Sunday Musings: Review Rut
Posted on March 6, 2016 6 Comments
Normally, when I read a book, I’m already writing the review in my head. Last year, for whatever reason (and there were many valid ones), I just wasn’t in the right mind set to do so. I thankfully still was able to get in the right mind space to read or listen to books, but I just couldn’t get any thoughts onto paper about them. Today (which is actually January 31–hurray for scheduled posts), I’ve managed to churn out a whole bunch of reviews, starting small with these little guys, and moving on to more significant coverage. It’s a nice feeling. That is to say–I’m back, yo! So stay tuned for more bookish thoughts from me. And many thanks to my beautiful, wonderful, inspirational co-bloggers for carrying on the torch in my absence. Being a part of the Bibliosanctum team continues to be an honour for me.
BintiWho’d have thought I’d enjoy a book about math. Okay, Binti isn’t really about math, but it does incorporate mathematics and science into its trek across space. I am always thrilled to read interesting ways that authors use magic, and that was no less the case here, although, despite the grounding in math and science through the protagonist, Binti’s, upbringing, there was a feeling of trying too hard to connecting magic with science and math, and then letting it fall away. As in, when it came down to Binti seeking to understand how her newly discovered abilities worked, she and all those around her seemed content with “I don’t know” as the answer.
The story focuses on this young woman who has been accepted into a prestigious university light years away and who, against her family’s wishes and traditions, abandons everything to pursue her dream. Throughout the story, Binti’s courage is at the forefront, but no more so than when she gives up everything she knows and loves to follow this dream. Unfortunately, her dream is tragically and violently interrupted by the arrival of the Meduse on her ship. The Meduse are a race of beings who have been at war with humanity for a long time, but something about Binti makes her not only immune to their attack, but also allows her to eventually communicate with them through the power of “I don’t know.”
I really liked this book and particularly loved Robin Miles’ narration. Miles is a master of dialects and, when I so often read and listen to books about British or North American protagonists, it’s a thrill to hear Miles strong, confident voice speaking Binti’s words with an African accent. Okorafor also does not waste any opportunities to define her worlds and her characters as something far more than what is too common in the genre, with particular focus on Binti’s hair and the otjize with which she covers her body. These distinctive cultural elements become key factors in the story.
But the story itself, despite being so promising, falls short. It wraps up too easily and perhaps too unrealistically. Without giving away any spoilers, I will simply say that it left me wanting more, which is both a good and a bad thing, in this case, depending on whether or not Okorafor ever decides to revisit Binto and her world.
The Rolling Stones by Robert A. Heinlein
The easiest way to describe this book is that it’s an amusing family road trip… in space.
I’ve come to adore Heinlein’s dry sense of humour, which often appears in one or two characters in his books, but here, we have a whole family of smartasses. From Captain to Doctor, to grandmother, to daughter, to entrepreneurial twins, and a determined little boy with typical little boy stubborness. Oh and flat cats, which are best described as, well, tribbles, but flatter.
The description of this book focuses on the twins, but Castor and Pollux are nothing without the support of their family–and what a supportive family it is. Even when their father is threatening to shove them out of an airlock, or their mother is quietly rolling her eyes at their antics, this is clearly not the dysfunctional family they seem to pretend to be. They are a tight knight group where loyalty and love is evident, even through the sarcasm and idle threats. The Stones are what every family should aspire to be like, and this book was what every family trip wishes it could be (though maybe without the deadly diseases and other critical threats of interplanetary travel.
YA Weekend Audio: Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
Posted on March 5, 2016 14 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of The Reckoners
Publisher: Audible Studios (February 16, 2016)
Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: MacLeod Andrews
Calamity is the concluding novel of The Reckoners series and it was nothing like I expected, but I have yet to decide whether I feel positively or negatively about that. In truth, I feel torn because even though I enjoyed this book overall, for the first time in a long while I ended a Brandon Sanderson novel without feeling completely satisfied. Here came the long awaited answers to the questions that have been with us since the beginning, but I’m not sure that they really resolved all that much for me.
It probably goes without saying, but it’s worth mentioning anyway: This will be a spoiler-free review for Calamity, but if you haven’t read Steelheart and Firefight yet, keep in mind I may reference events from those preceding volumes. Following the devastating events of the last book, David and the Reckoners have left Babilar for Ildithia, tracking down the whereabouts of Jonathan “Prof” Phaedrus. The former Reckoners leader had ultimately succumbed to the darkness of his High Epic powers, but rather than attempting to kill Prof outright, David believes that his friend can still be saved. To do that, he’ll have to uncover Prof’s weakness, the thing that an Epic fears the most, and force the older man to turn back from the evil consuming him.
From the beginning to about three-quarters of the way through, Calamity was set to be my favorite book in the trilogy. I loved that we got to visit a new city that was once again fantastic beyond belief. After Newcago and Babilar, I wondered what Sanderson would have up his sleeve this time, and it turned out to be…salt. Formerly Atlanta, Ildithia was infused with Epic power and is now entirely made up of the stuff. By crumbling at one end while reforming at another, the city replaces itself completely about once every week or so, and gives the illusion that the whole of Ildithia is slowly “moving” across the landscape of the southern Fractured States. That’s some mind blowing world-building.
David was also once again slaying me with his sense of humor, bringing back his signature metaphors that are so bad they’re good. At certain points of the book, especially the first time the Reckoners encounter Prof in Ildithia, the tension was so thick that I was practically frozen in anticipation, simply hanging on to every word in the audiobook. Later on in the story, there’s even an exciting heist scene, and we all know how much I love those. The stakes were much higher in this book, and the greater intensity of the action scenes definitely reflected that.
So needless to say, I was confused when the first reviews of Calamity started surfacing and many of the ratings were mixed. But once I got to the final stretch of the book, I began to understand.
The ending was…interesting. After finishing Calamity I turned to a friend and tried to articulate my thoughts on how I felt about the finale, and found that I couldn’t. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. Still, I just can’t seem to shake the sense that Brandon Sanderson hit a wall when it came to figuring out how to wrap up this trilogy, and in the end decided on a very random, out-of-left-field conclusion—which is not like the author at all. That is why I am so torn. On the one hand, there’s an unmistakable sense of closure, so I’m happy that we got a real ending. But on the other, there are still many important points left open that I feel needed to be resolved. For lack of a better word, it felt messy.
On a happier note though, I’m pleased to say that the audiobook edition has exceeded my expectations—but I already knew it was going to be excellent after my experience with the audio of Firefight. MacLeod Andrews is a talented narrator, and out of all the titles I’ve listened to him read, his performance on this series is by far my favorite. I think it’s because these books are a good match for his energy and enthusiasm. After all, Brandon Sanderson writes the best protagonists, some of whom are among the most vivid and unique characters I’ve ever encountered. David of the Reckoners series is no exception, though his jokes can sometimes become tedious and get in the way of his charm, but Andrews has this way of moderating that goofiness, making the character feel very sincere and likeable.
All told, I think Calamity might be my least favorite installment, but I also can’t say I’m all that disappointed. There were plenty of great moments in here, and while the ending may have dragged down my overall opinion of the book, it hasn’t really affected my love for the entire series. I adore The Reckoners, and I would still readily recommend it to anyone looking to read a fun spin on superheroes.
Story: 
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*** Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald ***
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Steelheart (Book 1) by Mogsy
Review of Steelheart (Book 1) by Wendy
Review of Firefight (Book 2) by Mogsy
Book Review: Brotherhood of the Wheel by R.S. Belcher & GIVEAWAY!
Posted on March 4, 2016 19 Comments
***The giveaway is now over, thank you to everyone who entered!***
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Brotherhood of the Wheel by R.S. Belcher
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Brotherhood of the Wheel
Publisher: Tor (March 1, 2016)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Urban Fantasy is such an exciting genre right now because of books like The Brotherhood of the Wheel. While mythological creatures and vigilantes have long been a mainstay, R.S. Belcher has shaken up these conventions and breathed new life into UF by looking at a slice of American culture that arguably hasn’t gotten a lot of attention: Truckers. Motorcycle clubs. The U.S. Interstate Highway System.
Meet Jimmie Aussapile, an independent truck driver who lives a double life as a knight of an ancient order, protecting the country’s roads and its travelers from monsters—both the supernatural and the human kind. He and others like him are part of a brethren who call themselves the Brotherhood of the Wheel.
One night, Jimmie picks up a ghostly hitchhiker and follows her message to a number of unsolved missing person cases. Along with his new squire Heck Sinclair, the two men uncover a terrifying situation involving a supernatural serial killer known as the Pagan who has been using the highway system to prey on children since the mid-1900s. Meanwhile, Louisiana cop Lovina Marcou has been conducting her own investigations into a group of missing teenagers, leading her to creepy internet stories about abductions by the inhuman Black-Eyed Kids or BEKs. She eventually crosses paths with Jimmie and Heck, setting in motion a string of events that would pit them against a great evil that has been preparing to make its return into the world.
This is the third book I’ve read by R.S. Belcher, and damn, his storytelling just gets better and better. I found myself really digging the combination of urban fantasy and horror, and I think The Brotherhood of the Wheel would be perfect for readers who love the gritty stylings of Chuck Wendig, or the creepy and otherworldly stories of Joe Hill. I also love the blending of the modern and the ancient. On the one hand, we’re reaching back into history and referencing the Knights Templar to explain the origins of the Brethren, and on the other we’re pulling in elements influenced by internet memes and other online myths that go viral. This fantastic mashup comes together to create a very special kind of magic, bringing a rough and terrible kind of beauty to the places we wouldn’t typically associate with the spiritual or magical—like tunnels, trailer parks, or truck stops.
The characters, especially Jimmie, are really what makes this book stand out. This is the first volume of a new series, but it does take place in the same world as the author’s novel Nightwise, in which Jimmie actually makes his first appearance as a truck driver who gives protagonist Laytham Ballard hitch a ride in his rig. It was a small scene, but for those who have read the book, that intriguing introduction to Jimmie and the Brethren might have made a strong impression. I know it did for me, which was why I was really looking forward The Brotherhood of the Wheel, a novel that would explore his story and his order’s background. Just in case you’re wondering, both books can be indeed be read as standalones, as they’re the openers to two different and separate series, but I still thought it was really neat to read both and catch all the easter eggs and references they make to each other.
Anyway, as it turns out, Jimmie is quite a remarkable man. He’s a reminder that a hero can come in many shapes and sizes, even in the form of a gruff truck driver with a potbelly and bad, tobacco-stained teeth, wearing a hideous Squidbillies mesh baseball cap. By day, he’s a humble worker and a loving husband and father to his wife, daughter, and another baby on the way. Off the books, he’s chasing down murderers, sexual predators, and paranormal beasties that go bump in the night, often putting his job in jeopardy when he misses delivery schedules or deadlines. Unlike Laytham Ballard of Nightwise—who wasn’t an entirely likeable guy—Jimmie Aussapile is a completely different kind of protagonist, almost like a Peter Parker-like character who immediately appeals to the reader because he is willing to make personal sacrifices for the greater good. I also loved Heck, Lovina, and Max the Builder researcher who later joins the team, and together the four of them kick some seriously major ass. It’s impossible not to root for them, especially when they’re fighting against a most twisted and depraved antagonist.
This is probably my favorite book by the author so far and I’m intensely excited about the future of this series. It’s clear he has put a lot of careful planning into this world populated by all kinds of heroes and anti-heroes united as one to protect innocents from the malevolent forces of the occult. By combining modern technology, contemporary urban myths, and age-old folkloric legends, Belcher made me see “road magic” in a whole new light, and I can’t wait to see what he does next. The wheel turns, baby!
THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE WHEEL BOOK
+ TRUCKER HAT GIVEAWAY
Ready for something really cool? The publisher has very generously offered The BiblioSanctum an opportunity to host a giveaway for a hardcover copy of The Brotherhood of a Wheel AND this nifty trucker hat which is one of a limited number made specially for this book! Oh man, I already know I’m going to be insanely jealous of whoever wins this prize package. This giveaway is open to residents in the US and Canada. 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 WHEEL TURNS” by 11:59pm Eastern time on Monday, March 14, 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!
Mercy Thompson Reread: River Marked by Patricia Briggs & GIVEAWAY!
Posted on March 3, 2016 11 Comments
***The giveaway is now over, thanks to everyone who entered!***
Fire Touched is almost here! To celebrate, I’m very excited to be taking part in the Mercy Thompson Reread Blog Tour leading up to the publication of the ninth volume of the series. I was even more thrilled when I found out I would be covering my first choice of the available titles–the sixth book, River Marked. As one of my favorite Mercy Thompson books, this particular story has stayed closed to my heart even though it has been a few years since I first read it. Needless to say, I had a lot of fun revisiting it, and the second time around was just as awesome.
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 6 of Mercy Thompson
Publisher: Ace (March 1, 2011)
First Read: February 2013
Reread: February 2016
If you haven’t met Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson yet, you’re in for a treat. She’s one of the coolest and most capable urban fantasy heroines I’ve ever encountered. As the owner of an auto-shop in the Tri-Cities area of Washington, she makes a living by fixing Volkswagens and rebuilding vintage cars for sale. In her private life though, she hangs out with vampires, werewolves and fae. Mercy herself happens to a Walker, able to shapeshift into a coyote at will, a power she inherited from her father who died before she was born.
Until now, she thought she was the only one of her kind. But in River Marked we find out this is not the case. After their wedding, Mercy and Adam, the alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack, make their way into the wilderness for their honeymoon in a pimped out fae-borrowed trailer, hoping for some quality alone time in a nice quiet retreat. As usual though, nothing in Mercy’s life ever goes as planned. In the depths of the Columbia River, an ancient evil has awakened and is killing innocent people. Mercy also encounters other walkers for the first time, magical humans like her who can take the form of other animals.
Favorite Moments
~ There were so many great moments in this book, but nothing beats Mercy and Adam finally tying the knot. All their friends and family come together to throw them a “surprise wedding”, playing their roles marvelously as not to alert the bride and groom. As book weddings go, this was one of the best and most memorable. It manages to be sweet and romantic without following any of the conventions, and it’s also touching because it involves all of the couple’s loved ones. I think I like this wedding scene even more the second time around, though I still lament the fact that it was over way too quickly.
~ Honeymooning by camping on the banks of the Columbia River. I love this because it’s just so Mercy and Adam. I can’t picture these two staying at some cushy hotel. Plus, the circumstances were rife for plenty of cute moments. Adam can be overprotective of Mercy to the point of extreme, but there’s no question that he really loves her, and she loves him.
~ The otters. That is all.
~ The encounters with Coyote. In particular, there was one quiet, introspective conversation between him and Mercy by the river that revealed a lot about her roots, and answered many questions about her father. But watch out! They don’t call Coyote a trickster for nothing.
~ Mercy’s ill-fated trip to Walmart. Adam was right to be concerned. After all, you never know what can happen in one of their changing rooms…
~ The final showdown with the river devil itself, which made all the mystery and suspense worth it.
~ And of course, Mercy’s letter to Adam at the end of the book. All I can say is, wow. All the feels. Words cannot describe.
Why I love River Marked…
A lot of people I know who read Mercy Thompson say that River Marked is their least favorite of the series or that it is weaker than many of the other novels…but I can’t disagree more! Sure, it was a little slow to start, but once it the story grabbed me, it grabbed me hard. I felt the series needed this book desperately, for several reasons. First of all, Mercy and Adam get married, putting an end to the tensions and drama between Mercy and other potential suitors for her ONCE AND FOR ALL. I also understand that folks might be disappointed that we don’t get to see much of the supporting cast (because granted, they are part of what makes this series great) but personally, I liked that Mercy and Adam finally got to have their own adventure without interference from the wolf pack or vampires. For this reason, I also felt that River Marked contains the most “stand alone” story line of all the books.
Furthermore, River Marked is an important turning point for Mercy’s character growth. She went through some terrible things in the previous books, and this was a good story for her to look towards the future and start a new chapter in her life. She and Adam get to grow closer, adjusting to each other’s strengths and weaknesses, learning to live together and trust one another. As well, it was high time that her own powers were explored, and for the first time, we got a book completely devoted to Mercy’s heritage. Brigg’s inclusion of Native American mythology and their spiritual stories made this one a fascinating read (and reread)!
Have you read the Mercy Thompson series? Do you have favorite book? What did you think of River Marked? How excited are you for Fire Touched?
River Marked Giveaway
Interested in winning a copy of this book? For this blog tour, the publisher has very generously offered The BiblioSanctum an opportunity to host a giveaway of my chosen Mercy Thompson title! Here’s your chance to win one of two print copies of River Marked by Patricia Briggs. This giveaway is open to residents in 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 “RIVER MARKED” by 11:59pm Eastern time on Sunday, March 13, 2016.
Only one entry per household, please. The two winners 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!
Short & Sweet Novella Review: Blood Follows by Steven Erikson
Posted on March 2, 2016 6 Comments
Blood Follows by Steven Erikson
Series: The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach #1
Genre: Fantasy, Novella
Publisher: Night Shade Books
TL;DR Review
Tiara’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars. It’s like The Addams Family but with only Gomez, Uncle Fester, and Lurch.
Coming on the heels of my first foray into the Malazan empire (Gardens of the Moon) is Blood Follows, a short novella revolving around events outside the main story. Blood Follows takes place in the town of Lamentable Moll in a region called Theft. Emancipor Reese has lost yet another job as yet another of his employers dies an ill-fated death. Mancy’s, as he’s called by his friends and wife, latest employer becomes the 11th victim to a serial killer stalking the streets of Moll. Having no recourse but to find another job as quickly as possibly–lest he face the wrath of his wife–Mancy answers a warded notice for a manservant to two eccentric necromancers, the scholarly Bauchelain and the large, quiet eunuch Korbal Broach.
I read this as a gateway story while I gear up to read Deadhouse Gates, which is the second book in this Malazan series. Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and Mancy are only background characters in the main novels, as I understand, so reading about their misadventures before the rest of the novels doesn’t really break anything in the story. This novella proves to be much like Erikson’s main offering, but on a smaller scale. Despite the short length, the book introduces quite a few cast of characters. However, given the short nature of this story, they’re not explored with the same depth. In fact, you pretty much have to make up your own mental image of most of the characters in this novel aside from the three men mentioned. There are some characters who beg for a deeper exploration while some just fall totally flat. That may or may not be a problem depending on your approach to short stories.
Starring Korbal Broach as Uncle Fester and Bauchelain as Gomez.
The plot, while basic, is entertaining enough. The description for this book makes it sound much more dramatic than it actually is, such as saying there was chaos among the people when that’s hardly noted at all in the story. There were ghastly things going on in the story, but nothing ever really felt urgent. I didn’t feel the sense of tension in this story that it was trying to convey. In fact, the murders almost feel secondary to what’s going with the characters in the story, and one of the big reveals in this story just seemed pushed out there without even a real hint that this is what was going on. Mainly, the interest in the story comes from readers meeting the necromancers and their new manservant, and the witticism found throughout this story. The joking nature gives this a sort of dark humor feel which is wildly different from the mostly serious endeavor that is Gardens of the Moon, and for that, I found this story enjoyable.
- Decent place for people who are just wanting a taste of Malazan to start
- A lighter, fun romp in the Malazan Empire (okay, as light as one can get with the Malazan Empire anyway)
- Large cast of characters with barely any descriptors may be a turn off
- Doesn’t really conjure much dread despite it being a murderer on the loose
Waiting on Wednesday 03/02/16
Posted on March 2, 2016 18 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:
Willful Child: Wrath of Betty by Steven Erikson: October 18, 2016 (Tor Books)
If you’re looking for a good Star Trek spoof — and a decidedly un-PC one at that — then Steven Erikson has got you covered. Wrath of Betty is the second book chronicling the voyages of the A.S.F. starship Willful Child. Its ongoing mission: to make you laugh, and maybe offend some delicate sensibilities along the way. I gotta say though, “BETTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
“From New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson comes a new SF novel of devil-may-care, near calamitous, and downright chaotic adventures through the infinite vastness of interstellar space…
The continuing adventures of the starship A.S.F. Willful Child. Its ongoing mission: to seek out strange new worlds on which to plant the Terran flag, to subjugate and if necessary obliterate new life-forms, to boldly blow the…
And so we join the not-terribly-bright but exceedingly cock-sure Captain Hadrian Sawback and his motley crew on board the Starship Willful Child for a series of devil-may-care, near-calamitous and downright chaotic adventures through ‘the infinite vastness of interstellar space.’
The New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Malazan Book of the Fallen series has taken his lifelong passion for Star Trek and transformed it into a smart, inventive, and hugely entertaining spoof on the whole mankindexploring-space-for-the-good-of-all-species-but-trashing-stuff-with-a-lot-ofhigh-tech-gadgets-along-the-way, overblown adventure. The result is an SF novel that deftly parodies the genre while also paying fond homage to it.”
Book Review: The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins
Posted on March 1, 2016 26 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Viking (March 1, 2016)
Length: 400 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Diving into a debut novel is always a bit of a gamble, but it can also prove exciting and extremely rewarding—especially when a book ends up surprising me or blowing away all my expectations. These are the moments I live for and this is exactly what I felt with Mark Tompkin’s The Last Days of Magic, a breathtaking historical fantasy saga about mysticism and mythology through the ages.
I am absolutely in love with this novel and its premise, which posits that magic is real but merely forgotten, suppressed and denied. Today we dismiss the tales of the Sidhe as nothing but folklore and legend, but just a few centuries ago humans co-existed with all kinds of supernatural creatures, and in no other place was that bond stronger than in Ireland, the last bastion of magic against the encroaching powers of the Vatican Church. Much of island’s strength comes from the protection of its patron deity the Morrígna, a goddess whose three aspects come together to rule over the Celts and the Sidhe. One of Her aspects resides in the Otherworld as a source of power, while the other two—known as Aisling and Anya—are always reborn in the mortal realm as identical twin girls.
The book begins with the introduction to the last incarnations of the twins Aisling and Anya in the autumn of 1387. But just days before their ascendance ritual to become one with the Goddess, disaster strikes. Without the assurance of the Morrígna on their side, fears begin to rise and alliances start to break down, leading to a weakened Ireland and a fractured Middle Kingdom, which is the home of the Sidhe. Taking advantage of this instability, the Vatican prepares to rid the world of its last remnants of magic by using the forces of King Richard II of England to invade. Thus the story is as much about Aisling and Anya as it is about their protectors, and about Jordan, a mercenary turned Vatican commander who arrives on the shores of Ireland to find that the magic is not all as it seems.
When I’m promised epic historical fantasy, this is exactly the kind of book I’m looking for, pushing the boundaries of multiple genres by blending medieval history, Irish legends, and even Biblical elements. Other religions were mostly stamped out during the Christianization of Europe in the Middle Ages, which serves as the backdrop for The Last Days of Magic. But while this by itself has been a theme in many works of fiction about why real magic has passed from this world, what I find interesting here is foundation for the origins of all supernatural creatures. In this book, magical beings like the Fae (which are typically associated with paganism, earth spirits, and nature worship) also have their roots in Christianity, so that the Sidhe (faeries like the Skeaghshee, gnomes, pixies, fire sprites, leprechauns, dryads, etc.) along with the Elioud (banshees, imps, sirens, goblins, giants, etc.) are all branches of the Nephilim, offspring of humans and fallen angels. Tompkin’s portrayal of the trinity goddess Morrígna as Anann, Aisling and Anya to bring all Irish Fae and humans together adds even more layers to the land’s mysterious and ancient magical customs.
At first, all of this can be a little confusing, and the author’s somewhat pedagogical style also has a tendency to be distracting. He inserts a lot of historical detail, though this isn’t really a criticism since most of the time I find the information helpful and educational. Of more concern is probably the non-linear storytelling. While each chapter is labeled chronologically, within most of these sections are multiple time skips and flashbacks, and it took me several chapters to grow used to this rhythm. Once I got it down though, the story really took off.
Soon enough, this book had me completely captivated. In light of my observations about the writing, I was actually a little surprised at how quickly I took to the characters. I wouldn’t have thought Tompkin’s seemingly didactic style would translate all that well to deep and engaging characterization, but in truth his storytelling is remarkably expressive. There are a lot of players in this book, some fictional and some not, but they are all shaped very convincingly by the story’s events. This is especially true of Aisling, who had her entire worldview ripped away from her on the day she lost everything she loved. Her tale is a tragic one, but after a while Jordan also emerges as a more prominent figure. His role to seek knowledge goes a long way in transforming the narrative by giving it a more hopeful tone. I also enjoyed seeing how everything that happened in this story was placed in a historical context, including all the magically-infused scenarios—a testament to the amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this novel.
All that’s left to say is bravo! The Last Days of Magic is everything I want in a historical fantasy, offering a tale that sparks the imagination and explores the multilayered relationship between truth and myth. Mark Tompkins has created an incredible world filled with vivid characters, capturing the complex nature of faith, love, and conflicting loyalties. A stunning, evocative debut.
Book Review: Ex-Isle by Peter Clines
Posted on February 29, 2016 10 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi Fantasy
Series: Book 5 of Ex-Heroes
Publisher: Broadway Books (February 2, 2016)
Length: 400 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
This is probably my favorite book of the series so far! Ex-Isle, the fifth book in the Ex-Heroes series (which I like to describe to others as “Superheroes meets The Walking Dead”) brings things back on track. I’ve never felt more energized about these books than I do now.
The story takes us back to the Mount, a film studio in Hollywood that the survivors of zombocalypse has converted into a fortress to keep out the hordes of undead. The people of Los Angeles have fared better than most, thanks to a small team of super-powered individuals on their side. St. George, a hero somewhat analogous to Superman, has helped protect everyone by establishing a safe haven where humanity can still work, play, farm and forage.
But then disaster strikes, destroying much of the Mount’s sources of food, forcing the heroes to consider riskier solutions to make up for the loss. In the end, a team including Danielle, Cesar and their powered suit of armor known as Cerberus (yes, my first thought was Iron Man too) head out to the outskirts in an effort to find more ways to produce food.
Meanwhile, Zzzap returns from a scouting trip with some big news: he has found a man-made island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, constructed by cobbling together a bunch of boats (in his words, “It’s kind of like Waterworld. But, y’know, believable.”) Deciding that the Mount should offer whatever help they can provide, St. George accompanies Zzzap back to the island in a gesture of goodwill, bringing Corpse Girl along for the adventure. When the heroes arrive though, they find a less than friendly welcome; in fact, everyone on the island seems to think L.A. has been nuked along with the rest of the world, and no one believes that St. George is who he says he is. Worse, they all appear to be ruled by a paranoid Aquaman-type character named Maleko.
After reading Ex-Isle, I was excited and also relieved that the slump I experienced with the last book was only temporary. Ex-Purgatory was a strange book that took us briefly in a different direction, which didn’t work as well for me compared to the other novels in the series, so now I’m glad to see all my favorite zombie-fighting heroes in action again. There are two story threads running along here side-by-side, the one where Danielle and the others are in Eden helping out with the food situation, and then there’s the one with St. George, Zzzap and Corpse Girl in Lemuria, the island made of boats. Both are equally gripping and suspenseful, and I fell into the rollicking rhythm of the novel almost instantly.
What I loved most about this book is the unsettling sense of mystery that pervades both storylines. Up in Eden, the team of super soldiers who are supposed to be watching out for zombies are instead acting really strange, and people are getting suspicious. This story is made even better by Danielle, who is trying to figure out what’s going on, but her progress is agreatly hampered by her struggle with PTSD and her separation anxiety from the Cerberus armor. And speaking of Danielle, over the course of the series we’ve seen the books focus on the individual characters, exploring their personalities and backgrounds, but this is the first time I’ve truly felt that kind of character development take off. Don’t get me wrong, because I love this series; it’s humorous and entertaining, but admittedly, that tone has always made it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level—especially when most of them can be seen as parodies of well-known Marvel and DC superheroes. However, Danielle in Ex-Isle became a genuinely interesting and sympathetic character, and in her I finally found the deeper connection I’ve been looking for in this series.
The storyline in Lemuria was also excellent fun. The suspense and mystery go into overdrive here, making you wonder every step of the way, “Just what is going on here?” The heroes have to deal with a new antagonist and all his dangerous and evilly underhanded tactics. Barry/Zzzap is hilarious as always, and Corpse Girl AKA Madelyn also gets to have a starring role, proving herself to be one of the more fascinating characters with bizarre “power”.
I also liked how this book was more structured. Peter Clines wrote in a note at the end that unlike the other volumes, he had to rush this one, and because of that, it was outlined to oblivion. It’s understandable why that didn’t work too well for him as a writer. Strangely though, it worked for me as a reader. I enjoyed how the story was more focused and streamlined, and the pacing was smoother because we had fewer flashbacks. Even though we didn’t get to see much of the other heroes—like Stealth or Captain Freedom—the characters that we did get to spend time with were better written and more developed.
Overall, this was a big winner for me. I feel like the series is finally hitting its stride, and that going forward, we’re going to be seeing even greater things. I’m so glad Clines is writing more of these books, and I can’t wait for the next one.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Ex-Communication (Book 3)
Review of Ex-Purgatory (Book 4)
Graphic Novel Review: Star Wars: Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka, Marco Checchetto, Phil Noto
Posted on February 29, 2016 6 Comments
Star Wars: Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka, Marco Checchetto, Phil Noto
Genre: Space Opera, Science Fiction
Series: Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Publisher: Marvel Comics (November 2015)
Author Info: gregrucka.com
Artist Info: philnoto.tumblr.com
Artist Info: marvel.com/comics/creators/11748/marco_checchetto
Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you go by what many fictional stories tell us, when the bad guy is defeated, you mourn your dead and then you throw a party. That’s not how reality works. Just ask the soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq and so many other places where the war never ends, even when it’s over.
Of course, we don’t want our entertainment reflecting that reality. We don’t want to sit through Frodo moping around in the burning Shire, or Ender raging against that genocide he was tricked into causing. So what if this is the culmination of the heroes journey according to Joseph Campbell. We don’t want to see the sad parts.
Return of the Jedi ended with a party at Ewokville and we were all invited. Yub nub, bitches!
War’s over. Everybody go home.
But in Shattered Empire, Rucka reminds us of the harsh truth: the war isn’t over till the fat ewok sings (which we see hasn’t really happened 30 years later in TFA). And he also reminds us that the faces at the front aren’t the only heroes.
Shattered Empire drops us right outside the Emperor’s door as Han’s team struggles to collapse the shields around the Death Star and the pilots desperately try to protect the rebel ships from the trap they’ve flown into. On the ground, we meet Kes Dameron, but the focus of the series is above, on pilot Shara Bey.
Each issue features a mission starring one of the Star Wars faces we know, and Bey is swept along or volunteers. She is the quintessential soldier who does her job and does it well, and wants to fight the good fight, but she also struggles with her desire to leave it all behind and just go farming with her husband, Kes, and their young son, Poe, and the subsequent guilt that brings.
The stories themselves are a bit sparse, but I’m happy to fill in the blanks of Poe Dameron’s backstory, especially as it complements his story in Star Wars: Before the Awakening. I read the latter first and was particularly moved by Poe’s story because of how painfully bittersweet it is. We know Poe as the fun, passionate uber pilot, but these stories give him a bit more depth and sadness through his parents’ fears that everything they fought and people died for was for nothing. The series started with A New Hope, but, despite the ewok party, hope might not be enough. With all the flash and fanfare of TFA in the theatre, scratch the surface and you find a war that hasn’t ended, even after 30 years. Is there still hope? Is there still a point to hoping? Of course there is. The good guys always win, right?
The collected edition also includes Princess Leia #1, where Leia finds herself without a home or a role in the rebellion and the few of her people that remain don’t think too highly of her ice queen persona. Why doesn’t she grieve, they wonder? As if everyone must grieve in the same way. Leia imposes herself on an Alderaanian pilot named Evaan with whom she wants to be friends, though the woman keeps herself at a carefully caustic subservient distance.
When I was younger, it never dawned on me that Leia might be a little messed up after watching her entire planet destroyed. She got over it and went on to be awesome, right? Now, I’m quite happy that books explore her PTSD or apparent lack thereof, such as Martha Wells’ Razor’s Edge.
And finally, there’s the 1977 original Marvel retelling of Star Wars: A New Hope where Luke Skywalker looks a lot like He-Man and stormtroopers are a lot more acrobatic.
Book Review: Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip
Posted on February 28, 2016 16 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Ace (February 2, 2016)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website
Kingfisher is not your everyday fantasy, nor is it the kind of book I usually enjoy. Blurring the lines between genres, this ethereal and strangely abstract tale should have stymied me on so many levels, so no one is more shocked than I am at how deeply it resonated with me. It shouldn’t have worked for me—and in truth, not every aspect of the story did—but I did find certain elements greatly appealing.
It helped too that I went into this book with no preconceptions and absolutely no clue what to expect at all. So I was surprised to discover early on that Kingfisher appears to be a retelling of—or at least, a story with many allusions to—the quest for the Holy Grail. It occurred to me then, that in spite of the popularity of stories about King Arthur and the knights of his court, I’ve not actually read much Arthurian fantasy. That being said, it doesn’t taken an expert to see that McKillip’s take on the genre is special, wildly inventive, and atypical of many others.
The beginning of the book can only be described as abrupt, introducing us to Pierce Oliver in a brief scene helping out a group of strangers with directions as they pass through his remote home town of Mistbegotten. He is immediately inspired by the men’s sophisticated bearing and mystical aura, much like how Percival in the legend was struck by the heroism of the knights after he encountered a band of them in the forest where he lived. Pierce/Percival then leaves home for a bit of soul-searching, after his mother reveals that his father is a knight in the King’s Court.
As Pierce travels to the kingdom of Severluna where King Arden holds his court, the tides are changing there as well. With magic on the rise, the king has called for all his knights to gather. An artifact of immense power has been brought to his attention, believed to hold the key to restoring Severluna’s glory. When Pierce arrives, he finds everyone in the kingdom preparing for the quest to find this legendary vessel, including the priestesses of Calluna who go against the king in believing that the lost artifact is destined for something else.
There’s almost a “magical realism” vibe to this story, though I use that description broadly; in parts, the world of Kingfisher veers so strongly into the realm of fantasy that the world can be seen as anything but natural or mundane. It should also come as no surprise that my favorite parts of this novel all had to do with the aforementioned allusions to the legends surrounding King Arthur and the Grail Quest. Retellings or so-called creative re-imaginings are always fascinating to me because of the potential for an author to take the story in a number of different directions, and here we have a somewhat offbeat mix of Medieval Fantasy meets Modern World. The source of inspiration behind Pierce Oliver’s personal journey is obvious, though there were many more references beyond that.
In fact, after a while it became difficult to separate myth from reality. I had a really hard time getting a bead on the nature of the setting, which sees characters using modern technology like cellphones on the one hand, but they also don’t seem to think knights, sorceresses, or magic are anything out of the ordinary on the other. By design or otherwise, the world-building is vague and has this almost dreamlike quality, and at many points I found myself wondering if we were still playing to the Arthurian tropes or leaving them completely behind for uncharted territory. There were also moments where I felt like I was in way over my head, especially where certain characters were concerned, like Carrie’s storyline and her role in the bitter feud between Todd Stillwater and the Kingfisher Inn.
And then there was the food. The mouth-wateringly, gorgeously, meticulously described food. Delicious as it all sounded, it felt incongruous and distracting, considering how everything else in the book—characters, world-building, etc.—lacked a similar level of detail.
These obstacles notwithstanding, I nevertheless found a lot to like about Kingfisher, and felt myself drawn to many parts of the story. This is the first book I’ve ever read by Patricia A. McKillip, and I am glad I’ve finally gotten to experience her beautiful and expressive style for myself. Admittedly there were moments where I struggled to connect with the characters in this surreal fantasy world that she has created, but still I just can’t help but love the astonishingly unique way she has transformed the classic King Arthur mythos.
*** Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald ***
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