Book Review: Ex-Isle by Peter Clines
Posted on February 29, 2016 10 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi Fantasy
Series: Book 5 of Ex-Heroes
Publisher: Broadway Books (February 2, 2016)
Length: 400 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
This is probably my favorite book of the series so far! Ex-Isle, the fifth book in the Ex-Heroes series (which I like to describe to others as “Superheroes meets The Walking Dead”) brings things back on track. I’ve never felt more energized about these books than I do now.
The story takes us back to the Mount, a film studio in Hollywood that the survivors of zombocalypse has converted into a fortress to keep out the hordes of undead. The people of Los Angeles have fared better than most, thanks to a small team of super-powered individuals on their side. St. George, a hero somewhat analogous to Superman, has helped protect everyone by establishing a safe haven where humanity can still work, play, farm and forage.
But then disaster strikes, destroying much of the Mount’s sources of food, forcing the heroes to consider riskier solutions to make up for the loss. In the end, a team including Danielle, Cesar and their powered suit of armor known as Cerberus (yes, my first thought was Iron Man too) head out to the outskirts in an effort to find more ways to produce food.
Meanwhile, Zzzap returns from a scouting trip with some big news: he has found a man-made island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, constructed by cobbling together a bunch of boats (in his words, “It’s kind of like Waterworld. But, y’know, believable.”) Deciding that the Mount should offer whatever help they can provide, St. George accompanies Zzzap back to the island in a gesture of goodwill, bringing Corpse Girl along for the adventure. When the heroes arrive though, they find a less than friendly welcome; in fact, everyone on the island seems to think L.A. has been nuked along with the rest of the world, and no one believes that St. George is who he says he is. Worse, they all appear to be ruled by a paranoid Aquaman-type character named Maleko.
After reading Ex-Isle, I was excited and also relieved that the slump I experienced with the last book was only temporary. Ex-Purgatory was a strange book that took us briefly in a different direction, which didn’t work as well for me compared to the other novels in the series, so now I’m glad to see all my favorite zombie-fighting heroes in action again. There are two story threads running along here side-by-side, the one where Danielle and the others are in Eden helping out with the food situation, and then there’s the one with St. George, Zzzap and Corpse Girl in Lemuria, the island made of boats. Both are equally gripping and suspenseful, and I fell into the rollicking rhythm of the novel almost instantly.
What I loved most about this book is the unsettling sense of mystery that pervades both storylines. Up in Eden, the team of super soldiers who are supposed to be watching out for zombies are instead acting really strange, and people are getting suspicious. This story is made even better by Danielle, who is trying to figure out what’s going on, but her progress is agreatly hampered by her struggle with PTSD and her separation anxiety from the Cerberus armor. And speaking of Danielle, over the course of the series we’ve seen the books focus on the individual characters, exploring their personalities and backgrounds, but this is the first time I’ve truly felt that kind of character development take off. Don’t get me wrong, because I love this series; it’s humorous and entertaining, but admittedly, that tone has always made it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level—especially when most of them can be seen as parodies of well-known Marvel and DC superheroes. However, Danielle in Ex-Isle became a genuinely interesting and sympathetic character, and in her I finally found the deeper connection I’ve been looking for in this series.
The storyline in Lemuria was also excellent fun. The suspense and mystery go into overdrive here, making you wonder every step of the way, “Just what is going on here?” The heroes have to deal with a new antagonist and all his dangerous and evilly underhanded tactics. Barry/Zzzap is hilarious as always, and Corpse Girl AKA Madelyn also gets to have a starring role, proving herself to be one of the more fascinating characters with bizarre “power”.
I also liked how this book was more structured. Peter Clines wrote in a note at the end that unlike the other volumes, he had to rush this one, and because of that, it was outlined to oblivion. It’s understandable why that didn’t work too well for him as a writer. Strangely though, it worked for me as a reader. I enjoyed how the story was more focused and streamlined, and the pacing was smoother because we had fewer flashbacks. Even though we didn’t get to see much of the other heroes—like Stealth or Captain Freedom—the characters that we did get to spend time with were better written and more developed.
Overall, this was a big winner for me. I feel like the series is finally hitting its stride, and that going forward, we’re going to be seeing even greater things. I’m so glad Clines is writing more of these books, and I can’t wait for the next one.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Ex-Communication (Book 3)
Review of Ex-Purgatory (Book 4)
Graphic Novel Review: Star Wars: Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka, Marco Checchetto, Phil Noto
Posted on February 29, 2016 6 Comments
Star Wars: Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka, Marco Checchetto, Phil Noto
Genre: Space Opera, Science Fiction
Series: Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Publisher: Marvel Comics (November 2015)
Author Info: gregrucka.com
Artist Info: philnoto.tumblr.com
Artist Info: marvel.com/comics/creators/11748/marco_checchetto
Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you go by what many fictional stories tell us, when the bad guy is defeated, you mourn your dead and then you throw a party. That’s not how reality works. Just ask the soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq and so many other places where the war never ends, even when it’s over.
Of course, we don’t want our entertainment reflecting that reality. We don’t want to sit through Frodo moping around in the burning Shire, or Ender raging against that genocide he was tricked into causing. So what if this is the culmination of the heroes journey according to Joseph Campbell. We don’t want to see the sad parts.
Return of the Jedi ended with a party at Ewokville and we were all invited. Yub nub, bitches!
War’s over. Everybody go home.
But in Shattered Empire, Rucka reminds us of the harsh truth: the war isn’t over till the fat ewok sings (which we see hasn’t really happened 30 years later in TFA). And he also reminds us that the faces at the front aren’t the only heroes.
Shattered Empire drops us right outside the Emperor’s door as Han’s team struggles to collapse the shields around the Death Star and the pilots desperately try to protect the rebel ships from the trap they’ve flown into. On the ground, we meet Kes Dameron, but the focus of the series is above, on pilot Shara Bey.
Each issue features a mission starring one of the Star Wars faces we know, and Bey is swept along or volunteers. She is the quintessential soldier who does her job and does it well, and wants to fight the good fight, but she also struggles with her desire to leave it all behind and just go farming with her husband, Kes, and their young son, Poe, and the subsequent guilt that brings.
The stories themselves are a bit sparse, but I’m happy to fill in the blanks of Poe Dameron’s backstory, especially as it complements his story in Star Wars: Before the Awakening. I read the latter first and was particularly moved by Poe’s story because of how painfully bittersweet it is. We know Poe as the fun, passionate uber pilot, but these stories give him a bit more depth and sadness through his parents’ fears that everything they fought and people died for was for nothing. The series started with A New Hope, but, despite the ewok party, hope might not be enough. With all the flash and fanfare of TFA in the theatre, scratch the surface and you find a war that hasn’t ended, even after 30 years. Is there still hope? Is there still a point to hoping? Of course there is. The good guys always win, right?
The collected edition also includes Princess Leia #1, where Leia finds herself without a home or a role in the rebellion and the few of her people that remain don’t think too highly of her ice queen persona. Why doesn’t she grieve, they wonder? As if everyone must grieve in the same way. Leia imposes herself on an Alderaanian pilot named Evaan with whom she wants to be friends, though the woman keeps herself at a carefully caustic subservient distance.
When I was younger, it never dawned on me that Leia might be a little messed up after watching her entire planet destroyed. She got over it and went on to be awesome, right? Now, I’m quite happy that books explore her PTSD or apparent lack thereof, such as Martha Wells’ Razor’s Edge.
And finally, there’s the 1977 original Marvel retelling of Star Wars: A New Hope where Luke Skywalker looks a lot like He-Man and stormtroopers are a lot more acrobatic.
Book Review: Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip
Posted on February 28, 2016 16 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Ace (February 2, 2016)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website
Kingfisher is not your everyday fantasy, nor is it the kind of book I usually enjoy. Blurring the lines between genres, this ethereal and strangely abstract tale should have stymied me on so many levels, so no one is more shocked than I am at how deeply it resonated with me. It shouldn’t have worked for me—and in truth, not every aspect of the story did—but I did find certain elements greatly appealing.
It helped too that I went into this book with no preconceptions and absolutely no clue what to expect at all. So I was surprised to discover early on that Kingfisher appears to be a retelling of—or at least, a story with many allusions to—the quest for the Holy Grail. It occurred to me then, that in spite of the popularity of stories about King Arthur and the knights of his court, I’ve not actually read much Arthurian fantasy. That being said, it doesn’t taken an expert to see that McKillip’s take on the genre is special, wildly inventive, and atypical of many others.
The beginning of the book can only be described as abrupt, introducing us to Pierce Oliver in a brief scene helping out a group of strangers with directions as they pass through his remote home town of Mistbegotten. He is immediately inspired by the men’s sophisticated bearing and mystical aura, much like how Percival in the legend was struck by the heroism of the knights after he encountered a band of them in the forest where he lived. Pierce/Percival then leaves home for a bit of soul-searching, after his mother reveals that his father is a knight in the King’s Court.
As Pierce travels to the kingdom of Severluna where King Arden holds his court, the tides are changing there as well. With magic on the rise, the king has called for all his knights to gather. An artifact of immense power has been brought to his attention, believed to hold the key to restoring Severluna’s glory. When Pierce arrives, he finds everyone in the kingdom preparing for the quest to find this legendary vessel, including the priestesses of Calluna who go against the king in believing that the lost artifact is destined for something else.
There’s almost a “magical realism” vibe to this story, though I use that description broadly; in parts, the world of Kingfisher veers so strongly into the realm of fantasy that the world can be seen as anything but natural or mundane. It should also come as no surprise that my favorite parts of this novel all had to do with the aforementioned allusions to the legends surrounding King Arthur and the Grail Quest. Retellings or so-called creative re-imaginings are always fascinating to me because of the potential for an author to take the story in a number of different directions, and here we have a somewhat offbeat mix of Medieval Fantasy meets Modern World. The source of inspiration behind Pierce Oliver’s personal journey is obvious, though there were many more references beyond that.
In fact, after a while it became difficult to separate myth from reality. I had a really hard time getting a bead on the nature of the setting, which sees characters using modern technology like cellphones on the one hand, but they also don’t seem to think knights, sorceresses, or magic are anything out of the ordinary on the other. By design or otherwise, the world-building is vague and has this almost dreamlike quality, and at many points I found myself wondering if we were still playing to the Arthurian tropes or leaving them completely behind for uncharted territory. There were also moments where I felt like I was in way over my head, especially where certain characters were concerned, like Carrie’s storyline and her role in the bitter feud between Todd Stillwater and the Kingfisher Inn.
And then there was the food. The mouth-wateringly, gorgeously, meticulously described food. Delicious as it all sounded, it felt incongruous and distracting, considering how everything else in the book—characters, world-building, etc.—lacked a similar level of detail.
These obstacles notwithstanding, I nevertheless found a lot to like about Kingfisher, and felt myself drawn to many parts of the story. This is the first book I’ve ever read by Patricia A. McKillip, and I am glad I’ve finally gotten to experience her beautiful and expressive style for myself. Admittedly there were moments where I struggled to connect with the characters in this surreal fantasy world that she has created, but still I just can’t help but love the astonishingly unique way she has transformed the classic King Arthur mythos.
*** Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald ***
March/April/May Read-Along Schedule
Posted on February 27, 2016 8 Comments
Here at The Bibliosanctum, we enjoy interacting with others around reading and our busy mom lives. Read-Alongs provide a perfect opportunity for us to interact with other readers and dive into books on our backlist. For more information about any of these Read-Alongs or to see what else everyone is reading, please visit the SF/F Read-Alongs Goodreads group.
March
Continuing on to the second book, Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow has organized a read-along for A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #2). A group of us read the first book in January and had a fun time.
October “Toby” Daye is a changeling, the daughter of Amandine of the fae and a mortal man. Like her mother, she is gifted in blood magic, able to read what has happened to a person through a mere taste of blood. Toby is the only changeling who has earned knighthood, and she re-earns that position every day, undertaking assignments for her liege, Sylvester, the Duke of the Shadowed Hills.
Now Sylvester has asked her to go to the County of Tamed Lightning—otherwise known as Fremont, CA—to make sure that all is well with his niece, Countess January O’Leary, whom he has not been able to contact. It seems like a simple enough assignment—but when dealing with the realm of Faerie nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Toby soon discovers that someone has begun murdering people close to January, whose domain is a buffer between Sylvester’s realm and a scheming rival duchy. If Toby can’t find the killer soon, she may well become the next victim.
Week 1: Saturday 5th March, Chapters 1-8 hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 2: Saturday 12th March, Chapters 9-16 – hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 3: Saturday 19th March, Chapters 17-25 – hosted by Books By Proxy
Week 4: Saturday 26th March, Chapters 26-end – hosted by The Bibliosanctum
April
Coming up in April, I plan to knock another book off my TBR pile with The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (Gentlemen Bastards #1) read-along hosted by Imyril at OneMore.org. This one is still looking for hosts, so if you’re interested, be sure to visit the group and pitch in.
In this stunning debut, author Scott Lynch delivers the wonderfully thrilling tale of an audacious criminal and his band of confidence tricksters. Set in a fantastic city pulsing with the lives of decadent nobles and daring thieves, here is a story of adventure, loyalty, and survival that is one part “Robin Hood”, one part Ocean’s Eleven, and entirely enthralling… An orphan’s life is harsh — and often short — in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains — a man who is neither blind nor a priest.
A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected “family” of orphans — a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting.
Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld’s most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful — and more ambitious — than Locke has yet imagined.
Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi’s most trusted men — and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr’s underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game — or die trying…
Week 1: Thursday 7th April, Prologue & Book 1 – Ambition / Ch 1-3
Week 2: Thursday 14th April, Book 2 – Complication / Ch 4-6
Week 3: Thursday 20th April, Book 2 – Complications / Ch 7-8 & Book 3 – Revelation / Ch 9-11
Week 4: Thusday 27th April, Book 4 – Desperate Improvisation & Epilogue
May
Honestly, I don’t remember putting Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman (The Split Worlds #1) on my TBR pile, but it’s there. I go on blind book sprees and blackout, so it probably ended up there in one of those moments. LOL. This read-along is hosted by Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow.
The new season is starting and the Master of Ceremonies is missing. Max, an Arbiter of the Split Worlds Treaty, is assigned with the task of finding him with no one to help but a dislocated soul and a mad sorcerer.There is a witness but his memories have been bound by magical chains only the enemy can break. A rebellious woman trying to escape her family may prove to be the ally Max needs.
But can she be trusted? And why does she want to give up eternal youth and the life of privilege she’s been born into?
Week 1: Monday 9th May: Chapters 1-9, hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 2: Monday 16th May: Chapters 10-18, hosted by On Starships and Dragonwings
Week 3: Monday 23rd May: Chapters 19-25, hosted by OneMore.org
Week 4: Monday 30th May: Chapters 26-End, hosted by Lynn’s Books
Hope to see some of you participating!
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on February 27, 2016 33 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
The last couple of weeks have been really great! While I’ve not closed myself off from review books all together, I’m happy to chime in with a lighter update today, pretty much ensuring that I can get to everything in my TBR in good time and give myself some wiggle room to read some of the interesting unsolicited arrivals. Speaking of which, I’d definitely like to check out a lot of the books received for review consideration this week. My thanks to the publishers!
The Demonists by Thomas E. Sniegoski – I was really excited to be offered a review copy of this. An urban fantasy/horror about an exorcism gone wrong and the unleashing of demons upon the world? It doesn’t get better than that! My thanks to Roc for the ARC. Be sure to keep an eye out for the review and a giveaway in early April!
Character, Driven by David Lubar – Contemporary YA isn’t my usual genre, but I love Tor Teen and will check out anything they pub. This coming-of-age book sounds like an interesting tale, starring a clever but awkward protagonist surviving high school and girls armed only with his quirky sense of humor. My thanks to the publisher!
The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky – I’ve already reviewed the audio edition of this marvelous book, but last week this surprise hardcover also showed up in the mail. A big thanks to Orbit for totally making my day! I simply adored this one, so I’m overjoyed to have a finished copy.
Brotherhood of the Wheel by R.S. Belcher – R.S. Belcher is really going places! This week I was excited to receive a finished copy of his newest book, courtesy of Tor. I’ll also be taking part in the coverage for it early next month with a review and a fun giveaway! So stay tuned…
Black City Saint by Richard A. Knaak – A finished copy of this book also showed up last week, courtesy of the awesome folks at Pyr. Black City Saint is one of the books I’m hoping to make time for later this month! Really looking forward to checking it out.
Spear of Light by Brenda Cooper – Another surprise arrival, but I am super psyched about this one! Spear of Light is the follow up Cooper’s brilliant Edge of Dark, a book I really enjoyed last year — and I think it’s totally underrated. I’ve been waiting for this sequel for a long, long time. Thank you so much, Pyr Books!
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton – I should have banned myself from requesting any more eARCs, after my last update which saw my digital review pile explode. But when I saw Rebel of the Sands being offered on Penguin’s First to Read, I just couldn’t help it! It’s on my most anticipated list for this spring, and I’m hoping it’s going to be great.
Calamity by Brandon Sanderson – The long awaited conclusion to the Reckoners series is finally here! Audible Studios was so kind as to send me the audiobook for review, which I’ve already finished because I can never wait that long to dive into anything by Brandon Sanderson. The review will be up soon.
HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt – This one also fills me with curiosity and excitement. I’ve already read more horror in 2016 than I had at this time in 2015, simply because there’s been so many great releases in the genre so far this year. The description of HEX caught my attention from the outset, and the original release in Dutch is already a bestseller garnering a lot of praise. There’s always the question of how well it’ll translate, but I am so looking forward to diving in. My thanks to Tor for sending me a NetGalley invite!
Return of Souls by Andy Remic, A Whisper of Southern Lights by Tim Lebbon, Runtime by S.B. Divya – More e-goodies in my inbox this week, with thanks to Tor.com! All their novellas look amazing, and these ones are no exception. Their stories sound so good, I don’t even know where to start.
Reviews
Here are all my reviews since the last update, gathered together and listed here for your convenience and viewing pleasure. The YA mini reviews have also been included.
Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (5 of 5 stars)
The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky (5 of 5 stars)
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Scrivener’s Bones by Brandon Sanderson (4 of 5 stars)
Morning Star by Pierce Brown (4 of 5 stars)
Good Girls by Glen Hirshberg (3.5 of 5 stars)
Starborn by Lucy Hounsom (3.5 of 5 stars)
Son of the Morning by Mark Alder (3.5 of 5 stars)
Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes (3 of 5 stars)
End of Days by Susan Ee (3 of 5 stars)
The Brimstone Deception (3 of 5 stars)
Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell (2.5 of 5 stars)
The Winner’s Crime (2.5 of 5 stars)
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
I’m hoping to get the reviews of the following books written and posted soon (if they aren’t up already), but I do want to take the time to highlight The Last Days of Magic, which completely blew me away! Other reads that stood out include Dragon Hunters which I enjoyed a lot, more so than the first book. I also read Fire Touched, and to celebrate its release in early March I’ll be taking part in a Reread Blog Tour of the Mercy Thompson series – so watch for my part of that next week, and the special giveaway that will be featured with it! All in all, I’m feeling well on track.
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! 🙂
Backlist Burndown: A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
Posted on February 26, 2016 19 Comments
As book bloggers, sometimes we get so caught up reading review titles and new releases that we end up missing out on a lot previously published books. As a result, one of my goals this year is to take more time to catch up with my backlist, especially in my personal reading pile. And it seems I’m not the only one. Backlist Burndown is a new meme started by Lisa of Tenacious Reader. Every last Friday of the month, she’ll be posting a review of a backlist book and is inviting anyone interested to do the same. Of course, you can also review backlist books any day you want, as often you want, but be sure to watch for her post at the end of the month to link up!
Seeing as I’ve been having such good luck with the Horror genre lately, I decided to check out…
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: William Morrow (June 2, 2015)
Length: 286 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I could probably write two reviews for A Head Full of Ghosts, a really long version or a shorter version. I’m going with the short version though (okay, short for me) because then there will be no chance of revealing any spoilers. This is most definitely a book where you’ll want to experience all the surprises and twists for yourself. That said, I wish more people I know have read A Head Full of Ghosts so I could hit them up and just let loose flailing about how thoroughly this book fucked with my mind. I could go on forever. This, my friends, is a book practically made for intense speculation and discussion.
At its heart, this book is a possession story. (Well, actually it’s a lot more complicated than that, but let’s just roll with it for the sake of simplicity. Sorry for being vague, but like I said, I’m striving for non-spoilery.) Enter the Barretts, a seemingly average suburban New England family. Like many others, they were hit by hard times and had to struggle to make ends meet. Dad John Barrett lost his job and had been unemployed for about a year and a half, and mom Sarah became the family’s soul breadwinner. Finances were further strained when their fourteen-year-old daughter Marjorie started getting sick, displaying symptoms of psychosis. Doctors, however, were unable to help. Reluctantly, the family decided to turn to the Catholic Church. A priest called Father Wanderly suggested that Marjorie could be under the influence of a demon. A TV production company was contacted, and they in turn offered the Barretts money if they agreed to be filmed for the exorcism.
The subsequent events are recounted by little sister Meredith “Merry” Barrett fifteen years later, now twenty-three years old and being interviewed by bestselling writer Rachel Neville for a book about “The Possession”, a six-episode Discovery Channel reality show that chronicled the events that befell the Barretts as they happened.
Almost immediately, I was struck by the brilliance of using the show as one of the key premises. By its nature, “reality” TV is a mawkish blend of fact and fiction, blurring the lines between carefully constructed illusion and true candidness. By extension, A Head Full of Ghosts gave me a similar feeling, though the ambiguousness there was more organic, due to our protagonist Merry being one hell of an unreliable narrator. She even admits as much, that the perceptions of her then eight-year-old self might not pass muster or that her own memories could be faulty and compromised, having re-watched all the episodes of “The Possession” upwards of a few dozen times herself. The adult Merry is also a pop culture junkie, having a taste for classic horror movies like The Exorcist or The Haunting of Hill House, so any similar elements you will undoubtedly spot in the book are not only by design, but are placed there to torture you some more and make you wonder. What was the real truth versus what was scripted or constructed in the mind of a confused and frightened girl with an overactive imagination? What really happened to Marjorie Barrett? I’m actually dying to tell you what I personally think, but again, I can’t, at least not in this review, and it’s really killing me here.
All I’ll say is, Merry’s narrative broke my heart. We always try to shield our children, keep them in the dark about certain things for “their own protection”, but the truth is they probably know more than they let on. I can’t really decide what’s worse or more traumatic, the idea of a young child having to experience the things Marjorie did to her family, or of little Merry standing witness to the crumbling relationships around her in what was once a stable and happy home. The demons we fear aren’t always the supernatural kind.
Finally, we get to the one question people always ask when it comes to horror. Was A Head Full of Ghosts scary? I’m sure for some readers, some scenes in book will keep them up at night or induce a few nightmares. But for me, it’s less about how much that the book scared me and more about how unsettled it made me feel. Even now, a lot of its ideas weigh heavily on my mind or are sitting like stones in the pit of my stomach. When it comes to a horror novel, I actually think that’s more effective than outright creeping me out.
So there you have it, my “short” review of A Head Full of Ghosts. Can you imagine what the long version would look like? I could certainly fill twice as much space if I were to go into my speculations at length, but I’ll just close with my enthusiastic recommendation. If you enjoy modern horror, this is a book you really need to check out.
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.”
The BiblioSanctum 