Mogsy’s Favorite Covers of 2015
Posted on December 25, 2015 19 Comments
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Like a precious gift carefully wrapped in decorative paper, a book with a good cover fills you with excitement and anticipation and makes you want to open it right away! As you all know I am a big fan of lists, so I thought, What better way to spread the cheer today than with my Top Ten Favorite Covers of 2015?
Wishing you all much love and joy this holiday season, and I hope you enjoy the eye candy!
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Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen
I’m naturally drawn to interesting art styles, and this is most certainly the case with this cover design by artist Victo Ngai.
Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier
I just adore painted covers, and artist Arantza Sestayo did an amazing job with these. Like the cover art for the first book, this one is also giving me major hair envy.
The Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan
The books in this series make it onto my “Favorite Covers” list every year, because Todd Lockwood’s dragons are amazing.
Our Lady of the Ice by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Some covers exude pure atmosphere, like this one here. Brrrr! I feel cold just looking at it. Credit goes to Saga’s associate art director Michael McCartney, and to the artist Federico Bebber.
The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan
If it’s more atmosphere you want, you get it in spades in this cover illustrated by Jonathan Bartlett. I love how amazingly detailed it is.
The Last Witness by K.J. Parker
Then there are covers that tell a story, like this one illustrated by Jon Foster and designed by Christine Foltzer. Looking at that cover, you can’t help but wonder…just what is going on there?
Twelve Kings in Sharakhai by Bradley P. Beaulieu
This cover by artist Adam Paquette made my jaw drop. To me, this is where the US cover wins hands down. I love the use of bold colors and the way it fills readers with wonder and a sense of “epicness”.
Last Song Before Night by Ilana C. Myer
Speaking of wonder and epicness, I have not read this one yet, but I had to feature the cover anyway. I love it when a cover shows off a book’s world. Art by Stephan Martinere.
The Dinosaur Lords by Victor Milán
Then there are covers that are just too damn cool to resist, not to mention Richard Anderson’s covers are always great.
Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
Covers depicting main characters can be tricky, but artist Cynthia Sheppard nails it. Karen’s strength and attitude comes through in this one, and now that I’ve read this, I also understand the tentacles.
Covenant’s End by Ari Marmell
Jason Chan is another one of my favorite cover artists, and I love the ones he did for this series. They’re all great, but I like this one the best. Simple, elegant, beautiful.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
My tastes tend to run towards painted covers and more realistic art styles, but once in a while something different and awesome will catch my eye, like this striking cover by artist Will Staehle.
The Beast of Cretacea by Todd Strasser
Another book I have not read, but as soon as I saw this one I was sucked in by its cover. Great use of negative space and OMG the pretty colors. Here’s a cool story about the making of the cover, using the design by the author’s daughter Lia Strasser.
The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury
Same deal: haven’t read, but completely mesmerized by those amazingly bold colors and the contrast of the different hues. Not sorry at all that I bought this book based on its cover! Art and design by Jamie Gregory.
Cash Crash Jubilee by Eli K.P. William
This cover by Sean Jun brings it all together: color, atmosphere, and the sense of a bleak and bizarre future!
Book Review: Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen
Posted on December 24, 2015 20 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Shadow
Publisher: Orbit (10/27/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wake of Vultures has all the qualities of a great book. First, it features a standout protagonist, an undaunted misfit heroine who against all odds rises to meet the biggest challenge of her life. Second, we have an action-filled plot full of wildly imaginative ideas and exciting new twists–in other words, a genuinely entertaining story. Third, I enjoyed its poignant messages of self-discovery and independence, of seizing control of one’s destiny by fighting back against society’s expectations. None of these points would be enough by themselves, but this new coming-of-age tale by Lila Bowen (AKA Delilah S. Dawson) exemplifies all three.
Meet Nettie Lonesome, a mixed-race young woman who was found orphaned as a child and raised by a couple who treated her more like a slave. She has never felt accepted anywhere, though she has found some measure of belonging at a nearby ranch where she trains horses and does other odd jobs while disguised as a man. It’s the only life she’s ever known, until one day, a stranger shows up at her house and attacks her. When Nettie stakes him through the chest with a sharp piece of wood, he disintegrates into a pile of sand. Just like that, her life is turned completely upside down.
Nettie soon learns that the world is full of monsters. Real monsters, like blood drinkers, shapeshifters, harpies, and sirens and chupacabras and more. And now she can see them everywhere. At first, she tries to flee, donning her male disguise to join up with a team of cattle drivers. But Nettie doesn’t realize that she has been marked for a destiny, one she cannot escape until she fulfills the task set for her by forces ancient and unknowable.
First, I know I’ve made it known before how much I love western-fantasy settings. I also am a sucker for the good old girl-disguised-as-a-boy trope. Earlier this year, I read another coming-of-age novel with similar aspects, the fantastic Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson, but the two books are very different in their approaches. For one thing, Wake of Vultures is less traditionally Young Adult, leaning towards darker and more mature themes. Nettie’s home is also a grittier, fantastical setting inspired by the Old West, albeit steeped with real-world Native American folklore and mythology. On top of that, Bowen has created a very unique and special world where historical elements combine with the paranormal, so that we get to see some really cool things—like a reimagining of the legendary Rangers as a band of rough living and tough talking monsters hunters, for instance.
It’s also worth picking up Wake of Vultures just to read about Nettie, the most spirited, determined and unforgettable protagonist you’ll ever meet. A half-black, half-Native American woman, nothing in life has ever been easy for her, and yet even when constrained by societal expectations, she has the guts and gumption to do anything to get what she wants. Her gender keeping her from getting her dream job? No problem, chop off her hair and pretend to be one of the guys. And monsters beware, Nettie’s not one to lie down and be easy prey. After discovering her gift, she even tries her darndest to escape her fate, until her pragmatism and kindheartedness makes her realize she would be doing a lot more good by standing her ground against evil.
Furthermore, for someone who lives in disguise and who goes by so many different names, Nettie is surprisingly comfortable in her own skin. Whether she calls herself Nettie Lonesome, Nat Lonesome, or Rhett Hennessy, all those are simply different aspects of her true self; no matter which identity she takes on, her race, gender and sexuality are all things she embraces, even when she’s still learning what it all means, and I love how extraordinarily genuine and down-to-earth she is.
From the moment I heard about this book and its western setting, I knew I had to read it. And in the end, it turned out to be even more than I bargained for. Wake of Vultures did not disappoint, giving me what I wanted and then some. Bold and original, this weird west fantasy novel is a masterfully written tale full of thrilling adventure and heart. Give me book two now!
Waiting on Wednesday 12/23/15
Posted on December 23, 2015 11 Comments
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick:
World of Warcraft: Illidan by William King: March 15, 2016 (Del Rey)
My WoW pick today is…ha, a WoW book. Yes, I am a big video game nerd and I like to read media tie-in novels of the games I play, and it’s high time we finally get a book about one of the most notorious characters in the World of Warcraft universe, Illidan Stormrage. The Betrayer returns as fans get ready for the next WoW expansion Legion, which is still a long way out, but in summer 2016 we’ll have the Warcraft movie to tide us over.
“An official tie-in for the highest grossing game of all time, World of Warcraft, focusing on the return of fan-favorite character Illidan.
World of Warcraft: Illidan is a tale of vengeance and redemption, appealing to both veteran World of Warcraft players and general fantasy fans alike.
Illidan has escaped his 10,000-year imprisonment and fled his home on Azeroth for Outland, an alien world dominated by the Burning Legion. Along with new demon hunter recruit Vandel, Illidan begins gathering an army, though who he plans to strike with his newfound might remains unclear.”
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year
Posted on December 22, 2015 41 Comments
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. They created the meme because they love lists. Who doesn’t love lists? They wanted to share these list with fellow book lovers and ask that we share in return to connect with our fellow book lovers. To learn more about participating in the challenge, stop by their page dedicated to it and dive in!
This week’s topic: Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year
Mogsy’s Picks:
My list of books is a mixed bag, to say the least! Please, Santa, I’ve been very good this year. And while you can do many things, I know you can’t speed up time or go into the future to bring me books that haven’t been published yet, so all my picks are books that are already released.
A Knight of Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin
For the first time, this collection compiles the three Dunk and Egg prequel novellas to A Song of Ice and Fire. Why opt for the print edition instead of the ebook or audio? Why, because of the visual presentation of course, which includes illustrations from the amazingly talented artist Gary Gianni. Whenever I hear that a book has artwork, I always prefer the physical copy! I flipped through the pages of this in a bookstore once, it is indeed gorgeous.
Another reason to opt for a physical copy is when the finished hardcover looks this amazingly cool. I’ve read Six of Crows already, but since I listened to the audiobook, I totally wouldn’t mind if Santa were to leave me one of these limited edition pretties with the black-stained pages under the tree. It looks awesome!
Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman
Yet another reason to yearn for a physical copy is when you have no other choice! Silver on the Road is a book I’d love to listen to in audio; I imagine the experience would be incredibly immersive given the fantasy-western setting and the atmosphere. Unfortunately, as of this writing there is still no audiobook version or even news of one in the works. I don’t know if I can wait much longer, the book is too tempting! If this were to show up under my tree on Christmas morning, I certainly wouldn’t complain.
The Art of Fallout 4 by Bethesda Softworks
Here’s some random useless trivia about me: I like to collect art books. I might have mentioned that before in passing, but I especially like video game concept art. I like poring over things like costume or weapon design, seeing how the artists envision the game environment and characters, and tracking how ideas eventually make it into the final product (if they do at all). Fallout 4 the game is one of the most visually stunning games I’ve ever played (amazing, for a post-apocalyptic wasteland) and I’d love to see the artistic development behind it.
The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Phil Szostak
Video game art books make up the majority of my art book collection, but sometimes depending on what it is I’ll also pick up art books or illustrated compendium-type books for movies, shows, etc. As it happens, I like collecting anything that has to do with Star Wars too, so this is definitely a must-have.
Monstress #1 by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
I was actually offered this graphic novel for review earlier this year, but due to time constraints I had to decline. I did make sure to put Monstress on my to-buy list though, because the preview pages that I was sent simply knocked my socks off. This technically is only one single issue of the comic, but it is filled with over 70 pages of drop-dead gorgeous art. Last I heard, first printings of this is already sold out at most comic book stores.
The Official A Game of Thrones Coloring Book by George R. R. Martin
In case you missed it, I made an announcement in my last Bookshelf Roundup about an upcoming feature I’m hoping to start in the new year: Adult coloring book reviews. I hope to check out this one at some point. I’ve heard that it’s more of a book of illustrations and line drawings rather than a true coloring book, but I feel up for a good challenge, and if nothing else I can always keep this just to appreciate the beautiful artwork.
Zoomigurumi 4 by Joke Vermeiren
Speaking of artsy-crafty things, I’ve been known to enjoy some crocheting in my spare time. Before my Baby #2 came along earlier this year I made several amigurumis (crocheted stuffed toys) for her, but it’s been close to a year since I last picked up the hooks and yarn. I hope to get into the hobby again after the holidays, once things slow down a little. I only found out recently there has been another addition to this great series! I’ve made some adorable animals from previous Zoomigurumi books, and it would be fun to try new patterns.
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
I make it no secret that I’m a huge fan of Juliet Marillier, though I was pretty late in joining the club so there’s quite a backlist of her books for me to plunder. Right now I’m in the middle of reading her Sevenwaters series and I haven’t even gotten a chance to pick up her Wildwood series yet. Santa, if you would to be so kind as to bring me these two books, you won’t even have to wrap them – they’re just too beautiful to cover up!
Elantris (Leather-Bound Book) by Brandon Sanderson
If I were rich…I’d probably take up rare book collecting as a hobby, buying up any and all ultra-limited or special editions of books by my favorite authors, like this leather-bound and embossed edition of Elantris commemorating the 10 year anniversary of Brandon Sanderson’s first novel. Seriously, if I were swimming in money, I would have dropped $100 on this baby already. Unless I win the lottery though, I’ll just settle for fantasizing about Santa bringing me one.
Mogsy: Best of 2015 and the Year in Review
Posted on December 21, 2015 43 Comments
What an amazing year in books! At the time of this writing, so far in 2015 I have read and logged a total of 209 titles onto Goodreads, which breaks down as follows:
- 2 serial episodes
- 4 anthologies/collections
- 9 novellas
- 194 novels
Here’s the Goodreads spread for what that looks like:
I apologize in advance for how haphazard this is going to be, but as you can probably imagine from looking at the above chart, narrowing down my Top 10 or even my Top 20 list of books to feature as the best read in 2015 is going to be tough, if not impossible. That’s why I’ve opted not to do a traditional list. Instead I’m going to break it down into different genres/categories and highlight all the books that were my favorites of the year, books that I thought were most memorable, and/or any books that I think should be getting more attention. All you have to know is, I loved them all!
You can see my reviews and more information about the books by clicking on the images and following the links.
Fantasy
Starting off with Fantasy, the biggest category, this year I discovered a new-to-me authors like Michael R. Fletcher, Ken Liu, and Seth Dickinson, and then there’s also The Fifth Season which made me wonder why it took me so long to finally read N.K. Jemisin!
I also found new favorite books by authors I’ve read before, like Skyborn, Black Wolves, Uprooted, Master of Plagues, and The Mechanical. Then it’s a parade of fantastic sequels! I always love it when a book lives up to or surpasses its predecessors, and this year Tower of Thorns, The Liar’s Key, and The Price of Valor all went above and beyond.
Science Fiction
2015 was a great year for Science Fiction as well. Some highlights include the best Star Wars book I’ve ever read (Lost Stars), a pre-2015 book that blew me away (Dark Eden), my first adult sci-fi novel by Ian McDonald (Luna: New Moon) and another amazing Expanse sequel (Nemesis Games).
This year The BiblioSanctum also once again participated in the month-long Sci-Fi November event, and to see a more detailed list of all my top sci-fi reads this year, be sure to check out the Top Ten post I put together for the wrap up!
Horror
I felt it was a pretty light year for Horror, relative to previous years. Still, 2015 saw a couple of outstanding Horror reads, like Day Four by Sarah Lotz and The Fifth House of the Heart by new-to-me author Ben Tripp.
Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
I didn’t read as many UF books this year, so the ones I loved were truly memorable. Flex was a fun surprise, and One Good Dragon Deserves Another is another self-published gem by Rachel Aaron. And finally, Dark Ascension by M.L. Brennan is the amazing ending to her Generation V series and it was so good it made me cry!
Young Adult
Perhaps the biggest surprise this year was how many awesome YA titles there were. My two top favorite books of the year are in this category, Ink and Bone and Walk on Earth a Stranger.
Ryan Graudin surprised me with her adventurous Wolf by Wolf and Alan Michael Nelson did so as well with his horror/UF Hexed. There were some great sequels as well, like Earth Flight, Half the World, and Firefight. Despite my reservations, Illuminae ended up impressing the hell out of me, and this year I also finally started Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle – loved the first book!
Books Read in 2015…
Number of pages read:
Longest book: 780 pages
By a male author: 50.7%
By a female author: 44.4%
For review: 82.5%
Audiobooks: 25.2%
On My Shelves (some crossover):
Fantasy: 56.3%
Science Fiction: 30.0%
Young Adult: 19.9%
Urban Fantasy: 16.9%
Horror: 7.2%
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Mogsy: Best of 2014 and The Year in Review
2015 4th Quarter Audiobook Challenge Update
Posted on December 20, 2015 3 Comments
The fourth and final quarter of the Audiobook Challenge has come to an end! We would like to thank The Book Nympho and Hot Listens for organizing this event and hope that everyone had a great time with it this year. We know we sure did! Here’s our final update of 2015. In case you missed our previous recap posts, you can also check out how we did through the year with our 1st quarter, 2nd quarter, and 3rd quarter updates and see all the audiobooks we listened to for the challenge. So how did everyone do?
Levels:
- Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
- Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
- Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
- Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
- Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
- My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30-50
- Marathoner (Look Ma no hands) 50+
Mogsy’s Progress:
Completed Listens:
I’ve listened to 9 audiobooks since the last update. Thanks to 3rd quarter’s crazy binge listening giving me a much needed boost, I’m finishing the year with a grand total of 52 titles, just barely squeaking by to achieve my goal of Marathoner. There’s still some time left in the year though, and I’m hoping to cram a few more listens into the last week and a half of 2015. And don’t forget, there’s also the 2016 challenge to plan for!
Upcoming Listens:
Tiara’s Progress
The later part of the year kept me a little busy with work, but I still managed to get some listens in between my crunch time. According to my Goodreads shelf, I actually listened to 59 books, but I’ve rounded that down to about 53 because some of them were shorter books. Either way, I hit my Marathoner goal, and I would’ve NEVER thought that I’d listen to so many audiobooks in my entire life much less one year. This challenge made me feel really accomplished, and I plan to participate again next year! Also, I am really proud of my fellow co-bloggers for getting so many audiobook reads in and helping to make Audiobook month in June such a success on our site. They inspire me.
Completed Listens:
Upcoming Listens:
Wendy’s Progress
This has been a year of some pretty significant ups and downs for me and I thought that I would not make it through my reading challenges because of all these distractions. Audiobooks continue to be my saviours when it comes to keeping me reading. I managed to complete the year with 34 books under my belt, plus some short stories, earning me the rank of My Precious, which is exactly where I’d hoped to be. Things are still up in the air for me right now as I am in the middle of a move to a brand new house and a busy time at the office, so I won’t bind myself to a list of upcoming reads. But I will most definitely be participating in the 2016 audiobook challenge. You know me, I love seeing those book covers all lined up in a neat rows. I just can’t resist those challenges!
Completed Listens:
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves, Coloring Books, Recent Reads
Posted on December 19, 2015 41 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.
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Things are winding down in my inbox, while activity is revving up in real life as we approach the holidays! Still, there are some really exciting arrivals this week, as review copies are starting to show up for a few massively anticipated titles that I’ve been waiting for all year.
RECEIVED FOR REVIEW
The Last Mortal Bond by Brian Staveley – Christmas came early for me when I received an unexpected package from Macmillan earlier this month and I couldn’t believe my eyes when this ARC came out! I’ve been pining for this finale to the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne trilogy since last year, thank you so much Tor Books!
In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan – Continuing with the awesome surprises from Tor, I received this ARC of the fourth book in Marie Brennan’s amazing Memoir by Lady Trent series, which I wasn’t expecting for another couple months! This is one of my favorite series right now, and Todd Lockwood’s dragon artwork gracing this latest cover is beautiful as always.
Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen – One last arrival from Tor, and it’s this gorgeous finished copy of Barsk. Be sure to keep an eye out for my review on release day (December 29) along with a giveaway!
Midnight Taxi Tango by Daniel José Older – I knew as soon as I finished reading Half-Resurrection Blues last year that I wanted to continue this really unique and cool series. My thanks to Roc for this finished paperback.
River Marked by Patricia Briggs – Today I’m also thrilled to announce that I’ll be participating in the Mercy Thompson Re-Read Blog Tour! For eight days, eight bloggers are each covering one of the first eight books to drum up excitement in the week leading up to the release of Fire Touched, the upcoming ninth book in Patricia Brigg’s excellent series. I was so happy that I got picked for my favorite title, River Marked (Book 6)! I’ll be highlighting Mercy’s adventures and all of the reasons why I love this book in my re-read, so look forward to all that fun in March!
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs – Speaking of Mercy Thompson and Fire Touched, I was sent this ARC earlier this week and I can’t be more excited to read it! Thanks, Ace Books!
The Dragon Round by Stephen S. Power – I featured this book in my Waiting on Wednesday a couple weeks ago, and funny enough it showed on on Edelweiss for request later on that same day! My thanks to Simon and Schuster for approving me.
The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore – Audiobook with thanks to Audible Studios. My audio listens have been on the darker, heavier side lately, so I was in the mood for a lighter YA. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this one and it sounded perfect. Plus, forbidden love!
Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger – This book was on my watch-list, so when I saw it go up on NetGalley I couldn’t resist! Thanks Quirk Books, and yay for auto-approval. “A sharp and funny urban fantasy for “new adults” about a secret society of bartenders who fight monsters with alcohol fueled magic.” Haha, what could possibly go wrong?
The Devil You Know by K.J. Parker and A Song for No Man’s Land by Andy Remic – The kind folks at Tor.com also sent over e-galleys of these novellas by a couple of fantabulous authors. Thank you!
Good Girls by Glen Hirshberg – My thanks to the generous folks at Tor for an eARC of this standalone sequel to Motherless Child. I’ve always wanted to read the first book which is still glaring at me from my shelves, but I just couldn’t resist the temptation of “standalone”!
NEW FEATURE: COLORING BOOKS FOR ADULTS
After months of trying to resist the temptation, I finally couldn’t take it anymore. Yep, that’s right. I gave in to the magical world of adult coloring books. Starting in the new year, I’m kicking off a new feature. The plan right now is to review one book per month, though sometimes it might be longer between (I do need time to color, after all!) Since expressing my interest in reviewing coloring books earlier in the year, I’ve already been sent a few sweet looking titles by publishers, and I can’t wait to experiment with my various color pens and pencils. Check out what’s coming up the pipeline!
The Time Chamber by Daria Song – Review copy via Blogging for Books, with thanks to Crown Publishing.
Animal Kingdom and Tropical World by Millie Marotta – Much thanks to Sterling Publishing for providing me with review copies!
REVIEWS
Here are the reviews I’ve written and posted since the last update, gathered together and listed here for your convenience and viewing pleasure. This Roundup’s highlighted reads are Skyborn and Wolf by Wolf not only because I loved them but also because they shook up my expectations and ended up being really special gems.
Skyborn by David Dalglish (4.5 of 5 stars)
Black Wolves by Kate Elliott (4.5 of 5 stars)
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz (4 of 5 stars)
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski (4 of 5 stars)
Time and Time Again by Ben Elton (4 of 5 stars)
Ash and Silver by Carol Berg (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (3.5 of 5 stars)
WHAT I’VE READ SINCE THE LAST UPDATE
As you can see, I’m back on track with my reading schedule. This is a lot, even for me. I blame it on the post-NaNoWriMo reading binge after suffering withdrawal in November. This is also my catch-up month, so I’m reading some books that I’ve missed earlier in the year that I’m really excited about, so that helps a lot.
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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! 🙂
~Mogsy/Steff~
Audiobook Review: The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
Posted on December 18, 2015 23 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher via Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
Genre: Horror, Paranormal
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: HighBridge Audio (6/16/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Narrator: Hillary Huber | Length: 16 hrs 47 min
After hearing such great things about The Library at Mount Char this summer, I finally gave in and took a look for myself. Admittedly, I had some doubts. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t really do well with “weird.” I personally prefer stories that are more grounded, and anything that flirts with the abstract or pushes those metaphysical boundaries will give me pause. Comparisons of this book to Neil Gaiman were probably the first warning bells, and the second flag was raised when I read several reviews for this book mentioning a rampaging psychopath going on a killing spree clad in a purple tutu.
Okay fine, maybe the bit with the purple tutu actually made me want to read this book even more. Still. Regardless, I was definitely prepared for some bizarre WTFery.
Anyway, review guidelines for this audiobook actually require me to include information about the plot in my write-up. Yeah, about that: I’ll do my best. Suffice to say, The Library at Mount Char isn’t exactly a book I can neatly summarize; the story is much bigger than the sum of its parts and it would be impossible to describe the scope of it in a couple paragraphs. Revealing too much will spoil the plot, but I’m afraid anything less also won’t make much sense unless you’ve read the book. Like I said, it’s weird, it’s strange, and more than just a little bit disturbing. Just a word of warning here: this book contains extreme violence and gory content. If you know you don’t like that, best stay away.
If there’s a central character here, it would be Carolyn. She is a Librarian, but not in the way you would expect. Years ago, a mysterious man they call Father “adopted” twelve orphans and made them all his Librarians, much like apprentices of a sort, giving each child a catalog to study and become an expert in. Father’s methods were dark and cruel, and worse he appeared to possess unlimited power over the ancient secrets in Carolyn and the other children’s catalogs. He could do impossible things, like defy the laws of gravity or bring the dead back to life, and with this knowledge he kept the Librarians in line. To his charges, Father was like a god…a god they feared. But now Father is missing, and no one is quite sure what to make of the power vacuum he left behind.
So, I’ve seen comparisons to American Gods bandied around a lot. Throw in 100% more decapitations and disembowelments and I can definitely see that. But ultimately, I think The Library at Mount Char deserves to stand on its own merits as a uniquely imagined masterpiece. If I had any designs to become a writer, I would be completely green with envy at Scott Hawkin’s incredible imagination and creativity. If you want your mind blown by fresh, never-before-seen ideas, then you’ve come to the right place.
That said, The Library at Mount Char is also definitely a “Whoa-what-the-hell-did-I-just-read?” kind of book. At the end of the day, I’m not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, I loved the concepts and Hawkin’s writing was superb, so I can really think of nothing negative to say about any of that. But it goes back to my first point about the types of stories I like. It’s not even the graphic descriptions of brutal violence and unspeakable scenes of cruelty or torture (which were difficult, but I managed), and anyway, in general I enjoy dark and twisted tales. In the end, it comes down to the inherent nature of the novel and the fact that it isn’t meant for a reader of my tastes.
That’s why I had such a hard time rating this. I think there’s a line I draw at weirdness, and while this book didn’t quite cross it, it did test my limits, and it kept me from engaging fully with the story and its characters. I will say though, at no point did I lose interest. The Library at Mount Char is a truly fascinating book and all things considered, I think enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. A very special contemporary horror for sure.
Audiobook comments: Hillary Huber did a very good job narrating, especially in her portrayal of Carolyn by capturing the Librarian’s “out of touch” mentality and attitude which was the result of spending so many years outside the real world under Father’s tutelage. She also changed her voice for the other Librarians, and made it easy to distinguish which character was speaking by varying her inflections and tones. Overall, I have no complaints with her performance.
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More on The BiblioSanctum:
Tiara’s review of The Library at Mount Char
Audiobook Review: Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
Posted on December 17, 2015 17 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Witcher Saga
Publisher: Hachette Audio (12/1/15)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Narrator: Peter Kenny | Length: 12 hrs 47 min
Sword of Destiny is a collection of short stories featuring Geralt of Rivia, and it is actually the second book in The Witcher sequence. But because the English editions of the series’ first three full-length novels were released before this one (not to mention I was also pretty adamant about waiting for the audiobook, which wasn’t released until December 2015), I had to read it out of order.
Now that I’ve completed the book though, so much is finally falling into place! Sword of Destiny bridges the events between the end of The Last Wish (the first short story collection) and Blood of Elves (the first novel of the series), making it a must-read for fans of The Witcher. Even if you’re not a “short story person”, picking it up is absolutely essential if you want to get the full picture.
The book opens with “The Bounds of Reason”, a story about a good old-fashioned dragon hunt. Well, things begin innocently enough, anyway. Geralt and his friend Dandelion get together with a group of adventurers to investigate rumors of a rare gold dragon. They eventually come across the creature, only to be met with some pretty big surprises! Geralt is true to form, stepping up and proving himself to be someone you want to root for. Yennefer, one of the series’ major characters, also makes an appearance. This was a great story to start the collection, with lots of action and a healthy dose of humor. I also enjoyed the classic quest narrative…with a twist.
The second story is “A Shard of Ice”, which I admit I didn’t enjoy quite as much. It’s not a typical short story, with not much of a plot, instead centering its focus on the romantic relationship between Geralt and Yennefer. Still, I liked how it revealed more about both characters, how they are both flawed people with plenty of cracks and vulnerabilities in their defenses. How can two people be so right and yet so wrong for each other at the same time?
The collection continues with “Eternal Flame”. In my opinion, this is another rather ho-hum tale, though it certainly had its moments. Geralt and Dendelion are up to their shenanigans again, heading back into the city to visit a friend, only to discover that he has been replaced by a mischievous doppelganger. It was a fun story, but ultimately I didn’t find it very memorable, and overall it didn’t add to the narrative in any meaningful way.
Next up is “A Little Sacrifice”, and I have to say, this story is where the audiobook excels. There’s a good reason why I choose audio format for this series, and that’s because narrator Peter Kenny is awesome—but more on that later. In this story, we get a twisted little take on The Little Mermaid. A duke and a mermaid fall in love and Geralt is hired as a translator to negotiate the terms of their relationship. The results are as hilarious as you would expect, and funnier still, the mermaid “language” involves singing the words. Peter Kenny rises to the occasion, delivering the lines the way they were meant to be spoken—in sing-song. Major points to him for that, because I have a feeling very few other narrators would have made the effort. This story made me laugh a lot, but it isn’t all humor either; Geralt reacts unexpectedly to another woman’s affections, realizing how his relationship with Yennefer has changed and affected him.
Finally, we come to the most crucial story, “The Sword of Destiny.” Geralt is tasked to meet with the Dryads, and while traveling through their forest, major events come to pass which will forever change his life. This is perhaps the most important story to read in this collection, as it is the one that introduces Ciri, the lost princess of Cintra. She plays a huge role in the rest of the series, and Geralt’s first meeting with her is not to be missed. As watershed moments go, it was a pretty good one.
There’s one more story left, and that’s “Something More”, aptly named because it is like an addendum to the previous story, reaching back to link Geralt’s past with his present and future. It also references more of the fairy tales and myths that make this world so fascinating. Geralt sustains a grievous injury after one of his harrowing battles, and he drifts in and out of consciousness during his long recovery, flashing back to memories and regrets from the past. This last story is a very powerful and touching one, a perfect end this collection. It ties things up neatly, and the final scene is enough to bring any Witcher fan to tears.
All in all, Sword of Destiny is a fine collection of tales, though as most collections go, it is not without its ups and downs. Nevertheless, it is an essential part of The Witcher series, especially the last few stories. Now that it is out, I highly recommend reading the books in order. This one in particular covers a lot of the events before Blood of Elves. The audiobook release schedule has also now caught up to the print release schedule, which is great news because I can’t imagine experiencing these books any other way. For me, Peter Kenny has become the voice of this series, and I look forward to hearing him narrate the next novel The Swallow’s Tower.
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More on The BiblioSanctum:
Wendy’s review The Last Wish
Mogsy’s Audiobook review of Blood of Elves (Book 1)
Mogsy’s Audiobook review of The Time of Contempt (Book 2)
Mogsy’s Audiobook review of Baptism of Fire (Book 3)
Waiting on Wednesday 12/16/15
Posted on December 16, 2015 13 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 Picks:
I’m posting up two picks today because I was in the mood to feature a darker read, and I couldn’t decide! A dark urban paranormal fantasy featuring hellish demons, monsters from nightmare, as well as a Lovecraftian chaos god? Or a straight up horror thriller about a cursed mirror that feeds on human souls?
Either way, Tor looks like it has a great line-up for dark fantasy and horror in 2016. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be reading with the lights on…
Red Right Hand by Levi Black: July 26, 2016 (Tor Books)
“Charlie Tristan Moore isn’t a hero. She’s a survivor. On a night when her demons from the past are triggered, she arrives home to something even more harrowing-an attack by three monstrous skinhounds, creatures straight out of nightmares. She fights but is outmatched. Just as hope seems lost, in sweeps The Man In Black, a rescuer even more monstrous and unlikely, dressed in a long, dark coat that seems to have a life of its own and with a black-bladed sword held in his terrible, red right hand.
Her rescue comes at a cost. She must become his new Acolyte and embrace a dark magick she never knew she had inside her. To ensure she gives it her all, he takes her friend and possible love, Daniel, in thrall as a hostage to her obedience. The Man in Black, a Lovecraftian chaos god, claims to be battling his brethren gods, other horrors who are staging an incipient apocalypse. But is he truly the lesser of all evils or merely killing off the competition? Either way, will Charlie be strong enough to save herself, Daniel, and possibly the entire world?”
Mirror Image by Michael Scott and Melanie Ruth Rose: August 23, 2106 (Tor Books)
“A mirror that feeds on human souls wreaks destruction on those around it in this new novel from internationally bestselling author Michael Scott and Melanie Ruth Rose.
In an auction house in London, there is a mirror no one will buy. Standing seven feet tall and reaching four feet across, its size makes it unusual. Its horrific powers make it extraordinary. For centuries, the mirror has fed off of the lives of humans, giving them agonizing deaths and sucking their souls into its hellish world.
When Jonathan Frazer, the wealthy owner of a furniture and antiques shop in Los Angeles, buys the mirror at an auction, he believes he is getting the bargain of a lifetime. With its age and size, it is easily worth eight times what he paid for it. At this point, the mirror has sat dormant for years. But within days of Jonathan’s purchase, the deaths begin again. One employee is crushed when the mirror falls on top of him. A few days later, the corpse of another is found in front of the mirror, brutally stabbed. A third is burned beyond all recognition. All the while, an enormous man with a scarred face is following Jonathan, demanding that he give him the mirror and killing any police officer that gets in his way.
The police are becoming desperate. As the death toll rises, Jonathan himself becomes a suspect. He knows there is something wrong with the mirror. He knows it’s dangerous. But he cannot bring himself to get rid of it. Everyday he becomes more captivated by the mirror.
For the mirror is awakening, and its powers are resurfacing.”
The BiblioSanctum 
