who is openly unhappy with her about something… Any thoughts? Guesses? Suspicions?
I don’t know what to think quite yet. All I could think is that Luna was acting very, very strange, even after she explained what was going on it seemed really odd. It feels like Toby still isn’t getting a complete story despite knowing that the Wild Hunt is now involved. I’m interested to see where this is going.
“Got it. And you think about what I said. Getting out more couldn’t hurt.”
“With who? Mitch and Stacy have kids, Kerry’s always busy, Julie hates me, and you have a cab to drive.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. How about you call that King of Cats guy I used to see you with? Take him out, get him drunk, and see if you can make him sing karaoke.”
* * *
There are certain basic rules of survival in my world. One of them is that you don’t live to a ripe old age by ignoring the warnings you get from your pets. Cats who live with the fae tend to get a little touched by strangeness, and the things that get that kind of reaction from them are usually looking for worse reactions from me. Reactions such as screaming, running, or going for a weapon. Whoever or whatever was out there probably didn’t intend anything good.
* * *
“I’ve never shopped naked,” I said.“I thought you were my Fetch. Aren’t you supposed to know these things?”
“Of course. I know everything there is to know about you, right up until the universe decided you were destined to die and created me to be your guide.”
“Everything?” I didn’t like the sound of that. There are some things I don’t want anyone to know.
“Everything. From what you got on your sixth birthday to what kind of flowers you leave on Dare’s grave. I even know what you were thinking about Tybalt after you saw him in those red leather pants—”
I held up my hand. “Stop. I believe you.” “I thought you might.”
She smirked, adding, “I didn’t even need to get detailed.”
* * *
One of the stranger tenets of the fae moral code says that the phrase “thank you” implies an obligation beyond the acts already performed and is thus to be avoided at all costs. Faerie is fond of avoiding obligations. I guess that’s part of why the mortal world has always dismissed us as flakes and tricksters; we only thank you if you owe us.
* * *
“Ah,” he said, softly. “I should have known it would be something of the sort.”
Before I had a chance to react, he stepped forward, kissing me on the forehead. “I have to return to my Court and let the parents of the missing ones know that you’ve agreed. I’ll come to you later.”
I stared at him, stunned. “What . . . ?”
“Open roads, Toby. Find our children.” He hesitated like he was about to say something else, but he didn’t; he just turned and walked to the edge of the parking lot.
I don’t know how I feel about all this talk about Ray being crazy. I mean, I don’t doubt that she is, but I haven’t really seen her do anything to make me think that she’s batshit crazy. I’ve only been taking Connor and Toby’s word for it. This excuse of having to tip around Ray is just starting to get old and tired, too, until I really see her doing more than just being overly bitter as she was in the first book.
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #1)
Rosemary and Rue Read-Along Week No.1
Rosemary and Rue Read-Along Week No.2
Rosemary and Rue Read-Along Week No.3
Rosemary and Rue Read-Along Week No.4
A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #2)
A Local Habitation Read-Along Week No.1
A Local Habitation Read-Along Week No.2
A Local Habitation Read-Along Week No.3
A Local Habitation Read-Along Week No.4
YA Weekend: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Posted on April 10, 2016 19 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Rebel of the Sands
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (March 8, 2016)
Length: 314 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Rebel of the Sands was my most highly anticipated Young Adult novel of this spring, and I’m glad to report that it didn’t disappoint. Despite having an overly simplistic storyline and the second half ultimately giving in to predictability, I had a great time with this energetic and audacious debut from Alwyn Hamilton.
The book begins with one of my all-time favorite tropes, featuring our main character pulling off the good old girl-disguised-as-a-guy strategy to enter a shooting competition, where she hopes to use her excellent sharpshooting skills to win her the big cash prize. Her whole life, Amani has been scrimping and saving for the day she will finally escape her dead-end town of Dustwalk and the nasty relatives she has to live with after her mother, the only relative she’s ever known, was executed by hanging. The shooting competition was supposed to be her ticket to a new life, but as it turned out, the outcome was rigged and Amani is forced to go home without her winnings—though not before getting to know one of her rivals, a good looking foreigner named Jin.
Jin, however, turns out to be a wanted man on the run from the army. Back in Dustwalk, Amani goes out on a limb to protect him, resulting in her becoming a fugitive as well. She ends up getting her escape after all, as the two of them take off for the desert ahead of their pursuers, but their trek out among the dunes does not go as smoothly as they had hoped it would, and every setback they face is a chance for their enemy to draw closer.
The beginning of this story is fantastic. All at once I was introduced to a spunky main protagonist, an incredible new world with rich with history and lore, as well as Hamilton’s smooth and elegant prose. Amani is a very likeable character, wearing her talent with guns proudly but not arrogantly; her abilities are more about her way of life, and less about her being a special case. She also has a very good reason to want to leave Dustwalk beyond the fact she has no future there, because a woman who doesn’t get married after they come of age might as well be next to useless. Amani is trying to escape her social circumstances and to avoid being just another one of her uncle’s wives, so I found it easy to root for her.
I also loved the world-building. I’ve long been a fan of western-fantasy settings, though Rebel of the Sands is taking it one step further by combining it with an Arabian Nights feel, plunging readers into world of harsh sun and sand. Supernatural beings like the Djinn as well as magical horses fill these pages, and I was delighted to learn about the mythology that the author created for her book. Mortals endowed with special powers exist as well, and these cases are explained in a very imaginative way, by pulling in elements from legend and mixing them with Hamilton’s own touches.
Around the halfway mark though, the story returns to a well-trodden path, becoming more predictable and filled with clichés. It was very obvious that all the information and history dropped in at the beginning of the story was going to come into play later in the books. There were absolutely no surprises at this point, and the twist that came later on fell flat on its face because anyone paying attention could have seen it coming a million miles away. The lack of originality in to the plot was a little disappointing, but that might be the only reason why I’m not rating this book higher because I tend to be harsher than most on YA stories with predictable outcomes.
Otherwise, I can’t deny that Rebel of the Sands was a lot of fun, and I blew through this novel like a whirlwind because it was such an easy read. While the overarching plotline might not be the freshest, the book’s world itself was breathtakingly unique, and I had a really good time following its lovely cast of characters. Not much news right now on the sequel to this first installment of what is to be a planned trilogy, but I’m definitely on board for more.
YA Audiobook Weekend: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Posted on April 9, 2016 7 Comments
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural, Fantasy
Series: The Raven Cycle #2
Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 17, 2013)
Information: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Tiara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Narrator: Will Patton | Length: 12 hrs and 45 mins | Audiobook Publisher: Scholastic Audio (September 17, 2013) | Whispersync Ready: Yes
Surprisingly, I have been enjoying The Raven Cycle. I wasn’t really drawn to this series or anything. I had it on my TBR pile, but I had other books by Maggie Stiefvater on my pile as well. I just knew that I wanted to try something by Stiefvater, and after some deliberation, this seemed like the best place for me to start. I jumped into this book a few days after reading the first book. I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy the second book as much as the first, but my fears were unfounded.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on April 9, 2016 31 Comments
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every other weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I round up what I’ve read since the last update and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
Received for Review
My deepest thanks to all the wonderful publishers for the review copies received. I’m so excited for the new arrivals this week! For more details and full descriptions of the books, be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages!
The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence – It’s hard to believe The Red Queen’s War is already coming to a close with this third and final book of the trilogy, but there you go; how the time flies. I’m going to miss Prince Jalan and Snorri once this series is over, but you can be sure I’ll be savoring this book for all it’s worth. My thanks to Ace Books.
Saint’s Blood by Sebastien de Castell – A wonderful surprise from across the pond! My thanks to the awesome team at Jo Fletcher Books for this third book of the Greatcoats series. I’m reading this now and I’m enjoying being back in the world with Falcio and the gang. Be sure to keep an eye out for my tour review next week!
The Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson – This book didn’t last five minutes out of the package until I was already reading it. I’m not usually one for children’s/Middle Grade fiction, but there’s just something so addicting about the Alcatraz series. Plus, I can never resist anything by Sanderson. With thanks to Tor for the finished copy!
Alight by Scott Sigler – Del Rey was kind enough to also send along a finished copy of this sequel to Alive after the ARC they surprised me with last month. I liked it even better than the first book and that ending is making me crave the third one already! My review went live last week, in case you missed it!
Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis – My thanks to Pyr for sending me a finished copy of this wonderful historical fantasy, which I devoured in about two days flat. This book was on my highly anticipated list for spring, and it ended up being everything I’d hoped for and more! My review will be up in a few days, so stay tuned.
It Happened One Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton – Okay, this one sounds totally madcap and bizarre and awesome. An underdog magician will need to do everything she can to save the world from impending apocalypse. Who can say no to that? Thanks again to Pyr!
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman – My thanks to Roc for pitching this one to me! I love books about libraries and books and all that, so I immediately put this on my must-read list. It has already been out in the UK for a while, receiving many fantastic reviews, and this summer it’ll finally make its way stateside.
A Lovely Way to Burn by Louise Welsh – Speaking of another UK book to release in the US, this was a completely new discovery for me, but it’s definitely on my radar now once I found out it’s an apocalyptic-sounding mystery thriller taking place in the middle of a deadly outbreak. Thank you to Quercus for sending me this finished edition of the paperback.
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine – This has become one of my favorite books of all time! In case you missed the news, the paperback edition was released earlier this week and I got a lovely surprise when the publisher posted me a copy of my own. Huge thanks to NAL!
Hunters and Alien Hunter: The White House by Whitley Strieber – Looks like someone at Tor knows I love aliens! Still, I admit I don’t know too much about this series, beyond the fact SyFy adapted it into a TV series (which incidentally is premiering this coming Monday) hence the re-brand/rename of the first Alien Hunter book to simply “Hunters”. The White House is actually the third book in the series though, so one of these days I’ll have to grab book two for completion.
The House of Daniel by Harry Turtledove – I’m not a big sports person, which is probably why this one slipped my notice at first glance. Still, when it showed up, I took a closer look. It’s pitched as a stand-alone novel of “miracles, magic, and semipro baseball” set in an alternate Depression-era America. Put that way, it actually sounds super interesting! I may give it a read after all. Thanks, Tor Books!
A Shadow All of Light by Fred Chappell – Thanks also to Tor for a finished copy of this fantasy novel, described as an episodic adventure written “in the mode of classic Jack Vance.” I have never read Fred Chappell before, maybe this could be a good place to start?
Arkwright by Allen Steele – Audiobook, with thanks to Audible Studios for the opportunity to listen to this amazing book! Already devoured and reviewed. Highly recommended.
Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan – I saw this pop up on NetGalley last week and slammed on the one-click download button right away. I’ll read anything Sullivan writes, and it’ll be amazing to return to the world of Riyria, even if it’s thousands of years in the past. With thanks to Del Rey.
A Green and Ancient Light by Frederic S. Durbin – I couldn’t resist one-clicking this one either, even though I’m not sure the story will be for me; it honestly sounds like it could go both ways, but I loved the description of a gorgeous fantasy written “in the spirit of Pan’s Labyrinth” and thought that alone was worth a look. With thanks to Saga Press.
Bloodmage by Stephen Aryan – Audiobook, with thanks to Hachette Audio. I’m so excited to dive into this sequel to Battlemage, especially since I hear it will be following new characters and the storytelling will also be more in the vein of a murder mystery.
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee – I’ve reached the point where I really need to be watching my NetGalley stats, but I could not have walked away from this even if I tried. A disgraced captain needs the help of an unhinged military genius to break a siege in space (and the target is apparently called the Fortress of Scattered Needles, which would probably explain that insanely cool cover). With thanks to Solaris!
Nightshades by Melissa F. Olson – Another sweet looking novella from the good folks at Tor.com! This time, a gritty urban fantasy featuring a detective in Paranormal Investigations…and vampires!
Reviews
Here are all my reviews since the last update, gathered together and listed here for your convenience and viewing pleasure.
Arkwright by Allen Steele (5 of 5 stars)
In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan (5 of 5 stars)
Dark Debts by Karen Hall (4 of 5 stars)
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (4 of 5 stars)
The Lost Boys Symphony by Mark Andrew Ferguson (4 of 5 stars)
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu (4 of 5 stars)
The Demonists by Thomas E. Sniegoski (3.5 of 5 stars)
Arena by Holly Jennings (3.5 of 5 stars)
Alight by Scott Sigler (3.5 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
Author Spotlights
My thanks to the authors who stopped by The BiblioSanctum last week! Holly Jennings and I chatted about her new book Arena, and Gail Z. Martin wrote a fantastic article to celebrate the release of Shadow and Flame, the conclusion of her Ascendant Kingdoms saga.
Into the Arena: An Interview with Holly Jennings
Guest Post: “Order and Chaos: After the Apocalypse” by Gail Z. Martin
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
Here’s what I’ve been reading recently. I got to hit up some books that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time, plus there were a few surprises I can’t wait to talk about (Sawbones!) Keep an eye for reviews of the following books in the upcoming weeks, if they’re not up already that is!
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? Nothing makes me happier than sharing my love for books, so let me know what you plan on checking out. I hope you found something interesting for a future read! Until next time, see you next Roundup! 🙂
Guest Post: “Chaos and Order: After the Apocalypse” by Gail Z. Martin
Posted on April 8, 2016 7 Comments
Gail Z. Martin is an author whose books I greatly admire, from her high fantasy adventures that play out in grand imaginary worlds to her urban paranormal novels set in magical versions of our own. Ice Forged, book one of The Ascendant Kingdoms series was my first introduction to her work, so it was no small thing when last month saw the publication of the fourth and final installment, Shadow and Flame! To celebrate the epic conclusion of the series, today we’re pleased to invite Gail to the BiblioSanctum to talk about a fascinating topic–of what it means to build up kingdoms, then to shatter them again.
CHAOS AND ORDER: AFTER THE APOCALYPSE
by Gail Z. Martin
It’s fashionable in some circles to rail against the idea of government. Government, so the argument goes, just gets in the way and can’t do anything right. The best way to do things, so the argument goes, is through individual effort.
It’s a no-commitment, take-only-what-you-need and pay-as-you-go, a la carte approach. It sounds seductive on paper. There’s just one teensy problem.
It doesn’t work. Every time in history there’s been a blank slate or the end of the world, we realize that a functional central governing body is actually a pretty good idea.
Chaos and anarchy are good for warlords and predators. Most people are neither of those, and aren’t likely to morph into them. The average person’s best bet lies in people sticking together and creating a central government that provides for the common defense and promotes the general welfare. (I borrowed that phrase from a certain famous document.)
I spend a lot of time thinking about the end of the world. I’m a fiction writer, so pondering the apocalypse is part of my job description. In my Ascendant Kingdoms (Blaine McFadden) Saga, two kingdoms are destroyed by a devastating war that also knocks out the magic upon which they rely. The only guy who might be able to fix it just got sent off to an arctic prison colony. The fourth and final book in the series, Shadow and Flame, tackles the topic of anarchy head-on.
Chaos ensues. Warlords and wild magic arise. Crops fail, food supplies become scarce, cities become ghost towns. Bandits prey on travelers and refugees. Trade stops. The infrastructure that didn’t get blasted out of existence in the war fails with no one to maintain it. The king and nobility are dead. No one is in charge. And in that power vacuum, opportunists arise. To no surprise, they are looking out only for themselves and their followers. Blaine McFadden becomes a reluctant warlord to save his people and bring the kingdom back from ruin.
The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga is a post-apocalyptic epic fantasy in a medieval setting. We think of urban fantasy with post-apocalyptic stories, but back in the real Middle Ages, they were pretty sure they had seen end of the world in the Black Plague and the multitude of other invasions, catastrophes, natural disasters and epidemics. They knew what it was like to see leadership wiped out, armies unable to fight off the enemy, and the collapse both of civilization and of all the structures that provide law and infrastructure, with no central authority to impose order or efficiently distribute resources.
And yet when societies have been presented with the rugged-individualist, we-don’t-need-no-stinkin’-government opportunity for individuals to go it alone, each and every time the road to rebuilding civilization came through recreating a strong government with a mandate to defend, build and protect a community, not through a loosely-organized band of loners.
Likewise, colonists and settlers who struck out for the ends of the earth planted their flags in places beyond the reach of the governing structures they recognized. This would have been the perfect opportunity to embrace chaos, yet every frontier outpost and far-flung colony that grew beyond a handful of temporary workers knew their survival depended on creating a government to maintain order and to nurture and preserve a functioning community.
See, the flaw in the ‘rugged individualist’ mindset is that it only really works if just a few people are play-acting their radical independence inside a reasonably well-functioning system. It only works for the strong and the healthy, the opportunists and the bullies. For everyone else, anarchy is a death sentence. And as an unspoken assumption, these modern-day neo-anarchists seem to still expect that without a government, the existence of hospitals and roads, infrastructure and satellites, plumbing systems and sewage, internet and medical research would continue unchanged. They’re like teens who scream at their parents to drop dead and then ask to borrow the car keys. They don’t want the rules, but they presume the benefits would still continue.
Of course, all it takes is a good look at any war zone to put the lie to that way of thinking. If anarchy was so great, people would be migrating toward it, not taking desperate measures to flee. And if government haters really wanted their rugged individualism so badly, there are plenty of no-man’s-lands they could move to—but few put their money where their mouth is.
Interestingly, creating order out of chaos requires someone who functions extraordinarily well in anarchy, who then sets aside the spoils of the victor in favor of creating a government that supports lasting community instead of a winner-take-all system. It takes a hero who can operate outside the rules better than anyone else to reinstate the rules. It requires a warrior ready to set aside the sword, a warlord who renounces the idea of might-makes-right.
Blaine McFadden just might be able to do what it takes, if he survives.
Shadow and Flame, the fourth and final book in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga (Orbit Books) is on sale now wherever books are sold.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gail Z. Martin is the author of Shadow and Flame (Orbit Books); The Shadowed Path (Solaris Books); Vendetta: A Deadly Curiosities Novel in her urban fantasy series set in Charleston, SC (Solaris Books); and Iron and Blood a new Steampunk series (Solaris Books) co-authored with Larry N. Martin.
She is also author of Ice Forged, Reign of Ash and War of Shadows in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven, Dark Lady’s Chosen); The Fallen Kings Cycle (The Sworn, The Dread) and the urban fantasy novel Deadly Curiosities. Gail writes three ebook series: The Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures, The Deadly Curiosities Adventures and The Blaine McFadden Adventures. The Storm and Fury Adventures, steampunk stories set in the Iron & Blood world, are co-authored with Larry N. Martin.
Her work has appeared in over 20 US/UK anthologies. Newest anthologies include: The Big Bad 2, Athena’s Daughters, Heroes, Space, Contact Light, With Great Power, The Weird Wild West, The Side of Good/The Side of Evil, Alien Artifacts, Cinched: Imagination Unbound, Realms of Imagination, Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, Gaslight and Grimm, and Robots.
Find her at http://www.AscendantKingdoms.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and GhostInTheMachinePodcast.com, on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin and free excerpts on Wattpad http://wattpad.com/GailZMartin.
The BiblioSanctum 