The BiblioSanctum

Bookshelf Roundup 05/21/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on May 21, 2023 15 Comments

Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.

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Received for Review

With thanks to Tordotcom for:

Witch King by Martha Wells. I received a finished copy earlier this month, which I dug into immediately. I hate to say this, because it’s been years since I’ve read Martha Wells’ fantasy and I was very excited, but it ended up leaving me cold. I just wasn’t feeling the main character, I guess? Anyway, a review up will be up soon where I’ll talk about it some more.

With thanks to Angry Robot for:

The Judas Blossom by Stephen Aryan. Yay, finished copies are here! I actually read this months ago so I could blurb it, and I was delighted to open my book to see that it was also signed by the author! Now that the embargo on reviews has ended, look for my full review in the coming days.

With thanks to Rocky Pond Books for:

The Islands of Elsewhere by Heather Fawcett, from Penguin’s newest children’s and YA imprint. I jumped on this one as soon as I saw Heather Fawcett’s name on the pitch email I was sent; it’s no secret I ADORED Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries and I’m excited to try one of her Middle Grade novels. My daughter has already set her sights on this one too, so who knows, maybe you’ll see her back for another guest or joint review.

With thanks to Nightfire Books for:

Schrader’s Chord by Scott Leeds, which has a fascinating premise. I don’t think I can do it justice, so I’ll just let the publisher description do the talking: “Heart-Shaped Box meets The Haunting of Hill House in Schrader’s Chord, Scott Leeds’s chilling debut about cursed vinyl records that open a gateway to the land of the dead.”

With thanks to Tor Books for:

Starter Villain by John Scalzi. While we’re on the topic of fascinating premises, check out this one from the king of quirky modern sci-fi. The book arrived around the time the US cover was revealed so I hadn’t seen it yet, so you can imagine my surprised and amused response when I opened the package.

With thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for:

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose, which follows a young Indigenous woman at a dragon academy after she finds an egg and bonds with the hatchling. However, she soon finds herself at odds with the people who run the school, who are also the colonizers who rule her land. I wondered at the wisdom of reading another dragon academy book so soon after Fourth Wing, but this one seems quite different with a lot to offer.

It’s here, it’s here! This week also finally saw the arrival of my hardcover copy of The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson, AKA Secret Project #2. Production delays meant that these beauties didn’t start shipping until last week, but it was worth the wait. That said, I didn’t actually wait to read the book; ebook copies were made available on schedule so I’d already read it last month and I’ve just been being a lazy bum about getting a review up. This was a fun one, so I promise it will be soon!

Reviews

Recent Reads/Upcoming Reviews

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

Book Review: Paradise-1 by David Wellington

Posted on May 19, 2023 19 Comments

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

Paradise-1 by David Wellington

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Horror

Series: Book 1 of Red Space

Publisher: Orbit Books (April 4, 2023)

Length: 688 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

I’m of two minds about Paradise-1 by David Wellington. On the one hand, I liked it better than his last book I read, The Last Astronaut. The premise was definitely more to my liking, but the book also suffered from some of the same issues as well as uneven pacing.

Despite the urgency implied by the publisher description, the story also does not in fact begin under such harrowing circumstances. Protagonist Lt. Alexandra Petrova of the Firewatch is first introduced when the story opens on Ganymede, where we find her in pursuit of a dangerous serial killer. When the mission ends in disaster, she is unceremoniously exiled to Paradise-1, a nascent colony on a distant planet. On the day of her departure, she discovers that the vessel transporting her only has two other human passengers—Dr. Zhang Lei, a socially awkward researcher who is haunted by his past, and Sam Parker, the ship’s pilot and a former lover of Alexandra’s. Joining them is also an artificial intelligence in a fabricated body named Rapscallion who will be overseeing ship functions and life support while the humans are placed in cryosleep for the long journey.

As their ship makes its final approach on Paradise-1, however, they are ambushed by a mysterious vessel. Lieutenant Petrova, Dr. Zhang, and Parker are literally shaken out of their pods, waking up to almost complete destruction. They also learn that their ship’s AI is corrupted and trying to reboot itself in an endless loop, while communications sent to the colony are going unanswered, leading to a desperate race against time to find out why. What could be affecting the human colonists on Paradise-1 as well as their onboard AI, making both behave in such an erratic, hostile manner? And in the meantime, the crew still has to figure out how to survive the relentless attack from the hostile ship.

First, the good: Character development was superb. From the beginning, Paradise-1 presented a captivating study of Alexandra Petrova, who has spent her life living in the shadow of her mother, a woman both revered and reviled. In essence, their complex relationship is key to everything that happens. Trying to live up to her mother’s expectations is what got Alexandra into Firewatch in the first place, and what eventually led to her downfall were her attempts to quell rumors of nepotism. Later, we find out that her mother had also gone to Paradise-1. As they say, the plot thickens.

My favorite character though, was Dr. Zhang. While many of the reasons are spoilers, what I can say is that he intrigued me the moment he was introduced in that awkward conversation with Petrova, and then grew steadily on me since. One of the highlights was watching him come out of his shell after suffering a traumatic incident at one of his past research labs, discovering the key role he plays in the disaster at Paradise-1, and seeing him come to trust his crewmates.

Paradise-1 was also much more frightening and intense in tone compared to The Last Astronaut. The story blends two of my favorite space horror tropes, killer AI and extraterrestrial viruses. Considering how our world has recently come out of a pandemic and is now debating the ethics and possible dangers of burgeoning AI technology, these topics seem fitting somehow. Wellington takes all the uncertainty surrounding these discussions and uses it to great effect.

As for the not-so-good: Pacing. Pacing, pacing, and pacing, especially when we are also trying to cram the drama of character backstories in between bouts of action. It wreaked havoc with the flow of the plot, resulting in many lulls. Then there was the question of whether this book needed to be 700 pages, arguably much too long considering its repetitive nature. While there were several arcs comprising this story, they all followed a similar pattern of scouting out a derelict ship, encountering the horror of what has become of their hapless occupants, confirming what we already know. This happened no less than three times, and little progression was made after the first. Worse, each time we lost a little more of the mystery and fear as impatience grew. To add insult to injury, the book also ended on a somewhat brutal cliffhanger, a final slap in the face.

What’s frustrating is that, without these problems, Paradise-1 would have been an amazing book. To be fair, the good still outweighed the bad, but although there were plenty of things I loved, I cannot give this on more than a middling rating due to the pacing issues. While I do want to pick up the sequel to find out what happens, if it turns out to be another 700+ page doorstopper…well, I may have to reconsider.

#WyrdandWonder Audiobook Review: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Posted on May 18, 2023 17 Comments

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Dragonsteel Entertainment (January, 2023)

Length: 12 hours 26 minutes

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Narrator: Michael Kramer

Me when Brandon Sanderson’s “Four Secret Novels” Kickstarter project was announced: SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! Clearly I wasn’t the only one, as in no time at all, the campaign went on to break records for the most-funded Kickstarter ever. In early 2023, the first of the secret novels started to ship, but although I received a gorgeous premium hardcover edition of Tress of the Emerald Sea, I opted to listen to the audiobook, which my entire family got to enjoy on a 10-hour road trip during spring break. Best decision ever.

When the story begins, we are introduced to our eponymous protagonist who lives a simple life on an island in the middle of an emerald-green “ocean” which is really made up of countless tiny grain-like spores. Between performing her everyday chores, Tress likes to collect teacups brought to her by sailors who travel from all over the world and are aware of her charming hobby. When she has free time, she also likes to visit her friend Charlie, the Duke’s son. Far from being a hoity toity nobleman like his father though, Charlie is in fact very personable and tells the most amazing stories which Tress can listen to for hours. But then one day, the Duke decides it’s time for his son to marry. They leave on a voyage by sea, breaking Tress’ heart as she watches her love sale away forever.

Except Charlie did not get married. Neither did he come back. When Tress receives the awful news that the Duke’s ship had been intercepted by the Sorceress of the Midnight Sea and that Charlie had been kidnapped, she makes the decision to rescue him. But for a girl who has never left her tiny island home though, that’s easier said than done. The Midnight Sea is also not like any of the others. While oceans of all colors are dangerous, Midnight is especially deadly due to the particular nature of the spores that comprise it. But even before she can brave that challenge, Tress must first find a way off her island when the docks are constantly guarded against unauthorized travel.

Sanderson has said that Tress of the Emerald Sea was heavily inspired by The Princess Bride, and it shows. Tonally, the story feels whimsical and even fairy tale-like at times—very different from any of his other novels, even those that are Middle Grade or Young Adult. It is also very wholesome, which reaffirmed my choice to make this audiobook a family listen. In case you’re wondering, my kids loved this book as well. Not surprising, since The Princess Bride is also one of their favorite movies. They thoroughly enjoyed the twist where it was the girl in role of “farm boy” sailing off on a quest to save the Duke’s son.

But that’s pretty much as far as the inspiration goes. Tress’ journey is all her own, and once the plot gets going, like a snowball rolling down the side of a snow-covered hill, it grows until it becomes something tremendous and epic. At the beginning, when our protagonist takes her first clandestine step aboard a ship as a stowaway, the only thing on her mind was to rescue Charlie. Eventually though, that quest balloons into something so much bigger—an adventure that includes swashbuckling pirates and even a dragon. At one point, one of my daughters even asked, “Did Tress forget all about Charlie?” To be fair, it might have seemed that way, but I learned to never underestimate Sanderson when it comes to bringing a story full circle. Still, even I was amazed at how beautifully and perfectly the story came together in the end.

The world-building was also incredible. Yes, this being a Sanderson novel, I know that’s a lot like saying water is wet. Still, the concept of a world where not only are the oceans made up of spores but that the spores can actually manifest dangerous effects if they were to come in contact with any moisture, that is just another level of ingenuity.

It must be pointed out though, that Tress of the Emerald Sea is a Cosmere novel, part of a bigger fictional universe created by the author in which many of his other works take place. At the end of the day, this is still a standalone novel but newcomers to the Cosmere might experience a bit of confusion. They might not understand certain references, like who the character of Hoid is and why it might be significant to Sanderson fans that this story is told from his point of view. While it’s not a dealbreaker by any means, and Tress can most definitely be enjoyed without any prior knowledge of the Cosmere or any of its books, there might be rare instances of “Cosmere-talk” that might frustrate some readers (like my husband).

That said, I ended up loving this book, and more importantly, so did the three other members of my family who had never even heard of the Cosmere before this. After a brief explanation from me, they were good to go, even my two kids who grasped the concept quickly. Tress of the Emerald Sea was a solid hit with all of us. No matter who you are, there is much to appreciate about this lighthearted novel full of hope, love, courage, and adventure. Tress is a fantastic heroine whose determination is a good reminder of the boundless potential inside all of us.

Waiting on Wednesday 05/17/23

Posted on May 17, 2023 12 Comments

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

Mogsy’s Pick

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten (February 20, 2024 by Orbit Books)

“In the second installment of New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten’s lush, romantic epic fantasy series, a young woman who can raise the dead must navigate the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.

The corrupt king August is dead. Prince Bastian has seized the throne and raised Lore—a necromancer and former smuggler—to his right hand side. Together they plan to cut out the rot from the heart of the sainted court and help the people of Dellaire. But not everyone is happy with the changes. The nobles are sowing dissent, the Kyrithean Empire is beating down their door, and Lore’s old allies are pulling away. Even Prince Bastian’s changed. No longer the hopeful, rakish, charismatic man Lore knows and loves, instead he’s reckless, domineering and cold.

And something’s been whispering in her ear. A voice, dark and haunting, that’s telling her there’s more to the story than she knows and more to her power than she can even imagine. A truth buried deep that could change everything.

With Bastian’s coronation fast approaching and enemies whispering on all sides, Lore must figure out how to protect herself, her prince, and her country before they all come crumbling down and whatever dark power has been creeping through the catacombs is unleashed.”

Book Review: The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Posted on May 15, 2023 23 Comments

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

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Ballantine Books (May 2, 2023)

Length: 538 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

It’s an unfortunate reality that many authors who write groundbreaking novels fail to ever capture the same magic again with their follow-up work. But then there’s Justin Cronin, whose new book The Ferryman not only lives up to the epicness of The Passage trilogy but surpasses it in terms of its vision and depth of scope as well.

However, the plot is so multilayered and complex that describing it is going to be next to impossible, so I’m not even going to try. What I will give you is the setup, which is irresistibly intriguing all on its own: In the middle of the ocean lies the archipelago of Prospera, a utopian state hidden from the horrors of the outside world—except things aren’t as idyllic as they seem in this so-called island paradise. For one thing, Prospera has its social divisions as well. Made up of three islands, the largest, Prospera proper, is where the wealthy elite reside, while The Annex is home to working class citizens and support staff.

And then there’s The Nursery. Everyone on Prospera is fitted with a monitor that ostensibly measures their physical and mental health, but it has a more ominous function as well. As you grow older and your numbers fall to an unacceptably low number, your monitor triggers a “retirement process” in which the citizen will be taken to The Nursery in order to have their memories wiped and their old bodies renewed so that they can restart life as another iteration. Those reborn come back as teenagers, to become adopted as wards by Prospera couples, and then the whole cycle begins again.

Our protagonist Proctor Bennett is a Ferryman, and it is his duty to accompany residents by boat to Nursery island when they are ready to be “rebooted”. It is also up to him to ensure that every citizen gets to make that transition smoothly and with dignity. But then one day, he fails at that task spectacularly with none other than his own aging father, who makes a scene at the pier but still manages to get a strange message out to his son. Those perplexing words end up upending Proctor’s life, making him question everything about himself and what he believes in. Why does he dream when no one else does? And what might have driven his mother to commit suicide all those years ago?

From there, the story gets increasingly more elaborate, and I’m not exaggerating when I say a shit ton of things happen in this book, but then I say at 500+ pages, there damn well better be. The Ferryman is definitely not for the fainted hearted or easily daunted; it combines science fiction and dystopian elements with a dash of action and thrills to create an engaging saga that draws from themes ranging from social issues to personal struggles. And while the book is largely told from Proctor’s point-of-view, there are other perspective characters who share some page time, including Thea, an art dealer with whom our protagonist begins a complicated relationship. Still, even the limited cast does not constrain this novel, and in fact, the tight focus only has the effect of making things feel even more critical and immediate.

Underlying all this is also a strong current of mystery. This is a book that starts lobbing clues at you from page one while guarding the full picture closely, doling out the answers little by little so that you form the connections gradually, making each revelation a delight. As Proctor attempts to get to the bottom of the Arrivalist movement, created by a group of dissidents from The Annex, he is also trying to figure out his rocky marriage with Elise, who disappointingly does not share in his desire to adopt a ward. And then there’s Caeli. A rebellious teenager who befriends Proctor, Caeli later disappears and finding her may be the key to solving the mystery.

All of this culminates into a surprise I did not see coming. By the time the book ends, you are so far out of the same territory as when the book began, you start to wonder how in the hell you got here, which only just leads you to retrace your steps and blow your mind anew. Like a Matryoshka doll, there are stories nestled within stories, but there are also huge shifts that nevertheless keep the plot elements tightly woven so that overall themes and character motivations still make sense.

All this might sound cryptic, but if you are curious about any of it, I highly recommend picking up The Ferryman so you can experience the joys and intrigue for yourself. Fans of sci-fi and dystopian fiction looking for an imaginative, mysterious, and thrilling book to feed your brain, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Bookshelf Roundup 05/14/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on May 14, 2023 16 Comments

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Received for Review

With thanks to Nightfire Books for:

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, a mermaid tale with its inspirational roots in Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, only the darkness and violence is cranked way up for this twisted horror version.
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian, a wild west horror epic about the hunt for a witch across demon and monster-infested wastelands. I haven’t treated myself to a horror western in a long time, and I am so excited for this!

With thanks to Tordotcom for:

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang, inspired by the classic Chinese historical novel known as Outlaws of the Marsh (or the more literal, less epic translation Water Margin), a story that I knew quite well when I was growing up. I’ve read the author’s work in the past and I’m curious to see where she’ll go with this one.

With thanks to Angry Robot Books for:

March’s End by Daniel Polansky, a multi-general portal fantasy following a family who has been charged with the protection of a magical land called March. Something about this one is giving me serious Chronicles of Narnia vibes and I can’t wait to check it out.

One book in the digital haul with thanks to Sourcebook Landmark: Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine, pseudonym for young adult author Danielle Vega. It’s about a woman who is desperately trying to get pregnant and is convinced someone is going to great lengths to make sure it never happens. This one recently caught my attention because of comparisons to Rosemary’s Baby, and the upcoming twelfth season of American Horror Story “Delicate” is based on it. Plus, it just sounds absolutely bonkers and terrifying.

Reviews

Recent Reads/Upcoming Reviews

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

#WyrdandWonder Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Posted on May 11, 2023 27 Comments

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

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Series: Book 1 of The Empyrean

Publisher: Red Tower Books (May 2, 2023)

Length: 512 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros from Red Tower Books is the first “New Adult” book I’ve picked up in years, a category which, I’ve rediscovered, feels a lot like a label for Young Adult just with more mature themes. In other words, expect many of the same genre tropes but with a lot more sexy-times. Still, as the inaugural publication of Entangled Publishing’s new romantic fantasy imprint, I don’t think you can get a more perfect book that exemplifies everything the publisher is going for, featuring a world of dangerous adventure and action, a darkly sensuous romance, and a gritty protagonist who is determined to forge a stronger version of herself by testing her limits. Oh, and did I mention dragons?

The story follows 20-year-old Violet, an unassuming and petite apprentice scribe who had happily consigned herself to a life of research in Navarre’s sprawling archives. But her mother, the famed General Sorrengail of the kingdom’s elite dragon riders, has other plans for her youngest. She has declared that Violet will become a dragon rider as well or die trying—which, with the high mortality rates among new recruits, can be taken quite literally. Still, no one tells the formidable general “no”, let alone her own daughter. Reluctantly, Violet finds herself joining the hundreds of candidates entering the academy this year, all of them hoping to survive the grueling training and live long enough to bond with a dragon.

Despite coming from a military family, Violet immediately feels put of place and unprepared. Everyone expects great things from a Sorrengail, but among the other cadets, her small frame and brittle bone and joint condition quickly get her marked at weak—and weakness is not something to be tolerated. Dragons themselves prize strength and ferocity, so when a significant portion of candidates die each year, it’s seen as a necessary process to cull the unworthy, since only the best of the best should be bonded. While Violet may not have initially aspired to be a dragon rider, neither does she want to die, so she decides to use every skill, trick, and connection to her advantage.

Still, even that might not be enough when her very own family name is a strike against her. Violet’s mother was the general who snuffed out Navarre’s last rebellion, putting all the traitors to death. And although the rebels’ children were spared, they were also forced into military service. One of them is Xaden Riorson, the son of the separatist leader who has also risen among the ranks of the Riders Quadrant, becoming one of their best wingleaders. Because of his history though, he harbors a deep resentment towards the Sorrengail family, and by extension, towards our protagonist as well. But while Violet knows better than to get involved with Xaden, whom she is convinced is out to kill her, fate keeps pushing them onto the same path. Gradually, she begins to see a different side to her enemy, just as she also learns to develop a new passion for dragon riding.

First of all, the hype is real. I can see why a book like Fourth Wing would be immensely popular, especially amongst its target audience, even though it is by no means breaking any new ground. Both the fantasy academic setting and the hate-turns-to-love romance are tropes that have been done to death, for instance, not to mention dragons are a perennial favorite. That said, Yarros has somehow managed to take all these familiar ideas and present them in a fresh and entertaining way. Of course, I had a few gripes, mainly to do with some of the predictability in the plot and inconsistencies with the world-building, but taken as a whole, the author clearly knows what her readers crave, and she has written a book that delivers it in spades.

From the beginning, this is a story designed to sink its talons into you. Violet is an every-woman’s heroine—humble, likeable, but purposeful. Life has thrown her a curve ball, and her reaction is pragmatic: to come out of this ordeal alive, she will need to bond with a dragon, so that is exactly what she sets out to do. The trials she and the other rider candidates are put through are brutal, with the very real possibility of death lurking around every corner. It’s a scenario that reminds me a lot of Kettral training in the very excellent Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series by Brian Staveley—recruits are put through the wringer daily, and the competition for a dragon is cutthroat and fierce. Even though Violet is our main character and we know she will survive when many others won’t, the danger still feels very real and immediate.

In terms of relationships, Violet makes friends and alliances early on and encounters just as many who are hostile towards her, but I’m sure what everyone wants to hear about is the romance, which I have to say was expectedly cheesy—though to be fair, not eye-rollingly so. For example, a love triangle situation that feels shoehorned in early on gets shot down pretty quickly, thank goodness, but manufactured drama is still drama (gotta fill that unnecessary angst quota somehow). Predictably, Xaden is also the super hot, mysterious and brooding bad boy who comes out on top to steal Violet’s heart, but Yarros clearly has enough experience creating sexual tension and chemistry that it still made the forgone conclusion of them being together satisfying.

Then there was the aspect of world-building, likely a secondary component in the case of Fourth Wing, but it was still robust enough to impress the heck out of me. It’s the dragons who steal the show in this one, and while they don’t really come into play until after the first third of the novel, let’s just say it’s worth the wait. They’re highly intelligent, and as multiple characters from the book like to remind you frequently, it’s the dragon who chooses their rider and not the other way around (which is why it’s so nonsensical that Violet later on becomes the target of unbonded cadets hoping to kill her and steal her dragon…like her dragon won’t have a say in the matter if that happens? But I digress). The author also gives just enough context into the overall conflict in Navarre to keep readers focused on the dragon riders’ goal, which is to ward its borders against constant attack from a neighboring kingdom whose warriors are armed with their own unique mounts. It’s a relatively straightforward scenario which admittedly won’t hold up to much scrutiny or nitpicking, but like I said, for a book like this, it’s enough.

All in all, I had a really good time with Fourth Wing. While the book might not be presenting anything too new for regular readers of fantasy or romance, Rebecca Yarros nonetheless creates something refreshingly enjoyable by blending the two genres. It’s the immersive writing that truly elevates this novel above other similar offerings which I hope to get more of from the sequel, and needless to say I’m excited to continue the series.

Waiting on Wednesday 05/10/23

Posted on May 10, 2023 7 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

Dreambound by Dan Frey (September 12, 2023 by Del Rey)

“In this thrilling contemporary fantasy novel, a father must uncover the secret magical underbelly of Los Angeles to find his daughter, who has seemingly disappeared into the fictional universe of her favorite fantasy series.

When Byron Kidd’s twelve-year-old daughter vanishes, the only clue left behind is a note claiming she’s taken off to explore the Hidden World, a magical land from a series of popular novels. She is not the only child to seek out this imaginary realm in recent years, and Byron—a cynical and hard-nosed reporter—is determined to discover the whereabouts of dozens of missing kids.

Byron secures a high-profile interview with Annabelle Tobin, the eccentric author of the books, and heads off to her palatial home in the Hollywood Hills. But the truth Byron discovers is more fantastical than he ever could have dreamed.

As he uncovers locations from the books that seem to be bleeding into the real world, he must shed his doubts and dive headfirst into the mystical secrets of Los Angeles if he ever hopes to reunite with his child. Soon Byron finds himself on his own epic journey—but if he’s not careful, he could be the next one to disappear…

Told through journal entries, transcripts, emails, and excerpts from Tobin’s novels, Dreambound is a spellbinding homage to Los Angeles and an immersive and fast-paced story of how far a father will go—even delving into impossible worlds—to save his daughter.”

Book Review: The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter

Posted on May 9, 2023 12 Comments

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

The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Gallery/Saga Press (April 18, 2023)

Length: 384 pages

Author Information: Website

Imagine a world where prevailing perceptions of food consumption and sex are reversed from the norm—that is, partaking in the act of eating or cooking is considered illicit, while sexual acts are performed freely, frequently, and publicly simply because it is a natural part of everyday life. This is the foundation upon which The Thick and the Lean is built. Part sci-fi dystopian and part food porn, the novel takes place on a fictional planet and follows the lives of two ostensibly unrelated women who are in fact connected by an ancient book of memoirs and recipes written by a kitchen girl named Ijo many centuries ago.

When the story opens, readers are introduced to Beatrice, born and raised in the cultish community of Seagate with a puritanical attitude towards all things related to food. Her church equates starvation to piety, where suppressing your appetite is worship and being overweight is a sign of overindulgence and excess. However, even her strict upbringing could not suppress Beatrice’s lifelong fascination with food, which she has hidden from everyone since she was a young girl. She loves the idea of cooking all sorts of marvelous dishes, of savoring their many different flavors. What Beatrice desires most in the world is to be a chef, but to realize her dream she must escape Seagate to find a new home more accepting of her predilections. Eventually, with the help of a black-market connection, she gets her chance—but in the face of an unknown world, Beatrice soon discovers there is much to learn beyond figuring out how to achieve her own ambitions.

Meanwhile, interwoven into the narrative are also chapters following Reiko, an aspiring artist from a poor family living in the lowest socio-economic tier. So when she is offered a scholarship to attend a distinguished school in the Middle—which is not quite as exalted as the glittering Above, but still far elevated from her own impoverished background in the Bastian—Reiko is excited to be literally moving up in life. But this initial elation is short-lived. She becomes disillusioned by the other more privileged students who will be handed a degree whether they do the work or not, while she must struggle to maintain her scholarship. And then, even that turns out to be a lie. Rather than go home with nothing, Reiko decides to reinvent herself as a cybercriminal, using her hacking skills to con the rich.

At some point, both Beatrice and Reiko come across a book called The Kitchen Girl, excerpts from which are scattered throughout the novel, timed to provide insight into the happenings in each woman’s life.

While fascinating, The Thick and the Lean is a book whose strengths lie more in its themes than its writing or storytelling. Author Chana Porter is clearly out to explore a certain subset of contemporary issues, with the “far-flung planet” setting serving as a flimsy stand-in for our own modern society. However, despite the ideas themselves being quite compelling, everything else was simply underwhelming. World-building was sparse, just enough to serve the story’s purposes, mainly to establish our characters’ origins and motivations that send Beatrice and Reiko on the trajectories of their respective lives. The plot was also on the weaker side, forced to meander through unnecessary dialogue and drawn-out sequences in order to keep the themes on point while simultaneously going way off script. To be honest, I was actually quite taken with the story when I first started the book, but my interest gradually waned towards the middle—right around the time Porter started losing control of the plot. The various threads felt too disparate, and I wasn’t entirely convinced of the connections between Beatrice and Reiko’s narratives. Heck, I wasn’t even entirely sold on the tenuous links holding together the very different stages of each woman’s life.

That said though, in terms of its potential to be one gigantic metaphor, The Thick and the Lean has legs. It’s not subtle either when it comes to its commentary on current societal ills like corporate corruption, the widening gap between the poor and the ultra wealthy, the exorbitant costs of college, environmental degradation, and so much more. But then there are also themes that touch upon experiences on a more personal level, those dealing with an individual’s struggle with body image or the stigma of eating disorders. In particular, these were the ideas I found unique and entrancing, and the layers of analogies in this book provide much that warrants serious consideration. In fact, I wish more of the story had stayed on the topic of food, exploring the complex relationship that cultures and societies have with the rituals of preparing it and consuming it.

In sum, there are things The Thick and the Lean does well, and places where it falls short. Personally, I place more importance on characters and story when I read, so while Chana Porter’s social commentary and messages on body positivity might come from a good place, they are nonetheless secondary to my enjoyment. Perhaps this is why I feel only lukewarm towards the novel, though I’ll also admit it was quite an eye-opening read. I would recommend trying it out if anything in its description piques your interest.

#WyrdandWonder Book Review: Spring’s Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow

Posted on May 8, 2023 11 Comments

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

Spring’s Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Dead God’s Heart

Publisher: Tor Books | Macmillan Audio (May 2, 2023)

Length: 368 pages | 11 hrs and 24 mins

Author Information: Website

Spring’s Arcana has been compared to Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, and it’s easy to see why. Lilith Saintcrow’s latest is a urban fantasy inspired by Russian folklore where an invisible world of mythological figures and divinities exists alongside the human one. The story follows protagonist Nat Drozdova, whose mother is dying of cancer. Although the relationship between them has been fraught over the years, Nat is devastated and is willing to do anything to help. That’s how she finds herself meeting with a mysterious woman known as Mrs. de Winter (not her real name, Nat strongly suspects) in the luxurious office of a Manhattan high-rise. What this woman can do for her mother that her doctors can’t, Nat doesn’t know, but soon it is revealed that de Winter—whom her underlings refer to as “Baba” or “Grandmother”—is no ordinary mortal.

And neither is Nat, apparently. Turns out that all her life, her mother had been keeping the truth of their lineage from her, and that the illness ravaging her is of supernatural origins. Still, this means it can be cured, but only if Nat can help a witch goddess retrieve a stolen object of great power. Assigned to help her on her quest is Dmitri Konets, an ill-tempered assassin who works for Baba but has also made it clear he wants Nat dead. To save her mother’s life though, Nat will have no choice but to trust Dima, accompanying him deep into a hidden world of fantastical magic and dangerous gods.

So much to unpack here and so much to say about this book, but in the end, I just wish it had been more. Things started well enough, and the story was good until it just…wasn’t.

Still, I’ll start with the positives. The world-building was quite impressive, as urban fantasies go. I truly enjoyed the creativity that went into permeating a modern day setting with elements from Slavic folklore and mythology, and seriously, who doesn’t love a talking cat? We also get to meet a lot of fascinating characters and are treated to some wondrous and powerful displays of magic. Saintcrow is clearly very skilled when it comes to setting up a good scene without having to spend a lot of time spelling it all out, because while much about the supernatural realm is merely suggested in the story, there is still a strong sense of this whole other reality exiting beneath the surface. Of course, having some background knowledge of the legend of Baba Yaga will certainly help to fill in any missing pieces.

That said though, the real buzzkill was the pacing. I’m tempted to say that the novel took its sweet time getting off the ground, but the reality is, it never really made it out of the hangar. To the author’s credit, she does a really good job filling the story with lots of interesting things so you’re never truly bored, but that also goes on to mask the real problem, which is that very little of import actually happens. In fact, it wasn’t until well into the final quarter of the book when it suddenly dawned on me to ask: What have we really accomplished here?

Not much, unfortunately. After a flurry of revelations in the intro where Nat makes several big discoveries about her own past and the truth of the supernatural world, the answers stop coming. The rest of the story pretty much consists of our protagonist being dragged around by Dima like some wide-eyed accessory, trying not to get herself killed. I definitely feel the book would have been a lot better if Nat had more agency and didn’t come across so helpless.

It’s a shame because the story had so much potential, but there was a clear lack of action to fill one novel, which makes the abrupt cliffhanger ending that much more frustrating. Quite honestly, I’m torn on whether I will pick up the next book. On the one hand, I’m not that emotionally invested in the story or the characters at this point, but on the other, I have a feeling the sequel will go much quicker now that we’ve gotten all the preamble out of the way. It’s a right conundrum, but I’ll probably wait for reviews before deciding if I will continue.