Sanctum Sanctorum: We’re Off to See the Ellcrys
Posted on February 25, 2016 17 Comments
In light of the new series that’s been running on MTV, this month we’re chatting about Shannara and are joined by Hannah of Dragon’s & Whimsy! The television show stars Manu Bennett as Allanon the druid and also some other people but mostly Manu Bennett and everything is beautiful and nothing hurts. It is based on the series by Terry Brooks, that begins with The Sword of Shannara, though the show takes up with the second book, The Elfstones of Shannara. It’s considered a fantasy classic by some, but here at Bibliosanctum, we’re not so sure…
What do you think of Shannara? Are you watching the show? Have you read the books? Answer in the comments!
What was your first Shannara experience?
Wendy: When I was a young teen, I’d take out as many books as the library would let me and gobble them all up in a couple of weeks. Sometimes I’d read one chapter of each book per day. The Sword of Shannara was in one such pile, but, as I read through each books’ chapter and turned to pick up that one, I found myself dreading it more and more until I finally gave up. Shannara was the first book I did not finish (the second was Eye of the World) because it was so completely and utterly boring. Decades later, my brother, who had not read any other Brooks book, raved about The Genesis of Shannara series, so I decided to try it out and was pleased to see that Brooks’ storytelling had improved over time. It wasn’t the best read, but I enjoyed the series nonetheless, particularly the idea that this world of elves and magic and fantastical demons was actually a post-apocalyptic earth. You can read my reviews of Armageddon’s Children, The Elves of Cintra, and … oh it looks like I haven’t actually read The Gypsy Morph yet, which goes to show how much I care about the series overall. Hmmm. I did finally read The Sword of Shannara though, and laughed along with Tiara at this obvious Lord of the Rings fanfic that fixed all the troublesome issues like Boromir dying and Gandalf not being young and hot. For the latter alone, I was quite pleased with the announcement of a television show that would bring this to life in the form of Manu Bennett. Thank you MTV. Thank you.
Mogsy: I have a confession to make: I haven’t actually read any of the Shannara books. Well, no, that’s not really the whole story. I tried The Sword of Shannara a long time ago when I was in my late teens but didn’t get to finish it before I set it aside. Terry Brooks’ writing just didn’t do much for me. I was a very distractible teenager though, so maybe I’ll try again one day, but because I didn’t get far into the book at all I certainly don’t count myself as having read it. So, I’m going into this with pretty fresh eyes.
Tiara: I read (okay, listened to) the first book The Sword of Shannara last year as one of my classic fantasy reads. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I didn’t go into the book with high expectations. I didn’t realize that I knew so many people who’d actually read the series. General reactions ran the gauntlet from “OH MY GOD NO!” to “BEST STORY EVER!” I hadn’t actually heard of the series before last year. (I don’t think.) I guess, because I’ve only started reading more fantasy in recent years I missed out on many of the more popular series when I was younger, and I’m just getting around to them now. When I started reading it, I was thinking, “Wow, is this Lord of the Rings?” Then, when I announced my findings to friends, they confirmed that the first book is basically Lord of the Rings, but funnier. (Note: I dislike Tolkien’s writing, but I love the movies. Go figure.)
Hannah: I used to be a member of one of those mail order book clubs, I think it was called the SFF Book Club or something, and they had these huge bind-ups of the trilogies. Originally I picked up the second Shannara omnibus, then I got a hold of the first, and then I discovered the prequel as well! So of course I felt obligated by this point to read them all and started reading The First King of Shannara. I think it took me a year and I didn’t enjoy it, then I moved onto The Sword of Shannara which wasn’t much better and from there I ran off to read something else.
Have you watched the show? Thoughts?
Wendy: Knowing that it is an MTV production, I did not walk into this with high expectations. I really only wanted to see Manu Bennett. Preferably naked.
Thank you.
I got my wish and then was pleasantly surprised to find that the show wasn’t half bad at all. It reminded me of my journey through Legends of the Seeker, which I really enjoyed despite its low quality production and meandering plot.
Hmmm future cosplay plans….
Shannara has got that typical young adult vibe, but the three main protagonists aren’t slipping too easily into the tropes. There is an inevitable love triangle going on, but it’s not defining the characters and is proving to be a source of amusement. And while the majority of the main characters are not people of colour, I am pleased to see that the elves of all places is where the diversity is appearing, with Commander Tilton at the top of my list of new favourite characters, just below Allanon.
Oh and I love the outfits. Must get myself some more corsets.
Mogsy: I hadn’t planned on watching the show, especially in light of some of the…less than stellar things I’ve seen said about it in my timeline on Twitter. Because of this feature though, I got assigned to watch it for “homework” and that was actually pretty exciting! I found myself filled with a kind of anticipation that I otherwise wouldn’t have had, so there was that. It did turn out pretty much the way I’d expected though. I didn’t love it, but it was certainly nowhere near as bad as some of my friends have made it sound. Not quite the glowing recommendation, I know — but considering this isn’t something I’d normally watch, I think it could have gone much worse. With only a few episodes under my belt, I may have to reserve final judgment until I’ve seen more, but so far I have to agree 100% with Wendy on the major YA vibes.
Tiara: I’m still catching up. My initial plans were to read the second book and watch the premiere when it started in January. Unfortunately, plans didn’t shape up in that way. Mainly because there were so many other books that I wanted to read that took precedent over finishing The Elfstones of Shannara. I finally just decided to go ahead and watch the show even though I haven’t finished the book. So, I came to watch Allanon wearing practical questing gear. I might stay for the hot mess this show obviously is.
Allanon in practical questing gear in case you forgot.
Hannah: Absolutely. It started off feeling a little disjointed but it soon picked up. Plus, you know, it’s fantasy. That’s almost all that matters! I also second Manu Bennett. However, I don’t have the same issues with the acting as some have been mentioned which definitely helps with my enjoyment of the show overall, and I’ve just generally been enjoying watching the story unfold as the weeks go by. I also really like that opening theme — it’s a little different for an epic fantasy show but it’s appropriately dramatic. I did find the ‘Age of Man’ episodes a little odd, however. They didn’t fit well into the aesthetic of the world. They contrasted so poorly and left me feeling like the actors just showed up in their own clothes. It didn’t work.
How does it compare to the books or what you know of Brooks’ world of Shannara?
Wendy: It’s fun to see what you’ve read come to life and I particularly like the portrayal of the post-apocalyptic world, even though realistically speaking, the rusted out vehicles wouldn’t be quite so easily recognizable. I was livetweeting along with the premiere and was surprised to see very few complaints. Some diehard fans were disappointed overall, but seemingly not so much that they would quit the show completely. I think they’ve done a good job of making something that works for both older fans (if they accept that an MTV show is never going to be Golden Globe quality) and new fans. It’s mature and fun at the same time and the cinematography is beautiful.
Mogsy: I know next to nothing about Shannara. Fortunately (or maybe, unfortunately) for me, my husband is intimately familiar with the books and he was snatching glimpses of the show from behind my shoulder the whole time while I was watching, inserting snarky asides until I had to shush him. Like, I actually hadn’t known that the setting was post-apocalyptic, and my husband informed me that that was was something gradually revealed in the books. As you can imagine, he griped about showing the busted husk of the Space Needle in the opening sequence thus ruining the “surprise”, further going on to use some very choice words that I can’t repeat here to describe the acting and make fun of everyone’s hair. I don’t know, I actually kind of liked the way they portrayed the world by showing flashes of skyscraper ruins and things like that! I’ll refrain from commenting on the other stuff.
Hannah: I would like to read Elfstones of Shannara now to see how it compares but I wouldn’t say I am especially compelled. There’s a certain dryness to Terry Brooks’ writing style that just doesn’t work for me and I have a lot of books on my bedside table at the moment.
Are you compelled to learn more about Shannara?
Wendy: I do want to read and possibly complete both of the trilogies I’ve started now–Genesis just for the sake of completion, and the original books because I want to compare them and see if it’s true that Sword really was the only utterly boring one. Beyond that, probably not.
Mogsy: I admit, the show is very pretty. But is that enough to compel me to learn more? I don’t know. Like I said, I’ll probably need to watch more before I get a better idea, but right now I’m flashing back to first experience of the book and once again feeling those vibes of take-it-or-leave-it.
Tiara: I’m reading The Elfstones of Shannara right now… very slowly… because it’s the book the television show is actually based on. I don’t have any really strong connection to the series other than thinking it’s amusing trash. I’m pretty much only here for antics.
The story of Shannara seems to revolve around those damn elves who in turn revolve around a tree called the Ellcrys that keeps causing problems. What would you do if you were in charge of the Ellcrys?
Wendy: So much firewood.
Mogsy: Bad Wendy! “You tell that to your people when the fairy tales are ripping out their throats!”
Tiara: Hell, I don’t know. You just don’t leave things like trees in my care. I mean…
Hannah: I’m sensing a little Elf bias in this question. Anybody else? 😉
Audiobook Review: The Serpent Sea by Martha Wells
Posted on February 25, 2016 12 Comments
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Books of the Raksura #2
Publisher: Night Shade Books (January 3, 2012)
Information: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Tiara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Narrator: Christopher Kipiniak | Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins | Audiobook Publisher: Audible Studios (January 10, 2012) | Whispersync Ready: Yes
Last year, the first book in this series, The Cloud Roads, was easily one of my top reads for 2015. Wells presented a wonderfully creative world with races who fall outside of human norms. This year, I said that I was going to continue this series. I want to finish up the main trilogy as well as the short stories in preparation for the upcoming fourth book in the series, The Edge of Worlds.
Book Review: Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
Posted on February 24, 2016 19 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Worldmaker Trilogy
Publisher: Tor UK (Paperback: January 28, 2016)
Length: 495 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Starborn is the wonderful debut of author Lucy Hounsom, kicking off The Worldmaker Trilogy in style. I found it elegantly written and imaginative, and there’s also a familiar yet down-to-earth vibe that will make it accessible to a wide audience whether you’re an avid reader of fantasy or new to the genre, and whether you’re a teenager or adult.
In Kyndra Vale’s village of Brenwyn, there is an ancient rite of passage. When a young person comes of age, he or she would partake in a meeting with a relic-keeper to find out their true name and the path they are destined for. However, on the day of Kyndra’s ceremony, she receives a strange vision. And when it is her turn to view the relic, it suddenly breaks, putting an end to a centuries-old tradition. Worse, immediately following the incident, Brenwyn is set upon by a Breaking, an unnatural storm that destroys the village.
Frightened and superstitious, the community is quick to blame Kyndra, but before they can act upon their anger, she is whisked away by two mysterious strangers who had come into town the day before. They are Nediah and Brégenne, a pair of bonded Wielders who can harness the power of the sun and moon to do amazing things, and for reasons unknown to Kyndra, they seem to have their eye on her. But while agreeing to be taken to the Wielder’s faraway citadel of Naris may have saved her life, Kyndra also becomes their prisoner. As her visions become worse, the Wielders suspect Kyndra may have some magic of her own, and she is kept from leaving until she can pass a brutal trial to determine the nature of her abilities.
It was easy to become drawn into this world Hounsom has created. As Kyndra travels to Naris with Nediah and Brégenne, snippets of history and magical lore can be gleaned through their conversations. Learning about the Wielders’ powers was fascinating, and the magic was perhaps my favorite part of the book. Based around the energies of the sun and moon, those who can use the former are known as Solars, while those that harness the latter are called Lunars. Often they travel in pairs while working in the field, so that they can watch each other’s backs. For example, Nediah is a Solar who can protect Brégenne, a Lunar, during the day while her powers are latent, while at night she can do the same for him. This way, a Wielder team is never left helpless.
Hounsom also doesn’t resort to overwhelming the reader with a flood of information. I felt that a lot of the world’s background had to be deduced, which might be a stumbling block for some, especially in the last quarter of the book where most of the big reveals and connections are made in a very short period of time. The pacing is a bit uneven for this reason, with the plot being slower to build in the beginning, but coming in fast and hard towards the end. There’s a lot going on, with multiple characters being driven by different motivations, and it can get confusing if you let your guard down. Still, the many plot threads kept me guessing, especially when it came to the question of whom Kyndra could trust.
In the end, the pleasure and satisfaction are in the details. Past some of the more common tropes in the story, there are a good number of innovative twists on familiar themes, such as the world-building and mechanics behind the magic system. Characters are likeable, even the supporting ones like Nediah and Brégenne (and speaking of the two of them, can I say what a breath of fresh air it was to see a romance sub-plot that actually did not involve the main protagonist?!) There’s a good amount of crossover appeal here that will make this a potentially attractive book to both Young Adult and Adult readers, and despite some minor issues with the flow, this book was intense enough to be very satisfying.
I can definitely see fantasy fans enjoying this novel, especially if the description of the magic appeals you. At the same time, I also would not hesitate to recommend it as a light introduction to the genre. All told, Starborn is an entertaining read and perfect for when the mood for a lighter kind of fantasy strikes you.
Waiting on Wednesday 02/24/16
Posted on February 24, 2016 16 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:
Like A River Glorious by Rae Carson: September 27, 2016 (Greenwillow Books)
I’m actually having a real hard time putting together this Waiting on Wednesday right now, for you see, all want to do is flail my face all over my keyboard. Mere words cannot describe my excitement.
And also, Like a River Glorious? Like a cover glorious, more like! Just beautiful.
“After a harrowing journey across the country, Leah Westfall and her friends have finally arrived in California and are ready to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Lee has a special advantage over the other new arrivals in California—she has the ability to sense gold, a secret known only by her handsome best friend Jefferson and her murdering uncle Hiram.
Lee and her friends have the chance to be the most prosperous settlers in California, but Hiram hasn’t given up trying to control Lee and her power. Sabotage and kidnapping are the least of what he’ll do to make sure Lee is his own. His mine is the deepest and darkest in the territory, and there Lee learns the full extent of her magical gift, the worst of her uncle, and the true strength of her friendships. To save everyone, she vows to destroy her uncle and the empire he is building—even at the cost of her own freedom.
The second epic historical fantasy in the Gold Seer trilogy by Rae Carson, the acclaimed author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.”
Book Review: Good Girls by Glen Hirshberg
Posted on February 23, 2016 11 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Book 2 of Motherless Children
Publisher: Tor (February 23, 2016)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Good Girls was introduced to me as the standalone sequel to Motherless Child which immediately put me in a bit of a dilemma, because standalone or not, I don’t like to jump in mid-series if I can help it. Nevertheless, Glen Hirshberg’s name has been making some big waves in the horror genre lately and I’ve been meaning to check out his work for a while now. I admit that in the end, it really didn’t take much convincing for me to throw caution to the wind and dive in with both feet!
Almost right away though, I could sense the drawbacks from not having read Motherless Child. While this sequel primarily focuses on a new protagonist, it also follows several returning characters who feature quite prominently in the story, namely Jess and those with her who survived the fallout from the end of the first book. Good Girls also sees the return of The Whistler, the antagonist who was responsible for turning Jess’s daughter Natalie into a vampire (that said, this is in no way your typical “vampire story”). More monster than man, The Whistler is back on the hunt now, not having forgiven Jess after she was forced to kill her own daughter, thus robbing him of his Destiny.
Ending up caught in the crosshairs is Rebecca, a young college student and the aforementioned new protagonist. Since fleeing the South, Jess has settled in New Hampshire with the remnants of her family, which includes her orphaned infant grandson Eddie whom Rebecca is hired on to babysit. Completely unaware of her employer’s gore-soaked past, Rebecca and her friends are staying near her campus for the summer when one day they inadvertently catch the attention of The Whistler, who has followed his prey all the way to this quiet little college town to seek his revenge.
My final verdict is that while Good Girls can indeed be enjoyed as a standalone, I still can’t help but feel that not having read Motherless Child affected my experience somewhat. Perhaps the biggest challenge was trying to tease apart the web of relationships. Jess, her lover Benny, and Natalie’s best friend Sophie are all apparently characters from the first book, but that fact wouldn’t be obvious if you’d jumped into this one blind. You’d meet them for the first time in chapter three, abruptly introduced amidst a scene of utter carnage, with little to no context of what had happened. The same goes for the indeterminate Aunt Sally and her evil minions lurking in the shadowy hollows of the Mississippi Delta. The story eventually revealed enough to allow me to fill in the gaps, but throughout most of the novel, that sense of playing catch-up never truly left me. Only after finishing Good Girls and going back to check the publisher’s description of the first book was I able to piece together the full picture and understand how these characters fit into the narrative.
Still, in spite of these obstacles, I was able to appreciate the story overall. Rebecca is an intriguing character, haunted by her own past of being raised in a foster home by a troubled couple. What’s interesting to me is how her character is complemented by Hirshberg’s prose. His writing style isn’t exactly my cup of tea, being on the clunky side with too many distracting interruptions mid-sentence, but the distance this creates to the protagonist somehow feels appropriate. Rebecca is someone who prides herself on her empathy and in turn those close to her feel a measure of comfort in her presence, but there’s also an aloofness to her that the author does such a good job of “showing” without having to ever “tell”.
As a matter of fact, this entire novel is suffused with a kind of intensity that’s so thick it’s almost palpable, raising my sensitivity to the story’s more personal and emotional themes. As a result, I think I found the atmosphere of this “Horror” novel to be more grim, desolate and sobering than anything, as opposed to being truly terrifying, creepy or disturbing. It raises some interesting questions about love and family, grief and sacrifice, and of when to hold on versus when to let go.
Do I recommend Good Girls? Yes. However, I would also strongly advise reading Motherless Child first. I honestly think I would have enjoyed this book even more if I had done the same (I have plans to go back and read it now, that’s for sure) and at the very least, I probably would have had less trouble getting into the beginning of the story. This isn’t your typical supernatural horror, but it’s definitely well worth the read.
“Tell them they must earn the respect which everyone else receives by default. Tell them there is a standard for acceptance; that standard is simply perfection.”
Book Review Bites
Posted on February 22, 2016 9 Comments
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Genre: Fantasy, Apocalyptic
Publisher: Orbit (August 4, 2015)
Tiara’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
This book is difficult for me to sum up without feeling as if I’m not doing the story any justice, and there’s not too much more I can say about it that Mogsy hasn’t already covered in her review. The Fifth Season introduces us to a world that is always on the brink of destruction, represented by its “Seasons.” The only thing standing between the people and total destruction are Orogenes, people gifted/cursed with the ability to connect to the earth. You’d think people with such powered would be revered. They’re not. They’re despised, only valued for the help they can give people. Otherwise, they’re hunted down or sent to a school that uses them to thwart catastrophes. This book follows three Orogenes–a child taken from her family, a young woman paired with an experienced Orogene, and a rogue Orogene mourning the loss of her son after he’s killed by his father. And this is the end of the world for the last time.
Admittedly, I wasn’t quite pulled in until I was a few chapters in, but once I fell into the story, I could not stop reading/listening to it. Jemisin has grown tremendously as a writer. Robin Miles was the perfect choice for this story and really pulled many emotions from me with her charged narration. This is not an easy read/listen. It’s gritty, it’s rough, it’s emotional. Violence and casual disregard of others’ well-being are just a fact of life in this story. Jemisin gives agency and identity to people who aren’t often portrayed in literature. Sexuality is presented on a spectrum that goes beyond our heteronormative. This world is both progressive and conservative in its beliefs and presentation. I’m continuously impressed with how Jemisin presents her ideas about the human condition in a fantasy setting with excellent world-building, but this world also felt familiar for all its differences. There were things about it that felt as if one time maybe this place was something like our own world with its use of electricity and running water. It touched me on a profound level, and I haven’t stopped thinking about this story or revisiting its pages much like I did when I read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.
Cereus Blooms at Night by Shani Mootoo
Genre: Magical Realism, LGBTQ
Publisher: Harper Perennial (October 1, 1996)
Tiara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mala Ramchandin arrives at a home for the elderly barely sane and unable to tend to herself. She’s been acquitted of a murder where little evidence exists other than what officers are able to relate of the scene they found at her home when her mind finally broke completely. At the elderly home, she becomes the first patient of a male nurse, Tyler, who is an outcast among his coworkers for being a male nurse and for being gay (though he tries to hide his true nature in vain). Tyler begins to unwrap Mala’s past which is painful and froth with abuse and heartbreak.
This book falls into the realm of magical realism. However, it’s on the lighter side of the genre. This was a beautifully written, painful story that explores strength, the fragility of humans, abuse, gender, identity, determination, and the courage to feel no shame for what you are. Set on a fictional Caribbean island of Paradise, Mala helps Tyler as much as he helps her. Much of this story is a visceral reading experience that beckons readers to read with their heart.
Strong trigger warning on this one as it deals with abuse in some detail.
Casting Shadows by Jeanne Cavelos
Genre: Science Fiction, Media Tie-In
Publisher: Del Ray (February 27, 2001)
Tiara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Galen is a young techno-mage on the eve of completing his apprenticeship to become a full techno mage. He is the offspring of two techno-mages who died tragically when he was young. After their deaths, Galen was raised and taught by his parents’ friend and fellow techno-mage, Elric. Years later, Elric is the latest host of the techno-mage gathering, a month long event where techno-mages assemble for a fellowship of sorts and to test their apprentices to see who’s ready for the title of techno-mage. However, at the event, things go awry as threats are revealed outside and within the techno-mages that could threaten their existence. Galen finds himself moving from apprentice to potential threat to becoming an important part of the coming war. This book is set in the Babylon 5 universe, and I was a huge fan of Babylon 5 when it was showing. I can vaguely remember Elric and Galen making appearances on the show, but they weren’t regulars. Despite that, I never watched the spin-off based on the techno-mages (Crusade). In that respect, this felt like a new story revolving around the techno-mages and technomancy. Technomancy is the process of alchemizing science into magic. Each techno-mage has a signature way of casting their spells and it’s different for every mage.
For example, the main character, Galen, breaks spells down mathematically. He has to visualize the equation he associates with spells. Isabelle is a knitter, so her understanding of magic is channeled through that. She “knits” her spells by actually moving her hands as if she’s knitting. As a knitter, I found that really cool. Isabelle is adept at shields, and her shields appear as tightly woven energy when examined on a microscopic level. You have characters who sing their spells, scream their spells, perform certain motions to cast their spells, etc. Depending on the way spells are cast, it makes some forms of magic harder for characters. Galen has a hard time creating spells that protect him, and while he can see what needs to be done while attempting healing spells, he’s unable to produce the desired outcome. He can’t visualize the equations needed for these spells, and he believes they might be too complex or imaginative for his rigid style.
This turned out to be a fun read that was surprisingly not as campy as I’d expect from a tie-in novel from the late-90s/early-00s. Of course, some things are geared toward readers familiar with the series, but I don’t think a reader has to have much intimate knowledge of Babylon 5 or Crusade to enjoy this story.
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.
The BiblioSanctum 