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
Story: 
Performance:
Overall:
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.
Sunday Musings: How Writers Write Fiction
Posted on February 14, 2016 7 Comments
I can write. I know I can write. I’m confident in my ability to write. But there’s always more to learn.
I’ve been looking for a long while for a writing course that could help me hone my craft, while still fitting within my budget. This was a difficult task until I discovered the University of Iowa’s How Writers Write Fiction MOOC, which was free. And free’s good. Actually, they also had an option to earn a certificate of completion for $50USD, which, compared to the $3000 workshop I’d been looking at previously, was a no brainer. That left the only hurdle being the time involved because, free or not, a university level course is a lot of work if you make the commitment, and I was determined not to flake out on this opportunity.
The course lasted for seven weeks and featured two videos and two readings that students were expected to comment on and were quizzed on, and then there was a writing project. The comment part was the most time consuming and least enjoyable part of the process. I’m all for commenting and being part of a discussion on interesting topics, but, as part of the requirements, we had to write 15 different comments each week. Seems like a simple task, but writing meaningful comments that actually add to the discussion isn’t necessarily so. It was also the most time consuming aspect (perhaps more so because it felt a bit tedious).
Still, that is only a minor complaint. The videos and reading samples themselves were quite informative, covering many topics and writing elements that I only had a vague understanding of before. Things that I knew, but didn’t realize I knew, or things I could refine, having learned more about them through the course. Fiction writers of all walks of life–many of whom I was not necessarily familiar with–lent their experience to the following topics:
- Class Session 1: Starting with Character
- Class Session 2: Expanding on Character: Cast and Dialogue
- Class Session 3: Working with Plot
- Class Session 4: Using Character to Produce Frame and Arc
- Class Session 5: Voice and Setting
- Class Session 6: Immersion in Setting: Description and World-Building
- Class Session 7: Embracing Revision
The most interesting elements I took from the entire process involved point of view and point in time. Point of view I have learned well enough over time, but I enjoyed taking the opportunity to rewrite some of my works from differing points of view to see just how much that changes the story. For example, in Session 4, the assignment was to write the same scene from the perspective of two different characters who are reunited after some sort of separation, with a third character off screen, and a misunderstanding that results between them:
Sehr ran her fingers over the jagged wound across her lower abdomen. She’d almost bled out, sliced by the tail of one of those creatures as she’d run to Devin’s aid. Why? She still couldn’t figure it out. Every voice in her head screamed her to leave him behind. He would have done the same. Yet, Devin had been barely able to stand himself, bruised and bleeding, but somehow, he’d managed to fight off the last of the monsters and drag them both back to the ship.
Sehr remembered none of this. She remembered screaming Devin’s name, clawing rain from her eyes, then the searing pain in her side. Then there was nothing, until she’d woken up to find Jenna stitching her back together. There was no morphine in the medikit. Jenna’s voice was all Sehr had to get her through the pain. Now she stood in front of the mirror, examining the kid’s handy work. Sehr would heal, but that scar would never truly let her leave that planet.
***
“Sehr’s awake,” Jenna said quietly. It was the first thing she’d said since she’d started dressing his wounds. He could practically taste her fear, but she didn’t betray any of it. No shake in her hands. No quaver in her voice. Devin respected that. The kid would survive far more than this.
Devin nodded and pushed himself to his feet. She’d done a pretty good job for a kid with no medical training—she’d done a pretty good job through the whole damn mess on the planet—but she couldn’t do anything for his limp. His right leg lagged as he made his way down the hall to Sehr’s cabin.
He paused at the door. Sehr wouldn’t want to see him. She hated everything about him. Yet she’d come back for him when she could have left him for dead. He didn’t owe her anything for it. They’d saved each other in the end. And that’s really all it’s about out here. Surviving. Any way you can.
I would have liked to get feedback and interaction with the actual professors and teachers assistants in this MOOC, but the feedback process was very well done. Unlike the comment process, there were questions to guide reviewers through the peer evaluation process that allowed each of us to receive very valuable critique that could even shape the way our stories progressed in the future. For example, I’d originally written this story from Sehr’s point of view, but after writing Devin’s perspective, I agreed with the assessment of my peer evaluators that his view was far more interesting. Similarly, for Session 1, I wrote a scene from the perspective of a character whose presence, in my original story, is not revealed until the next chapter. This assignment allowed me to explore her character much earlier, and though the scene won’t make it into the future book I swear I’m going to write, it helped me more strongly define her character for future appearances:
Alisanna’s throat was tight again. None of these people meant anything. The screams that echoed beyond the hallway mattered nothing to her. The kingdom of Emberden was lost and she would die with it if she didn’t escape now with the trinkets she’d liberated from the king’s treasury. A game. That’s all this was. The man and the woman would figure it out. They’d pull themselves together and obey the king’s final command. She didn’t need them, and they certainly didn’t need her.
The sharp edges of the stone thrones bit into her palms. She pulled her hands away and stared at the blood that began to pool. This was not her fight. She needed only turn around and unlock the hidden passage behind the thrones and make her escape. The man would hear and likely follow, but she’d be long gone before he could catch up to her, especially since he was burdened by the unconscious woman. He would never even see her face. (Continued)
The certificate required me to complete five of the seven sessions, of which I am proud to say I managed six (I skipped Session 5 because a business trip ate up part of that week). It was time consuming, but exhilarating, and a wonderful way to close out the year. Even though I didn’t achieve the writing goals I’d promised myself thanks to a myriad of reasonably legitimate excuses, but learning about and practicing writing that I’ll someday turn into something? I’ll pat myself on that back for that.
YA Weekend: Audiobook Review Bites
Posted on February 14, 2016 13 Comments
One of my unofficial reading resolutions of 2016 is to catch up with (and in some cases, complete) all the Young Adult series I started over the years. On some level, I want this goal to remain a fun, relaxing, no-stress pastime between my review books, but it may also be my most ambitious challenge yet. I know sometimes I call it my guilty pleasure, but I do love YA, I do. It’s a love that I can’t quit, and with so many excellent new YA titles and series to discover this year, I really should work harder on cleaning up my backlist YA TBR.
Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of Falling Kingdoms
Publisher: Listening Library (12/9/14)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Fred Berman
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall) : 3 of 5 stars
Speaking of not being able to quit, the Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes is one of the most addictive YA series I’ve ever read, even if does have its ups and downs. Mostly I love it for its fantasy setting and the huge number of characters it follows. If you like twisty relationship dynamics and perhaps prefer something more than your usual love triangle, you might want to try this one on for size. This series has also been called the “Game of Thrones” of YA, and even though I’d take that comparison with a grain of salt, there’s no denying that the flavor of court intrigue you find in Falling Kingdoms is a lot more complex than what you’d find in your typical run-of-the-mill YA novel.
Perhaps my one beef with this specific installment is how nothing of real import seems to happen for the first three-quarters of the novel, and then the last 25% is a deluge of momentous events and crazy plot developments. Still, there were other things I enjoyed a lot, like the introduction of Ashur and Amara, the royal Kraeshian siblings. For the most part though, the brooding Prince Magnus is still brooding, the Watchers are still watching, the rebels are still rebelling, and Lucia can’t stop making dumb decisions. And apparently everyone and their brother has discovered in themselves a burning passionate love for Princess Cleo. Seriously, this girl gets all the boys.
Fred Berman continues to do a great job reading the audiobooks, even though I was initially skeptical of the studio’s choice of him as narrator. I still think a female narrator or a multi-cast production would have been better, but I confess Berman’s sexy Prince Magnus voice is slowly growing on me. Oops, did I just say that out loud?
The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of The Winner’s Trilogy
Publisher: Listening Library (3/3/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Justine Eyre
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall) : 2.5 of 5 stars
In retrospect, I really should have waited until the third and last book was out before I read this. The problem with The Winner’s Crime is that in the areas the book does well it does VERY well, but where it was bad it was truly a struggle.
This was a series I first started because I was drawn to my weakness: Forbidden Love. I now know I have no one to blame but myself, because ultimately I expected something from this series that it was in no position to deliver. Even the first book had me doubting that this was the kind of story I was looking for, because can a general’s daughter and a slave of a nation that her people conquered truly find happiness together? In the first book, Lady Kestral and Arin probably spent more than half the time locked in bitter conflict with each other, but I was hoping more feeling would spark between them in book two. Sad to say, it didn’t really happen. What we did get were more lies, more secrets, more obfuscation. Clearly, these two can never be honest with each other, even if they think they have the other’s best interests at heart. I wanted so badly to reach into the book and knock their stubborn, clueless heads together.
Why do some YA couples work for me and some don’t? This is where I get all marriage counselor-like and ask myself, can I picture these two characters still together and happy in ten years? All I see is disaster for Kestral and Arin. There is no chemistry between them beyond the delicious scandal which would explode if the two of them get discovered. It occurred to me, this dynamic just didn’t work for me as much as I’d hoped. And unfortunately, this was the central focus of The Winner’s Crime. Kestral does try her hand at being a spy and ends up being really clumsy at it, but I could hardly blame her for it when this part of the plot itself was oversimple and superficial. Romance was all this book had going for it, and it kind of fumbled–that’s what disappointed me most. It’s hard to believe I’m actually calling for more romance in a YA novel, but there you have it. I’ll probably read the last book just for completion’s sake, though I do have doubts that Kestral and Arin will miraculously get their acts together for the final volume. Still, I hope to be surprised.
End of Days by Susan Ee
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of Penryn & the End of Days
Publisher: Brilliance Audio (5/12/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Caitlin Davies
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall) : 3 of 5 stars
I was very happy I got to finally read this concluding volume and finish the Penryn & the End of Days trilogy, which all began with the very awesome Angelfall. To be sure, it was a good ending, with a lot of cheering and crying to be had. And yet, I can’t deny there is a part of me that remains somewhat underwhelmed.
This was the explosive finale, and I wanted nothing more than to love it. We have Penryn and Raffe on the run, both driven by the same goals. Still, despite their growing feelings for each other, theirs is a precarious alliance. We all know that humans and angels cannot coexist, and sooner or later, our characters are going to reach a turning point and each of them will have to choose which path to take. The stage was set for great things.
And yet, the story faltered by falling back on predictable outcomes and overused tropes. Not to mention, the events in the climax and ending felt forced and the whole book felt rushed. There’s just so much crammed in here and we’re shuffled through it all at breakneck speed. (Interestingly, I only found out recently that this series was originally intended to be five books, before it was amended to become a trilogy, and I can’t help but wonder if that might that have had something to do with the state of this novel.) I’m also disappointed at the lack of answers. There’s no attempt to even try and fill in the mythology, likely because the author didn’t want to bring God into the picture, so the result is this awkward dance around the issue. It gets even more confusing when we’re suddenly introduced to a hellish realm where a lot of the action in this book takes place. I don’t think I would have minded the lack of answers so much if this book hadn’t hurled even more questions at us that never really get explained.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad conclusion. Could the book have been better? Sure. But it had its moments and on the whole I enjoyed myself. I will say though, the way this trilogy started was much stronger than the way it ended. My rating did fall with each subsequent book, but it’s also true I’ve become a lot pickier about my YA and I am far more demanding than I was two and half years ago when I first read Angelfall. Regardless, I’ll still always remember how impressed I was with Susan Ee’s debut. If or when she writes another novel, I am so there.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on February 13, 2016 29 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
I’ve been working hard to rein in my book requests this year, but apparently I have not been showing as much restraint when it comes to electronic galleys. In a perfect storm of email invitations, auto-approvals, and every single one of my NetGalley/Edelweiss requests that have been hanging in limbo forever suddenly deciding to come in all at once this week, my digital review pile appears to have exploded! Whoops. Meanwhile, books in the mail have been mostly surprise arrivals, but they all look so good! Hard to fight against the excitement though, even as Mount TBR grows another few feet; my enormous gratitude to the authors and publishers for the months of great reading ahead of me!
Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians and The Scrivener’s Bones by Brandon Sanderson – This might be the only series left by Sanderson that I haven’t tried yet. Until now Alcatraz has always managed to elude me, but this year they’re being re-issued by Starscape/Tor Books and I pounced on the opportunity to review these beautifully illustrated new hardback editions. I already read the first one, and loved it — hilarious adventurous middle grade madness! My thanks to the publisher!
The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins – I was so excited when a finished copy of this book arrived, courtesy of Viking. I’ve been highly anticipating this gorgeous historical fantasy debut about goddesses, mad kings, druids and faerie magic.
UFO Hunters Book Two by William J. Birnes – Until this one arrived from Tor, I had no clue there was even a UFO Hunter book, let alone two! It’s billed as an official companion to the History Channel show, which I’m only vaguely familiar with. I may pass this on to my husband, who loves this stuff.
Nebula Awards Showcase 2016 edited by Mercedes Lackey – My thanks to Pyr for brightening up my day with another awesome Nebula Awards Showcase collection!
The King of Fear by Drew Chapman – Surprise arrival from Simon & Schuster earlier in the week; although it’s not my usual genre, I was intrigued. Chapman brings his extensive experience in film and television writing to this novel of global espionage and cyber terrorism. I’ll be keeping this one in mind for when I feel like a good thriller.
Invaders: 22 Tales from the Outer Limits of Literature edited by Jacob Weisman – When book mail arrived from California, I was thrilled to discover it was this sci-fi anthology from Tachyon Publications! From aliens to nanotech, this wild collection features all manner of science fiction and beyond. I’m not even a big reader of short stories, but I do want to read this one.
Good Girls by Glen Hirshberg – I’ve wanted to read Glen Hirshberg for a while now, and I finally got my wish this week! My thanks to Tor Books for sending along a finished hardcover of this emotionally hard-hitting supernatural horror. Keep an eye out for my review which will be posted on release date!
Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan – A retelling of A Tale of Two Cities?! Um, YES PLEASE. All resistance pretty much went out the window the moment I heard that pitch. With thanks to Clarion Books (NetGalley).
Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay – Do you even need a reason to be excited for Guy Gavriel Kay? I mean, other than it’s Guy Gavriel Kay? Didn’t think so! With thanks to NAL (NetGalley).
Roses and Rot by Kat Howard – I literally did a dance for joy when Saga Press started listing titles at NetGalley last week. They auto-approved me too, which could have been really bad for my review pile because I’m excited about practically every single one of their titles. I was able to restrained myself and only requested Roses and Rot…for now. Can’t wait to dive into this dark twist on a fairy tale.
The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky – I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of the audio edition last week. IT. IS. AMAZING. I lost a chunk of a day to this audiobook while I was vacuuming the house and I must have done several rooms twice without even realizing it. That’s how thoroughly hooked I was. I’m sure you’ll be hearing me rave all about it next week, which is hopefully when I’ll have my review up. My thanks to Hachette Audio!
The Edge of Worlds by Martha Wells – Evidently the start of a new series about the Raksura, even though it is technically the fourth book in the sequence. I’ve never actually read a Raksura novel (just the short stories collections) so this might be a good place for me to jump on board. With thanks to Night Shade Books (Edelweiss).
Disappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay – Earlier this month I read A Head Full of Ghosts and it was definitely one of those mind-blowing “I NEED to read more by this author right the hell NOW” experiences. My thanks to William Morrow (Edelweiss).
In the Shadow of the Gods by Rachel Dunne – An epic fantasy about a group of mortals standing up against a pair of vengeful gods? This sounds interesting! And I’ll never turn down a dark fantasy. With thanks to Harper Voyager (Edelweiss).
Fellside by M.R. Carey – eARC, with thanks to Orbit (NetGalley). I loved The Girl with All the Gifts and I was very excited when I found out about Carey’s new novel. The publisher description is a bit vague, but I’ve heard whisperings that it’s a ghost story…
The Days of Tao by Wesley Chu – I was actually a beta reader for this book, and I’m looking forward to see what has changed in the final version. This short novella is an action-filled story about Cameron Tan and contains some bridge elements that will lead into The Rise of Io, Chu’s next quasing series. With thanks to Subterranean Press (NetGalley).
The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis – Psychological literary thriller set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness. What’s not to like? I’ve eyed this one for a while, and now that the publisher has revealed their cover, I decided to request. My thanks to Crown (NetGalley).
Reviews
Here are all my reviews since the last update, gathered together and listed here for your convenience and viewing pleasure. We’re all over the board in terms of ratings, but on the whole I’d say I had a great first half of February.
Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards (5 of 5 stars)
The Damned by Andrew Pyper (4.5 of 5 stars)
Star Wars: Dark Disciple by Christie Golden (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Death of Dulgath by Michael J. Sullivan (4 of 5 stars)
A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly (4 of 5 stars)
Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh (4 of 5 stars)
Drake by Peter McLean (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Guns of Ivrea by Clifford Beal (3 of 5 stars)
Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto (2.5 of 5 stars)
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
I spent the first week of February reading a couple of humongous epic fantasy doorstoppers, so for the rest of the roundup period I indulged in some shorter, lighter reads in Urban Fantasy, Horror and Young Adult. A good mix of genres helps keep me sane. I also grabbed the Morning Star audiobook the day it came out and finished listening to it over three or four nights of workouts. I’ve been looking forward to it for so long and it was definitely worth the wait.
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! 🙂
The BiblioSanctum 