Tough Traveling: Missing Heirs
Posted on November 20, 2014 16 Comments
The Thursday feature “Tough Traveling” is the brainchild of Nathan ofReview 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: Missing Heirs
MISSING HEIRS occur with great frequency. At any given time, half the countries in Fantasyland will have mislaid their crown princess/prince.
Mogsy’s Picks:
The challenge this week wasn’t so much about coming up with an actual list, but it was with writing up my descriptions for some of these books without revealing any spoilers.
The Falcon Throne by Karen Miller
I’m okay to reveal this, since it’s part of the main set up for the story. In the kingdom of Clemen, tyrannical Duke Harald is brought down by his traitorous bastard-born cousin. Believed to be among the casualties is Harald’s infant son and heir Liam, but in fact the baby was whisked away to safety by his nursemaid, who intends to raise the boy in secret until he is old enough to take back his stolen throne.
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Going to be hard to talk about this book without getting into spoiler territory over here. Suffice to say, if you’ve read this far (its book three of the series) you would have discovered that a lost princess is finally found and revealed.
The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
At the heart of this book is a romance, so I can’t say it has the most original story line. You can sort of see it coming a mile away, but the gist of it is this: a lost princess, a prophecy foretelling the return of “The Royal One”, and the pivotal role this lost heir will play in the fate of a kingdom.
Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell
Another one I can’t say much about without revealing key plot points in the story, but all I’ll say is this is an awesome book about a man in a Greatcoat embroiled in a royal conspiracy who goes above and beyond his duties to fulfill a promise to his murdered king.
Heir of Novron by Michael J. Sullivan
My lips are going to remain sealed on the actual details, but the title says it all. In the last book of this series, a missing heir is revealed. Let’s just say there’s a good reason why these books are called the Riyria Revelations. The final installment blew my mind, with all the clues planted like seeds all over the previous books finally all coming into full bloom.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
Okay, I’m running out of ways to be subtle and vague. A lost heir long thought to be gone is revealed in this, that’s all I’ll say! The question I’m pondering is whether or not he or she is truly who they claim to be. I share doubts with a certain character, but my gut feeling is that it’s legit. But then, we all know GRRM and his ways…
Book Review: The Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander
Posted on November 19, 2014 19 Comments
The Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander
Genre: Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Series: Stand Alone/Book 1
Publisher: Broadway (October 7, 2014)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
The Secrets of Life and Death was an interesting novel, a mix of dark noir fantasy mystery and historical fiction, using the true story behind the notorious figure of Countess Elisabeth Bathory as a basis. I actually learned quite a bit from this book, as I was previously unfamiliar with Bathory before reading this. Between the years of 1585 and 1610, she and four other collaborators were accused of torturing and murdering hundreds of girls, earning her the label of most prolific female serial killer in history.
The book is told through various narratives in two different timelines, the first one set in modern day England where Professor Guichard is called in to consult on a series of occult symbols drawn on the dead body of a teenage girl. His own investigations into the case lead him to Jackdaw Hammond, a mysterious woman harboring a big secret of her own. For you see, Jack is actually dead, living on borrowed time made possible by powerful magic.
Insight into such magic could be gleaned in the second timeline through the writings of Edward Kelley, the assistant of John Dee. The narrative begins in 1585, as Kelley and Dee are summoned by the King of Poland to save the life of his gravely ill niece, Elisabeth Bathory. As events unfold, the two men learn there may be something more sinister behind the nature of the countess’s sickness, but the type of sorcery required to cure her may be even worse.
I enjoyed the premise behind this book, and felt the author utilized a very creative way to tell a story, with the two storylines playing out at the same time being the best and most notable aspect. However, as intriguing as I find this format, it’s not without its drawbacks. Any author who engages in this back-and-forth style of storytelling commits themselves to a fine balancing act, with the goal of making both threads entertaining and engaging to the reader. This novel falters a bit here, starting out with both the modern and historical narratives going strong, but gradually the account of Kelley and Dee’s exploits in Poland began to drag for me. There just wasn’t enough going on there to carry the momentum past the middle.
In contrast, I found Guichard and Jack’s story much more interesting, no doubt due to my fondness for mysteries and investigative cases. The modern day story also appealed to me more because of Sadie, a young girl who was “rescued” by Jack, but why or how that was achieved was not revealed for a long time, and the circumstances behind the enigma was what held my attention.
At the same time, I think more time could have been spent on beefing up the present day storyline, and I would have been perfectly okay with the decision. There was a lot more information I would have liked to know about “borrowed timers”, not to mention Guichard and Jack’s relationship felt rushed and could have used more development. More details into Jack’s past wouldn’t have hurt either, as well as her history with Maggie, the old woman who had saved Jack the same way Jack had saved Sadie. Jack’s motivation to try to save other borrowed timers like herself remained unclear to me. I find it hard to understand why she would step in and alter the fate of others, as it were, when she had been through the same process herself and knows fully well how painful and lonely it can be. Unlike Maggie, Jack didn’t have a personal stake it in, and being aware of the weighty consequences of saving a “borrowed timer”, you’d think knowing all the facts, the wiser decision would be to leave things well alone.
All told, The Secrets of Life and Death was a good book, with only some minor issues. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to history buffs with an interest in the crimes of Elisabeth Bathory, or if you have a penchant for dark historical fiction in general with a splash of the modern.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to LT and Broadway Books!
Waiting on Wednesday 11/19/14
Posted on November 19, 2014 10 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:
Chasing the Phoenix by Michael Swanwick: August 11, 2015 (Tor)
We are continuing to feature upcoming science fiction books in our Waiting on Wednesdays this month with this intriguing looking title featuring two con men named Darger and Surplus, a human and a genetically engineered dog with human intelligence who walks upright. Don’t know about you, but as I was browsing, that bit caught my attention right away. The description indicates that the two are couple characters from the author’s previous works, but this seems like a brand new adventure that hopefully new readers can just pick up. I’m totally on board for “sharp”, “slick”, and “witty” science fiction.
“A science fiction masterpiece from a five-time Hugo Award winner!
In the distant future, Surplus arrives in China dressed as a Mongolian shaman, leading a yak which carries the corpse of his friend, Darger. The old high-tech world has long since collapsed, and the artificial intelligences that ran it are outlawed and destroyed. Or so it seems.
Darger and Surplus, a human and a genetically engineered dog with human intelligence who walks upright, are a pair of con men and the heroes of a series of prior Swanwick stories. They travel to what was was once China and invent a scam to become rich and powerful. Pretending to have limited super-powers, they aid an ambitious local warlord who dreams of conquest and once again reuniting China under one ruler. And, against all odds, it begins to work, but it seems as if there are other forces at work behind the scenes. This is a sharp, slick, witty science fiction adventure that is hugely entertaining from one of the best SF writers alive.”
#RRSciFiMonth: Radiant by Karina Sumner-Smith
Posted on November 18, 2014 10 Comments
Sci-Fi November is a month-long blog event hosted by Oh The Books and Rinn Reads this year, created to celebrate everything amazing about science fiction! From TV shows to movies, books to comics, and everything else in between, it is intended to help science fiction lovers share their love and passion for this genre and its many, many fandoms.
Radiant by Karina Sumner-Smith
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Towers Trilogy
Publisher: Talos (September 30, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Is Radiant science fiction? Or is it fantasy? Perhaps it is both, just as I like to think this book could fit comfortably in both the Adult and Young Adult categories. No matter how you look at it, it seems there’s something for everyone in this brilliant and unique cross-genre piece from debut novelist Karina Sumner-Smith.
It all begins with a ghost. Teenager Xhea may have been born without magic – not one bit at all – but she has a power that allows her to see and speak to the dead. Forced to live in the Lower City where those with little to no magic struggle to eke out a living, Xhea manages to survive by scavenging and selling her services to the haunted, offering to take on their ghostly burdens for a few days in exchange for some food or money.
This is how Shai comes into Xhea’s life. Even as a ghost, Shai has so much magic that she can use it to generate the power that keeps the floating towers of the city’s upper class supplied with endless fuel and energy. This is because Shai is a Radiant, a rare individual who is literally a magic generator and there are powerful factions out there who will stop at nothing to get their hands on her. To these individuals, Shai is nothing but a tool. They care nothing about the pain and torture her ghost will endure, and it is up to Xhea to protect and fight for her new phantom friend.
The story of Radiant revolves around this incredibly beautiful relationship. Xhea is a down-on-her-luck outcast who has survived years of abuse and trauma. Shai is a dead girl who, in her living years, only knew a life of luxury and comfort, albeit burdened with the responsibility of being a Radiant. And yet, a friendship is forged between these two very different characters, and the bond only strengthens with every page.
This central dynamic serves as the novel’s entire backbone, and I’m glad for it. There is very little fluff or filler content to distract from the main plot, no stale romantic arcs or angsty teenage drama to get in the way, just a compelling journey of two strong young women who go through many adventures and much strife in order to help one another. Even divided into three parts, the story is tightly told, and I enjoyed Sumner-Smith’s straightforward and easy-on-the-eyes writing style. She doesn’t go overboard with descriptions or the details of the characters’ backgrounds, providing enough to keep the reader engaged yet also satisfy the folks like me who crave world building and character development.
The remarkable friendship between Xhea and Shai alone makes this a very special novel, but I also loved the world the author has created here. Like I alluded to in my introduction, it would be impossible to assign just one genre to Radiant – and quite honestly, it wouldn’t do the book justice if I did. There’s a mix of so many things here. Potent magical spells existing in harmony with advanced technology. The images of glimmering gargantuan towers in the sky suggest a futuristic setting, while the dirty and crumbling ruins of buildings and defunct subway tunnels in the Lower City are reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic dystopian. Mindless, shambling undead creatures resembling zombies stalk the broken streets at night, injecting a bit of horror into this already mind-blowing blend of spec fic elements.
Radiant truly stands out. As a debut novel from an author already highly acclaimed for her short stories, there is a quality of rawness to some parts of it, but it’s nevertheless a very polished and great book. Karina Sumner-Smith is one to watch, and I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment in the Towers Trilogy.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Talos/Skyhorse Publishing!
#RRSciFiMonth: Echopraxia by Peter Watts
Posted on November 17, 2014 17 Comments
Sci-Fi November is a month-long blog event hosted by Oh The Books and Rinn Reads this year, created to celebrate everything amazing about science fiction! From TV shows to movies, books to comics, and everything else in between, it is intended to help science fiction lovers share their love and passion for this genre and its many, many fandoms.
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 2 of Firefall
Publisher: Tor (August 26, 2014)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
I thought I would be going into Echopraxia with two strikes against me. First, the fact that I haven’t read Blindsight which is the first book in the Firefall series, and second, there was the worry that the book would be too “hard sci-fi” for my tastes. Fortunately, neither really ended up being an obstacle. Sure, I had my issues with this novel, but those have little to do with my original concerns.
It’s hard to explain a book like Echopraxia; this is one of those cases where it’s probably better to just let the publisher description do the talking: “The eve of the twenty-second century”, “a world where the dearly departed send postcards back from Heaven and evangelicals make scientific breakthroughs by speaking in tongues”, “genetically engineered vampires solve problems intractable to baseline humans”, “soldiers come with zombie switches that shut off self-awareness during combat”.
It’s a whole other world, with a very different status quo. People like biologist Daniel Bruks who is adamant against upgrading himself with any implants or enhancements are seen as “old school”, living fossils that are still clinging on to an extinct way of life. While working in the field in the middle of the Oregon desert, he finds himself entangled in a conflict between a vampire and her entourage of zombie bodyguards versus a faction of technologically advanced Bicameral monks. Now he’s trapped on a ship headed to the center of the solar system to learn what happened to Blindsight, the expedition which took off years ago to investigate what appeared to be an alien signal.
The ideas here are wild, spectacular and ambitious. The plot, on the other hand, is quite thin – another reason why it would be difficult to describe this novel. Echopraxia is a book that feels less concerned with providing a cohesive narrative, instead focusing more heavily on philosophical discussion and debate on the human condition. Great if like these kinds of books, not so great if you don’t. Personally, I really enjoyed the first hundred pages or so because it contained most of the story. Watts established the setting, the main characters and the conflict. But everything started unraveling after that point, and became unfocused and disorganized.
The challenge for me was in trying to tease apart the jumble of ideas without allowing myself to be driven to distraction. Watts’ writing is laden with scientific jargon and not very easy on the eyes, making this one a slower read. Given the heavier themes and tinge of gloom, not to mention the fact there’s barely any plot, there’s just not too much energy to push it along. Not that I’m saying Echopraxia is a bad book. Far from it, in fact. I feel it has all the right ingredients, but the actual execution of all those great ideas leaves something to be desired.
Over the years, I think I’ve come to gain a deeper appreciation for hard sci-fi. It’s still a struggle sometimes, I admit, but it’s no longer the insurmountable hurdle it once was. However, plot and characters rank high on my priority list. Compelling and cogent storytelling is still somewhat of a requirement in the question of whether or not I’ll enjoy a book. Unfortunately, parts of Echopraxia are just too inconsistent for me to embrace it with open arms, but Watts should be recognized for his incredible talent of making everything he writes about sound fascinating and convincing. This is not a book you’ll want to pick up for a light afternoon of reading, but it’s worth it if you’re up for a thoughtful discourse on the complexities of the human mind and consciousness.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Tor Books!
Sunday Musings: INSPIRE!
Posted on November 16, 2014 7 Comments
Yesterday I went to my very first book fair! I’ve been going to and working for comic book conventions for well over a decade, but, since getting involved in the book blogosphere, I’ve been itching to attend a convention dedicated to some of my other loves. Enter INSPIRE! Toronto International Book Fair.
INSPIRE! Toronto International Book Fair is a place for readers to connect in the most immediate ways with those who write and with those who produce the books they love; a place where people can reconnect with the passion and enchantment of the world of reading.
Well, maybe some animals.
After convincing my six year old that the book fair was in no way related to the Royal Winter Fair and would not feature any ferris wheels, animals, or funnel cake (unfortunately), my daughters both joined me for a chilly, but sunny Toronto adventure that began at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
I loved the open, yet cozy vibe of the fair, with wide isles for visitors to stroll through and even stop to chat in without the feel of being overcrowded. This fair is young, so future events may very well see far more participants, but the layout allows for this, also offering many places for bibliophiles to sit down and relax and enjoy their purchases.
Stages were set up around the peripheral of the show floor, where different speakers and presentations were made. I caught some of Anne Rice’s discussion about her new book, Prince Lestat, my daughters got to listen to Andrea Beck, the author of one of their favourite series, Elliot Moose, and I happened upon a workshop called “A Conversation About Writing” presented by The Humber School for Writers. I caught a bit about writing objectively versus subjectively, wherein the ratio ought to be about 70% objective writing, and 30% subjective — unless you’re Ernest Hemingway, of course. Afterward, I visited the school’s booth and I plan to check out their creative writing correspondence program in the new year.
Creative writing program plans were the highlight of my fair adventure, as well as the opportunity to meet some of the ladies I write with over at Women Write About Comics. For my daughters, it was the great big Scholastic booth, as well as the Sands Alive table, where they got to play with a very fun new toy (that’s great for adults, too).
The only problem with taking the kids along, is that, while I wanted to stay and listen to more presentations, they eventually got bored with book fairs and wanted something a little more exciting.
Like sharks.
So we hopped over to the Ripley’s Aquarium for some underwater fun.
All in all, a great mommy and daughters day, and a great experience for me as a bibliophile. Next year, I’d love to be more involved in the fair… time to sign up for some volunteerin
YA Weekend: Mortal Gods by Kendare Blake
Posted on November 15, 2014 13 Comments
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Goddess War
Publisher: Tor Teen (October 14, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m a mythology buff, so naturally I became drawn to Kendare Blake’s Goddess War series. The first book introduced us to the concept that the Old Gods of Greek Mythology have always existed, and that well-known deities such as Athena and Hermes have lived among us since time immemorial. But all of a sudden, the gods are losing their immortality, dying slowly in the most bizarre and most horrific ways. All eyes turn to Kincade, New York, home of Cassandra of Troy…or the reincarnated version of her, anyway. As the gods take sides and prepare for war, the psychic teen may hold the key to everything.
After reading the first book, I could say I enjoyed it unequivocally. This second book, however, left me with mixed feelings.
Issue 1: Pacing. It falls on the slower side, especially at the beginning. Looking back, the biggest criticism I had with Antigoddess was that it ended with absolutely nothing resolved, closing with a cliffhanger of sorts. Happily, Mortal Gods picks up right where it left off, but then spends an excessive amount of time just trying to build back up to the level of suspense and excitement that we experienced right at the end of book one.
Issue 2: A book like Mortal Gods that has parts taking place in far flung and exotic locations across the globe should feel vast, epic, HUGE. At times, I sense this vibe struggling to come through in the narrative, but it never quite manages it. I love Kendare Blake’s writing style and she generally does a great job with her world-building, but for some reason the scenes that took place in the jungles of Malaysia or the outback of Australia felt rushed and glossed over.
On the other hand, she seems to do a much better job with fantasy settings. I adored the scenes that took place in Hades’ Underworld or at Mount Olympus, they were amazing.
Issue 3: The character of Cassandra. What happened? Granted, her life has been turned upside down and she’s experienced a lot of terrible things, including the loss of someone she loved deeply. All these events have shaped her, and while she’s a much deeper and well-rounded character now, she has also transformed into a downright bratty kid. Her anger and impulsiveness makes her say and do dumb things, and that makes it really hard to sympathize with her.
The final thing I want to talk about isn’t really an issue, but might be something to consider if you’re thinking of picking up this series. This is a Young Adult novel and it really shows. Most of the main characters are teens, including the incarnations of the Greek Gods, and there’s practically no adult presence. For some readers, this is of little to no importance. For me, it does take away some of the realism and immersion. If you can buy (or don’t care) that a teen can go jetsetting across the world, miss school and disappear for days on end without her parents even getting a tiny bit suspicious – or alternatively, they’re actually okay with it – then you shouldn’t have a problem at all.
I don’t want this review to sound too harsh though, because I did have a good time with Mortal Gods. My favorite part of it is still the unique and interesting take on the Greek Gods, and I really enjoyed how certain snippets of the story would play out like a very loose version of the Iliad, particularly when it involved the relationships between characters.
Bottom line: a pretty good book and sequel, though I still liked the first book better. I’m looking forward to the next one.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Tor Teen!
#RRSciFiMonth: Archetype by M.D. Waters
Posted on November 14, 2014 11 Comments
Sci-Fi November is a month-long blog event hosted by Oh The Books and Rinn Reads this year, created to celebrate everything amazing about science fiction! From TV shows to movies, books to comics, and everything else in between, it is intended to help science fiction lovers share their love and passion for this genre and its many, many fandoms.
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Series: Book 1 of Archetype
Publisher: Dutton (February 6, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Archetype was not a book I thought I’d like. I mean, dystopian, romance and amnesia isn’t a cocktail I’d normally go for. But this book ended up being surprisingly enjoyable.
We begin with an introduction to Emma, our protagonist who wakes up in a hospital with no memory of who she is. A kind and patient caretaker introduces himself to her as Declan Burke, and BOOM! also drops the bombshell on her that he is her husband. Declan helps with her recovery, filling in more blanks, but Emma finds herself having strange, vivid dreams of a traumatic past. Sometimes, her subconscious mind also remembers happier times with another man, a man who is not Declan – and these dreams fill her with both love and fear.
Emma tries to put it all behind her and get her life back on track, assured by Declan’s presence and protection, until one day she comes face to face with the other man in her dreams. And just like that, the illusion is shattered.
The dystopian future of Archetype is believable and well written, with several features that make it sufficiently intriguing yet disturbing. Humanity is on the path to extinction, with fertile women being a tiny minority of the population. This has led to serious social implications, especially for women, who are guarded very fiercely and in many cases are treated like rare commodities to be bought and sold.
But while this provides a fascinating backdrop for the story, the setting – and in fact the world-building in general – is probably not the novel’s strongest aspect, nor do I think it was meant to be. Instead, the focus is on characterization, particularly when it comes to Emma’s personality and the way she deals with her amnesia. The main draw of the story for me was the progress of her recovery and regaining her memory. Her transition from a scared, trusting newly awakened patient to a wiser and more questioning skeptic made her feel very real to me, because I imagine these are the logical steps someone in her position would go through. Towards the end, Emma is no longer content to take everything at face value or accept Declan’s words as the truth, especially when the inconsistencies start piling up. Declan is also much too perfect, which raised alarm bells for me early on, and Emma eventually begins to grow suspicious as well.
I probably wouldn’t call Archetype a Romance, or at least I don’t believe it fits in the traditional sense of the genre, even though much of the story is charged with very passionate feelings and there are a couple very hot and heavy sex scenes. Needless to say, the relationship dynamics between the various characters are paramount to the plot and its themes. It made for an emotional novel, and that along with the fantastic development of Emma’s character had my heart going out to her at as certain revelations came to light in the climax and conclusion.
Granted, this is not a terribly complex book, and despite the many dream sequences and flashbacks, the plot and themes don’t vary too much. But for all of that, it worked for me. The world building and probably wouldn’t be enough for hardcore Science Fiction fans, and not surprisingly there were many moments where I was left wishing there were more details about the technology and history of the world of Archetype. Still, Waters wrote a great book here, and it’s my feeling that she was not aiming for hard sci-fi, instead going for atmosphere and a more character-driven novel. What you end up with is a straightforward book that knows where it wants to go, and I thought it was actually quite effective. I am looking forward to the conclusion of this two-book series in the sequel Prototype.
Tough Traveling: Named, Famous, or Sentient Weapons
Posted on November 13, 2014 24 Comments
The Thursday feature “Tough Traveling” is the brainchild of Nathan ofReview 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: Named Weapons
Surprise! This is not from the Tough Guide but fits the spirit of it well. So let us say for this topic the weapon either needs to be A. Named, B. Famous, or C. Sentient.
Mogsy’s Picks:
Today’s Tough Traveling is a little different as we’re straying a bit from the themes in the book. My thanks to Nathan for picking one of my ideas for this week! I hope folks will have a fun time with this one, and won’t find it too challenging. After all, to quote a famous bastard, “All the best swords have names, you know.”
Dragon’s Child by M.K. Hume
EXCALIBUR!!! Because the featured weapon can be either a) Named, b) Famous, or c) Sentient, there are a lot of contenders to choose from. The challenge for me was to narrow it down but also get some variety at the same time, but I could not pass up this legendary sword. It’s hard to get more famous than Excalibur. I’ve read quite a few Arthurian fantasies, but I decided to use the first of M.K. Hume’s King Arthur Trilogy, which tells the story of the myth using a more historical eye.
Bloodsounder’s Arc by Jeff Salyards
Like Salyards said in an interview, medieval flails are just damn cool. While a lot of weapons in fantasy are either holy or magical, “Bloodsounder” is actually the name of the cursed and unholy flail that Captain Killcoin wields in this series, A flail can also be as dangerous to the user as to the opponent, which is quite appropriate given the nature of the curse.
Damoren by Seth Skorkowsky
Knights in a secret society called the Valducans wield sentient weapons in the world of this book. No one knows how these holy weapons came to be, the love a wielder feels for his or her weapon can become a deep bond, one that is even more powerful than any attachment to another human being. Even though the weapons are unmoving and unspeaking, the wielder is aware that their weapons are alive and speaking to their souls. In case you’re wondering, in this book Dämoren is a wicked cool gunblade — a magical revolver with a bayonet attached.
Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach
You gotta love Devi Morris, the protagonist of this series. She’s kick ass, in-your-face, loves herself some good action, and names her guns as well as her plasma blade. Sasha, Mia and Phoebe make plenty of appearances as Devi takes the fight to pirates, mercenaries and aliens in this rollicking space adventure. Devi loves her weapons like they’re her children, and same goes for her suit of combat armor which she’s dubbed the Lady Gray.
The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes
The Palace Job features a magical sentient warhammer that also talks! So um, when was the last time you read a heist book in which one of the crew is a talking weapon? Wielded by a death priestess, the warhammer also reveals later on in the story that he used to be a king, which explains some things about his nature.
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
It never occurred to me before, but named and magical weapons are actually pretty common in urban fantasy too. Slayer is Kate Daniels’ saber which kills undead by releasing secretions that liquefy their flesh before absorbing it as food. We find out that Slayer has to be fed at least once a month or the weapon will become brittle and break. When no undead are on hand, Kate makes a mixture by grinding flour, metal shavings, shells, bonemeal and chalk into a fine dust before adding water and immersing the blade into the mush.
Wendy’s Picks
Even though we’ve ventured off the beaten path a bit with Mogsy’s recommendation, good old Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit still lay claim to the road with numerous named weapons. Many of them are swords, but the most famous include Orcrist, the goblin-cleaver, wielded by Thorin Oakenshield, and Glamdring, its mate, which was acquired by Gandalf. Not quite as creative with the names, the orcs just knew them as Beater and Biter. Meanwhile, Bilbo Baggins names his elvish dagger, Sting. And we can’t forget Andúril, reforged from the shards of Narsil, the “blade that was broken,” thus signifying the return of the king.
There are so many books about King Arthur and his famous sword that it would be easy for us to populate this entire list with them–but one each is more than enough, especially when the third book in Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles is actually called EXCALIBUR.
The King Arthur influence is heavy in Roger Zelazny’s Great Book of Amber, from a son named Merlin to a best friend named Lancelot. But Prince Corwin’s sword isn’t named Excalibur. Corwin prefers his sword to go by the name Grayswandir.
Once wielded by the infamous Knights Radiant, Shardblades are the weapons of the Shardbearers, usually won in battle by defeating another Shardbearer.
But as Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archives takes us deeper into this mysterious world, we learn that, while the elaborate blades may not have names, their connection to certain other magical creatures is more than just coincidence.
Fabled, named, and sentient, the Arameri’s weapons have got it covered. The Arameri rule The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms because they happen to have the gods themselves bound to their commands. As far as weapons of mass destruction go, threatening to unleash Nahadoth, the god of chaos, is enough to end any war quickly. For a price.
“The Nightlord cannot be controlled, child. He can only be unleashed.”
Stjepan Black-Heart and his little posse are off to find a treasure: the fabled sword of a long dead king, buried in Mark Smylie’s The Barrow. But the road to bad intentions is always paved with, well, more bad intentions, and the sword might not be worth the cost.
I got bored pretty quickly when I read this years ago, but I figure if it’s called The Sword of Shannara, that sword must be pretty special right? According to the blurb, it would seem so, what with Shea being the last of the Shannara bloodline and the only one capable of wielding the sword that will, um, do important stuff…
Lessons learned from World After: When an archangel loses his sentient sword and it decides to claim you instead, you should think long and hard about what you will call that sword, especially if it is meant to command the respect of the swords of all the other angels. So, you know, don’t name it something like “Pookie Bear.”
Rytlock Brimstone refuses to speak of where he got his flaming sword, but Logan Thackery is pretty sure he looted Sohothin from the ruins of Ascalon in The Guilds Wars 2 book, Edge of Destiny. Legend has it that, if ever Sohothin and its sister sword, Magdaer, are returned whole to Ascalon, then the ghosts that guard the region will finally be laid to rest.
In Terry Brook’s Wizard’s First Rule and the subsequent TV show, Legend of the Seeker, Richard Cipher is the Seeker of Truth whose sword has been guarded by the wizard Zed, until Richard was ready to start seeking them truths.
“The Sword of Truth‘s power comes from the righteous anger of its wielder, and glows red when this anger turns to rage. “
Righteous anger is righteous
As Mogsy pointed out, all the best swords have names. The really good ones are made of Valyrian steel, including Ice, which was used to chop off its wielder’s head. It was later reforged by Tywin Lannister, who gave it to his one-handed son, who in turn, gave it to Brienne of Tarth. She now wields it as Oathkeeper. But whether the swords of Westeros are resting in scabbards, forged into uncomfortable thrones, or drawing blood on the battlefield, they all adhere to the same first lesson:
“Stick them with the pointy end.”
Book Review: Daring by Elliott James
Posted on November 12, 2014 7 Comments
Daring by Elliott James
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Pax Arcana
Publisher: Orbit (September 23, 2014)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Given my heavy reading load and lack of time, this book almost didn’t make it onto my review list. I enjoyed its predecessor Charming, though as a first book in an urban fantasy series it was probably a bit too standard and conventional to be truly memorable. But UFs are generally quick reads, not to mention I realize some series do need a bit of time to take off, so I was more than willing to give Pax Arcana another shot with Daring.
The book jumps right back into the life of John Charming, a young man who comes from a long line of Charmings – yes, that family of swoon-worthy princes, heroic dragon slayers, and rescuers of damsels in distress from evil witches and their dastardly curses. But John isn’t your average Charming, despite his illustrious family name and long years spent training with the modern day equivalent of the Knights Templar. A werewolf attack on his mother right before his birth resulted in John becoming a new type of strange hybrid, and his own people have hunted him ever since the first day he manifested his symptoms.
But now, instead of trying to kill him the Knights Templar are actually trying recruit him. They believe John’s ties to werewolves makes him the perfect man to infiltrate the werewolf packs that have been uniting under a mysterious leader, while the Templar themselves have failed time and time again. They’re dealing with creatures with noses that can sniff out an interloper from a mile away, after all. John agrees, but only because he was forced to and it would also help keep the woman he loves out of danger.
I have to say this book left me a bit torn. I do think Daring is a better book than Charming, but probably not by much. Like I said, the first book didn’t make much of an impression on me; a few months after reading it I found I could hardly remember anything specific about the plot. Needless to say, that affected my ability to jump right into this one. Even though the “ten things you need to know” type recap at the beginning was humorous and a clever way to get the reader up to speed again, I didn’t really find it all that helpful.
But the question here is how does book two match up? Well, I do think there’s a lot more to like about Daring. I thought the comedy factor was more pronounced in this book, even though the overall themes are bit darker. And sometimes it’s not the action scenes and the flashy trimmings that I find the most memorable (in fact, a lot of times it’s the opposite and those tend to blend together) but the more subdued and serious scenes. I liked the chapters that flashed back to John’s past, for example, revealing his childhood years as a talented but outcast novice in the order of the Knights Templar, as well as the experiences in his love life that have shaped him. Likewise, when John joined up with the werewolves in the woods, I got a kick out of the quiet moments of introspection and meditation with his new lycanthrope clan mates.
Then there were the things I didn’t like so much. While the overall story was enjoyable, as to how much it will stick with me this time around, that remains to be seen. I suspect much of what happened after the part with the new age-y wolves will become a blur for me. There were the requisite bells and whistles and twists and turns. But what was missing for me were the supporting characters I met in book one! Where’s Molly? Where’s Choo? And I could have done with more than just a small cameo from Parth. I also wasn’t too convinced of John’s budding relationship with the Valkyrie Sig in the first place, to have her absent for the most of this book was a mistake in my eyes.
And finally, perhaps my main disappointment with this book is the same one I had with the first. The description for Daring states that this series “gives a new twist to the Prince Charming tale.” I still feel that it’s a bit of an overstatement, and wish that the “twist” to the Prince Charming angle could be more inventive and unique. A lot of what makes this series different is based on gimmicky factors like punny chapter titles and a split paragraph here and there; I know this is probably going to sound a lot harsher than I intend, but I really do think a new urban fantasy needs to stand out more these days to set itself apart.
Pax Arcana continues to be fun. My opinion of these books hasn’t really changed for the better or the worse since the first one, which means despite my gripes my feelings are still favorable towards this series. I’ll be open to checking out the third book when it comes out. Now, if this had been an epic fantasy series and the books were each 500+ pages long, that would be a different story, but urban fantasies do not require the same time investment and I know they’re always a good time. I’ll decide once we get closer to the release date of Fearless.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Orbit Books!
The BiblioSanctum 