Anthology Review: Stories of the Raksura by Martha Wells
Posted on December 22, 2014 27 Comments
Stories of the Raksura by Martha Wells
Genre: Fantasy, Anthology
Series: Books of the Raksura
Publisher: Night Shade (September 2, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Stories of the Raksura is a delightful romp into Martha Wells’ world of the Raksura – even if you have not read the main series. I have been meaning to get to her Books of the Raksura for a long time now but still haven’t found the opportunity yet, so I was very happy to get my hands on this collection.
Of course, I had the usual concerns: How much do I need to know before jumping in? Am I going to be able to follow along with the short stories in here without getting lost? I shouldn’t have worried. As it turns out, this collection actually serves pretty well as an introduction to Wells’ wildly imaginative universe and the fantastical beings that live in it.
The Falling World
“The Falling World” is the first novella found in this anthology. For those like me who were unfamiliar with the race of fantasy creatures called the Raksura, you get a quick and intense crash course in this tale. Raksura are shapeshifters that look a bit to me like a form of bird-people, though their societies more closely resemble those of hive insects. A ruling queen is at the top, followed by lesser queens. Queens mate with fertile males called Consorts to produce royal clutches composed of Queens, Consorts and Warriors (infertile males and females that defend the colony). Together, these three types make up the Aeriat. They are winged and capable of flight.
Then there are the Arbora, who have no wings but are capable climbers. They are made up of Teachers that oversee the nurseries and train the young, Hunters who provide food for the colony, Soldiers who guard the colony, and Mentors who are seers with magical abilities enabling them to perform tasks such as foreseeing the future or healing the sick and wounded.
It can be a bit daunting at first, but all this information is adequately provided and easy to pick up as the story progresses. In “The Falling World”, a sister Queen called Jade travels with her entourage to another colony to negotiate trade, leaving her consort Moon behind at court. But then the diplomatic convoy fails to reach their destination, and an expedition is launched by Moon along with a party of warriors and hunters to try to discover what happened to them. However, what the rescuers find in the end might prove too dangerous and difficult for them to handle.
The story is simple and straightforward: one group sets out to find another. What amazed me though, was the amount of lore and world building Wells managed to inject into this novella. I was blown away by the information here about Raksuran culture, physiology, and social hierarchy. And the great thing is, none of it was really forced. I never once felt like I was taken aside and given and info dump; instead, all the information flowed naturally just from the normal course of storytelling. I’m sure as a new reader there’s lots I’m missing still, but the amount of knowledge I gleaned here of the Raksura and their world was just superb.
Perhaps it is also a good thing that the story itself is not overly complicated. On top of the information about Raksuran culture, there are a lot of characters to meet, many names to learn. The naming convention might take some getting used to, and you probably won’t remember who’s who all the time, but this particular story for me was mostly about getting to know this fantasy world and the Raksura, and I had a good time with it.
The Tale of Indigo and Cloud
“The Tale of Indigo and Cloud” is the second novella found in this collection. It is more of a historical narrative, exploring the legend behind the origins of Indigo Cloud court. A long time ago, a sister Queen called Indigo stole a consort named Cloud away from another Raksuran court, angering the hot-tempered queen who was Cloud’s mate, leading to a conflict that could mean all-out war between the two colonies.
This was an interesting story, which read a bit like a mythological scenario. That’s not too surprising, given its unique nature. It is a tale about the Indigo Cloud court’s queens of old, long before the key character Moon joined the colony’s ranks. It reveals more information about the way Raksuran society works, or rather how easily it could also fall apart. There’s a bit of politics and a bit of romance, the kind of perfect mix you’d want to find in an ancient legend.
There’s not much else I can think to say about this novella, but it’s probably my favorite of the two in this book. I really enjoyed the story and the lesson it imparted, as well as the overall vibe.
The Forest Boy
Next comes this short story, which tells of Moon as an injured fledgling taken in by a kind-hearted family in a nearby village, who are all unaware of his Raksuran background and shapeshifting abilities.
“The Forest Boy” is a nice bonus, giving the reader more insight into this central character.
Adaptation
The final short story tells of Chime, one of the warriors who accompanied Jade on her diplomatic mission back in the first novella in this collection, “The Falling World”. Chime’s situation is interesting in that he didn’t actually start off as a warrior. He was born a mentor, who then changed forms. That’s huge.
A switch from mentor to warrior, as you recall, also means a switch from Arbora to Aeriat. Wingless to winged. Fertile to infertile. Quite the life-changing event. “Adaptation” is exactly what it sounds like: Chime’s struggle to come to terms with this drastic transformation.
Despite being so short, this is probably my second favorite piece in this collection. It’s a powerful tale in its own right, not only because of the emotional and physical obstacles that Chime has to overcome, but also because of what his transformation might ultimately mean for the colony. It’s a great read, and in the end I am left to wonder what fate might hold in store for the entire Indigo Cloud court. It’s a bit ominous and unsettling.
Concluding thoughts:
The Raksura are one of the most original fantasy races I’ve ever encountered in fantasy fiction. I was genuinely compelled by everything about them. Despite them being so different biologically and culturally, the depth of their personalities and motivations make them feel very human. The novellas and short stories in this collection show that they have to deal with the same complex emotions we do, such as love, hate, guilt, etc. Their issues and conflicts like politics, gender and societal roles are also realistic and relatable.
All told, this is a great collection filled with all kinds of goodness like magic, rich worlds, and fascinating characters. I can’t believe how invested I am, as someone who hasn’t even read the Books of the Raksura main series. After reading this, I’m going to have to try hitting them sooner rather than later. Hopefully there will also be more of these short tales collected in future anthologies, because I would definitely be interested in reading them.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Night Shade Books!
Sunday Musings: It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
Posted on December 21, 2014 8 Comments
I still have presents to wrap, but at least I am finished all of my Christmas shopping. Oh wait….
There. Now I’m done. Hurray for online shopping!
CURRENTLY READING
Every year, my daughters’ school invites families to send in gently used items to be sold in the 25 Cent Sale. It’s such a delight to watch the kids proudly making their purchases, and the older students diligently wrapping the wares. My six year old insisted that I open her present the moment she got home. She bought me a book. Not just any book. A supernatural smut book. It brought tears to my eyes to know that my daughter put so much thought and effort into choosing the perfect gift for me. She then insisted that I go to my room and read the first chapter.
THE GIFT OF READING
Kindness and charity ought to be a 365 day a year project, but the spirit of giving tends to pick up at this time of year. A charity that is near and dear to my heart is Sick Kids Hospital. I regularly donate throughout the year, and I participate in the Extra Life campaign. At Christmas, I let my daughters select gifts to provide to children in need on behalf of our family and friends. There are all sorts of options, with some specific to the Christmas season. But my favourite gift (go figure), is providing books for Story-Time in the hospital’s family library.
What bookish things are you doing for the holidays?
Lootz: Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on December 20, 2014 32 Comments
Sneaking in my last book haul post of the year, and here is a look at the review books that came in the last couple of weeks. There are some goodies in here that I’m very excited about! It’s like Christmas in Decembe–oh wait.
Superposition – I’ve never read any David Walton, but he had a book called Quintessence come out last year that kinda caught my eye. So it’s no wonder the author sounded familiar to me when this book showed up in the mail. It looks like it’ll be the start of an intriguing new series coming out next year, published by Pyr. My thanks to the publisher for sending me the ARC.
The Mechanical – I was floored when a mystery package arrived from Orbit and when I opened it, this ARC was in it. OMG I’m a big fan of Ian Tregillis, and The Mechanical has been on my wishlist ever since I found out about it. My thanks to Orbit, I love it when you guys surprise me like this!
The Voyage of the Basilisk – And speaking of being excited, my heart probably skipped a beat when I saw Tor had sent me an advanced reading copy of this. If you haven’t read the Memoir by Lady Trent books, know that they are awesome and I highly recommend them. I can’t wait to dig into this one.
Half-Resurrection Blues – This new urban fantasy by Daniel José Older looks AWESOME. From other bloggers I learned that he has a new Young Adult novel coming out next year too, but it is Half-Resurrection Blues that caught my attention as soon as I saw the description. In early January I’ll be hosting a US giveaway for this book, so definitely keep an eye out for that. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The Witches of Echo Park – Another review book courtesy of Penguin, I’m reading this one right now and it’s quite interesting. It was a bit slow to start, but the story is shaping up. Looking forward to seeing where things will go.
Sleepy Hollow: Children of the Revolution – A book from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program which I won back in August but it only arrived this month. I’ve actually never watched the show, and truthfully I don’t watch that much TV at all, but I do see previews for it all the time when I catch up with my DVR’ed episodes of Gotham! I’ve heard great things, maybe I’ll check it out one day if I read this and enjoy it.
The digital pile:
A Crown for Cold Silver – Orbit is going to have an amazing 2015. I’ve heard only great things about this book from folks who got an early look. It’s been compared to Abercrombie and other grimdark authors, so if you like gritty stories and dark humor it might be a good idea to take note of this one. Can’t wait to read it!
The Autumn Republic – The third and final book of the Powder Mage trilogy. I need to know how things end! Like I said, Orbit is going to have a great year.
Son of the Shadows and Child of the Prophecy – Ever since reading Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marillier I’ve been asking myself why I took so long to read a book by her. I vowed I was going to go back and read her older stuff and I’m actually following through on that. I’ve had Daughter of the Forest on my TBR forever, after all, and so now I’m finally listening to the audiobook. Anyway, not even a third of the way into it and I’m already in love. You can see how much I’m enjoying myself, since I didn’t even hesitate to pick up the audiobooks of these books as well, books 2 and 3 of the Sevenwaters series so I won’t have to wait at all if I want to continue.
Novella Review: Hisses and Wings by Alex Bledsoe and Teresa Frohock
Posted on December 19, 2014 8 Comments
Hisses and Wings by Alex Bledsoe and Teresa Frohock
Genre: Supernatural, Angels, Fantasy
Publisher: The Story Vault (December 2014)
Wendy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love magic. I love interesting ways to present magic. In Hisses and Wings, music is the source of mysterious power, and anyone who has ever been touched by a song can attest to the truth in this fantasy story.
The story involves a seemingly young fae woman named Janet, who pieces together a song that could return her people to their ancestral home. To learn the song, she must earn it from Diago, who is of the Nefilim, and to do so, she must prove her musical skill — but does she have the wisdom to use such a gift properly? And is the goal she seeks worth the price that using this magic might cost.
This is a beautiful, bittersweet story, and though it is brief, it gives so much warmth and depth to the characters — particularly the Nefilim. It also wonderfully expresses their culture, as supernatural beings, as well as a close knit community that is both familiar and welcoming.
My only complaint is that the magic of the music could have gone deeper with greater imagery of what it invokes for those playing and listening to it.
Tough Traveling: Traveling Folk
Posted on December 18, 2014 21 Comments
The Thursday feature “Tough Traveling” is the brainchild of Nathan of Review Barn, who has come up with the excellent idea of making a new list each week based on the most common tropes in fantasy, as seen in 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: Traveling Folk
TRAVELLING FOLK are quite common. They are of two kinds: Land travellers and River travellers.
These people are merry, colourfully dressed, dishonest, and knowledgeable…they will cheat you, cure your wounds, and hustle you off to the cart of their oldest lady who will tell you something about the future you need to know.
Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marillier
The traveling folk in this book fit the theme’s description to a T. In the course of investigating a mystery, Blackthorn and Grim track the clues down to a band of roving traders, and are invited into the presence of an old lady who even reveals very important information that helps them in their quest and everything!
Kushiel’s Universe by Jacqueline Carey
The Tsingano are said to travel the Longo Drom, “The Long Road”. Believed to originate from the kingdom of Bhodistan, they have no permanent home, known for being traveling horse traders. The most prominent Tsingano character in this series is of course Phedre’s best friend the Hyacinthe who styles himself as “The Prince of Travelers”. It is Tsingano women, however, who are known to possess the dromonde, a clairvoyant ability to see into the past as well as future.
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe’s parents were members of the Edema Ruh, a nomadic cultural group with no country to call their own. They’re almost always entertainers, and they travel the countryside in large colorful troupes, performing at towns in exchange for food and shelter.
Darkwalker by E.L. Tettensor
The Adal are a society of pastoral nomads, mistrusted and persecuted for their reputation of being thieves and cheats, all because of the actions of a few bad apples. Author E.L. Tettensor drew inspiration from pastorialist societies of northeast Africa, cultures in which raising and driving cattle are the foundation of the economy. Adali magic, called khekra, also plays a big role in the book, which is also inspired by cultures found elsewhere on the African continent.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
It’s been a very long time since I read the first book, but I do remember the Tinkers. As such, I’ll let the wiki do most of the talking here. “Tinkers” or “Traveling People” are formerly known as the Tuatha’an. The philosophy, called “the Way of the Leaf” earns them mistrust and disdain from most common folk, who consider Tinkers as habitual thieves and disreputable low-lives who try to lure away children by converting them to the Way of the Leaf.
Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne
The trade caravans that travel to and from the city of Forge play a role in this series as a good source of information when you need news from far abroad. Having friendly connections to the traveling merchants also gives you access to rare, expensive goods and you never know when you’ll need a quick way to get out of town.
Red Country by Joe Abercrombie
Not quite adhering to this week’s theme, but a bunch of ragtag characters on a journey across the barren plains to an uncharted frontier mountain town in a Wild West style wagon train surely counts as traveling folk right? Even just a little bit?
The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb
My one and only entry to the “River Travelers” category in this week’s theme. Instead of settling in the big cities, the Rain Wild Traders have chosen to make their home on the acidic waters of the Rain Wild River, sailing their liveships made of a substance called wizardwood, which are actually the casings of dragon cocoons.
Novella Review: The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
Posted on December 17, 2014 17 Comments
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2.5 of Kingkiller Chronicle
Publisher: DAW (October 28, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have so much to say about this novella, but to make a long story short: The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a gorgeously written novel, both haunting and whimsical at once if such a thing is possible, and an incredibly detailed exploration into one of the Kingkiller Chronicle series’ most fascinating and mysterious characters. And yet for all of that, I was disappointed and left feeling unsatisfied.
As a lot of reviewers and even the author himself have pointed out already, this book isn’t going to be for everyone. Rothfuss warns readers that without the context of the first two books of the series, you’re going to feel pretty lost. I’d carry that further to say that heck, even if you have read The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear, you might feel pretty lost. On the one hand, I really appreciate Rothfuss’s caveat – that this book is going to be strange, different, and not going to do things that a classic story is supposed to do – and I admire him a lot for being straight up with us. But on the other hand, I wish he hadn’t plastered both his foreword and endnote with all these “warnings” and “apologies”. This is why I often skip author content like this. I’m not going to deny that getting hit first thing with a line like “You might not want to buy this book” might have biased me somewhat against it right off the bat. It grated me a little, because you’d figure something like that should be my prerogative to decide for myself.
But anyway, that’s beside the point. For this review, I’m not going to attempt a description or summary of plot summary, because to be truthful, there really isn’t one. All you have to know is that the book is about Auri, a secondary character from the main Kingkiller Chronicle series. I’ll admit, she’s not my favorite, but I don’t think that had any effect on the experience at all. What did affect me was the story and its plodding pace and its total lack of variation. Auri’s unique way of viewing even the most mundane objects around her as special and magical was fun at the beginning, but like all magic, it starts to wear off after a while with nothing else to drive things along. It’s a silent and lonely world that, while not completely devoid of color or life, gets tedious.
I guess I’m just the kind of reader that the author’s warning “The truth is, it probably just wasn’t for you” describes. And that’s totally okay. I’m into characters, and even though this whole novella pretty much boils down an incredibly detailed account into a week of Auri’s life as she makes her way through the ancient and labyrinthine halls of the Underthing, it didn’t work for me. I had originally thought it would, based on some of Auri’s feelings and behaviors that I can certainly relate to. As someone who has struggled with obsessive-compulsiveness and the resulting endless sleepless nights, some of the descriptions of the abject fear, anger, and anxiety Auri experiences when she feels something is not where it belongs or “out of sync” rings uncomfortably true for me. While I suppose I might count as “slightly broken”, sorry, but this still just wasn’t my cup of tea.
That said, there’s just no way I can write this book off, simply because there’s a so much else to like. The writing was probably worth it alone. It’s exquisite, probably the best I’ve seen from Rothfuss to date. I might not have enjoyed the particular style of storytelling, but if bringing out this side of the author’s writing was the result, then who am I to complain that much, really?
To sum it up, this book reads very much like a love letter to Auri. We know that Rothfuss has a soft spot for her, so I see it as a pet project of sorts. If Auri is a character that intrigued you in the main series, you will find this novella very enlightening. Even as someone who didn’t really care for her, the writing and atmosphere in here took my breath away. Despite wishing I had enjoyed it more, personally speaking I didn’t think this was a waste of my time. The book has its merits, and no doubt has an audience. The opinions will range all over for this one, I’m sure. Whether or not you’ll enjoy it isn’t a question I can answer, though; either you’ll like it or you won’t. Regardless, I’m grateful to the author for sharing this one with us.
Waiting on Wednesday 12/17/14
Posted on December 17, 2014 13 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:
Unseemly Science by Rod Duncan: May 5, 2015 (Angry Robot)
Angry Robot is on a little break right now, but you can be sure they’ll be coming back with a vengeance once the new year hits. There are so many books to look forward to from this publisher in the first half of 2015. One that I think deserves more attention is this sequel to The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter, which I think slipped through a lot of radars earlier this year. A shame, because it was quite good.
Also, get a load of that cover. I love the effect.
“In the divided land of England, Elizabeth Barnabus has been living a double life – as both herself and as her brother, the private detective. Witnessing the hanging of Alice Carter, the false duchess, Elizabeth resolves to throw the Bullet Catcher’s Handbook into the fire, and forget her past. If only it were that easy!
There is a new charitable organisation in town, run by some highly respectable women. But something doesn’t feel right to Elizabeth. Perhaps it is time for her fictional brother to come out of retirement for one last case…? Her unstoppable curiosity leads her to a dark world of body-snatching, unseemly experimentation, politics and scandal. Never was it harder for a woman in a man’s world…”
Graphic Novel Review: Criminal, Vol. 6: The Last of the Innocent by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Posted on December 16, 2014 7 Comments
Criminal, Vol. 6: The Last of the Innocent by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Genre: Noir, Crime
Publisher: Marvel (December 2011)
Wendy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars
Brubaker and Phillips are known for their off-the-wall noir storytelling, so it is no surprise to see all the noir elements at play in their Criminal series. But volume 6, The Last of the Innocent, adds an unusual visual twist by combining the dark, gritty noir vibe with a bright, cartoony style reminiscent of Archie comics.
The Archie similarities go far deeper than the art, though, as Brubaker spins a story of a man named Riley Richards. Riley has it all, thanks to his marriage to the beautiful, lusty rich girl. But it’s the girl-next-door that he really wants. When the death of Riley’s father draws him back to his backwater home town of Brookview, he begins plotting murder.
Basically, this is a cautionary tale for Archie, warning him that Betty was always the better choice over Veronica. That might seem like just a joke to you, or, if you’re an Archie fan, you might not like the idea of having your favourite characters presented so darkly, but for me, this was a stunning read, particularly because of how the story plays out around Riley’s best friend, Freakout. Freakout is a drug addict, and spends his time either high and constantly eating (sound familiar?), or looking for his next hit. When Riley returns to Brookview, Freakout is on the road to recovery, with an entire year drug free. But what are best friends for, if not to be the perfect alibi for murder?
Through Freakout, Brubaker gives heartbreaking look at friendship and loyalty, and forces us to question happiness and the lengths some might go to attain it.
Or the illusion of it.
This is the sixth volume of the series. There are small connections to the other volumes, which you can discern through the cover images of the other books, but the stories within each volume stand on their own.
Book Review: My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
Posted on December 15, 2014 16 Comments
My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Zombies
Publisher: DAW (January 2011)
Author Info: dianarowland.com
Wendy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Supernatural creatures like vampires and werewolves have been getting the Hollywood treatment lately, turning them into sparkly objects of desire.
Well, zombies need love too!
Unfortunately, there’s that whole mindless, brain-eating, decomposing corpse aspect that makes them less than appealing…
But Diana Rowland fixes all of that! Sort of. Well, there’s still the decomposition. And the compelling hunger. But as long as brains are in fresh supply, the social stigma against zombies can easily be avoided!
Angel wakes up in the hospital with a vague recollection of a car accident and a lot of blood, yet she has no scars, and the strange note she finds leaves no answers. But the note does offer her a way out of her crappy, drug-addicted, domestic abuse life with a well-paying job at the local morgue as a driver. She has no idea who her benefactor is, but vows not to waste the opportunity.
Everything is going well, until she starts getting *hungry* and realizes that the only thing that will satisfy her are the brains of the dead she happens to be surrounded by at her new job. As she comes to understand her new state of undead, a mystery develops around her as bodies start to pile up…
This is, plain and simple, a fun book. Narrated in first person by Angel, it pokes just as much fun at itself and the main character, as it does the zombie genre. Angel’s self-deprecation is endearing and amusing, rather than melodramatic. She accepts her flaws and weaknesses, and, even before growing and overcoming them, she proves her worth.
I was not a fan of the True Blood television series, which is based on Charlaine Harris‘s Sookie Stackhouse books. White Trash Zombie shares a similar urban supernatural vibe, but it doesn’t take itself as seriously, which makes it much more appealing to me. I would love to see a white trash zombie on my television.
Book Review: The Genome by Sergei Lukyanenko
Posted on December 14, 2014 6 Comments
The Genome by Sergei Lukyanenko
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Open Road Media
Wendy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed Lukyanenko’s Night Watch, so I was quick to grab this one. I like when authors diversify their offerings. With Lukyanenko, he’s smoothly transitioned from an urban supernatural story in Night Watch, to hardcore science fiction.
Don’t let me scare you with the term “hardcore,” if you are wary of scifi. I don’t often read the genre, but I could easily get into the intricacies of Lukyanenko’s futuristic world where humans have spread far beyond Earth. Humanity has also expanded far into the field of genetic manipulation, right from the embryo.
Alex Romanov is a pilot-spesh. That is, upon metamorphosis, physical changes to his body allow him to easily compensate for gravity and inertia, while his mind has been altered to allow for integrity, honesty, and the utmost loyalty of his crew. He also is unable to love — which proves problematic when he helps a youg fighter spesh through her transformation and discovers there’s more to her than there seems.
When Alex takes a job with a mysterious company and must pull together an unusual crew, things really get interesting as Lukyanenko explores their various specializations (or lack thereof), their backgrounds, and their interactions with each other. All of which will truly be tested when they take on their first mission — transporting a clone and his alien charges.
Before I go on, I want to shower some praise on Lukyanenko for not only writing interesting female characters, but for actually dealing with their sex and sexuality — from breastfeeding to menstruation — in completely natural ways within the story. It’s almost as if these things are *gasp* normal.
I am, however, disappointed in the way he, like many other authors I’ve read, tends to focus on racial differences. I appreciate the diversity of the cast of characters, but I find it so annoying to have the black woman constantly described as “the black woman” when there is no contextual reason for it. How often do you read “the white man picked up his sword,” yet “said the black woman” is a constant thing. I suppose I should be blessed that Lukyanenko doesn’t go through the thesaurus of colours that George R.R. Martin does when he’s busy describing the “exotic” folks who are so obviously not white.
Anyway, Lukyanenko introduces an intriguing cast and a few interesting plot devices that promises an exciting second half.
But instead, the book suddenly becomes this strange Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, complete with a Sherlock Holmes clone and a Watson to solve it. The change is so abrupt and disappointing, that, what promised to be a great read, suddenly left a strange taste in my mouth as Alex tries to piece together the mystery and protect his crew before the detective does. Only, despite the story being told from Alex’s point of view, the reader isn’t allowed into his thought processes anymore, as he leaps from conclusion to conclusion, none of which make sense.
Everyone on board his ship has motive, and, based on the great character and political issues introduced at the start, I had such high hopes for where things were going to go. But the switch in tone is jarring and the detective work is just plain silly.
Still, I liked the beginning of the book well enough to recommend that much!
With thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.
The BiblioSanctum 