The BiblioSanctum

Book Review: The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin

Posted on June 19, 2023 16 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Combat Codes Saga

Publisher: Orbit (June 13, 2023)

Length: 464 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

An interesting mashup of sci-fi and fantasy that also reads like a love letter to martial arts, The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin whisks readers off to a war-ravaged world where fighting is life and life is a fight—that is, if you are a Grievar Knight.

After a war which nearly brought them all to ruin, the nations of the world decided on an armistice. Rather than launching full-scale invasions and weapons of mass destruction, they would select the most elite warriors as their champions to represent them in a system which replaces traditional warfare with single hand-to-hand combat. These are the Grievars, who live by the code to fight so that the rest shall not have to.

For Murray, who was a legend amongst the Grievar Knights until a devastating loss knocked him out of commission, his new role as a recruiter meant that he must scout out the most promising young fighters to train in the Lyceum, a premiere combat school. In one of the many no-holds-barred underground fight clubs, Murray believes he has found his champion in a 13-year-old slave named Cego after he witnesses the boy emerge victorious in a vicious bout against a much stronger opponent. But Cego has a troubled past and may have his own reasons for taking Murray’s offer other than the opportunity to study at the prestigious Lyceum.

If you like action in your SFF, then this is the book for you. Darwin, a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, brings his martial arts knowledge as well as his love for old-school action movies to this first volume of The Combat Codes saga. I have to say, it stands out amidst other fantasy warrior school novels for its hyper realistic and believable descriptions of the fight scenes, which play out like an MMA match in your mind. As someone who has trained in martial arts, recognizing many of the moves and submissions as they were being described on the page, it wasn’t difficult to become completely immersed (and there a few times I even winced in sympathy for some of the characters). Even if you aren’t a martial arts enthusiast, it’s easy to get sucked in because the author is so good at keeping the blow-by-blows engaging and the details are never overbearing.

Another reason not to worry is that, despite the heavy martial arts content, at the heart of The Combat Codes is very much a character-centric tale. I enjoyed reading about Cego’s journey, and his determination to unravel his mysterious past made it even more intriguing. He can’t remember much about his life before the Lyceum like how he ended up in the underground as a slave, but even in the face of hardships and obstacles, he never stops doing the right thing. He believes strongly in the Grievar’s Combat Codes and strives to live by them, protecting the weaker boys from bullies even if it means taking on all the ridicule and violence by himself. To those who help and support him, he is also a fiercely loyal friend.

If there is one weaker aspect of this novel though, I think it’s the world-building. Sometimes the setting feels like fantasy, sometimes it feels like sci-fi—in the end, it’s probably a bit of both. Still, trying to picture the world of The Combat Codes felt a bit like trying to see through smudged glasses. Part of this may be due to the limited scope we are proffered, as for the most part of the story takes place within the narrow confines of the Lyceum and is focused on Grievar culture. While advanced technology is frequently mentioned and every now and then we get glimpses of the dystopia that is the outside world, the overall picture is still fuzzy, and it is my hope that we’ll see the later books in this series expand upon the world-building aspect.

Speaking of which, I’m looking forward to picking up the sequel, Grievar’s Blood. All in all, The Combat Codes was a cracking good read, delivering an entertaining if not groundbreaking experience. This first book has set us up for some big things, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.

YA Weekend: The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

Posted on June 17, 2023 11 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

Mogsy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: HarperTeen (April 25, 2023)

Length: 368 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

The Lake House is Sarah Beth Durst’s YA thriller that does overtime as a survival horror. It follows three teen girls who arrive at the Maine-based Lake House camp expecting a sun-soaked summer of adventures and fun on the island but instead find themselves trapped in a terrifying nightmare.

Our protagonist is Claire, a world-class worrier. A pessimist at heart, she always thinks of the worst-case scenario in every situation, obsessing over every single detail so that she can be prepared when things inevitably go wrong. This year, she’s working on her extracurriculars in preparation for college, and her parents have signed her up for summer camp at Lake House she can add an off-the-grid experience to her application as well as make some new friends.

But when Claire arrives with Reyva and Mariana, her fellow would-be campers, all the girls discover at the site of Lake House is a burned-out husk of a building. Now that the boat that brought them here is gone and there’s no cell service, they’re also stuck. Worse, once they start exploring the surrounding woods, they also find the body of their camp director, dead by gunshot wound. Frightened and confused, the girls have no way off the island and must find a source of food and shelter before the storm arrives, not to mention the possibility of a killer on the loose.

I had mixed feelings about The Lake House. The vibe it’s going for is a bit of old-school slasher horror meets One of Us is Lying, which provides plenty of oomph to get the ball rolling. And roll it does, at least for the first half. We have three girls trapped at camp Lake House, or what’s left of it, each with their own reasons for being there, each with their own unique set of skills to bring to the table. For a while it was an awesome and suspenseful survival story, with shades of Lost. Claire’s anxiety and wariness ends up being an asset to the group as she alerts her new friends to all the potential dangers they could face out in the wilderness.

It goes on like this, with the characters sharing their stories and their strengths as they overcome the terrors thrown their way. Eventually though, we hit a peak and the intrigue high starts to wear off, leaving behind the doldrums. The horror element fades to the background as the plot trots out trope after thriller trope, even as the story’s overall pacing hits a wall. While there was no actual slowdown per se, it just felt like we were going around in circles stalling for time as we made virtually no headway on solving the greater mystery.

To be fair, if I hadn’t read any of the author’s previous work, I might have enjoyed this one a lot more. But having no less than half a dozen of Durst’s other books under my belt including her Queens of Renthia series and Bone Maker (my personal favorite), The Lake House simply felt underdeveloped and dull in comparison. Its premise was also too simplistic, the writing lacking in the deeper nuances that I know Durst is capable of, which is why I can’t see this as anything but a letdown. I suppose it’s fine if you aren’t expecting too much, but the author has written better books and I would recommend passing on this one.

Thursday Thriller Audio: The Only One Left by Riley Sager

Posted on June 15, 2023 7 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Penguin Audio (June 20, 2023)

Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Narrators: Dawn Harvey, Christine Lakin

Ooh, this one was a doozy! Riley Sager spins a thrilling gothic tale with The Only One Left which was equal parts mystery and heart-stopping action.

It is 1983, and home healthcare aide Kit McDeere is desperate for work following a scandal which resulted in her being suspended by her agency and investigated by the police. Even though she was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, the damage had already been done. With her name tarnished, Kit has no choice but to take on a particularly difficult assignment from her old employer, even if the very idea of it makes her sick to her stomach.

Perched on a rocky cliff overlooking the Atlantic is a dilapidated mansion known as Hope’s End. Its owner, 71-year-old Lenora Hope is paralyzed and does not speak, requiring round-the-clock care. However, back in 1929, she made headlines when her mother, father, and sister were found murdered in the very same house. A teenager at the time, Lenora was the sole survivor—and the prime suspect. Though she claimed she didn’t do it, and the evidence wasn’t strong enough to convict her, everyone who knew of the murders believed Lenora to be the culprit. As with Lizzie Borden, they even made a catchy little rhyme about her.

It is this very same chant that is running through Kit’s mind as she makes her way to Hope’s End to meet the infamous Lenora Hope. But as it turns out, her client is nothing like she expected. Day after day, our protagonist gradually bonds with the elderly woman, and even starts to see parallels between their two lives. After all, like Kit, Lenora avoided prosecution but was presumed guilty by the world.

Still, while there is a possibility that Lenora is innocent, there are still too many things that don’t line up. For one, the timing of the job seemed suspicious. Lenora’s last caregiver, Mary, was supposedly very fond of her, so then why did she give up the job and leave so abruptly? With Lenora paralyzed, who does Kit hear moving around in the old woman’s room at night? And why is the household manager, Mrs. Baker, so strangely strict about the rules where Lenora is concerned?

By the way, all of this is even before the body is discovered. After that, it’s a nonstop nail-biter with far more surprises than I was expecting.

In fact, in most thriller reviews, you might see one of two big twists being discussed, to which Riley Sager comes in with “Those are rookie numbers!” Seriously, there are just SO. MANY. TWISTS. Too many, perhaps? Contrary to popular belief, I do think it’s a possibility, and at some point, the law of diminishing returns applies. While one great twist can be immensely satisfying, a series of them can do more harm than good especially if they completely transform an ending from believable to ridiculous. This definitely happened here, and I think The Only One Left would have been a much better book had Sager quit while he was ahead and didn’t try so hard to cram in twists #4, #5, #6, etc.

Still, what a crazy whirlwind of a thriller! While the ending might have gone off the rails a little, I nonetheless had so much fun with this one. I highly recommend this if you’re looking for a book that you just can’t put down, as long as you don’t mind suspending your disbelief a little—or a lot. It’s also wonderfully propulsive in the audio format narrated by Dawn Harvey and Christine Lakin who take on the roles of Kit and Lenora. My favorite book by the author yet!

Waiting on Wednesday 06/14/23

Posted on June 14, 2023 4 Comments

Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!

Mogsy’s Pick

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (October 31, 2023 by Tor)

“A grim and gothic new tale from New York Times bestselling author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can’t stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all.

Eden, Kentucky, is just another dying, bad-luck town, known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland–and disappeared.

Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the uncanny house―and its last lonely heir, Arthur Starling―go to rot. Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never had: a home.

As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares.

If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it.“

Book Review: The Will of the Many by James Islington

Posted on June 12, 2023 20 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Will of the Many by James Islington

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Hierarchy

Publisher: Gallery/Saga Press (May 23, 2023)

Length: 688 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

It’s a shame this book isn’t getting as much attention or recognition compared to other big name fantasy titles releasing this year, because I have a feeling this one’s going to end up in my top three picks for the genre in 2023. In fact, I’m just going to say it: If you are a fan of epic fantasy, The Will of the Many absolutely needs to be on your reading list. Like, right now. No excuses.

Set in the aftermath of the conquering of his kingdom by the Hierarchy, a young prince who escaped execution must conceal his true identity until the perfect opportunity arises to exact his revenge. Formerly known as Prince Diago of Suus, Vis now lives the life of an unassuming orphan, biding his time as he pretends to support the new regime of their enslavers.

However, his time is running short. Society in the Hierarchy, which is heavily inspired by the Roman Empire, is built on a system of Will—which is sort of like a person’s life force. Those at the top draw this energy from the subjugated, who are told to cede their Will for the greater good as it is what literally makes the world go ‘round in the Hierarchy. It’s also what keeps the ruling class in power; the more people they conquer, the stronger they get. And unfortunately, Vis has almost reached the age where he can no longer avoid having his Will drained by the Sappers.

But then, he receives an offer of help from an unexpected quarter. Senator Ulciscor Telimus, whose brother died under mysterious circumstances at the prestigious Catenan Academy, wants to adopt Vis and send him to school there to get answers about the suspected murder. The plan is for Vis to infiltrate the student body which is made up of the children of the elite, all destined for the highest ranks of the Hierarchy. Vis can help Ulciscor uncover the secrets at the Academy, and if he does well in his studies, he might even receive a leadership position which would give him the freedom to do anything he wants and, more importantly, keep his Will.

What comes next is a vast, winding saga consisting of layers upon layers of mystery and intrigue. It is also a phenomenal achievement in world-building and character development. Some reviewers have said that this book reminds them of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, and I would say those comparisons are apt, though in many ways The Will of the Many is even better. For one, the plot feels deeper, more mature and complex. The relationships between Vis and those around him are also more multidimensional and meaningful. Until now, I have only read the first of James Islington’s Licanius trilogy, and it’s clear he has come a long way.

The emotional journey of our protagonist is only one of the many praiseworthy aspects of this novel. The Hierarchy killed his family and stole his future, but as Vis enters Catenan Academy, he must force himself to swallow the hatred and rage towards his people’s oppressors while trying to become one of them. And yet, in the course of his spying, unexpected friendships started to form. He may even end up finding love.

The storytelling was also superb. Islington takes readers on a dizzying ride of plot twists and turns as Vis encounters multiple obstacles and challenges, because after all, where’s the fun in plans that go exactly as expected? Harrowing close calls and gasp-worthy betrayals force our protagonist to act quickly and think on the fly in order to protect his identity. It’s also not a proper magic school story unless the protagonist has made several enemies among students and teaching staff whose sole purpose is to make his life a living hell, and believe me, The Will of the Many is a proper magic school story, one of the best.

That said, if I had to level one criticism at this novel, it’s the fact that it leans on certain tropes a bit too much. At almost 700 pages, I also don’t expect each and every single one of them to contain something riveting, but there were definitely a few lulls that went on longer than I would have liked. Of course, none of these are dealbreakers, and always the story managed to steer things back on track with another bout of action and excitement.

To say I’m impressed is understating it by miles. This book is a gem that deserves to be a much bigger deal, and if you only have room to squeeze just one more title into your reading schedule this year, I highly recommend it being The Will of the Many. Yes, I know it’s quite the tome, but it is worth it. I am excited for the sequel to see what will happen next.

Bookshelf Roundup 06/11/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on June 11, 2023 16 Comments

Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every 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 summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.

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Received for Review

With thanks to Tor Books for:

The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson, billed as an uplifting story set in a magical circus. I am excited to dive into this beautiful book.

With thanks to Del Rey Books for:

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare, the first book of an epic fantasy series following two outcasts who get caught up in a web of dark magic, secrets, and forbidden love. Believe it or not, I’ve never read anything by Clare, but I’m curious about her first venture into adult fantasy.

With thanks to Orbit Books for:

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem, a debut Egyptian-inspired fantasy steeped in political intrigue. I am simply in awe of this gorgeous ARC and can’t wait to check it out.

With thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for:

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain. I enjoyed the author’s debut The Push, which made we want to check out her latest mystery thriller.
Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano, a horror mystery which unfolds on a creepy island following the arrival of a woman who seeks to learn the truth about her son’s death.
The Devil’s Playground by Craig Russell, a Hollywood thriller about the making of the most terrifying silent film ever made, from the author who also brought us The Devil Aspect.

With thanks to Blackstone Publishing for::

The Infinite Miles by Hannah Fergesen, described as a wacky time-traveling sci-fi odyssey and a clever homage to Doctor Who. Sounds just like my thing!

With thanks to Macmillan Audio for:

Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding. It’s New Year’s Eve 1999 and seven women receive a mysterious message telling them to gather in a seedy hotel room where the severed head of a man they all know sits in the middle of the floor. Sounds like one hell of a premise!
The Edge of Sleep by Jake Emanuel, Willie Block, Jason Gurley, an apocalyptic-dystopian sci-fi about a sleeping sickness that overtakes the world. If you fall asleep, you might not wake up. Based on the audio drama podcast.

Reviews

Recent Reads/Upcoming Reviews

Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!

Novella Review: The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

Posted on June 9, 2023 16 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

Mogsy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire (May 2, 2023)

Length: 106 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

On the surface, this story may seem familiar: A mermaid gives up her voice to marry a human prince and be a part of his world. But the twist is so much darker and macabre in The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, a blood-drenched reimagining of this fairy tale classic.

As the book opens, the main character begins by remembering her tragic past as she travels with a companion, a plague doctor, through a snow-covered forest. Far from her ocean home, the mermaid recounts the way she was forcibly claimed by a selfish prince, who cut out her tongue so that she could not speak. But then their children were born, and our mermaid had the last laugh. Her bloodthirsty and ravenous daughters ended up devouring all the humans and burned the prince’s kingdom to the ground, releasing the mermaid from her imprisonment.

Now our protagonist is on the lam, with the somber plague doctor who is also running from a dark past. Somewhere along their journey, they come upon a village where they witness a group of children seemingly at play, until the games turn deadly. The mermaid and the plague doctor soon discover that the village is headed by a trio of self-professed surgeon-saints who claim to hold the key to immortality. As more terrible revelations come to light, the new trust forged between our two friends is put to the test as their mission swiftly shifts to survival.

To be perfectly blunt, I did not care for this book, and while the reasons are bigger than the issues I have with novellas in general, I’m sure they played a part as well. For one thing, I found it grossly over-written, not even all that subtly in certain places where scenes are being intentionally padded. The resulting prose felt unpleasantly dense and impenetrable, as evidenced by the inordinate amount of time it took me to get through this slim volume which only clocks in at slightly over one hundred pages.

Ironically, I doubt Khaw was hurting for content. The story had plenty of areas the author could have explored or developed further, but Khaw chose to place greater emphasis on descriptive imagery. And hey, if that’s what you’re into, then great—you’ll probably have a much better time than I did with The Salt Grows Heavy. Personally, I would have preferred to see more substance especially with regards to plot and characters, or else it simply feels pretentious and a bit try-hard. Because when you cut away all the flowery words, the story you are left with is actually quite lean and astonishingly simplistic. Even the horror is diluted by the purple prose, which I found most frustrating. At the end of it all, I just wanted to scream, “But it could have been so much more!”

And speaking of unrealized potential, we have the characters and their unique relationship. Individually, both the mermaid and the plague doctor were sufficiently well written and interesting. Together as a team, they should have been glorious. However, I had a hard time being convinced of the beautiful bond they’d supposedly formed during their ordeal, again because all the good stuff was simply lost amidst the ham-fisted metaphors and million-dollar words.

To be fair, I’m probably not the target audience for a book like this, and I’d figured this out about a dozen pages in but decided to continue anyway because that was already a good chunk of this bite-sized novella. If you are a prose junkie with an affinity for lyrical, almost poetic writing styles or would like a chance to expand your vocabulary, The Salt Grows Heavy could work for you. But if on the other hand you are a reader who prefers plot-driven and character-focused stories, I feel it is weaker in those areas.

Waiting on Wednesday 06/07/23

Posted on June 7, 2023 12 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

Red River Seven by A.J. Ryan (October 10, 2023 by Orbit)

“Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan – writing as A. J. Ryan – delivers a nerve-shredding novel in which seven strangers must undertake a terrifying journey into the unknown.

A man awakes on a boat at sea with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. He’s not alone – there are six others. None of them can remember their names, but all bear the scars of recent surgery.

When a message appears on the onboard computer – Proceeding to Point A – the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming.
But as the boat moves through the mist-shrouded waters, divisions begin to form, and the group is plagued by questions. Who is directing them, why have their memories been wiped, and what are the screams they can hear beyond the mist?”

Book Review: Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede

Posted on June 6, 2023 15 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire (June 6, 2023)

Length: 288 pages

Author Information: Website

Meet Maeve Fly. Her literary hero is Patrick Bateman of American Psycho fame and her commitment to the persona is real. By day, she’s a princess at a popular California theme park (which the book is careful never to name, but anyone can connect the dots) while by night, she’s slamming them back and reading Marquis de Sade at the local dive bars, usually accompanied by her coworker and friend Kate. At home, she lives with her grandmother Tallulah, who was quite a Hollywood star back in her heyday, though now she lies in a coma.

Besides Tallulah, Kate is the only other person Maeve feels a real connection to. But while our protagonist truly loves her job, her friend is an aspiring actress with her own plans for stardom, merely using the princess gig as a stepping-stone towards her big break. One night, Kate introduces Maeve to her brother Gideon, a famous pro hockey player who has just been transferred from New York. Immediately drawn to Gideon but also put off by him as well, Maeve has trouble putting into words exactly how she feels about him but knows she doesn’t like it one bit. No matter what she does though, the two of them keep meeting up, setting off a wild relationship that sends Maeve spiraling into a world of murder and debauchery.

So, first things first. Maeve Fly, an edgy transgressive horror novel from debut author C.J. Leede, is definitely not going to be for everyone. Specifically, this book is not for you if you’re someone with a weak stomach to gory violence or are disturbed by gruesome scenes of torture, salacious descriptions of sexual fetishism, graphic depictions of assault and murder, as well as a whole host of similarly unpleasant subjects. As a character, Maeve is certainly not shy about her kinks and is unabashedly open about her depraved fantasies, lamenting the way she often feels constrained by social norms and expectations. Such is the nature of this book, which relishes in being unapologetically provocative.

That said, there is also a fine line between using shock to elevate a story in the name of art versus being offensive and disgusting simply because you can do it. Now, I don’t really consider myself a squeamish reader, since the years of reading grimdark fantasy have pretty much inured me to every act of unspeakable sadism and cold-blooded violence that you can think of. I’ve also read American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, the work that so inspired our protagonist, which I think still reigns supreme in terms of the sickest and most disturbing murders I’ve ever seen written in a book. So, while it is certainly gross and bloody in its own right, in truth, the actual content of Maeve Fly did not particularly bother me.

What did annoy me, however, was the fact it frequently crosses that aforementioned fine line into shock-for-the-sake-of-shock territory. Sure, I think it’s interesting that a character like Maeve can manage to live a double life hiding her vile proclivities beneath that wholesome Disney princess exterior. The story compels you to reconcile the monster within to the kind and loving part of Maeve that cares for her grandmother and delights in making children happy. It’s a dynamic that could have used a bit more attention, especially since the character duality is something that Leede seems genuinely keen on exploring, but sadly much of it gets lost in the gratuitous violence and gore instead.

Still, at the end of the day, I did enjoy Maeve Fly, which is admittedly more in-your-face and over-the-top than the horror I usually read. Generally though, I find it worthwhile to read outside the box, and of course, it helped that I knew exactly what I was getting into when I picked it up. Despite overplaying the shock card to the point where it felt excessive and self-indulgent at times, when it wasn’t trying so hard to be gross and edgy, the story was actually quite fun.

Review: Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini

Posted on June 5, 2023 14 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 0 of Fractalverse

Publisher: Tor |Macmillan Audio (May 16, 2023)

Length: 304 pages | 9 hrs and 57 mins

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Audiobook Narrated by Jennifer Hale

While Fractal Noise has been framed as sort of a prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, for those wondering if you can read it as a standalone, the answer is absolutely yes. In fact, it was so far removed from the first book and added so little to the overall Fractalverse that it left me a little disappointed.

As the story opens, we’re introduced to protagonist xenobiologist Alex who is still deep in the throes of grief for his wife Layla, killed in an accident when they were both colonists on the planet Eidolon. Dealing with the guilt of not being there to protect her is also a constant distraction from his current work aboard the Adamura, an exploration vessel on a survey assignment. Then, the crew’s cartographer picks up something strange on an uncharted planet called Talos VII, which is supposedly devoid of any life. So, what could have possibly made the huge, perfectly circular hole on the planet’s surface?

After much discussion on what they should do, the crew eventually decides to put together a team to investigate the crater. Alex finds himself on the mission together with team leader Talia and fellow scientists Chen and Pushkin, but while each member brings along invaluable expertise in their respective knowledge areas, tempers also run hot as different personalities and ideologies clash. It doesn’t take long for things to go south as the group makes its way towards their destination, an alien artifact that might just prove less dangerous than the simmering tensions building between the human crew members.

For a story mainly focused on character relationships, it was surprisingly difficult for me to care about or even connect to any of them. Most of them feel like caricatures, simplistic and embodying a single trait—Talia and her religious fervor, Pushkin and his over-the-top aggression, and Chen was simply the dude who got himself injured. Then there was our main character Alex, whose overwhelming grief was something we were constantly reminded of, to the point where he became completely defined by it. As a result, none of the conflicts or dialogue between the team members felt truly organic, instead coming across as manufactured and repetitive.

Fortunately, the story fared better, especially with regards to the mystery surrounding alien phenomena. The ominous sights and sounds were described vividly, building up to an atmosphere that was positively claustrophobic. If you are a fan of “doomed expedition” tales, I think you will be very happy with the deep immersion of the setting and overall mood of paranoia and fear.

Heck, I’d even say Fractal Noise was a pretty decent story of first contact. That said, if you are looking for more of the intrigue and action that we got from To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, I’m sorry to say it but you won’t find it here. Admittedly, had it been more like the first book, I probably would have enjoyed this one a lot more. However, the lack of connection to the characters really put a damper on things, not to mention the frustration of not having a clear resolution or making any headway on the greater mystery.

Ultimately, I feel as though Christopher Paolini set out to write this as a character-oriented novel but somehow fumbled the actual characterization—you know, the important part—making most of the book feel like a slog because so much was centered around the team’s interactions which did not interest me. It’s a shame too, because the actual premise is quite good, and with a more engaging and fully fleshed out cast, Fractal Noise could have easily surpassed the original. Despite its prequel status, I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one if you’re in any way curious about the Fractalverse, but it’s probably worth reading if you’re already invested in the series. For the most part though, I feel it missed the mark with me.