Book Review: Cherry Bomb by Kathleen Tierney/Caitlín R. Kiernan
Posted on February 8, 2015 17 Comments
Cherry Bomb by Kathleen Tierney/Caitlín R. Kiernan
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of Siobhan Quinn
Publisher: Roc (February 3, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
The Siobhan Quinn series is the dark underbelly of urban fantasy you never get to see, a project that began as the author Caitlín R. Kiernan’s (writing as Kathleen Tierney) “protest against what ‘paranormal romance’ has done to the once respectable genre”. It is harsh, it is gritty, it is obscene…but so help me I’ve loved every page and every moment I’ve gotten to spend with its crude and foul-mouthed protagonist.
Cherry Bomb is the latest (and apparently also the last – I’ll have more words on this later) book of the series. It has been three years since Quinn walked out on Mean Mr. B and left Rhode Island behind her, and after traveling around the country she eventually settled in the Big Apple. One night she meets a seductive antiquities dealer named Selwyn Throckmorton in a BDSM club and the two immediately hit it off. Unbeknownst to Quinn, however, Miss Throckmorton has apparently been getting into all kinds of trouble trading in ghoul artifacts with some deeply unsavory characters.
They say love makes you do foolish things, and if you ask Quinn I’m sure she’ll offer her agreement along with some choice words for how she feels about that.
This book is the arguably the grittiest, most aggressive and in-your-face installment yet. In spite of that, I wish I could claim the series goes out with a bang. It doesn’t though, not really. Or at least, not in any conventional sense. But seeing as how this series is all about doing things unconventionally, I suppose the ending strikes the right tone in its own way.
Of course, a lot of my feelings might have to do with how I discovered this was the final Siobhan Quinn novel. I literally found out on the very last page – the Author’s Note. Up to this point, I was actually quite happy with the ending, but after becoming aware that this book concludes the series, my expectations were inevitably altered. Not very fair of me, perhaps; but I can’t help that this is how I feel, and for that reason I wish I had known beforehand. I wasn’t looking for anything happy or monumental, but I still I couldn’t help but wish things had wrapped up in a more memorable conclusion.
Because this series is also a satirical look at the urban fantasy genre, it makes these books hard to review. But I did feel Cherry Bomb is lighter on the dark, twisted humor than the first two novels, and is instead just darker and more twisted in general, not to mention also more violent, more disturbing and more depressing. I’m all right with this on the whole, though I frequently found myself missing Quinn’s dry wit. She still retains that “very Quinn” sense of humor, but now it has an edge. Understandably, the events of the last novel and then in this one has jaded her (even more) and it really shows in her new attitude.
Finally, Quinn isn’t meant to be an admirable or a sympathetic character; she’s lewd, unpleasant, and over-the-top, but that’s also why I love her. And because I love her, it was very hard for me to see her manipulated and played like a damn fiddle. Selwyn isn’t a very likeable character either (and we’re actually warned about this) but she knows that deep down inside Quinn is a goodness that she’s not afraid to take advantage of, and it drove me nuts. On the one hand, I spent a lot of time reading this book feeling annoyed at Quinn for letting Selwyn lead her around by the nose (what happened to the spitfire from the last two books? That Quinn I know wouldn’t have taken any of this crap), but on the other hand, it did open my eyes to the softer, more solicitous side to her personality. Love, after all, can change someone, make them act differently, and I liked how Tierney/Kiernan explored Quinn’s character in this book by really peeling back the layers.
Once more, the author delivers another fantastic Siobhan Quinn novel. If you ask me, it’s a series that ended all too soon. Still, it’s probably best to say goodbye on a high note, not to mention no one likes to see a series drag on unnecessarily and I would have hated to see one this special wear out its welcome. I heartily recommend this series to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, anti-heroes, and dark stories…and who won’t mind reading a book that come with a warning label.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Roc Books!
YA Weekend: Half the World by Joe Abercrombie
Posted on February 7, 2015 33 Comments
Half the World by Joe Abercrombie
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of The Shattered Sea
Publisher: Del Rey (February 17, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
You gotta hand it to Joe Abercrombie. Knocking it out of the park on his first venture into Young Adult territory could be seen as a fluke, but when he nails it again for a second time, it’s clearly a testament to his writing skills and versatility. This author is a master when it comes to storytelling, whether he’s writing for teens or adults.
Half the World is the follow-up-but-not-really-a-direct-sequel to Half a King, which introduced readers to the land of Gettland and a young prince with a crippled hand named Yarvi. A man grown now, Prince Yarvi has become Father Yarvi, a trusted minister to Gettland’s king, and is no longer the main focus; instead, that torch and its responsibilities have been passed on to sixteen-year-old Thorn Bathu, a girl with a fierce heart and a fighter’s spirit.
Determined to one day avenge her father, Thorn has been training for years to become a warrior of Gettland, only to fail on the day of her testing and be condemned to death for the accidental killing of a fellow student. When a young warrior named Brand speaks up on her behalf, Thorn is spared from execution only to be swept up along with Brand into an ambitious political plot devised by the cunning Father Yarvi, which sees the three of them and a ragtag crew embarking on an exciting but dangerous diplomatic mission across half the world.
For a society that worships a goddess referred to as Mother War, you would think they’d be more open and accepting of female warriors, but apparently not. It’s an uphill battle all the way for Thorn Bathu to prove herself to her teacher, her peers and even to her own mother, whom Thorn suspects had always wished for a daughter more into sewing and pretty dresses. But Thorn is who she is, and I can’t say I would have preferred it any other way. Not that kickass heroines are in short supply when it comes to the YA genre, but take any of the female protagonists in any of the more popular books in the genre these days, and I guarantee you Thorn will make every single one of them look like fluffy kittens. When I say Thorn is a tough girl, you definitely get a tough girl. That’s mainly because Abercrombie simply does not hold back when it comes to his characters; if he feels that a fight scene calls for his protagonist getting a knife through the cheek…well, she’s getting a knife through the cheek (“Ouch, sorry about that, Thorn, but it builds character!)
Not that Abercrombie is infallible. One thing to note is that there was not a full-blown romantic subplot in Half a King like there is in Half the World, and when it comes to writing a YA romance and a teenage girl’s perspective, he manages admirably though not without unintentional awkwardness. Scenes where Thorn is kicking ass and taking names seem to come naturally, but where her softer feelings for Brand are concerned (playing mental games of he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not, feeling jealous of other girls, appreciating the virtues of his well-toned backside, etc.) that’s when you sense that Abercrombie may be feeling a bit out of his comfort zone. It’s not too distracting; the moments where Thorn almost acts like a completely different person are more amusing than they are truly problematic. However, this does make Brand the more consistent character, and I sometimes found myself enjoying and looking forward to his chapters more than Thorn’s.
Story-wise, I also found the twists and turns in Half the World to be somewhat tamer and more predictable than in Half a King, though this might have something to do with the fact that we now know the character of Father Yarvi well enough to “expect the unexpected”. Nevertheless, I sailed through this novel loving every page of it, but the highlight was without a doubt the last few chapters that led up to and culminated in the stunning climax. For you see, fight scenes are a bit of a Joe Abercrombie specialty. Once the action starts, it’s impossible to tear your eyes away. The final showdown was one such sequence, with the suspense keeping you on the edge of seat until the moment of reckoning. As climaxes go, that was close to perfection. Before the ending, I was already pretty set on rating Half the World a solid 4 stars, but that one amazing scene alone made me bump it up to 4.5.
One thing is clear, though – the scene is now set for the next and final book of the trilogy. Seeing as how things have progressed so far, Half a War promises to be even more intense and exciting. I can’t wait.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Del Rey Books!
Book Review: The City Stained Red by Sam Sykes
Posted on February 6, 2015 10 Comments
The City Stained Red by Sam Sykes
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Bring Down Heaven
Publisher: Orbit (January 27, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
The City Stained Red is the start of Sam Sykes’ new series called Bring Down Heaven and it takes place in the same “universe” as his Aeon’s Gate trilogy. Happily, you do not have to have read the latter before tackling the former. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that the two series were linked until it was bought up to me by a fellow reviewer. I don’t doubt, however, that if you’ve read Aeon’s Gate you will find this novel’s world and history all the more powerful and enriching.
The book opens with an introduction to a mercenary named Lenk, and the list of his fellow adventurers looks conspicuously like a party straight out of a role-playing game. There’s Kataria the elf-like archer, Asper the priestess of healing, Dreadaeleon the young wizard, Denaos the rogue with a shadowy past, and Gariath the beastly dragon-man brawler. Together, they arrive at the city of Cier’Djaal to track down a man named Miron, a client who hired them to do a job and then stiffed them out of their pay. The group has chosen a hell of time to arrive though, as two opposing armies bear down on the capital desiring only blood and war. As demons emerge from the depths to harry Lenk and his team, a banished god also takes advantage of the turmoil to rise again.
This was a good book, though it did have the occasional hiccup. To its credit, the book started out by putting its best foot forward, with Sykes winning me over with his clever writing style and delightfully dry wit. Despite the fantasy archetypes, his characters have unique personalities and voices, and I particularly liked Lenk’s sardonic and self-deprecating attitude. Sykes also ensures that his readers get plenty enough time with everyone in the group, devoting time to each character with their own perspective chapters as we move through the story. Lenk, Kataria, Asper, Denaos, Dreadaeleon and Gariath all have backstories that make them interesting, and their personal struggles give them depth, elevating each beyond simply “stock character” status.
I hit my first speed bump around the quarter-way mark when I felt the story lose some of its momentum, and it took me a moment to figure out why. After all, at this point we were still going full steam ahead with all the conflict and wicked fight scenes. Then I realized that might be part of the problem. There is such a thing as too much action, and I felt perhaps the story could have found a better balance. After what felt like a string of chapters featuring non-stop battling, I stopped to wonder where the plot was going. I was sure that it was heading towards a certain direction, but at the same time it seemed to be stalling out from all the fighting.
Also, while I appreciated a deeper look into each character, the format of shifting from one perspective to the next hindered the pacing to an extent. It might not have been so noticeable if it had been only two or three characters, but the downside of cycling through six points of view is that you risk breaking up the flow of the story. Individually, the characters were also written well and I was able to connect with them, but the relationship dynamics between them were harder for me to grasp. It was especially tough to relate to Lenk’s feelings for Kataria. The fact that he has strong feelings towards her is made obvious through the text, but even though Sykes is good at expressing a wide range of Lenk’s emotions, when it comes to love and passion it is still a tad bit shaky.
Fortunately, the story regained its traction once it got moving again, which I was glad to see. I enjoyed the rest of the book, though it’s also true I was unable to throw myself back into with the same energy and enthusiasm I experienced at the book’s beginning. Still, the good parts – most notably the beginning and the end – stand out and make this one a memorable read. What other foul and evil things can befall our adventurers in this awful, awful city I can’t even imagine, but I’m sure Sykes has more in store for us in the next installment. I’m looking forward to finding out.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Orbit Books!
Panels: Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1
Posted on February 5, 2015 1 Comment
College roommates Nancy Whitehead and Doreen Green get to know each other in Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1
Tough Traveling: Evil Lairs
Posted on February 5, 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 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; Evil Lairs
The evil lair is where a great fantasy villain will spend the plurality of his or her time. (Topic provided by Christopher Scott Hand).
Wendy’s Picks:
As always, Lord of the Rings trumps all lists. In this case, there’s that place where that burning eye thing hands out where that little guy has to take the thing….
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
The Arameri might not see their home as an evil lair, but to everyone who serves them, Sky is just that. Especially since it is the home of the imprisoned gods the Arameri use as weapons, including the deadly Nightlord, Nahadoth.
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
What if the bad guy turns an entire city into his evil lair. And even more eviler, makes it a place that normal folks want to live because he supplies all the jobs and food and other important things that make living fun. While he does have a secret lair within it, all of Newcago is Steelheart’s personal playground. And you better stay on his good side.
Banewreaker by Jacqueline Carey
With a name like Darkhaven, this place has got to be evil, right? But it turns out that Satoris, the god accused of ushering in the world-ruining Sundering, is really just the victim of a horrible smear campaign by his siblings.
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
What could be more evil than a lair that can actually eat other lairs? Such is the case with London — yes, that London — in a time when cities are equipped with wheels and vicious weapons and tools to devour anything too slow to get out of their way.
Moirin’s Trilogy by Jacqueline Carey
Moirin seems drawn to evil lairs, possibly because her lovers all hang out in them. In Naamah’s Curse, she must rescue Bao from the Spider Queen, who holds him high in the mountains above Bhodistan. In Naamah’s Blessing, she must brave the black river and all the dangers of Terra Nova to find Raphael de Merliot in his fancy new home.
Mogsy’s Picks:
Such a tough theme! Gonna warn you ahead of time, my picks aren’t gonna be mind-blowing. I had a hard time coming up with examples this week, I’m just going to blame it on lack of sleep.
Firefight by Brandon Sanderson
When seeking examples of evil lairs, always look to superhero/supervillain fiction. David and his fellow Reckoners are in Babylar (formerly Manhattan) in this follow-up to Steelheart. To defeat the Epic who rules the city, they first have to hunt her down by locating her super-secret hideout.
The Death Star in Star Wars
The Death Star is a space station and an ultimate weapon designed to allow Emperor Palpatine rule his empire through fear. Equipped with a super-powered laser, it is capable of destroying a planet with a single shot, as poor Alderaan learned. The first Death Star was the “evil lair” of its commander Grand Moff Tarkin, who also masterminded its development.
Arthas: Rise of the Lich King by Christie Golden
So I’m really scrambling for anything here. I was hanging out in World of Warcraft recently and noticed a couple of guildies running classic raids, going back into Icecrown Citadel to kill Arthas for the old cheevies. I thought to myself, Hey now, that counts as an evil lair, doesn’t it?
Comic Stack 02/04/2015
Posted on February 4, 2015 2 Comments
I have a confession. I have a ton of first issues of comics. I’m not even joking about this. While I enjoy reading and reviewing comics, I’m not one that likes to review every single issue of a comic, especially if I lose interest and quit the series. I prefer to review volumed editions for that reason. After deciding that I really need to start weeding through my comics, I thought I’d start posting about the #1s I read. What better day to post than on the most holiest of days (next to New Video Game Tuesday, of course)–New Comic Book Day?
This won’t always feature the newest releases, but it will feature comics I’ve recently received. This will kind of be like review bites, but all comics based and only focused on the first issues of comics I have. I won’t be focusing so much on your mainstream Marvel and DC comics. That’s not to say I may not include books from some of them or their imprints from time to time, but it won’t be your typical X-Men or Batman books unless there’s some exceptional reason I think they should be included.
Revenger #1 by Charles Sanford Forsman
Publisher: Oily Comics (January 21, 2015)
Genre: Action-Adventure, Crime, Leading Ladies
“When all else fails, Revenger evens the score.”
Revenger is about a woman who doesn’t take any shit. That’s what the blurb said about this comic, and it felt fitting to start this with that. Revenger follows a woman who helps people who have problems they can’t solve themselves. Violence is her trade, but she gets results. The story starts with a brief fight scene where we get a glimpse that there are things that hunt the protagonist and what her motivations might be. Later in the story, she’s contacted by a teenage boy who fears that his missing girlfriend’s father may have done something terrible to her.
The art on this one made me feel some kind of way. It made me think of Beavis & Butthead and seemed a bit understated for the story itself, but there was something strangely compelling about the style all the same. Also, I do have one little gripe. This story takes place in a troubled United States during the 1980s, but there’s little in the art wise or story wise that makes me feel like I’m reading a story set in the 80s.
I was a little afraid that this was going to be schlocky. All the elements were there for it to turn me off. However, the story is captivating. Who is this woman? What made her this way? Can I have her autograph? There are so many questions and so few answers at this point. Forsman isn’t showing all his cards. He’s carefully presenting them in a way to keep me reading.
Sanity & Tallulah: Plucky Teen Girl Space Detectives #1 by Molly Brooks
Publisher: Molly Brooks (January 21, 2015)
Genre: Science-Fiction, Leading Ladies
Sanity & Tallulah #1 introduces us to two teenage girls–Sanity and Tallulah, in case you’re wondering, ages unspecified–who live on the space station WilnickSS. After dropping off some mail, Sanity and Tallulah decide to do a little exploring after Tallulah suggests that they check out an asteroid belt that’s out of bounds, but not, y’know, a lot out of bounds. In the belt, they make a discovery begging to be investigated, if only to decide if it’s worth the risk of telling the adults and possibly getting into trouble.
Though their ages aren’t specified, I’m going to assume the girls are around 15 or so. I make this assumption because there’s a running gag throughout the comic about Tallulah losing her learner’s permit (again) because of all the precautions she forgets and risky driving she does. She drives a small space shuttle. How cool is that? However, this comic is perfectly acceptable for reading with younger children.
This comic is one of the wordier comics, but that’s part of what makes it delightful. It’s about two teenage girls, and of course, they ramble. But you’re also presented characters that go beyond the giggling teenage girl trope (not that there isn’t giggling). Sanity shows an acute aptitude toward science in the comic, and it’s hinted that Tallulah might be quite the mechanic. It’s nice to see these traits, which are typically considered “for boys,” represented in the two leads while still maintaining that charm.
They’re Not Like Us #1 by Eric Stephenson
Publisher: Image Comics (January 21, 2015)
Genre: Science-Fiction
A young woman stands on the side of a building. She’s finally fed up with the noise in her head. Nothing helps. She feels the only way she’ll have any relief is if she “sleeps” forever. Before jumping, a man tells her that maybe the only real salvation she’ll have is if she accepts the truth of her situation.
Somehow, she survives. She learns that there’s not just noise going on in her head. The mystery man ( I call Cas since he looks like Casanova Quinn from Casanova) informs her that she is a telepath, and he takes her to a home for other “gifted” people like herself. He gives her a new name (Syd) and tells her that she’s never to think of her old life now.
At this point, it started feeling a little X-Men-ish for me, and I was starting to feel a little let down. All these people with awesome powers living together and assuming aliases. I was interested, but not moved. I was thinking, “Yeah, I’m going to wait for a volumed edition of this, at best.” Then, the other shoe dropped when Syd was explained the rules of her new life, a life she didn’t ask for. That was the “Well, damn!” moment that actually made me sit up in my bed.
From that point, even the title took on a different perspective. I looked at the title from the angle that the characters of this book aren’t normal people. However, after reading it, I realize the title speaks more along the lines of normal people not being special like them. I’m interested. They got me. I’m buying issue #2 as I type.
Book Review: Deadeye by William C. Dietz
Posted on February 4, 2015 15 Comments
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1 of The Mutant Files
Publisher: Ace (January 27, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
William C. Dietz brings us an interesting new sci-fi police procedural series set in a plague-ravaged future. Those who survived the bioengineered threat of 2038 were either left completely unaffected or developed a wide range of disfiguring mutations, leaving a great divide – both socially and geographically – between the world’s “norms” and “mutants”. Relations between the two groups aren’t great, to say the least. Anti-mutant organizations sow hatred and incite brutal attacks and killings against mutants, making no small amount of work for Los Angeles detective Cassandra Lee who has built her reputation around taking down some of the city’s worst criminals.
When the daughter of Bishop Screed, leader of the Church of Human Purity, is kidnapped, all signs point to the work of mutants. Assigned to the case is Lee and her new mutant partner Deputy Ras Omo, who must race against time to save the young woman before she is sold and used for breeding by the ruthless human smuggling rings in the Red Zone. And if only that were the end of it. While chasing down leads, the two cops are also hounded every step of the way by Bonebreaker, the serial killer believed to have taken the lives of more than half a dozen police officers, including detective Frank Lee, Cassandra’s own father.
For a first book of a new series, Dietz has established quite a solid foundation for the world of Mutant Files, especially when it comes the social climate with regards to norms and mutants. Stigma is strong against the latter group, a lot of whom live in lawless and run-down “freak towns” where no norms fear to tread. To avoid catching the incurable disease, norms also wear masks and nose filters in the presence of mutants, and while most mutants wear masks too, they do so more to hide their terrible mutations. While world-building elements such as these are compelling, unfortunately they also come to the reader in a series of heavy info-dumps near the beginning of the novel, weighing down the introduction and making the first couple of chapters a slow read.
There’s quite a good story in here too, which, if not immediately apparent, does admittedly take a bit of effort to uncover. The major obstacle was once again the introduction, where I had a very difficult time adjusting to the writing.
Firstly, Dietz seems to have a fondness for frequent point-of-view switches, and not just between major characters. Every so often, minor characters and even random bystanders seem to feel the need to chime in for a paragraph or two, presumably so the reader can get a better feel of a situation by seeing it through their eyes. While I understood the intention, I didn’t think this was very effective and could have done with less of these seemingly arbitrary asides. And because they were often so short, rather than contribute to a scene I found them to be more distracting than anything.
Secondly, the author has a peculiar tendency to insert in-line explanations between parentheses in cases, say, where an acronym is being used or when a character says something in another language etc., and Dietz will place the translation right there in the middle of the prose and even dialogue. Not a big deal to some readers, perhaps, but for me it had a light immersion breaking effect. It would have been preferable if these explanations were naturally worked into the narrative, rather than placed glaringly between a pair of brackets. But then again, it’s also possible this may be changed in the finished book.
Without a doubt though, sandwiched between the beginning and end of the book is where all the good stuff is. The plot is entertaining and fast-paced, and kept me turning the pages once it got going. I did stumble again at the end when things wrapped up a bit too quickly and in much chaos, especially where the Bonebreaker aspect of the story was concerned, but generally I was quite pleased with the overall pacing as well as the characterization of Cassandra Lee, a badass female cop who is great at what she does. There’s always room for improvement when it comes to character development, but nonetheless I found myself greatly invested in Lee and Omo’s relationship.
I would rate this book between a 3 and 3.5 out of 5 stars if I could, with emphasis on the fact I really enjoyed the story but only after a fierce struggle with the writing. To be fair, most of my quibbles have to do with certain quirks of the author’s style, which may not matter as much to another reader. I’d definitely be open to reading the sequel, especially since there are still questions about the Bonebreaker that require addressing, and I’d be curious where those answers will take our protagonist.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Ace Books!
Waiting on Wednesday 02/04/15
Posted on February 4, 2015 19 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:
Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier: November 3, 2015 (Roc)
Do I really need to explain why I’m looking forward to this? Tower of Thorns is book two of Juliet Marillier’s brand new adult series Blackthorn and Grim, the follow up to Dreamer’s Pool which was one of my favorite reads last year. If you haven’t read it yet, what ever are you waiting for? And I just have to say, that is one fine looking cover, worthy of the first one.
“Award-winning author Juliet Marillier’s “lavishly detailed”* Blackthorn & Grim series continues as a mysterious creature holds an enchanted and imperiled ancient Ireland in thrall.
Disillusioned healer Blackthorn and her companion, Grim, have settled in Dalriada to wait out the seven years of Blackthorn’s bond to her fey mentor, hoping to avoid any dire challenges. But trouble has a way of seeking out Blackthorn and Grim.
Lady Geiléis, a noblewoman from the northern border, has asked for the prince of Dalriada’s help in expelling a howling creature from an old tower on her land—one surrounded by an impenetrable hedge of thorns. Casting a blight over the entire district, and impossible to drive out by ordinary means, it threatens both the safety and the sanity of all who live nearby. With no ready solutions to offer, the prince consults Blackthorn and Grim.
As Blackthorn and Grim begin to put the pieces of this puzzle together, it’s apparent that a powerful adversary is working behind the scenes. Their quest is about to become a life and death struggle—a conflict in which even the closest of friends can find themselves on opposite sides.”
Book Review: Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
Posted on February 3, 2015 29 Comments
Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy
Series: Book One/Stand Alone
Publisher: Tor (February 3, 2015)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
“You ain’t gonna like what I have to tell you, but I’m gonna tell you anyway. See, my name is Karen Memery, like memory only spelt with an e, and I’m one of the girls what works in the Hôtel Mon Cherie on Amity Street. Hôtel has a little hat over the o like that. It’s French, so Beatrice tells me.”
A lot of times, it’s the books that initially fly under my radar which end up impressing me the most. This was the case with Karen Memory, whose description didn’t actually appeal to me at first. After all, as much as I love steampunk, I’ve read so much of the genre that admittedly I’ve gotten a lot pickier in recent years. It’s going to take more than just airships and clockwork gadgetry to entice me these days.
The moment I read the first paragraph though, I knew I was going to be in for a treat. It’s not even just the “Old West” feel of the setting (which I’m a sucker for and gets me every time) that caught my attention, but the distinct and down-to-earth voice of the narrator which immediately tugged at something in my heart. Right away, I knew I wanted to learn more about her. I wanted to get to know her and hear her story.
Our protagonist Karen Memery turns out to a young “seamstress” (a euphemism those around her parts use for prostitute) working for Madame Damnable at one of Rapid City’s more upscale establishments. It’s late 19th century and the Pacific Northwest is at the height of another gold rush; like any frontier town that’s sprouted up around the mining industry, life is rough and the folks even rougher. Working girls like Karen at the Hôtel Mon Cherie know that the best way to survive is to stick together and look after one another, but not everyone is so fortunate to have an employer like Madame Damnable or friends to watch their back.
The calm is shattered one night when two young women arrive at the Mon Cherie seeking help and protection. This is how Karen first meets and falls in love with Priya, a prostitute who managed to escape the horrific conditions of a rival brothel, but not without its mean and nasty proprietor Peter Bantle in hot pursuit. Thwarted, Bantle vows to make Madame Damnable and her girls’ lives a living hell, and with what appears to be mind-control device in his possession, he might be more dangerous than anyone believed. When the flogged and bloody corpses of women start appearing around town, one begins to wonder if all of this is connected somehow. A new lawman rides into town with his Comanche partner on the tail of a vicious serial killer, and together with Karen and the friends, this ragtag but resourceful crew is determined to get to the bottom of this conspiracy.
At times, Karen Memory did feel very much like my perfect book. It is imaginative steampunk that feels fresh and full of life, served up as a rich blend of mystery, suspense, action and romance. The end result is difficult to describe, but delightfully easy to enjoy. As I said before, I have a weakness for westerns and stories that take place during the expansion into the western frontier, so I was charmed at once by Rapid City, resplendently brought to life by Elizabeth Bear’s evocative and vivid descriptions. Despite a healthy dose of fantastical steampunk, we never lose sight of the distinctive characteristics or nuances of this particular era.
Karen herself is an amazing one-of-a-kind character, telling her story with a candidness that I found very charming. The narrative style won’t be for everyone, riddled with its colloquialisms and informal jargon, but it worked surprisingly well for me. It made Karen feel so real — I could practically hear her voice and imagine her mannerisms in my head. I’ll say this — whoever is narrating the audiobook will have her work cut out for her, as it’ll be hard to top what’s already written on paper. Usually prose littered with slang and grammatical errors, whether they’re intentional or not, would drive me nuts (especially my personal pet peeve, “would of” instead of “would’ve”, which Karen repeatedly commits). That I was able to overlook them in this case says a lot.
No doubt the book would not have been the same without Karen’s unique voice, but the other ladies at the Hôtel Mon Cherie surely deserve a mention too. This entire cast of brave and capable kickass women will rock your world and fill you with admiration. After Karen, I’m especially taken with the character of Madame, inspired by the real Mother Damnable, Mary Ann Conklin who ran Seattle’s first hotel and high-class brothel. For a certainty, this novel features no shortage of spirited women will go to great lengths for those they love and what they believe in, and will not back down without a fight.
Karen Memory is a book about a lot of things – solving a mystery, hunting a merciless killer, saving the city from evil, and all the spectacular drama that comes along with such activities. But at its heart, the book is also about forging friendships, growing up, and chasing one’s dreams. Behind the rollicking adventure is also a softer, more introspective side to the story that will surely resonate with a lot of readers.
Final verdict? I would definitely recommend this. It’s actually my first book by Elizabeth Bear, but regardless of whether you’re a long-time fan of the author or relatively new to her work like me, you really can’t go wrong with this one. Check it out.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes contained above are from the advance copy and are subject to change. My thanks to Tor Books!
Posted on February 2, 2015 Leave a Comment
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.
The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin
The BiblioSanctum 