Book Review: Snakewood by Adrian Selby
Posted on March 14, 2016 28 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 / Stand Alone
Publisher: Orbit (March 15, 2016)
Length: 432 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
It has been ten years since the mercenary group known as Kailen’s Twenty broke up and went their separate ways. But now, some of its members are rallying to their leader again, drawn together by an assassin who has been methodically hunting each and every one of them down. Always, a black coin is found somewhere on the murdered corpse—a symbol of betrayal.
As Gant and Shale race to warn the others, neither of them have an idea of why a killer might be after them. Goodness knows Kailen’s Twenty has done some terrible things in their time, but they have always honored a contract. So what could have precipitated this sudden string of vengeance and violence? The answer lies somewhere in the past, as the pieces of the puzzle fall into the place to reveal the truth behind a mysterious event that happened all those years ago, in a place called Snakewood.
I’ll give Snakewood this: it has a very unique premise and one of the coolest like-magic-but-not-really-magic systems I’ve ever seen, which I’ll most definitely rave more about in a bit. That said, I feel like I have a lot of good things I want to say about this book, but almost all of them come with caveats. For example, as much as I love being thrown straight into the action, there were also sections of the book (especially in the beginning) that proved very confusing and difficult to follow, and while the good news is that the confusion eventually lifts, I also fear it may come too late for some.
Part of the issue stems from the structure of the story, which is made up of a series of accounts gathered by a chronicler named Goran. As a result, the narrative is non-linear, told retrospectively, and also subject to frequent point-of-view switching. It’s an interesting style of storytelling, which in turn has its downsides, namely a disorganized introduction and uneven pacing. For instance, we kick things off with an account by Gant, one of the surviving mercenaries of Kailen’s Twenty. His narrative is told from the perspective of someone who clearly assumes that whoever is reading this book already knows all the terminology, people, and places he’s talking about. His way of speaking is also very rough, peppered with brew jargon and grammatical errors, which in itself is a double-edged sword, making Gant’s voice seem very genuine and “in character” while also making it hard to tease out what he’s trying to say.
It makes me think that Snakewood would have been well served with a glossary. A handy list of brews, plants, and their effects would have been helpful as well, given the mercenaries’ heavy reliance on them. One of the biggest problems I had with the beginning was how jumbled everything felt simply because so much was given to me without context or explanation, and keeping track of the large number of different characters also made getting through the intro difficult. Things didn’t smooth out until well after the quarter way mark, which works out to more than a hundred pages.
Fact of the matter is, the experience improves by leaps and bounds after this point, but a fair amount of investment is required, and that may be a deal breaker for some readers. Personally, I’m happy I decided to stick it out, because once I got into the meat of the story, I found I started to enjoy it more and more. One of POVs ultimately emerged as my favorite, and surprisingly, it was that of the mysterious assassin. “Sand”, as he is first called, captivated me because of the depth of his character. He is by no means a good person, being a sadistic killer and alchemical master who gives no thought to the victims of his experiments. And yet, there’s also something to be admired about his commitment and loyalty to those he has sworn to protect. Some part of me also rooted for him because of the underhanded way he was betrayed, and it was sickening the horrors he had to live through because of that betrayal. This is definitely a story in which the antagonist—if that is indeed what Sand is—beats out everyone else for being most fleshed out and fascinating.
Finally, I loved the concept of fight brews. It looks and sounds a lot like magic, but in truth, it’s chemistry. Snakewood takes place in a world that values plants and reagents because of their effects, with new recipes always high in demand and those who can create them held in reverence. Alchemical mixtures can come in many forms, like powders, pastes, potions, vapors, and more. They can also be used to heal or to harm. Mercenaries employ brews as weapons, incapacitating their enemies with hallucinogens, or killing them outright with poisons. They also use brews to enhance their abilities, like a certain kind of leaf dissolved under the eyelids might give one eagle-sight, or a quaff of a potion might make you stronger, faster and more agile. However, there’s also a terrible physiological cost to using brews, called “paying the color”. Some mercenaries are literally marked for life, their skin color or texture permanently altered by whatever they ingested. And like a drug, coming off the high from a brew can also give you one hell of a crash, and some brews are so addictive that those who use them become trapped in this vicious cycle, leading to ugly results.
Ultimately, I’m glad that I read Snakewood. Granted, the first quarter of it was rough going, but I liked the rest of it a lot, and if there’s a sequel I would pick it up in a heartbeat. The non-linear, “jumping around” style of the storytelling and inconsistent pacing are the book’s main weaknesses, along with the difficult-to-read narrative. But if you can make it past the intro and get used to the unconventional voice used by some of the characters, you might just find plenty to admire about this uniquely dark and gritty fantasy. An intriguing debut.
A Local Habitation Read-Along Week No.2
Posted on March 13, 2016 5 Comments
We take a trip back to October Daye’s world of mystery and magic in the second book of Seanan McGuire’s 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.
Week 1: Saturday 5th March, Chapters 1-8 hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 2: Saturday 12th March, Chapters 9-16 – hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 3: Saturday 19th March, Chapters 17-25 – hosted by Books By Proxy
Week 4: Saturday 26th March, Chapters 26-end – hosted by The Bibliosanctum
1. ALH is a very odd place – what do you make of it so far and it’s inhabitants? It has a different feel to the last book doesn’t it?
In the beginning, they just seemed an eccentric bunch, but no different than the usual fare that you find in the tech industry (aside from being supernatural beings). However, it’s starting to feel as if there are many secrets being kept in that place by its occupants, especially as Barbara’s thing comes to light and I start contemplating Alex/Terrie.
2. There is certainly a lot going on at ALH – different dynamics, what are your feelings on the people you’ve met. Anything at all about those remaining and those who have died.
I have some thoughts about Alex and Terrie that I get into a bit below. Gordan, I’m waffling on her a bit. I still like her general prickly-ness, but she is going a bit overboard with all the attitude, but Toby said something great about insanity that probably applies in Gordan’s case. However, I do think she made a very good point about April and confirmed what I said last week about April probably mostly acting like a machine because that is her new nature. I like that Jan is starting more depth of character. I can’t say much about Elliot or the ones who died aside from Barbara, which I’ll discuss in question 4.
3. The phone call with Tybalt. I was curious about his comment about Riordan and what do you think he intends to do next? We’re learning a little bit more about the Cat Sidhe – what do you think Tybalt’s next move will be?
Honestly, I don’t know. On one hand, part of me thinks he’ll find a way to aid Toby and he seemed moved in some sort of way about Barbara.McGuire keep establishing that the cats pretty much do what they want, but I’d like to believe that he’ll find some way, even sneakily, to undermine Riordan and help Toby. We shall see.
4. Barbara – what do you make of the new evidence that has come to light with her dealings with the Duchess of Dreamer’s Glass? What is she up to?
I wonder, if Barbara has been tampering with April in some way, if the communication systems being screwy is actually part of her doing while she was spying for Dreamer’s Glass, which unfortunately has caused an opportunity for the real killer. Hearing that her and Gordan were working on something caused a falling out makes me wonder if that has something to do with Dreamer’s Glass. Maybe they’re all in the conspiracy to take down Tamed Lightning aside from Jan and Barbara is just a cog in the machine. I did find it a little strange that Barbara would have all that just sitting on her work computer when she knew that Jan or April could get in there at any time despite promises to respect privacy. I know that ALH has specialized systems, but despite being brilliant minds, fae are so flighty I’m sure she could’ve setup something personal and less damning. Also, what if the cats betrayed Barbara in some way? I don’t know what way, but their presence is unnerving. I mean, the cats do what they want and Barbara was basically working for the person who DOESN’T want them to do what they want. And cats take great offense to being told to do things they don’t want because cats. Then again, maybe Barbara’s actions are totally justified and Jan is the bad guy here and the cats are there to be like, “I KNOW WHAT YOU DID!”
5. It looks like Toby is going to try and summon the Night Haunts? Any thoughts on how this will go and speculation about the Night Haunts?
That’s the exciting things about these first two books. I can honestly say for much of this stuff that I really have no earthly idea of where McGuire would even begin with some of this stuff because of the unique characters and how she’s establishing the fae world and rules. Toby obviously can’t kill a fae and wait around (and I get the feeling they’d wait her out anyway), but it seems like it should involve death of some kind or something related to death. I wonder if it will be anything like the ritualistic “small deaths” in Anita Blake where a self-inflicted, non-threatening wound that produces blood is considered a “small death” that gives necromancers added power. It’ll be interesting to see how Toby achieves this and how that (probably weird) conversation is even going to go.
6. Any guesses so far as to what’s going on?
(Oops, actually missed this question and had to add it in in as a late addition.) Hm, no… I’m still letting my mind mix and connect things together to see what other craziness it can conjure. Right now, the cats probably betrayed Barbara… or they could be an indicator of something extremely wrong happening at Tamed Lightning… I’m so back and forth on this. In the event that Alex and Terrie aren’t two people, they are likely an incubus/succubus (or whatever their fae equivalent would be). In the event, they are one person… uh… same rule probably applies. LOL.
SUPER HAREBRAINED THEORY ALERT!
I added this after the fact taken straight from my comment on Lynn’s theory on what happened as I thought about it from the angle she presented:
I think you (Lynn) could possibly be right about people being uploaded to the server like April, except that it’s not taking as well as the culprit would like. In that case, the bad guy most likely would have to be January, as you mentioned, with April’s help because she’s the one who’s already done it to April and if she uploaded all her servants she’d be more “protected” in her own way. That would also explain why April doesn’t know anything because she wouldn’t give up her mother.
Gordan would likely be involved, as well, because she’s able to construct what January would need to make that happen. However, Toby mentioned a funny thing about insanity, and Gordan is acting a little bit like she just might be suffering from that. Wouldn’t you be if you were helping upload people coupled with your burning hatred of purebloods? Here is another pureblood using Coblynau skills to get what they want, just like everything else in life. That might also mean that Jan is in danger from Gordan if this is the case.
Barbara’s betrayal could be a whole separate incident from what happened. Maybe Gordan knew about it, though, since they quarreled and that could be one of the reasons she was the first to go. Had to stop her from betraying Tamed Lightning (GO, Tamed Ligtning! Sorry, couldn’t resist. Greased Lightning always gets stuck in my head with this knowe) even more and uploaded her.
Looking at it from that angle makes everything start to make more sense. I’m still not sure how to fit Alex/Terrie into that, but maybe their role is as uncomplicated as being refugees in the wrong knowe despite whatever hold they/he/she/it holds over the opposite gender.
So, I’m going to throw one of my harebrained theories out there that will probably be wrong in the end. Here we go. *breathes* Are Terrie and Alex the same person? I mean… I guess, maybe the way passages about them are worded, it’s actually trying to throw suspicion on them rather than alluding to them being the same person, especially Terrie. But it actually feels more like a lot of Alex’s reactions to accusations and implications when it comes to Terrie feel deeply personal for more than the fact that they’re talking about his sister. His reactions almost seem like he’s taking it as if they’re actually talking about him. Then, there’s the fact that he says something that seems as if he’s only talking about himself and then corrects it. To Toby, it sounded like Terrie hadn’t been around long. To me, it sounded like someone thinking of themselves in singular terms and suddenly remembering. Besides, have you ever seen Terrie in the same room as Alex? Uh-huh. There you go. Logic. LOL. I could be wrong, but that’s just something that stood out to me early. Being they’ve been there so long, it’s probably near impossible they’ve fooled people for 12 years like that.
Knowing the weaknesses of your friends matters as much as knowing the weaknesses of your enemies.
* *
There’s always an option if you’re willing to be creative.
* *
The hero’s journey has suffered in modern years. Once we could’ve gotten a knight in shining armor riding to the rescue, pennants flying. These days you’re lucky to get a battered changeling and her underage, half-trained assistant, and the princesses are confused technological wizards in towers of silicon and steel. Standards aren’t what they used to be.
* *
Insanity is dangerous. All fae living in the mortal world are at least a little nuts; it’s a natural consequence of being what we are. We have to convince ourselves that we can function in a place that’s run by people whose logic looks nothing like our own.
* *
Cats watch from corners and hearths, and they see history happening, and they never forget a minute. Some people say cats are the memory of Faerie, and that as long as there’s one cat that remembers us, Faerie will never die.
A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #2)
A Local Habitation Read-Along Week No.1
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
Sunday Musings: Novelizations
Posted on March 13, 2016 14 Comments
This year, I am turning my attention back to movie novelizations. I used to read them when I was young–mainly the ones featuring the most beloved of movies. Actually, I just read the Star Wars and Terminator books. The rest I shunned because novelizations are just cheap cash grabs and why would I want to read that? Or buy a book that has been made into a movie and now sports the movie poster cover?
Ah the selective snobbery of a bibliophile.
I have no excuse for turning my nose up at novelizations save for those that served me best, and yet, for decades, I made lots of excuses. What could a novelization possibly add to the movie I saw on the big screen? And yet, it is a particular scene from the Terminator 2 novelization that I have clung to for all these years, finally seeing it come to life in the recent Terminator: Genisys.
In Clarkesworld issue #94, Piazo Publishing’s Managing Editor, James L. Stutter writers about the negative reader perception against tie-in novels. He explains how these can be both a boon and a bane for writers in many ways, but the description that stood out for me was “fan fiction that you get paid for.” I love tie-in lore, with Star Wars being at the top of the list, followed of late by my devouring of gaming tie-ins. So why have I developed this aversion to novelizations?
Well this year, I’m fixing that by focusing my attention on novelizations. No doubt I’ve been inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens. If I am going to read a novelization, then obviously the series that first inspired me to do so should be on the list. In fact, it’s co-blogger Tiara’s comments in her review, and the subsequent discussion with our other co-blogger, Mogsy, that reminded me of what novelizations do best. While the author of a novelization is bound by the constraints of the movie script (and may even be working from an older version of said script), there is still some wiggle room. Here is where Stutter’s comment about fan fiction really sparks my attention because the author of a novelization gets to embellish a little. The most obvious area where writers can easily take advantage of the format is with the characters themselves. Rarely does a movie allow us to get into a character’s head, but a book can give us entire inner monologues. While “show, don’t tell,” is often an editor’s motto, which implies that a visual medium would do better in some areas, sometimes, you need those extra details that you can only get in the written word. In some cases, what we see on the screen of a characters actions as the final product might not match up exactly with what is written in the books, but, for better or for worse, it allows us the opportunity to reconsider what we saw on screen or read and determine what truly works within the context.
Deleted scenes are also more likely to get into a novelization since it isn’t bound to time constraints. I wasn’t surprised by George Lucas’ addition of Jabba the Hutt to his re-release of A New Hope because I’d already read the scene years earlier. My young adult heart was all aflutter with the description of the kiss Belloch shares with Marion in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. And, as I mentioned above, a scene that appeared only in the Terminator novelization has been my driving force for the series.
And sometimes, no matter how hard it tries, a film, for whatever reason, just might not pull off a scene just so. For example, one of my favourite moments in the escape from the Death Star involves Han’s crazy storm trooper chase through the halls.
Oh it is still pretty funny when I see it on screen, but it’s also very abrupt. When I read the whole scene, as written by George Lucas in the book (yeah right, you wrote that by yourself, George…), I still laugh out loud at the description:
Rounding a corner, the three humans came to an abrupt halt. So did the twenty Imperial troopers marching toward them. Reacting naturally–which is to say, without thinking–Solo drew his pistol and charged the platoon, yelling and howling in several languages at the top of his lungs.
Startled by the totally unexpected assault and wrongly assuming their attacker knew what he was doing, the troopers started to back away. Several wild shots from the Corellian’s pistol initiated complete panic. Ranks and composure shattered, the troopers broke and fled down the passage.
[…]
Seeing that the ten had halted, Solo likewaise slowed. Gradually he came to a complete stop. Corellian and Imperials regarded one another silently. Several of the troopers were staring, not at Han, but past him. It suddenly occurred to Solo that he was very much alone, and the same thought was beginning to seep into the minds of the guards he was confronting. Embarrassment rapidly gave way to anger. Rifles and pistols started to come up. Solo took a step backward, fired one shot, then turned and ran like hell.
In the re-release, Lucas subsequently added more troopers to the scene to amplify the joke, but I much prefer the natural and logical humour in the original (which had wittled the group down to ten), instead of the idea that Han some how managed to survive this:
My novelization plans won’t be limited to Star Wars, though Alan Dean Foster will likely pop up many times in my pursuit. He’s well known for his novelization resume, and though it might seem like he’s just in it for an easy paycheque, he’s a pretty darn good author. Having worked myself within someone else’s creative property, I believe that breathing life into a script in a way that is both true to your own style of writing and holds to the feel of the property itself is not as easy as it seems. But there certainly are advantages to settling down to write within a fully realized world and established characters. 
Plus, I haven’t had a chance to see a lot of movies in the theatre lately. This might be a good way to catch up.
Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on March 12, 2016 34 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
As the days grow warmer, things have also been heating up in my mailbox and the first couple weeks of March have brought some nice surprises. I’m ready for spring weather, and I’m ready for spring releases! My deepest thanks to all the wonderful publishers for the review copies received. For more details and full descriptions of the books, be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages.
Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie – Print ARC, with thanks to Orbit Books. I’m not a big reader of short stories or anthologies, but the fact that this is a must-read for me is an indication of just how much I adore Mr. Abercrombie’s work.
Borderline by Mishell Baker – From the awesome folks at Saga Press and Wunderkind, I also received this amazing surprise in the mail. I had to pass on my chance to request Borderline from NetGalley earlier in the year, because I wasn’t sure if I could fit it into my reading schedule. But apparently fate insists that I need to read this book! And who am I to argue with fate, right? Now that I have it on hand, I’m definitely going to give this one a look. Oh, trust me, I’ll make the time.
The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu – Along with Borderline also came this gorgeous little gem. Ken Liu is another author whose anthology is something I’d happily drop everything to read. Thanks again to Saga and Wunderkind!
Alight by Scott Sigler – While I had some mixed feelings about the first book Alive, I also can’t deny how badly I wanted to know what happens next. So you can imagine my excitement when an ARC of this sequel showed up one day. I’m dying to find out what Em and her friends will do! Big thanks to Del Rey.
Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop – Have I mentioned how much I love The Others series? I’m so glad I caught up last year. Really looking forward to this fourth installment. My thanks to Roc Books for the finished copy.
The Courier by Gerald Brandt – Another beautiful finished copy, with thanks to DAW. Really looking forward to some cyberpunk action and adventure! This is author Gerald Brandt’s debut, and I’m excited to check it out.
The Last Mortal Bond by Brian Staveley – This week, Tor also sent a finished copy of this epic novel. If you haven’t started The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne trilogy yet, seriously, what are you waiting for? This third and final volume was fantastic, and my review will be up next week, so stay tuned.
Transgalactic by James Gunn – Thanks to Tor as well for this sci-fi novel that wasn’t even on my radar before it turned up! James Gunn, called a grand master of science fiction, is an author I’ve never read before, and I need to remedy that STAT!
Takedown by Jeff Buck with Jon Land and Lindsay Preston – Another surprise, this time from the awesome folks at Forge. The subtitle says: “A Small-Town Cop’s Battle Against the Hells Angels and the Nation’s Biggest Drug Gang.” While this isn’t my usual fare, I figure I can still help get the word out. So, if you’re a reader interested in biographies/memoirs about organized crime and law enforcement, you might want to take a look.
The Lost Boys Symphony by Mark Andrew Ferguson – My thanks to Little, Brown and Company for sending me this fascinating novel! The paperback is out this week after its original release last year, and the reviews I’ve seen have been very positive, even though everywhere I look they’re all saying things like, “I can’t give too many details without ruining it!!!” Of course, that mystery only makes me even more curious, along with the promise of a mind-bending look at time travel. The publicist is also looking to reach out to more bloggers, so if you’re a reviewer in the adult sci-fi/lit community and this book speaks to you, let me know!
The Dark Side by Anothony O’Neill – This surprise ARC showed up in the mail courtesy of Simon & Schuster earlier this month, but it was already on my radar. I’ve heard that The Dark Side is going to be adapted into a movie, which was what got me interested in the first place, but I also love the sound of a sci-fi noir/crime thriller on the moon.
Dark Debts by Karen Hall – I also want to thank Simon and Schuster for always introducing me to new horror. Actually, this book was first published in the 90s, but it’s being reissued in hardback later this month, and with a stunning new look too. My jaw dropped when this book came out of the package and I saw that the page edges are stained a blood red:
It’s very eye-catching. I hope what’s on the inside will be just as delectable.
City of Wolves by Willow Palecek – Another fantastic looking novella from the great team at Tor.com. The huge variety in their line-up never ceases to amaze me. I love this cover, and if the atmosphere is indicative of the kind of story it contains, I think I’m really going to like this one.
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab – My thanks to Greenwillow Books for approving me for this eARC via Edelweiss, since I’ve been curious about it for a while. I’ve only ever read the author’s adult novels published under “V.E. Schwab”, never any of her YA, so this should be interesting.
Breath of Earth by Beth Cato – I’ve had this on my wish list ever since I first glimpsed it in Harper Voyager’s catalog, because OMG how can you miss that gorgeous cover? Thank you so much to the publisher for approving me for the eARC.
The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp – I didn’t become aware of this book until recently, but the description immediately caught my attention. I believe it has only been widely released in the UK, though fortunately for US readers, the ebook is actually available now (while the print edition won’t be released until September). With thanks to Orbit, who offered it along with their March review copies. I figured I’d take a look.
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff – Audiobook, with thanks to Blackstone Audio and Audiobook Jukebox. I admit, the mention of “Lovecraft” made me sit up and take a closer look. This book appears to be much more than just horror though, exploring deeper topics like social themes and racism. It’s gotten some amazing reviews already, so I can’t wait to listen.
United States of Japan by Peter Tieryas – Audiobook, with thanks to Audible Studios. I’d heard overwhelmingly positive things about this book as well, so when the opportunity to request the audio came up, I seized it. I’m almost finished listening to it now, and everyone is right – it’s excellent!
Reviews
Here are all my reviews since the last update, gathered together and listed here for your convenience and viewing pleasure. It’s been a pretty great couple of weeks. While it’s only March, I’ve already given many 4.5 or 5 star ratings. There’re just too many good books! And believe me, I am not complaining.
The Lyre Thief by Jennifer Fallon (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins (4.5 of 5 stars)
Dragon Hunters by Marc Turner (4 of 5 stars)
Ex-Isle by Peter Clines (4 of 5 stars)
The Brotherhood of the Wheel by R.S. Belcher (4 of 5 stars)
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs (3.5 of 5 stars)
Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip (3.5 of 5 stars)
Calamity by Brandon Sanderson (3.5 of 5 stars)
River Marked by Patricia Briggs (Reread Review)
Author Spotlights
My thanks to the authors who stopped by The BiblioSanctum last week! We had a couple of wonderful guest posts.
Guest Post: “The Worst Things That Can Happen to You in Space” by Rob Boffard
Guest Post: “One Step Forward, Two Steps…Further Forward?” by Marc Turner
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
As you can see, I was in all kinds of moods these last two weeks. Sometimes I would feel like an epic fantasy. Or a horror. Or sci-fi. I also caught up with a couple of novellas. Generally, I like to bounce around genres and formats, in order to keep things fresh. This update, I want to highlight The Lyre Thief, which was excellent. I also wanted to try something completely random for this month’s Backlist Burndown so I picked up Jaws, which was a fun and eye-opening experience. Keep an eye out for my reviews of these books in the coming weeks.
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! 🙂
Book Review: The Lyre Thief by Jennifer Fallon
Posted on March 11, 2016 29 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Lyre Thief by Jennifer Fallon
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Hythrun Chronicles: War of the Gods
Publisher: Tor (March 8, 2016)
Length: 448 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
2016 fantasy releases have been blasting away all my expectations so far, and as a result, we’re not even officially into spring and already I have a long list of contenders for favorite book of the year. The Lyre Thief is most definitely going to be one of those contenders, as I’d known within the first fifty pages. This is a book that captured my attention from the start.
It was also the first time I’ve read Jennifer Fallon, and interestingly, I actually hadn’t known that The Lyre Thief was a follow-up series until I read the blurbs for Medalon and the other books in her Hythrun Chronicles: Demon Child and Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade sequences. Fallon eases us into the world so gently and seamlessly though, I felt no disadvantage from not having read the previous series—and you know how picky I can be about such things! For one, a decade has passed since the events at the end of the Demon Child books, so we’re looking at essentially a brand new story. Second, the author does a superb job of catching new readers up, making sure to cover all the important information about the history and the characters. I was extremely impressed and pleased at how naturally she worked in what we needed to know without resorting to any info-dumps or awkward flashbacking. It really feels like a fresh start.
At the center of this book is a pair of siblings: Rakaia, Princess of Fardohnya, and her baseborn half-sister Charisee, a slave in the king’s harem. But as it turns out, Rakaia is not of royal birth herself. Terrified that the king will find out, her mother Princess Sophany quickly arranges for her daughter to marry a Hythrun Warlord as a way to get Rakaia far away from Fardohnya and out of harm’s way. Sophany hatches up a plan for Charisee to take the place of Rakaia, since the two girls have known each other closely since they are six years old and look so much alike that they can practically pass for each other. Charisee, however, knows nothing of the plot right up until Rakaia makes her escape, forcing her hapless half-sister to keep up with the pretense of being a real princess.
Meanwhile, in far off Medalon, a token of the God of Music has been stolen, setting off a chain of events that can destroy all the magic that the gods have helped mortals create. Who knew that a tiny golden lyre could cause so much trouble? Its theft has far-reaching consequences that touch many lives, from Rakaia and Charisee to the High Prince Damin Wolfblade and his stepbrother Kiam Miar, guild assassin. At the heart of it all is R’shiel, the Demon Child herself, resurfacing again now after ten years of searching for Death, and she will not stop until she gets what she wants.
The Lyre Thief is such a rich tapestry of love, courage, and adventure, woven from so many story threads that each carry their own meanings and strengths. It is everything I want in a sweeping narrative: a cast of interesting characters, a setting filled with exotic and detailed locales, and a rich world filled with the things that make it feel alive—like history, culture, and religion. The best part is that none of this feels overwhelming, even though much of the world-building had already been established by the previous series. Past events have played no small role in the plot of this story, and there are also a lot of characters, some new and some returning. Still, it never got to be too much, even as the author explained the complex relationship ties (the Wolfblades, for instance, are a huge extended family) or recounted important historical events that led to the current political climate between the various kingdoms.
This is also a fast-moving tale, with an unceasing momentum helped by a strong sense of timing and well-chosen POVs. My favorites are of course Charisee and Rakaia, each experiencing a new life for the very first time and finding love in the most unexpected place. Each chapter brought new surprises, making The Lyre Thief hard to put down. Twists and turns are plentiful, and the book also had this tendency to lull me into a false sense of security before dropping major plot bombshells. Every so often I would be enjoying the story as it progressed down a pleasant path when all of a sudden something horrific or shocking would come out of nowhere and blindside me. I learned very quickly not to underestimate Jennifer Fallon’s storytelling skills! She has a real talent for engaging readers, and I was certainly captivated by every scene.
For the absolute best results, it would probably help to read the first two series in the Hythrun Chronicles first, but I want to also stress that it is completely unnecessary if you just feel like diving straight into The Lyre Thief. However, I can’t guarantee that you won’t want to pick them up after you read this anyway, because the novel is just that good. I loved it so much, I’ve already added the previous trilogies to the TBR because I want to learn everything I can about this irresistible world and the characters. Highly recommended, and I can’t wait for the next book.
Guest Post: “The Worst Things That Can Happen to You in Space” by Rob Boffard
Posted on March 10, 2016 8 Comments
Space disasters. The idea of getting caught in the middle of one would be my worst nightmare, but hey, for whatever reason I sure as hell enjoy reading books and watching movies about them! Indeed it was that love that ultimately led me to pick up Rob Boffard’s Tracer, the ebook on sale now at Amazon, B&N, iTunes and GooglePlay. Space, as you know, is scary. And today, I’m pleased to invite Rob to the BiblioSanctum to tell us why. As the author of a sci-fi thriller taking place aboard a broken and crumbling space station, trust me when I say he knows all about the horrible things that can befall you, out there where no one can hear you scream…
WHAT ARE THE WORST THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU IN SPACE?
by Rob Boffard
Well, you could be set on fire.
A fire on a space station isn’t like a fire on Earth. On Earth, when you set something alight, the flames shoot upwards. But in zero gravity, they expand outwards in all directions, feeding on the oxygen-rich environment and getting very out-of-control, very quickly.
NASA and other space organisations realised a long time ago that fire in space is very bad, and so they did everything they could to prevent it, including making most things on board non-flammable. The problem is that fires still happen (there was one on the space station Mir in 1997) and even if you escape without burns, they can make life on board very uncomfortable. Ventilation systems can be shut down, whole modules can be filled with smoke, and particles of soot will bounce around in microgravity until the end of time.
The next horrible thing that could happen to you in space doesn’t sound so bad: catching a cold. But a cold on the ground is nothing like a cold in orbit. Germs love zero gravity. A sneeze can propel them six or seven feet. The entire environment is closed off, with multiple human beings in close proximity, and handy ventilation systems to circulate the air. Sure, the astronauts around you will have medical training, and there’s plenty of medicine on board, but it’s still one of the worst environments to get sick in. Especially if you contract something other than the cold. Can you imagine what happens if a flu microbe sneaks onto the International Space Station? Or a smidgen of flesh-eating bacteria? What are you going to do when your buddy’s arm is dissolving in front of you and the nearest hospital is 248 miles below you? Actually, let’s stop imagining that, because it’s kind of gross.
And then, of course, there’s the big one: being sucked into space without a spacesuit.
The good news is that this is far less likely to happen than getting a cold or catching fire. The bad news is that when it does happen, it will make those things seem like a stroll on the beach.
So you’re minding your own business, cleaning the airlock, and then one of your dumb-ass colleagues hits the wrong button, sending you whirling into oblivion. You might think you’ll instantly explode, but that’s not the case. You go through something far worse. Within seconds, all the air will rush from your lungs, depriving your body of oxygen. You may quite literally shit yourself as your bowels lose control. The saliva in your mouth and the fluids on the surfaces of your eyes will boil off. There’s a very good chance that the liquid in your blood will do the same thing, causing instantaneous bruising and burst capillaries. In fifteen seconds, you’ll be unconscious, and probably very happy about it. In two minutes, you’ll be dead from lack of oxygen.
But the fun doesn’t end when you pass out. See, the thing about space is that it’s the only environment where you can freeze to death while getting a sunburn. Space is -440F, and if you happen to be facing the sun, you’ll get one mother of a full-body tan. How does a temperature of 250F grab you? And this is without talking about the enormous amounts of cosmic radiation you’re being bombarded with.
This might make real-life space exploration seem like a truly terrible idea, but if you’re a writer (as I happen to be) then it’s a wonderful playground of delights. I got to have fun with it all in my Outer Earth trilogy (TRACER, ZERO-G, IMPACT), which is set on a city-sized space station. Huge fires? Check. Rampant, hideous disease? You got it. Explosive decompression? Naturally. What, you’re surprised that I’m sadistic after reading this post? Get outta here, man.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rob. Thirty. Author. Journalist. Sound Engineer. Snowboarder. Hip-hop artist. Tall. Basketball-player-length arms. Lots of tattoos. Glasses. Bad hair. Proud South African. Born in Johannesburg. Splits time between London and Vancouver. Digs New York. Doesn’t dig Vegas. Loves New Orleans. Not a helicopter pilot.
Debut novel. Tracer. On Orbit Books. Out July 2015 (UK). Out sometime 2016 (US). Space stations. Parkour. Explosions. Good times. Two sequels. Huzzah!
Guest Post: “One Step Forward, Two Steps…Further Forward?” by Marc Turner
Posted on March 9, 2016 7 Comments
As a reader, few things make me happier than picking up a sequel and liking it even more than the first book. And sometimes, it simply takes the second book to get a series to really take off! Brian Staveley’s Providence of Fire, Jeff Salyard’s Veil of the Deserters, and–as you can see from my review of it yesterday–Marc Turner’s Dragon Hunters are just a few examples for me. What’s cool is that Marc himself has chimed in on this very topic, and today we’re pleased and honored to welcome him to The BiblioSanctum to talk about which sequels he feels have not only lived up to their predecessors, but have surpassed them as well. Take it away, Marc!
ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS…FURTHER FORWARD?
by Marc Turner
Dragon Hunters is book two in my Chronicles of the Exile series. I’ve often heard a sequel referred to as “the difficult second book”. That’s because a writer has as much time as he likes to write his first book, but will probably be up against a deadline to write his second. Also, a first book creates expectations that an author must live up to with his next offering. There will be people out there thinking, “I loved your first book! It was great! Now DO IT AGAIN.” Or maybe even, “Do it better”. And you have to deliver.
For me, Dragon Hunters represented an additional challenge because it features a new cast of characters. I’d worked with the characters inWhen the Heavens Fall for many years, so finding interesting new voices that weren’t just reflections of the old ones proved difficult at first.The good news, though, is that you don’t need to have read When the Heavens Fall to be able to enjoy Dragon Hunters. So if you haven’t already started the series (shame on you), now is an excellent time to jump on board.
As a reader, there have been plenty of times that I’ve read the second book in a series and thought it didn’t match up to the first. But not always. Here are five examples of when I thought an excellent first book was trumped by an even better second.
1. Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley
I really enjoyed Brian Staveley’s The Emperor’s Blades. The worldbuilding was excellent, the story rattled along, and everything came together for a gripping finale. I have to say, though, there was one thing about the book that left me feeling cheated. Following Kaden’s example, I buried myself in my garden for ten days, and at the end of it I still felt no closer to understanding the vaniate. What’s going on there? Providence of Fire raised the bar even higher. There’s more mythology, more political intrigue – and more Adare, who had a relatively small role in the first book.
2. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
I liked The Blade Itself – the opening novel in the First Law trilogy – but I didn’t love it. Logen and Glokta are among my favourite fantasy characters, yet for some reason the story didn’t really grab me. Before They Are Hanged, though, is in my top five fantasy books of all time. I finished it in a day, and there was something to admire on every page. It had lots of laugh-out-loud moments, and it dug the ground out from under any number of fantasy tropes. It also introduced us to Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune . . .
3. Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson is the author whose work I would say has influenced me most, so you won’t be surprised to hear I enjoyed the first book in the Malazan series, Gardens of the Moon. It had epic worldbuilding, multiple story threads, and great characters, who all converge at the end for a battle royale. It was difficult to see how Erikson could outdo that in book two, but he managed it. Deadhouse Gates is crammed with memorable scenes and ideas that I wished I’d had myself. Plus the conclusion to the Chain of Dogs storyline is something that I think will always stay with me.
4. Knight’s Shadow by Sebastien de Castell
Traitor’s Blade was one of my favourite reads of 2015, with its mix of humour, swashbuckling adventure and some twists I really didn’t see coming. De Castell’s in-depth knowledge of swordplay also provided an extra degree of intensity and credibility to the action. The second book in the series, Knight’s Shadow, had all of that and then some. We spend more time with the secondary characters who I thought were a strength of book one. There is also less looking back at the history of the Greatcoats, allowing the story to flow at a swifter pace.
5. The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Fionavar Tapestry was, for me, a series that improved with each book. This being GGK, you can guarantee that the quality of the writing is excellent throughout. But at the start of book one, The Summer Tree, I struggled to warm to the characters. The novel also concludes with a harrowing scene that slightly spoiled my enjoyment of the book. I liked everything about The Wandering Fire, though. The series draws on a lot of different mythologies, and this book included two of my favourites: the Arthurian legends and the Wild Hunt. My edition of the novel also has a cover of which I heartily approve, featuring as it does a sea dragon monster.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Will my own second book in the Chronicles of the Exile series follow this trend? And how could anything surpass When the Heavens Fall (ahem)?
Well, to find out I guess you’ll just have to read both novels . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marc Turner was born in Toronto, Canada, but grew up in England. He graduated from Lincoln College, Oxford University, in 1996 with a BA (Hons) in law, and subsequently joined a top ten law firm in the City of London. After realising that working there did not mix well with simple pleasures such as having a life, he fled north first to Leeds and then to Durham in search of a better work-life balance. Unfortunately it proved elusive, and so in 2007, rather than take the next step and move to Scotland, he began working part time so he could devote more time to his writing. Following the sale of his debut epic fantasy novel, When the Heavens Fall, he started writing full time.
Why writing? Because it is the only work he knows where daydreaming isn’t frowned upon, and because he has learned from bitter experience that he cannot not write. The authors whose work has most influenced him are Steven Erikson and Joe Abercrombie. Consequently he writes fast-paced, multi-threaded novels with a liberal sprinkling of humour; novels written on a panoramic scale, peopled by characters that stay in the memory. Or at least that’s the theory . . .
He lives in Durham, England, with his wife and son.
Waiting on Wednesday 03/09/16
Posted on March 9, 2016 11 Comments
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Guns of Empire by Django Wexler: August 9, 2016 (Roc)
We’re officially past the halfway point in what is one of my favorite fantasy series right now. I love the title and the cover! Can’t believe it’s taken four books to finally see Winter on the cover, seeing as she’s one of the central characters. Seriously, IT’S ABOUT TIME.
“As the roar of the guns subsides and the smoke of battle clears, the country of Vordan is offered a fragile peace…
After their shattering defeats at the hands of brilliant General Janus bet Vhalnich, the opposing powers have called all sides to the negotiating table in hopes of securing an end to the war. Queen Raesinia of Vordan is anxious to see the return of peace, but Janus insists that any peace with the implacable Sworn Church of Elysium is doomed to fail. For their Priests of the Black, there can be no truce with heretics and demons they seek to destroy, and the war is to the death.
Soldiers Marcus d’Ivoire and Winter Ihernglass find themselves caught between their general and their queen. Now, each must decide which leader truly commands their loyalty—and what price they might pay for final victory.
And in the depths of Elysium, a malign force is rising—and defeating it might mean making sacrifices beyond anything they have ever imagined.”
Book Review: Dragon Hunters by Marc Turner
Posted on March 8, 2016 17 Comments
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of The Chronicle of the Exile
Publisher: Tor (February 9, 2016)
Length: 496 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Sometimes a second book is required for me to get a feel for a series, and this is certainly one of those cases. When the Heavens Fall was a novel that gave me mixed feelings, because while it didn’t exactly sweep me off my feet, I did genuinely enjoy it for the new and refreshing sword-and-sorcery fantasy that it was. In any event, it made me curious to tackle the sequel, Dragon Hunters, to see how the chronicle will continue.
What I found caught me by surprise. As it turned out, this novel is rather unlike the first one; not only do the stories differ in tone and style, Dragon Hunters also follows a brand new cast of characters and takes place in a different setting. But in spite, or perhaps because, of this huge departure, I liked the book. I liked it a lot.
One does not often find that subsequent volumes in an epic fantasy series can be read as standalones, but I believe this can be done here. Lore-wise, the plot of Dragon Hunters has strong ties to When the Heavens Fall, but other than that, we’re looking at a whole new ballgame. The story first begins in the period leading up to Dragon Day, an annual event celebrated by the raising of the Dragon Gate. A sea dragon would be allowed to pass into the Sabian Sea, where it will be subsequently hunted by the gathered water-mages who collectively make up a ruling body called the Storm Lords.
One of them, the powerful Emira Imerle Polivar is being pressured to relinquish her reign, though she is not about to step down quietly. Conspiring with the Chameleon priesthood, she arranges for two of their members to infiltrate the heavily guarded citadel and sabotage the Dragon Gate. Ruining the ceremony would deal a humiliating blow to the Storm Lords, which is exactly what Imerle wants. However, it appears that others have been targeting the Storm Lords too, as evidenced by the deadly assassins on the hunt, using the confusion sowed by the conspiracies and chaos to their mysterious benefactor’s advantage.
Considering my reading preferences, it’s probably no surprise that I found getting into this second volume was much easier and faster compared to the first. After all, I love my maritime fantasy, and I also love dragons. In Dragon Hunters, Marc Turner masterfully spins an exciting and cohesive tale of nautical adventure featuring these majestic leviathans, and it captured my imagination from the start. Unlike the first book, which saw four disparate characters come together in their shared quest to find a stolen object, the unifying theme of this sequel is not of a search, but of a hunt. That little difference alone gives this story a much more animated and thrilling sense of urgency.
For one thing, all the characters here are working against the clock. Karmel and Veran, the two Chameleon agents tasked to sabotage the Dragon Gate, are on a heist-like mission trying to complete their objective while struggling with mistrust and hidden agendas within their priesthood. Then there’s Kempis Parr, a city watchman hot on the trail of an assassin who has always managed to stay one step ahead of him, slipping from his grasp each time he draws close. And finally, there’s the grand dragon hunt itself. The plot to ruin Dragon Day notwithstanding, you didn’t think we’d get a book called Dragon Hunters without some dragon hunting action, did you? If dragons are what you want, then you definitely won’t be disappointed. Turner’s dragons are marine monsters, vicious predators that will give the Storm Lord ships a run for their money. While I found When the Heavens Fall to be a slower novel that took nearly until the midway point to pick up speed, clearly I had none of those problems here.
Compared to its predecessor, Dragon Hunters isn’t just like a whole different book, it IS a whole different book. For this reason, I have a feeling that opinions on it will vary wildly. For me personally though, it is an example of a sequel that beats out the previous book when it comes to pacing and scope. Overall, I feel that the story has a more “blockbuster” vibe to it, by which I mean its reach is considerably more epic, encompassing the lives of a greater number of characters and resulting in far more serious ramifications for the world—in other words, not a bad deal at all.
All told, Dragon Hunters was a great book and hooked me where the first one didn’t. I’m glad I gave this sequel a go, because in terms of my excitement level for this series, I know that I’m no longer sitting on the fence: I desperately need to get my hands on the next installment! Marc Turner has completely sold me on his excellent world building and characters, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in Red Tide, The Chronicle of the Exile part three.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of When the Heavens Fall (Book 1)
Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Characters Everyone Loves But I Just Don’t Get
Posted on March 8, 2016 58 Comments
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. They created the meme because they love lists. Who doesn’t love lists? They wanted to share these list with fellow book lovers and ask that we share in return to connect with our fellow book lovers. To learn more about participating in the challenge, stop by their page dedicated to it and dive in!
This week’s topic: Ten Characters Everyone Loves But I Just Don’t Get or Ten Characters I LOVE But Others Seem To Dislike
Tiara’s Picks:
Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris) – Admittedly, I only made it through one Sookie Stackhouse book before I decided it wasn’t the series for me, which is sad because as a Southerner I get excited when I see media set in the South, especially genre fiction. I did watch the television show religiously, though, and I just never did get it. It could turn a conversation with fandom awkward when you admit to being that one person who doesn’t like Eric “Da Gawd” Northman. He was only ever just okay at the best of times in my eyes. This entry could actually be a threefer because I didn’t like Bill or Sookie much either.
Trust me, I do not love you either.
Batman (DC Comics)- I’d be lying by omission if I didn’t say that, at one point in my life, I was a huge Batman girl. Even though I wasn’t into DC, I thought I liked Batman. I’d also like to point out that I was maybe 10-years-old at the time. So, some years back, I got on this big kick where I read a bunch of Batman books to really get to know the character, and I decided that I didn’t really like Batman as much as I thought I did. He has his moments, but after reading some arcs with Batman and Huntress, I pretty much was done with the whole Bat family.
Get out, Batman.
Eren (Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama) – Few manga boys grate my nerves like Eren. I’m a big Attack on Titan fan, but I watch/read it for everyone except Eren. ANYONE except Eren. #ExceptEren. Even his face is stupid. I have spent 90% of my time reading this manga and watching this anime thinking, “Calm the fuck down, Eren.” Just ridiculous.
#CalmDownBro
Anita Blake (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell K. Hamilton) – You wouldn’t believe how over Anita Blake I am. I lasted maybe 10 books, and probably more than half of those books were hate-reads because I was sick to death of Anita by that time. I started out liking her very much. As I continued the series, I found my tolerance level with all the characters, but most especially Anita, hitting an unprecedented level of “This is bullshit!” until finally, I had to stop reading these books.
A dramatization of my disposal of these books.
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) – *sigh*
I think this reasoning could go on all day, so I’ll sum it all up with one gif.
Mogsy’s Picks:
Jon Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin) – I can hear the reactions now. “What?! How can anyone not like Jon Snow?” Well, I can come up with several reasons, least of all that the last hope of Westeros rests upon the shoulders of some emo whiny teenager who likes to wear a lot of black and has a phenomenal talent for pissing off everyone who meets him for the first time? I call shenanigans. Actually, Jon has made great strides since becoming a Crow, but I still find his storyline boring.
Life is so unfair…
Meg Corbyn (The Others series by Anne Bishop) – I actually dig this series a lot. More and more though, I’ve been wondering why Meg gets a pass from the Simon Wolfgard and the residents of Lakeside Courtyard, especially when they seem to be quite ornery towards all other humans. Yes, Meg is a blood prophet, but she’s also kind of passive character if you think about it. Doesn’t explain why all the Others defer to her or bend over backwards to treat her like a queen, given too that it goes completely against their nature.
Not impressed…MEG.
Sigrud (City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett) – Let me be clear, I actually don’t have a problem with Sigrud, I think he’s a great character. Still, I’m mystified why he’s so many people’s favorite. I mean, it’s not like the fantasy genre has a shortage of LARGE MEN, those big, strong, hulking berserker types who are always calm — until they’re not. Sigrud is cool, just…nothing special.
Seen this before…
Rowan Whitethorn (Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas) – The sad thing is, I started out liking Rowan a lot. His mentor-protégé relationship with Aelin’s was the one thing that stood out for me in Heir of Fire, but I should have known it wouldn’t last. As a teacher, Rowan actually had an interesting dynamic with our main character, but then it crumbled the moment he became just another love interest in Queen of Shadows. I know a lot of readers ship these two, but personally I can’t find it in myself to forgive that scene with Aelin parading in front of Rowan in a skimpy nightie.
Ron Weasley (Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling) – Sorry, I just can’t stand this kid.
The BiblioSanctum 