Series Review: Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians books 1 & 2 by Brandon Sanderson
Posted on February 22, 2016 15 Comments
Review copies were provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Alcatraz
Publisher: Starscape (February 16, 2016)
Length: 320 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I’ve been a terrible Brandon Sanderson fan! Seriously, how else to explain for the many years it took me to finally read his Alcatraz series? Mea culpa, it was complete negligence on my part, and I am sorry. But in my own defense, these books do fall a little outside my purview. After all, very rarely do I dip my toes into the Children’s/Middle Grade category, and they did seem far removed from the author’s other work. By his own admission, this series is very different from his normal style and they tend to be a source of contention among his readers. Don’t let that stop you if you think this might be something you’ll enjoy, though! Personally, I jumped into this first book amidst a bevy of reservations, but I ended up loving it to bits.
Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians is the first in a fantasy adventure series featuring its eponymous protagonist who is narrating this book as its writer—“Brandon Sanderson” is just a front, you see. The real person behind this novel is a young boy named Alcatraz Smedry. He is thirteen years old and lives with his foster parents. He is also great at breaking things. It all began with an old bag of sand, mailed to Alcatraz on his birthday—the only inheritance left to him by his birth parents. But before you can even say “Gee, thanks mom and dad”, the bag is stolen by a member of the Librarians, an evil cult that knows the sand is more than it seems. For centuries, they have been controlling information and spreading lies to keep everyone blind to their dastardly plans of world domination, but now that Alcatraz has learned the truth of his birthright, he and his new allies are going to strike back at the heart of the enemy—by planning a daring mission to infiltrate the central downtown library.
Don’t let the synopsis of the book fool you, because the utter absurdity of the plot actually belies its sheer ingenuity. The story is clever and beyond hilarious, thanks to the playfully sarcastic voice of our protagonist. Alcatraz himself is a bit of a trickster, often going on wildly bizarre tangents and freely admitting that he’s not a very nice person for yanking the reader around. Still, I could hardly hold that against him, considering the many times his narration drove me to hysterical fits of laughter. This is Sanderson at his funniest, combining his good-natured humor with a spirit of adventure. More than once I found myself wishing there had been books like this when I was a child, because I would have eaten this one up.
That said, just because these are “kids’ books” doesn’t mean adults can’t enjoy them too. My favorite stories are always those that can be appreciated an audience of all ages, and Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians definitely fits that description, being a book I would readily recommend to anyone, whether they are 13 or 30. While it does feature some over-the-top storytelling, never once did I feel things were dumbed down or glossed over unnecessarily. In fact, the plot was decidedly twisty and unpredictable, with some very well thought out and complex ideas. From the very first page you get a sense of the zaniness behind this novel and the anticipatory feeling that anything can happen.
For a personal project that began life as a way for the author to have a good time and practice another form of storytelling, this book has certainly found itself a loyal fanbase, which I now consider myself a part of. Alcatraz may be very different from Sanderon’s adult books, but it nevertheless shows his incredible versatility as a writer, and you can tell he had a blast writing this. Clearly, I had a blast reading it too, and the gorgeous artwork by Hayley Lazo in the illustrated edition only added to the experience. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Illustrations by Hayley Lazo, from Chapters 14 and 15 of Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. Source: Tor.com
Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians: The Scrivener’s Bones by Brandon Sanderson
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Alcatraz
Publisher: Starscape (February 16, 2016)
Length: 368 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
No sooner had I finished Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians than I was already picking up the sequel. I might as well admit it: I’m completely addicted.
In book two The Scrivener’s Bones, Alcatraz and the gang are yet again infiltrating a library. But this time, it will be nothing like gaining entry into the downtown local branch. Here, our characters will be heading into arguably the most famous and well-known library in the history of our world—the great Library of Alexandria. Contrary to popular belief (i.e. misinformation purposely orchestrated by the evil cult of Librarians) this ancient font of knowledge was never destroyed, hidden instead in hollowed out vaults deep underground. It’s also one of the most dangerous places on the planet, home to the undead who have sold their souls for the knowledge in the library. After learning that Grandpa Smedry may have gone there to track down Alcatraz’s missing father, everyone heads to Egypt in what was supposed to be a daring rescue mission, but ends up separated and in need of some rescuing themselves.
For a sequel in a children’s series, a lot sure happens in this book. I liked that we made good progress on the main storyline, which is a crucial aspect when it comes to maintaining my interest, though I would have kept reading this series for the laughs alone. As I’ve mentioned before, the sense of humor in Alcatraz is very eccentric and frequently over-the-top, which will no doubt appeal to the books’ intended audience, Middle Grade readers in the ages 8-12 range. That said, if you’re an adult with a good tolerance for silliness (like me, I guess!) you’ll have a blast too. Sanderson is clearly holding nothing back when it comes to this particular style of humor, but as an older reader I was also able to spot a method to the madness.
It’s probably safe to say though, that while the series can be enjoyed on multiple levels, if the first book didn’t work for you, then this one won’t do anything for you either. There’s no dialing back at all on Alcatraz’s quirky, tangential style of narration. In fact, I think the sarcasm, the misdirection, the asides etc. might even more extreme in book two (if that’s even possible). As a fan of the author’s adult books though, I found it incredibly refreshing in a bizarre, meta kind of way, especially when he references books, writing, and even himself in a hilariously self-deprecating manner:
“Oh, you didn’t want to hear that? I’m sorry. You’ll simply have to forget that I wrote it. There are several convenient ways to do that. I hear hitting yourself on the head with a blunt object can be very effective. You should try using one of Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy novels. They’re big enough, and goodness knows that’s really the only useful thing to do with them.”
Those are the moments where I laughed the hardest. Not to mention, I was also hoodwinked into committing “one of the most putrid and unholy things any reader can do”—skipping forward to read the last page! (So, it really does go back to authors being not very nice people who delight in the suffering of their readers.) Sanderson has plenty of tricks left up his sleeve, and apparently he’s nowhere even close to done with us yet. If this sequel is any indication, I expect even more madcap adventures and wacky characters from the next installments.
Whether it’s for the special child in your life, or the inner child within you, I really can’t recommend these books highly enough. In a few years, my own kids will be the right age for this series, and I can’t wait to share it with them.
Sunday Musings: Space and Beyond
Posted on February 21, 2016 17 Comments
Last year, I signed up for “Somewhere Out There,” a Worlds Without End reading challenge focused on works that take place in the vastness of space. I only managed to complete about half of my required reads. This year, I am trying again with the “Space Opera” challenge:
My WWE Space Opera challenge
I’ve filled out my desired reads for all the rest of the challenges I’ve selected for 2016, but once again, I’m struggling with science fiction. It’s not like there aren’t a million plus one scifi books out there, but clearly, this isn’t my genre fiction preference. I’m okay with that. My name is Wendy and I prefer fantasy fiction. But, while I certainly don’t *hate* scifi, I am curious as to why I don’t have more of it on my book shelves. Considering my television and film viewing portfolio, you’d think that would be the case, but, I’ve realized, perhaps belatedly, that television and film tends to lean more towards science fiction than it does fantasy. Farscape, Star Trek, Lost (sort of), X-Files, Star Wars, Killjoys, Babylon 5, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Pitch Black, and all the superhero movies and shows I’ve loved fall firmly into the scifi category (well, scifi in the loose sense of the word in terms of actual science. More on that later), yet what I read seems to lean more toward fantasy.
Perhaps the simple answer as to why there is more scifi on screen is because it’s easier to make a spaceship than a dragon? Or perhaps its easier to get the general public to accept the possibility of aliens or the supernatural than it is the purely fantastical. It’s much easier to present such things in books for an audience who is already eager and willing to accept the realms of magic without needing every element of imagination explained away.
Not that science fiction, as we call, is pure science. The diehards of the genre despise the inclusion of works like Star Wars where the “science” is non existent. It’s really just fantasy in space, but because it involves said space and space travel and laser beams, it gets a pass, even without George Lucas trying to inject midichlorians into everything.
Anyway, I digress. The point of this musing is that I, Wendy Browne, intend to read more scifi this year. More books involving space, that final frontier, and perhaps even some actual science (and math too — ref: Binti). There will be a few Star Wars books, because duh, and Tiara and I have decided to go through Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga. I could fill out the challenge with that alone, but variety is a good thing. I’m particularly interested in reading scifi books by fantasy authors I’ve enjoyed, including Bujold and Steven Erikson. Maybe try to continue with the Ender series.
So here we go, 2016. To the stars. To the stars.
YA Weekend: Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell
Posted on February 20, 2016 27 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 2, 2016)
Length: 342 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Once again I was unable to resist the temptation of a book inspired by Peter Pan. It’s almost a knee-jerk reaction at this point, whether it turns out for good or for ill. I have to say though, I had high hopes for Lisa Maxwell’s Unhooked when I first heard about it, with its blurb that hinted at such a different and unique vision. Because it offered such a cool new twist on Neverland unlike anything I’d seen before, I’d hoped this would mean something more than just another retelling, but in the end I was disappointed. This book could have gone in new directions, with virtually thousands of possibilities to explore, but all that potential was ultimately misspent on flat characters and superficial relationships.
What’s worse is that the beginning of this novel showed so much promise. Seventeen-year-old Gwendolyn Allister has just arrived in London with her mother, a rather unstable woman who believes monsters are after her and her daughter. The two of them have bounced around the globe, never settling down in one place for long, but at least this time, Gwendolyn has her best friend Olivia along for moral support.
However, that first night in their dingy new flat, the two teens are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and are whisked off to a strange new land. Gwen, separated from Olivia, discovers that this place is called Neverland, like in the storybooks. But to her dismay, everything she thought she knew about those tales is a lie. The dashing pirate captain who claims to have rescued her is nothing like the Captain Hook she pictured in her mind, and the horrible things she hears about Peter Pan makes the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up sound more like the villain than a hero. The fairies are also nothing like Tinkerbell, but are actually frightening beings out of nightmare called the Dark Ones. Suddenly, Gwen’s mother doesn’t sound so crazy anymore. And worst of all, the longer Gwen stays in Neverland, the more her memories start to slip away. If she can’t figure out a way to find Olivia and escape this world, she might not even remember the home she comes from.
The best thing about Unhooked is the idea that the Captain and Pan are simply agents caught on opposite sides of a much bigger conflict—the one fought between the Dark Ones. The scary fairies are the ones playing both sides in order to get what they want, and what they want is Gwen because there is an important secret about her, something that she has no idea about. But therein also lies one of the biggest problems I had with this book. Simply put, Gwen’s ignorance makes her a helpless victim for much of the story, unable to exert any control over her fate like a leaf blown on the wind. I can’t even blame her for most of the disastrous decisions she makes, because what could she have done differently, being kept in the dark? Literally, the first thing the Captain does is to shut Gwen up in a room without deigning to explain anything. For her own good, probably. Even frightened and confused though, Gwen’s response to this mistreatment is the first stirrings of attraction for this intimidating stranger with a bionic arm who has locked her up for days and refused to answer any of her perfectly reasonable questions. When your instalove looks a lot like Stockholm syndrome, no thank you.
The real slap in the face though, was the unfortunate way Gwen and Olivia’s relationship played out. I love seeing strong, supportive female friendships in YA, and my spirits were lifted by Liv’s kindness and loyalty to Gwen at the beginning at the novel when our protagonist needed it the most. It really broke my heart to see a boy get between them in Neverland, even if the rift was caused by said boy’s special magic; I just wished we could have seen more of the two girls working together, especially since I found the story behind their friendship so intriguing. I was really bummed by the end of the book and thought Liv’s role was rather wasted.
All told, I was never truly able feel connected to Gwen and her relationships because I felt so little depth in her and the other characters. The Captain was probably the best written out of all of them and mostly because he had the advantage of a mini-backstory you could piece together at the beginning of each chapter, but the rest of the characters are very two-dimensional. The story also left me cold. This tale of Peter Pan and Neverland could have been so different and special, but it didn’t quite capture my imagination even with some of the very neat ideas in here, which I wish had been better executed. To be honest, Unhooked wasn’t all bad, but with so many retellings out there, it simply didn’t stand out as much as it could have, and these days I just can’t help being pickier.
Book Review: Morning Star by Pierce Brown
Posted on February 19, 2016 15 Comments
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 3 of Red Rising
Publisher: Del Rey (February 9, 2016)
Length: 518 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
If you haven’t picked up Morning Star yet but you are reading this review, chances are you’re probably wondering if I think this final volume is worth reading—a question to which I can provide a definitive answer.
Yes. Yes, it is.
Now that that’s out of the way, I will proceed with the rest of my review, which I’ve gone to great lengths to keep as vague as possible and spoiler-free. Regardless, if you’d rather avoid all coverage of this novel until you’ve read it for yourself, I totally get that too. Believe me, no one understands more than I do the importance of heading into a book with the freshest eyes possible, especially when it comes to this series. I went into Red Rising and Golden Son completely blind, and I was glad that I did. Both times I experienced some very raw, very visceral emotions, precisely because I did not know what to expect at all, and I wouldn’t have traded those first reactions for anything.
The story of Morning Star sets us up for a very similar response. Pierce Brown has proven himself to be quite the masterful storyteller, knowing exactly how to push the reader’s buttons. He has given us a rigidly hierarchical society in a brutal sci-fi dystopian setting, pretty much guaranteeing a violent rebellion. He also gave us a protagonist we all grew to care deeply about. All of us had a reason to root for Darrow, because he was fighting for love, loyalty and honor against an enemy who had none of these things. Each installment saw Brown raising the stakes higher and higher, so the main question I had heading into this book was, “What’s going to happen when all that growing pressure finally comes to a head?”
Arguably, that explosion already happened at the end of Golden Son. What I experienced in those final scenes, I don’t think anything can come close to ever again, so personally speaking I still have to give the ultimate edge to book two. Coming in hard on its heels though, Morning Star nonetheless fared extremely well, considering the sky-high expectations. It had its fair share of unforgettable moments, delivering a brilliant climax and conclusion that I’m sure will leave many stunned and speechless. However, unlike my time with the previous book, I couldn’t help but feel that the emotional high upon finishing this one was more fleeting and just a tad less intense.
After a couple hours of being left to my thoughts, I think part of the issue is because…I can see right through you now, Pierce Brown. In essence, the author has reused some of the same tactics out of his Golden Son playbook. But after the way the last novel made a mess out of my feelings, I will admit I went into Morning Star with a much clearer head and was immediately on alert for any tricks or red herrings. Perhaps I wouldn’t have found the story quite as predictable if I hadn’t, but going in blind didn’t make much of a difference for me this time around. It wouldn’t have changed the fact there were a couple glaring inconsistencies and some heavy-handed foreshadowing that led me to guess exactly how things were going to play out, so it didn’t surprise me when this affected my overall impression of the novel.
However, putting the entire journey in perspective, the Red Rising trilogy is a truly epic saga that can’t be beat. I said it at the beginning of this review and I’ll say it again: Read these books, they are so worth it. I cannot remember the last time a series has put me through the wringer like this, playing with my emotions like a fiddle. I still remember my first taste of the author’s writing and being amazed at the beauty and emotion in his prose. He will likely break your heart in Morning Star, but rest assured, like the previous books in the series, this concluding volume is also filled with equal parts pain and triumph. Despite the circumstances that mitigated its full effect on me, I still loved the hell out of this book. It’s a damn-near-perfect ending, and I closed the cover on the final page filled with glowing sense of hope. The trilogy may be over, but I for one cannot wait to see where Pierce Brown’s talents will take us next.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Red Rising (Book 1) by Mogsy
Review of Red Rising (Book 1) by Wendy
Review of Golden Son (Book 2) by Mogsy
Book Review: The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey
Posted on February 19, 2016 17 Comments
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Genre: Horror, Post-Apocalyptic, Zombie
Publisher: Orbit (January 2014)
Author Info: www.mike-carey.co.uk
Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
“When your dream comes true, your true has moved. You’ve already stopped being the person who had the dreams so it feels more like a weird echo of something that already happened to you a long time ago.”
I’m not sure what I thought this book was about when I heard about it and when my friends started praising it. The blurb describes a bright young girl named Melanie who is obviously trapped in some sort of horrible prison school. For what purpose? Some sort of Orwellian education? Why is she bound? Why are the guards so afraid of her?
The books begins with her point of view as the 10 year old girl describes a day in her life. It’s fairly typical. School days. Teachers she cares for. Some she does not. Subjects she craves, others not so much. But there are all sorts of little indications that something is not right with this school. Something is in fact terribly wrong for these horrid grown ups to treat children this way.
But somewhere along the way, once Carey has firmly sucked you in and made you care for Melanie, the author reveals that it is not the school that is wrong. It’s Melanie.
Spoiler warning from here on for those who wish to keep the mystery and just read the book. Also, gross nature stuff warning. Read More
Audiobook Review: The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Posted on February 18, 2016 30 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Olympus Bound
Publisher: Hachette Audio (February 26, 2016)
Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Jordanna Max Brodsky, Robert Petkoff
In this remarkable debut fantasy novel by Jordanna Max Brodsky, Greek gods walk the earth. They’ve actually been with us since time immemorial, but with the arrival of science, technology and new forms of faith, their powers have faded throughout the ages so that the ones who still living among us are practically human, barely hanging onto their immortality. As the goddess of the hunt and protector of women and girls, Artemis still embodies a lot of the values she was known for, though these days she has taken the name of Selene DiSilva and has adopted Manhattan as her home.
Walking her dog one morning, Selene stumbles upon the corpse of a young woman washed up on the shores of the river. Horribly mutilated and wreathed in laurel, the victim bears all the signs of a ritualistic murder. Recognizing the significance of this, Selene swears to find justice for the woman, and her investigations ultimately lead her to team up Dr. Theo Schultz, a professor of mythology and classical studies.
While this might sound strange, one of main reasons I adored The Immortals is the way it bought me back to some of the wonderful books and authors I’ve enjoyed in the past. Essentially, the author has managed to shape something brand new and unique out of a hodgepodge of familiar themes and ideas, and I was amazed at how well the end result worked for me.
For example, like many of my favorite books by Juliet Marillier, we have a powerful feminist icon as a protagonist, one who champions women through her words and actions. Selene reminds me very much of Blackthorn from Dreamer’s Pool in that both characters start off very suspicious of everyone around them, but she gradually comes to accept that there are good, honorable men out there who are deserving of her love and trust. In The Immortals there’s also Theo, a Dan Brown-esque geeky scholar-type hero who uses his esoteric knowledge to solve puzzles and chase a killer across the city, trying to stop the murders before they happen (Angels and Demons, anyone?) Finally, and perhaps inevitably, there are the obvious parallels to Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, what with both books strongly featuring a blend of modern culture and ancient mythology along with the central premise that gods only exist because of belief and veneration. Once that worship wanes, so too will the gods’ strength and immortality.
The Immortals mixes these popular tropes freely and generously, but in spite of this, its greatness is diminished not one single bit. In fact, the book feels both familiar and new, and I was able to ease into it effortlessly. It didn’t take much convincing to get me on board with the mystery plot either, which was suspenseful and enticing. Brodsky’s prose feels natural and elegant, infused with a hint of casual humor which made this one a rather light fare even in the face of some darker themes, and as a big fan of Greek mythology, I also enjoyed her fantastic and often very witty portrayals of the gods. In addition, the narrative brings to life a side of Manhattan I’ve never seen before, and in a way the setting becomes a character in its own right. There’s always a place in my heart for stories that teach me new things and/or make me see things from a different angle, and this book definitely fits the bill.
I also feel very fortunate that I was able to receive a copy of the audiobook for review. To my surprise, one of the narrators is Jordanna Max Brodsky herself, and she ended up delivering an impressive performance. I’ve not listened to too many author-narrated novels, but I can see them having a certain appeal. Not all authors are able to pull off narrating their own books, but Brodsky is undeniably as talented at voice acting as she is at writing, giving her character Selene the perfect attitude on the page and in audio. Robert Petkoff matched her with an incredible performance of his own while reading the chapters devoted to Theo, infusing his character’s geeky but lovable persona with the necessary charm. I also appreciated the sound effects and other little touches that made this audiobook even more immersive.
Bottom line, I loved this novel and I have to say the audio format was also a phenomenal experience all around. I honestly can’t recall the last time I rated both story and performance on an audiobook a full five stars (or if I’ve ever even done so before!) but The Immortals most certainly deserves it!
Story: 
| Performance: | Overall:
Waiting on Wednesday 02/17/16
Posted on February 17, 2016 34 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:
Den of Wolves by Juliet Marillier: November 1, 2016 (Roc)
I love the Blackthorn & Grim series so much. I was very excited to see that the third book finally has a cover, and it’s beautiful. Do. Want. NOW. (Eek! Further thrilled when I saw that my review of Tower of Thorns appears to have been quoted for the following publisher’s description.)
“The “powerful and emotionally-charged”* fantasy series from the author of the Sevenwaters novels continues, as Blackthorn and Grim face haunting secrets and old adversaries…
Feather bright and feather fine, None shall harm this child of mine…
Healer Blackthorn knows all too well the rules of her bond to the fey: seek no vengeance, help any who ask, do only good. But after the recent ordeal she and her companion, Grim, have suffered, she knows she cannot let go of her quest to bring justice to the man who ruined her life.
Despite her personal struggles, Blackthorn agrees to help the princess of Dalriada in taking care of a troubled young girl who has recently been brought to court, while Grim is sent to the girl’s home at Wolf Glen to aid her wealthy father with a strange task—repairing a broken-down house deep in the woods. It doesn’t take Grim long to realize that everything in Wolf Glen is not as it seems—the place is full of perilous secrets and deadly lies…
Back at Winterfalls, the evil touch of Blackthorn’s sworn enemy reopens old wounds and fuels her long-simmering passion for justice. With danger on two fronts, Blackthorn and Grim are faced with a heartbreaking choice—to stand once again by each other’s side or to fight their battles alone…”
Book Review: The Brimstone Deception by Lisa Shearin
Posted on February 16, 2016 15 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Brimstone Deception by Lisa Shearin
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of The SPI Files
Publisher: Ace (January 26, 2016)
Length: 304 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
The Brimstone Deception is the third installment of Lisa Shearin’s paranormal urban fantasy series SPI Files. For a while I’ve been comparing these books to a jauntier version of the X-Files when it suddenly hit me–the relationship between the main characters reminds me more of Brennan and Booth from Bones, except in this series Makenna is the cheerful half of the partnership while Ian is the down-to-business one. Either way, I love the fact our heroine is a Seer, one of just a handful of people in the world able to see through the glamor of supernatural creatures, and in a city like New York AKA Supernatural Central, Mac’s unique talent comes in high demand, meaning she gets pulled in on all kinds of interesting missions.
This time, SPI is investigating a new type of designer drug that has hit the streets, a serious but nonetheless seemingly non-supernatural crime, except for one major problem—called “brimstone”, the drug itself may have supernatural origins. Like its name implies, its key ingredient is discovered to be a substance only found in Hell, and its effects are equally disturbing. Humans who take a hit of brimstone essentially gain Seer abilities while they are under its influence, but lucky for Mac this doesn’t mean she is out of a job, since brimstone users are typically 1) freaked out of their minds when all of a sudden they start seeing werewolves, vampires, and other monsters crawling all over the city, and 2) they can’t remember a thing after the high wears off. Thank goodness.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean brimstone isn’t causing all kinds of other complications for SPI. A string of gruesome deaths coinciding with the sudden emergence of this drug have them convinced that it is all related. The victims are drug dealers and other criminal underworld types, meaning someone or something might be clearing out the competition in preparation for their next move. What that might be is anyone’s guess, but with all evidence pointing to SPI’s hidden culprit having an all-access portal to the magic from Hell, things definitely can’t be good.
As with most urban fantasy series, the second or third books is where we often see a shift in direction, and I am getting that feeling from the SPI Files now. In the first book The Grendel Affair we had a group of Grendel monsters threatening to wreak havoc in New York on New Year’s Eve, while in its sequel The Dragon Conspiracy we had Gorgons making trouble for everyone on Halloween. Clearly, I’ve been spoiled by the previous novels, because I admit I came into this one expecting another unique type of monster villain. While that didn’t really turn out to be the case, it’s also good to see SPI evolving from literal monster-of-the-week plots to wider, more series-encompassing story arcs. For instance, Mac gets a special boost to her powers in The Brimstone Deception which allows her to see dimensional rifts, and this was a direct result of the events from the last novel.
Speaking of Mac, I’m also glad that she got a more active role in this book. She disappointed me in The Dragon Conspiracy, where she was more observer than actual player, and it had struck me as strange that the main character and narrator would have so little to do with the outcome of the story. Mac was a much more important presence in The Brimstone Deception, so that was great, though now I have to wonder if we’ve gone a little too far in the other direction. Our protagonist is starting to give me “special snowflake” vibes, being the darling of the entire SPI office. And now having the ultra-rare ability to see portals too, she has caught the interest of every supernatural in the country including the wealthy and ridiculously good-looking goblin sorcerer Rake Danescu, who now finds her even more irresistible. This aspect of Mac’s character still feels like it needs balance, but I admit it is an improvement over her passivity from the last book.
Ultimately, avid fans of urban fantasy might not find anything too new in the SPI Files, though you’ll certainly dig the earlier books if you enjoy seeing unique or underused monsters in action. It’s also perfect for readers looking for a lighter tone to their UF, since Mac’s bubbly personality and her conversations with her co-workers go a long way in brightening up the darker moments, especially when SPI is called to deal with some of the more violent and brutal aspects of the supernatural underworld. It’s good, fluffy entertainment and I’m still having a fun with this series. Recommended if you need a quick escape from the stresses of life, or if you need a break from your heavier reads.
*** Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald ***
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Grendel Affair (Book 1)
Review of The Dragon Conspiracy (Book 2)
Short & Sweet Audiobook Review: Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
Posted on February 15, 2016 18 Comments
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
Series: The Malazan Book of the Fallen #1
Publisher: Tor
Memorable Quote: “Should you ever outrun the guilt within your past, Sorceress, you will have to outrun your soul. When it finds you again it will kill you.”
TL; DR Review:
Tiara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars. That was interesting. Now, excuse me while I wallow in my Anomander Rake feelings.
Gardens of the Moon is an ambitious novel that’s not so linear in plot. It’s not really something that can be narrowed down plot-wise. You’re dropped into this world and left to piece together what’s going on through the narrative with very little hand-holding. Some may dislike that and find the story jarring and disorienting while trying to figure out what’s going on, and it can be. Personally, I found it exciting to start the story in medias res without all the padding. However, you’re either going to go into the book with a broader view of the story or you’re not. There’s nothing wrong with either view, but if you have a hard time reconciling yourself with the haziness of the story, you may find it going to your DNF pile. However, things do start to become clearer as you near the end of the book.
This is a complex, dense story. Not something I’d recommend everyone listen to, especially if you have a hard time keeping up with characters and factions without a visual. I found myself having to rewind sections to listen to again to make sure that I fully comprehended what I’d read/listened to. I also had the Kindle book, so immersive reading became my best friend with this book. This book demands your full attention, and it’s easy to lose track of things if you let your mind get off track too often. If you still decide to go audiobook route, Lister’s performance will not disappoint. He’s an excellent narrator. Some of his characters can sound a bit too similar, but not so much that I disliked his narration. My only personal complaint rests in some of the voices he used for characters were not voices I’d attribute to them, such as Kalam who read as if he’d have a much deeper voice than the one Lister used for him. However, his Kruppe is sure to keep listeners amused.
Layers upon layers of story are heaped on here. However, from the beginning, you can see different seeds being sown for future events. You have an empress, a usurper who betrayed the former emperor of Malazan, moving across the lands in an attempt to consolidate her power. Only one city remains after the defeat of the city Pale, a large city named Darujhistan. While her reign seems absolute, cracks begin to stress her goals. Darujhistan fears for itself after the fall of Pale, but there is also a political struggle happening on the local level that is being manipulated by a ragtag bunch of players that includes an alchemist, a playboy, and an assassin. Finally, the gods have decided to play their hand and turn this story over even more. Weaved around these things are numerous characters, factions, motivations, and side stories. More than a few people have some investment in the outcome of the empire.
Erikson really took a chance writing a book that could’ve turned many off to the story. This seems as if it will be the kind of book that will become clearer in retrospect as you move through the series, the kind of book where you’ll remember it as the book where certain threads began. I think, while this story may confuse some, there’s just enough intrigue shining through to keep people hanging on for the next story.
Side Note: This book has awesome covers, but most especially that one with Anomander Rake and his sword Dragnipur, okay. Also, be sure to check out Wendy’s review of Gardens of the Moon!
– Promising beginning to a story that explores both action and intrigue
– An interesting magic system and meddling gods including a god that is actually a pair of “jester” twins
– Anomander Rake and Kruppe, that doesn’t mean much to you… right now… But just remember the names
– Surprisingly more diverse than I was expecting with these characters being more than backdrop
– Can be a bit hazy story-wise
– Parts of the story can feel a little uneven (too fast, too slow, not enough detail, etc.)
– Can feel like not a whole lot is happening despite the massive word count.
Narrator: Ralph Lister | Length: 26 hr and 8 mins | Audiobook Publisher: Brilliance Audio (October 3, 2012) |Whispersync Ready: Yes
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Book Review: Son of the Morning by Mark Alder
Posted on February 15, 2016 21 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Son of the Morning by Mark Alder
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Series: Book 1 of The Banners of Blood
Publisher: Pegasus Books (US: February 15, 2016)
Length: 725 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mark Alder is a nom de plume of Mark Barrowcliffe, an author whose books I have enjoyed in the past under another one of his pseudonyms, M.D. Lachlan. I’ve therefore had my eye on Son of the Morning ever since its initial release two years ago by the UK publisher, and it was with great excitement when I found out that the novel was finally going to be published here stateside by Pegasus Books in early 2016. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance to review an ARC of this reissue which will come complete with a brand new look, featuring Baroque painter Luca Giordano’s stunning masterpiece “St. Michael” gracing the cover.
Summarizing the story in this 700 page tome would be a difficult task, as you can imagine, but for brevity’s sake, Son of the Morning can be described as the Hundred Years’ War with angels and demons. Alder combines history with a great number of fantastical elements, chronicling multiple plot threads and character journeys in this reimagined version of the Middle Ages, primarily focusing on the earlier decades of the conflict. This period sees King Edward III of England attempting to assert his claim as the rightful heir to the French throne by waging war on his rival King Philip VI of France. Both sides vie for the support of God and his angels, but it appears that the Almighty has chosen not to bestow his favor on either one. Appeals to the angels are met with silence, leaving both kingdoms desperately scouring the continent for holy relics or other artifacts that might aid them in the war.
But if Heaven refuses to send aid, perhaps it can be found elsewhere…like in Hell. Tired and broke but still too proud to acknowledge fealty to France, Edward considers turning to the servants of Satan for the forces he will need to battle Philip, who is beset with troubles of his own. Meanwhile, a new Luciferian movement is sweeping through England’s poor and disenfranchised who are fed up with the notion that their God-ordained station is to be forever under the boot heels of the rich and noble. Its adherents believe that Lucifer is not actually the personification of evil, but that the Son of the Morning was usurped and wrongfully condemned. While mortal kings fight a holy war on earth, another is being waged by the denizens of Heaven and Hell and they are using our world and its politics as their battlefield.
Son of the Morning is by no means an easy read, with its intimidating page count and a concept that sounds astonishingly ambitious and, quite frankly, a little mad. So I won’t blame you if you’re feeling a bit skeptical. However, I assure you it actually works quite well. For better or worse, the author manages to capture the atmosphere of the times, right down to the rigid feudal system and the theological influences on the attitudes towards the lower classes. It’s possible that God’s “order” of things might be even more ingrained in this alternate historical society where angels and demons are real. One can imagine how hard it would be to argue against these beliefs, when everyone has witnessed—with their own very eyes—divine beings taking orders from kings and winning them wars.
Still, it doesn’t mean that the poor and the downtrodden have to be happy with this hierarchy. This is where the book’s world-building stands out, exploring religious arguments and coming up with its twist on Heaven and Hell. After all, how could God support a system that benefits the wealthy lord while his serf labors and starves? How could He smile upon the royals who do nothing but wage war while the poor in their kingdoms get even poorer? This couldn’t be the compassionate and righteous God, so it stands to reason that everything taught by the Crown and the Church is built on lies. A key character of this story is a youth named Dowzabel who comes from a religion that believes Lucifer was the true creator, and that God struck him down in his jealousy and stole his place in Heaven. So now this world’s Hell has two factions, Lucifer and his legions of demons who are separate entities from Satan and his devils, who are servants of God. It’s important to understand this distinction when trying to follow the story, and admittedly it could take some time to fully wrap your mind around the complicated lore and nomenclature.
Medieval history is also not my strong suit, and my knowledge of the Hundred Years’ War is decidedly patchy, meaning I had to pause frequently while reading in order to get all these people and events straight in my head, especially when practically every other character is named Edward or Joan. Wikipedia was my constant reading companion. But this was just my personal experience; if you’re a history buff or a fan of this particular period, you probably won’t stumble around as much as I did. It helped that the story was overall very riveting, even though the pacing in the first half of the book was slower and uneven while the narrative was busy filling in the necessary background information and establishing the key players. Son of the Morning being such a lengthy novel, this means getting to the good stuff does require a fair bit of commitment on the reader’s part. I’m also not entirely convinced that the book needed to be so long. I’m certainly no stranger to these epic fantasy doorstoppers, but I did suffer a little from “long book fatigue” by the end of this one, because quite honestly, I think this story could have shed a couple hundred pages and it still would have ended up just as good.
Bottom line, there’s a good chance fans of historical fantasy will love this book, particularly if you enjoy stories set in this time period, but Son of the Morning will pull you in even if you don’t know much about the Hundred Years’ War. Mark Alder has achieved something really special here, breathing new life into historical events and figures by smoothly integrating them with theological and speculative elements. A highly captivating read.
The BiblioSanctum 