Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Best Books I Read In 2015
Posted on December 15, 2015 17 Comments
I’ve read many great books this year, and I can’t really definitively nail it down to ten, but I tried to include the ones that made me think about them the most often after reading them. (Some of them I am still crying over!)
The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells
Wells has introduced us to a wildly imaginative world with these fully fleshed out characters and traditions that take the reader on quite a journey. This is one of the more innovative books I’ve read in any genre. There haven’t been many books that make me feel like I’m reading something that’s truly fresh and special, but Wells has managed to make me feel like I’ve stepped into a whole new world with the Raksura while keeping elements that make it feel familiar.
I enjoyed this book, especially that I’m usually not the biggest fan of Spiderverse, but I almost always love the Spider-Women of that verse. Cindy joins Jessica Drew and Anya Corazon (Araña) in my heart. Her story focuses a bit on her past and her present, giving readers a brief glimpse of who she was before she became Silk and who she is now, shifting between a brilliant, headstrong teenage girl on the edge of adulthood and a socially awkward adult woman who’s trying to find her place as a person and a superhero.
I really, really enjoyed this book. It was a fun dash across the galaxy with a diverse groups of characters as Reese tried to make ends meet while dealing with her new, very private crew member. Reese has nothing but the best intentions for her crew and for herself, but she often finds herself in the worst predicaments. She leads a dangerous life, but she’s not really a fighter. She depends mostly on her wits to get her out of situations. She carries a gun of some sort because she feels she has to, but she has no idea how to actually use it.
Suicide Squad Vol 1: Kicked in the Teeth by Adam Glass
This was a mostly fun book full of fun and mayhem. It was like reading the comic book version of The Expendables with villains complete with dramatic team shots, stealth missions being bumbled with over enthusiastic members wanting to get right to the good parts, some sexy tension between characters, explosions, and corny one-liners. This was an enjoyable read for the most part, and I look forward to continuing their misadventures.
Acacia: War with the Mein by David Anthony Durham
A truly diverse, sweeping fantasy. One thing I truly appreciated about this is the lack of violence, especially gendered violence. I don’t mean that there’s not any fighting in this book, but there’s not pages upon pages of torture or rape or any of that nonsense to prove that this story is heavy. I’m especially glad there wasn’t the constant looming rape threat (against women) that is so prevalent in many fantasy novels trying to establish themselves as serious, grimdark books. I appreciate that he able to find depth in his writing that didn’t require that. Also, I appreciated that that Durham tried to present a struggle where the grievances between these two races was not just a simple matter of who’s right and who’s wrong, who’s good and who’s evil.
Urban fantasy, even Urban Fantasy novels, can be a little formulaic, so it’s always nice to read something that adds an offbeat spin to an old familiar story. This managed to be touching, dark, and funny all at the same time. Emma Rios’ art really makes this story pop. The mixture of bright and dark art makes Lucifer’s world a visual treat with Nelson’s narration. Again, Nelson has given me a comic that I’ll continue to enjoy as I explore Lucifer’s world and unlock more of her secrets. Now excuse me while I bump this novel higher up my TBR list! Why wouldn’t I want to read more about a rock-n-roll ninja burglar?
Despite all the ugliness in this book, it was counteracted with so much beauty. I had one minor complaint with a transition later in the book. It seemed a little hurried as Butler tried to wrap up the story, but I did like what it transitioned into.This was my first read by Octavia Butler, and it took me so long to read her because others had told me she could be a heavy read. And while I expected something amazing, something that would probably affect me on a profound level given how many people I know read her books and praise how she touched on issues, I hadn’t expected the incongruous beauty that waited for me or the feelings and thoughts that was this book.
The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe
I love books that weave music and magic in interesting ways, and this book definitely fulfilled that part of me. I would be lying if I said that part of my ratings and feeling on these books come from many reasons aside from just the story itself. I connected with the story as a southerner and knowing how small towns can be with their secrets and their “haints.” Secondly, and the larger reason I started this series, is that I love books that combine music and magic in inventive ways. As a musician, I could relate too well to so many lines in this books about the hum and the shiver.
This story follows two teenagers seventeen-year-old Sudasa, a daughter of a wealthy family, who doesn’t want to be a wife, and eighteen year old Kiran (known as Five through much of the novel), a farmer’s son who doesn’t want to be a husband not even to a wealthy wife. However, their destinies, hopes, and dreams still intertwined in this beautifully, heartrending novel of two people who just want to be seen as people and not as their genders. If you’re looking for a love story, this is not it. There are hints of possibly feelings there, but mainly because of what they represent in the oppression of their society. Mainly, this is a story about a boy and a girl who want to be so much more than what their society says they can be.
The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’Connor
The thing with Southern Gothic novels is that one might not really consider them speculative in nature, but they’re so haunting and chilling all the same filled with things that could be considered magical realism. This is the first novel I’ve ever read by O’Connor. She’s known more for her short stories and wrote only a very few novels in her lifetime. It’s the struggle of a family whose marked by a legacy by a mad uncle who claimed to be a prophet, leaving behind two nephews who struggle against and for the marks he’s left on their souls, two family members living two extremes–the overzealous and the overdisciplined–as they follow a path of self-fulfilling prophecies left behind by an old man. The title of this books comes from the bible verse Matthew 11:12 (from the Douay-Rheims version of the bible): “And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away.”
What have been some of your top reads of the year?
Book Review: Skyborn by David Dalglish
Posted on December 14, 2015 25 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Seraphim
Publisher: Orbit (11/17/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Look at me. This is my stunned face. As in, I could not believe how good this book turned out. Granted, the story was a little slow to take off (sorry, unavoidable pun), but the momentum gradually built up so that everything culminated into one of the most incredible and jaw-droppingly explosive endings I’ve ever read. In fact, if I had to rate this book based on just its second half alone, it would have been an easy 5 stars. But the first half, despite not having the same level of excitement and energy of the second half, was no slouch either. In the first two hundred pages or so, David Dalglish made sure we got plenty of time to familiarize ourselves with the fascinating world of Skyborn. We also got to know our two protagonists, twins Bree and Kael.
Readers take to the skies in this opening to a new series set in a richly imaginative world. Hundreds of years have passed since a disaster wiped out much of humanity, and survivors have established a new society on six floating island kingdoms which are constantly warring with each other. Aerial battles are fought by Seraphim, elite winged soldiers who command the powers of the elements.
The story begins with one such conflict. Bree and Kael’s Seraphim parents are subsequently killed by soldiers from a rival island, but instead of turning away from a life of war, the twins become even more drawn to it. It is their dream to become Seraphim themselves, and at age sixteen, after finding out their elemental attunements, both siblings are accepted into the Seraphim Academy where they will learn how to fight using weapons powered by elemental crystals and fly wearing specialized wings.
But something smelled fishy right from the start. Both Bree and Kael’s attunement tests led to strange results, arousing my suspicion that someone is going to great lengths to make sure the twins become Seraphim. But who would want to push them towards this fate? And why? It’s an irresistible mystery that sticks around for rest of the book, a teasing thread that kept my interest piqued even between all the breathtaking airborne skirmishes and elemental duels.
The book started off slow for me, but if you enjoy academy settings and training school tropes, perhaps you may take to the intro with more ease and speed. This part of the story was rather typical, following the twins as they get settled into their new lives as Seraphim cadets. Bree and Kael are assigned their classes where they make new friends and enemies, and there’s even some romance involved as both siblings meet their respective love interests.
Indeed, I sense the potential for strong YA crossover appeal…but with a wicked edge. Despite the familiar take on “magic school” themes, there are unpredictable plot elements in here that I never would’ve seen coming in a million years–including several dark twists and a couple violent and/or graphic scenes that would make this book less suited for younger audiences.
No matter who you are though, I think you’ll love the twins. The two of them are as different from each other as their attuned elements; hot-headed and impulsive Bree is a prodigy at flying but she’s nonetheless helpless when it comes to controlling her fire, while even-tempered Kael is more balanced in his studies and adept at drawing on his ice affinity. Bree’s brashness might make you feel torn between wanting to throttle her and wanting cheer her on, but it’s clear she takes no crap from anyone, and there’s also no denying she has some of the best scenes. However, Kael is also able to hold his own, balancing his sister’s bold personality with his clear thinking and more inquisitive mind. As dynamic sibling duos go, they make one hell of a team.
As events of the novel ramp up and relations between the islands continue to deteriorate, the plot also becomes increasingly edgy and suspenseful. Around halfway through the book, something huge and unexpected happens, turning one of the twins’ world upside down.
The story took off like a rocket at this point. Unfortunately for me, I was reading Skyborn at night and reached this part right before bedtime. Good bye, sleep! From here on out, this book was impossible to put down. And after I was done, it was another couple of hours before my mind could calm down from that nail-biting, heart-dropping-into-the-pit-of-my-stomach conclusion.
I’m tentatively rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars for now, but I suspect as time goes by my love for it will only grow. Days after I finished, the heart-pounding aerial sequences are still playing out over and over in my head, and the euphoria from reading this book is not likely to fade away any time soon. These feelings are a bit of a surprise, but I sure wish more novels would shake up my expectations the way this one did.
A unique and refreshing series-opener, Skyborn is a high-flying, whiplash-inducing adventure that took my breath away! What more can I say, other than I await the next installment with no small amount of impatience!
Graphic Novel Review Bites
Posted on December 13, 2015 1 Comment
Invisible Republic, Vol. 1 by Gabriel Hardman
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for a positive review.
There’s always more to the story, especially when it comes to politics. Here, a journalist discovers a story belonging to a woman named Maia, who turns out to be related to Arthur MacBride, the recently deposed despot who led the rebellion to overthrow the previous government. Is he the great leader everyone believes him to be? Maybe, maybe not, but he certainly knows how to manipulate the truth to further his cause. And it becomes obvious that having that truth revealed is not necessarily good for the journalism business.
This is a gritty future, made even grittier by the jagged lines and muted colours of the artwork. It’s a slowburn story where you already know the end of the story, but are caught up in the mystery of finding out how everyone got there, what is true, and what is political propaganda. Basically, real life.
Death Vigil: Volume 1 by Stjepan Šejić
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for a positive review.
Another masterpiece by Šejić, though I wouldn’t consider this the strongest or most unique work in his recent portfolio. Death Vigil follows the adventures of Bernie the reaper and her group of handsome undead minions who battle the necromancers who serve the primordial evil of chaos, etc etc. Expect lots of monsters and tentacles and fangs–which is where the story really shines. That is, Šejić’s artwork is amazing. Although his humans tend to suffer from sameface syndrome, the monstrous creatures he manifests are all unique and frighteningly detailed.
The story is somewhat predictable, what with the crazy cult members and quirky Vigil, but Šejić’s sense of humour is what makes the story and characters click so nicely and makes this well worth the read.
RunLoveKill, Vol. 1 by Jonathan Tsuei
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for a positive review.
The 3D rendered artwork of the cover caught my attention first. Turning to the next few pages, I was sucked in by the sharp curves and smooth edges and the vibrant colours, often contrasting from panel to panel like the pulsating beat of the music that is silently being performed in one sequence, while a woman makes a daring escape from a prison in the other. These first few pages are completely without words, but they speak loudly and demanded that I read more.
Unfortunately, when I got to the reading, I was a bit disappointed. The story of escaped assassin, Rain Oshiro–who disobeyed the orders of Origami, the government organization that may be more a threat to the people of Prygat than the enemies outside the walls being built–is fairly typical. The art continues to shine, with an overall vibe to the imagery and character designs that reminded me of a favourite cartoon, Aeon Flux. But the story just wasn’t enough to compel me to want to know more about Rain and root for her escape from the clutches of Origami. She wields a unique and mysterious power that makes her valuable and deadly, but there just isn’t enough meat presented in these first issues to make that mysterious power alone enough to make me want more.
Audiobook Review: The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
Posted on December 12, 2015 10 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of ‘Mancer
Publisher: Audible Studios (10/6/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars
Narrator: Peter Brooke | Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
Let me start my review of The Flux the same way I started my review of the first book Flex. There was some of this:
And then some of this:
And this:
As well as this:
And even…this:
By the way, if you haven’t read Flex yet, I highly recommend picking it up first because you’ll definitely want the complete ‘Mancer experience. If nothing else, getting the full rundown of the magic system will be worth it, because this series features some of the most intricate and unique concepts I’ve ever seen.
Imagine a world where magic is based around obsession. Love something hard enough—whether it be cats, cooking, or donuts—and it might just actually become your special power, giving you the ability to shape reality to your vision. As you can imagine, the possibilities are virtually limitless. For instance, protagonist Paul Tsabo (he loves paperwork, God help him) is a bureacromancer, and his friend and partner in crime Valentine is a videogamemancer (three guesses what her favorite hobby is?)
In The Flux, a third ‘mancer character also rises to prominence—Paul’s own daughter Aliyah Tsabo-Dawson. The events at the end of Flex might have turned her into the world’s most dangerous eight-year-old, but to Paul she’ll always be his little girl. It’s now up to him to hide Aliyah’s secret and protect her from those who will want to use her or do her harm. But Paul is living a double life himself, hunting rogue ‘mancers for the government by day and brewing magical drugs by night. To make matters worse, there’s now a new power-player in town called “The King of New York” and he’s got Paul and Valentine in his sights.
Like its predecessor, The Flux was pure geek escapism. In general I still think Flex was the better book, though I liked certain aspects of this sequel more. For one thing, Valentine plays a much bigger role. I remember being so excited when I realized that was her on the cover. She’s my favorite character in this series, and not just because she has great taste in video games. I am totally in love her offbeat personality, and her confidence also makes her a force to be reckoned with. Because of her, the plot is also heavier on videogamemancy. Needless to say, I was right where I wanted to be. We’re talking loads more gaming references, which to me was one of the best things about Flex. Gamers will no doubt experience multiple nerdgasms while reading this series, though in truth, I think anyone can appreciate the humor and action in these books.
Speaking of which, The Flux also introduces Valentine’s new friend Tyler Durden, whom I hope we’ll be seeing again soon in some way, shape or form. Yes, I said Tyler Durden. Didn’t I say the possibilities were limitless?
Okay, so maybe this book went just a tad overboard with the pop culture references. Which is why I’m thankful for the story’s focus on family again, especially the father-daughter bond between Paul and Aliyah. In this book, Paul faces the challenges of raising an angry and traumatized little girl, while Aliyah realizes that her father doesn’t have all the answers. If it weren’t for the emotional hurdles, ‘Mancer might have been just another entertaining yet hollow urban fantasy series, but the emphasis on relationship dynamics gives both the characters and story much needed depth.
Final thoughts on the audiobook: I started the series in this format, so I decided to continue in this format, and I am quite happy with my decision. Peter Brooke is fantastic with voices (especially with his New Yorker accent) and in my opinion the only character he faltered with was Aliyah. Granted, this probably has something to do with her written dialogue itself, which I didn’t find convincing. Still, there’s a very good chance I’ll do the third book in audio too. All in all, well worth the listen!
Story: 
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More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Flex (Book 1)
Book Review: Time and Time Again by Ben Elton
Posted on December 11, 2015 26 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Time and Time Again by Ben Elton
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (12/22/15)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
While I enjoy time travel books as much as the next reader, I still recall my doubts when I was first pitched this book: What if I don’t know that much about World War I? How much history do I need to know in order to follow the plot? Will I still be able to enjoy this story?
Looking back at those questions now, I have to laugh. Really, I needn’t have worried about a thing. Even though history is at the center of this plot and WWI is the inciting incident that sparks the fuse, Time and Time Again turned out to be about so much more. With shades of Stephen King’s 11/22/63, this novel is a suspenseful and heartfelt adventure through time and alternate realities. In truth, it focuses more on the repercussions of changing history and what it means for the main character—as well as for the whole world and the generations after him.
In a not too distant future from now, Hugh Stanton is an ex-soldier and a washed up celebrity who has lost everything. The army wants nothing to do with him, and his once popular survival webcast had to be shut down after ratings fell. His wife and children are dead, killed in a hit-and-run accident in which they never found the culprits. With nothing left to lose, he agrees to take on an insane mission from a group of Cambridge scholars who call themselves the Order of Chronos.
If you had one chance to change history and make the world right, when and where would you go and what would you do? This was the question posed to Stanton by his old history professor Sally McClusky, the Master of Trinity College herself. For all of them, the answer was simple—June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo, to prevent the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand thus removing the catalyst for World War I.
The reasoning behind their choice is both surprising and not surprising, but you’ll have to read this book for yourself to find out why. Suffice to say though, it made for a good premise. It’s no wonder that there are all sorts of “What If?” speculations surrounding this date, considering the string of extraordinary coincidences that led directly to the Archduke’s death (if you haven’t heard the story about the sandwich that changed the world, definitely look that one up!) If just one thing had changed that day, could the Great War have been averted? And how might the world look like afterwards?
And here, Ben Elton had my full attention. As I said before, I enjoy stories about time travel, and my favorite books are always those that make me see things in a whole new light. Time and Time Again definitely deserves a place in this category. I love time travel theories that pull together history and science fiction, and Elton achieves this in style, postulating that Sir Isaac Newton had found a way to travel back in time and even tied this event to the great mathematician’s nervous breakdown during the period of 1692-1693. However, the best thing about this book is all the twists and turns, especially when it comes to a couple of big revelations near the end. Obviously I can’t go into them in any detail, but what I can say is that with so many poignant and unforgettable moments, Time and Time Again is one truly special book.
Ben Elton also knows how to keep a reader’s attention. I went into this book thinking it would be similar to a historical drama, but I was surprised to find an exciting mix of mystery, suspense, and even some romance and light humor. This isn’t a story that relies on a single element or one aspect of its premise to make its point, and again, this was what made me think of King’s 11/22/63. If you enjoy multi-faceted time travel stories, Time and Time Again is worth checking out—even if you aren’t particularly well-versed in the history of World War I. I myself have never been too interested in the topic, yet I found myself unable to resist the author’s vivid descriptions of early 20th century Europe, and it was doubly interesting to experience this world through the eyes of a character as fascinating as Hugh Stanton.
But above all, I loved how this book made me think. Going back to the original question Sally McClusky posed to Hugh Stanton: If you could make one change in history to make the world better, what would it be? Perhaps our protagonist should have answered the question with another one: Would you even want to? Not that the idea itself isn’t tempting, but who makes history anyway? Can a single person really make a difference, or are we all just like particles in Brownian motion, creating history with each and every random collision? Maybe it’s naïve to believe we can change the future by altering the past, deciding who lives and who dies. Maybe it is hubris and lack of understanding that ultimately causes Stanton to make all his mistakes, leading him to his own little quandary.
In case it’s not obvious by now, I had a great time with this book. This is the first time I’ve ever read Ben Elton, and I’m very impressed with his extensive knowledge of the time period as well as the brilliant way he structured and paced this story. I thought I’d seen it all when it comes to time travel plots, and never have I been so glad to be proven wrong. Time and Time Again swept me up in its richness and intrigue, taking me to places I never expected. I know this one is going to stay with me for a long time. Definitely one of the most captivating time travel novels I’ve ever read.
Book Review: Ash and Silver by Carol Berg
Posted on December 10, 2015 13 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 Sanctuary Duet
Publisher: Roc (12/1/15)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Last year I had the pleasure of reading Dust and Light by Carol Berg. It was my first experience with her work and I was introduced to the wonderfully enticing world of the Sanctuary Duet. I had a feeling things were just getting started for protagonist Lucian de Remeni, so I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for the sequel ever since.
But even though Ash and Silver is the second half of this duology, the story surprised me by taking a much unexpected turn. This book differs from its predecessor in many ways, not least of all because it begins two years after the events of Dust and Light with our main character having forgotten everything about himself. The heartbreaking conclusion of the first book left Lucian with no choice but to leave his old life behind, and he ends up in an isolated stronghold of the Order of Equites Cineré. They wiped his memory so that he doesn’t even remember his name, and now he goes by “Greenshank”, just another loyal follower of the Order. But the last two years of rigorous magical training has served Greenshank well, and the story begins as he prepares to embark on his first solo mission.
While on this mission, however, he is visited by a mysterious woman who turns his world upside down. The problem with the past is that it never stays buried, and little by little, Greenshank recovers more of his lost memories as he traces the path back to the beginning. He is the Pureblood sorcerer Lucian de Remeni, scion to a fallen noble house. Once again, he’s plunging headfirst into a storm of conspiracies and corruption, putting himself in great danger as he takes on both the Order and the Pureblood Registry in order to learn the truth.
But while the plot heads off in a new direction, Ash and Silver still shares many similarities with Dust and Light in terms of tone and style. Carol Berg’s world-building is top-notch again, as this sequel fleshes out the magic system established in book one. We learned in Dust and Light that a Pureblood’s unique magical talent is called a “bent”, but Lucian, being an unusual sorcerer, is gifted with two. One of his bents is in art, which allows him to reveal secret truths in his work while painting, and this was by far my favorite detail from the first book.
Perhaps it is no surprise then that in terms of the magical aspects, my one main regret in Ash and Silver is seeing Lucian’s art bent play a much less significant role. After all, he starts the story as Greenshank, having no knowledge of his dual bents, and he spends most of the first half of the novel trying to piece his life back together again. That said, I could hardly resist everything else related to the world-building. In addition to the magic that is everywhere in this novel, there is also a fae-like race that features heavily in this series called the Danae, whose magic is nature-based. Lucian discovers a way to travel to their world, and the descriptions of the place and its people are phenomenal.
Much like in Dust and Light, the writing in Ash and Silver was also very rich and heavy, which actually had both positive and negative consequences. Bluntly put, it wasn’t exactly easy on the eyes, though things smoothed out once I got accustomed to the style, and there’s no denying the deep, immersive feel of the story. The pacing suffered somewhat in the first half as well, due to the nature of Lucian’s new circumstances; two years have passed so there was a lot of groundwork to cover in order to bring readers back up to speed, compared to most sequels. Overall, it’s safe to say that this book ramps up slowly, but was it well worth it in the end? Yes, absolutely.
Ultimately, I felt this sequel was very different from Dust and Light—but in a good way. I enjoyed the return of a few familiar faces, including the protagonist’s sister Juli and his old contract holder Bastien. There were also many surprises as we gleaned new information about these characters. Overall, Lucian’s journey of self-discovery in Ash and Silver turned out to be just as mysterious, suspenseful and full of intrigue, except the scope of the story is much bigger, the stakes are higher, and best of all, there’s a lot more action. A couple of minor hurdles notwithstanding, Carol Berg has delivered a strong and satisfying ending for the Sanctuary Duet.
*** Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald ***
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Dust and Light (Book 1)
Waiting on Wednesday 12/09/15
Posted on December 9, 2015 20 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:
Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan: June 28, 2016 (Del Rey)
It’s funny, I haven’t even read The Death of Dulgath yet (SOON!) and I’m already salivating over Michael J. Sullivan’s next book. But over the past year I’ve heard him talk so much about this first novel of his Legends of the First Empire series coming out from Del Rey next summer (it was a big part of why he had to self-publish The Death of Dulgath, after all) I just can’t help but get excited. According to the official website, this series is set in the same world as the Riyria books except it takes place thousands of years in the past, telling the “true” story of how Novron saved humankind from extinction. Admittedly, it’ll be kind of weird reading a book by Sullivan not about Hadrian and Royce, but regardless I am so looking forward to this.
“Michael J. Sullivan’s trailblazing career began with the breakout success of his Riyria series: full-bodied, spellbinding fantasy adventures whose imaginative scope and sympathetic characters won a devoted readership and comparisons to fantasy masters Brandon Sanderson, Scott Lynch, and Tolkien himself. Now, Sullivan’s stunning hardcover debut, Age of Myth, inaugurates an original five-book series—and one of fantasy’s finest next-generation storytellers continues to break new ground.
Since time immemorial, humans have worshipped the gods they call Fhrey, truly a race apart: invincible in battle, masters of magic, and seemingly immortal. But when a god falls to a human blade, the balance of power between men and those they thought were gods changes forever. Now, only a few stand between humankind and annihilation: Raithe, reluctant to embrace his destiny as the God Killer. Suri, a young seer burdened by signs of impending doom. And Persephone, who must overcome personal tragedy to lead her people.
The Age of Myth is over; the time of rebellion has begun.”
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten New-To-Me Favorite Authors I Read For The First Time In 2015
Posted on December 8, 2015 43 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 New-To-Me Authors I Read For The First Time In 2015
Mogsy’s Picks:
How often have you said to yourself, “OMG! Why did it take me so long to read _____’s books?!” For me, it feels like a very frequent occurrence. This is why I love today’s topic.
Rachel Caine is the author of several well-known series and I remember my curiosity being mildly piqued by her Morganville Vampires books. I’m kicking myself though, because last year I also passed up a chance to read Prince of Shadows, her retelling of Romeo and Juliet, figuring it wouldn’t be my cup of tea. And to think, I almost said the same thing when I first saw Ink and Bone! I ended up loving it and of course now I’m scrambling around picking up Rachel Caine’s older books while her fans have been aware of her awesomeness for years.
Kim Stanley Robinson has been writing award winning stories since even before I was born, but I only read my first book by him this year. Seriously, what took me so long? The book was Aurora, a beautiful and powerful novel about a population of colonists traveling in a generation ship. Orbit has teased that KSR is currently working on another book and I can’t wait to hear more about it.
Joanne Harris is an incredibly versatile writer, whose books include at least fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Arguably, her most famous book is Chocolat which I’m sure most people have heard of (or maybe seen the movie adaptation). I’ve had the book sitting on my shelf for years but I still haven’t read it yet! What I did read in 2015 was her book Gospel of Loki, which was finally published in the US by Saga Press. It’s an awesome book about our favorite trickster of them all!
I was only vaguely aware of the Fire and Thorns series before I read Walk on Earth a Stranger, but I ended up loving the latter so much that I went straight to Goodreads to find out what other books the author has written. When I saw the cover of The Girl of Fire and Thorns I did a double-take. I was like, ooooh, it’s that Rae Carson? Needless to say I’m now the proud owner of that trilogy, so I’ll have something of hers to read while waiting for book two of The Gold Seer trilogy.
Paolo BacigalupiAnother author that I can’t believe I waited until 2015 to read! Since reading The Water Knife I’ve also gone back and read Paolo Bacigalupi’s first novel The Windup Girl for my Backlist Burndown challenge–and I don’t plan on stopping there. I’ve since also added Ship Breaker and The Drowned Cities to my reading list (I’m quite curious about his YA) and of course I’ll check out anything new he writes in the future.
Why I have waited so long to read N.K. Jemisin?! Really, I have no excuse, none at all. I’ve heard my co-blogger Wendy rave about her books for years and I even own several of her books including The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and The Killing Moon but I just never got the chance to read them. Then this summer an ARC of The Fifth Season unexpectedly showed up, and I just couldn’t resist tackling it first. Anyway, I loved it! Now I can’t wait for the next book and I’m definitely bumping her other books up my TBR.
P. N. Elrod is another author who has been writing for a long time but 2015 was the year I finally read one of her books. That book was her latest novel The Hanged Man, a great mix of Urban Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery and Romance all rolled into one. I hope this will become a series because I’d love to revisit the world and its characters.
After 17 years, it was finally revealed this April that K.J. Parker is the pseudonym of author Tom Holt. Interestingly, 2015 was also the year I finally read his works for the first time–one book under each of his names, actually: The Good, The Bad, and the Smug (as Tom Holt) as well as the novella The Last Witness (as K. J. Parker). After reading the latter, I can really believe the two are one and the same. Though it is completely different from his satirical work, there’s definitely the telltale thread of his sly and wicked sense of humor lurking beneath the surface.
I read Karen Memory in January and loved it. Classic case of “Why haven’t I read this author before now?!” The books in Elizabeth Bear’s Eternal Sky trilogy were originally what I had my eye on, and I’d initially filed Karen Memory under the “maybe” shelf. Glad that I decided to change my mind and give it a chance! This imaginative steampunk novel was a rich blend of mystery, suspense, action and romance…the perfect book for me! I look forward to reading more of Bear’s work.
The first time I ever heard of Ben Tripp was when I caught the buzz of his Young Adult novel The Accidental Highwayman. I didn’t get a chance to check that one out, though I was definitely curious. Soon afterwards, a lot of my fellow bloggers started talking about his new book called The Fifth House of the Heart. The excitement caught and I requested a review copy of it in July but didn’t get a chance to read it until October. AHHHH, IT WAS SO GOOD! Needless to say, after I finished it I rushed to add his other books to my TBR, including his zombie series Rise Again.
Book Review: Black Wolves by Kate Elliott
Posted on December 7, 2015 17 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Black Wolves Trilogy
Publisher: Orbit (11/3/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Kate Elliott is on fire this fall with the release of this first novel of a new series, set in the same world as her celebrated Crossroads trilogy. What can I say, but Black Wolves is a sweeping masterpiece that will leave fantasy readers spellbound. Coming in at nearly 800 pages–all jam-packed with richness and beauty–this epic novel sank its talons in me and kept me enthralled for days on end until I finished it. No question about it, this is my favorite book by the author yet.
While Black Wolves is technically the beginning of a sequel trilogy to Crossroads, reading the original series is not a prerequisite to starting this book. The characters and events appear pretty separate, seeing as we do jump 44 years ahead in time after the first 90 pages, though the preceding section does introduce a couple of the main characters. First there’s Kellas, captain of the Black Wolves, an elite fighting force dedicated to serving King Anjihosh of the Hundred. Then there’s also Dannarah, Anjihosh’s young daughter who dreams of a life beyond being married off to some foreign land for political gain.
After the time jump in Part Two, we discover that Dannarah has gotten her wish, having become a Marshal of the eagle-riding enforcer group known as the reeves. However, we also find out that her brother Atani, who succeeded Anjihosh for the throne, sadly died twenty-two years ago, murdered in a traitorous plot. Captain Kellas, the man who was charged to protect Atani, saw the death of his king as a personal failure and retired to a life of obscurity after disbanding the Black Wolves.
But now Kellas, old as he is, has been called to serve again. Unlike Anjihosh and Atani, the new king is weak, unable to hold the Hundred together in the face of social unrest, corrupt politics, and conniving palace schemes. Fearing demon assassins in the shadows, the king calls upon Dannarah to coax Kellas out of retirement so that the former Black Wolves captain can serve as his protector. Mindful of his own tumultuous history with the royal family, Kellas is reluctant at first but eventually agrees. Politically unstable and rife with strained relations, the Hundred is a land in need of men and women like Kellas and Dannarah to protect it right now—but first our heroes must make peace amongst themselves and determine where their loyalties lie.
With such a huge jump forward in time and all the subsequent flashbacks throughout, it’s probably no surprise when I say that pacing was the story’s main weakness. For almost a hundred pages, we got to know and love Kellas and the royal children Dannarah and Atani, but with one turn of a page, everyone became forty-four years older. Worst of all, clever and precocious Atani, the boy prince who so enjoyed thwarting King Anjihosh and getting his guardian Kellas into all sorts of trouble, is already dead! Granted, I probably wouldn’t have felt so terrible if I didn’t like the character so much, but it was still hard not to feel cheated. Also, call me crazy, but I don’t like missing out on huge chunks of a character’s life. Flashbacks are a handy plot device, but they just aren’t the same (not to mention, they can be confusing). I wanted to be “in” the moment when Dannarah became a reeve, or when Kellas fell in love with a demon, instead of experiencing all of those events through memories.
But as you can see, I still loved Black Wolves, and indeed the pacing issues resolved themselves about a third of the way into the book. While it was not immediately apparent, there were good reasons for the time skips. With a book so all-encompassing and massive, you do have to allow for a lot of story organization and set-up. As expected, the beginning of the book was slower as Elliott prepared the stage. Patience paid off big time in this case, as the pieces of the plot gradually fell in the place and the story built up momentum. The world-building was to die for, and in addition to Kellas and Dennarah there were other supporting characters like Lifka, Sarai and Gilaras to fill out this ensemble cast. Everyone had a vital role to play in this intricate web, with all the relationships and connections culminating into a stunning finale.
On the subject of characters, the ones who stood out most were the women—no contest there at all. Despite my misgivings surrounding the huge time skip, I took an immediately liking to the aged version of Dennarah. Not only is it a breath of fresh air to see an older woman playing a starring role in an epic fantasy novel, she’s also a force to be reckoned in her position as an experienced fighter and peacekeeper. Then there are Sarai and Lifka, young women who refuse to be pawns, instead stepping up to seize control of their own destinies. These heroines feel larger-than-life but also down-to-earth at the same time, a testament to the incredible character development and the careful way Kate Elliott crafted the women’s histories.
So if you love epic fantasy, you’ll want to check out Black Wolves, a powerful novel that excels in the traditions of the genre—rich storytelling, vivid world-building, and dynamic characters. If that’s what you’re looking for, Kate Elliott’s got you covered.
YA Weekend: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
Posted on December 6, 2015 16 Comments
An ARC was provided by the publisher via NOVL in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Young Adult, Alternate History
Series: Book 1 of Wolf by Wolf
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
This has been an amazing year for YA fiction, and to be honest my bar has been raised so high I’m surprised anything can still blow me away at this late stage in 2015. Still, I knew I had a good feeling about Ryan Graudin’s Wolf by Wolf, an alternate history novel set in a world where the Axis powers rule the world. Enter the Resistance’s only hope, a teenage girl who needs to win a motorcycle race from Berlin to Tokyo in order to assassinate Hitler.
At the risk of sounding frivolous in light of the novel’s dark themes, I still remember the first time I heard about this book. For a few astonished minutes, I sat and stared at the publisher’s description thinking, Are you kidding me? This sounds like the most awesome premise ever.
It is 1956, eleven years after Yael first escaped from the Nazi death camp where she was subjected to horrific human experimentation. Side effects from those experiments left her with an uncanny ability to skinshift—with just one thought, she can take on the appearance of someone else. This has made her central to the Resistance’s plans. Yael’s mission: to win the Axis Tour, the annual intercontinental motorcycle race, by impersonating Adele Wolfe, the only female to have ever entered. As last year’s winner, Adele was granted an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball. But this year when she wins and dances with Hitler again, it will be Yael behind Adele’s face instead, ready with a blade to sink between his ribs.
That’s if everything goes as planned, of course. Yael has spent the last year training, learning how to race motorcycles, and studying all the footage and files on Adele Wolfe that the Resistance can get their hands on. But then the unexpected happens. Felix Wolfe, Adele’s twin brother, joins the race last minute, putting the whole plan at risk. Then there’s Luka, another past victor who is determined to win his second Axis Tour. Apparently, Luka and Adele had a romantic history, but it was in none of the files Yael studied and she knows nothing about the relationship. The race is hard enough with the cutthroat competition and more than twenty thousand kilometers of harsh road to the finish line, but now Yael will have to carry out her deception in the presence of the two people who knew Adele best. The odds are long, but Yael has to win—the world is depending on her success so that the Resistance can launch the next phase of their operation.
As intrigued as I was by the story, at first I had my doubts that Ryan Graudin could pull it off, since a good book is more than just a great premise. However, I needn’t have worried. The blurb pitches Wolf by Wolf as Code Name Verity meets Inglourious Basterds, but I’d say throw in a little bit of Survivor and The Amazing Race too. We get the gist of the plot in the first fifty pages, but the rest of the book—the race itself—is the masterpiece, checkpoint after checkpoint of dangerous adventure and exciting alliances and rivalries. I’m so impressed with how much action is packed into what could have been pages of tedium over the course of this long journey, but the story turned out to be as twisty as the road to Tokyo, full of unexpected surprises and memorable experiences.
This book would have been a quick read had real life not gotten so busy lately, and believe you me I had a difficult time putting it down when all I wanted to do was to curl up with it for a few undisturbed hours, learning all of Yael’s secrets. She’s such a complex character, having survived so much horror. Flashbacks from her past are woven into the narrative of the race, revealing how she and her mother were sent to the concentration camp, how Yael eventually escaped, and how she ended up with the Resistance. We learn how Yael was shaped by the important people in her life. After all the years and all the identities, Yael has forgotten her real face, but she will never forget her loved ones and how their lives made a difference in hers.
Also, while we don’t get to see much of the real Adele Wolfe, the girl Yael is tasked to impersonate is an intriguing question mark in her own way. There are many gaps in Yael’s knowledge about the other girl, a fact made painfully obvious whenever Felix or Luka bring up past events that she has no knowledge of. We’re piecing things together along with Yael, trying to pick out clues from snatches of conversation. Wolf by Wolf is full of action, but it’s also one giant intriguing puzzle, and I loved how the adventurous and suspenseful elements came together.
I was really surprised to discover halfway through reading Wolf by Wolf that there will be a sequel (which clued me in to a not-so-tidy ending) but after finishing the book you can bet I’ll be reading the next one too. Ryan Graudin created something phenomenally unique and amazing here; so many things could have worked out poorly but the end result turned out to be almost flawless. I can’t wait to see what other surprises the author has in store.
The BiblioSanctum 