Tough Traveling: Portal to Another Land
Posted on September 17, 2015 33 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: Portal to Another Land
Fantasyland often has some unique entry points; not every traveler is born within its boundaries. It is a regular event for someone from a non-magical place to suddenly find themselves in this world of dragons, magic, and danger.
Mogsy’s Picks:
I have been totally slacking on Tough Traveling for the last few weeks, hopefully I’ll make it up to my co-bloggers today with a mixed-bag of varied titles featuring portals to strange, wondrous lands.
Protagonist Oscar Britton is an army officer working for the military’s Supernatural Operations Corps, tasked to monitor people with magic powers and take them down if they lose control. But then he himself suddenly manifests a power which allows him to summon portals, a rare and prohibited magical power. Oscar immediately comes under US government surveillance, sent to training in a fortress located in the source, an alien world that can only be reached via portal.
One of Lev Grossman’s original thoughts when he wrote The Magicians was to build on the work of C. S. Lewis, arguably the master when it comes to portals and portal travel. In fact, his magical land Fillory even has strong echoes of Narnia, which characters in The Magicians trilogy access via portals (not through a wardrobe though).
The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler
You’ve heard the saying that books are portals to new worlds, and in The Forbidden Library series this is literally true. “Readers” like our young protagonist Alice have powers that allow them to jump in and out of books, entering their worlds to defeat monsters trapped in them.
Protagonist Brianna Hai lives a double life as necessitated by her own very nature. By day the half-human, half-fae young woman runs an occult shop selling innocent knickknacks to tourists, while hanging in her home is a magical painting which acts as a portal between our real world and the world of the faerie, where her father the High King Leu of Fae lives.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Speaking of double lives, in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, Karou is an art student attending classes in Prague, but behind the scenes it is revealed she was actually raised by four chimaera living in a workshop that straddles a trans-dimenional plane between the real world and an otherworld called Eretz. The workshop has a portal directly to Eretz, but also ones that can lead all over the world.
Dinocalypse Now by Chuck Wendig
And now for something completely insane and quirky. When the heroes of the Century Club were called in to prevent the assassination of FDR, the last thing they expected to face was a whole bunch of portals opening up all around the world, leading to another time and another place. Out comes a legion of psychic dinosaurs led by their leader, Khan the Conqueror Ape.
All her life, our teenage protagonist Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds. Some of them are like our own, while others are bizarrely alien. The only person she’s told about them is her younger brother Tommy. When he is kidnapped by a strange creature though, Jessica realizes there may be more to her dreams. To rescue Tommy, she must travel through a portal and brave a whole new world.
Waiting on Wednesday 09/16/15
Posted on September 16, 2015 15 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:
Saint’s Blood by Sebastien de Castell: April 7, 2016 (Jo Fletcher)
I’m so looking forward to this third book in the Greatcoats series! There was some confusion at first because the author had originally used the working title Tyrant’s Throne before deciding that it would actually work better for book four instead. Double joy, as not only do we get a wonderful title (I like the sound of Saint’s Blood) and a gorgeous cover for book three, I originally thought this was going to be a trilogy so I am happy at the news that there will be more books after this.
“How do you kill a Saint?
Falcio, Kest, and Brasti are about to find out, because someone has figured out a way to do it and they’ve started with a friend.
The Dukes were already looking for ways out of their agreement to put Aline on the throne, but with the Saints turning up dead, rumours are spreading that the Gods themselves oppose her ascension. Now churches are looking to protect themselves by bringing back the military orders of religious soldiers, assassins, and (especially) Inquisitors – a move that could turn the country into a theocracy. The only way Falcio can put a stop to it is by finding the murderer. He has only one clue: a terrifying iron mask which makes the Saints vulnerable by driving them mad. But even if he can find the killer, he’ll still have to face him in battle.
And that may be a duel that no swordsman, no matter how skilled, can hope to win.”
Novella Review: King of the Bastards by Brian Keene & Steven Shrewsbury
Posted on September 15, 2015 16 Comments
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King of the Bastards by Brian Keene and Steven Shrewsbury
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone/Book 1
Publisher: Apex Book Company (7/21/15)
Author Information: BK Website | Twitter, SS Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
King of the Bastards is everything you would expect from…well, a book titled King of the Bastards! Authors Brian Keene and Steven Shrewsbury bring us a rowdy sword and sorcery tale in this novella that harkens back to the traditions of Robert E. Howard’s Conan, decking out its pages with larger-than-life heroes, monstrous villains, evil magics, exotic places, and bloody battles galore. We’re talking pure unadulterated pulpy fun.
“Come, my sons, and I will tell you the beginning of the tale of the bastards of King Rogan!” the wizened storyteller proclaims, and we are introduced to our titular character, who has apparently spilled more than just his blood across the world on his adventures as a pirate, outlaw, and mercenary before conquering the throne of Albion. Shipwrecked and stranded on a strange land with his nephew, the barbarian king must now fight with his newfound allies against a demon and its agents in order to find his way home and reclaim his throne.
A clear advantage with books like this is that what you see is what you get. King of the Bastards feels a lot like an updated version of the pulp outlet offerings from the first half the 20th century, complete with the requisite genre tropes, sometimes even exaggerated for what I feel is satirical effect. Our protagonist is a crude and aging barbarian who runs on testosterone and the blood and tears of his enemies. He’s insensitive and boorish towards women and other cultures, hates wizards and magic, but he sure knows his way around a sword and loves a good fight. Speaking of which, have I mentioned the sexual content and graphic violence yet? Underline it.
If you don’t like the sound of what you’ve read so far in this review, then I suspect you are not going to like this book. But if you’re in the mood for a bit of punchy, gore-soaked entertainment with a taste of retro, then you’re going to be in for a real treat. Personally speaking, books like this have an important place in my reading routine, providing the perfect sort of respite in between some of my longer, weightier reads and giving me a chance to let loose with something light and fun which doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not something I could take all the time, but in small doses it can be a refreshing change of pace. And coming in at just a little over 160 pages, King of the Bastards was the perfect length, piling on the action and adventure without actually wearing out its welcome.
All told, this isn’t a book out to break new ground, but if you consider it as a “guilty pleasure” read with an aim to entertain, the authors might be on to something here. If you think you are the audience for this, definitely check it out. You could do worse than spend a rainy afternoon curled on the couch reading this rollicking yarn about a real bastard!
Book Review: Battlemage by Stephen Aryan
Posted on September 14, 2015 26 Comments
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Age of Darkness
Publisher: Orbit (9/22/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I first became aware of Battlemage in the Spring of 2015 and knew right then and there that I had to check it out. Because come on, BATTLEMAGES! Also known as the heavy-hitters of Fantasyland. They. Are. Awesome. As you can guess, I ended up devouring this book pretty quickly. Not only do I love the premise, I also found it to be an extraordinary easy read because of its style and down-to-earth traditional story.
Needless to say, if you’re a fan of mages, wizards, sorcerers, or any of those magician types, you won’t be disappointed. Balfruss is our main battlemage character, one of six who has answered the King of Seveldrom’s call to arms against the mad Emperor Taikon’s invading army from Zecorria. It is said that their enemy is led by a powerful battlemage known as the Warlock, prompting the need for Balfruss and the powers that he and others like him can provide.
While the battlemages combine their efforts, the war is also fought on the frontlines by thousands of unranked soldiers. Among them is Vargus, an aging mercenary who has sworn an oath to fight, even if it means leaving the quiet village that was his home for the last forty years. Gradually, his name becomes known in the army camps for the morale and camaraderie he has instilled in his fellow soldiers, creating a brotherhood that fights as one. And of course, no war is fought without a network of spies and agents in the shadows, led by Talandra, princess of Seveldrom and keeper of all secrets. Taikon of Zecorria may have sparked this religious war under false pretenses, but as the clever and resourceful Talandra proves, two can play at that game.
What really worked for me was the pacing of this novel and the fact that its momentum was almost always a constant. This made Battlemage a very quick and easy read, as I alluded to in my introduction. There is very little downtime, and also plenty of action and battle scenes. Essentially, these fell into two categories, reflecting the reality of a war fought on two fronts – one with magic, and the other with the sword. There’s a good mix of these, so that the plot doesn’t get too repetitive. Balfruss and the battlemages fight in abstract and magical ways that deal more with the mind, while the soldiers like Vargus utilize more direct methods like blades, shields, and just plain muscle strength. Stephen Aryan’s writing style is also very straightforward and casual, so it took very little effort to simply dive right into the story.
Of the characters, I enjoyed all of them but hands down Talandra was my favorite. Balfruss and Vargus are great, but ultimately they are rather standard archetypes for their roles, while Talandra broke the mold in many more ways to become the most interesting. Also, off the top of my head I can name several examples of epic fantasy novels with an ensemble cast where I’ve found the female character’s role to be downplayed and underutilized (especially in first books of a series), but I certainly did not encounter this issue in Battlemage. In fact, Talandra probably plays one of the more important roles in the book, getting the most results by directing a large network of spies who carry out her orders from afar. Her sections aren’t as invigorating as Balfruss or Vargus’s fight scenes, but nevertheless I felt her personal story of sacrifice was the most compelling by far.
The overall plot itself is entertaining, if perhaps more predictable than I would have liked. A lot of the story elements feel familiar like I have read them elsewhere before, such as the mad and sadistic tyrant king, the populace’s fear and mistrust of magic, or the various political machinations – just to name a few. To the author’s credit though, he combines it into a neat package that offers a good mix of everything, plus the setting feels unique. There’s a bit of the new stirred in with the old, so to speak, and I actually wouldn’t have minded a bit more to the world-building to set it further apart from other epic fantasies of its type. There are mentions of faraway places and the fantastical humanoid races that inhabit them, like the Morrin, a horned, yellow-eyed and pointy-eared people; or the Vorga, a saurian race. These are the types of things in the world which I would love to see strengthened and expanded.
So if you’re feeling in the mood for a fun and action-filled fantasy story, you might just find it in Battlemage. It’s true that it doesn’t break much new ground, but I certainly wouldn’t dismiss it for that reason. I can see the story offering a comfortable and accessible experience to both new and experienced readers of epic fantasy, and I find I’m looking forward to the next book, which I wouldn’t be if this weren’t such a solid start. Definitely give this one a shot if it sounds right for you. And enjoy the battlemages.
YA Weekend: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
Posted on September 13, 2015 15 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
Genre: Young Adult, Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers (9/15/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
First let me say I had no idea before I got an ARC of this novel that it would be written in the epistolary style as a collection of mostly diary entries, though it also includes interview transcripts, descriptions of video footage, emails and newspaper articles, etc. Not to mention the huge visual component! I picked up The Dead House because I love horror and I’m also always on the lookout for good creepy YA, but seriously nothing could have prepared me for the surprise I got when I opened up the book.
In a word, it’s gorgeous. It’s made to look like a compiled report, drawing evidence from multiple sources detailing a disturbing and mysterious “incident”. The book also makes liberal use of images, different fonts, and other visual embellishments to add even great realism to the story. But before I could fall too deeply in love with the eye candy, my cynical side immediately leaped into the picture with a reality check. After all, pretty pages are certainly all well and good, but the real test of course is how well the story stands up in spite of that.
We open with a newspaper article dated February 4, 2005 describing an inferno that ravaged a prestigious boarding school, killing three teenagers and injuring twenty. Next comes an introduction to the report, revealing that two decades have passed since the fire (now referred to as the “Johnson Incident”) but new information has come to light prompting a reinvestigation of the events that led up to the tragedy.
One student, an orphan named Carly Johnson, went missing during the incident but her body was not found among those recovered from the burned ruins. To this day, her whereabouts remain a mystery. No one could deny though, that Carly was a very disturbed girl, as evidenced from her writings in a scorched diary discovered at the school. By all accounts, she struggled with Dissociative Identity Disorder, writing in her diary not as Carly but as her alter “Kaitlyn”, who only emerges after sunset. But who exactly was Kaitlyn Johnson? Was she really just a mental construct of Carly’s mind, or was she something more?
All I have to say is, DAMN this is one creepy book. If you don’t like the epistolary style however, I can’t imagine this book would do anything for you, but I loved it and I thought it made this book an incredibly immersive experience. I found The Dead House really hard to put down, and ended up finishing it in a little more than a day, and it only took me that long because I made myself take a break a couple of times so I could savor it. The format made it a very quick read, but the story was also very addictive and fun; in spite of myself, I found myself totally sucked in.
What makes this one fascinating is also its main character, a one hell of an unreliable narrator. The book is an intimate look into the labyrinthine mind of Kaitlyn Johnson, though the difficulty of separating her words into fact versus fiction is further compounded when faced with the question of whether or not she actually exists. Kaitlyn believes she is real, and that’s what matters in the end. Her diary entries reveal a desperate soul wanting nothing more to be believed that she is not just a symptom or a made-up part of Carly’s mind. In her state of mind, she makes decisions that sometimes won’t make sense or may seem very extreme.
All throughout the book though is a sense of ambiguity – which isn’t necessarily a negative, especially when we’re talking about paranormal horror or psychological thrillers. It’s eerie and unsettling precisely because you won’t get all the answers tied up neatly with a bow and served on a platter. By design, we are constantly kept guessing: Are we looking at the results of an actual paranormal situation or the ravings of a mentally unstable teenager? The report is presented with all the pieces of evidence ordered by date, the whole story being gradually revealed to the reader as each page moves us closer towards the day of the incident. This a book best experienced firsthand, so I hesitate to give much more information about the plot.
Did I have my misgivings though? Well, yes. I thought the ending wrapped up way too quickly, but this is in part due to the limitations of the format. But there’s no denying that all the major reveals came hard and fast, all in the last 30 pages or so. There was also one “twist” that was painfully predictable, the number of red herrings thrown at us notwithstanding. Part of the problem was a romance that felt out of place, among other relationships between Kaitlyn/Carly and other characters that just didn’t add up. I am also a little tired of YA books that portray doctors and especially mental healthcare professionals as incompetent, insensitive or overbearing. In this case, poor Dr. Lansing was all three, which I felt was a rather inelegant way to paint her as a villain early on and drum up sympathy for Kaitlyn.
These flaws were very minor though, certainly not enough to take much away from the experience. All told, I had a really good time with The Dead House. I confess I had my doubts when I first started this novel and even resolved to keep a level head while reading so that I wouldn’t be dazzled by the unique structure of the novel and the flashy visuals. All the same, I ended up devouring this book. It’s undeniably entertaining and addictive, which sets it apart from being just another gimmick or run-of-the-mill YA horror.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves, Announcements, and Recent Reads
Posted on September 12, 2015 31 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 summarize what I’ve finished reading and/or reviewed since the last update, and sometimes I even throw in fun stuff like reading challenge updates, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
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RECEIVED FOR REVIEW
It’s September! Where has the summer gone? Traditionally I’ve always used the last few months of the year to catch up on my reading from both my own personal TBR as well as the unsolicited arrivals that have come my way, so for the rest of 2015 you may see me take on less review books. The last couple of weeks saw some exciting titles come my way though, including a couple summer books mixed in with some highly anticipated fall releases. My thanks to all the wonderful publishers and authors!
Bound ARCs and Finished Copies:
Mystic by Jason Denzel – Print ARC, with thanks to Tor. While this book has been on my radar for a while, I admit didn’t know too much about it. The more I’m learning about it though, the more excited I am! Rest assured, we’ll be seeing a lot more about this book in the coming months, so keep an eye out for my review closer to the release date and who knows, perhaps even a giveaway! /tease
A Cold Silence by Alison Littlewood – Paperback, with thanks to Jo Fletcher Books. It always makes me so happy to see something from JFB because they always send me the coolest books (and it’s fun getting mail from London). I’m also glad to be adding some horror to my reading list.
Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher – Paperback, with thanks to Harper Voyager. I have no idea why this one slipped by me this summer, but everything about it sounds like it’s right up my alley. A couple weeks ago, the publisher very kindly sent me a copy, so I’m definitely going to be reading this one post-haste.
Nebula Awards Showcase 2015 edited by Greg Bear – Print ARC, with thanks to Pyr. A collection of stories by some of the biggest names in SFF. Every year, the publisher puts out one of these wonderful anthologies.
Dragon Coast by Greg Van Eekhout – Hardcover, with thanks to Tor. A finished copy of this third book of the Daniel Blackland series landed on my doorstep last week. Something tells me it’s going to be as good as the first two books, if not even better.
Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter – Paperback with thanks to Ace. I’m looking forward to read this sequel to The Midnight Queen, especially after my recent participation in a Twitter Q&A with the author where I got to learn more about her and her books.
The Terrans by Jean Johnson – Print ARC, with thanks to Ace. I was actually expecting this one to show up earlier in the summer, but it didn’t arrive until last week. Better late than never, I say! And just in time too, because I’ve started drawing up my reading list for Sci-fi November. Brace yourself, The Terrans, because you’re going in.
Digital and Audio:
The Shards of Heaven by Michael Livingston – eARC with thanks to Tor. A couple of NetGalley invites also found their way to my inbox these last two weeks. I’m super excited about this historical fantasy about Ancient Rome following Caesar’s assassination. The best part? This book also features one of my favorite historical figures ever: Selene, daughter of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. I’ll be part of this book’s tour in November, so stay tuned for more to come.
The Machinery by Gerrard Cowan – eARC with thanks to Harper Voyager UK. Much thanks also to the author who contacted me and sent me an invite widget to read his book! Looking forward to checking this out.
Planetfall by Emma Newman – eARC with thanks to Roc via NetGalley. In case you missed it, this was actually my pick this week for Waiting on Wednesday. I’m excited for it, and like I said, I’m already putting together a reading list for Sci-Fi November and this one is all lined up. Naturally!
Soundless by Richelle Mead – eARC with thanks to Razorbill via First to Read. Rounding up the digital pile are a couple of highly anticipated YA titles on my wishlist. I was really hoping that Soundless was going to show up on FtR one of these days…and then it did! Quite thrilled to snag a review copy.
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas – Audiobook with thanks to Audible Studios. The next YA title is this fourth book of the Throne of Glass series. Sure, the series has its ups and downs, but the third book definitely ended on a high note. It’s got me looking forward to what’s coming next.
PURCHASED BOOKS & GIVEAWAY WINS
Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig – Force Friday was September 4th and to be honest, the only offering I was interested in that day was this book! I’m a huge Star Wars fan, but as much as I love all the toys and gadgets, nothing can ever beat books.
Hunter by Mercedes Lackey and Ungodly by Kendare Blake – I won these two ARCs by linking up at the On Starships and Dragonwings book blog. Thanks, Anya! Be sure to check out her website and her brilliant weekly Sci-fi and Fantasy Friday feature to link up. It’s a great way to share your reviews and discover new ones.
THE SPECULATIVE HERALD
I also have some very exciting news to talk about today! For you see, a dragon is waking…
The end of this month will see the launch of The Speculative Herald, a new Science Fiction & Fantasy website with a focus on news and early reviews of the genre’s latest titles. I’ve been asked by site manager Lisa of Tenacious Reader to be a contributor, cross-posting some of the reviews I post here on The BiblioSanctum, along with other bloggers including Tammy of Books Bones & Buffy, Lynn of Lynn’s Book Blog, Bob of Beauty in Ruins and Nathan of Fantasy Review Barn. Looks like I’m in good company! So definitely keep an eye our for our big debut, and of course in the meantime you can follow us on Twitter or subscribe to the blog.
WHAT I’VE READ SINCE THE LAST UPDATE
I was very productive these last two weeks. Go me! And no, in case you’re wondering, I still haven’t been sleeping very well. Keep an eye out for reviews of these books 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.
Twelve Kings in Sharakhai by Bradley P. Beaulieu (4.5 of 5 stars)
Earth Flight by Janet Edwards (4.5 of 5 stars)
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho (4 of 5 stars)
Abomination by Gary Whitta (4 of 5 stars)
The Undying Legion by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith (4 of 5 stars)
Star Wars: Lords of the Sith by Paul S. Kemp (4 of 5 stars)
Pacific Fire by Greg Van Eekhout (4 of 5 stars)
The Trials by Linda Nagata (3.5 of 5 stars)
Updraft by Fran Wilde (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker (3.5 of 5 stars)
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (3.5 of 5 stars)
Dragon Heart by Cecelia Holland (2.5 of 5 stars)
Persona by Genevieve Valentine (2 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~
Book Review: Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Posted on September 11, 2015 25 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Sorcerer Royal
Publisher: Ace (9/1/15)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
So many comparisons have already been made to describe Sorcerer to the Crown, and I’m going to chime in too with “This feels like epic fantasy for fans of Gail Carriger.” Zen Cho has created a world here that’s reminiscent of Austen meets Tolkien, yet at the same time it’s so wonderfully adaptable that pigeonholing this book into any one category makes it feel a bit remiss.
A Regency setting is what you will get though, even if the nature of the style and story is up for debate. “Fantasy of manners” is also a subgenre that frequently crops up in discussions of novels like this, with a focus on a rigid set of expectations within a hierarchical societal structure. One of the protagonists in Sorcerer to the Crown is Zacharias Wythe, the first black sorcerer in Britain who also holds the highest office in his profession, a fact that makes him the target of much opposition and bigotry from many of his so-called “socially-refined” peers who feel that a freed slave should not have risen so far above his station.
Institutional racism and oppression is a real menace in this story, even overshadowing the threats of war from France, the dwindling magical resources of England, and the political entanglements involving the matter of witches and belligerent visiting diplomats. In spite of all that’s going on, Zacharias’ greatest enemies end up being his own neighbors and fellows. Already plagued with ugly rumors surrounding the death of his predecessor and adoptive guardian, now it seems someone has decided to go even further by attempting to murder Zacharias. Just when he thinks life couldn’t get complicated enough, along also comes Prunella Gentleman, a mixed-race young woman of considerable thaumaturgical power, and Zacharias takes it upon himself to mentor her in a society where women using magic is considered anathema.
The fleeting mention of Prunella in the book’s blurb actually belies the huge role that she plays. While I adored Zacharias, to me it was Prunella who stole the show as the star of the novel with the sheer force of her personality. In every proper situation she somehow still manages to find a way to throw expectations back into the scandalized faces of those who naively thought they could use tradition to keep her in line. It was also very entertaining to see how often she bends etiquette to her advantage, wielding it as a weapon rather than letting it restrict her (as evidenced by a particularly hilarious scene where she proposes the use of gossip and rumor as a way to actually deflect potential damage to her reputation). I loved her for her frankness and her thoroughly unbreakable spirit, and because she is strong, ruthless, and determined – in other words, the opposite of everything the small-minded folks in this book say about women magicians.
I was also surprised at how light-hearted this novel was, some of its weightier themes notwithstanding. I definitely don’t claim to be an expert in Regency fiction or books of this type, but it’s my understanding that a particular style of humor is frequently employed and that it could be quite tricky to pull off. For what it’s worth, I thought the author nailed it. There’s some genuine wit in here, subtle but also infused with that certain Austenesque charm. That said, I wouldn’t exactly call Sorcerer to the Crown an easy read, especially if you’re not use to the style, which I’m personally wasn’t. I confess to having a difficult time at the beginning of the novel while adjusting to the writing, which I thought it was a little hard on the eyes and it made reading slow. But eventually I did get into it, as you can see; once I reached a point where I could enjoy myself and start appreciating its cleverness and nuances, this novel was a pure joy.
Zen Cho crafts her setting with much love and care, evoking the Regency era and all its punctilious social arrangements but also manages to seamlessly weave in romance, adventure and political intrigue – and I haven’t even gotten the chance to mention the magic and all the fantastical creatures yet. Dandy socialites, posh boarding school matrons and quarreling politicians share this wonderfully unique world with fairies, dragons and magicians. It is a truly delightful alternate history where magic is an integral part of life.
You really can’t ask for more. Sorcerer to the Crown is a deftly written novel that thoroughly explores important issues, adding further depth to a story already rich with memorable characters and a pleasantly entertaining plot. Zen Cho is a new fantasy novelist who is immediately going on my list of authors to watch, and I’m looking forward to her next book in this series.
Book Review: Dragon Heart by Cecelia Holland
Posted on September 10, 2015 11 Comments
Dragon Heart by Cecelia Holland
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone/Book 1
Publisher: Tor (9/1/15)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Dragon Heart has a delectable premise, touting a princess, a dragon, and a castle by the sea. Its cover and description also suggests a traditional epic fantasy, but with an author who is a renowned historical fiction novelist at the helm, you just know there will be more to it than that. Indeed, the book definitely turned out a lot different than I expected, though perhaps not in the way I would have liked. I wish I could give it a more positive review, but the truth is, after a strong start the story quickly lost its steam.
This novel actually centers upon the lives of five siblings, though for most of the beginning we are led to believe that youngest daughter Tirza would be the main protagonist. Mute and simple Tirza is in truth a lot more than she seems, but the royal family has sent her away to a monastery nonetheless, where she can be hidden away and forgotten. Outside her world though, things are changing. The Empire of the east grows more powerful every day, and under a new treaty, Tirza’s mother the widow Queen Marioza must marry one of the emperor’s brothers.
The book begins with Tirza’s twin brother Jeon arriving at the monastery to fetch her for the wedding. But as the two siblings return home by sea, their ship is attacked by an enormous red dragon. Tirza ends up being taken by the dragon and is then held captive in its secret lagoon. To her amazement, she discovers that the beast understands her when she talks to it in her strange language of growls and screeches. Forming an attachment, the dragon vows to hunt down and recapture her if she ever slips its grasp, though Tirza is undeterred and one day manages to escape, fleeing back to her family at Castle Ocean.
All this happens in the first chapter, and alas, it was probably the most interesting chapter in the book. The dragon appears early, which was a high point for me, but it was just too good to last. After this, you won’t see the creature again for a good long time, and even then the nature of its bond with Tirza is never quite explored. Their relationship baffles me. Is it friendship or Stockholm syndrome? How is it that the two of them are able to communicate? Where did the deeper connection between them come from? Truth be told though, probably the less said about that overtly sexual scene involving Tirza and the dragon tongue-bath, the better.
Once we get back to Castle Ocean, there were some elements that I liked. We are introduced to the rest of Tirza’s family, starting with Queen Marioza, who is clearly a force to be reckoned with. The emperor has already tried to make her marry one of his brothers, whom she promptly put in the grave. Unfortunately, this next suitor isn’t going to be so easy to get rid of, but her children trust that she will find a way. In addition to the twins Tirza and Jeon, there are also second and third daughters Casea and Mervaly as well as oldest son and heir Luka. Each one of the royal children end up playing a role in the ensuing political storm, which had its moments.
Problem was, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and didn’t really care about any of them. Quite simply, there were just too many to keep track of and not enough time to truly get to know anyone. In addition to the royal family, we also occasionally got the points-of-view of an imperial soldier named Pal Dawd as well as a village girl named Amillee. It was too much and too fast, almost like Holland was trying to cram all the dynamics and complexities of Game of Thrones into this tiny package which comes in at just under 300 pages. While certainly ambitious, this tale regrettably falls quite short of its mark.
Most tellingly, the thing that most frustrated me about this book was how it left me cold. Whether they affect me positively or negatively, most stories usually leave me with a sense of resolution or fulfillment. On the other hand, after reading Dragon Heart my mind drew a complete blank. I didn’t even wholly dislike this novel, but I can’t give it more than a middling rating. I definitely felt like there was so much the book could have achieved. Unfortunately for me, it just never quite got there.
Tough Traveling: Magic Systems
Posted on September 10, 2015 18 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: Magic Systems
A system. For Magic. Don’t pretend y’all were not waiting for this one.
Wendy’s Picks
Blood Magic, Dragon Age
Because how can I not include blood magic, the system by which the veil between the real word and the Fade is opened wider through the use of blood.
The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
“Seven bells are used by necromancers to summon and control the Dead. While many such bell-wielders will be Free Magic sorcerers, the most highly-accomplished wielders of the seven bells come from the Abhorsen family. They are always Charter Mages, and they use the bells to defeat the Dead and compel them to return into Death and pass beyond the Ninth Gate, from which there is no return.” [X]
Three Parts Dead
The Craft Sequence by Max Gladstone
In Max Gladstone’s Craft Sequence series, black mages and necromancers wear pinstripe suits and your soul has far more value than you ever thought. Gods dream, love, and die, and magic swirls — though not everyone can use it. Learning the Craft takes training, determination, and a lot of hard work.
The Dreamblood Duology by N.K. Jemisin
Narcomancy uses the power of dreams to heal or to bring eternal rest. Though the priests of the order are meant to use this gift only to bring peace to the dying, they are fully capable of using it to attack and defend. And when a rampant dreamer shares her powerful nightmare….
The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin
This is something we have never told mortals. Paper and ink are weak structures on which to build the framework of magic. Breath and sound aren’t much better, yet we godlings willingly confine ourselves to those methods because the mortal realm is such a fragile place. And because mortals are such dangerously fast learners.
But flesh makes for an excellent conduit
And then there’s, you know, everything by Brandon Sanderson…
Tiara’s Picks:
Mage: The Ascension by White Wolf Games
Let’s just revisit my old quote about this:
This is a tabletop role playing game with a book (of course) with a very interesting magical lore that says that everyone can shape reality and that the reality people believe in (that magic doesn’t exist) is a lie perpetuated by a group called the Technocratic Union, a group that’s convinced the world that only science exists. Even the magic itself is very varied from the unusual things such as science (but in a way that the TU hates), philosophy, technology, inspiration, information and religion along with more traditional magic to name a few.
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
I can never say this enough about FMA. Science + Magic = EVERYTHING.
The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington
It has been twenty years since the end of the war. The dictatorial Augurs – once thought of almost as gods – were overthrown and wiped out during the conflict, their much-feared powers mysteriously failing them. Those who had ruled under them, men and women with a lesser ability known as the Gift, avoided the Augurs’ fate only by submitting themselves to the rebellion’s Four Tenets. A representation of these laws is now written into the flesh of any who use the Gift, forcing those so marked into absolute obedience.
As a student of the Gifted, Davian suffers the consequences of a war fought – and lost – before he was born. Despised by most beyond the school walls, he and those around him are all but prisoners as they attempt to learn control of the Gift. Worse, as Davian struggles with his lessons, he knows that there is further to fall if he cannot pass his final tests.
But when Davian discovers he has the ability to wield the forbidden power of the Augurs, he sets into motion a chain of events that will change everything. To the north, an ancient enemy long thought defeated begins to stir. And to the west, a young man whose fate is intertwined with Davian’s wakes up in the forest, covered in blood and with no memory of who he is…
The Tufa Books By Alex Bledsoe
Such a creative endeavor by Alex Bledsoe that combines music and magic in such an amazing way. I can’t praise this series enough, and it really starts to throw you for a loop as you learn what the the Tufa truly are as this goes from magical realism to mythology. Excellent series.
Nothing explains this better than the description. Because who can’t love a book where the magic relies on spelling and the main character is dyslexic? And they don’t treat it in a way that feels gross or showing ableism (but I can’t be the ultimate judge of that because I am not dyslexic):
Nicodemus is a young, gifted wizard with a problem. Magic in his world requires the caster to create spells by writing out the text… but he has always been dyslexic, and thus has trouble casting even the simplest of spells. And his misspells could prove dangerous, even deadly, should he make a mistake in an important incantation.
Yet he has always felt that he is destined to be something more than a failed wizard. When a powerful, ancient evil begins a campaign of murder and disruption, Nicodemus starts to have disturbing dreams that lead him to believe that his misspelling could be the result of a curse. But before he can discover the truth about himself, he is attacked by an evil which has already claimed the lives of fellow wizards and has cast suspicion on his mentor. He must flee for his own life if he’s to find the true villain.
But more is at stake than his abilities. For the evil that has awakened is a power so dread and vast that if unleashed it will destroy Nicodemus… and the world.
Mogsy’s Picks:
Looks like my co-bloggers have the epic fantasy handled this week! Which is good because things got pretty busy in the last couple days, but I just really wanted to chime in with a couple of my recent Urban Fantasy reads that I thought had the most awesome and mind-blowingly unique magic systems:
California Bones by Greg Van Eekhout
The magic system of osteomancy – wizards who ingest creature bones and other body parts to absorb their essence and gain their power — is as cool as it is disturbing. A chunk of sabertooth can grant great speed and agility, a bit of sint holo can give you the ability to turn invisible, some essence of firebird can allow the user to breathe flames, and so on. Where it gets really icky is when osteomancers start thinking about cannibalism and butchering other human beings to ingest the magic in their flesh and bones!
Imagine wanting or believing in something so badly, you can actually make it happen. This is the idea behind ‘Mancy, the magic system in this world. Essentially, if you’re a ‘mancer, the power of your obsession will kick the laws of physics in the ass so hard that reality literally comes undone. This is what gives rise to the many different kinds of magic users. The possibilities are endless. Deathmetalmancers! Videogamemancers! Origamimancers! Fastfoodmancers! Catgifmancers!
Waiting on Wednesday 09/09/15
Posted on September 9, 2015 9 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:
Planetfall by Emma Newman: November 3, 2015 (Roc)
Emma Newman’s The Split Worlds trilogy has been on my to-read list for a while, so I was intrigued when I heard that she’ll have a new novel out this fall, what looks to be a science fiction adventure with lots of mystery and thrills. I snagged an ARC from NetGalley last week; seeing as there’ll be another big blogger Sci-Fi November event this year, I think this would make a most excellent pick for me to review that month!
(What’s Sci-Fi November, you ask? Read all about it here and here and I hope you can join us!)
“From the award-nominated author Emma Newman, comes a novel of how one secret withheld to protect humanity’s future might be its undoing…
Renata Ghali believed in Lee Suh-Mi’s vision of a world far beyond Earth, calling to humanity. A planet promising to reveal the truth about our place in the cosmos, untainted by overpopulation, pollution, and war. Ren believed in that vision enough to give up everything to follow Suh-Mi into the unknown.
More than twenty-two years have passed since Ren and the rest of the faithful braved the starry abyss and established a colony at the base of an enigmatic alien structure where Suh-Mi has since resided, alone. All that time, Ren has worked hard as the colony’s 3-D printer engineer, creating the tools necessary for human survival in an alien environment, and harboring a devastating secret.
Ren continues to perpetuate the lie forming the foundation of the colony for the good of her fellow colonists, despite the personal cost. Then a stranger appears, far too young to have been part of the first planetfall, a man who bears a remarkable resemblance to Suh-Mi.
The truth Ren has concealed since planetfall can no longer be hidden. And its revelation might tear the colony apart…”
The BiblioSanctum 
