Audiobook Review: The Rising by Ian Tregillis
Posted on January 4, 2016 21 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of The Alchemy Wars
Publisher: Hachette Audio (12/1/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Narrator: Chris Kayser | Length: 12 hrs 47 min
I loved Ian Tregillis’ The Mechanical, and I’m pleased to report the sequel does not disappoint. Although I still have to give edge to the first book—mainly because the impact it had on me was so profound and unexpected—The Rising takes up the baton and carries on running at full throttle, ramping up the action while still keeping the themes of historical fantasy and existential philosophy at the forefront.
The Alchemy Wars series is part fantasy, part alternate history and part steampunk, bringing together magic and mechanical men before a backdrop set in the early 1900s. France and the Netherlands are at war, with the Dutch having the upper hand thanks to the might of their clockwork automaton army. The Rising picks up where The Mechanical left off, with former spymaster Berenice exiled in disgrace and Jax the rogue Clakker on the run from his mechanical brethren who are still enslaved to their Dutch masters. Meanwhile, Captain Hugo Longchamp has taken over the defenses of Marseilles-in-the-West, France’s stronghold in the new world.
Most of the story in this second volume is told through the perspectives of these three characters, following the development of the conflict on multiple fronts. The war takes center stage, with the Dutch army of mechanicals preparing a full on assault. Berenice is an escaped prisoner fleeing from enemy lands while attempting to uncover the secrets of the alchemical sigils that power the Clakker geasa. Longchamp’s chapters throw readers in the thick of things, following his efforts to protect the French king and to recruit more men and women to the cause. However, it is Jax with the most bizarre quest of all, as he makes his way deeper into the northern wilderness and stumbles upon Neverland, the fabled community of rogue mechanicals ruled by their leader Queen Mab.
The Rising distinguishes itself from its predecessor by being more fast-paced and action-oriented. The intrigue and violence comes at you nonstop, and in fact, almost all of Longchamp’s sections are characterized by heavy, protracted battle sequences. I’m all for action, don’t get me wrong—but ironically I can’t help but feel that this was what made this sequel comparatively less compelling than The Mechanical, which was more subdued but also deeper and more cerebral. Still, I loved The Rising because of its strengths in different areas; I for one greatly enjoyed how this novel takes us on a detour down a wilder and more explosive path.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t get any of the heartfelt philosophical questions and existential discourse, because we do—and that’s most apparent when you look at the transformation in Jax’s character as he examines his own identity and purpose. The more I read, the more I’m starting to think of The Alchemy Wars as being Jax’s series, even though he is only one of many key players. From the moment he achieved release from his geas, his journey has been an exploration into the meaning of free will and its significance for moral responsibility. Discovering Neverland in this book is another turning point for his character, and this eye-opening experience subsequently leads to many far-reaching consequences.
Finally, we have Berenice, who is a classic Tregillis protagonist. By that, I mean she is fascinating, complicated, and wonderfully flawed. And like a lot of Tregillis characters, she has also been put through the wringer. Berenice’s motivations have been shaped by an extremely painful and traumatic experience from the first book, and the guilt from that event drives her still. So when the dark side of her personality emerges, it’s hard not to sympathize even if you disagree with her methods. Though her investigations into horologist secrets may ultimately help Clakkers gain their freedom, never doubt for a moment that this is a lady with violence on her mind and vengeance in her heart. Complex characters like her are what makes Ian Tregillis’ books such fun to read.
Additional thoughts on the audiobook: I opted to try the audio edition of The Rising because of the positive reviews I saw for The Mechanical audiobook. This is the first time I’ve ever listened to an audiobook read by narrator Chris Kayser, and for the most part I think he delivered a good performance, other than a few words he kept mispronouncing (I’ve never heard someone say “chimera” like that). I also found it jarring that he would say almost all the French names and other French words in the correct accent and pronunciation, with one major exception—Longchamp (I’m from Canada, I can’t help but notice these things). It’s probably an intentional choice, and in truth it was more amusing than annoying; overall it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book, but it was distracting enough that I’m torn as to whether or not I want to continue with the audio for the next installment. I’m just being picky though, and I’m sure it’ll be fine for others.
In short, I can’t find too many faults with this book. Tregillis bides his time in this second act, bringing things slowly to a boil, yet action scenes are heavier and more frequent, and if that’s what you prefer then you might find you’ll enjoy The Rising even more than The Mechanical! The ending’s cliffhanger was expected, but no less powerful and effective in making me yearn for the next in the series. The Alchemy Wars is not to be missed.
Story: 
| Performance: | Overall:
YA Weekend: Infinity Lost by S. Harrison
Posted on January 3, 2016 9 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Series: Book 1 of The Infinity Trilogy
Publisher: Skyscape (11/1/15)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
2015 was a great year for YA fiction, with lots of new ideas and debut authors breaking onto the scene. When S. Harrison’s Infinity Lost popped up on my radar late in the fall, I thought it sounded like an interesting book to check out.
The story takes place in the near future, following the life of a girl named Infinity “Finn” Blackstone. Her father, CEO of Blackstone Technologies, is one of the richest and most powerful men in the world, but while his company’s world-changing services and products are nearly ubiquitous, Richard Blackstone himself remains a highly reclusive figure. Not even Finn has ever met him. Raised by her father’s staff, all she knows about the man is what others have told her and what she sees on the news.
Finn is seventeen when she and her classmates from boarding school are taken on a field trip to visit the Blackstone headquarters. Elated, Finn believes this could finally be her chance to meet her father and confront him with all her questions. Lately, she has been having strange dreams, even though a part of her knows they are more than that. The visions feel like memories, but how can that be when she cannot remember actually experiencing them herself? Finn is determined to find some answers, and she believes Richard Blackstone is the key.
Beyond that, I really can’t say more; suffice to say, the plot takes a surprising number of turns and ends up in a place I never saw coming, and if I give away anything else I would be hovering dangerously close to spoiler territory. What I can say is that Infinity Lost was a really quick read due to its relatively modest page count, which along with being jam-packed with action and tight storytelling made this one a really fast-pace and entertaining read. I also thoroughly enjoyed the future setting which featured some innovative tech, some of which were pretty farfetched but nonetheless very cool. The book also stood out to me because of its departure from certain YA norms, such as downplaying any romance (at least in this first book) though quite honestly, the plot moves along so quickly that there’s hardly any room for unnecessary drama.
That said, while a lot of things in Infinity Lost worked for me, there were a few issues that tripped me up as well. First, you should know that technically, the “real story” doesn’t start until late in the novel, because the first half contains almost nothing but random and sometimes confusing flashbacks. Finn has these dream-memories, and the time jumps can get very jarring and tiresome after a while. Second, I’m a bit disappointed that we didn’t get to see more of the wider world, though this is mainly due to the limitations of looking through Finn’s eyes in the first-person. She’s being kept in the dark, and so by extension, we are as well.
Third—though this is not a problem for me personally, I still figured I should mention it—reading this book was a little like watching a movie that starts off PG-13, but then ends with a full-blown R rating. The final chapters are a veritable bloodbath, with heads popping off, bodies being blown into red mist, etc. all brutally described in vivid and graphic detail. I’ve read a lot worse of course, but I was still shocked at the lack of warning; the beginning held absolutely no clue that this book would end in such over-the-top, indiscriminate violence. If that kind of content turns you off, I would approach this with caution.
But my biggest issue was the cliffhanger. In this day and age of seemingly nothing but YA trilogies and series, I grudgingly accept the need for them, but at the very least I think each book should still contain the resolution to its main conflict. I don’t like it when a book ends abruptly in the middle of a scene; it’s clumsy and awkward and I end up with more questions than answers, which is not a good feeling. Unfortunately, this was the case here. There were too many loose ends, and the book did not in any way feel complete.
Even in the face of all these issues though, I liked the book well enough that I would be open to continuing the series, if nothing else to find out what happens to Finn. Infinity Lost felt very much like a long intro, and I feel confident that the meat of the story will be in the sequel Infinity Rises, out January 5, 2016.
YA Weekend: Drown by Esther Dalseno
Posted on January 2, 2016 8 Comments
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Retelling, Romance
Publisher: 3 Little Birds Books (October 31, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Tiara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
First of all, I have to say the cover for this book is gorgeous. With that aside, speculative YA fiction and I have a strange relationship. I’m either unmoved by much of it or I outright hate it. I can’t pinpoint why this happens since I enjoy YA books in every other genre. Exception: I enjoy YA horror more than most sci-fi and fantasy YA. However, if there is one YA genre that I seem to dislike more than the rest in the speculative vein, it’s without a doubt fantasy YA. Because of this, when I find a YA fantasy book that I enjoy, I latch on to it for dear life while reading it because I don’t know when I’ll feel so attached to another book in this genre again. And in true fashion, just like the last fantasy YA book I truly enjoyed (we’re getting to what it was), it ended with me wanting to make dying whale noises. Like who told you it was okay to mess with my feelings like that? Who gave you the right? I so mean that in the nicest way possible because I enjoyed this book:
I’m doing the Popsugar Reading Challenge again, and this book was my “A book based on a fairy tale” choice. This came to me by chance. I like imaginative retellings, and I have a ton on my TBR. As I was searching my list, Goodreads recommended this book to me because I read and enjoyed Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (a Peter Pan retelling from Tiger Lily’s POV). I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a fantasy YA book this much since Tiger Lily, and I read that two years ago. Don’t believe me. Check any fantasy YA review I’ve written since 2013 and you’ll learn. The blurb for it caught my interest: “Seven emotionless princesses. Three ghostly sirens. A beautiful, malicious witch haunted by memories. A handsome, self-mutilating prince.”
Drown is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but don’t think this follows the Disney happily-ever-after version most people have come to know. This is Hans Christian Andersen dark. The Sea King fathers seven daughters each born a year apart. Merfolk live abnormally long lives, dying at exactly 300-years-old, if nothing takes them from life sooner, and they believe this is so because they do not suffer what is called the Great Condition. Merfolk believe that only humans suffer from this condition, which is why their lifespans are so short. When children come of age within the sea kingdom, they are allowed to visit the surface and observe humans from a safe distance in the sea. It’s during this time when the Sea King’s youngest and strangest child visits the surface that she falls in love with an emotional, disturbed prince, and she decides that she will be human and win his love and a soul of her own (because merfolk believe only humans have souls, given to them by God, while merfolk are some false creation) no matter the cost… and the cost is great.
You follow the mermaid as she convinces herself that the prince loves her, that everything he does he does it because of her, for her, while knowing the truth deep in her heart. It’s an emotional journey that explores not just this romance, but the origin of the merfolk and their emotional detachment, the turbulence of new love and the honesty of enduring love, and the emotions that often lead us to make rash decisions, even as we’re warned that emotions, especially love and hate, will often deceive us. The book even starts with this warning: “We are bid to receive the ones that seek us, and grant their heart’s desire. But beware your heart’s desire, for those that seek us hide broken hearts, and broken hearts are divided. They will lie to you, they will deceive you.”
Even though this calls itself a “A Twisted Take on the Classic Fairy Tale,” if you know anything about Andersen’s fairy tales, then you know that often these stories are often bittersweet at best, and the original vision is pretty dark in its own right. In fact, this books follow so closely to the original story that it reads like Dalseno is filling out the story while managing to make it feel like a creation of her own. She makes many brilliant, intriguing changes, but if you’re expecting Disney, this isn’t it.
With that being said, this is a touch melodramatic even in its beauty and has portions that can come off silly in a dramatic way. Also, I’m not sure I particularly care for how she handled the prince’s cutting, which seemed more for convenience and to make him seem more tortured and dark. Honestly, I’m not sure I bought into the prince’s “tortured soul” as much as Dalseno wanted, but this book was 90% excellent and I overlooked the fact that I spent a good portion of this book thinking, “Shoo, prince. Get your life together, honey. Just get your life.”
The handling of the self-mutilation can seem kind of insensitive because it comes off as a superfluous device a bit. I’m sure that’s not how she meant it and others might see it differently, but trigger warning. There were other elements of the book that seemed to be in place more for convenience sake and factored into the story little once they’d serve their purpose as well. These are things that kept it from being a 5-star read for me, but it still goes on my favorites list.
In reading this book and thinking about why I enjoyed it much in the same way that I enjoyed Tiger Lily, I realize that I like this complex, lyrical, dark, magical realism style that books like these bring to the table. I enjoy the emotional, visceral journey including most of the melodrama. They’re love stories, but they’re so much more than that. The words and feelings in books like these are haunting, and the exploration of feelings and ideas are poetically moving. These are the kind of books that stay on my mind and I revisit time and time again.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on January 2, 2016 28 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.
* * *
Hope you all had a wonderful holidays and happy new year! I’m actually on the road this week visiting family in Cape Cod, so I’ll be keeping this Bookshelf Roundup update short and sweet.
RECEIVED FOR REVIEW
Like I said, I’m currently out of town so I don’t have access to the titles of my physical books at home and I’ll have no idea what else is waiting for me until I get back. So in the meantime, check out the new digital galleys received for review! My thanks to the authors and publishers!
The Last Dream Keeper by Amber Benson – Last month, Ace Books surprised me with an invite to this title. I read the first book last year and was on the fence about continuing the series, but now that I have the sequel on hand, I might just check it out after all. My thanks to the publisher.
The Lazarus War by Jamie Sawyer – Much thanks to Orbit Books for providing me with a review copy. This is looks like one cool military sci-fi!
The Guns of Ivrea by Clifford Beal – I first saw this one featured at another blog and I practically ran to request it at NetGalley. Epic fantasy and pirates! With thanks to Solaris/Rebellion Publishing.
Forest of Memory by Mary Robinette Kowal – This one was actually supposed to be featured in my last Roundup, but I somehow missed it in the shuffle thanks to the holiday madness. The story sounds interesting, and look at that gorgeous cover! Thanks, Tor.com!
The Rogue Retrieval by Dan Koboldt – My thanks to the author and publisher for hooking me up with a review copy of this. When Dan emailed me about his book, I told him I would gladly check it out. I happen have a weakness for Vegas illusionists…
Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell – My love for Peter Pan retellings strikes again! Not to mention delicious rogue pirates. Review copy received through Edelweiss with thanks to Simon Pulse.
GIVEAWAY WINS/PURCHASED
I also bought a bunch of ebooks/audiobooks over the course of November and December because of all the sweet holiday sales. Who can say no to a book and hours of entertainment for the mere price of a cup of coffee? Here are some of the deals I jumped on, because I’ve heard so much about them from fellow bloggers. Tammy from Books Bones & Buffy wrote this fantastic review for The Unnoticeables, how could I not take a look? Bookwraiths also had great things to say about Clash of Eagles and I’ve been curious about it for a while. Lynn’s rave review of The Invisible library made me grab this audiobook. And folks all over the blogosphere have been gushing about Rainbow Rowell, but it was Kaja’s Author Addiction post and awesome review of Fangirl that finally convinced me to jump on the bandwagon.
I also picked up a few titles that caught my eye in 2015, like Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits, and Angry Robot had a giant ebook sale so I one-clicked The Dragons of Heaven and a preorder of Steal the Sky which won’t even be out until later this week. Earlier in the fall I won an audiobook code from Tantor so I used it on Rise Again because I wanted to check out more from new-favorite-author Ben Tripp, and it just so happened the sequel Rise Again Below Zero popped up soon after as a Kindle Daily Deal, so I snapped that one up too!
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. Just two, because I didn’t post that many during the holidays, but I hope you enjoyed the end-of-year lists!
Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen (4 of 5 stars)
Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen (4 of 5 stars)
WHAT I’VE READ SINCE THE LAST UPDATE
December was my catch-up month and I made the most out of it. I got to finish a couple books that have been on my TBR since late summer/early autumn, and even got to get a jump on several January titles. As you know, my review and giveaway for Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard is up now, but be sure to look out for the rest in the coming weeks! I’ll be back to my regular schedule upon my return.
* * *
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~
2016 Audiobook Challenge
Posted on January 1, 2016 7 Comments
We love audiobooks here at Bibliosanctum for a variety of reasons from distraction while doing chores to just enjoying a good story being read by an awesome narrator. We also love to undertake a good challenge, especially when it coincides with our love of reading. This will be Bibliosanctum’s second year participating in the event, and we’re excited to see where this year’s challenge takes us!
The Book Nympho and Hot Listens host this challenge ever year, and this will be their fourth year organizing the event. Make sure to check out their sign-up page for this year’s challenge, and be sure to check out their Goodreads group.
Reading Challenge Details:
- Runs January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016. You can join at any time.
- The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2016 than you did in 2015.
- Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
- ANY genres count.
- Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
- You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Shelfari, Booklikes, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
- If you’re a blogger grab the button (on the sidebar) and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.
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+
Tiara’s Goal
I tend to aim low and finish better than expected in challenges. Last year, I didn’t start this challenge until the end of February because I told myself I wouldn’t be doing any challenges in 2015 since I had things I wanted to catch up on from 2014. I broke my promise with this challenge first, but it did help me to catch up on many things I wanted to read in 2014 just in a different format. This challenge also helped me to develop an even deeper appreciation of audiobooks. I don’t know if I’m going to participate in many challenges yet, but the ones I do participate in will hold hands with this one. Last year, my original goal was Stenographer with a long goal of Socially Awkward. I hit Marathoner last year. This year, I am aiming for a short goal of Socially Awkward with a long goal of My Precious. Hopefully, I’ll make Marathoner again this year!
Wendy’s Goal
Audiobooks have become such an important part of my life–I’m listening to one right now, even as I type this–that doing this challenge is almost a default practice. Not only do I love listening to audiobooks now, I have an ongoing personal campaign to promote the medium to other book lovers (or those who want to read more books, but don’t necessarily enjoy reading).
In last year’s challenge, I made it to the My Precious level, which was more than I expected. This year, I am feeling confident enough to maintain that goal and earn myself a few more achievements in the Audible app.
Mogsy’s Goal
I was actually very surprised that I reached my goal of Marathoner in 2015, and part of me still thinks it was a fluke. I love audiobooks and I listen to them like a maniac, but still I barely squeaked by the finishing line last year so this year I’m going to dial back and aim lower to avoid any stress and disappointment (I have a tendency to take all challenges way too seriously!) Most of my audiobook listens were also review copies last year, so as part of my challenge I also want to try and fit in more personal listens in 2016. I’m planning to aim for My Precious, which I think is a reasonable goal; 30 to 50 titles should be doable at the rate I listen, and if I just happen to go over and hit Marathoner again, well, then that’ll just be grand.
Looking Ahead to the New Year: “Can’t Wait” Books of Early 2016
Posted on December 31, 2015 27 Comments
Happy soon-to-be 2016! As we get ready to begin another year, it’s time to look ahead and geek out over the Science Fiction and Fantasy reads I’m most excited about. There’s already an impressive tower of books on my “Must Read” pile, and these are only from the first quarter of 2016. What’s on your 2016 TBR?
January
Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson (January 26) – The next chapter of Sanderson’s Mistborn continues with another Wax and Wayne novel
City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett (January 26) – The sequel to the phenomenal City of Stairs, with a central focus on my favorite character…General Turyin Mulaghesh, of course! Sorry, Sigrud!
February
Winterwood by Jacey Bedford (February 2) – Historical fiction and magic. Pirates and shapeshifters. Everything I could ever want.
Dreaming Death by J. Kathleen Cheney (February 2) – The first of a new series by the author of the enchanting Golden City trilogy.
Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards (February 2) – The final book of the amazing Bloodsounder’s Arc, and I cannot wait to see how it all ends!
A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly (February 2) – I really like the look of this magical realism novel set in a “Roaring Twenties” alternate history.
Morning Star by Pierce Brown (February 9) – Third book of the Red Rising trilogy. Do I really need to explain why I’m excited for this?!
Son of the Morning by Mark Alder (February 15) – I’ve been burning to read this book ever since it came out in the UK, and I’m so glad it finally has a US release date!
Calamity by Brandon Sanderson (February 16) – Sanderson is starting the year strong with another title on my highly anticipated list. This time, it’s book three of the Steelheart trilogy.
March
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs (March 8) – The ninth Mercy Thompson book, and the series is still going strong.
Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop (March 8) – Book four of The Others. Looks like March 2016 will be a great month for Urban Fantasy.
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton (March 8) – When it comes to the YA genre, hyped books can be tricky…but I have a really good feeling about this one.
The Last Mortal Bond by Brian Staveley (March 15) – The concluding chapter of the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne trilogy. It’s going to be epic!
Snakewood by Adrian Selby (March 15) – A band of mercenaries are on the run from a killer, and they’ll use everything at their disposal to escape, including poisons and alchemical potions! can always use more dark, grim fantasy in my life.
April
In The Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan (April 5) – Fourth Memoir by Lady Trent novel. I adore this series and I can’t wait to get back into the world of Isabella and her dragons.
Fellside by M.R. Carey (April 5) – I loved The Girl with All the Gifts and I was so happy when I found out the author will be releasing a new novel in April 2016!
Arena by Holly Jennings (April 5) – A sci-fi debut about the gritty world of competitive virtual gaming. This one’s right up my alley.
Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis (April 12) – Historical fantasy with mystery and romance. Sounds simply delicious.
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel (April 26) – This mysterious novel is another debut I’m looking forward to, about uncovering the secrets of a giant hand found deep within the earth.
Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie (April 26) – I’m not what you would call a “short story” kind of person, but for Joe Abercrombie I’ll sure as hell make an exception!
Tiara’s 2015 in Review
Posted on December 30, 2015 14 Comments
2015 marked the year I came back from a hiatus in 2014 due to some real life things going on. I can’t ever really say that my life isn’t in a constant state of flux, but I put in some effort this year. For 2016, I plan to focus a bit more on audiobooks and comics, so prepare yourself. I’m working on a big project at work that has already started to take up quite a bit of my time and will take up much of my time around all the other things I want to do with this upcoming year. However, I’ll be around and throwing up reviews and different things. So, here’s my 2015 in review with some help from Goodreads because I really liked what they did this year with breaking down a reader’s year in review, so I just went with (most of) it. You can see the full page here.
Goodreads says I’m really good at reading. I know right, Goodreads. It’s crazy, isn’t it?
Audiobooks
As stated in our final update post of the year, I read 59 books and hit the Marathoner goal, which is a really huge achievement for me and audiobooks. I will definitely be participating next year as well! Here’s what go me through a year of listening.
Despite all the distractions in my real life, I’d say I had a really good reading year, especially when it came to audiobooks!
Waiting on Wednesday 12/30/15
Posted on December 30, 2015 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:
Winterwood by Jacey Bedford: February 2, 2016 (DAW)
Last month I talked about how much I couldn’t wait to read this book, and I just can’t seem to rein in my excitement. Stories about women disguised as dudes are always fun, but wait, your protagonist is also cross-dressing privateer captain on the high seas too? Sign me up. There also appears to be a good dose of romance, and I couldn’t help notice the comparison to Marie Brennan, no doubt due to the historical fiction meets fantasy vibes. This world appears to have werewolves as well, as evidenced by the mention of a potential love interest. So history, magic, and romance? Um, yeah, where has Winterwood been all my life?
“Set in 1800 in Britain, Mad King George is on the throne with Napoleon Bonaparte knocking on the door. Unregistered magic users are pursued to the death, while in every genteel home resides uncomplaining rowankind bondservants who have become so commonplace that no one can recall where they came from.
Meanwhile, Rossalinde Tremayne is satisfied with her life as a cross-dressing privateer captain on the high seas. But a bitter deathbed visit to her estranged mother changes her life completely when she inherits a magical winterwood box. Now, not only is she confronted with a newly-discovered brother, and an annoyingly handsome wolf shapeshifter, Rossalinde has to decide whether or not to open the box to free rowankind and right an ancient wrong—even if it brings the downfall of Britain.
This brand-new series is perfect for fans of Elizabeth Bear, D.B. Jackson, and Marie Brennan, as well as readers of historical fiction who are looking for an accessible gateway to fantasy.”
Book Review: Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen + GIVEAWAY!
Posted on December 29, 2015 20 Comments
***The giveaway is now over, thanks to everyone who entered!***
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor (12/29/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
We’re just about nearing the end of the year, but apparently 2015 had one last big surprise for me. It came in the form of Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen.
I confess, I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I started this book because I dove in blind, and that’s actually the way I wanted it. When I first looked upon this novel in my hands, I was struck by this feeling that the less I knew about it, the more I would enjoy the experience. So I swore off reading any previews or early reviews and simply let go. I wanted this story to take me where it would.
Well, what an amazing adventure it turned out to be! Barsk was a mysterious and captivating journey from the very first page to the last, featuring a puzzle that begins with the novel’s title itself. According to a well-known myth, an elephants’ graveyard is a place where aged and dying elephants instinctively know to go when they reach the end of their days. There, they stay until they die, alone and far away from the herd.
This is how the story begins, in a distant future where humans have long since died out. Instead, walking talking anthropomorphic animal species dominate the galaxy. On an isolated planet named Barsk, a Fant named Rüsul receives a message in a dream telling him that his time is near, and that he should start making his way to an island whose location is only revealed to the Dying. Fant are a humanoid sapient race, but their features resemble those of an elephant—grey and furless skin, big flapping ears, and the distinctive long trunk. They’re also a species with deep-rooted cultural values, and they prefer to keep to themselves. The only contact Barsk has with the rest of the Alliance is through the trade of specialized pharmaceuticals developed and manufactured by the Fant.
The most desirable of these is koph, a drug that allows gifted individuals called Speakers to summon and interact with the dead. Meanwhile, a shadowy faction in the Alliance government wants control of koph for themselves and are willing to destroy Barsk and all its inhabitants in order to learn how to manufacture the drug. They begin kidnapping dying Fant on their way to the final island, disrupting the natural order of their lifecycle. A Fant Speaker named Jorl notices these disturbances, but gets captured himself when he goes to investigate, becoming the linchpin in the enemy’s grand scheme. He is subsequently blackmailed into Speaking with his dead friend Arlo, a koph researcher who committed suicide years ago to protect an earthshattering secret.
Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard is a novel that is unique in so many ways, I don’t even know where to start. I suppose a good place would be the setting, a galaxy home to not just Fant, but also dozens of other alien races referred to by the common names of the animals they resemble as well as an adapted form of their Latin genus, like the Ailuros (Giant Panda), Bos (Yak), Cans (Domestic Dog), Brady (Three-toed Sloth), Cynomy (Prairie Dog), Lutr (Otter), Taxi (Badger), Urs (Bear), and many, many more. It’s a veritable zoo of different species, and the appendix in the back of the book implies there are even more races beyond the ones that appear in Barsk. Schoen brings these anthropomorphic beings to life using a very interesting approach, making them speak and behave like humans while also giving them their respective animal traits. For example, the Brady are an even-tempered species that likes to take things slow and steady, while the Lutr are more excitable and move about with agile grace. In a sense, characters are given the impression of being alien but also familiar, making it easier to connect with them.
Barsk is also a science geek’s dream, touching upon a number of different disciplines and bringing their philosophies together. One of the central themes of this book is the question of Instinct vs. Learned Behavior, and the development of culture and social norms. It’s worth noting that all the species of the Alliance look down on the Fant, discriminating them for their lack of fur and overall unusual appearance. Fant themselves are highly reclusive, having negotiated a Compact hundreds of years ago that would forbid visitors from ever setting foot on their planet. The relationship between Barsk and the rest of the galaxy plays a vital role in the way things play out, not to mention it also highlights the sheer ingenuity behind the world-building as it relates to our own understanding of sociobiology.
I was simply in awe at how well everything came together in the end. Barsk is a strange book indeed, but it was weird in a wonderful, unexpected way that really appealed to me, due in part to the creative handling of the science fiction elements. A few sections involved very abstract concepts, but it was smooth sailing thanks to Schoen’s easy yet expressive style. This is a story that enticed me, pulled me in and kept me enthralled until I reached its conclusion. If you’re looking for a sci-fi novel that’s truly innovative and different, I highly recommend picking this up.
*** Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald ***
* * *
BARSK: THE ELEPHANTS’ GRAVEYARD GIVEAWAY
Interested in winning a copy of this book? Tor Books has very generously offered The BiblioSanctum an opportunity to host a giveaway for one print copy of Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen. This giveaway is open to residents in the US and Canada. To enter, all you have to do is send an email to bibliosanctum@gmail.com with your Name and valid Mailing Address using the subject line “BARSK” by 11:59pm Eastern time on Friday, January 8, 2016.
Only one entry per household, please. The winner will be randomly selected when the giveaway ends and then be notified by email. All information will only be used for the purposes of contacting the winner and sending them their prize. Once the giveaway ends all entry emails will be deleted.
So what are you waiting for? Enter to win! Good luck!
Audiobook Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Posted on December 28, 2015 9 Comments
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, narrated by Steven Crossley
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Magic
Publisher: Tantor Audio (February 24, 2015)
Author Info: victoriaschwab.com
Wendy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I love when authors use magic in interesting ways, especially when they develop their own elaborate systems of how magic works within their worlds. Schawb doesn’t so much give me an elaborate magic system–its use of blood magic, power words, etched symbols, etc–is common enough, but where the book does shine is in the way magic is viewed and used between the different versions of London that the main protagonist travels between.
Kell is a rare magician, one of the few able to travel this way, and we mostly see Red, Grey, Black, and White London from his perspective. Schwab does an amazing job of describing the magic by using all of Kell’s senses. Some people have a magical scent that others can pick up. In some of the Londons, magic is almost palpable even when not actively being used. In others, magic running through your veins is a commodity that people will kill for. This is where I make my inevitable comparison to Dragon Age, where magic is a major factor in the story. The different Londons and how they view magic made me think of the different countries within the continent of Thedas where magic is considered a gift by some and treated respectfully, is a powerful tool and plaything for others, or is feared altogether.
The story itself is a fairly straight forward one, though it attempts a few twists and turns. Kell, a smuggler of magical items, is tricked into returning a powerful artifact to its rightful London–that is, the not so nice London. But there is, of course, so much more at play, with some from the other worlds seeking dominance through power and blood. Kell is joined by a ruthless thief named Delilah Bard who is usually only interested in saving her own skin but is compelled to aid Kell in hopes of finding some interesting adventure. While there is a bit of a spark between them, Schwab does not dwell on this. Because, dare I say it, it’s perfectly fine for a man and a woman to work together without being love interests. In fact, the only problem that I have with the couple is, unfortunately, the voice Crossley uses for Delilah. Otherwise, his narration is very good, particularly Kell’s rough, throaty tone, and the sing-song cunning of the deadly king and queen of White London.
Story
Narration
The BiblioSanctum 