Book Review: Gleam by Tom Fletcher
Posted on September 15, 2014 21 Comments
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Factory Trilogy
Publisher: Jo Fletcher (September 4, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had no idea what to expect before heading into Gleam. I was only perhaps vaguely aware of its dystopian nature, and coupled with that striking image of the pyramid on the cover and the “Gormenghastian” description in the blurb, I was fully prepared for a wild ride through a world rooted in bizarre and unfathomable traditions.
The book ended up being all that and a lot more. But what I didn’t anticipate was the highly engaging quest narrative, following a group of ragtag adventurers on a journey to discover the dark secrets of their strange and wildly imaginative world. But boiling the story down like that somehow also feels woefully inadequate, because nothing is at all simple in the universe of Gleam.
The story starts off by introducing us to our protagonist Alan, who lives with his family at the center of the gargantuan factory of Gleam in the fully inhabited and operational Pyramid. However, we get the sense that Alan is somewhat of an outsider, which is hinted at by his mistrust for the other Pyramiders and his penchant for making trouble for the authorities. We don’t know what kind of trouble he’s been stirring up at this point, but it was enough to provoke the Arbitrators, who threaten Alan with attacks on his wife and young son. To protect his family, Alan is forced to exile himself into the Discard, the barren and lawless wasteland that surrounds the central district.
I admit, I wasn’t sure what to make of the book for the first 50 pages or so. Time skips ahead about four years, and I experienced many moments of confusion. It appears “Wild” Alan has done lot during that time, but it’s not clear exactly what he’s been up to. It’s gradually revealed that he has been surviving as a traveling musician, earning room and board singing songs that are mostly about the corruption of the Pyramiders. He’s also apparently run afoul of a Discard drug lord of sorts, for stealing from her supply of rare psychedelic mushrooms. It turns out Alan has a good reason for his pilfering, but all that doesn’t become clear until a good handful of chapters. Plus, we also discover that Alan did not always live in the Pyramid before his exile. In fact, his parents and his whole village was massacred by Pyramiders, but as an act of mercy a soldier brought him back to the Pyramid and he was raised there. Finally, his bitterness and dissension started to make sense. All the pieces of the puzzle ultimately did come together, but it just seemed to take a while which made this beginning section of the book a rocky experience for me.
To be sure though, after everything eventually fell into place, that’s when the story started taking off for real. With his supply of mushrooms cut off, Alan must find a way to get some more and get it fast – or it would mean dire consequences for his family still confined in the Pyramid. With the quest item established, our protagonist starts gathering himself a party to go forth into the unknown, braving the wilderness beyond. But like I said earlier, this is not your ordinary adventure.
Firstly, Alan is not your traditional hero. He’s not intrinsically a bad person, though he is entirely self-serving and makes it clear he’s on the quest for no other reason than his own purposes. His fellow adventures are a group of vagrants much like Alan, a quirky mix of eccentric and just plain weird characters. Hands down, my favorite member of the party had to be Bloody Nora, the woman who belongs to a mysterious group called the Mapmakers, a faction dedicated to exploration and recording of the features and changes to Gleam. They are also deadly fighters, as evidenced by Nora’s brutal efficiency at killing their enemies.
But the story and the brilliant characters are just icing on the cake. What really blew me away was the setting and the world building. While great world building is something I remark upon frequently in my reviews of fantasy novels, I have to say very few have actually come near to the caliber in Gleam. I don’t even know where to start. The large, mystifying concrete structures infused with “bubble” hollows in which Discarders make their home? The giant snails that can serve as mounts for vertical traveling? Freaky and disturbing descriptions of unusual ailments that afflict unfortunate locals? There’s just so much to talk about.
Even a wasteland like the Discard is so vivid and evocative in all its strange and wonderful details. The best part is the mystery – how did this place come about? Who built these crazy structures that litter the landscape? No one knows for sure, and it is part of the reason why the Mapmakers seek to explore and document everything. The world is disgusting yet beautiful, an all-around unpleasant place to be filled with monsters and mutants, but I couldn’t help but be drawn in by all the pure insanity of the surroundings. It’s amazing in all its slimy, swampy, icky glory.
Gleam is simply beyond fascinating. There are certainly dystopian undertones, but unlike a lot of dystopian novels, the focus here isn’t so much on the social or the culture, but on the environmental. It’s the physical world that really comes to the forefront, which really helped me get immersed in the story. The plot itself is also relatively simple, but not once did I feel the quest narrative flounder once it got going, because something was always happening, or my attention was held captive by yet another mind-boggling aspect of the world. After a briefly dicey start, I quickly fell in love with this book.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Jo Fletcher Books!
YA Weekend: World After by Susan Ee
Posted on September 14, 2014 7 Comments
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult
Series: Penryn & the End of Days #2
Publisher: Skyscape (November 2013)
Author Info: www.SusanEe.com
Wendy’s Rating ~ 3.5 of 5 stars
It turns out that the angels descending upon the earth and ruining everything wasn’t actually the apocalypse. At least, that wasn’t the apocalypse the angels themselves are expecting.
In Angelfall, we got a taste of the political machinations, led by the angel, Uriel, and supported by the demon, Beliel, who is currently sporting Raffe’s wings. Raffe, who believes Penryn to be dead after the attack on the angel’s aerie, is on a hunt to retrieve those wings. Meanwhile, Penryn and her mother and sister and doing their best to fit in with the resistance movement. Not an easy feat when Penryn has seemingly returned from the dead, her mother is schizophrenic, and her little sister, Paige, has been turned into a grotesquery by the angel surgeons. And to make matters worse, the scorpion-like monster aliens that Penryn destroyed at the aerie weren’t the only collection of these hideous creatures.
As this is a post-apocalyptic invasion story, it’s unsurprising that we get a lot more of the inner workings of the angels’ macabre plans. It’s a more clinical book because of this, but, as Penryn remains in focus, there is still a lot of heart and soul, especially when she starts to develop a relationship with Pooky Bear, Raffe’s sentient angel sword. The swords memories and imagery, which it shares with Penryn at critical moments, helps to alleviate the fact that Raffe does not appear much in the book until the end. This is a disappointment for ‘shippers, I’m sure, and a brave choice for the author within a genre where romances can be a big pay off. Of course, absence makes the heart grow fonder, so…
The emotional impact is, perhaps, slightly less strong in this because of the lack of interaction Penryn has with others, including Raffe, and with the greater focus being on Uriel’s plotting. The latter is somewhat lack lustre. I find that Ee is very good with the little details and more intimate character interactions and plotting, but with something as big as Uriel’s schemes, it falls a little flat. Still, this book paves the way for a lot of speculation and I am definitely interested to see where things go in the series.
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!
The BiblioSanctum 