Book Review: The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley
Posted on September 5, 2014 19 Comments
The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Worldbreaker Saga
Publisher: Angry Robot (August 26, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Needless to say, putting this review together was quite difficult for me, on account of how very different it is from the one I thought I would be writing. I made it no secret I had high hopes for this one, not only because of the buzz the book has gotten since the ramp up to its release or all the glowing reviews it has garnered, but also I was personally very excited to finally read my first Kameron Hurley novel. Truly, I wanted to love this book and was set and prepared to add my praise to the chorus, but as a reviewer I also have to be honest with others and with myself when a book does not meet expectations.
In the end, I think The Mirror Empire is one of those cases in which I can recognize its literary merits and applaud the author’s designs to challenge the conventions of epic fantasy fiction, but the story itself failed to connect with me on any deeper level and I found myself strangely dissatisfied when I completed it.
First, a bit about the book: The world is about to be shaken up by a cataclysm, and as the dark star rises to herald this event, you have an orphan girl named Lilia who would anything to fulfill a promise to her mother, even if it means putting herself in danger and having to face down unspeakable threats. In another place, a new Kai ascends to power after the suspicious death of his sister and fights to keep his place and his land together even as legitimacy of his rule is called into question. Meanwhile, a young boy said to be destined for great things undertakes a journey to discover himself and his loyalties, for one day he ultimately must choose between sides. And on the battlefield, an able but brutal general faces a similar predicament, caught between her heritage and her oaths to the Empress.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of perspectives involved, and many more characters besides. That should have been my first warning sign. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t mind a big cast of characters (when you’re into epic fantasy, I think that sort of comes with the territory). However, that also means a greater onus on the author to strike a balance when it comes to giving every one of her players enough time to resonate with the reader, and to pace their sections accordingly. Hurley falters in this area by trying to introduce too many characters, both main and supporting, without sufficiently developing them – especially in the beginning. Not only do the odd-sounding names make it harder to remember who’s who, but ironically they also make it all the more obvious when new major to semi-major characters are still being introduced even past the halfway point of the novel. It makes it that much hard to sit back and just enjoy the story when so much effort is going towards trying to keep all the characters straight.
However, to be fair, you should know that I am a “Characters First” kind of reader. Arguably, I place an inordinate amount of emphasis on characters and how effectively I can engage with them. They absolutely don’t have to be admirable or even likeable, but I have to care. Characters are like the foundation of a story – everything else tumbles like a house of cards if I can’t care about them. Naturally, anything they do or anything that happens to them isn’t going to impact me in any meaningful way. The biggest issue I had with this book is the lack of any strong characters, in the sense that none of them were very memorable. Hurley doesn’t develop any of them nearly enough, and her pacing is haphazard and disorganized, so that many long chapters could go by before returning to a perspective character, and then I find myself asking, “Who are you again?” That shouldn’t be happening.
The only one – ONE out of a half dozen or so main characters and at least four times as many supporting characters – that I found myself interested in was Lilia, and that’s likely just because she was the first to be introduced in the prologue. Zezili, Captain General of the Empress, was a close second, and probably because Hurley went to great lengths to make her memorable but did so by taking the easy way, presenting the general as archetypically evil, the cruel mass murderer and an unfeeling lover. Everyone else faded into the background, which unfortunately made me feel very indifferent towards any events of significance, including plot twists or unexpected character deaths.
But look, I’ve gone on for long enough about the negatives, and I don’t want to make it sound like I downright disliked this book, because I didn’t; so I think it’s time to talk about the positives. There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book, not least of all was the world building. So much praise has been heaped onto this facet of the novel and I have to agree 100% with everything that has been said about originality, spirit and vividness of the universe and cultures of The Mirror Empire.
My favorite thing about this book is that it is bold, it is epic, and it is refreshingly different. I love the idea of two realms clashing together in a catastrophic world-shattering event, and also the more minute details like the sentient flora and giant carnivorous plants. Hurley is a great writer with an incredible imagination, and she’s at her best and in her element when she’s actually not trying so hard to turn things on their head or to be over-the-top. I can’t stress how important it is for both authors and readers to examine and confront the status quo and current state of fantasy, but doing something for the sake of doing it is also rarely interesting. Admittedly, Hurley is not at all subtle when it comes to her attempt at subversion in this novel, but at the same time I still respect her immensely for her steadfast interrogation of the genre.
These days, one can probably find some degree of social commentary in many works of speculative fiction; however, my favorite ones tend to be those that arrive at their messages organically, part and parcel with compelling storytelling, starting with well-developed characters. Since it’s the characters that fell flat for me in this case, I just couldn’t immerse myself in the story. It certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying, but as I’ve explained, I’m also aware I have some rather nitpicky and particular tastes. Despite my tepid feelings for this novel, I believe the accolades are well-deserved. Sure, I didn’t love it, but then I’m glad so many others did.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Angry Robot Books!
Panels: Moriarty: The Dark Chamber
Posted on September 4, 2014 2 Comments
At the beginning of World War I, Sherlock has been dead 20 years. Moriarty doesn’t have much direction in his life now until he’s drafted by the MI5 to find Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft, which leads him down a path of intrigue that may even be beyond his expertise.
Tough Traveling: Turncoats
Posted on September 4, 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: Turncoats
TURNCOATS are people who change to the side of the DARK LORD in mid-tour.
The theme title is pretty self-explanatory this week, methinks. Sit tight now, as we explore fantasy fiction’s offerings of traitorous, double-crossing, two-timing, back-stabbing jerks, renegades, betrayers and other dastardly characters.
Mogsy’s Picks:
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
Yeesh, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a traitor or a turncoat in GRRM’s series. These books are full of them, from mercenaries who switch sides for a higher bidder, bitter lords who put on a welcoming face only to later slaughter all your friends and family, so-called brothers-in-arms who will turn on you the moment your back is turned, and the list goes on and on. Notable examples of turncoat characters include Littlefinger who plays the game of thrones only for himself, and Theon Greyjoy, in fact nicknamed “Theon Turncoat” after his heinous actions at Winterfell.
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Lots of turncoats in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books as well, the most notable one of course being Peter Pettigrew also known as “Wormtail” to the childhood friends he ends up ruthlessly selling out to Lord Voldemort.
Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
I just realized the massive potential for spoilerific details with this week’s theme. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last fifteen years or so, I think most people know what happens in Harry Potter, and I tried to be sufficiently vague when I talked about ASoIaF. But Broken Homes is a different matter. Obviously I can’t reveal the identity of the turncoat here, but the betrayal happens right at the end of this book, by a character most characters have grown to care for, which makes the violation of trust hurt all the more!
Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
With a title like that, I thought this Dresden Files book would be a shoo-in this week for sure. As it turns out, it’s a bit more complicated. The “turncoat” is a battered and bleeding Morgan who shows up on Harry’s doorstep one day, accused of killing one of their own. Morgan was found standing over the body of a Senior Council member wielding a bloody knife, but he claims to have no memory of the incident. Morgan came to Harry because it was the last place anyone would expect him to go, and also he believed Harry would empathize with being accused of a crime he wasn’t guilty of.
Half A King by Joe Abercrombie
When his father the king and older brother are unexpectedly killed in an enemy ambush, Prince Yarvi has no choice but to inherit the throne, but he barely has the chance to warm the seat before he is betrayed and left for dead – by someone close to him whose loyalty he thought was beyond reproach.
Posted on September 3, 2014 Leave a Comment
“We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel… is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin
“When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young.”
― Maya Angelou
Cover Lover: Traitor’s Blade by Sebastian de Castell + Blurb For Greatcoat’s Lament
Posted on September 3, 2014 10 Comments
Cover Lover was a meme originally created by our friend and fellow book blogger Jaedia at Once Upon A Time, and since then we’ve adopted it as a feature here to talk about the covers of books we love or that strike our fancy.
Today, in celebration of the paperback release of Sebastien de Castell’s Traitor’s Blade on September 4, 2014 from Jo Fletcher Books (UK), I would like to share the different covers I have seen for this extraordinary novel. I loved this book to bits! Definitely one of my top books of the year, be sure to check out my 5 star review.
Below you have the UK, Canadian and US covers, from top to bottom, left to right.
Bold, dashing, adventurous and filled to the brim with pure, swashbuckling entertainment. That’s what Traitor’s Blade is for me.
What are you thoughts? Have you read Traitor’s Blade? If so, do you have a favorite version of the cover?
And as a special treat, we have the description for book two to share with you, Greatcoat’s Lament, due out on March 5, 2015! I can’t wait. Thanks to Jo Fletcher Books!
* * *
“Tristia is a nation overcome by intrigue and corruption. The idealistic young King Paelis is dead and the Greatcoats – legendary travelling magistrates who brought justice to the Kingdom – have been branded as traitors. But just before his head was impaled on a spike, the King swore each of his hundred and forty-four Greatcoats to a different mission.
Falcio Val Mond, First Cantor, with the help of fellow Greatcoats Kest and Brasti, has completed his King’s final task: he has found his Charoites – well, one at least, and she was not quite what they expected. Now they must protect the girl from the many who would see her dead, and place her on the throne of a lawless kingdom. That would be simple enough, if it weren’t for the Daishini, an equally legendary band of assassins, getting in their way, not to forget the Dukes who are determined to hold on to their fractured Kingdoms, or the fact that the heir to the throne is only thirteen years old. Oh, and the poison that is slowly killing Falcio.
That’s not even mentioning the Greatcoat’s Lament . . .”
Waiting on Wednesday 09/03/14
Posted on September 3, 2014 9 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:
The Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley: January 13, 2015 (Tor)
I’m actually quite excited about this one. The first book came out to great acclaim last year, and I enjoyed it a lot, with my only regret being the limited role of Adare, the emperor’s daughter who didn’t get anywhere near as much page-time as her royal brothers Kaden and Valyn. From the description, it sounds like Adare will get more attention this time around, and I’m really looking forward her time in the spotlight.
“Brian Staveley’s Providence of Fire, the second novel in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, a gripping new epic fantasy series in the tradition of Brandon Sanderson and George R. R. Martin.
The conspiracy to destroy the ruling family of the Annurian Empire is far from over.
Having learned the identity of her father’s assassin, Adare flees the Dawn Palace is search of allies to challenge the coup against her family. Few trust her, but when she is believed to be touched by Intarra, patron goddess of the empire, the people rally to help her retake the capital city. As armies prepare to clash, the threat of invasion from barbarian hordes compels the rival forces to unite against their common enemy.
Unknown to Adare, her brother Valyn, renegade member of the empire’s most elite fighting force, has allied with the invading nomads. The terrible choices each of them has made may make war between them inevitable.
Between Valyn and Adare is their brother Kaden, rightful heir to the Unhewn Throne, who has infiltrated the Annurian capital with the help of two strange companions. The knowledge they possess of the secret history that shapes these events could save Annur or destroy it.”
Book Review: The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan
Posted on September 2, 2014 19 Comments
The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk
Series: Book 1 of The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire
Publisher: Angry Robot (August 26, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Angry Robot is making a comeback this fall with a couple of great titles, and The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter is one gem that is deserving of a lot more attention. I really had no idea what I was in for going into this book, but even before the beginnings of the story was revealed to me, I found myself already captivated by the elegant writing style.
Rod Duncan brings the Gas-Lit Empire to life in this steampunkish tale of mystery and espionage, starring a female protagonist with a big secret. Elizabeth Barnabus is the single child of a “bullet-catcher”, a term used to describe stage magicians or artists known for performing large-scale or spectacular illusions, but she has used all the tricks of the trades to fool the world into thinking she has a twin brother. In the guise of her fictitious brother Edwin the private detective, Elizabeth sets out to solve the case of a missing aristocrat while dodging alchemists and shady circus folk as well as agents of the all-powerful and tyrannical International Patent Office.
Obviously, Elizabeth is a talented, capable and intelligent young woman used to solving her own problems, often in creative and ingenious ways. So forgive me for going on a mini-ramble here while I ponder on the trend of the “daughter-in-the-title” phenomenon; that is, I notice so many book titles that seem to follow this “The ________’s Daughter” formula these days, but I call it a ramble and not a rant because I think it amuses me more than it bothers me. I find it curious especially in this case, where Elizabeth is such an awesome character and being defined by her father’s profession clearly doesn’t do her enough justice! Besides being a master of disguise, she is also very adept at taking in a situation and making snappy decisions.
I’m also impressed with the way the author has created this world using very subtle means. Instead of throwing buckets of descriptive details in the readers’ faces, he instead uses the history he has crafted for the Gas-Lit Empire to great effect. By reading about the significant events that shaped the empire, such as the war that divided England or the rise of the Patent Office, I was able to piece together the culture and mood of this alternate universe. Sights and sounds can come across easily through words, but it takes a much rarer talent to convey the intangible such as the atmosphere of a setting the way Duncan does.
The mystery in this novel unfolds gradually, and though I wouldn’t call The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter a high-octane read, it does keep up a steady level of intrigue and suspense. It also has its moments, such as when Elizabeth runs afoul of a troupe of traveling circus performers and for a few chapters I was immersed in the dark side of circus life and became acquainted with many very interesting individuals.
With its unique setting and premise, this book embodies the essence of what I’ve come to expect from Angry Robot over the years. But I would still love to know more about Elizabeth as a character. Even though the story is told through her perspective in the first person, she seems to keep the reader at arm’s length. This might be an effect of the writing style, or perhaps something Rod Duncan purposely meant to do from the start, and if that’s the case, then it’s actually pretty clever. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for someone in Elizabeth’s place to maintain a detached attitude even as she is narrating her own story, given how she must protect the secret of her double-life from the rest of the world.
In short, this was a well-written novel, the story fantastically put together with elements of alternate history and steampunk, topped off with a strong, resourceful heroine. You can’t help but be drawn to Elizabeth Barnabus. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing her adventures in the sequel.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Angry Robot!
Book Review: The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
Posted on September 1, 2014 26 Comments
The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Ace (September 2, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
This book would be perfect for readers looking for a well-balanced blend of fantasy with a historical fiction-type setting, overlaid with a story laced with a heavy dose of the kind of chaste, slow-burn romance one might find in a traditional Regency novel.
Graham Marshall – Gray to family and friends – finds himself out of favor at Merlin College when a midnight errand goes terribly wrong, landing himself and a couple friends in the infirmary while another boy loses his life. Disgraced, Gray is sent away to the summer home of the arrogant and unpleasant Professor Appius Callendar until such time the college can decide his fate. It’s there that Gray has the pleasure of meeting the professor’s middle daughter Sophie, who for some reason Professor Callendar seems to neglect and disdain. There’s certainly no love lost between father and daughter.
Even though he was told none of the Callendar girls were born with any magical talent, Gray senses something strange about Sophie. Because proper women studying magical theory is considered scandalous in their society, Sophie has been secretly learning it herself from the books in her father’s library. She’s delighted to meet Gray, finding him very different from the pretentious and foppish young men her father usually invites home from the college, and is grateful when he offers to fill in the gaps in her knowledge. The two of them strike up a friendship, and so when astounding revelations are revealed about Sophie’s past, Gray is wrapped up in the whirlwind of events. And here he was, thinking his life was complicated!
From page one, I was drawn in by the gorgeous writing. Admittedly, it can be somewhat difficult to get used to. Clunky and awkward in some places, it’s not exactly what I would call easy on the eyes, with a style and tone suited to the historical era. But it’s extremely effective when it comes to setting the mood, and once you adapt to it, the reading goes much faster and smoother.
The novel’s greatest strength is the characterization. Gray and Sophie take center stage, and the whole book is told through their perspectives, which alternate back and forth – a lot. Again, it can be distracting, at least initially. The author jumps between Sophie and Gray whenever it suits her, so that sometimes you can get a few paragraphs of Gray’s point of view and then abruptly we would switch to Sophie as she picks up the narrative. Regular readers of romance are probably used to this, but it was something else I had to adjust to at the beginning.
After getting the hang of things, it was easier for me to simply sit back and soak in the story. It bears emphasizing again that the characters are just great in this; because the relationship between Gray and Sophie are so integral to the story, it makes sense to establish and build upon them early, and that’s what we get here. Before Gray and Sophie can get to know each other intimately, the reader has to get to know them as individuals, which makes their eventual coming together that much more satisfying. As I mentioned before, theirs is a slow-burn romance (the kind where everyone around them can see what’s going on before the two can even admit it to themselves) so if you’re looking for instant gratification, this is not the book you’re looking for. We’re also not talking fiery passion or red hot love scenes here, keeping things clean and proper with good manners!
The heavy focus on G+S notwithstanding, that’s not to say the other characters were forgotten or underdeveloped. In fact, my favorite character was a supporting character, Joanna Callendar, who probably has more personality in her little finger than her sister Sophie had in her whole body. Sad to say, as much as I liked Sophie, she was an idealized character, a special snowflake that came across just a little too perfect in a lot of ways, and that makes her less interesting than the spunky, lippy and slightly insolent Joanna.
By the same token, plot is probably not this novel’s strong suit. A lost princess, a prophecy foretelling the return of “The One” and the pivotal role they play in the fate of a monarch and the kingdom…it’s a little clichéd, perhaps, but it’s also not a negative if you go in knowing what to expect. This book is obviously more interested in telling Gray and Sophie’s story, it makes its intention loud and clear right from the start, and so a lighter, less original plot is something I could overlook.
Bottom line: The Midnight Queen is a very beautiful, very atmospheric novel about young love, slow-going at times, making it feel like very little happens while the author develops the two characters. You can probably predict the outcome of the story with no effort at all, but the emotional payoff is worth it if you stick around and give the book a chance to let Gray and Sophie to resolve their feelings for each other. Recommended for fantasy lovers who want romance, but who also won’t mind the slower, sweet-and-tender but also more subtle approach.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Ace Books!
YA Weekend: Angelfall by Susan Ee
Posted on August 31, 2014 19 Comments
Series: Penryn & the End of Days #1
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural, Post-Apocalyptic
Publisher: Feral Dream (May 2011)
Author Info: www.SusanEe.com
Wendy’s Rating ~ 4 of 5 stars
Angelfall is a refreshing and welcome take on the end of the world.
Young adult novels are not usually to my taste, mainly because authors tend to forget the “adult” aspect of the equation and give me self-centred protagonists that are far more whiny, stubborn, and petulant than the young adult I was, or the ones I know. In other words, they are bloody annoying. But when an author respectfully balances the negative aspects of young adulthood with the caring, determination, maturity, responsibility, and self-awareness I’ve seen in many teens, then I am more likely to enjoy the reading experience. Susan Ee is officially on my list of authors who achieve the latter, which means this is a young adult book that I would happily recommend to adult and young adult readers alike. But I would also recommend this book because, well, it’s fantastic.
When I started reading it, I was embroiled in a lengthy conversation about apocalyptic fiction and its tired tropes. The angry roving gangs, the hopelessness, the reliance on (gun) violence, the utter fail of humanity to pull up its boot straps and survive. Not that Angelfall doesn’t include some of these elements, which are reasonably logical progressions for when the world as we know it falls apart. But Ee doesn’t use them merely as crutches, and, more importantly, she goes well beyond.
First off, there’s the whole reason for the apocalypse: angels. Asshole angels who are happily destroying our world. Why? Because God apparently wills it, apparently, but as the story goes along, it becomes evident that there is most likely far more chaos within the chaos than there is any order. This is how Penryn comes to know Raffe, an angel stripped of his wings, whom she saves from the other angels who want to literally rip him apart. As much as Penryn doesn’t want to be rescuing the enemy, Raffe becomes her only key to finding her wheelchair-bound young sister, who is stolen by the angels that attacked him. Penryn also has to deal with worries about her mother, who suffers from schizophrenia.
“That even though her love often manifests in ways that a mentally healthy person couldn’t understand—might even declare abusive—that doesn’t diminish the fact that she does care.”
Mental health is a subject that is not often touched on in fiction, or if it is, it is treated poorly, reducing the people who suffer from it to objects of fear or amusement. Through Penryn’s eyes, Ee shows us a woman who is quite clearly insane, but who also loves her children dearly, and is even aware of how much of a danger she is to them. Her mother encourages Penryn to take every possible self-defence class available—which comes in handy when the world ends. Having to deal with both a mentally unstable woman and a physically disabled child puts a lot on Penryn’s shoulders, but her loyalty and sense of responsibility never once falters. Nor does Ee reduce her family members to mere caricatures, particularly her mother. Penryn isn’t afraid to refer to her mother as crazy, and knows just how her actions might appear to the more rationally minded. However, she also shows a lot of respect and affection for her mother, and appreciation for the things she’s learned and is capable of because of her illness. In a world where “they” really are out to get you now, Penryn’s mother’s paranoia suddenly becomes very helpful. To an extent.
Penryn’s seemingly hopeless mission to rescue her sister parallels Raffe’s hope to have his wings re-attached—as in, they share a destination and need each other to survive. Though there are hints of attraction, their bond grows into something far deeper and more touching as the story progresses.
Along their journey, they are captured by a small resistance group. Unlike a lot of the apocalypse fiction I’ve watched or read lately, there is no evil dictator in charge, or inappropriate rules and practices. In fact, the leader, Obi, is as respectful as he is strategically-minded, and the goals of his group go well beyond simply hoarding all the supplies and keeping outsiders out.
My only complaint is that, other than Penryn (and to an extent, her mother, simply because her mother is uncontrollable), women are rather two dimensional, and relegated to very stereotypical roles. While Obi values Penryn’s skills and wants her as one of his soldiers, the rest of the women at the compound exist to wash laundry. At the angels’ stronghold, women survive by whoring themselves out to the angels. And several times Penryn’s jealousy over Raffe is sparked by the intrusion of some catty woman attempting to claim him.
Otherwise, in my epic apocalypse chat, the consensus seemed to be that end of the world stories that still offer hope and humanity, even at the darkest hour, were favoured over the more bleak tales. Angelfall is a refreshing and welcome take on the end of the world.
Lootz: Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on August 30, 2014 26 Comments
Welcome to this feature where I showcase the books I bought or received for review in the past couple of weeks. First, the physical pile:
The Mad Apprentice – *does a happy dance* This book is the second installment of the middle-grade series The Forbidden Library which isn’t coming out for a while yet (next April) but I’m so excited to read this regardless. Big big BIG thanks to the author Django Wexler for sending me the ARC.
Shifting Shadows – a collection of short stories from Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series, some of which have previously been published along with a couple brand new ones. I’m typically one to skip shorts and novellas that are separate from the full length novels in existing fantasy universes, but Ace was awesome enough to send this one along, and seeing as I have it on hand I’m going to read it. Plus, it’s hard to say no to anything that has to do with Mercy Thompson.
Gleam – my thanks to Jo Fletcher Books for sending me this book for review, the description of the story looks great and from what I’ve heard about it, the world sounds simply amazing. I’m hoping to start Gleam this weekend.
Kell’s Legend – I think I have Andy Remic and Angry Robot to thank for this nice surprise that showed up one day; I read and enjoyed the author’s book The Iron Wolves late last year and shared my review, which got me some neat Iron Wolves and Andy Remic goodies. Whatever the case, I’m very grateful to receive Kell’s Legend; it’s been on my radar for a while but I haven’t read it yet.
Sword of the Bright Lady – a finished copy of this book arrived which is a reminder I should get to reading this soon. After seeing Lisa’s review of this novel at Tenacious Reader and hearing some fascinating things about it, I’m pretty curious and excited about checking this out now. My thanks to Pyr Books for the review copy.
Jala’s Mask – this ARC is courtesy of Pyr again, and I am very intrigued by this book’s cover and description. It’s always refreshing to see some diversity in characters and cultures when it comes to fantasy fiction.
And now for the digital pile:
Ancillary Sword – some of the sci-fi stuff in Ancillary Justice proved to be a little too heavy for my head to wrap around, which is probably why I didn’t like the book as much I should have. But towards the end I found myself really getting into it, and so I have high hopes that I will love this sequel. My thanks to Orbit for the invite to review the eARC.
The Heart Does Not Grow Back – I first heard about this book from Tammy at Book, Bones & Buffy from one of her Waiting on Wednedays, and she knows how upset I am at her for breaking my one-and-a-half-month long streak from not requesting anything from Netgalley! *shakes fist at Tammy* Oh, I’m just kidding! I can’t be mad seeing how awesome this book sounds. I’m very glad my request got approved.
Dead Witch Walking and Skinwalker – book #1s from all these big name Urban Fantasy series seem to be going on sale these days. Not that I’m complaining. When I saw the ebooks for Dead Witch Walking (which was FREE earlier this week) and Skinwalker (which was $1.99) on sale, I just had to grab them and the audiobooks because of the sweet deals on their Whispersync bundles. Both Kim Harrison and Faith Hunter have been on my list of “UF authors who I shamefully have not read yet”, so double score.
The Source – I binge listened to the audiobook of the The Line earlier this week, which is the first book of the Witching Savannah series. Oh my, how addicting. It’s like an urban fantasy about witches meets Days of Our Lives. Talk about the scandalous dark side of family relationships. I’m not ashamed to admit I ate it all up like buttery, buttery popcorn and grabbed this sequel as soon as I was done, just in case I want to indulge in this guilty pleasure again soon.
The BiblioSanctum 