Graphic Novel Review Bites
Posted on July 13, 2014 5 Comments
Naja is also a woman who feels no pain, neither inside, nor out. It makes her the perfect assassin; number three in Zero’s arsenal. She does not question her purpose. When Zero gives an order, she follows it. Until she discovers that number one and number two are out to kill her, by order of Zero.
Naja’s story is narrated by a mysterious third party who has done his or her research on Naja and knows far more than any casual observer should know. It’s an interesting concept and the art is sharp, capturing Naja’s cold stillness in one moment, and swift and deadly action in the next.
In spite of a strong set up, the story plods along, such that by the time it gets to the big reveal, I’d already lost interest. Both the characters and the story had a lot of potential, but it ultimately lacked the depth and pacing to keep my attention.
Letter 44: Volume 1 by Charles Soule
The 43rd president left a very nice letter for Stephen Blades. It warned the new president that the mess 43 had left behind had a purpose: preparation for aliens. As in, the discovery of an alien mining operation that has, thus far, been kept top secret. Also on a need to know basis is the existence of a team of scientists and soldiers on the Clarke, a ship sent out to make first contact with these aliens.
This isn’t a new concept, but Soule does add his own twists here and there to make it a little more interesting. The political intrigues didn’t grab me as much as the goings on onboard the Clarke, where the crew have developed some potentially volatile relationships that could make or break their mission. Unfortunately, this all seems to revolve around the two female crew members, who, while they have important sciences purposes on the ship, kind of just boil down to the two vaginae that are being fought over/not being fought over.
I was pleased that the alien encounter aspect wasn’t dragged out for too long. We do get to see what’s going on, though it opens up all sorts of new mysteries that have almost convinced me to read more.
The Bunker: Volume 1 by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Five friends decide to bury a time capsule, but instead discover a bunker with instructions from their future selves warning them of what is to come and how to hopefully prevent it.
The concept is interesting and the relationships between the five friends offer a lot of opportunity for conflict, but the dialogue is poorly written, starting with the immaturity of the characters at age twenty-two. Fortunately, with the discovery of the bunker, they grow up pretty quickly once they decide whether or not to believe the letter. But then things get a bit muddy, with the art being of little help in deciphering it all. Not that I dislike the art. I liked the sketchiness and the use of mauves and blues to set the bleak tone. There are tragic backstories to deal with and all sorts of betrayal, and the time travelling….
Liquid City, Vol. 3 by Various
Every writer has a story to tell but sometimes, they never get around to telling those stories. The idea behind the Liquid City collection is: the apocalypse is coming, so what better time than the end of the world to finally let those stories see the light of day.
As with all collections, there will be hits and there will be misses. I had as many favourites as I did ones that did not impress me, but it was the overriding theme of telling your untold stories that really got to me.
With thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copies of these graphic novels in exchange for honest reviews.
Lootz: Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on July 12, 2014 18 Comments
It’s been a pretty hectic summer so far, so I’m actually a bit behind on featuring my new books. So a couple of these probably came a few weeks ago and there are some recent ones that didn’t make it into the picture, but every book arrival is cause for excitement and each will have their time in the spotlight, if not this time then definitely in the future! Here’s what’s in the physical pile today:
A Better World – the second book in the Brilliance Saga, a series apparently soon to be a motion picture. My interest was initially piqued by this sci-fi dystopian sounding thriller but I was a little nervous because I hadn’t read the first book – however, I was reassured that the second one can be enjoyed on its own and so that was great news indeed. My thanks to Wunderkind PR!
Into the Fire – courtesy of Jo Fletcher Books comes the sequel to The Detainee. I really enjoyed the first book, which could have been read as a stand alone, but I’m definitely up for finding out what happens next to these characters.
The Godless – another book from across the pond, this one courtesy of Tor UK which is why the cover might look a little different if you’ve seen the one from the publisher in the US! This one’s a nice big chunky book and I’m looking forward to nom nom nomming it.
Chasers of the Wind – a surprise arrival from Tor, I was originally on the fence about checking this out but now that I have it I’m probably going to give it a read some time this summer. I’ve already seen some pretty interesting reviews so I’m looking forward to exploring this one for myself.
Flight of the Golden Harpy – a beautiful finished copy of another book from Tor, this one’s pretty high on my list to tackle this summer.
Stitching Snow – my thanks to Tabitha from Not Yet Read for a copy of this! Reading early copies of YA books is pretty rare for me, but Tabs is always so good with hooking me up with any ARCs she can spare and she is my go-to guru when it comes to YA. I agree with her that this one sounds pretty sweet!
Blindsight – I only gave in to one ebook deal this week! Blindsight is the predecessor to Echopraxia, a book you’ve probably seen getting some buzz because it’s about to come out next month. It’ll be good to have the first book right at hand if I decide to read the series, plus it was a nice price.
Blightborn – received via Netgalley. Couldn’t help it! It’s by Chuck Wendig and one of my top anticipated books for this summer, not to mention I enjoyed the first book immensely and I have auto-approval from Amazon Publishing. My willpower has its limits.
Book Review: Unexpected Stories by Octavia E. Butler
Posted on July 12, 2014 2 Comments
Unexpected Stories by Octavia E. Butler
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Open Road (June 24, 2014)
Wendy’s Rating – 4 of 5 stars
“Our worldview is transformed by an imagination that sees no border between thought and what is real.” ~Walter Mosley on Octavia E. Butler
American novelist Walter Mosley opens this short story collection by expressing exactly how I feel about the loss of Octavia E. Butler and how it feels to find these stories so long after that loss.
She was a woman who defied convention on every level to give us incredible, award winning stories; all of which feature prominently on my bookshelf. That isn’t to say that I blindly love all of her work. But I do love the mind behind them. My introduction to her work was Lilith’s Brood. I became an instant fan and I wanted nothing more than to sit down with this woman and pick her brain to find out where these incredible ideas came from. Her death meant I could never have that opportunity, but thankfully, others have, which is why one of the books I treasure most is Conversations with Octavia Butler.
Unexpected Stories are more than just an addition to my treasured collection. They are earlier works, still rough around the edges and not nearly as rich as her subsequent stories, but they are no less impressive for the opportunity to see how this woman evolved as a writer.
“A Necessary Being” and “Childfinder” are very characteristic of Butler’s work. They are both stories helmed by strong women who must deal with dire situations, and make significant decisions and sacrifices in order to protect those they lead. Both women bear heavy burdens and are fueled by loss, but also by hope. Butler’s stories are often quite bleak and realistic, despite the science fiction and fantasy stamp. Her work never shies away from the harsh topics, and even in her most fantastical stories, everything remains so very human as she holds up a mirror to the darkness within us; the complicated dance of power that defines humanity. I cannot recommend her work to anyone who needs their speculative fiction to be sunshine and roses, but to everyone else? Octavia Butler should be necessary reading.
Wendy’s Summer Reading List + Worlds Without End Reading Challenge Update
Posted on July 11, 2014 23 Comments
My summer reading list will be a challenge this year because I’ve gotten so busy with other projects and distractions, that my reading has slowed down significantly. Still, I’m determined to complete my 150 book Goodreads Challenge, and am making my way through the to-read pile that is tumbling off of my night table.
That’s where the Worlds Without End Roll Your Own Reading Challenges come in. Not only does it make for a really cool visual effect, it helps keep me on track, while fulfilling my somewhat obsessive compulsive listing needs.
1. I Just Have to Read More of that Author
2. 2014 Speculative Fiction by Authors of Color Challenge
3. 2014 Women of Genre Fiction Reading Challenge
4. Pick and Mix
5. Read the Sequel
6. Fantasia
7. Mythopoeic Award
8. The Book of Ones
Most of these are self explanatory, but feel free to click on the links to learn more. I’m very proud of myself for only adding the Pick and Mix challenge to my initial challenge post at the beginning of the year (I’ll save the Bucket List challenge for 2015).
It’s summer, so I don’t want to commit to too much, but my list will definitely draw on these challenges to keep me moving forward:
Book Review: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
Posted on July 11, 2014 4 Comments
by Piper Kerman
Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau (April 2010)
Author Info: Twitter
Wendy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars :
I enjoyed spotting the different characters and story elements within the book that the show expands on so wonderfully.
Yes I read this because I’ve watched and enjoyed the series on Netflix. No, the book is not better than the show. Or rather, the book is a pretty vanilla memoir and does not give you nearly as much character depth as the show does. Of course the show goes over the top with the drama, because it’s there to entertain the viewer, but I don’t think it loses the message Kerman is trying to deliver in her documentation of her relatively brief prison stay. This is still about highlighting the life of institutionalized women who are thrown into a system that puts no real effort into true rehabilitation. But while the Netflix series may exaggerate situations, I feel like the book didn’t go deeply enough, especially when it came to insight into the other women. As it is all told through Kerman’s perspective, with no real discussions with the other women, her view on them and their various situations comes off as somewhat cursory.
Kerman frequently discusses certain detrimental elements of prison life, even quoting statistics in ‘did you know?’-like asides from the memoir process, but the writing really doesn’t delve into how that truly affects the women, because she glosses over so much. Deeply emotional moments barely take up a few paragraphs and simply end with her writing about how she or someone else cried. It does convey the emotional impact of the various situations, but without enough engagement to truly engage the reader to empathize with these moments.
As for the injustices that take place within the prison, there certainly are many, but again, there is a lot of glossing over and little depth, and frankly, Piper does not seem to suffer much of it or from it. That’s not to say that her time was not emotionally and psychologically taxing, but she makes it clear that she walked into the prison with significant advantages as a white, well-educated woman. As such, through this book she is able to lend her voice to the cause in hopes of inciting change upon our justice system. But after a while, it felt a lot like a memoir from a rich white woman about being inside prison at the same time as Martha Stewart. While Martha didn’t end up at the same prison, her trial and incarceration factored in quite often, and I jadedly began to wonder if the book’s publication was significantly boosted by that fact. Was this really about helping her fellow prisoners? Or is it about grasping at fifteen minutes of fame through six degrees of separation? Fortunately, there was never any condescension in her views of the other women. She always seemed to approached everyone with respect and empathy and earned the same from them.
Overall, not a horrible read, but certainly not as entertaining as the show (not that I’m faulting Kerman for not writing with my entertainment in mind). However, reading it gives me a greater appreciation for the show’s writers. I enjoyed spotting the different characters and story elements within the book that the show expands on so wonderfully. I love that the show truly turns the focus from Piper—a rather dull character in both book and show—and instead defines her by the incredible women around her who teach her a thing or two about real life.
Cover Reveal: The Mad Apprentice by Django Wexler
Posted on July 10, 2014 8 Comments
Today we’re revealing the cover to The Mad Apprentice by Django Wexler, sequel to The Forbidden Library! Isn’t it gorgeous?
The dark and thrilling sequel to the book Kirkus called, “Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, and Inkheart all rolled into one”
When Alice’s mysterious Uncle Geryon sends her to help capture a rogue apprentice–a boy who has the same ability Alice has to Read himself into stories–she knows to expect a wild and unpredictable trip. But even though Alice has visited the magical realms inside libraries before, this adventure is far more dangerous. Because Torment, the magic creature holding this library together, has gone mad.
But he might also have information about Alice’s missing father.
I loved the first book, and I’m always up for anything by Django Wexler. Artist Alexander Jansson returns to do cover and interior illustrations for book two, and once again I think he did a fantastic job. The dark, whimsical feel of this cover image is simply perfect and you can bet I’m looking forward to this! Argh, I hate waiting.
Tough Traveling: Northern Barbarians
Posted on July 10, 2014 24 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: Northern Barbarians
NORTHERN BARBARIANS dwell in the snowy part behind the northern MOUNTAIN range. They are very barbarous and tend to kill strangers on sight… It is not certain what their females do.
Ack, this one sounds easier than it is! Okay, let me think…
The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard
Conan the Cimmerian or Conan the Barbarian, the fictional sword and sorcery hero is perhaps the quintessential northern barbarian, hailing from the rugged, mountainous wilderness of Cimmeria. Tall and powerful, the Cimmerians are a people forged by the very harsh conditions of their land. These books contain some awesome stories.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Wildlings (or “The Free Folk”, as they call themselves) are perhaps a less conventional form of the Northern Barbarian, but they definitely fit the description, inhabiting the icy reaches and many of them prone to barbarous tendencies. Their population consists of a wide variety of many fractious tribes and village-dwellers, all living in the lands beyond the Wall and the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms.
The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
This trilogy introduces us to Logen Ninefingers and his people, a group of Northman fighters originating from beyond the mountains typically bordering what is considered The North and Angland. The North is a cold and harsh place, and the inhabitants are simply known as Northmen. Many of the details used to describe them bring to mind the Scandinavian vikings, and they are often seen as barbarians by outsiders.
The Grim Company by Luke Scull
Perhaps very similar to Abercrombie’s Northmen are the Northern Barbarian characters of Luke Scull’s The Grim Company. A point-of-view character, Brodar Kayne is the old grizzled veteran warrior formerly known as “The Sword of the North”, a legendary barbarian who travels with his loyal companion and friend Jerek the Wolf.
Book Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Posted on July 9, 2014 24 Comments
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Magicians
Publisher: Viking (August 11, 2009)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Self-absorbed, annoying, moody, smug, dissatisfied, spoiled, fake, maudlin, insecure, aimless, whiny, stupid, pampered, emo, vain, egotistical, small-minded, excessive, inconsiderate, thankless, pretentious, snobby, entitled, mercurial, immature, depressed, hypocritical, mean-spirited, cynical, clueless – just a small sample of the words I could use to describe the characters in this book.
No, The Magicians isn’t going to your big smiling ball of sunshine no matter how many Harry Potter comparisons you see slapped on it. Instead, you have a book featuring a much darker, grittier and almost satirical aura, a “New Adult” urban fantasy about letting the unhappiness of wanting something you can never have consume you. We follow disillusioned Quentin Coldwater, a high school student who never really grew out of his love for a series of novels he read as a kid about the adventures of five siblings in a magical land called Fillory. Compared to that, what can the real world offer him?
Imagine how he feels then, when he discovers that magic is real. And not only is it real, Quentin himself is a promising young magician, accepted into very secret and highly exclusive Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy in upstate New York. It should have changed everything. Quentin should have been ecstatic.
But he is not. But of course he’s not. Magic isn’t going to make Quentin happy. Neither is finding out that Fillory actually exists. It’s a sad moment when the realization hits. There’s really no cure for what ails Quentin, except one thing and one thing only: a few years of life experience and a whole lot of growing up. Well, that or maybe a swift and forceful kick in the seat of his pants.
Thing is though, you can write a miserably unlikeable character for the sake of writing a miserably unlikeable character. I don’t mind. Not even if your character is an insufferably whiny little ingrate. You just have to give me a reason – any reason – to make me care about what happens to him. That’s not too much to ask, is it? My issue with this novel wasn’t so much with the mopey protagonist than it was with the directionless storytelling. In fact, I was quite excited for the first part of this book. I couldn’t get enough of the magical school idea the author’s jabs and funny references to Harry Potter and other humorous injections. That there was no sign of a main conflict didn’t bother me at this point either, as I was relishing the setting and enjoying myself too much.
Around the midway point was when the book started to lose me, coinciding with Quentin’s graduation and life after Brakebills. Until then I never really bothered asking where the story was going, and hadn’t felt the need to – but eventually there was a creeping sense that giving Quentin and his magician friends “real life” problems like relationship hang ups and dismal prospects for the future just wasn’t going cut it. Like, dudes, I get that y’all are bored with life. But I’m bored with you too now. Sorry. Worse yet, there is absolutely no development in their characters or personalities (unless you count decline as growth) and that’s absolutely mind boggling when you consider how a person’s time at college should have been the most formative years. I don’t know anyone who left college the same person they were when they arrived.
Admittedly, the final handful of chapters about the discovery and exploration of Fillory had their charm. Possibly enough to salvage my feelings for this book for a solid rating. And I suppose the conclusion, while incomplete and flinging the doors wide open for a new adventure, also manages to offer a sense of closure and satisfaction in its own unique way.
This book isn’t bad, apart from the pacing issues. The ending gives me hope for Quentin, and the promise of more Fillory makes me feel very optimistic about the next book.
Waiting on Wednesday 07/09/14
Posted on July 9, 2014 7 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!
Blightborn by Chuck Wendig: July 29, 2014 (Skyscape)
“Cael McAvoy is on the run. He’s heading toward the Empyrean to rescue his sister, Merelda, and to find Gwennie before she’s lost to Cael forever. With his pals, Lane and Rigo, Cael journeys across the Heartland to catch a ride into the sky. But with Boyland and others after them, Cael and his friends won’t make it through unchanged.Gwennie’s living the life of a Lottery winner, but it’s not what she expected. Separated from her family, Gwennie makes a bold move—one that catches the attention of the Empyrean and changes the course of an Empyrean man’s life.
The crew from Boxelder aren’t the only folks willing to sacrifice everything to see the Empyrean fall. The question is: Can the others be trusted?
They’d all better hurry. Because the Empyrean has plans that could ensure that the Heartland never fights back again.
Chuck Wendig’s riveting sequel to Under the Empyrean Sky plunges readers into an unsettling world of inequality and destruction, and fleshes out a cast of ragtag characters all fighting for survival and, ultimately, change.”
Book Review: Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed
Posted on July 8, 2014 14 Comments
Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Crescent Moon Kingdoms #1
Publisher: Daw (February 2012)
Wendy’s Rating 3.5 of 5 stars
What I enjoyed most about this tale wasn’t the action, or even the over all plot. I loved the characters—specifically the juxtaposition of the different personalities, beliefs and relationships as Ahmed brings the group together to resolve the situation.
It’s refreshing to read a fantasy story that isn’t set in good old medieval Europe, where everyone is blond and blue eyed and any exotic cast members have to be repeatedly singled out for their exoticness. Throne of the Crescent Moon takes place in a Middle Eastern setting, but Ahmed instantly makes it feel like home by walking us into a tea house with Dr. Adoulla Makhslood, who initially appears to be the main protagonist. Adoulla is, by no means, a typical hero. He is an older, larger man contemplating retirement from the brutal and deadly career of ghul hunting, but is dragged back into it with a ghastly mass death at the hands of a surprisingly large number of ghuls. Who is powerful enough to create and control so many of the hideous creatures, and how are they able to seemingly sever the souls of their victims?
The hunt leads Adoulla and his apprentice—a tight-laced young man of God with a sharp blade but little street smarts—into the desert. There they face down the ghul pack with the help of a fierce young tribeswoman who has lost her clan to the same killers.
What I enjoyed most about this tale wasn’t the action (though it was very good when it occurred), or even the over all plot (which dragged in the middle and then came together too abruptly at the end). I loved the characters—specifically the juxtaposition of the different personalities, beliefs and relationships as Ahmed brings the group together to resolve the situation. I was surprised when the point of view switched over first to Raseed, Adoulla’s young assistant, and then to Zamia, the tribeswoman. Then I was pleasantly surprised when it also included chapters from the perspective of Adoulla’s friends, an older couple comprised of a mage and an alchemist who are very much in love, and like Adoulla, want to get away from the dangers around them. Ahmed lets us see both the story and the other characters through their eyes. The devout Raseed, who’s actions are tempered by doubt and shame when he fails his beliefs. Litaz, the middle-aged healer who exudes confidence, but longs to return to the simplicity of her home. Dawoud, her husband, who adores her dearly, but fears what the cost of his magical abilities will ultimately do to their relationship. Adoulla, the jaded hunter who envies the relationship his friends have. And Zamia, the Angel-touched warrior “savage,” who cannot abide the heathens whom she has been forced to work with to avenge her lost tribe.
Each brings their unique insight into the story and it is interesting to see them each grow and change—Although, surprisingly, it is the older protagonists that do the most growing and changing. Raseed struggles with his rigid beliefs and his sudden fondness for Zamia, but there is little pay off for the reader in this, and Zamia herself becomes a very flat character after such a promising beginning.
Political intrigue rears its ugly head within the plot, as the city of Dhamsawaat deals with a greedy and out of touch Khalif, versus the Falcon Prince—a Robin Hood-type character with questionable motivations. Meanwhile, looming ominously over everything is a deadly mage and his minions.
Religion also plays somewhat of a role, though Ahmed is by no means preaching. Religious beliefs define the characters in many ways. For some, like Raseed, it is a limitation, as he struggles to consolidate his beliefs with his duties and with his natural feelings toward Zamia. Though Adoulla’s disrespectful admonishment of Raseed’s devotion sometimes became tedious, this was another element of the relationship between the characters that I enjoyed seeing play out.
Though I wasn’t impressed with how everything wrapped up in the end, or in the lack of depth that went into the magic used, I enjoyed Ahmed’s crisp and descriptive writing style and absolutely loved some of his very memorable and unique characters.
The BiblioSanctum 