Book Review and International Giveaway: The Geomancer by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
Posted on October 29, 2015 21 Comments
*** The giveaway is now over, thank you to everyone who entered! ***
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Geomancer by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk
Series: Book 1 of Vampire Empire: A Gareth and Adele Novel
Publisher: Pyr (11/3/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Oh, Adele and Gareth. I just want to wrap them both up in a nice warm hug. How apropos it is that my favorite fictional power couple of steampunk is back this fall in a new adventure written by my favorite real-life literary power couple of fantasy fiction. Three years after the end of the original trilogy, Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith return to the world of Vampire Empire with The Geomancer, the first book of a new spinoff series.
This book is the beginning of a new chapter in every way. The vampire clans in the north have been decimated, their hold on Britain shattered. Empress Adele of Equatoria and her consort the vampire prince Gareth are looking to the future, trying to work together to bring back order. Humans are starting to feel safe on the streets of London again. The war here with the vampires is over.
Or is it? Barely half a year has passed since Adele brought death and destruction to the enemy by using her powers of geomancy, but already there are rumors spreading that vampires are making their return. An investigation into a string of bloody murders in London confirm their worst fears—somehow vampires have found a way to resist the killing powers of geomancy. At the same time, news comes of a mysterious human known as the Witchfinder who has thrown in with the new vampire regime, with plans to help them kill humans on a massive scale. There’s no doubt that the two events are connected, and the path to stopping this new threat will lead our characters on an epic quest across the globe, from the warm heart of Equatoria in Alexandria to the cold, icy mountains of Tibet.
The Geomancer is exciting, action-packed, emotional, and I’m delighted to report that there’s plenty to love here for fans new and old. Readers who began the journey from the beginning with the original series will be happy to be reunited with these wonderful characters, while first-timers will be able to jump right in. The narrative is taking the next step towards resolving the conflict between humans and vampires, and we’re swept along for the ride. There are new dangers to face, new foes to fight, new challenges to overcome, and in this novel Adele and Gareth are perhaps facing the toughest question yet: Can their two species ever learn to co-exist?
For all the good Gareth has done for humans in the guise of the hero Greyfriar, his secret identity remains closely guarded. The world is not ready for the truth, nor is it ready to accept Adele and Gareth’s romantic relationship. One day that time will come, and until then the two of them will just have to do what they can to change people’s minds, one tiny step at a time. But before that can happen, both of them are going to have to deal with his or her own personal demons.
For Gareth, who spends a lot of time struggling with his pride and dealing with a lot of self-doubt in this book, this can be quite a harrowing and emotional journey. Adele herself fears that the awesome power of geomancy might be doing more harm than good, especially since it is a force no one truly understands. But through it all, you can be sure the two of them are going to be there for each other, because if there’s one thing the Griffiths have always done right in this series, it’s the romance. The authors have done an outstanding job with these characters, further developing their relationship. Things are still interesting even after four books, and I just love how Gareth and Adele are closer now than ever before.
It’s also great to be back in this world, which I’ve always admired for its uniqueness. The setting is a great mix of alternate history, paranormal, and steampunk, and the vampires here are like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Kudos to the Griffiths for putting a fresh twist on an old trope. I also enjoyed how this book brought us to new places, like the hidden monastery in Tibet where I found a couple of new favorite characters among its intriguing residents. The vampire queen Caterina’s chapters also gave us a closer look at the treacherous power-plays as well as a burgeoning vampire rebellion in the overgrown ruins of Paris.
So if you’re curious about this series, this is a fantastic point to jump on board. I believe fans of the original trilogy will also be very happy with this new beginning, especially since familiarity with the people and places will make the experience all the more rewarding. Either way, prepare for love, action, adventure, and an explosive ending that promises even more to come.
Tremontaine: Review of Episode 1: Arrivals by Ellen Kushner
Posted on October 28, 2015 11 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Episode 1 of Tremontaine
Publisher: Serial Box Publishing
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have been looking forward to the launch of Tremontaine ever since I learned about Serial Box Publishing. When its trailer was unveiled, my attention was immediately drawn to the promise of action as well as the vibrant atmosphere of a world seemingly reminiscent of 17th or 18th century Europe. I also loved the juxtaposition of imagery from what looks to be two very different sides of the setting: one characterized by luxuriously dressed nobles indulging themselves at decadent balls and masquerades, versus a darker and seedier underworld where all manner of rogues and scoundrels gather to do their drinking, whoring and gambling. Plus, there was all that swashbuckling swordplay—I would be lying if I said that wasn’t a huge part of why I was interested in this.
Billed as the prequel to Ellen Kushner’s Riverside series that began with Swordspoint, Tremontaine promises all the passion and action fans have come to love. I was originally unfamiliar with either the book or the series it is based on, but what I later found out fascinated me. Swordspoint rose to popularity soon after its original release in 1987, praised by fantasy readers for its LGBT-friendly themes and for offering a new approach to the genre for those interested in something different from the status quo. Now Tremontaine will continue that trend with a brand new venture into this world, brought to us by a team of six writers: Ellen Kushner, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Malinda Lo, Joel Derfner, Racheline Maltese, and Patty Bryant.
Arrivals, written by Kushner herself, is the first episode of the 13-part serial, scheduled to be released in weekly episodes. It is aptly titled because it is the introduction to our four main players, each character coming to life on the page in their own respective POV sections. Diane is the Duchess Tremontaine, lady of a House burdened by the weight of financial troubles and scandal. Ixkaab Balam is a foreigner, newly arrived by boat to a new land of fortune, glory and secrets. Micah is a poor farm girl and mathematical savant whose wanderings lead her to a university tavern where she meets Rafe, a passionate scholar with big dreams.
This pilot episode comes in a small package, but it is packed with big action. “Swordplay, scandal, sex…and chocolate!” touts the book’s blurb, and yes, we certainly get a lot of each. Especially the chocolate, all those creamy, rich cups of sweet, sweet chocolate…but where was I? Oh, right. Not much of the plot has been revealed so far, but it does a great job setting the stage for what’s surely to be an exciting and scintillating series. I loved getting to know the characters, especially the Duchess, who seems the most sketched out of all of them–not too surprising, perhaps, since I hear she is from the original series. Experienced in the art of intrigue, Diane is adept at showing one face to the rest of society while keeping her own secrets close. I have a feeling I’ll really enjoy her story as well as her milieu of glitzy ballrooms and fancy salons. The others—Ixkaab, Micah and Rafe—are still a little vague at this point, but their characters will no doubt get further developed as the series goes on and I’m looking forward to it.
If you’re into “fantasy of manners” or “vanity fair” type stories of intrigue, romance, and adventure, then you definitely must give Tremontaine a closer look. The season premieres today, with the first episode Arrivals available now at Serial Box’s site. Be sure to also check out the brilliant trailer, the one that first caught my eye, which I’ve included below!
In a city that never was, sex, scandal, and swordplay combine in a melodrama of manners that returns readers to the beloved world of Ellen Kushner’s Swordspoint!
A Duchess whose beauty is matched only by her cunning; a passionate young Scholar with dreams beyond his reach; a Foreign spy in a playground of swordplay and secrets; and a Genius on the brink of scientific revolution—when long-buried lies threaten to come to light, the stakes are high, and more than lives may be lost.
Mind your manners and enjoy the chocolate in a dance of sparkling wit and political intrigue.
Released in weekly episodes, Tremontaine begins October 28th and is written by Ellen Kushner, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Malinda Lo, Joel Derfner, Racheline Maltese, and Patty Bryant.
Waiting on Wednesday 10/28/15
Posted on October 28, 2015 12 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:
The Dinosaur Knights by Victor Milán: July 5, 2016 (Tor Books)
“It’s like a cross between Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones.” –George R. R. Martin
If that doesn’t have you salivating, I think we have to seriously re-evaluate our friendship. Okay, just kidding. But still, knights and dinosaurs! How cool is that? Sure it’s a bit silly and gimmicky, but I really enjoyed the first book The Dinosaur Lords this year and had a lot more fun with it than I expected. Sign me up for the sequel!
“Paradise is a sprawling, diverse, often cruel world. There are humans on Paradise but dinosaurs predominate: wildlife, monsters, beasts of burden, and of war. Armored knights ride dinosaurs to battle legions of war-trained Triceratops and their upstart peasant crews.
Karyl Bogomirsky is one such knight who has chosen to rally those who seek a way from the path of war and madness. The fact that the Empire has announced a religious crusade against this peaceful kingdom, the people who just wish to live in peace anathema, and they all are to be converted or destroyed doesn’t help him one bit.
Things really turn to mud when the dreaded Grey Angels, fabled ancient weapons of the Gods who created Paradise in the first place come on the scene after almost a millennia. Everyone thought that they were fables used to scare children. They are very much real.
And they have come to rid the world of sin…including all the humans who manifest those vices.
THE DINOSAUR KNIGHTS is the second in Victor Milan’s lush, exotic tale about knights. Knights riding dinosaurs.”
Book Review: Mystic by Jason Denzel
Posted on October 27, 2015 19 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 Mystic
Publisher: Tor (11/3/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mystic is one of the most charming fantasy debuts I’ve read this year. While not strictly marketed as Young Adult, Jason Denzel’s new book is a magical coming-of-age tale that nevertheless has the kind of crossover appeal which would make it a hit with a wide range of readers.
At the heart of this story is a young commoner woman named Pomella who receives an opportunity of a lifetime. A messenger has to come her village with a summons from Kelt Apar, inviting her to participate in a competition to become apprentice to the new High Mystic. But such a post has always been reserved for the scions of the nobility, and it has been like this for time eternal. So why would the High Mystic choose a low-born teenager as a candidate now?
Everything about the invitation goes against law and tradition, but Pomella decides to accept anyway, even if it will mean giving up her whole life. For if she goes to Kelt Apar but fails to win the apprenticeship, she will become Unclaimed – nameless, homeless, and declared anathema. Now Pomella will need to pit her wits and abilities in a series of trials against three other elite candidates to show she is worthy of the High Mystic’s attentions, and prove that even a commoner can have a place in the Myst.
If you enjoy reading about pure-hearted and genuine characters, then you are sure to like Pomella. She might be not your typical “kickass female protagonist”, but she is no less strong in her own way, without all the bluff and bluster of false bravado. Instead, the author has created a character here who comes across as real as you or me—a person with dreams, doubts, and desires that seem impossible to achieve. Pomella’s emotions and reactions toward new experiences feel very believable to me, especially when she finds herself in difficult situations.
There’s also so much to love about the magical world of Mystic. Steeped in the wonders of nature, the Myst is an ancient force that is as powerful as it is mysterious. Men and women who have a connection to it have the potential to become Mystics, able to manipulate its energies. Depending on the individual, this can be done in various ways. For Pomella, the Myst is tied to her talent for singing, and thus music is a huge part of who she is and the power of song also plays a significant role in the events of this story.
And that’s not the end of it. This is a very rich setting inspired by many sources. You’ll no doubt recognize a few familiar motifs from myth and legend, but at the same time Jason Denzel has placed his own touches on them to make them all his own. The world is filled with surprises and I loved peeling back its many layers. The Myst hides many secrets, including a whole other realm filled with silvery, spirit-like creatures called the Fay that are only visible to Mystics. And even though this book takes place mostly in Kelt Apar and its surrounding areas on the island of Moth, there’s a whole wide world out there full of different cultures from different kingdoms. Over the course of her trials, Pomella will meet a host of new friends and enemies—both human and non-human—who hail from all over the map.
For such a quick read, the story is surprisingly packed too. Things tie up quite neatly, but despite there being some traditional plot elements in play, I wouldn’t exactly call this book predictable. There’s a mix of interesting and unique dynamics, and an exciting climax. There were some unexpected twists, and it was also a nice touch to show another side of story by including a few chapters told in the perspective of Pomella’s friend Sim. As always, there’s room for expansion, but I’m overall really impressed with the level of detail in both the storytelling and the exploration into the themes of social class. Denzel’s writing style flows naturally and it is very enjoyable, making it easy to lose yourself in Mystic.
If you’re looking for compelling characters and a gorgeously crafted fantasy world, then Mystic will definitely appeal. I love how this is a self-contained story, but I’m also intrigued by the mysteries of the Myst and want to know more about the world and its protagonist Pomella. Seeing how this is the first of a planned trilogy, looks like I’ll get my wish. This was an awesome debut and I’m looking forward to more.
*** Be sure to check back here at The BiblioSanctum next week for a GIVEAWAY of Mystic and an interview with Jason Denzel! ***
Book Review: Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier
Posted on October 26, 2015 37 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Blackthorn & Grim
Publisher: Roc (11/3/15)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read a whopping number of books last year. Like, the final tally was probably somewhere close to 200. And out of the dozens upon dozens of books, do you know which one stood out to me the most? Juliet Marillier’s Dreamer’s Pool. It should come as no surprise then, that its sequel Tower of Thorns is hands down my most anticipated novel this fall. Heck, most anticipated novel this year. We’re talking, if there’s one book I need to read in 2015, THIS. IS. IT.
So, please understand now when I say I need a moment to pull myself together. I’m still trying desperately to come up with the words to describe how I felt about this novel, without coming off as a gushing, fangirly lunatic. After all, it’s not every day that I get to read a book that I’ve been dying for, only to have that book exceed all my expectations.
What can I say? Tower of Thorns, you were utter perfection. Juliet Marillier, you are truly amazing.
Yeah, that whole trying-not-to-be-a-gushy-fangirl thing. Not really working out, is it?
Let me start again, all proper-like this time. Tower of Thorns is the direct sequel to Dreamer’s Pool. Theoretically, you can start with this book, though in my opinion you’d be doing yourself a great disservice if you don’t start from the beginning. Blackthorn and Grim have a very special connection, and being familiar with the story of how these two characters first met and came to be partners in Dreamer’s Pool made Tower of Thorns all the more powerful and touching.
Almost a year has passed since Blackthorn made her deal with the fey, buying her freedom and a new beginning by promising two things: 1) that she will travel to and settle in Dalriada as a wise woman healer, never turning away any request for help, and 2) for seven years she will stay there, putting aside her desire for revenge against Mathuin, the cruel Lord of Laois who destroyed her life and took everything away from her. Hatred for Mathuin and the need to see him brought to justice has made keeping her end of the bargain difficult, but Blackthorn is aided by Grim, her steadfast and taciturn companion who has stayed by her side since their escape from Mathuin’s dungeons.
However, peace is disrupted once again with the arrival of Lady Geiléis, a noblewoman who comes to beg Blackthorn for help with a monster of a problem—literally. A howling creature has taken up residence in an old tower on Lady Geiléis’ land, its mournful calls driving the surrounding populace to depression and madness. The tower is inaccessible due to a hedge of thorns surrounding its base, and it soon becomes clear that any means to vanquish the monster would have to be magical.
Have you ever wanted to peel back the layers of a fairy tale? Dive deeper into its secrets and investigate its puzzles? If fairy tales were turned into mystery novels, I think they would look very much like these books. And I couldn’t ask for a better detective team on the case than Blackthorn and Grim.
As characters, they are broken and flawed, but I’m more than a bit fond of them. Tower of Thorns is a defining book for both our protagonists, exploring the pain in their pasts. Blackthorn gave up a huge part of herself when she struck her bargain with the Fae, a part that she still cannot completely let go of, even if it will mean paying a steeper, more severe price down the road. Grim too is haunted by his own demons, his memories of blood and loss brought to the surface by the miserable cries of the monster in the tower.
I can’t deny Grim really stole the show in this one. As much as I admired Blackthorn’s intelligence and her strength in the face of overwhelming odds, my heart broke for Grim and the darkness he’s kept locked up inside himself for so long. A big, quiet man often dismissed as an oaf and a simpleton, Grim’s character actually holds the sort of depth rarely seen in fantasy fiction. His sincerity and unwavering loyalty to Blackthorn is what makes their relationship so remarkable and unique, reducing me to tears in the concluding chapters of this novel.
All this takes place in a world infused with as much darkness as whimsy, reminiscent of most fairy tale settings. And like many fairy tales, the themes of love and sacrifice are strong in Tower of Thorns. The courage of unlikely heroes is pitted against the malice and underhandedness of tricksters, both the mortal and immortal kind. Even the closest of friends will find themselves torn at a crossroads, faced with decisions that can change their entire lives. There’s no doubt about it, the gut-wrenching emotions that this book brought out in me made reading this sequel even more rewarding than the first book.
If you’re looking for a fantasy novel filled with irresistible characters and the kind of rich, evocative magic that will take your breath away, look no further than this brilliant series by Juliet Marillier. Tower of Thorns made me fall in love with Blackthorn and Grim all over again. Powerful and emotionally-charged, this tale will hold you absolutely spellbound. I highly recommend it.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Dreamer’s Pool (Book 1)
YA Weekend: Soundless by Richelle Mead
Posted on October 25, 2015 25 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Razorbill (11/10/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
I’m glad I took a couple days to sit on my thoughts before writing this review, because not gonna lie, my initial impressions upon finishing Soundless were really negative. But now that I’ve had some time to really think about it with a clear head, I realize with a bit of grudging respect that I probably enjoyed it more than I thought. Sure, the book had its issues, but in spite of it all, it was a fun, sweet, and cute story. Sometimes you just can’t ask for much more than that. However, it just didn’t feel like a lot of thought was put into it, which left me extremely disappointed. It was like Richelle Mead started off with this amazingly great idea, but instead of working out from that, she opted instead to fill in the gaps with predictable plot elements and other timeworn trends.
First, the obligatory rundown of the book’s story sans spoilers in order to provide a frame of reference for some of my comments below. Soundless is set in a fantasy world “steeped in Chinese folklore”, featuring the tale of a girl named Fei who lives in a village where everyone has been deaf for generations. Long ago, their community on top of a mountain was cut off by a rockslide, leaving the people no way to farm for food. Instead, they mine the precious metals in the caves, which they then use to trade for goods with another kingdom in the lowlands via a zipline.
Mining therefore is a very important job in Fei’s village. Fei herself came from a family of miners until she and her sister Zhang Jing were able to rise above their station and become artists, tasked to write and illustrate each day’s events since this is the only way everyone in this soundless village can receive news. However, recently more and more villagers have started going blind. As less people are able to mine, they are unable to trade as much for food, and the entire village faces the threat of starvation. Then something horrible happens. Zhang Jing beings to lose her sight, spurring Fei to desperately search for a solution. The answer may come in the form of Li Wei, her friend who has decided to solve the village’s problems by taking matters into his own hands.
I was only thirty pages into this book and things were already starting to feel like déjà vu. A poor dystopic community where the only industry is mining. A girl forced to take drastic measures to save her sister. A place where people are pigeonholed into one of only a handful of vocational categories. In this case, Fei’s village is divided into two classes of people: Miners and Artists. What is up with the Young Adult genre and some of their strange dichotomies? Who do people go to when they get sick in this village? What do they do when a building needs fixing? Apparently you’d be out of luck, because there are only miners and artists, and possibly a serving class, but if you’re in need of a skilled trade, sorry, no help for you.
Also, it’s an interesting world, I have to give it that. But I still have a hard time buying into some of its circumstances. Even with the risk of avalanches, desperate people are going to be desperate people whether they can hear or not; the idea of a starving population impotently staying put where they are for generations while relying on a mysterious faraway kingdom as their only means of survival is just a little too convenient for my tastes. Also, why the hell would the people whose work required the most energy be getting the least amount of sustenance, while artists get to sit around in their pavilions painting all day and yet still get to eat better than the miners? Plus, you already have eight-year-olds working in the mine. Clearly, if the situation is so dire that children have to be subjected to those conditions, then seriously, every able-bodied person should be in that mine, digging their asses off. Have some artistic talent, do you? Too bad, everyone’s starving! Nobody will be giving a crap about the quality of art in their daily news.
Another thing, just because you throw in a couple Chinese sounding names and make a few mentions of chrysanthemums does not a story “steeped in Chinese folklore” make. Though, I did like how the author included the pixiu and incorporated their myth into the plot. However, “steeped” is probably still too generous a word. In reality, the amount of Chinese folklore and culture in this is actually quite insubstantial.
To be fair, I’m not completely panning this book because I did say there were a few redeeming factors. For once, I actually enjoyed the romance. It’s super sweet, mostly because you know Fei and Li Wei are meant to be together. I’m not really into shipping and getting hung up on stuff like which girl is going to end up with which guy (mostly because this usually involves infuriating love triangles) so a simple and straightforward love story suited me just fine.
And like I said, in spite of some of the problems I mentioned above, this book was still fun to read. It’s a cute little story, relatively short since I was able to blow through it in about one evening. It’s not complicated. I like the idea of a soundless village, and the people all communicating using sign language. The author cleverly conveys what a world might be like through the eyes of character who was born without the ability to hear, surrounded by others who are the same. It’s a brilliant premise, actually. Just a shame that it’s paired with such a humdrum plot.
This is the first book I’ve read by Richelle Mead, and in retrospect I probably should have started out with one of her established series. I just couldn’t help but to be drawn to Soundless though, by that gorgeous cover and intriguing description. Regretfully, the book felt rushed and didn’t reach its potential, but it had a couple high points and at least it was a very quick read.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves and Recent Reads
Posted on October 24, 2015 30 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 serves as a recap post so sometimes I’ll also throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
* * *
Here are the new books added to my shelves this past fortnight. Thank you to all the wonderful publishers and authors who sent me review copies! I also broke down and did some shopping. Isn’t it crazy how books just seem to, like, jump into your shopping cart of their own accord, or miraculously appear in your home? IT CAN’T BE EXPLAINED!
RECEIVED FOR REVIEW:
Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen – My thanks to Tor for this ARC and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour happening in December. So be sure to keep an eye out for my review and a giveaway this winter!
The Alchemy of Chaos by Marshall Ryan Maresca – A surprise ARC in the mail, but a really good surprise! I’m loving the author’s books set in the world of Maradaine, so I can’t wait to read this next one, though the cover is a bit too…magenta? Thanks, DAW!
The Geomancer by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith – A beautiful finished copy showed up this week, courtesy of Pyr. It looks so great next to my other Vampire Empire books! My review of this book will go live soon along with an international giveaway, so stay tuned.
Linesman by S.K. Dunstall – Audiobook CDs, with thanks to Recorded Books. This was a book I really wanted to check out this summer, so I’m thrilled at this opportunity to review the audio.
Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards – Grimdark and military fantasy fans, if you haven’t read the books of the Bloodsounder’s Arc yet, I urge you to check it out. This it the third book, and I’M SO PUMPED FOR IT! Thank you to Night Shade Books for the ARC!
Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson and Air and Darkness by David Drake – These two surprises arrived from the good folks at Tor this week, a finished copy of Sanderson’s latest as well as the fourth book of David Drake’s Books of the Elements series (though I hear it can be read as a stand alone, which is great!)
In Constant Fear by Peter Liney – Thank you Jo Fletcher Books for sending me book three of The Detainee dystopian trilogy. Apparently it’ll be a movie soon, with speculation that it’ll be like The Hunger Games for adults (by the way, most of the main characters in this book are 65+…I’ve always kinda pictured protagonist Clancy as Clint Eastwood in my head). And ha, what’s up with the covers this week and the color magenta?
Skinner Luce by Patricia Ward – I was actually contacted earlier this month by the publicist asking if I’d received this book yet in the mail. It never made it for whatever reason, but when I told the publicist this she made sure to zip this eARC over straight away! My thanks to Talos/Skyhorse and their awesome team. This urban fantasy looks great, and I’m loving that cover.
The Drowning Eyes by Emily Foster and Patchwerk by David Tallerman – Tor.com isn’t slowing down at all with their new novellas; in fact they’re just getting started. I’m grateful to them for sending e-galleys of these two highly anticipated January releases.
Tremontaine Episode 1: Arrivals by Ellen Kushner – If you like serials, you gotta check out Serial Box – they were kind enough to send over this digital advanced copy of the first episode of their second series, Tremontaine, which looks crazy good!
The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz and A Borrowed Man by Gene Wolfe – Thank you to Audible Studios for these review copies. No way I’m missing out on The Flux after how much I adored the first book, and A Borrowed Man is a perfect clone story for SciFiMonth.
The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss by Max Wirestone – Audiobook review copy courtesy of Hachette Audio. What can I say, I’m a sucker for geeky books and I just couldn’t resist the mention of MMORPGs in the description. It’s a Pavlovian reflex at this point.
GIVEAWAY WINS/PURCHASED:
The Diabolical Miss Hyde by Viola Carr – I won this from a giveaway earlier this year hosted by Melliane from Between Dreams and Reality. So happy when it turned up this week, I’ve been wanting to check this book out for a long time!
Cold Iron by Stina Leicht and The Just City by Jo Walton – I could not resist a couple purchases from Book Outlet (I had a coupon! You can’t ever NOT use a coupon for books! Think of the children!) They only had a few copies of both left for cheaps, so I snapped them up. Cold Iron has been on my TBR for a while, but The Just City I just had to check out after all the rave reviews I saw for it this year.
A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray and City of Savages by Lee Kelly – I found a lot of great ebook deals this month too, anywhere from $1-3 a pop. I confess these weren’t the only two I picked up, but honestly it’d be too appalling to feature everything here. Saga Press has a handful of titles on sale so I picked up City of Savages, and I also grabbed the deal for A Thousand Pieces of You because I just finished Claudia Gray’s Star Wars book and OMG it was amazing. Whoever said that readers don’t tend to follow media tie-in authors to their other work, they don’t know me.
The Death of Dulgath by Michael J. Sullivan – Kickstarter reward, WAHOO! I backed at the trade paperback tier, but it’s nice to be able to get an early digital copy.
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers – I got this book to prepare for a special SciFiMonth read-along in November, organized by Over the Effing Rainbow. If you’re interested in joining, hop on over there to find out more. I’m excited about this one, I’ve heard a lot of amazing things. Like, A LOT.
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. It was a great fortnight, all four stars and above.
Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson (5 of 5 stars)
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson (4.5 of 5 stars)
Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher (4.5 of 5 stars)
Thorn Jack by Katherine Harbour (4 of 5 stars)
The Kingmakers by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith (4 of 5 stars)
Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie (4 of 5 stars)
Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace (4 of 5 stars)
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (4 of 5 stars)
Our Lady of the Ice by Cassandra Rose Clarke (4 of 5 stars)
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS:
My thanks to the wonderful authors who stopped by these last couple of weeks and took their time to speak with me!
Guest Post: “Girls & Dragons” by Katherine Harbour
Guest Post: “Tough Traveling: The Good Thief” by Kristi Charish
WHAT I’VE READ SINCE THE LAST UPDATE:
I came down with a cold earlier this week. Again. But reading-wise, these last couple of weeks have been pretty great. For the most part, I had a good time with the books you see below; four of them I even rated above 4 stars, which has got to be some sort of record for the year. Because of my illness, I was reading more but writing less, so I’m still falling behind on reviews, but they’re coming.
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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~
Book Review: Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher
Posted on October 23, 2015 27 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Manifest Delusions
Publisher: Harper Voyager (6/16/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Would it make sense to call a book “grimdarker than grimdark”? This question was the second thought that crossed my mind as I pensively closed the cover on the final page of my copy of Beyond Redemption. It followed right on the heels of my first thought, which was “Damn, that shit was a hundred different kinds of awesome.”
Grimdark, after all, is a term frequently used to describe fantasy fiction with mostly dystopic, brutal or violent themes. Very often it also features characters that are amoral or dishonorable. All of this applies to this novel, which most certainly is nihilistic and violent—viciously and disturbingly so. It’s also aptly titled, seeing as no one in this story is in possession of a single redeeming attribute. They are all terrible, disgusting people. No joke, I could strip these characters down to their infinitesimal building blocks in order to examine each and every single atom under an electron microscope, and I still wouldn’t be able to find the smallest trace of goodness in any of them. It’s quite amazing, really.
Gods help me then, why did I enjoy them so much? Perhaps one has to be a little bit crazy to revel in reading about dark, gritty and twisted characters such as these. In which case, can you please pass me some more of that sweet, sweet insanity?
Fortunately, Michael R. Fletcher is happy to oblige. The world he gives us is literally steeped in chaos, madness, and delusion. In Beyond Redemption, individuals known as Geisteskranken are the unstable and insane individuals whose psychoses manifest as reality. Furthermore, under normal circumstances their powers are also shaped by collective beliefs, so the more people who believe in your delusion, the more those ideas become the truth.
Let’s just take a moment to digest this, shall we? You’re essentially being thrown into a world where the “magic” is delusion, and all your magicians are batshit insane. Come on, doesn’t that sound positively delightful!
Not to mention, there are just so many types of Geisteskranken. Rarely do I recommend this, but in the case of this book, it might actually be helpful to check out the glossary of all the different kinds of delusions described in the back before you start reading. It’s an impressive list, each one more frightening than the last. Hassebrands, for example, like to set fire to everything as an outlet for their repressed rage and loneliness. Therianthropes, on the other hand, think they are possessed by animal spirits, and are able to shapeshift into these creatures simply because they believe they can. But perhaps the most nefarious of all are the Gefahrgeists, sociopaths who are driven by their desperate desire to be at the center of attention and to rule over others.
And heaven forfend if you happen to be one of those Geisteskranken who are comorbidic, a person who manifests multiple delusions. These men and women tend to be even more unhinged, as mental instability often goes hand in hand with comorbidity. In Beyond Redemption, High Priest Konig Furimmer is one such individual, a twisted madman who seeks to forge order from the fiery chaos around him. Konig’s plans involve creating a god – a god his church can control. An innocent and sheltered young boy named Morgen is being groomed for the honor, to be killed once it is determined that he is ready to Ascend.
But before his Ascension could come to pass, Morgen is stolen away by three wretched thieves: Bedeckt the old cantankerous warrior, Stehlen the bloodthirsty kleptomaniac woman, and Wichtig the pompous Gefahrgeist who fancies himself the Greatest Swordsman in the World. Konig has no choice but to send the most dastardly of his Geisteskranken after the trio of brazen miscreants, hoping to salvage his plans before Morgen is forever corrupted. Anything can happen in this wild, dark tale of cat and mouse, but one thing is guaranteed – there’ll be a body count numbering in the hundreds and a whole lot more blood and guts spilled before this is done.
If you think a book like this sounds too crazy and ludicrous to pull off, I don’t blame you. The thing is though, it works. It really does. Declaring the protagonists as flawed might be the understatement of the century, but I was nevertheless fascinated by their delusions and eccentricities. You might find yourself wanting to root for them, even if you hate yourself a little for it. They are all so vile and depraved, and yet I cannot deny this was one of the most fantastic and unique cast of characters I’ve ever met.
It’s impossible not to get completely sucked into this story. Not that I wanted to fight the pull, mind you. Beyond Redemption is so wildly imaginative and intensely entertaining, you just can’t help but embrace its bleak world, the tortured characters, the wicked concepts. Giving in to the madness has never felt so good.
Guest Post: “Tough Traveling: The Good Thief” by Kristi Charish + Owl Series Giveaway!
Posted on October 22, 2015 27 Comments
***The giveaway is now over, thank you to everyone who entered!***
Today the BiblioSanctum is pleased to bring you all a very special edition of Tough Traveling, written by none other than Kristi Charish, author of the Adventures of Owl series about a plucky ex-archaeology grad student turned international antiquities thief. As the creator of this kick-ass modern “Indiana Jane” character, you can no doubt see why we thought Kristi would be the perfect guest to invite on our blog to offer her expertise, given today’s featured theme!
This week’s topic: The Good Thief
Sure they may pocket things that don’t belong to them. And yes, anything that can be wiggled loose isn’t really locked down and may be fair game to them. And if they put half of their intelligence into legit trades instead of long cons they would probably be pillars of fantasyland’s community. But damn it, some thieves are still good people.
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TOUGH TRAVELING: THE GOOD THIEF
by Kristi Charish
The Likeable Thief
Han Solo (Star Wars), Indiana Jones, Rick O’Connell (The Mummy), and Malcolm (Mal) Reynolds (Firefly/Serenity) are some of my favorite characters of all time. And they all have one thing in common… Well, a few things in common actually but they all culminate under one umbrella. All four are thieves of some sort- and we love them for it.
Why is that? I mean, they’re thieves. In the real world there’s a good chance we’d think these guys were the bad guys – and don’t even start with Indiana Jones being an archaeologist not a thief. Just because he’s stealing for a museum doesn’t mean it isn’t stealing – but more on that in a bit. The point is they’re not the good guys – often by their own admission, but we love them anyways. And it’s not all by accident. These rogues are designed to play to our hearts so we overlook their thieving origins and focus on the person behind the heists. Call it what you will: charisma, irresistible adventure, catchy dialogue, a good heart; but regardless of why, we’re drawn to these characters. And, much like their rogue heartbreakers, the writers behind them have some tricks up their sleeves to help them steal our hearts. And here are a few of the big ones.
The Noble Rogue
Han Solo/Rick O’Connell (The Mummy)
Han and Rick are not upstanding citizens by any stretch of the imagination. Rick is an ex-mercenary looking for treasure who happens to be stuck in an Egyptian jail for not entirely clear reasons (he was looking for a good time) when the rest of his troupe meets him, and Han is a notorious smuggler known to screw over the odd interplanetary crime lord and shoot first, ask questions later. In fact, they both tend to shoot first ask questions later. So why do we like these career criminals? Because during the course of the story they apply themselves and their questionable talents to a good cause. We’re suckers for a rogue with a good heart who tries to save the world. Both these characters put themselves at risk for altruistic reasons. And we love them for it. It’s the thief with the heart of gold who saves the world. When they set out to save all of us, we can forgive them the odd misplaced artifact or space craft…heck, you could consider it rewards well deserved…
Note we’re also more likely to make excuses for their less than stellar choices…
We Don’t Mind Who You’re Stealing From
Indiana Jones
First of, Indy is absolutely a thief. He takes artifacts from their rightful resting places (and often the cultures who sometimes still worship them) to stick in a museum. Now that that’s out of the way, Indy is also a great example of this trick. He’s not always involved in a good cause and when he does engage the bad guys (ie: The Nazis) it’s more coincidence than anything else. No, at the end of the day we don’t mind the fact that Indy is stealing artifacts because we really don’t like the people he’s stealing from. It’s a great example of giving the bad guys a low blow.
Don’t believe me? Imagine if an artifact Indy wanted for the museum happened to be held by a cloister of nuns who took care of orphans? Or what about a small family living in a village in Tibet who happened to be holding a family heirloom Indy wanted? Indy isn’t nearly as awesome when you picture him B&E a small hut while the family huddles in the corner. Taking the Ark from the Nazis is one thing, but stealing from nuns and orphans…
Keeping Good Company
Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly)
You we’re not so sure about but boy do we ever love your friends. Think back to Firefly. I’ll be honest, Malcolm had some great one-liners but he took some time for me to warm up to. I actually warmed up to Jayne first (Note to writers: If you’re going to have a real bad guy make him honest about it. Readers forgive murder easier than manipulation – seriously).
How did I warm up to Mal? River Tam. More times than I can count Mal put himself and his crew in danger to keep River, a severely psychologically damaged and dangerous teenage girl, safe. And she’s not easy to live with. The fact that Mal can care for someone who is at such a disadvantage makes me like him. Then there is Mal’s crew. With the exception of Jayne they’re all redeemable people who are loyal to Mal. We forgive the captain some of his more mercenary decisions (like stealing from small towns, etc.) in part because the government (Alliance) is shone in a very bad light, but also because we see Mal’s best characteristics through his crew. They’re the ones who shine a great light on him because they put their faith in him and show us why we should like him too.
Plus, there really are some great one-liners…
Last Point: It’s a Man’s World
So up to this point I’ve left something rather important out. The likeable, female rogue – which is an odd omission because that’s what I write (or attempt to ;-)). I’m not going to lie to you. As soon as you switch the rogue gender to female you will have a whole bunch of challenges to deal with that the boys never see. Why? Because in our society there is still the pervasive expectation that women should be ‘good’ and ‘likeable’ in a very particular way that is almost never expected of men. It’s a leftover from a time when women were meant to stay at home, be feminine and delicate, take care of children, and for the love of god, don’t give them the vote! It’s a fading sentiment but it’s barely been a hundred years since women began fighting in earnest for equality in the world and old traditions and expectations die hard. Often in readers the expectations are subconscious but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
The role of the good thief has traditionally been a man’s path, and people don’t always know how to interpret it when a woman jumps into the role. Look at Tomb Raider. Lara is about as independent and self-sufficient as they get. She’s the tomb raider, and men work for her, not the other way around. Heck she saves men in the movie! But one of the things people have never been able to get their eyes over is her sexual prowess. Lara Croft is a woman who is comfortable with her sexuality and that makes people nervous. And why does her sexuality and physical attractiveness need to be such a focus? And is the audience more forgiving of Lara as a female rogue because she’s physically attractive (so therefore she’s filling one aspect of the traditional female mold – objectification) or because she’s stealing from the bad guys, has friends we like who put their trust in her, and joins a good cause – saving the world? The main crack against Lara seems to revolve around the fact that she’s a woman and isn’t fitting a stereotypical ‘good’ or ‘likeable’ female mold.
I think that really sucks. It’s also changing, but it’s still there and it still sucks. And I think that’s one of the reason it’s so important to continue writing female rogues. You can’t break a mold without challenging the hell out of it.
So there you have it. The likeable rogue and some of the tricks writers use to make you fall for them. At the end of the day remember – everyone loves a good thief.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristi is the author of OWL AND THE JAPANESE CIRCUS, an urban fantasy about a modern-day “Indiana Jane” who reluctantly navigates the hidden supernatural world. She writes what she loves; adventure heavy stories featuring strong, savvy female protagonists, pop culture, and the occasional RPG fantasy game thrown in the mix. The second installment in the Owl series, OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS, is scheduled for release Oct 5th 2015, and the third and fourth installments, OWL AND THE ELECTRIC SAMURAI, and OWL AND THE TIGER THIEVES, will be released in 2016 and 2017. THE VOODOO KILLINGS, book 1 in her second urban fantasy series, KINCAID STRANGE (Random House Canada), about a voodoo practitioner living in Seattle, is out May 10th, 2016.
Kristi is also the Canadian co-hosting half of the Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing Podcast and has a PhD in Zoology from the University of British Columbia. She is represented by Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.
Twitter | Facebook | Website | AISFP Podcast
Waiting on Wednesday 10/21/15
Posted on October 21, 2015 18 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:
Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson: January 26, 2016 (Tor)
This book has actually been on my anticipated list for a long time, but as a general rule I try not to feature sequels in my Waiting on Wednesdays if I haven’t caught up with the series yet (otherwise, my TBR would be even longer!) So I’ve been meaning to feature this one for a while. With Shadows of Self read and reviewed earlier this fall, it’s so great to finally shout it to the world just how much I’m looking forward to another Wax and Wayne Mistborn adventure!
“With The Alloy of Law and Shadows of Self, Brandon Sanderson surprised readers with a New York Times bestselling spinoff of his Mistborn books, set after the action of the trilogy, in a period corresponding to late 19th-century America.
Now, with The Bands of Mourning, Sanderson continues the story. The Bands of Mourning are the mythical metalminds owned by the Lord Ruler, said to grant anyone who wears them the powers that the Lord Ruler had at his command. Hardly anyone thinks they really exist. A kandra researcher has returned to Elendel with images that seem to depict the Bands, as well as writings in a language that no one can read. Waxillium Ladrian is recruited to travel south to the city of New Seran to investigate. Along the way he discovers hints that point to the true goals of his uncle Edwarn and the shadowy organization known as The Set.”
The BiblioSanctum 
