Tough Traveling: Shapeshifting
Posted on August 21, 2014 26 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: Shapeshifting
SHAPESHIFTING is frequent among both WERES and MAGIC USERS. The usual form taken is that of a WOLF, but lions, eagles, serpents, owls, and cats are common too. In all cases the rule is that the shapeshifter cannon stay too long in animal form without actually becoming that animal and losing touch with her/his human thoughts.
Brace yourself, because I’m definitely going to try making up for my poor performance in last week’s list. Luckily, I have a “Shapeshifters” shelf on Goodreads. I’m actually going to have to narrow down the titles a little…
Wolves and other Weres:
Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
I have to say, this week is much easier if you read urban fantasy. Werewolves are all over the place! And of course, one of my favorite UF series featuring werewolves is Mercy Thompson. Mercy hangs around a bunch of werewolves, and though she herself is a shapeshifter, she’s in fact a “Walker” who can turn into a coyote, a gift she inherited from her Native American father.
The Wolves of Mercy Falls (AKA Shiver Trilogy) by Maggie Stiefvater
This is a Young Adult series about a boy who walks and talks as human during the summer, but when the cold weather of winter comes he turns into a wolf and runs wild in the woods. Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house for years, but she never dreamed that one of them could be a human boy, and that she would end up falling in love with him.
Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan
This epic dark fantasy novel tells the myth of the werewolf as it has never been told before, weaving Nordic mythology into the tale. A prophecy prompts a viking king to raid a small village to kidnap a child to be his heir, but what he finds is not one but two infants — twins. Vali grows up as a prince while Feileg is raised in the wilds with wolves.
Siobhan Quinn series by Kathleen Tierney/Caitlín R. Kiernan
In this dark, twisted urban fantasy that can be seen as a satire of the genre, Siobhan Quinn was bitten by a vampire and a werewolf in the same night, turning her into some sort of new weird hybrid that she has self-coined a “Werepire”.
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton
Oh man, when it comes to the different kinds of weres and lycanthropes, you just can’t beat the sheer variety in the Anita Blake series. Werewolves are a given of course, but there also wereleopards, wererats, werehyenas, werelions, weretigers, and even wereswans (oh my).
The Iron Wolves by Andy Remic
In response to a prophecy, an old general decides to reunite the warriors of old for what he believes will be a final battle against Orlana the Changer, an evil dark lady who is building a mud-orc army to take over the world. The Iron Wolves are a group of gritty anti-heroes who hold a terrible secret that has tortured them for decades. Let’s just say they only wish to be human again, and leave it at that…
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Anne Rice does werewolves! A young reporter on assignment from the city gets attacked and bitten by a creature in the rural wilderness. Soon he finds himself transformed and experiencing the thrill of the wolf gift. Rice offers up a very interesting take on the mythos and origin story for werewolves.
Soulless
by Gail Carriger
Lord Conall Maccon is an officer of the Bureau for Unnatural Registration and also the Alpha of a werewolf pack. Maccon and the protagonist Lady Alexia Tarabotti end up falling in love and ultimately get married at the end of this book.
Paranormal Creatures (Non-Weres):
Generation V series by M.L. Brennan
Protagonist Fortitude Scott’s friend Suzume Hollis is a kitsune, a mythological creature from Japanese folklore that can shift between human and fox forms. Rather than being a human who can shapeshift into an animal, kitsune are the other way around – they are actually female foxes that can assume human form.
The Golden City by J. Kathleen Cheney
This series features sirens and also Selkies, mythological creatures that live as seals in the sea but shed their skin to become human on land. They must guard their pelts carefully while in human form, for without it they cannot shift back and return to the sea. This is what happens to a character’s mother, whose pelt was stolen.
Written in Red by Anne Bishop
“The Others” are a group of unearthly entities which have vampires and shapeshifters among them. It is said the shifters adopted their chosen animal forms so long ago that they had come to also adopt some of the natural behaviors of those animals. These include wolves, crows, and hawks, to name just a few.
Midnight Thief by Liva Blackburne
The city of Forge is being harassed and constantly raided by the Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats. It is thought that the beasts are tamed mounts or companions of the raiders, but it turns out they are the Demon Riders themselves, a race of beings who can shapeshift between human and wildcat forms.
Magic Users and Shapeshifting by Magical Means:
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
Atticus O’Sullivan is a two-thousand-year-old druid, capable of many different kinds of magic including several shapeshifting charms that allow him to shift into four animal different forms: a hound, a stag, an otter and an owl. Each creature has its own charm for this and Atticus’ amulets and charms are small enough that he can continue wearing the object while shapeshifted.
Skulk by Rosie Best
In this YA novel, protagonist Meg comes into the possession of a beautiful blue stone which allows her to shapeshift into a fox. In time, she learns of other groups of shapeshifters in London: The Skulk (fox shifters like her), the Horde (Rats), the Rabble (Butterflies), the Cluster (Spiders), and the Conspiracy (Ravens).
The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
Currently reading this, and now I understand the reason for the owl on the cover. Gray Marshall is a student of magic, and one the spells he is most proud of — and that others are most impressed with — is his ability to shapeshift into (quite appropriately) a great grey owl.
Posted on August 20, 2014 Leave a Comment
“All you Westerosi make a shame of loving. There is no shame in loving. If your septons say there is, your seven gods must be demons. In the isles we know better. Our gods gave us legs to run with, noses to smell with, hands to touch and feel. What mad cruel god would give a man eyes and tell him he must forever keep them shut, and never look at all the beauty in the world?”
― George R.R. Martin, A Feast for Crows
Waiting on Wednesday 08/20/14
Posted on August 20, 2014 21 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:
Burned by Karen Marie Moning: January 20, 2015 (Delacorte)
This is sort of a departure from what I usually read, arguably more Paranormal Romance than your straight up Urban Fantasy, but still. After all, I look back and see that I enjoyed the Fever books for so much more than just the romance (in truth, Mac and Barrons pissed me off to no end).
Anyway, Burned is actually the second book of a spin-off series that started after the conclusion of those Fever books, focusing on the spunky and foul-mouthed teen Dani “Mega” O’Malley. The ups and downs I’ve experienced with some of these characters notwithstanding, I can’t deny I’ve also become quite invested after spending six books reading about them. Isn’t that always the case?
Now, despite the protagonist’s age (14, in case you’re wondering), these Dani books are most definitely NOT Young Adult. And to tell the truth, some of the encounters between her and the much older men in her life made me feel all kinds of dirty and wrong when I was reading Iced! I’ve heard said that Moning might be jumping forward in time for Burned and making Dani older in this second book, which would make a lot of sense, but so far I haven’t seen anything to confirm that. For the most part, I have not actually heard much about Burned at all. Maybe the book description just isn’t ready yet, or maybe the publisher and author are keeping their cards close to their chest, but either way, I’m soooo curious about where Dani’s story will go.
And I also couldn’t find much more than the following blurb on Goodreads. Still, that’s one stunning cover.
“MacKayla Lane and Dani “Mega” O’Malley are back with a vengeance in Burned, the seventh novel in the blockbuster Fever series from #1 New York Times bestselling sensation Karen Marie Moning.”
Panels: Storm #1
Posted on August 19, 2014 Leave a Comment
STORM (2014) #1
Published: July 23, 2014, Marvel Comics
Writer: Greg Pak
“Thief. Goddess. Headmistress. Queen. The X-Man called STORM has always defied a single title. And her desire to better the world has never been limited to only her own kind. On a mission to foster goodwill and safeguard the mutant race’s continued existence in her own way, Storm will travel the globe, confronting man and mutant, god and monster and everything in between. She will overthrow tyrants, quell tsunamis and strive to see her dream for the world realized. She is STORM, a hero like no other….and the skies will tremble at the sight of their namesake.”
Book Review: City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
Posted on August 19, 2014 26 Comments
City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1
Publisher: Crown (September 9, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
I’ve never actually read Robert Jackson Bennett before City of Stairs, despite owning several books by him (and I can see there’s my copies of The Troupe and American Elsewhere on my shelf right now, glaring down at me balefully as if to ask, “Why haven’t you read me yet?”) So though the name of the author is familiar to me, I really had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that this book’s description was tantalizing in its promise of an atmospheric, immersive fantasy world, with a touch of the otherworldly and bizarre. As it turns out, City of Stairs is all that and more, being a sophisticated and cerebral cocktail of a multitude of different genre elements, including magic, mystery, and philosophy.
Years ago, magic was lost in the central city of Bulikov, then known as the Seat of the World, when its Divinities were killed by a Saypuri hero known as the Kaj. Throwing off the yoke of the Continentals, the Kaj led the rebellion to victory, conquering their conquerors and passing the Worldly Regulations which outlawed the possession and use of divine objects and miracles, even the worshipping of the old gods. With the passing generations, Bulikov went from being a shining capital to just another colonial outpost of world’s new authority
The story begins with the murder of Dr. Efrem Pangyui, the visiting Saypuri scholar who stationed himself in Bulikov to study and document the city’s history to the outrage of the locals who are prohibited from doing so themselves. Enter Shara Komayd, officially there as a lowly ambassador to smooth over matters, but she is not without her own secrets. A direct descendent of the great Kaj, Shara is really one of Saypur’s most accomplished spies, and she is determined to discover the truth behind the murder of the historian, who was also a very close personal friend.
First, let’s talk about the world-building, which is in a word: phenomenal. Admittedly, I wasn’t really convinced I was going to like this book from its first 50 pages or so. The story was slow to take off, but in truth, this had a lot to do with the author’s meticulous efforts to plunge the reader into the intricacies of his setting. Bennett has created many layers of context for this world and has left no stone unturned when it comes to achieving the effect of a living, breathing, working society with the kind of history that Bulikov’s people have endured. Everything from politics to religion has been touched upon, giving us a clear idea of the mood of the city.
The plot didn’t gain momentum until around after the first third of the book, but I can’t say I ever lost interest in reading, being completely captivated by the complexity of the world. Before the Kaj, the six Divinities of the Continentals each had their own worshippers, living by the rules and ideologies of the god they followed. After the Divinities were killed, Bulikov was also devastated by an event known as the Blink, causing chunks of the city to disappear or warp and resulting in a section filled with giant staircases that went nowhere, but which gave the book its title. There’s a lot of history here, not to mention the magic and the miracles described in this novel, which are just so creative and unique.
I also adored the characters. I have a feeling Shara’s companion, the unforgettable and indomitable Sigrud will be a clear fan favorite for many after reading this novel. However, I have to say the soft spot in my heart must go to Turyin Mulaghesh, the soldier turned governor who after years of dealing with the problems and instabilities and Bulikov just wants to be transferred to a quiet little coastal outpost where she can settle down and spend her days lying on the beach – ambitions be damned. But don’t let that fool you, for she is a force to be reckoned with. I love how this novel features two strong, spirited and over 30 women at the forefront, and they are just two of the many great characters in this refreshingly diverse cast.
It was hard to stop, once the story got going. The initial murder mystery deepens into shady political dealings and conspiracy, which ultimately leads to an incredible climax and final showdown that unfortunately was over far too quickly and neatly. But what an experience it was. And yet, City of Stairs is also about so much more than just the thrills and suspense. Bennett dives into some heavy topics here, exploring the significance of religion, attitudes regarding sexuality, and the ramifications of persecution and oppression.
Like I said, this was my first taste of Robert Jackson Bennett’s writing, and I am impressed. This really is an excellent novel, and it deserves to be a hit this year. I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised to hear there will be a sequel, since this book is the sort that would open doors to many great and interesting possibilities, and its world simply begs to be further explored. Highly recommended. This is an enjoyable fantasy that also makes you think.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Crown Publishing!
Book Review: Shadows by E.C. Blake
Posted on August 18, 2014 20 Comments
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of Masks of Aygrima
Publisher: DAW (August 5, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I think Masks slipped under a lot of radars last year, and even as someone who read the book, I really had no idea what a strong impression it made on me until the sequel Shadows showed up and I found myself wanting to dive right in. I do remember being struck by the richness of the world and magic, and realized that I was very much looking forward to continuing the story of protagonist Mara Holdfast.
One thing I should mention is that while nothing about these books ostensibly scream Young Adult (at least not on the surface – it’s not really obvious from the cover, not published under a YA imprint, and not mentioned in the description), this really does read like a YA series. It’s more than just the age of the protagonist, who is fifteen years old in Shadows and for most of Masks; thematically and stylistically, the way it was written also made me want to categorize the first book as a YA, and book two only furthered my belief. This is neither good nor bad. However, I just think readers going in should be aware of it since it may affect expectations. I personally chose to view and rate this one as YA.
Last we saw her in Masks, Mara had escaped from the mining camps where the tyrannical Autarch sends all those who are labeled traitors and not fit to be part of society. She ends up back at the system of secret coastal caves where a group of underground rebels calling themselves the unMasked Army have made their home. The rebels’ leader has asked Mara to use her gifts to craft special masks for them, which would hide the user’s intent from the Autarch and his Watchers, but untrained and inexperienced with her magic, Mara is frustrated when her attempts to do so fail.
At the same time, a mysterious young man washes up on shore, claiming to be a scout from Korellia, a city long thought to have been lost, sunk beneath the seas. But Chell is even more than he appears, and though the unmasked Army remain wary of him, they allow him to accompany Mara on a dangerous mission back into the city in the hopes of reaching Mara’s father, the Autarch’s Master Maskmaker, in order to glean information about the secrets of his trade.
Like most second books in a dystopian series, this is the point where the danger and desperation starts to really come to the forefront and can be keenly felt by the reader. The Autarch’s forces continue to close in, pushing Mara and her allies to make riskier decisions, and sometimes those decisions lead to disaster. Mara is already an unstable vessel of magic, trying to learn how to handle her one-of-a-kind powers, and just when the slightest spark can set her abilities off, something akin to a mega-ton explosion happens in her life. It was a twist that was wholly unexpected to me, one that I didn’t think the author would carry through, but in retrospect I shouldn’t really have been that surprised. In both Masks and now in Shadows, the story has taken some pretty dark turns, and the emotional trauma transforms Mara into an uncontrollable element, adding unpredictability to her powers which are already little understood.
Mara also grows as a character, in ways that are more than just about her magic. The fact that she is played up to be the most powerful person in Aygrima is still a bit vexing, but it’s also clear from the events in this book that she is far from perfect. To put it simply, some of the decisions she makes are impulsive, inconsiderate, embarrassing, and in several cases, downright dumb. This, however, is not always a negative. Her bad choices indicate vulnerability in her character, showing that despite her staggering power, she’s still just a teenage girl who is prone to mistakes, not to mention she can barely control her gifts. I think it humanizes her and makes her less exasperating than she was in the first book where it almost felt like she could do no wrong.
There are definitely more high points than low points in this novel, though there are still a couple weaknesses I should mention. Despite viewing Masks as YA, I did note that a wider audience can probably appreciate it too, since the nature of the fantasy setting and the characters that E.C. Blake has created sets the book apart. Shadows, however, feels distinctly more YA, if that is a comparison I can make. One example is a not-so-subtle hint of a love triangle which manifests itself into a full-blown LOVE SQUARE within the first 40 pages. It eventually resolves itself, and I won’t spoil how, since that in itself is a pretty interesting side-plot. However, it did bug me a little to see romantic drama worm its way into the picture so soon in the story, when there’s so much else that’s more important in Mara’s life. There are also some very dramatic, very exciting developments in this book, but also large chunks of it that felt drawn out, most of it boiling down to Mara being on the run.
But as you can see, I really enjoyed this for the most part, especially if I’m looking at it as a YA novel. I probably still liked Masks a little more, if I had to compare the two books in the series so far, but Shadows was a worthy sequel and promises to bring even more thrills and delights in the next installment. A 3.5 to 4 star read for me.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to DAW Books!
Book Review: Generation V by M.L. Brennan + Bonus Iron Night Giveaway!
Posted on August 17, 2014 11 Comments
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Supernatural
Series: American Vampire #1
LiveTweet Tag: #MLBGenV
Publisher: Roc (May 2013)
Author Info: mlbrennan.com
Wendy’s Rating ~ 4 of 5 stars
Brennan doesn’t shy away from sexuality. As much as she teases with promises of hot Suze/Fort sex, I love that sex can simply be a topic of conversation in this book. Sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but like everything else in Brennan’s writing, so very natural.
Urban fantasy isn’t a genre I step into often, but with Generation V, I was confident I was going to get something I could really enjoy. Why? Because I suspected that M.L. Brennan’s amusing, snarky, and fun personality that I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with online would sneak into her writing.
I was not wrong.
@nightxade @MMOGC THE SNARK MUST FLOW. #MLBGenV
— ML Brennan (@BrennanML) August 13, 2014
Which is why I invited Brennan to participate in a livetweet of her book, which, turned out to be even more hilarious fun than I had expected it to be, and even led to some very strange places thanks to Batman.
Enter The Kitsune.
Suzume Hollis is instantly a favourite, with her sexy sexiness and absolutely unapologetic attitude. I love how Brennan lets Suzume’s foxiness translate into her human attitude and actions. She is not afraid to speak her mind, no matter how utterly inappropriate it might be.
“If you let me use your witch I’ll take the judgmental bloodsucker away and you can get back to squirting elf juice in vajayjays.”
And she’s not afraid to use her sexuality to get what she needs, whether that be a donut, or Fort’s participation in her questionable plans.
Hired by Madeleine to be Fortitude’s body guard, she gets caught up in Fort’s bleeding heart antics when a local family is murdered, and the young daughters kidnapped.
As I said, Fort is not a typical vampire. Nor is Brennan’s vampire-making process, which turns out to be one of the most fascinating aspects of the story, even resulting in #bookflail moments for me in the epic showdown. When we meet him, Fortitude is still quite human, save for the pesky need for blood from time to time. He clings strongly to his human nature, despite his family’s admonitions, and fears his pending vampire transition because he does not want to lose that humanity.
This is a very sexy book, not just because of Suzume’s presence (though the foxy lady helps LOTS). I really like the way Brennan teases with Suzume’s obviously sexual nature, offering a lot of promise with what’s to come. While she doesn’t get raunchy or graphic with the sex talk, and Fortitude is a shy gentleman, I love that Brennan doesn’t shy away from sexuality. As much as she teases with promises of hot Suze/Fort sex, I love that sex can simply be a topic of conversation in this book. Sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but like everything else in Brennan’s writing, so very natural.
With everything that happened in book #1, and the doors it opened for the future of the series, I am definitely looking forward to reading more!
***
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for! We have one print copy of Iron Night up for grabs in this giveaway to one lucky winner. This giveaway is open to the US only. Entering is super easy, all you have to do is send an email to bibliosanctum (at) gmail (dot) com with your Name and valid Mailing Address using the subject line “IRON NIGHT” by 11:59pm Eastern time on Sunday, August 24, 2014.
Only one entry per household, please. The winner will be randomly selected when the giveaway ends and then be notified by email. All information will only be used for the purpose of contacting the winner and sending them their book. Once the giveaway ends all entry emails will be deleted.
So what are you waiting for? Enter to win this amazing book! Good luck!
Panels: Black Widow: The Name of the Rose
Posted on August 16, 2014 4 Comments
Wolverine might know a thing or two about sucking chest wounds, but nothing short of bleeding stumps is going to stop Black Widow from finding the people who attacked her in Black Widow: The Name of the Rose
Lootz: Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on August 16, 2014 22 Comments
Very excited about this week’s Book Lootz:
Tainted Blood – kicking things off with this ARC of my most anticipated book this fall! It’s book 3 of the Generation V series by M.L. Brennan, and I have her to thank for sending me this lovely gem. Words cannot express my gratitude and excitement.
The Ultra Thin Man – I admit, I didn’t know much about this book before Tor sent along this copy, but it sounds like a pretty interesting sci-fi which I wouldn’t mind reading.
Echopraxia – I was debating reading this book and even bought the first book when I saw it on sale, just in case. Then it showed up unexpectedly, so my thanks to Tor. And it’s also looking more likely I will be checking this out.
Age of Iron – Druids and Iron Age warriors! Yes, please! This one’s courtesy of Orbit, and I’m really looking forward to it.
The Falcon Throne – I was pretty surprised by the way this ARC came, tied with a colored tissue paper ribbon and with what I assume is supposed to be a “Falcon” feather. Really excited to read this, but when the time comes I’ll probably be really reluctant to break apart that lovely presentation. Simply beautiful work, Orbit. Though I must say, that’s an interesting juxtaposition with all that bloodshed on the cover!
The Midnight Queen – courtesy of Ace/Penguin, I’m actually reading this now and so far it’s as gorgeous as its cover. Keep an eye out for the review in the next few weeks!
No digital ARCs/purchases to feature this time, because I’ve been very good at resisting the temptation, to the joy of my NetGalley account, my wallet, and my summer schedule!
Book Review: Into The Fire by Peter Liney
Posted on August 15, 2014 10 Comments
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Series: Book 2 of The Detainee
Publisher: Jo Fletcher (UK: July 3, 2014)
Author’s Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
“Out of the frying pan and into the fire”, so the saying goes to describe going from a bad situation to a worse one, and that’s exactly what happens to Clancy “Big Guy” and his friends after they escape from the Island only to find out that the mainland they hoped to return to is not the home they remembered.
Into the Fire is the follow-up to Peter Liney’s The Detainee, an adult dystopian novel that impressed me by setting itself apart with its dark brutality but also a beautiful, compelling message about love and courage. The most exceptional aspect of the first book was Liney’s ability to tell a story which explored the unpleasant effects of a dystopian environment across multiple age groups, detailing the horrors that befall both the young and the old. The main protagonist himself is sixty-three years old. Along with others who are past their prime, he was banished to the Island with society’s other castoffs like the sick, the dying, and unwanted children.
I admit, I had my doubts when I first found out about Into the Fire. My first thought was, Does The Detainee really need a sequel? After all, I was quite satisfied with the way it ended. Obviously, Clancy, Lena, Jimmy and Delilah managed to find the way off the island with the children they befriended and adopted, and it was the classic moment of triumph as we leave them swimming across the channel towards freedom. It’s always nicer to leave things on a high note, and I might have been content with simply imagining bright and pleasant futures for our beloved Big Guy and the gang as they make brand new happy lives for themselves back on the mainland. Into the Fire, of course, erases those hopes.
However, with a sequel also comes an opportunity for something I didn’t think we were going to get after the end of the first book. Clancy’s past has always been shrouded in mystery, and we knew from occasional mentions that it was a checkered one. When he was younger, his huge stature served him well as a mafia crime boss’ thug, a position which required him to commit no small number of unsavory “errands” for the crooked Meltoni. Decades later, upon his return to the radically changed mainland, Clancy must turn to his old life again in order to help his friends survive and also save the woman he loves.
Clancy always was a captivating character and narrator for me, with many more years of experiences under his belt than most protagonists. Going back to some of those years and finding out more about his life working for the mob was one of the highlights of this novel. In my mind he was always like a Clint Eastwood, someone you wouldn’t want to mess with no matter what his age. Despite his desire to turn over a new leaf, his fierce loyalty also makes him capable of showing no mercy to those who would do his loved ones harm. It was interesting to see that young or old, Clancy was and still is a force to be reckoned with.
Into the Fire was thus a worthy follow-up, but The Detainee was a strong debut that was hard to beat. We went from a small island where the dynamics and everyday dangers were well understood to a large city where too much seemed to be happening at once. It was hard to visualize this society and figure out how everything was supposed to work, and it really wasn’t clear to me how scattered pockets of the city such as doctors’ offices, sushi bars, gaming arcades etc. could still be operating like nothing was out of the ordinary while most of the place burned and crumbled, with hordes of sick people wandering the streets, refugees looting stores left and right, and Infinity just gunning down people indiscriminately.
While the setting wasn’t as coherent as it was in The Detainee, that was probably my only stumbling block. I love the story and the characters, and we get lots of development into both in Into the Fire. Peter Liney takes this world he has created and carries its background and history even further, which is something I really wanted to see, and this book sees some major changes in the characters’ lives and I couldn’t even begin to guess where the author will take us next. This is shaping up to be a fascinating series, one I would recommend for fans of dystopian fiction looking for something different.
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!
The BiblioSanctum 