YA Weekend Audiobook Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Posted on September 27, 2015 20 Comments
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 4 of Throne of Glass
Publisher: Audible Studios (9/1/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Narrator: Elizabeth Evans | Length: 20 hrs and 14 mins
This series and I have definitely had our ups and downs. Throne of Glass first swept me off my feet with an introduction to the feisty Celaena Sardothien and the whole wide world of rebel princesses, deadly assassins and glass castles – definitely an “up”. However, the sequel Crown of Midnight frustrated me with a dry formulaic plot which spun its wheels and went nowhere for most of the book – definitely a “down”. But then along came Heir of Fire. Not only did it get the bad taste the previous novel left in my mouth, this third installment made up for everything by being my favorite book of the series. I could hardly wait to get my hands on Queen of Shadows after that, so to say I had high hopes for this fourth book would be putting it lightly, since I was very curious to see if the upwards trend will continue.
One thing I was sure of though, was that I was going to review the audiobook once more. It would feel wrong not to, at this point. I’ve experienced this whole series thus far in this format, and narrator Elizabeth Evans has always been fantastic. The association between her name and this series for me is so strong by now, that even if I read the book I think I would hear the characters in her voice. She’s just so good at bringing them to life.
And so when I first saw the length of this audiobook, I felt an instant surge of optimism. Generally speaking, a long book should equate to a lot of interesting things happening, a ton of action and suspense and all that goodness.
Well, I suppose I was half-right – “half” being the operative word here. Lots of things do indeed happen in Queen of Shadows, but I found the entire first half to be a struggle. Even now, I feel torn. Overall, this book was actually pretty great, and it had one hell of an ending that’s definitely not to be missed. But we did have to take the longest and most meandering road to get there.
Before I go further though, I must warn that this review assumes you have at least read as far as the end of Heir of Fire, so there will be details from the first three books. Queen of Shadows builds upon everything that came before, so it’ll be quite impossible to talk about it without addressing some major events, such as the fact that Celaena Sardothien is actually the long lost princess Aelin Galathynius (the publisher’s own book description itself states this though, so I don’t think it’ll be too big a deal to reveal). She has finally embraced this as her identity, thus Celaena will be henceforth referred to as Aelin.
Still, while the name has changed, the woman is still the same. Aelin definitely isn’t a character everyone can take to overnight; she’s full of arrogance and bluster, and it wasn’t until the end of Crown of Midnight that I started to like her. It’s no coincidence that I also saw this as a turning point for the series. As the story went down a darker path, Aelin also started to act like a real assassin; no longer just talk, it was great to see her finally walk the walk.
That said though, too many alpha personalities can also spoil a good plot. Aelin is surrounded by men just like her in this book – Chaol, Aedion, Rowan – all very competitive, impatient, conceited and combustible people. There you have a problem, because watching them all in the same scene together is like having to sit through a boardroom meeting with a bunch of Donald Trumps – a whole lot of posturing and snapping at each other, with waves of hormones flying off the walls but no actual progress made, and at the end of it all you just feel like jettisoning the lot of them out an airlock.
I also admit that while a good ship I can get behind is definitely a plus, I read primarily for story, not for who’s getting together with whom (and quite frankly, the latter usually gets in the way of the former, which is frustrating). I do feel like I have to comment on this one thing though, since Rowan and Aelin’s mentor-protégé relationship was one thing that stood out for me in Heir of Fire. I should have known it wouldn’t last. As a formidable teacher, ally and friend, Rowan was actually interesting. As just another hot piece of man meat for Aelin, not so much. Must she throw herself at every available good looking guy that’s not related to her? And parading around in front of Rowan in a skimpy nightie and acting like a schoolgirl with a first crush, was that really necessary?
I feel like such a curmudgeon whenever I say this, but sometimes no romance is better than a forced romance. Aelin and Rowan were just so AWKWARD. Making up for their platonic relationship in the first book meant a whole lot of overcompensating in this one, resulting in some truly banal and cringe-worthy dialogue.
Thankfully, the second half of the book goes a long way in redeeming the tedium and overindulgences of the first half. When Manon Blackbeak was introduced in the previous book, she was one of the highlights. The wyvern-riding witches are one of the best additions to this series, and I loved that we saw more of Manon and Abraxos in this one! Queen of Shadows is also a must-read simply because of all the things the characters go through at the end. There’s a crazy climax, some major changes, and one explosive conclusion, and that’s really all I can say about the second half of the book without spoiling more plot details. Suffice to say, if you’ve been following the series thus far, you’d be insane to miss this.
The ending also begs the question: What is left for book five? I’ve heard that there are at least two more sequels after this, and it’s hard to imagine what could possibly be epic enough to match the events at the end of this book. Despite some of the problems I had with Queen of Shadows, I still enjoyed it and I look forward to finding out what’s next.
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More on the BiblioSanctum:
Mogsy’s review of Throne of Glass (Book 1) | Wendy’s review of Throne of Glass (Book 1) | Mogsy’s review of Crown of Midnight (Book 2) | Wendy’s review of Crown of Midnight (Book 2) | Mogsy’s review of Heir of Fire (Book 3) | Wendy’s review of Heir of Fire (Book 3)
2015 3rd Quarter Audiobook Challenge Update
Posted on September 27, 2015 2 Comments
Another quarter is behind us, and it’s time again for another update on our progress for the 2015 Audiobook Challenge. We hope everyone had a great summer and got some good listens in, because we’re in the final stretch now. Less time to curl up with a book now that we’re heading into the busy fall season? No problem, whether you’re at home or on-the-go, it’s audiobooks to the rescue! This challenge is brought to you by The Book Nympho and Hot Listens.
Don’t forget to check out our progress from our 1st quarter and 2nd quarter!
Levels:
- Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
- Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
- Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
- Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
- Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
- My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30-50
- Marathoner (Look Ma no hands) 50+
Tiara’s Progress
I think I can, I think I can. Haven’t listened to as many books as I’d wanted due to busy schedules with work and life, but I’m still puttering along. I’m still aiming for Marathoner ( only 4+ more books to go!) at this point, but I’m still patting myself on the back because I way surpassed my initial goals for this challenge, which was a short goal of Stenographer and a long goal of Socially Awkward. So, I’m pleased with my progress on this challenge. I didn’t hit any of my upcoming listens from the last list yet, but hopefully, I’ll rectify that in the upcoming months.
Completed Listens:
Upcoming Listens:
Mogsy’s Progress
I made up for my embarrassingly sluggish performance last quarter by kicking some serious ass this quarter on the audiobook challenge. Back in June, it was looking bad for me. I was lucky if I was going to end up in the mid-range of My Precious. But now that I’m 42 audiobooks down for the year and with three more months to go, things are looking quite different. I like my chances so I’m going to go for broke and aim for Marathoner. I’m still behind Tiara, but 8+ more audiobooks to go seems entirely doable.
Completed Listens:
Upcoming Listens:
Wendy’s Progress
Slow and steady wins the race — not that I’m actually racing anything. I’ve been officially working full time for several months now and getting into the full swing of the school year. I keep assuring myself that I will find the right groove to make sure I’m slotting in all the things I need and want to do. Reading is high on that list, but sadly, after a long day, sometimes I’m just too exhausted and/or unfocused to do that. Thank goodness for audiobooks!
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves and Recent Reads
Posted on September 26, 2015 24 Comments
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every other weekend similar to Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as what I plan to read soon. I also round up what I’ve finished reading and/or reviewed since the last update, and sometimes throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
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RECEIVED FOR REVIEW
Activity in my mailbox usually slows down around this time of the year, now that we’re officially into fall — but apparently not quite just yet. I need to catch up on some reading so I’ve not been making many requests, but each week still brings plenty of unexpected surprises and maybe a new discovery or two. My thanks to all the wonderful publishers and authors!
Bound ARCs and Finished Copies:
City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett – Print ARC, with thanks to Broadway Books. One afternoon a couple weeks ago, I got a email in my inbox letting me know a copy of this book was on its way to me and I was like HELL TO THE YES. I loved City of Stairs and I am so totally jazzed for this sequel!
Thorn Jack and Briar Queen by Katherine Harbour – Paperbacks, with thanks to the author! I was very excited when Katherine got in contact about sending me copies of her books to review, and she even kindly included autographs, a beautiful card, and bookmarks. I’ve been meaning to check out Thorn Jack for a long time, and I didn’t even know there was a sequel out! Stay tuned for my review later this month, as well as a guest post by the author on a very cool topic (hint: it involves dragons!)
Dreamseeker by C. S. Friedman – Print ARC, with thanks to DAW. This is the sequel to last year’s Dreamwalker, a Young Adult sci-fi and urban portal fantasy crossover which I really enjoyed.
Last Song Before Night by Ilana C. Myer – Hardcover, with thanks to Tor who sent along a couple of finished copies my way last week, the first of which is this gorgeous looking book that wasn’t originally on my radar. The more I’m learning about it though, the more curious I am to check it out.
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson – Hardcover, with thanks to Tor. Been hearing some interesting things about this book lately, which makes me even more anxious to dive in, which I’m hoping to do next week.
A veritable bounty also arrived from the wonderful folks at Skyhorse Publishing these last two weeks, including some fantastic looking titles from their imprints Yucca and Night Shade Books.
The Ultimate Guide to Zombie Warfare and Survival and The Zen of Zombie by Scott Kenemore – Just in time for October and the Halloween season are these two quirky looking titles, which look like a lot of fun! The undead apocalypse and zombies always make for great topics of humor around this time of the year.
The End of the Story by Clark Ashton Smith – I had to look this one up, but I am officially intrigued! A horror-themed collection, this series will bring together Smith’s entire body of work and publish them in chronological order, starting with this first volume that collects a whopping 25 of his short stories written between 1925 and 1930. I’m looking forward to discovering this author who was also a contemporary and friend of H. P. Lovecraft.
Bat Out of Hell by Alan Gold – A sweet finished copy of this book arrived last week. I really wanted to fit this one in before the end of the month and so yep, I’m reading it now!
The Promise of the Child by Tom Toner – This hardcover is sooo pretty. I didn’t know a lot about the book beforehand, but that cover was enough to make me look up more information. I hear it’s not an easy read, but it some of the ideas in it sound wonderful and evocative. Definitely going to have to keep an eye on this one.
Kill by Numbers by Loren Rhoads – This is the sequel to The Dangerous Type and oh man I can’t believe the second book is out already. I need to catch up, or maybe I should just wait until the third book comes out in November and binge read the whole trilogy!
Digital and Audio:
Owl and the City of Angels by Kristi Charish – Digital galley with thanks to the author and Pocket Star for sending along an invite to read this book. I’m thrilled to be welcoming Kristi back to The BiblioSanctum later next month to feature her rollicking series about a good thief named Owl.
Reign of Iron by Angus Watson – Audiobook with thanks to Hachette Audio. This is my current listen, so by the time this post goes live I should be finished. I really dig this trilogy, and after that craaaaaazy ending in the second book, I just had to find out how it all ends.
Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson – Digital galley with thanks to Greenwillow Books. After hearing some great things about this book from a friend, I actually went and requested it from Edelweiss. Except I forgot I did that and so when the approval finally came through this week it was a very nice surprise! I am so excited about this one. It’s in my reader tempting me right now: READ ME…READ ME…READ ME…
PURCHASED
Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray – Rabid Star Wars fan that I am, I’ve resolved to read every single book in the new canon except maybe the Middle-Grade/Children’s and Young Adult titles. So I was originally going to skip this one (a YA Star Wars romance), until the rave reviews started pouring in. I’ve already heard from two friends who say this was THE BEST STAR WARS BOOK THEY’VE EVER READ and these are guys who have read dozens upon dozens of them from the old EU, so that’s saying something. How could I not pick it up after that? Plus the mention of Romeo and Juliet in the blurb makes this one sound like a forbidden love story — perfect!
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson – I don’t read as many comics as I used to, but every quarter I will still go on a buying binge and pick up trades of comics that got a lot of good buzz or reviews in the past few months. I usually don’t feature these comic hauls in my Bookshelf Roundups, but I had to make an exception for Nimona. This is one gorgeous hardcover, very well presented.
WHAT I’VE READ SINCE THE LAST UPDATE
It’s been an interesting fortnight. A couple of media tie-ins here, a couple of YA titles there. And of course, I’m also gearing up for the launch of The Speculative Herald by reading the books I’ve been scheduled to review. Here’s the list of books I’ve finished recently, so keep an eye out for their reviews in the coming weeks, if they’re not up already.
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.
The Bloodforged by Erin Lindsey (4.5 of 5 stars)
Dragon Coast by Greg Van Eekhout (4 of 5 stars)
Never Never by Brianna R. Shrum (4 of 5 stars)
Doctor Who: Royal Blood by Una McCormack (4 of 5 stars)
The Good, The Bad, and The Smug by Tom Holt (4 of 5 stars)
King of the Bastards by Brian Keene & Steven Shrewsbury (4 of 5 stars)
Battlemage by Steven Aryan (4 of 5 stars)
The Dead House by Dawn Kurtogich (4 of 5 stars)
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Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? Let me know if you plan to read any of these! Nothing makes me happier than sharing my love for books and I hope you found something interesting for a future read. Until next time, see you next Roundup! 🙂
~Mogsy/Steff~
Guest Post: “Characters and Choices: Games as Stories” by Brianna Shrum
Posted on September 25, 2015 4 Comments
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to author Brianna Shrum, who we invited to stop by today to talk about a hobby that means a lot to her. It just so happens this particular hobby means a lot to all of us at The BiblioSanctum too. Longtime readers of this blog are probably familiar with our discussions of games and their contributions to storytelling and character development. Gameplay that involves the ability to make meaningful choices are a big thing these days, and seeing as character choices are so central to Brianna’s new book Never Never, there isn’t a more perfect topic for her to share with us today! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun.
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CHARACTERS AND CHOICES: GAMES AS STORIES
by Brianna Shrum
Oh man, I can’t even TELL you how excited I am to have an excuse to talk about gaming and writing all in one post! They’re basically the two things I live for.
So, I’m a major gamer. I do tabletop roleplay, board games, video games, you name it. Within the world of video games, my favorite thing? Is story. I’m a Bioware fangirl, and if it has the word RPG in it? I’m there. Because, once again, story. More specifically, character. I’m playing through Last of Us right now, solely because I was told it has some of the best characters my brother and husband have ever seen in a game. That was all I wanted. Hand me the controller.
I don’t buy a game because of the gameplay and I don’t write a book with the sole intention of making it pretty. I play games, I write books, because I want to live someone else’s incredible life for a while. I love Dragon Age because Alistair and Morrigan feel *real.* They are deep. They are hilarious and dark and good and right and wrong and human. I love Knights of the Old Republic because I, the character, am grey. I am someone. I get to live the life of this person who, on an epic scale, is faced with choices, and doesn’t always make the right ones.
Alistair and Morrigan in Dragon Age: Origins
The best games, the best stories, rend our hearts because we get to walk through people’s lives with them. And what a freaking cool experience is that?
I love gaming because I am in love with people. I want to experience their stories.
And when I write? I want to tell them.
Never Never is available now from Spence Hill Press.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I’m a lover of words. Sometimes weird ones. Sometimes bloody ones. Sometimes kissy ones. I try not to discriminate. Also, all things nerdy. Odds are, if they talk about it on The Big Bang Theory, I like it. Star Wars, superheroes, gaming, you name it. Much to the dismay of my much cooler younger sisters.
I live in fantabulous Colorado with my hubs and two boys, all of whom are pretty awesome. (It’s pretty testosteroney around here. SO. MANY. BOY.)
Sometimes, I blog about writerly things. I’m an author of YA fiction, and I LOVE what I do.
Tough Traveling: A Lady and Her Sword
Posted on September 24, 2015 21 Comments
The Thursday feature “Tough Traveling” is the brainchild of Nathan of Review Barn, who has come up with the excellent idea of making a new list each week based on the most common tropes in fantasy, as seen in (and inspired by) The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynn Jones. Nathan has invited anyone who is interested to come play along, so be sure to check out the first link for more information.
This week’s tour topic is: A Lady and Her Sword
Fantasyland is full of threats. A lady and her sword can keep those threats at bay.
Brienne of Tarth
Wendy’s Picks
The sword of an archangel doesn’t bond with just anyone. If it determines you unworthy, then good luck trying to lift it. Penryn has more than proven her worth and now, not only does Pookie Bear let her wield it, it teaches her how to do so.
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Aerin was the first hero to reclaim the Blue Sword and the crown, but now Harry must discover the truth about her past and her future. Good thing the king of the Hillfolk knows and is nice enough to kidnap her and help her learn.
Mogsy’s Picks:
I’m feeling to-the-point this week (get it?) so what I’m going to do is post some really cool covers of books I’ve read featuring beautiful, strong, powerful kickass female protagonists with their beloved blades. A picture is worth a thousand words and all that, so I’ll let them do the talking. Okay then? Okay then.
From left to right, top to bottom: Alix Black and her bloodblade, Celaena Sardothien, Kate Anstruther, Çeda and her ebon blade, Yukiko, Widdershins, Kate Daniels and Slayer, Vin, Monza Murcatto
Waiting on Wednesday 09/23/15
Posted on September 23, 2015 14 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:
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs: March 8, 2016 (Ace)
It’s a new Mercy Thompson novel, what more do I need to say?!?! That is, other than why isn’t it March 2016 already?
“Mercy Thompson has been hailed as “a heroine who continues to grow and yet always remains true to herself.”* Now she’s back, and she’ll soon discover that when the fae stalk the human world, it’s the children who suffer…
Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.
Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?”
Book Review: Dragon Coast by Greg Van Eekhout
Posted on September 22, 2015 8 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Dragon Coast by Greg Van Eekhout
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of Daniel Blackland
Publisher: Tor (9/15/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
It’s really interesting to me how the Daniel Blackland trilogy has evolved over the three books, and reading Dragon Coast made me want to cheer because we were going back to the series’ heist story beginnings. I am a total sucker for caper stories, so not surprisingly I loved the first book California Bones. On the other hand, the second book Pacific Fire took a different direction, and was more like a coming-of-age tale that explored the characters’ histories and relationships. To me, what’s great is that this third book felt like a combination of both, tying up loose ends to bring it all home. Throw in a fire-breathing dragon, and I really can’t ask for more than that.
Right away, Dragon Coast resolves a few questions left open at the end of the last book, so if you haven’t read Pacific Fire yet, you probably should first. This review won’t be revealing spoilers beyond what’s available in the publisher description, but they might be unavoidable anyway because each book builds on the previous one, and I would not recommend reading either of the sequels as stand alones. The focus returns to Daniel in this book, though Sam still plays a big role. A golem made from the magical essence of the late Hierarch, Sam was taken in by Daniel as an adopted son. Together they’ve been on the run for a long time, until things came to a head with a Pacific firedrake, a magical creature constructed by Daniel’s half-brother Paul.
Everyone thought Sam was lost when he was consumed by the firedrake, but it turns out the boy’s consciousness is still alive and aware inside the dragon, albeit in magical form. This leaves Daniel and his friends with a bit of a dilemma. They cannot kill the firedrake without losing Sam, even while the huge creature rampages across Southern California turning huge swathes of it into fiery ruin. Daniel comes up with a plan: he will find a way to subdue the dragon, then use a magical substance called the axis mundi to draw out Sam’s essence, before replacing it in a new constructed golem body. Great plan, except for one problem – axis mundi is one of the rarest substances on earth. To get it, Daniel will have to pose as Paul—whom he killed—to sneak into the kingdom of Northern California, win a promotion to become the Lord High Osteomancer, then steal a piece of axis mundi on the ceremonial jeweled scepter of the Northern Hierarch herself as she uses it to confirm his position.
It’s like stealing the crown jewels…meets Face/Off. I love it.
I’ll also say this about Daniel: the man never does anything by halves, even when it comes to planning the riskiest, most impossible of heists. However, this time he’s going into the enemy’s lair without the usual caper crew, with only Moth by his side as his bodyguard. He sends his Cassandra, his go-to safe-cracker, with Gabriel the water mage and Max the hound to track down the firedrake. Meanwhile, Sam is stuck in the belly of the beast, so to speak. We as readers are treated to a somewhat abstract concept of the boy’s consciousness trapped within the half-organic, half-mechanical insides of the dragon. The team is split into those three main threads that make up the story.
For obvious reasons, the most compelling of these was Daniel’s sections. It’s intense and exciting watching him pose as Paul, working against the clock to achieve his goals while also struggling to familiarize himself with all the intricate customs of the Northern Kingdom in order to pass as his dead half-brother. Of all the supporting characters, Moth also shines in Dragon Coast as the muscle and the brains of this operation, taking over some of Daniel’s duties as mastermind to gather intelligence. Next up was Cassandra, Gabriel, and Max’s sections, which featured a bit of sleuthing and espionage, adding intrigue to the equation. Finally, even though Sam is my favorite character, unfortunately his sections were the weakest in my eyes. This has a lot to do with my own preferences; I just don’t do well with abstract conceptualizations and I also felt those bizarre glimpses inside the dragon were less relevant to the story and seemed more like dream-like interludes.
This isn’t a very long book, which means there’s a lot happening in a relatively small number of pages. It’s great because there is absolutely no slowing down, and Greg Van Eekhout’s writing has a very cinematic quality that helps the story drive you ever forward between these three separate plot threads, so one thing you can count on is snappy pacing and a quick read.
On the flip side though, this also means there’s little opportunity to delve deeper into anything else. Our time with Daniel in Northern California feels far too brief and there’s not much to his challenge to become Lord High Osteomancer. Remember in Face/Off, when John Travolta’s character with Nic Cage’s face finds himself in his nemesis’ hideout, meets his lover and his child, and realizes then that even the bad guys have their lives, their loves, and their families? I sense this book going for the same kind of deep, heartfelt revelation but it never quite manages, simply because there was so little time to know everyone in Daniel’s — or rather, Paul’s — life. Dragon Coast should have been a more emotional story, exploring the painful side of one’s self and past, but realistically, the novel was just too short to be effective with that.
Still, this series has long established itself to be more fun and adventurous than weighty and profound, though it has a deep and very complex magic system and some pretty dark themes, what with osteomancers cannibalizing each other for their powers and all that. The world-building remains one of my favorite aspects, and I love how each book has given us more osteomancy as well as the author’s strange and dystopian version of a flooded and divided California. If you’ve enjoyed the previous books, Dragon Coast is not to be missed. It wraps up the series with a bang, and gives satisfying answers to a lot of character conflicts and plot questions besides. And if you’ve always been curious about these books, now is the best time to check out the whole completed trilogy. It’s one I highly recommend.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of California Bones (Book 1) | Review of Pacific Fire (Book 2)
Book Review: The Bloodforged by Erin Lindsey
Posted on September 21, 2015 9 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Bloodforged by Erin Lindsey
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Bloodbound
Publisher: Ace (9/29/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
I confess, any time I go into a new book by one of my favorite authors, I always do so with some nervousness, especially if it’s a sequel to a book I loved. So when I finished The Bloodforged and it ended up being even better than The Bloodbound, it was definitely cause to rejoice! This series is showing no signs of slowing down; in fact, the author ramps up the intrigue and adventure in this brilliant follow-up, building upon her characters and further expanding the political and historical scope of her world. Moreover, The Bloodforged shows there are even higher stakes and bigger plans in place in this far-reaching game of love and war. Well done, Erin Lindsey!
Like the first book, this second volume focuses on our three protagonists. If you haven’t read The Bloodbound yet, I recommend starting from there to get acquainted with the characters, and you should also be aware that this review will contain spoilers for what has happened for them since the events of book one. Noblewoman and warrior Alix Black, formerly a scout in the Aldenian army, is now the king’s personal bodyguard and wife to the prince. Erik White is the desperate king of Alden, trying to find ways to repel the invading Oridian forces closing in on his kingdom on all sides. While all this is going on, Liam White, newly married and newly recognized as the king’s brother, is also still struggling to adjust to royal life.
What surprised and delighted me though, was this book’s addition of a new point-of-view character in the form of Riggard Black! We first met Rig back in The Bloodbound, where he was introduced as Alix’s older brother, bannerman of his house, and Commander General of the king’s army. His greater role and presence in this book was a real treat, providing an up-close and harrowing view of the war right on the frontlines.
Meanwhile, Erik and Alix attempt a near-impossible journey through the mountains to reach the capital of Harram, Alden’s neighbor to the west. Brutal weather, illness, avalanches, hostile tribesmen, and a host of other dangers plague their mission, but all would be lost if they cannot negotiate an alliance with the Harrami and convince them to aid Alden in the war. And then there’s Liam, way on the other side of the country, tasked to lead a diplomatic convoy east to the Republic of Onnan where he is to investigate the delay on the construction of a great fleet of Aldenian warships. Instead, he finds himself woefully unprepared for the cutthroat nature of the Republic’s politics, a deadly web of complexity and intrigue which quickly swallows him up.
A lot clearly happens in this book, and I also feel that it takes a somewhat different approach than The Bloodbound, which was a fantasy story with adventurous and romantic elements in equal parts. In contrast, the romance gets dialed down a little in The Bloodforged while the adventure gets dialed up, up, up, WAY UP! If that sounds more to your liking, you will not be disappointed.
All the characters resonated with me in a big way in this one, and I particularly enjoyed how the dynamics between them have evolved in the months since the events at the end of the first book. What Alix, Erik, and Liam went through together has made their friendship stronger, but nevertheless there is some of that residual tension left over from Alix’s choice. Those emotions play a big and powerful part in her chapters with Erik, adding layers of meaning to the things they say and do. It also adds a whole new dimension to their already precarious situation, the fact that they can persevere through all their troubles in the mountains and still not know what kind of reception they’ll receive in Harram.
But as much as I enjoyed reading about Alix and Erik’s perilous trek through the snowy wilderness, Liam and Rig’s chapters were even more exciting. Liam was always a favorite of mine. For a new POV character like Rig though, it surprised me how quickly he won me over. Rig is a risk-taker, living up to the saying about his family “As bold as a Black.” His chapters show us just how dire things are for Alden in this war, and there’s never a dull moment. Still, Rig’s fighting and leadership skills aside, what I loved most about his storyline was his relationship with the priestess Vel, reminding us of this series’ romantic roots. With their personalities, it’s no surprise there was so much delicious chemistry!
Then there’s Liam. Unlike the other threads, his story had little outright action and lacked any romance, but nevertheless I could not get enough. I always looked forward to Liam’s chapters and cheered a little bit when his POV came back into play. There’s so much to like about him: he’s down-to-earth, funny, and charming even when he’s being self-deprecating. I love stories involving political intrigue, and the Republic of Onnan was the perfect setting for this. But even with the power struggles and deadly machinations, Liam’s chapters were humorous, simply because he is his lovable self, trying to solve the mystery of the Aldenian fleet while navigating his way around “political speak” hoping not to bumble it up too badly.
I can already tell there is so much more coming. For a sequel, The Bloodforged accomplished a lot, revving up the threat of an Oridian invasion while also opening up the world to show just how much is at stake for the entire continent, and you just know no one will be getting off easy. A solid blend of action, mystery and romance makes The Bloodforged a serious page-turner. World-building and characters in this series are amazing, and Erin Lindsey’s writing has that fun and addictive quality that sucks you right in and won’t let go. I really hope more readers will discover her talent for entertaining and immersive storytelling and see why I enjoy her books so much! Highly recommended, and I can hardly wait for book three, The Bloodsworn!
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of The Bloodbound (Book 1) | Guest post by Erin Lindsey
YA Weekend: Never Never by Brianna R. Shrum
Posted on September 20, 2015 16 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Never Never by Brianna R. Shrum
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (9/22/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Never Never confirms what I’ve always suspected – that Peter Pan is a twisted and evil little psycho! Even as a little kid watching the Disney movie, I always felt something was off about him. Seriously, why does everyone love Peter Pan? He’s kind of a dick.
Actually, now that I think about it, it’s a wonder how I haven’t come across a book like this sooner. I’ve always had a penchant for interesting and imaginative retellings, and Peter Pan stories are my weakness. I can never resist them. There’s just something about the original tale which lends itself to so many interpretations, and the nature of Neverland as a boundary-free and adventurous place in the minds of children, never the same from one person to the next, strikes me as whimsical and yet a bit unnerving at the same time. I find that aspect very interesting, and as it happens, Never Never makes use of it to good effect.
So, clearly I didn’t need much more incentive to check out this book. But the main draw of it and what eventually sealed the deal for me was the fact this story isn’t really about Peter Pan. It’s about James Hook. Never Never presents an intriguing scenario. What if the relationship between Pan and Hook went back much further than we thought? What if Hook wasn’t from Neverland, but instead grew up in London where he was whisked away from Kensington Gardens like all of Peter’s other Lost Boys?
Unlike the others though, James actually wanted to grow up. As a boy, he thought going to Neverland with Peter Pan would be the greatest holiday adventure, but soon discovers that the place is not all it’s cracked up to be. Peter is an arrogant and heartless tyrant, keeping the Lost Boys under his thumb, never allowing anyone to leave, and even the island’s weather is subject to his whims. Worse, the little maniac’s favorite pastime is killing pirates, which doesn’t sit right with James at all. James has always had a soft spot for pirates; in his old life, being the captain of a pirate ship was one of his greatest dreams.
So, James grows up. In a world that hates grown-ups. He manages to escape Peter’s attempts to kill him, after it becomes clear that James is becoming a man. But even after all these years, James cannot forgive Peter’s lies, or the fact that he stole his life away from him, trapping him in Neverland forever. And so begins the eternal game of cat-and-mouse between Pan and Hook.
First of all, I like getting into the heads of villains. The problem is, these kinds of books are always a bit tricky to pull off. However, Brianna Shrum gives us plenty of good reasons for us to understand why Hook hates Pan, and to be honest, after reading this book I probably wouldn’t say no to a chance to strangle the fairy boy myself. The question is though, does Never Never make Captain James Hook a more sympathetic character?
My answer is: it’s complicated. To understand why, you also have to understand how James Hook is portrayed in this book. The character starts off as a twelve-year-old boy, bamboozled into following the older, cooler Peter Pan to Neverland where he is trapped and grows up to become a man. Physically, James ends up being about twenty-years-old or thereabouts. But mentally (at least to me) he stays twelve, still the little boy who misses his home and his parents, who dreams of becoming a pirate captain, and no matter how much he hates Peter Pan, he still has trouble imagining himself taking a life. The story is in essence a giant tug o’ war with itself, because James is constantly going back and forth in his mind, wanting badly to kill Peter but also not being able to bring himself to do the deed. He’s indecisive and unsure of himself, like a little boy. It’s what sets him apart from Peter, the one is entirely unprincipled and has no morals.
This also makes Never Never tough to categorize. It is a Young Adult novel and goes into some mature themes – coalition killing among the residents of Neverland, pirate debauchery, a hand getting cut off and fed to a crocodile, and so forth – but the tone of the writing feels younger, almost like middle-grade, owing to James’ perspective and the fact that, trapped in this place of dreams, his mind never really had the chance to catch up with his body. It’s a very interesting contrast to see some of these horrible things through the eyes of someone who is technically still a child, and interpret a lot of the other situations in this light. For instance, it struck me that a couple of the pirate characters, like Starkey and Smee, were effectively surrogate parents. They berate James and then tolerate his subsequent tantrums, while in truth, deep down the captain craves nothing more than the approval of his first mate and cook. So yeah, not gonna lie, sometimes sharing James Hook’s headspace can be frustrating as hell, but now and then it can also be quite fascinating.
Ultimately, it’s probably easiest to describe Never Never as a coming-of-age tale. This kind of style is not going to work for everyone, but if you’re a fan of Peter Pan retellings, it might be worth checking out for a different perspective. The book isn’t heavy on plot, placing more emphasis on the protagonist’s internal dialogue and growth – no pun intended. Admittedly, the writing and plotting could do with more polish, but it is nonetheless impressive when taking into account the fact we’re talking about a book from a small independent publishing house. Bottom line, this was an enjoyable story and I really liked how there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye, and it’s not just a tick-tock croc! I had a good time.
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