Book Review: Almost Infamous by Matt Carter
Posted on April 18, 2016 13 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Almost Infamous by Matt Carter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Superheroes
Series: Book 1
Publisher: Talos (April 5, 2016)
Length: 328 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
If you’re a fan of comics and are looking for a clever, humorous, and merciless riff on the superhero genre, then Almost Infamous is most definitely the book for you! Matt Carter’s novel is a wildly entertaining, satirical take on the characters and worlds we imagine when we picture the Marvel or DC universes, and as a twist, his protagonist is a horny, uppity teenage supervillain.
To get a sense of the zaniness you’re in for, just take a peek at the book’s first few pages, featuring a “Brief History of Superheroes.” Super powers—whether you were born with them, cursed with them, granted them as a result of radioactive freak accident, changed by a gene-splicing experiment gone wrong, and so on and so forth—are just a common fact of life. Superhumans are real. Oh, and by the way, so are Atlanteans, Lemurians, magicians, aliens, demons, golems, mortal gods who walk the earth, and pretty much every kind of power-endowed beings you can think of. All real.
Over time, these powered-individuals have altered the course of history and changed the face of the earth. Some of them have used their abilities for good. Others, not so much. In 1969, the conflict between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” came to a head, kicking off the War on Villainy. After more than twenty years of fighting, the Heroes eventually prevailed, neutralizing the last real threat. With supervillains more or less eradicated, people of the world today live in relative peace and safety, watched over by an international superhero team called the Protectors.
All that changes the day eighteen-year-old Aidan Salt decides to put on a cheap homemade costume and an old motorcycle helmet, dubbing himself the supervillain Apex Strike. However, his first act of villainy goes completely wrong, and soon after, he is captured by the Protectors. To his surprise though, instead of locking him away, the superheroes make him an offer: a chance to participate in a secret operation called Project Kayfabe. The world has not seen a real supervillain in decades, and superheroes are gradually losing their relevance. They need Apex Strike and others like him on a fake supervillain team in order to stage elaborate mock battles and kick start their popularity once more, showing the world why it still needs its heroes.
This is where the description of the book is a bit misleading, because it makes it sound like Aidan was just handed the job. In reality, dozens of supervillains are vying for a spot on the this team, and the first part of the novel is actually a hilarious reality show-type competition, where the “judges” of Project Kayfabe put their “contestants” to the test before narrowing the field down to the final seven. It was not at all what I expected when I picked up this book, and it was fun and exciting to meet all these other supervillains (all with powers ranging from the very cool to the very ridiculous) and then trying to guess who will end up making it to the end of the trials with Aidan/Apex Strike (whose spot on the team is a given). The results were entertaining and sometimes surprising.
The best part about this book is the world that the author has created. As a nod to the superhero comics we know and love, it feels instantly familiar, but at the same time it’s also offbeat and unique. Matt Carter makes a lot of pop culture references and parodies superhero movies and comics to great effect. I especially loved the little flavors that were thrown in, like the “Supervillainy 101” anecdotes inserted at the end of each chapter. I always say that it’s the little things like that which make a huge difference, and this case, they help Almost Infamous stand out from other superhero novels that don’t spend near as much time and effort on the world-building.
Perhaps my only criticism is the protagonist. Some characters and I simply start off on the wrong foot. Most of the time, through growth and development of the character, I end up warming up to him or her, but sadly this was not the case for Aidan Salt. He is spineless. He is naïve. He is unambitious. He chose to be a supervillain, because being a superhero is too much work and he’s just too lazy. And the only reason he wanted to become famous is because he thought that would help him get laid!
Now, one can argue that Aidan isn’t meant to be likeable character. For fans of underdogs and anti-heroes, I can see some appeal there. Personally though, his attitude was just too much to take, and there were certain juvenile, repulsive things he did (like spying on the girls while they were showering, for example—ugh) that I just couldn’t look past. In spite of his evolving character arc and the major changes he goes through, he just never grew on me, which was a shame. Still, that was probably the only damper on my experience. You’d think not being able to connect with the main character would be a pretty big issue, but in fact it was only a minor hiccup, for I ended up falling in love with so many of the other characters and enjoyed the refreshing diversity of the cast. The storytelling is great, and I sped through the intensely fast-paced and action-filled plot.
Almost Infamous is a quick, solid novel that does exactly what it sets out to do: to be one hell of a fun read! Highly recommended for fans of superhero fiction and comic book lovers, especially if you enjoy the gritty stylings of comics like Garth Ennis’ The Boys. I had an absolute blast with this dynamic tale of sex, drugs, and supervillainy.
Coloring Book Review: The Time Chamber by Daria Song
Posted on April 17, 2016 15 Comments
Welcome to a new feature at The BiblioSanctum, where every month (or so!) I’ll be featuring and reviewing an adult coloring book. I first became attracted to the hobby because I love all things pretty and colorful, but whether you see it as a form of escapism or a social activity, there’s no denying adult coloring books are becoming an increasingly popular trend. As I begin my journeys through coloring, I’d like to share my thoughts and experiences along the way.
Today, I’ll be looking at…
The Time Chamber
My thanks to Random House via Blogging for Books for providing copies for review.
Since the coloring book craze took off, you can’t go anywhere without seeing them. The market has become so saturated, and these days I’m finding it harder and harder to seek out the quality books, with beautiful and interesting designs, clean line art, and good general presentation overall. That’s why I’m so surprised that The Time Chamber hasn’t gotten more attention. Of all the adult coloring books I own, this one ranks among the best and it’s become one of my absolute favorites. I can literally spend hours just admiring the gorgeous drawings.
OVERVIEW:
Like a lot of adult coloring books, The Time Chamber is the “standard” size, with square pages measuring 9.8 by 9.8 inches. As soon as you pick it up, you can tell that it’s sturdy. Illustrations are printed front and back on bright and good quality heavy-weight paper, its thickness perfect for color pencils and gel pens (which I used in my examples). I have not tried anything heavier than markers, but I personally wouldn’t recommend them, if you don’t want to risk the color bleeding through the page (one of the downsides of having illustrations on both sides). The book is also bound in a way that won’t allow you to lay it open flat, which might make coloring some of the 2-page spreads difficult, but you might be able to get by if you press down hard on the binding or bend the book backwards to loosen the spine. One thing I want to add is that the book also comes with a really nice dust jacket. Overall, I love the presentation; it would make a nice looking gift even if you just handed the book as is to your recipient, and on the first page is also a nice dedication area where you can write their name and yours.
Another cool thing about The Time Chamber is that there’s a story. It’s a short and simple one, but it’s a narrative nonetheless, about a red-haired fairy who lives in a clock who one days decides to explore the great wide world, starting with a little girl’s room just beyond. The fairy is enchanted by everything, and all the little trinkets and knick-knacks that belong to the girl are huge and wonderful to her. This definitely feels a lot more sophisticated than the text in many other coloring books I own, which are typically bland instructions or other throwaway comments. I love how this coloring book can also double as a story picture book, one you can maybe read to a child while you both enjoy the pretty illustrations.
At the end of the book is also a helpful visual index, which shows you smaller versions of all the spreads.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Of course, the best part are the beautiful pen-and-ink illustrations, rendered meticulously with crisp, clean lines. The artist and author Daria Song is from Seoul, Korea. She holds a Masters degree in fine arts and has won many awards, including the Kyung Hyang Arts Contest. Her art has been exhibited in galleries all over Asia, and now she’s bringing all that magic into The Time Chamber.
I cannot praise the art in this book enough. Every page is a feast for the eyes, with gorgeous designs that are very finely-detailed and intricate. Each page could easily take hours to color, especially since some of the smaller areas will require a lot of patience and care. I love the style, and it amazes me that Song can turn even the most mundane of objects, like a hairbrush or a hand mirror, into something that looks very magical and exotic. A lot of the artwork has an Asian flavor, like the drawings of pagodas or the designs on vases.
I also really liked that there was a good variety of illustrations. There’s very little repetition of designs, and every page brings something fresh and stunning. Believe it or not, I’m even reluctant to color some of the pages, because I’m worried that I wouldn’t be able to do the art justice. It is just that amazing and beautiful. Beginner colorists might want to try with something less complicated and daunting, but I also think there will be something for everyone in The Time Chamber, no matter your skill level. Highly recommended!
And now…time for more examples!
Sunday Musings: Representation Matters
Posted on April 17, 2016 11 Comments
More than once here at BiblioSanctum, I have complained about or praised a book for its lack of or inclusion of diverse characters. I write reviews where I am compelled to point out where diversity shines or fails. Why? Because I can’t help but notice it.
Because it matters to me.
It matters to me that I’ve spent much of my childhood rarely seeing myself as the hero. I love Luke Skywalker, but why does he and people who look like him get to save the galaxy while people who look like me get left at the wayside, or worse?
“When I go to the movies, read books or comics, or watch television shows, I am acutely aware of the fact that I rarely survive apocalypses, I’m the first to die — especially if I get a close up, it’s unrealistic to have me live in the same part of town as dragons. I am a slave, a thug, a maid. I’m just a token, a sidekick, maybe even an exotic girlfriend.”
I wrote that after seeing the movie Annie with my daughters–a film I was determined to take them to the second I could because here was a chance for them to see themselves on the big screen and know that they could have a happy ending too. “She looks like us,” they said, the first time they saw the trailer. I’ll joke about the many, many tropes that exist in the various forms of media I partake of when it comes to people of colour. I’ll laugh about the thesaurus GRRM undoubtedly consults when he wishes to describe the people from the other side of his world in Game of Thrones.
But when I heard my children say those words, I burst into tears. That’s how much it meant to me that my daughters could see themselves in the hero portrayed on the big screen. Because, lucky for them, they are still young and naive and innocent and have not yet come across those who would rather reduce or erase their presence with completely ridiculous excuses like “historical accuracy.” Historical accuracy my ass. And while you’re at it, writers, do your research and learn that women can exist in historical fantasy without rape being your go to method of dealing with them.
Yeah it makes me a little angry, these excuses that try to tell marginalized groups what our place is and should be in society thanks to a complete lack of empathy from those who make the excuses. The lack of understanding when LGBTQ groups protest Another Dead Lesbian, or Black people have to explain why “#AllLivesMatter” is part of the problem, or queers, women, or PoCs need campaigns to let their voices be heard, or PoCs ask why characters of their own culture are replaced by others, or their entire culture is appropriated for the sake of entertainment. Discarded. Set aside. Refrigerated in order to advance the main character’s story. A main character who isn’t us.
Oh yes, times, they are a’changing. But not fast enough to truly represent the society we live in now. Now kids can look up to Rey and Finn as their heroes in the new Star Wars, but we still have to fight to keep heroes of a different shade and gender and ability and sexuality in the spotlight and explain that diversity is not a “trend.”
Representation means something different to each of us, but by no means are we saying that Luke Skywalker doesn’t deserve to be the hero that he has been to so many. It just means that we’d like to see him share that spotlight. It means we want to be the hero too.
Not my kid, but you get the point.
An Artificial Night Read-Along Week No.2
Posted on April 16, 2016 8 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. Toby makes her journey to Blind Michael’s realm with the aid of the Luidaeg – who is back and on form and has, as yet, decided to hold off on killing Toby. What did you think of Toby’s journey by candlelight and her first encounter with the Wild Hunt? What do you think this favour is going to cost her with the Luidaeg?
I found Toby’s journey really fascinating, and I was just as surprised as she was when she realized that she’d been transformed into a child. The whole angle with Blind Michael and everything being basically a children’s game to him is such an interesting spin on The Wild Hunt.
2. As a prisoner of Blind Michael, Toby encounters a disturbing number of altered and transformed children and, assisted by Quentin, discovers the children who are yet to be toyed with. What were your thoughts when Toby discovered these child monsters and other detainees? Do you think there is any hope for them? And what did you make of Quentin’s bargain with the Luidaeg?
To be honest, Toby’s encounter with the children was more horrifying that I thought it would be. Up to this point, I knew that Blind Michael altered the children in some way, but I hadn’t really been expecting just how horrifying they’d become in his care. I want to take the warning and think that maybe the children can’t be saved who have been with Michael for some time. At the same time, though, I hope they can be saved. I feel like if they can be saved that maybe they could be blessed with some semblance of a normal life with the help of the community. Children are resilient if nothing else, and while it would take some time, I think they could be okay… if they can even be saved at this point.
Quentin’s bargain with the Luidaeg struck me as very simple, too simple even. I mean, i know he said he has nothing else to give, but it sounds like she was bending her own rules in her own way to give Toby the help that she needed while in Blind Michael’s knowe. I feel like telling Toby not to turn around wasn’t so much to protect Toby from something more than it was to allow Quentin to not be caught. I don’t know if she could have truly known that Quentin was with Toby, but that seems to make the most sense for telling her to not look back.
3. In spectacular style, Toby swoops in and relieves Blind Michael of his prisoners and vows to put an end to his evil ways. How do you think Blind Michael will react when he discovers Toby and the children are missing? What do you think Toby will do for those she left behind?
Toby didn’t play by the rules, and I don’t think he’ll forget that. As it’s mentioned over and over again in this section, children believe in fairness and not much about what’s right. He seems to have a way of hunting Karen in her dreams, so I’m going to assume that since he doesn’t leave his knowe except for once every hundred years, that he’s going to use that against her in some way. And who knows… maybe he will outright hunt her himself. Then again, knowing Toby, she’ll make herself easily accessible by trying to go back. I really do think she will find a way to help the other children, so he might only have to wait her out until she’s back on his lands.
4. Whilst straying into the forests within Blind Michael’s realm, Toby encounters Acacia whose revelations regarding Blind Michael and her own daughter are nothing short of astounding. Were you expecting this? What were your thoughts and reactions?!! How does this change your view of the characters involved?
I really wasn’t expecting to hear that Luna isn’t actually a kitsune or that she was a daughter of one of the firstborn. That opens up a whole host of other questions including how and why Luna’s taking that form. Does it have something to do with the kitsune that Toby keeps seeing in her dreams about Karen? What transpired to make her leave (aside from wanting to grow roses)? What is her relationship with Acacia like? That is a pretty big secret to hide all these years, and I really want to hear an explanation. It also would explain why Luna was acting stranger than normal given them circumstances. I wonder if she worried that Toby would find out her connection to Acacia. Also, does this mean that Lily knows about Luna’s heritage? She directed Toby toward her. At first, it seemed a bit strange that she did and a bit strange that Luna had all this information. Sylvester’s reaction made sense now in context as well.
5. Toby seems to have escaped Blind Michael’s clutches – for now! – and is currently enjoying the company of her Fetch, May. What do you expect will happen from here? Do you expect her to pursue Blind Michael to the end? And what are your thoughts on Toby’s sentient portent of death and its implications for her future?
I do expect her to try to get the children back because that’s what Toby does. She is noble–some might call it stupid–in that way. I can’t say that I blame her. There’s something about the innocence of children that makes you want to rescue them. Other than that, I’m not sure. Obviously, she’s not going to die or if she does, she’s going to come back some kind of way or face near death (more than usual) maybe? We’ll see where this goes!
Cruelty always came easier to the children of Titania; the only survivors of Maeve’s line are the ones who let themselves learn how to become monsters. Titania’s children are cold and hard and beautiful. Maeve’s children are hot and strange and come in every shape imaginable. Oberon doesn’t claim most of his descendants, leaving them to the mercies of their mothers. Those few races that he does claim . . . those are Oberon’s children. And Oberon’s children are heroes.
* * *
Sometimes I think the Luidaeg never ends a conversation; she just puts them on hold until you come back into range.
* * *
“Children’s games are stronger than you remember once you’ve grown up and left them behind. They’re always fair, and never kind. Remember.”
* * *
Children don’t care about good or evil; all that matters is that you play fair and follow the rules.
* * *
There’s nothing more stubborn than youth, with the possible exception of old age.
This book gets 37894783 million points for using my favorite Shakespeare quotes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream! “If we shadows have offended…”
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
An Artificial Light By Seanan McGuire (October Daye #3)
An Artificial Light Reader-Along Week No. 1
Audiobook Review: Salvage Merc One by Jake Bible
Posted on April 16, 2016 6 Comments
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction
Publisher: Severed Press (January 17, 2016)
Information: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Tiara’s Rating: 3.5 stars of 5 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Narrator: Andrew B. Wehrlen | Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins | Audiobook Publisher: Jake Bible Fiction (March 11, 2016) | Whispersync Ready: Yes
Joe Laribeau is an ex-Marine sergeant who was discharged after losing both his legs. His legs are replaced with battle legs (metal legs that allow him to run pretty swiftly and hold up well), but the military still feels that he’s too expensive an asset to keep and discharge him despite his “battle clarity” which is kind of like a self-contained, discount version of Jedi Battle Meditation. Joe starts collecting a pension and roves the galaxy for a while before being recruited by Salvage Merc Eight, Hopsheer Balai, for the Salvage Merc Corp. The SMC was created to fill a void in the galaxy. They’re a neutral entity that came into its own during the height of a galaxy wide war between the Galactic Fleet–which I think is a military conglomerate of like-minded aliens–and a warlike alien species known as the Skrang.
The SMC salvages important technology, supplies, and people (among other things) while doing retrieval mission and obtaining information that may be valuable to others. Being neutral means they give both sides a fair chance at obtaining some of the things they salvage by auctioning them off to the highest bidder. They also try to maintain fairness by not allowing one side to get more powerful than the other and acting in the interest of non-aggressive planets. Following an attack that Joe survives, he’s tasked with finding the merc to rule all mercs–Salvage Merc One.
To say that this book didn’t get go where I was expecting at all would be an understatement. Okay, that’s not exactly true. As far as space-faring mercenary stories go, this one did follow the basic formula. However, based on the synopsis, I expected a more serious tone than what the story actually gave me. This was largely a humorous story that brimmed with action and a little intrigue. Joe was a funny, endearing character, and it was an excellent decision to tell this story from his POV as it makes it very easy to connect with Joe. Narrating Joe’s story is Andrew B. Wehrlen, and he was a great choice for this book. He does an admirable job of capturing the humor of the story and Joe’s personality. He managed to find distinctive voices for most of the characters, and I thought he did a fair job on the female voices which can be a little hit or miss with me where male narrators are concerned.
The supporting cast of characters aren’t as fleshed out as Joe aside from maybe Joe’s partner who is described as a mix between an armored beetle and a Great Dane and tends to spout random facts. Regardless, Bible introduces us to many new races in this story, and while we learn a little about some of their physical characteristics, we don’t learn much about them beyond that. Given that this book is supposed to be a fast-paced military merc story, I don’t think these characters suffer from not being explored as the action is the driving force behind this book, and it doesn’t fail to entertain.
There are a few portions of the story that left me a little foggy. One very big instance is when a story that is being told to Joe, but readers are never actually told the story. It’s skimmed over, and all I know is that it involves a questionable death. Beyond that, there’s no revelation or consideration for the reader even though it leaves Joe speechless. Then, there’s the ending. I have mixed feelings about it. It sort of dived over into the science-fantasy genre for a bit there, which I love, but I don’t know if that was exactly the best ending for a book of this nature. It felt too whimsical, a little too overpowered for this, even with the considerations made for the story.
I enjoy military science fiction, but I don’t get to read it as much as I’d like. This definitely appealed to that part of me that enjoys stories in this setting. This sets up an interesting universe for a series (I’m assuming this will be a series), but works well as a standalone book. Now, if you excuse me, there is some Mass Effect calling my name after reading this. Time to go save a galaxy!
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Book Review: Saint’s Blood by Sebastien de Castell
Posted on April 15, 2016 21 Comments
***Welcome to the final stop of the Saint’s Blood blog tour, and I hope you’ll enjoy my review! Be sure to also check the other hosts’ thoughts on the book, and head on down to the end of this post for info and links to join in on the big competition sponsored by Jo Fletcher Books!***
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Saint’s Blood by Sebastien de Castell
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of The Greatcoats
Publisher: Jo Fletcher (UK: April 7, 2016)
Length: 576 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Damn it, Sebastien de Castell, keep this up and you’ll end up giving all your readers heart attacks, because this book simply DOES NOT STOP. Practically every page is filled to the brim with swashbuckling action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and laugh-out-loud hijinks from our magnetic hero Falcio val Mond and his loyal band of companions. In other words, this was exactly the kind of sequel I wanted! Saint’s Blood pulls out all the stops in this newest installment of the Greatcoats series, bringing all our favorite characters back for another round of epic excitement and adventure.
Just when you think things can’t get any worse for Falcio, Kest, and Brasti, the situation in Tristia plunges further into disaster. The country was already on the verge of tearing itself apart, with its people close to revolt and the dukes still looking for ways to depose their young queen, and nothing the Greatcoats have been doing for the last six months seems to have made any difference. Now a new threat has emerged, and whoever their shadowy enemy is, they’re targeting the Saints of Tristia. To Falcio’s horror, the first victim they find is none other than Birgid the Saint of Mercy. Weakened and dying, all her powers seem to have been negated by a cruel iron mask locked around her face to prevent her from fighting back against her attackers.
On top of the murdered Saints, rumors are also spreading through the countryside that the Gods themselves are displeased with the way things are going in Tristia, further undermining Aline’s claim to the throne. Churches and religious sanctuaries are being desecrated everywhere and thousands of pilgrims are pouring into the capital campaigning for their faith, leading to the return of the Inquisitors, a holy order of warriors charged to enforce the Gods’ Laws. Unfortunately, the Greatcoats and the Inquisitors don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of matters. Whoever is orchestrating all these events—which are too well-timed to be coincidental—seems bent on bringing back the conditions to turn the country back into a theocracy, which would undo everything the late King Paelis had worked so hard to accomplish.
Well, you can bet Falcio’s not about to let that happen. And while his quest to bring the King’s Laws back to Tristia may seem more hopeless now than ever before, he’s got his old friends to count on to help him out, not to mention a new ally or two to keep things fresh (five words: I love you, Quentis Maren!) As always, I adore the usual suspects, starting with the down-to-earth Kest and the hilarious Brasti, Falcio’s two best friends. Our terrific trio maintains the heart of this series, fueling the novel’s energy and running jokes. Then there’s the fantastic cast of female characters. Though Aline, Valiana, and Darriana all have smaller roles in this book, Ethalia gets to step up and become a force to be reckoned with. I even enjoyed witnessing the transformation of those we used to think of as villains, such as the mercurial Duke Jillard.
As you can see, the characters in these books are always growing, their relationship dynamics constantly in flux. As a character-oriented reader, I can never get enough of seeing them adapt and form new bonds. Falcio is a man who draws people into his orbit and changes them without him or any of them even noticing it, but he also has a major blind spot when it comes to those closest to him. His powerful need to protect the important people in his life—especially the women, who most of the time don’t even want or require his stepping in—is something I find to be an ongoing conflict in spite of the other evolving aspects of his personality, and I hope it will resolve in time as he realizes that he need not save the world all by himself, and that his friends are definitely stronger than he thinks they are.
Story-wise, Saint’s Blood follows in much the same vein as the previous novel, but for me, there was a key difference. Looking back, I didn’t rate Knight’s Shadow as highly as the first book Traitor’s Blade because I felt the plot meandered somewhat, and perhaps didn’t flow as naturally as it could have. However, Saint’s Blood takes things back on track, hitting the ground running and never once does it stray from its course.
Moreover, the book is playing to its strengths, focusing on the type of in-your-face action and humor that first drew me to Traitor’s Blade. Granted, no one said that this series would be all sunshine and lollipops, and in fact, Falcio’s dogged tenacity in the face of dark times and overwhelming odds is what makes these novels so addictive and fun to read. But Knight’s Shadow took the darkness and hopelessness to extremes, with chapters devoted to scenes of torture and suffering, and I won’t deny that it put a major damper on things. It’s probably no surprise then, that what I appreciated most about Saint’s Blood is the fact it brings back the balance, presenting another nigh impossible challenge for the Greatcoats while still keeping the atmosphere lighthearted and adventurous. I laughed more than I did for either of the previous books, and all the funny moments and rousing fist-pumping scenes reminded me all over again why I fell in love with this series.
Needless to say, this was an incredible sequel on all levels, echoing the exciting fast-paced structure of Knight’s Shadow while bringing back the themes and vibes that made Traitor’s Blade so successful. Wildly entertaining and thoroughly intense, Saint’s Blood is the kind of book that makes you wish all epic heroic fantasy can be this awesome. This is the genre at its finest and Sebastien de Castell is to be congratulated for bringing us another fantastic installment to the Greatcoats saga. Honestly, I’m not sure how I will survive the wait for book four.
To celebrate the release of Saint’s Blood in style, Jo Fletcher Books is giving one lucky winner the chance to get their Greatcoat name in the next book in the series! See more details on the contest and how you can enter here!
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Traitor’s Blade (Book 1)
Review of Knight’s Shadow (Book 2)
Book Review: Pathfinder Tales: HellKnight by Liane Merciel
Posted on April 14, 2016 12 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Pathfinder Tales: Hellknight by Liane Merciel
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Pathfinder Tales
Publisher: Tor (April 5, 2016)
Length: 432 pages
Author Information: Website
I’ve dabbled in the Pathfinder roleplaying game for a few years now, but this is actually the first time I’ve actually tried one of the books in the Pathfinder Tales series. To be honest, I don’t know what took me so long, since seeking out tie-in novels or any kind of related literature spawned by the movies, games, etc. that I enjoy is something I do quite frequently. Part of it might have to do with the fact that it’s such a HUGE world, and when it comes to what I know of Golarion (the main world of Pathfinder where most of its campaign and events take place) I’ve only begun to scratch the surface. It’s all just a bit intimidating, especially when you consider how often new volumes are being released (about every few months or so), and currently the series is sitting at more than thirty novels and that’s not even counting all the novellas and short stories. Though I was assured that the majority of the books are standalone adventures, I still felt uncertain.
Finally, I decided to simply take a chance and go for it. It helped that the book I was interested in, Pathfinder Tales: Hellknight, had an interesting premise and was written by Liane Merciel, an author whose work I’ve been wanting to check out for a while now due to the fantastic things I’ve heard about her Dragon Age novel. More importantly, I was happy to find that Hellknight is indeed a book anyone can jump into and enjoy, no matter what your familiarity is with the Pathfinder franchise. The story is really easy to pick up, and you don’t need to have any prior knowledge at all.
At its heart, this book is about a murder investigation. There’s an organization of warriors called the Hellknights who are charged with maintaining the law and order of the land, and one of them, a hellspawn woman named Jheraal, is dispatched to a nobleman’s estate to investigate the brutal murder of its heir. Meanwhile, the victim’s brother is being called back from the front lines, now that his presence is required at home. Ederras, disgraced and exiled for his part in a rebellion when he was younger, is now an experienced and battle-hardened paladin. For his part, he’s actually quite reluctant to leave his post, but what choice does he have? Now that his brother is dead, someone needs to inherit his family’s title and take care of their lands and holdings.
As Jheraal and Ederras team up to find the murderer, they uncover a deeper conspiracy leading to more death and destruction. A trail involving some missing servants leads to a gruesome find, as it appears that their serial killer has been targeting hellspawn, cutting out their hearts in a magical ritual thus leaving them in a state of lifelessness-but-not-quite-dead. The two of them end up recruiting the services of Velenne, a crafty diabolist who has a history with Ederras, and it seems she is not quite done with the paladin yet.
For a book based on an RPG, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Hellknight. Based on my experience with tie-in novels, I’ve found that the quality of them can vary greatly, and I admit I wasn’t expecting much from this one, but I ended being quite impressed by the high standard of storytelling. The writing is also superb. Liane Merciel does a fantastic job setting up the stage for a mystery, creating a very immersive environment at the same time. It’s the little details that make a difference, masterfully showing without telling us right out what kind of society our characters live in. It is not a very pleasant place, especially not for hellspawn, who live as second class citizens in this world, mistrusted and abused.
I also enjoyed the characters, who come into their own and set themselves apart even when they’re being obviously written to conform to RPG/fantasy archetypes. Again, I was surprised at the depth of their personalities and the complex ways they are impacted by the events of this novel. Both protagonists have interesting backstories and are haunted by their pasts, with Jheraal hiding a secret daughter and Ederras struggling to come to terms with the mistakes he made in his youth. The themes of this book are made fuller by their two tales of sacrifice.
My only criticism is that the story’s pacing is very uneven. Hellknight started off strong, but the momentum tapered off as we entered the middle section, and then plateaued until we reached the last hundred pages or so of the novel, where things fortunately started picking up again as we moved into its climactic ending and resolution. For this reason, I can’t quite justify giving this book more than a solid three stars, though overall it was very enjoyable. Its quality is easily heads and shoulders above a lot of media tie-ins out there, and despite its pacing issues I thought this was a really good story and well worth the read.
So don’t let the Pathfinder name scare you off, which is probably the key point I wanted to emphasize, because tie-in fiction can be great fun and I think most will have no trouble diving into this world and appreciating it like any other fantasy novel. I look forward to reading more by Liane Merciel, and I definitely see more Pathfinder Tales in my future.
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.
The BiblioSanctum 