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.
Book Review: The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
Posted on April 7, 2016 18 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Anthologies, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Series: N/A
Publisher: Saga Press (March 8, 2016)
Length: 450 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
One of my favorite books last year was The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu, but before he published his debut novel he was already an accomplished writer of many award-winning short stories. While in general I am not a big reader of short fiction, I’d happily make the exception for some authors’ anthologies and you can definitely bet Liu’s The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories is one of them.
Like many collections, there are stories in here that I liked more than others, but overall I feel confident saying this is one of the best anthologies I have ever read. The book contains fifteen tales, showcasing a stunningly wide spread of themes and subjects. Readers of speculative fiction will enjoy stories featuring everything from artificial intelligence and virtual reality to space exploration and time travel. Many of the stories also combine these elements with influences from with cultural and historical sources, with a strong focus on Asian philosophy, mythology, and identity. Together, they come to create this profoundly heartfelt collection filled with beauty and emotion. For a more in-depth look at my thoughts on each story, please see below.
“The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” is the first story, kicking off the anthology with a series of imaginative and somewhat quirky reference-style descriptions of several alien approaches to reading, writing, and communication. It is a quick, experimental “tale” that teases Liu’s unique brand of creativity and promises more to come in the rest of this collection, while also providing a lighthearted opener for readers before delving into the more emotional and sorrowful stories.
“State Change” is a story about a young woman named Rina who lives in a world where everyone’s soul manifests in a physical object from the moment you are born, from Cicero’s stone to T.S. Eliot’s coffee can. Rina’s soul is an ice cube, required to be kept close to her and frozen everywhere she goes, which understandably puts a damper on her social life. Liu uses this concept as a clever allegory to speculate how one might live with such a limitation, treating Rina’s personal journey with empathy but also some light humor.
“The Perfect Match” was one of the better stories in this collection, imagining what a world would look like if, say, Apple and Amazon and Google all got together and decided to take over all our lives. The scary thing is that if this ever happened, we’d probably not even realize it. The story’s main character Sai shares every detail of his life with his phone so that the AI named Tilly can plan his day using his personal data to cater to his every needs, making suggestions that range from what he should have for dinner (she has a coupon!) to whom he should date. But what is a life without predictability and its surprises? As Sai grows closer to his paranoid and conspiracy theorist neighbor Jenny, he begins to question this himself.
“Good Hunting” is a story about a father-son demon hunting team. Liang and his father are on tail of a hulijing, a kind of mischievous fox spirit in Chinese legend said take the form of beautiful women to lure unsuspecting young men. However, Liang ends up befriending a hulijing girl named Yan and discovers that magic is seeping from the world as history ushers in the age of steam and steel. As Yan loses her shapeshifting powers and Liang runs out of demons to hunt, the two reflect upon bygone times and what their futures may hold. This story hit me especially hard because I can’t help seeing it a metaphor for my own gradual abandonment of cultural traditions. My mother still observes the ritual of burning “spirit money” for the Ghost Festival like the characters do in this story, but it’s unlikely that I will continue it; I still remember the slight hint of resignation in her eyes when I told her, which strikes the same kind of melancholic tone set by this tale about cultural change.
“The Literomancer” was probably even harder to read emotionally, because it is a sad story that ends with a punch in the gut. Lilly Dyer is a young American girl living with her expatriate parents in Taiwan in the early 1960s during the height of communist rule in China. Having not made many friends at school, Lilly immediately grows closer to a local boy named Teddy and his grandfather Mr. Kan who is literomancer, someone who reads fortunes based on written words. Mr. Kan tells Lilly stories, which she innocently repeats to her parents not understanding the unfortunate consequences that could lead to.
“Simulacrum” explores the effects of virtual technology in this tale about Paul Larimore, the inventor of a machine capable of capturing a person’s essence and projecting it into 3D, and his relationship with his daughter, Anna Larimore. Anna is estranged from her father, and this story explains why. Interesting concept, but the ending was a little too abrupt.
“The Regular” was my favorite story in this book, an easy 5 stars if I am rating it on its own. A perfect blend of sci-fi tech and crime noir, this is a compact tale starring Ruth, a private investigator on the trail of “The Watcher”, a serial killer who targets prostitutes—except what he’s after is not sex but something far stranger. It’s your standard murder mystery, but with its cybernetic sci-fi twist and fantastic protagonist, this one had me riveted from beginning to end, which isn’t something all mystery/thriller writers can achieve, even with full length novels.
“The Paper Menagerie” is the titular story, and for good reason; it was the one that won Ken Liu the Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy awards. Jack is the son of an American father and a Chinese mother who immigrated to be with her husband after he purchased her from a bride catalogue. Growing up, Jack’s mom folded elaborate origami animals that would come to life around him, but eventually he grew ashamed of these paper toys and of his Chinese heritage, preferring to play American action figures, eat American food, and speak American English in order to fit in. Again, I find it difficult sometimes to view stories like this because many of its themes hit too close to home. Suffice to say, it’s a very emotional story about cultural identity, acceptance, and growing up. Embrace those close to you and tell them how you feel; you never know when it’ll be too late.
“An Advance Readers’ Picture Book of Comparative Cognition” follows in much the same vein as “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species”, this time describing the different approaches to thought and communication. However, even though it contains a narrative about a woman and her child, this story didn’t quite speak to me the same way the first one did, probably because most of the descriptions of physics and technology went over my head.
“The Waves” features Captain Maggie Chao of the generation ship Sea Foam leading her passengers on a long journey to colonize a new planet many lightyears away. To pass the time, Maggie tells stories of creation to her children. When a new discovery comes to light, the crew will have to make a decision that might affect the course of their mission and alter the future of their people. Sad to say, this is another story that didn’t make much of an impression, and was probably one of the least memorable for me in this collection.
“Mono No Aware” is another generation ship story, featuring a group of survivors aboard the Hopeful after a massive asteroid makes impact with earth. It’s also powerful story about sacrifice and survival, but probably not as hard-hitting for me as some of the other offerings in this anthology.
“All the Flavors (A Tale of Guan Yu, the Chinese God of War, in America)” is a cool little historical tale (though it is probably one of the longer stories in this collection) about Lily Seaver, a girl living on the frontier settlements of Idaho during the gold rush of the 1860s. Her town is happy to welcome a group of Chinese miners after a great fire wipes out most of its business and homes, for their money if not for their actual presence. Lily befriends Lao Guan, who tells her stories about Guan Yu, a deified military general worshipped by the Chinese. “All the Flavors” is different from the rest of the collection in that it veers away from sci-fi territory, focusing more on mythology and history so that this story reads more like a historical fantasy.
“A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel” is an alternate historical about a joint venture between Asia and the Americas to build a giant tunnel connecting the two regions. Charlie was a former foreman on the project, reliving gut-wrenching memories of his time in the construction site overseeing the work of Chinese prisoners. The completed tunnel is a work of technological wonder, but at what cost? This story proposes that great accomplishments often belie the amount of suffering and blood spilled in their achievement. It’s an interesting one, but not one of my favorites.
“The Litigation Master and the Monkey King” was probably one of the more disappointing stories, given my high hopes for it. Few Chinese children grow up without hearing about the legend of Sun Wukong the Monkey King, and when I saw the title I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. Tian is a litigator who communes with the Monkey King. He’s also a clever and soft soul who likes to represent people from the poorer villages, and one day a woman comes to him begging for help. Instead of a cheerful take on the popular myth, this one actually takes a turn for the brutally depressing. I liked its noble themes, but it was still pretty gloomy, as it is with most of the stories in this collection.
“The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary” closes out this anthology with a devastating look back at the atrocities committed in World War II by Unit 731, a Japanese facility that tortured and conducted human experiments on Chinese prisoners. Following the end of the war, the scientists received immunity in exchange for handling over their research. Evan Wei is a historian who is determined to use a new technology to expose these crimes against humanity to the world, calling for history to condemn the actions of Unit 731 and recognize its victims. However, this new technology has a major flaw, namely that only one person can return to the past to view a certain event, but he or she will then prevent anyone else from doing so. For a short story, this one actually contains a lot of very complex themes and philosophical dilemmas. First of foremost, the description of the kind of “time traveling” technology described here poses the question: To whom, if anyone, does history belong? A thoughtful but rather dispiriting story told in the form of a documentary transcript, “The Man Who Ended History” is a powerful conclusion that reiterates and brings together many of the themes presented in the previous fourteen tales in this collection.
In sum, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories is an amazing anthology, even if it is somewhat front-loaded with the more memorable stories at the beginning. Some stories worked better for me than others, that is true—but most of the tales in here are captivating in very profound ways and at times carried a personal meaning for this reviewer. I don’t often recommend short story collections, but I will for this one, and with much enthusiasm. Ken Liu’s The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories is a beautiful work of art, guaranteed to touch hearts and engage minds.
Week 1: The Lies of Locke Lamora Read-Along
Posted on April 7, 2016 21 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 – host TBC
- 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) We get a lot of detail about the city, from architecture and geography to social structure and the Secret Peace – not to mention the food! What do you make of Camorr?
Wendy: It seems beautiful! Even the seedy underside is described with a level of care and detail that makes it enticing, despite the smell of sweat and piss that permeates places like The Last Mistake. There is an obvious upper and lower class, but the divide between them seems a bit more gray than usual. Obviously there are orphans running around, but there’s an odd sense that there aren’t adults similarly wandering around without means to take care of themselves. As if the orphans, once they find their place (or fail to find their place) move on to be something. There is no room for beggars and such on the streets (or at least I didn’t get the sense that there were any?). If you don’t serve a purpose in Camorr, then you simply don’t get to exist.
Tiara: For some reason, probably because of the use of honorific titles like don and doña, I keep picturing it as somewhere like Madrid in my mind. It sounds like a place that has a lot of flavor and culture. Lynch has put so much into describing the affluent areas and the poorer areas. It was interesting to see how barbaric the upper class is as they revel in brutality with the bloodthirsty game they play while the criminals seem to have more of a camaraderie and loyalty. I’m normally not that into things like gardening, but I also found the idea of alchemical gardening a really cool idea. I love the description of the doña’s garden boat. It sounded exquisite. I might’ve caught myself thinking that I wanted one of those (as long as it has wifi).
2) What are your first impressions of the Gentleman Bastards? They are liars and conmen (and proud of it) – but do you think our thieves have hearts of gold?
Wendy: They very well could have hearts of gold, but honour among thieves seems to be the first priority–loyalty to each other. Locke’s guilt when he understood that he was responsible for the eventual death of the other Streets kids seemed more about his realization that he’d broken such a sacred trust because of his lack of foresight, rather than because he cared for their lives in particular. But once he becomes a part of the Gentleman Bastards and builds up true relationships, I imagine he most certainly would care about the welfare of his companions–even and especially Sabetha, despite whatever lies between them. But for those who stand outside Locke’s circle, it seems they are all just potential marks–though they don’t seem the type to ever go out of their way to harm someone maliciously (punching Conte in the crotch doesn’t count).
Tiara: They are an amusing group for sure. Most of the time I kept thinking about how elaborate this scheme was and how dedicated they were to keeping the act going by assuming so many distinct roles. I noticed that when they were talking to the don as the Midnighters, there was mention of the Thorn of Camorr gave money away. Even though it was a rumor, I wondered if there was some truth to that and if Locke was doing it because he’s still trying to repay back his debts or if he truly does have a heart of gold or if he gives freely under the pretense that he’s still paying back his debt. I’m sure the story will probably show they have a soft spot for more than just themselves in the long run because it seemed like an important lesson that Chains imparted. Conning people is one thing, causing them grievous harm is another.
3) Do you find the split timelines a useful device for filling in background without a lot of exposition? Which timeline are you enjoying the most?
Wendy: I really like it. Especially because it’s not just split from Locke’s past to the present, but the events of the present are out of order in places as well, particular around the significant portions of their plan. It’s a unique storytelling choice and I’m eager to see how it all fits together as the story shapes up.
Tiara: Yeah, I like the non-linear approach that the story is taking. It definitely makes me want to keep going because you never know what you’re going to jump to in the next part. The part with the Midnighters was my favorite part, I especially loved how that narrative was framed.
4) Has anything taken you by surprise so far?
Wendy: The descriptions keep speaking of “alien” architecture and those who came before. It’s mentioned almost casually, at first, but more than enough times now to stand out.
Tiara: I don’t think I’ve been surprised by anything so far. I’ve noted some things of interest, though, and I wonder if something will come of these things like the missing lady of the group. 😉
Book Review: The Demonists by Thomas E. Sniegoski + GIVEAWAY
Posted on April 6, 2016 11 Comments
***The giveaway is now over, thanks to everyone who entered!***
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Demonists by Thomas E. Sniegoski
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Series: Book 1 of Demonist
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Horror
Publisher: Roc (April 5, 2016)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Lots of interesting things are happening in the horror genre lately, as evidenced by my latest venture into Thomas E. Sniegoski’s new novel The Demonists. Imagine The Exorcist, urban fantasy style! This is also my first book by the author, and it certainly won’t be the last—not if there’s more like this coming my way.
The story follows the husband-and-wife team of John Fogg and Theodora Knight, who are the world’s foremost experts on paranormal investigation. They’re even the stars of their own show called Spirit Chasers, a reality TV series that probes into supposedly haunted locations. But on Halloween night, the show producers decide to do a special episode as a publicity stunt, filming live as John and Theo investigate an old house reported to be filled with dark energy. Things should have unfolded like any other show, but then the hosts go into the basement and everything goes terribly wrong. The whole world watches in horror as the crew are massacred live on screen. John manages to survive, but not without sustaining serious injury. And Theo…
Something much worse has happened to John’s wife, who is a powerful psychic medium in her own right. Though afterwards everyone was made to believe it was a gas explosion, what really happened at the house was the unleashing of a host of malevolent spirits which has possessed Theodora’s body and left her catatonic. John desperately searches for a way to save his wife, even traveling overseas to investigate rumors of an excavation site containing an ancient library and books which may hold the key to exorcising Theo’s demons. Meanwhile, about half a dozen children have vanished since Halloween, snatched in the middle of the night from their homes, and a determined FBI agent is doing everything she can to find the missing kids before time runs out.
Urban-fantasy-meets-horror seems to be a burgeoning trend these days, and I find myself really enjoying the recent offerings that blend paranormal and fantasy elements with the gruesome, dreadful, and nightmarish. The Demonists delivers its monstrous demons in spades, and does not spare any of the gory, grisly details. This was a book that truly creeped me out, which is a rare occurrence; in general I consider myself quite immune to the usual trappings of the horror genre and don’t tend to scare or get grossed out easily, but I think ever since I became a parent, disturbing tales involving kids will now always have this way of making me feel unsettled. Sniegoski is a skilled storytelling with a talent for creating a foreboding atmosphere and cranking up the dread.
In fact, I think the author could have taken it even further had he chose to; at just over 300 pages though, I thought this book was a little too short for the story it was trying to tell. On the one hand, the breakneck speed of the narrative ensures that there is never a dull moment, but on the other, neither the rigorous pacing nor the frequent point-of-view switches allow enough room for the horror to build. Timing is everything in this genre, and I wouldn’t have minded more of an opportunity for the terror to linger and seep under my skin. It would have given us a chance to know the characters better as well, because I don’t know if I connected to John or Theo as well as I could have, not did I feel the full strength of their marriage and bond. But then there were the characters who were written very well, like Agent Brenna Isabel whose backstory nearly broke my heart. And of course, who could forget the antagonist Barrett Winfield, who later became known as “The Teacher”? There couldn’t have been a more sadistic and twisted villain. Just wait until you see what he does to his own mother.
If the description of The Demonists sounds like something you’ll like to read though, I definitely recommend giving it a shot. But fair warning: it’s not for the faint of heart! While outwardly the book may look like an urban fantasy, it is definitely no innocuous romp through the usual paranormal milieus, so don’t expect to find lighthearted supernatural adventuring or any underlying romantic arcs in here. Still, I do love this subgenre. Even though The Demonists is not without its flaws, I found the book intriguing and entertaining. It’s a damn good start to what looks to be a promising new urban-horror series featuring a fascinating fusion of the two genres, and I look forward to more.
THE DEMONISTS GIVEAWAY
Interested in entering a giveaway for this book? With thanks to the publisher, the BiblioSanctum has one print copy of The Demonists up for grabs. The giveaway is open to residents of the US. To enter, all you have to do is send an email to bibliosanctum@gmail.com with your Name and valid Mailing Address using the subject line “THE DEMONISTS” by 11:59pm Eastern time on Saturday, April 16, 2016.
Only one entry per household, please. The winner will be randomly selected when the giveaway ends and then be notified by email. All information will only be used for the purposes of contacting the winner and sending them their prize. Once the giveaway ends all entry emails will be deleted.
So what are you waiting for? Enter to win! Good luck!
Waiting on Wednesday 04/06/16
Posted on April 6, 2016 15 Comments
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
Owl and the Electric Samurai (August 22, 2016 by Pocket Star)
Owl is back for her third adventure this summer, and I love both the title and the cover (Hey Owl, is that a hammer in your hand?)
“The third exciting novel starring the unforgettable antiquities thief Owl—a modern-day “Indiana Jane” who reluctantly navigates the hidden supernatural world. From the pen of rising urban fantasy star Kristi Charish (Owl and the Japanese Circus) and for fans of Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Jennifer Estep, Jenn Bennett, and fantasy lovers everywhere.
The International Archaeology Association (IAA) is responsible for keeping all things supernatural under wraps. They’re also responsible for ruining the promising archaeology career of Alix Hiboux, better known as Owl.
Needless to say, Owl’s still a little sore about that.
Just to keep Owl’s life lively, the IAA has opened a bounty on the two designers of World Quest, the online RPG that is much, much more than it seems. Owl needs to locate the notorious gaming duo before the other mercenaries do. But finding the gamers won’t be easy since every clue points to them hiding out in the legendary lost city of Shangri-La. Not to mention that the last time Owl and the game designers spoke, their conversation didn’t exactly end on the best note…
Meanwhile, undercurrents of supernatural politics are running amok in Tokyo, dragging Owl and her friends into a deadly game of wits with an opponent who calls himself the Electric Samurai. The cost of losing? All-out civil war between two powerful supernatural factions.
All in all, just another great day on the job.”
The BiblioSanctum 