Posted on September 13, 2014 1 Comment
“I will murder you by the billions to give you immortality. I will set fire to your civilization to light your way forward. But know this: My species is not defined by your dying, but by your living.”
― Daniel H. Wilson, Robopocalypse
Lootz: Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on September 13, 2014 22 Comments
Welcome to this biweekly feature where I showcase all the books I bought/won/received for review in the past fortnight. First, the physical pile:
The Secrets of Life and Death – I had added this one to my wishlist because it looked like a great historical fantasy-mystery. When I saw it offered as a giveaway at LibraryThing’s Early Readers program, I promptly entered and ending up winning the ARC!
The Providence of Fire – what a surprise this was when it arrived earlier this week from Tor, as I had not expected ARCs for a while yet. I enjoyed the first book The Emperor’s Blades and this second book promises to be even bigger and better. From the size of the package it came in, I know I’m at least half right 🙂
The Bloodline Feud – another lovely surprise from Tor, The Bloodline Feud is actually appears to be an omnibus of sorts, combining books 1-2 in Stross’ The Merchant Princes series. I’ve been meaning to read something by this author for ages, so I’m going to make a really good effort to fit this one in some time this fall.
Dreamer’s Pool – I am beyond excited to read this book, which sounds simply incredible. Juliet Marillier is another author I’ve been wanting to read for a long time. I have several books by her on my to-read list, but they’re all going to have to make room for Dreamer’s Pool first! My thanks to Penguin for this ARC.
Premonitions – Last week I received a very nice message from author Jamie Schultz who offered me an opportunity to read and review Premonitions. As this is a book that’s been on my radar for a while, I enthusiastically accepted! Plus, I love heist stories.
The Lady – this was another unexpected arrival, courtesy of Pyr Books. The Lady is the second half of the Marakand duology. Regular followers of my blog might recall that my feelings were sort of mixed on its predecessor The Leopard, and while I’m still not sure yet if I’ll read this follow-up, I think everyone can agree: that’s definitely one gorgeously enticing cover.
Now for the digital pile:
I added a few new NetGalley titles this week. Apparently, once I request something after not doing so for a long time, it just opens up the floodgates for more. Also, every time my ratio hits 85-90% or so, my mind goes “what the hell, I can afford to request a few more!” So I should probably just accept the truth now, that I will never come close to achieving full completion rate on NG.
Shutter – I blame* Tammy of Books, Bones & Buffy again for this one! (She’s on a roll! 😛 ) I didn’t even know about this book until I saw it on one of her Waiting on Wednesdays. Anyway, I don’t usually request much YA from NetGalley, but when I saw this I was immediately intrigued. And getting the eARC is probably a blessing, I don’t know if I can look at a physical book with that cover and not get freaked out.
Willful Child – this one I blame* on Bob from Beauty in Ruins. Again, I had no idea this book existed until I saw it featured on one of his past Waiting on Wedesndays. I requested it as soon as I saw it up on NG. I mean, Steven Erikson’s own take on the Star Trek parody/homage? Yes, please! As much as I love John Scalzi, his Redshirts didn’t quite live up to my expectations when it comes to getting that right, so I’m hoping this will be closer.
Daring – This one I blame on…well, actually I have no one to blame this one on but myself. I made the decision after reading Charming that I probably wasn’t going to continue with the series (not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because there’s just not enough time this fall — GAH, have you seen my review pile?!) but then came the NG invite from Orbit and…cave like an abandoned coal mine, I did. I can always use more urban fantasy in my life, right?
Heir of Fire – I originally put a hold on this book at the library, but then I finished an audiobook earlier this week and needed something new to listen to. I ended up not waiting and just purchasing this from Audible with one of my free credits. I figured it’s been a while since I read some YA, and I’ve been anticipating this one for a long time. Plus, I also listened to the first two books, I love the narrator and think she’s great, so might as well make it a tradition.
*I say “blame”, but you know I love you guys for introducing me to some great books 😉
Book Review: The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks
Posted on September 12, 2014 14 Comments
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of Lightbringer
Publisher: Orbit (August 26, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Things are definitely picking up in this third book of the Lightbringer series…but is it going to be enough?
Obviously, if you’ve made it this far, you’d probably have a good grasp on what’s been happening by this point. Gavin Guile, the Prism who stole his brother’s identity is lost to the open seas, captured and enslaved by pirates with his color sight – and thus his ability to draft – gone. As rescue missions mount, his absence is felt by the entire Chromeria, especially by Kip Guile. Without the protection of his father, Kip is left to face up against his bully of a grandfather alone. With his position in the Blackguard in question and his smart-alecky mouth constantly getting him into trouble, he’ll need all the help he can get to survive the conspiracies and secret power plays between all the factions warring for control.
Overall, I think each book in the series is an improvement over the former. I’ve mentioned before how fascinating it always is to see an author’s writing evolve before your eyes, and I think I am witnessing this with Brent Weeks. Of course, there are still the occasional quirks that pop up in his prose which drive me nuts, such as his attempts at humor that often fall flat, or certain word choices (totally a personal thing – and I realize an author can do or say whatever they want in his or her world, but seeing slang terms like “butt”, “gross” and “booger” in an epic fantasy novel still has this way of grinding my gears). On the whole, however, I still feel Weeks’ style is continuing to become more polished and refined when it comes to his characters and storytelling.
It’s all basically coming together, slowly but surely. That said, a part of me still feels this series suffers a bit from a case of the “epic for epic’s sake” syndrome. There are sections in this novel that drag on unnecessarily, and I felt this most keenly at the beginning. Like the previous two installments, I found myself questioning whether things were going to go anywhere, which happened a lot more than I cared for, which has hindered my enthusiasm for this series and kept me from jumping completely on board. In all three books, it always felt like most of the significant developments in the story tended to come towards the end.
The parting twist here in The Broken Eye is a great example of how Weeks keeps these books interesting. There are a lot of elements left up in the air now – who’s who on which side anymore? Where do everyone’s loyalties lie? There are many things that aren’t as they seem. I can’t say that the rest of the book held up to this level of excitement and suspense, but getting to this point was worth it, at least.
Plus, the magic system based on chromaturgy is expanded upon once again, and I swear it becomes more interesting and unique with every book. I have never encountered anything quite like it before. Magic users in this world can harness light and draft luxin, a substance that can take on unique properties depending on the color it was drafted from. Most drafters are usually sensitive to only one color, and their powers and even their personalities and emotions can be influenced by this. In The Broken Eye, we discover even more new abilities and ways to draft and manipulate the spectrum.
I’m also feeling much more sympathetic towards the characters. I continue to be curious about Weeks’ plans for Teia and Karris. They are both developed very well in this book, with tough choices to make and crucial roles to play. I like how each woman has their internal struggles, and that their stories are important to the overall narrative and not just throwaway plot threads. I also felt for Gavin, who is deep into the “hero’s setback” section of his journey. Considering how poorly I thought of him in The Black Prism, it surprises me a little now that he’s become the darling of the series. But seeing as I liked this book more for it, I’m definitely not complaining.
Kip, however, is still posing a bit of problem. They don’t call him “Kip the Lip” for nothing. This is where a lot of the author attempts at being clever and funny falter; Kip is simply not endearing himself to me, no matter how awkwardly charming Weeks is trying to make this character come across. I have a soft spot for unlikely heroes, but more often than not, Kip’s antics and clumsy dialogue simply makes me cringe. I never thought it possible that I could feel embarrassment for a fictional character.
Now, for the difficult part. I’m still trying to decide whether or not I will continue with this series. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve been enjoying these books. True, my excitement might not be through the roof or anything, but I like them just fine. But with my reading time at a premium and the to-read list continuing to grow, it’s hard to justify all that with “I like them just fine” or the 3-3.5 star ratings I’ve given for each book in the series. If I also didn’t have to take page count into consideration this would have been a no-brainer since I hate giving up on a series, especially one that shows a lot of promise, but these are undeniably large tomes. On the other hand, I’m aware Lightbringer will also end at four books, so if that stands, I’ll probably go ahead and finish it up with The Blood Mirror. We shall see once we get closer to publication.
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!
Tough Traveling: Tyrants
Posted on September 11, 2014 20 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. Compulsive list-maker that I am, I’m very excited to take part!
This week’s tour topic is: Tyrants
TYRANTS are like bad KINGS, only truly atrocious…Tourists can tell when a country is ruled by a tyrant because the road to the main city will be lined with impaled corpses.
Wendy’s Picks
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Looking down upon the lesser folk from their kingdom called Sky, the Arameri, led by Dekarta Arameri, are a noble people, but one to be feared. Why? Because the weapons they wield are the gods themselves, including the Nightlord, Nahadoth, whose wrath can only be contained for so long….
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series features a few tyrant rulers, from Joffrey Baratheon, the spoiled boy king with the psychopathic streak; Kal Drogo, raping and pillaging across the Dothraki plains; and Aerys II Targaryen, also known as the Mad King, whose atrocities forced Jaime Lannister to betray his oath and earn the title of Kingslayer.
Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
Lord Iida doesn’t so much line the roads with impaled corpses, but he does hang prisoners by their wrists from the walls of his fortress. He is hated and feared across the land, but he doesn’t care. As long as his precious nightingale floor will warn him of the assassins that might seek avenge, Lord Iida can sleep easy. Mostly.
Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind
I know I’m supposed to include the book cover, but you’ll have to forgive me for using this as an excuse to post an image of Craig Parker in his role as Dark Rahl, tyrant ruler of D’Hara. His evil ways are ever so slightly toned down in Legend of the Seeker, the TV series based on Brooks’ Sword of Truth series.
Mogsy’s Picks
Wendy did a good job covering some of the books I had originally thought of, and I just realized that a lot of Dark Lords in my past list on that topic can be counted as Tyrants too. So I’ll try not to double up on anything:
Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk
Queen Byleth was probably my favorite character in this novel. Depending on whose point of view you’re looking at, she’s either a manipulative tyrant or a vulnerable victim. She treats her slaves like dirt, but at the same time her own position on the throne remains precarious. I was never able to get a good bead on her for most of the book, which in this case was actually a good thing. I liked that she was the most interesting out of everyone.
The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
Iolanthe Seabourne is told she’s the greatest elemental mage of her generation. But like they say, with great power comes great responsibility. If she is indeed the one prophesied to be the savior of The Realm, it will be duty and destiny to bring down an evil magician named Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. That’s quite a task for one sixteen-year-old girl to take on.
The Grim Company by Luke Scull
Five hundred years ago, the Magelords killed the gods and now their tyrant Salazar rules the empire of Dorminia. He and his magically enhanced Augmentors stand ready to crush any dissent they find in the minds of the populace. Meanwhile, his greatest adversary the White Lady plots his demise from across the Broken Sea and seeks to liberate the people.
Masks by E.C. Blake
Under the rule of the tyrannical Autarch, the people of Aygrima have their thoughts and emotions under constant surveillance by the Watchers, so that no one can threaten the everlasting peace and security of his glorious empire. This is made possible by the magical masks that everyone who reaches a certain age must wear. Yep, these pesky tyrants are always out trying to read and control your minds, that’s what they do.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Tyrants also have the tendency to use violence and force to compel their people to follow their will. Ever since finding out that his niece apparently has the “grace” (a special magical gift or talent) for killing, King Randa has made Katsa his own personal thug, sending her on missions to strong-arm, threaten or torture his lordlings in order to give him what he wants.
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
“From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch.” This is the King of Adarlan, who has forbidden magic in his lands. Many users of magic and those accused of being magic users during the conquering of Terrasen were killed by his orders. He also uses his champion, protagonist Celaena Sardothien as his personal assassin to kill off rebel leaders or anyone who dares oppose his authority.
Posted on September 10, 2014 Leave a Comment
Somebody once said–I’ve forgot who–said you can take away a man’s gods… but only to give him others in return. […] Wasn’t until after I’d left the seminary that I understood what that really meant. You don’t walk away from a thing you’d thought you believed your whole life without the loss of it leaving a hole in you, hungering to be filled. You’ve still a need to believe in something… it’s just a question of what.
― Brian Hodge, The Dripping of Sundered Wineskins (From Love in Vein II)
Waiting on Wednesday 09/10/2014
Posted on September 10, 2014 15 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:
Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marillier: November 4, 2014 (Roc)
Geez, do you know how long I’ve wanted to read a book by Juliet Marillier? Somehow never got around to it, shame on me, even though I own a couple of her books. This one, however, is going straight to the top of the priority list, since it’s been on my wishlist for a while and I recently received it for review. Everything about it is just so gorgeous.
“In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, she travels north to Dalriada. There she’ll live on the fringe of a mysterious forest, duty bound for seven years to assist anyone who asks for her help.
Oran, crown prince of Dalriada, has waited anxiously for the arrival of his future bride, Lady Flidais. He knows her only from a portrait and sweetly poetic correspondence that have convinced him Flidais is his destined true love. But Oran discovers letters can lie. For although his intended exactly resembles her portrait, her brutality upon arrival proves she is nothing like the sensitive woman of the letters.
With the strategic marriage imminent, Oran sees no way out of his dilemma. Word has spread that Blackthorn possesses a remarkable gift for solving knotty problems, so the prince asks her for help. To save Oran from his treacherous nuptials, Blackthorn and Grim will need all their resources: courage, ingenuity, leaps of deduction, and more than a little magic.”
Character Appreciation Post: Jorg Ancrath
Posted on September 9, 2014 15 Comments
Mark Lawrence’s Jorg Ancrath. Fan art by Kim Kincaid
“Jorg. The name felt right. It fit my mouth and my person.
Hard and direct.”
Readers first meet Honorous Jorg Ancrath as the thirteen year old heir to Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire. Jorg himself is a broken child turned adult too quickly by tragedy. Forced to watch the brutal death of his mother and younger brother while ensnared by the barbs of a bush, he was reborn as the literal Prince of Thorns.
Batman had bats. Jorg had thorns.
Like Bruce Wayne, Jorg has been set on a path of sociopathic vengeance, with the difference being that Jorg has no moral code. His decisions are ruthless in their practicality, and he harbours no claims to loyalty. If you piss him off, he will kill you. Unless he needs you… for the moment.
After his rescue and physical rehabilitation, a ten year old Jorg came under the tutelage of Lundist, who instilled in him the philosophies of Nietzsche, Sun Tzu and more. More importantly, Lundist recognized that Jorg’s experience had broken something within the boy. Literary sociopaths like this often have wise mentors who try to steer their proteges away from their darkness, while still understanding that that darkness must be vented in some way, lest it fester into something far worse. Which, invariably, is what happens when that mentor is removed from the picture.
I have a soft spot for broken people. For the assholes, jerks and bastards that others shun. I am not naïve enough to wholly trust them, and I am mostly not I arrogant enough to believe I am the one who can “fix” them. But I appreciate their honesty about who they are, and how they see the world. Jorg is no exception, which is why he instantly became a favourite character. He is as aware of his flaws as he is his strengths, which is what makes him a truly intriguing and deadly character indeed.
Book Review: The Vampires of Manhattan by Melissa de la Cruz
Posted on September 8, 2014 22 Comments
The Vampires of Manhattan by Melissa de la Cruz
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Vampires of Manhattan
Publisher: Hyperion (September 9, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I accepted The Vampires of Manhattan for review before I found out the book was actually the first of a sequel series to Melissa de la Cruz’s Young Adult Blue Bloods; fortunately, not having read those books did not seem to have a negative impact on my experience. Of course, there were a few moments where I sensed gaping holes in my knowledge of the background of the world, but on the whole my enjoyment of the storyline was unaffected. So if you’re unfamiliar with Blue Bloods and are uncertain as to whether or not you should check out this book, fear not! It’s perfectly fine to jump right in.
This might have something to do with the amount of time that has passed since the Blue Bloods series. Apparently, ten years have gone by, and the teenage protagonists are now all grown up, and while Blue Bloods may have been intended audience, The Vampires of Manhattan definitely feels more geared towards adults. Many of the characters have brand new lives, including Araminta Scott (formerly “Minty” but now known as “Ara”) who is now a Venator, an enforcer of sorts, specializing in paranormal activities and crimes. Mimi and Kingsley Martin, a married couple whose history is fraught with intense emotions have returned to New York following a particularly heated fight, after seven years of living in the Underworld. Oliver Hazard-Perry is now a vampire and has risen quickly in the Coven, preparing to take his place as its leader. With the help of his lover and human conduit Finn, they’re making sure the upcoming Four Hundred Ball will go off without a hitch.
But then pentagrams start appearing all over the place, and the discovery of a dead teenage girl who appears to have been murdered by a vampire leads to unease in the community, putting the Blue Bloods and Venators on alert.
The Vampires of Manhattan is touted as “hipster horror” right there in the description, though after reading it I think it’s more accurate to call it “yuppie mystery” on account of the ultra-sophisticated, extremely wealthy lifestyles that some of the characters flaunt. The Four Hundred Ball is the lavish, no-expense-spared affair that is at the center of this novel, the point where all the plot threads will culminate in a startling, dramatic climax. However, the story is also balanced with an investigation into a murder, with Ara and her new wolfish partner Edon Marrok hard at work to find the killer.
Told through many points-of-view, the novel will capture your attention no matter who you are, though if you have an inclination towards mystery like I do, then Ara’s perspective will probably interest you the most. I liked it best when she and Edon were following up on clues, especially when the investigation leads them to the hoity-toity prep schools of the city. Oliver’s perspective provides us with a glimpse into the life of a high-powered elite. And those who enjoy the ups-and-downs of a tumultuous romance will eat up Mimi and Kingsley’s chapters.
The plot itself is not terribly complicated, but that probably works in the novel’s favor. Being a follow-up series that will likely serve as a jumping-on point for a lot of new readers, a twisty, heavy and convoluted story would not have gone over too well with me, personally. I thought the book was pretty perfect in its simplicity, and at the same time I also grew to connect with many of the characters who I had previously no knowledge about, which is a rather impressive feat for an author. I imagine those who have read Blue Bloods will be even more thrilled to catch up with these characters.
I’m glad I discovered this urban fantasy, which was a fast read and thoroughly entertaining for the genre. Despite not knowing a lot of the background behind the vampires, it worked for me – and feeling lost when it comes to a book’s world usually drives me nuts. It’s my first book by Melissa de la Cruz, and this has actually made me very interested in going back to check out Blue Bloods, or her other YA work. I would expect that readers who are already fans of Blue Bloods to enjoy this, but I was certainly a bit surprised — but in a good way — that I did too.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Hyperion Books!
Sunday Musings: Sunshine and Sniffles
Posted on September 7, 2014 6 Comments
After a long, hard, but fun week at Fan Expo Canada, I am still trying to catch up and wind down, and have earned myself a nice little cold for my struggles. Hurray for back to school!
CURRENTLY READING
I’ll be rounding out my Summer Reading List with The Shadowed Sun by N.K. Jemisin. Conveniently, this will work well with the latest reading challenge I’ve signed up for, #Diversiverse, which encourages readers to read books by authors of colour.
Not only is this book by an author of colour, it predominantly features people of colour in a fantasy world that isn’t the typical European setting.
It’s the second in Jemisin’s Dreamblood series, and while I enjoyed the first, the racial aspect was a bit offputting for me. Find out why in my review here.
WRITERY THINGS
I am now on the last installment of two sekrit writing projects. One is a ghostwriting gig, so I can’t reveal details on that. But the other is something I’m pretty excited about and can’t wait to spill the beans when it’s finally published…
BOOKISH THOUGHTS
Actually, I do both, though there’s definitely a stronger lean to the latter. You can find me walking on lunch breaks, and chatting away in the pool during Aquafit lessons once a week. But if I can figure out a good way to stick a book onto the new walker exercise thingie my husband and I just bought, I will be a very happy–and healthy bibliophile.
YA Weekend: A World Without Princes by Soman Chainani
Posted on September 6, 2014 13 Comments
A World Without Princes by Soman Chainani
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of The School for Good and Evil
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 15, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Once upon a time, two girls kidnapped from the sleepy town of Gavaldon by the mysterious Schoolmaster. One was perfect and beautiful, thought to be destined for the School of Good, while the other was an oddball and an outcast from birth, sure to have been a shoo-in for the School of Evil. But pretty Sophie with her flawless features and dreams of princes and pink dresses ended up being dumped in Evil, while strange, frumpy Agatha landed in Good! Together, the two friends discovered the truth behind this apparent mix-up, and learned more about each other and themselves along the way. They worked to escape the clutches of the sinister Schoolmaster and made it back home to Gavaldon, but the adventure is far from over.
As you can probably tell, there were a couple of really heartwarming messages in the first book of The School for Good and Evil series, as befitting a novel more suitably aimed at Middle Grade readers. “Beauty is only skin deep” and “Believe in yourself” are only a couple examples, woven into a unique and magical fairy-tale style story.
This sequel, however, is a bit more complicated and a little more twisted. Once again, Sophie and Agatha find themselves back in the land of princesses and witches, princes and henchmen. But gone are the Schools for both Good and Evil, and in their places are the School for Girls and School for Boys. Some major changes have taken place since the two girls left; new alliances have formed while old bonds have broken, and now boys and girls are locked in a bitter war. The fate of the schools and this world rest on Agatha and Sophie and whether or not they can find their Happily Ever After.
So A World Without Princes was a fun read, but I also can’t deny that this sequel has lost some of the magic that made me fall in love with the first book. Story-wise, it was a little rough around the edges, with a plot that seemed to meander needlessly in several places. Friction and misunderstandings and between the two main characters feel forced, prolonging the conflict without adding anything new. Unlike its predecessor, this second book didn’t read like it had a clear direction or a main theme it was drawing from, and the storytelling was very uneven with long stretches that felt monotonous in some places and plot developments that felt like they came out of nowhere in others.
A World Without Princes is also much darker in tone compared to The School for Good and Evil. I’d hand the first book to a Middle Grader without a second thought, since it was at once ridiculous and full of heart, cute with just the right amount of wickedness to enchant readers of all ages. On the other hand, the second book would probably give me pause. The more mature themes and violence in this would likely not bother Adult and Young Adult readers, and it’s certainly not a negative to me personally as I was reading this, but it’s still enough that I’d hesitate to give this book to a 8 to 12-year-old, which I think is the age range most publishers are traditionally using for MG guidelines these days. There’s mild torture, descriptions of images that involve a mother drowning her child, scenes of boys and girls talking about and relishing the idea of killing each other, just to name a few examples of things that that might be disturbing to younger readers. As they say, reader discretion is advised, in the end use your own judgment to decide.
In spite of it all, I love the characters, I love the premise of these books, and I still enjoyed myself a lot. Agatha and Sophie are precious, and I just can’t get enough of them, their shenanigans in this novel notwithstanding. There are still many moments of whimsy and humor that author Soman Chainani does so well, and plenty of scenes brought smiles to my face. Ultimately, I really want to find out what will happen to these two friends, and the repercussions from the climax and shocking conclusion to this book are sure to be significant. “Happily Ever After” hasn’t come yet, and I’m definitely not going to give up on this series until “The End”.
The BiblioSanctum 