YA Weekend: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Posted on May 11, 2014 Leave a Comment
Eon: Dragon Eye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Eon
Publisher: Viking Children’s Books (December 26, 2008)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
The world knows our main protagonist as Eon, a twelve-year-old boy training hard to be the next Dragoneye apprentice. To be chosen by one of the twelve revered energy dragons of good fortune is a great honor; each year many boys vie for the position to serve as the conduit between the dragons and the mortal world. But there is more to Eon than meets the eye. In truth, Eon is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl masquerading as a boy because females are prohibited from using dragon magic. If anyone discovered her secret, she would be killed on the spot.
Stories involving girls disguised as boys are certainly nothing new, so what made this one special? Well, I suppose I’ve always enjoyed fantasy inspired by Asian cultures. In the world of Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, the influence of Chinese and Japanese mythological traditions makes itself apparent from the start. There are twelve energy dragons, for example, each associated with an animal of the Chinese zodiac – rat, ox, tiger, etc.
In Chinese philosophy too, the concept of yin and yang is an important one. Used to describe complementary forces rather than opposing ones, it has also been applied to the many natural dualities found in our everyday life — light and dark, fire and water, the sun and the moon, life and death, and so on and so forth. Another one to remember is male and female. What struck me with regards to Eon/Eona’s story is the author’s approach to the concept of masculine and feminine energies, and what that ultimately meant for the character and the dragon that chose her. I was surprised that for a young adult novel, especially one which supposedly is just about a girl pretending to be a boy, the themes in it are surprisingly layered.
But okay, enough waxing philosophical from me. You probably want to know about the juicier bits, like with the magic and the dragons, the action and the epic sword fights. The setting Alison Goodman has created is absolutely gorgeous, with a heavy Far Eastern flavor but also bolstered with her own creative touches, the world’s magical history and dragon lore being one of the many highlights. Many YA novel plots also boast political intrigue, but this is probably one of the few I’ve come across that had delivered on that promise, and better yet, the consequences actually mattered and had a profound impact.
Also, the fact there wasn’t an overt romantic side plot was to me a feature, not a bug. Granted, there is some setup for a possible love interest and romance in the sequel, but this first book is mostly concerned with the main character’s personal journey to find herself and connect with her energy dragon, as well as to come to terms with her own disability (her hip is malformed due to a childhood injury). To be honest, I couldn’t be happier with this. I like romance, but I wouldn’t want to see it come at the expense of character development – or worse, in the form of insta-love or some other form of an awkward, stilted relationship. This way, I thought we got a much better idea of who Eon/Eona is as a person.
I wouldn’t say this book was perfect; the storytelling could have used some tightening up, especially in the middle where the plot wandered and did some meandering. But overall this was probably one of the more entertaining and unique YA novels I’ve read so far this year, featuring characters that have a surprising amount of depth, and that includes the villains too. Plot-wise, the structure and some of the concepts aren’t entirely original, but I don’t know if you should let that stop you. If the Asian inspired world appeals to you, or if you’re looking for a book that portrays dragons in interesting ways, then I would recommend this.
Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on May 10, 2014 Leave a Comment
This fortnight’s haul features a pretty eclectic mix, starting with the physical pile:
House of the Rising Sun – I remember the ARC of this book catching my eye a few times, but it just always seemed to pass me by. I’m actually kinda glad this one showed up unsolicited from Orbit because I’ll definitely check it out now.
Dark Eden – really looking forward to this! Won my copy from a giveaway and I’ve been seeing some excellent reviews of it around. The cover also has this really cool holograph chrome-y effect, it’s pretty spiffy.
Earth Girl – requested after receiving the sequel Earth Star a couple weeks ago, because I’ve heard amazing things about these two books and figured I should start from the beginning. The YA fiction I’ve read from Pyr have all been fantastic and unique, setting itself apart from the mainstream — which is exactly what I need right now. I’m reading this at the moment and counting on it to get me out of my YA slump.
The Silk Map – be sure to check out my review of this book that went up earlier this week, and enter the giveaway! My thanks to Pyr again.
The Voices – received for review from Pan Macmillan. It sounds like it involves a haunted house, with strange knocking sounds and voices coming out of a baby monitor etc. Just all around creepiness. I’ll be reading this one the next time I’m in the mood for a horror novel.
The Tough Guide of Fantasyland – you’ve probably noticed the new Tough Traveling feature around here on Thursdays, and this is the book that inspired it. Nathan’s right — somebody at the publisher is probably scratching their head at the uptick of sales on this book as of late, because I know for a fact I’m not the only one who has picked it up since these posts!
The digital pile…
Aftermath – in my last book haul I mentioned I picked up the audiobook of The Remaining. I ended up listening to it all in a single day last week while carrying out an epic day of spring cleaning. Afterwards I went and grabbed the sequel because I had such a good time with the first book and all of these books are only like $2-4 each!
Neverland’s Library – I don’t often do anthologies, but have you seen the author list? Mark Lawrence, R.S. Belcher, Marie Brennan, Teresa Frohock, Brian Staveley, Miles Cameron, J.M. Martin, Mercedes M. Yardley, Jeff Salyards and a whole lot more but I’m going to run out of room if I list them all. This book began as a crowd funded project but is now being released by the awesome Ragnarok Publications. It’s a HUGE collection and just for $5 too, I had to grab this.
No Return – this has been on my wishlist for a while! Bought it earlier this week when it was a Kindle daily deal and went for the audiobook with the Whispersync bundle discount too. Can’t wait to read/listen.
The Shadow Master – clearly, my self-imposed ban from Netgalley has not been going so well. Blame Angry Robot for publishing such amazing looking books. I really tried, but in the end I just couldn’t resist requesting this one.
Book Review: The Barrow by Mark Smylie
Posted on May 9, 2014 2 Comments
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Related to: Artesia
Publisher: Pyr
Publication Date: March 2014
Author Info: www.swordandbarrow.com
Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars — a dark and unique gem within the fantasy genre.
A treasure hunting expedition goes horribly wrong when Stjepan Black-Heart steals from the Nameless cults. Violence and horror befalls the group in one of the most thrilling prologues I’ve ever read. The survivors escape with an even bigger prize than they had ever expected: a map to the Barrow, wherein lies a priceless sword. The journey to the barrow is dangerous and the barrow itself is more so, but Black-Heart and his people are willing—only, the pesky map gets cursed and is lost in the process of trying to decipher it. But when it reappears in the most unexpected of places, things really start to get dark and crazy as the anti-heroes embark on their deadly adventure.
First of all, I love the Black-Heart. Well, I love all the characters, mainly because none of them are particularly likable and none of them are your typical fantasy heroes or even your typical fantasy anti-heroes. Let’s just say that I will be inviting none of them over for dinner. Anyway, Black-Heart I am fond of because at first, he is introduced as the dark, emotionless badass that rarely cracks a smile, but soon enough, you learn that he is actually the well-educated royal cartographer who is known well by those above and below the law. I love that the story remains entirely centred on Black-Heart and this map, even as more and more fascinating tidbits are revealed about him.
Fans of Smylie’s Artesia might be disappointed that she does not make an appearance beyond fleeting images in dreams and memories. This is the Black-Heart’s story and Smylie tells it well, without having to rely on Stejpan’s sister, and expanding on the world he’s already built in the stunning Artesia graphic novels.
As mentioned, The Barrow is an adventure story, complete with a fellowship in search of treasure. But Smylie makes it clear that these people are not in the least bit interested in saving the world or being heroes. They are in this for the treasure and some of them just might stab a man in the back to get it.
The Barrow does suffer from an over indulgence of tell, rather than show and often feels like a historical tour of the Known Worlds as Black-Heart and his crew make their way toward their goal. While I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and have always loved Smylie’s world, having so much within the book itself can be overwhelming. However, being a fan of Artesia, I did enjoy the mentions of deities and magical events that I was already familiar with. Smylie’s mythology is immense, with rich stories that go well beyond myth, since magic is very real and does play a significant role in The Barrow.
Technically speaking, the long sentences and paragraphs are problematic, as well as the point of view changes that occur within each chapter. However, I am very impressed with Smylie’s transition from graphic novels, where images tell most of the story, to novel format where words have to paint those pictures. I think, with lessons learned from this book and background lore already given, Smylie will be able to tighten up the writing to focus more closely on the plot.
As others have already pointed out, this book does contain a lot of sexually explicit content. Personally speaking, I’m a big girl and in my maturity, I’ve grown more comfortable with dealing with sexuality in its many forms. As a society, we have a long way to go when it comes to sexual maturity and moving beyond the oppressive Victorian sensibilities that plague us. Anyway, The Barrow does contain a lot of sex, especially within the first hundred plus pages or so, and some of it is quite perverse. One might argue that it comes off as mere titillation and I would agree that perhaps it goes on too long—but no more so than the violence or any other aspect of the story that Smylie spells out in detail as he weaves us into his world. I consider it important to the lore and, considering Smylie’s vast mythology, am not really surprised by it as such debauchery is not unheard of within the actual mythologies of the real world. Shall we take a walk through one of my favourites, Greco-Roman mythology, and see how often rape (sometimes in animal form) is attributed to Zeus? And consider, in turn, the debauchery common to the Romans in their time.
Now, all that said, I was ultimately disappointed that the female characters were most often and unsurprisingly the victims of these acts and the only woman who comes out of the story reasonably unscathed, sexually, is Erim, who is disguised as a man.
I was quite fond of Erim though. Another intriguing and completely atypical character in a book that is a dark and unique gem within the fantasy genre.
Book Review: Defenders by Will McIntosh
Posted on May 8, 2014 1 Comment
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Orbit (May 13, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Last year, I read an incredibly moving book called Love Minus Eighty. As I closed the cover on the last page and settled back with a roiling mind and warmed heart, I knew right there and then that any future novels written by Will McIntosh will be going straight onto my to-read list. Someone who can write such a magnificent story (not to mention give me all these feels) certainly belongs on my list of favorite authors. And so that is how I came to review Defenders, and I don’t have to tell you how excited I was.
Tough Traveling: Dark Lord
Posted on May 8, 2014 3 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: Dark Lord
There is always one of these in the background of every Tour, attempting to ruin everything and take over the world He will be so sinister that he will be seen by you only once or twice, probably near the end of the Tour…
Thank you, Nathan, for finally giving us an easy one. Dark Lords (and Ladies) run rampant in fantasy and science fiction, and what I tried to do with my list was think outside the box a little and aimed to mix some of the obvious classic ones in with others who might not be that well-known. As usual, I only list the books I’ve read, but I still had to cut myself off at ten. Here they are, listed in no particular order of importance or evilness…
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – Lord Voldemort
Still, let’s just get the big You-Know-Who out of the way right off the bat. I have a feeling the boy wizard once known as Tom Marvolo Riddle who eventually became the infamous Lord Voldemort is going to be appearing on many Dark Lord lists today. I am also sure Harry Potter is going to show up a lot more on these Tough Traveling posts.
The Iron Wolves by Andy Remic – Orlana
One of the handful of Dark Ladies I can think of, Orlana the Changer is evil incarnate, a inhuman entity in a sexually attractive woman’s body. Cold and sadistic, she commits all sorts of monstrous deeds on her victims just for the fun of it. She is best known for turning the bodies of men and animals inside out and splicing them together to form new nightmarish creatures, and for sacrificing innocents to birth the Mud Orc army she’ll need to take over the world.
Star Wars novels by various authors – Sith Lords
Always lurking in the background waiting to ruin everything and take over the galaxy? So sinister and evil that he’ll only be glimpsed on screen a handful of times if we’re lucky? Pretty much every Sith Lord and Darth that ever existed fits this archetype. A few Star Wars books that I’ve enjoyed which focus mainly on the “Dark Lord” include the Darth Bane trilogy by Drew Karpyshyn and Darth Plagueis by James Luceno.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – Sauron
Here we have another heavy hitter in the world of Dark Lords, one who I’m sure needs no introduction. The lord of the rings and creator of the One Ring was also the lieutenant of another notorious Dark Lord, Morgoth, whom I would have included in this list as well if I’d actually managed to get through The Silmarillion in its entirety.
Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff – Shogun Yoritomo Stormdancer is a coming-of-age story about a young girl and her fight against a despotic Shogun. Yoritomo is a monster who uses violence, torture and threats to control the population of Shima. With the Guildsmen standing with him behind his tyrannical rule, he chokes the land with the lotus industry, killing slaves to grow the destructive crop and continue making war on his enemies.
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan – The Dark One
The head bad guy in Wheel of Time, the Dark One has many names including the Father of Lies, Lord of the Grave and Sightblinder, but his true name is Shai’tan, though it is said to be dangerous to use it. The characters in the series know him to be an ancient, power and evil force, the embodiment of destruction and chaos.
Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind – Darken Rahl
Come on, with a name like Darken Rahl, he’s gotta be evil. Indeed he is the primary antagonist for the Sword of Truth series, said to be a vicious man and ruthless wizard. He likes to rule with an iron fist, has an unquenchable thirst for revenge and has no qualms about using torture to get what he wants. Obsessed with world domination, his pastimes include building an army and hunting down confessors.
The Emperor’s Knife by Mazarkis Williams – Pattern Master
The Cerani Empire is held in the grip of terror by an epidemic. The plague, which strikes young and old and rich and poor alike, causes geometric patterns to appear and spread across the skin until the victim dies in agony, or worse, becomes a mindless minion controlled by an unknown and mysterious enemy, the Pattern Master.
Children of Fire by Drew Karpyshyn – Daemron
Long ago, a great warrior called Daemron was was chosen by the gods to lead the war against the Chaos spawn. Daemron, however, grew corrupted and the savior of the world instead became its destroyer. He was thwarted in the end, banished and sealed behind barrier called the Legacy. Now the Legacy weakens, and Daemron grows strong enough again to cast his essence into the world.
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson – The Lord Ruler
Known as the divine and invincible “Sliver of Infinity”, the Lord Ruler’s reign is filled with red skies and falling ash, and enslaved Skaa are forced to live in misery and fear. At the beginning, no one knows who he is or where he came from, just that the world has sucked ever since he installed himself as a deity and assumed absolute power over the Final Empire.
Man, a lot of these were hard to write without revealing massive spoilers. I’m looking forward to seeing others’ Dark Lord lists.
Graphic Novel Review: Black Widow: The Name of the Rose by Marjorie M. Liu and Daniel Acuña
Posted on May 7, 2014 1 Comment
Black Widow: The Name of the Rose by Marjorie M. Liu and Daniel Acuña
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publication Date: January 2011
Wendy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
If there’s one thing the recent Captain America movie taught me, it’s that I am in need of a Black Widow movie. In the mean time, I will seek to satisfy this need with Black Widow comics. Unfortunately, The Name of the Rose let me down with a rather weak plot involving a mysterious enemy who learns one of Natasha’s biggest secrets: the fact that she is recording secrets on everyone, including her friends in the Avengers. The mystery enemy captures and dissects Natasha to acquire this information, leaving her severely wounded, with her only clue being a black rose.
I’m not really familiar with Black Widow, a.k.a. Natasha Romanov, in the comics, so I’m not sure if the enemy she’s dealing with is a major part of her history. When the person is finally revealed, there is implication of a strong connection, but the connection itself is not displayed in a terribly convincing manner. There also seem to be several steps missing as Natasha goes on the hunt, luring out informants, visiting old contacts, and finding her prey. And finally, there is a big reveal about Natasha herself that is supposed to provide emotional punch, but instead just comes off as a whimper.
And while I am sure the Black Widow is in far better shape than I am, I had a hard time suspending my disbelief in regard to the serious wound she suffers at the hands of her enemy. I accept that she’s one tough cookie with mental resilience that can push her through physical pain and push her body well beyond its limits. But significant blood loss, is significant blood loss, yo.
The one really great thing about this, aside from the art, are Natasha’s friends. Wolverine, Captain America, Tony Stark, Hawkeye and one other, all play a part in her adventure, though they all ultimately know that Natasha is a woman who must deal with this situation on her own. Through them, aspects of Natasha are revealed, most notably her loyalty to the people she names a friend. She is a woman whose life is all about seduction and lies, which all of these men know intrinsically, yet, despite the revelation that she’s been collecting secrets even about them, they are willing to stand by her, or at the very least, give her the benefit of the doubt.
Waiting on Wednesday 05/07/14
Posted on May 7, 2014 Leave a Comment
“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!
The ailing King of the Vordan lies on his deathbed. When he dies, his daughter, Raesinia Orboan, will become the first Queen Regnant in centuries—and a ripe target for the ambitious men who seek to control her. The most dangerous of these is Duke Orlanko, Minister of Information and master of the secret police. Having meticulously silenced his adversaries through intimidation, imprisonment, and execution, Orlanko is the most feared man in the kingdom.
And he knows an arcane secret that puts Raesinia completely at his mercy.
Exposure would mean ruin, but Raesinia is determined to find a way to break herself—and her country—out of Orlanko’s iron grip. She finds unlikely allies in the returning war hero Janus bet Vhalnich, fresh from a brilliant campaign in the colony of Khandar, and his loyal deputies, Captain Marcus d’Ivoire and Lieutenant Winter Ihernglass.
As Marcus and Winter struggle to find their places in the home they never thought they would see again, they help Janus and Raesinia set in motion events that could free Vordan from Orlanko’s influence—at the price of throwing the nation into chaos. But with the people suffering under the Duke’s tyranny, they intend to protect the kingdom with every power they can command, earthly or otherwise.”
Book Review and Giveaway (US & Canada): The Silk Map by Chris Willrich
Posted on May 6, 2014 Leave a Comment
While The Silk Map is the follow-up to The Scroll of Years, it can most definitely be enjoyed on its own. I can’t stop marveling at the ease with which the author can throw his readers into the middle of a situation but still manage to convey all the complexities and nuances in the relationships between his characters. In fact, The Scroll of Years was not the first time Gaunt and Bone appeared either; they had been starring in their own short fiction adventures for more than a decade now, but not having read those stories before tackling this series did not hinder me at all. Chris Willrich quite simply has a talent of writing extremely convincing characters, and upon picking up these books you can immediately feel the weight of the history behind Gaunt and Bone, partners in crime and partners in love.
But like all couples, they’ve had their differences and hit their rough spots. The story picks up once again in the faraway land of Ancient China-inspired Qiangguo, where Gaunt and Bone had taken asylum from their enemies. Gaunt had given birth to their son in the first book, but in order to save him from the clutches of evil forces, she and Bone had had no choice but to lock their child away in a pocket dimension within a magical scroll. Now that scroll has been lost, and together with their allies, our two protagonists must find a way to recover it and rescue their son trapped inside. Their journey leads them to the make a bargain with the Great Sage Monkey, a demi-god who knows of a way to retrieve the scroll. In exchange for her help, the minor deity asks that Gaunt and Bone seek the mystical land of Xembala and bring back the great treasure of the Iron Moths, that impossibly valuable material they produce called ironsilk. Their quest will involve traveling along the Braid of Spice, a fictional trade route that will lead them into the west.
Chris Willrich describes in the acknowledgements how this story was in part inspired by the history and tales of the Silk Road, which should already tell you what a gorgeous book this is. In antiquity, this route served as a bridge between the East and West, connecting people from all walks of life. The Silk Map brings to life a version of that diverse setting, blending a rich combination of fantasy and myth with elements from that ancient culture in its own unparalleled way.
Written beautifully in a literary and almost formal style, the prose is also something to be sipped and savored. I liked that there’s actually a lot of humor woven into the dialogue, sometimes hidden in sly references and wordplay, and if you blink you might miss it. While it’s true this made me take longer to finish the book, it is by no means a slow read. The Silk Map is a tale of adventure at its heart, and there is plenty of action and swashbuckling fight scenes interspersed with the quieter moments where you can sit back and enjoy as a character spins a yarn. Like The Scroll of Years, this book features poems and other stories within the larger narrative, often used to explain or expand upon the plot. Willrich’s writing style perfectly complements the speculative quality of these anecdotes, reminiscent of folklore and the legends told in the Far East Asian tradition.
For me, the highlight of The Silk Map had to be the interplay between Gaunt and Bone. Their relationship so far has been a journey as harrowing as the quest they have embarked upon to find their son. Their love will be checked, tested, and probed over the course of this novel and how they each come to terms with the conflict is as important as the other aspects in the plot, though no one can doubt Bone’s devotion to his partner, and of course, Gaunt shows us why it would be a mistake to underestimate the lengths a mother would go to for her child.
Interested in an Asian-themed fantasy or looking for a more subtle, elegant touch to your sword and sorcery without sacrificing the heroic element and adventure? Check out these books. The heady and sometimes dreamlike mix of history and mythology also make them an excellent choice.
So what are you waiting for? Enter to win a copy of this amazing book! Good luck!
Discussion with Sarah Lotz: Why Flying Scares Us (And How Writing About It Doesn’t Help)
Posted on May 5, 2014 1 Comment
I’ve got something different and amazing here on the blog today! In case you missed it, last week I reviewed the excellent, bone-chillingly terrifying The Three by Sarah Lotz. Seriously, it’s a fantastic book and horror-thriller fans should definitely check it out.
Even more exciting though, is I had the pleasure of getting to chat with the author herself, and she turned out to be the most awesome and fun person to talk to. What initially began as a pitch for a guest post instead turned into an entire discussion when we discovered we were both fellow pteromerhanophobia sufferers. Eh? you must be asking. Well, read on to find out, and to learn more about The Three…
Mogsy: Sarah, in my review of The Three I talk a lot about how what I fear often goes hand in hand with what also fascinates me, and I know that was what first drew me to your book. For years, I have struggled with a fear of flying. I can get on a plane these days, but not without a TON of anxiety! It’s a little paradoxical, but I think what made reading your book such a deliciously frightening experience. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that you too are flight-phobic! I really couldn’t believe it. Seriously, with your fear of flying, what made you write a book involving plane crashes and how on earth did you manage it?!
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| US Cover |
Sarah Lotz: I’m the same as you! I can get on a plane without hyperventilating, so I’m not strictly phobic about flying, but I’ve never yet managed to clip myself into my airline seat without having a panic attack. I’m a bit of a masochist, so I tend to write about what scares me (it’s why I write a lot about malls in my other books – I’m terrified of mannequins, I know, I’m hopeless!).
Also, I thought that writing about and researching air accidents might help me make sense of what is essentially an irrational fear. Turns out this is one instance where too much information about a subject is a bad thing. Sure, talking to pilots was reassuring – without exception they were all the kind of cool-headed men and women I would happily follow in any apocalypse-style situation. But reading the transcripts of the last moments of actual crashes was anything but. They are not just terrifying, they are deeply upsetting (and I urge you never to do this). For example, knowing that the passengers on Japan Airlines Flight 123 – the most devastating single crash in history – knew their fate, that they had enough time to write messages to their loved ones as the plane lost control, was emotionally scarring.
And here’s one back at you: What is it about flying that scares you?
Mogsy: Oh boy. Well, mainly the thought of being trapped in what is essentially a tin can tens of thousands of feet in the air FREAKS ME THE HELL OUT. I know flying is safe, safer than driving, and that you’re more likely to get in a car accident than a plane crash. But as you’ve already alluded to, all the information and the stats in the world don’t help much when it comes to an irrational fear, do they? I just don’t like dwelling on the incredibly slim chances of survival even in the extremely rare case of being in a catastrophic incident, like the ones in your book. And I think that’s what induces most of my panic.
And you? What is it about air travel that makes you scared? And did you have to do anything to mentally prepare yourself when writing some of the scenes in this book, knowing you were about to tackle a subject that terrifies you?
Sarah Lotz: I’ve spent a lot of time trying to get to the root of the fear, and I suspect it’s because I’m not smart enough to figure out how planes manage to stay in the air. I know the physics, I’ve studied the science, yet when I fly, I still have that inner Charles Grodin voice yelling, ‘These things go down – it’s too big!’ I also secretly believe that if there aren’t enough people on board who believe it will stay in the air, it won’t (!) I’ve also watched far too many Air Crash Investigation episodes on Discovery to fully believe that there isn’t a lonely piece of tape stuck on a duct somewhere that’s just waiting to cause a major incident. It’s pathetic really!
The novel opens with a crash scene, focalised closely through the eyes of a woman travelling to visit her daughter in Osaka. I wrote it in one breathless go – and I had such terrible nightmares afterwards that I couldn’t sleep without using sleep-aids for more than two weeks. I’ve always used writing as catharsis – for example, if someone pisses me off I’ll happily write them into a story or a novel where they’ll come to a sticky end – but writing down one of my deepest fears backfired in this case.
You mentioned that there’s something deliciously frightening about reading in fiction what terrifies you in real life – in this case, air travel – is it because it’s a ‘safe’ way of experiencing it? And does this help, or make it worse?
Mogsy: You are a braver person than I am! I can’t watch those documentary shows, no way. Now fiction, though, I can do. Since we’re confessing our fears, I have another one — being lost in space. The thought of it makes me want to curl up into a ball and cry. But at the same time, I love watching movies like Gravity and reading space disaster sci-fi. Yes, I guess its helps because it’s a safe way of experiencing it; I get that adrenaline rush but from the safe comfort of my own living room. It’s that whole fascination and fear thing again, a part of me tends to gravitate towards stories about topics that frighten me and it’s definitely what initially drew me to the description of The Three.
Which makes me wonder, you’ve mentioned writing about your other fears and scary topics in the past and that has been cathartic. Why do you think it backfired so astonishingly in this case specifically? Do you think it’s because flying is such a “reality” and a necessity in today’s world (as opposed to being lost in space — like when am I going to be blasted off in a rocket anytime soon?)
Sarah Lotz: Oh gosh yes – lost in space! I can understand that. Add spiders to the mix and that would also be my worst nightmare.
I can’t quite pin down why researching and writing the book didn’t ease the fear, but I suspect it might have something to do with my personality type (coupled with an over-active imagination!). I know intellectually that the chances of anything happening while flying are infinitesimal, but once I’m sitting in that seat and the plane is barreling down the runway, I’m painfully aware that the whole thing is out of my control. I can’t see what the pilots are doing; I have no way of knowing if the maintenance crew were up to scratch that day. When I’m driving, I have at least some element of control (as long as I drive defensively); if I’m on the bus or in a taxi, I can gauge if the driver knows what she’s doing. I know this sounds more than a little crazy! But I do wonder: Could it be that we’re afraid of flying because we’re control freaks? 😉
Have you ever tried any form of therapy to cure your pteromerhanophobia? (I love this word!)
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| UK Cover |
Mogsy: Oh, so that’s the name for fear of flying! You’d think I would have heard that term before now, but it’s actually the first time. To answer your question, does self-medicating and booze count as a form of therapy? In all seriousness, I haven’t sought much help beyond support from the people around me, because deep down I know it’s an irrational fear and therefore I’m aware I can’t attack it with logic. If you have any tips you’ve found that helps, I’d love to hear some!
And I think you may have hit on something. I definitely fall more into the type-A personality spectrum and I hate the feeling of helplessness and not knowing. It’s always such a relief for me to find someone else who understands my pteromerhanophobia (now that I know the word, I have just GOT to use it at least once) and it’s even better knowing I’m not the only one fascinated by the fear.
So final question for you then, Sarah: do you think you achieved your goal with The Three? I mean, after this discussion and knowing how you’ve just absolutely terrified me (and I daresay some readers who aren’t afraid of flying before will be after reading the book), what are your thoughts? Was this what you’d aimed for and expected? 🙂
Sarah Lotz: It’s been great to connect with a fellow aerophobia sufferer (another term for it – there are loads!). While I’m delighted the novel has elicited a strong reaction in some people, I’m not sure that I set out with the specific goal of terrifying readers – especially people who are flight phobic (that would be a bit cruel, I think!) I always start with the intention of writing the best novel I can, and to make it as entertaining and thought-provoking as possible. The crux of the book, to look at how a devastating event can impact society and change it, was a rocky road to navigate. I wanted to see if I could write in a multitude of voices and write across cultures, while keeping readers interested and wanting to know what happens next. This was a risk – some of the subject-matter veers into the contentious – and the reaction to the book so far has been mixed (which is how it should be!), but I can’t see the point in playing it safe.
But all that said, whatever happens, writing and publishing the novel has brought me into contact with some wonderful readers, reviewers and authors. Thanks a million for inviting me on your blog, Mogsy – I loved chatting to you.
Audiobook Review: The Ghost Bride by Yangtze Choo
Posted on May 4, 2014 Leave a Comment
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: August 2013
Author Info: www.yschoo.com
Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Small pox has left Li Lan’s father lost in an almost constant cloud of opium escape after his wife’s death. They are bankrupt and Li Lan has few options for her future, until her father receives a proposal from the wealthy Lim family, asking for Li Lan’s hand in marriage. The catch? Her betrothed is dead.
Thus we are introduced to the old Chinese custom of ghost brides, which promises a woman comfort for the rest of her life, but what kind of life can she have as a widow before she is even married? To complicate matters, her betrothed is an unpleasant man, and his cousin, Tian Bai, is much more to Li Lan’s liking.
This is a love story that initially seems like it will walk a certain, obvious path, but when Li Lan ends up in the after life herself (though not dead), things take some interesting twists and turns as Li Lan tries to escape the Lim family and learns more about her own.
I loved the exploration of Chinese customs regarding death and the afterlife, from burnt offerings, to politics. Choo weaves a beautiful tapestry of myth and custom within Li Lan’s personal adventure.
Li Lan is an interesting character. She is not particularly strong and resourceful and she must often rely on others for help because she considers herself to be “just a girl.” As much as I am all for grrl power, I appreciated Li Lan’s place within her world and liked where she ended up. It was not the perfect happy ending expected, and considering the circumstances, it was a surprisingly realistic one.
I have wanted to read this book since it popped up on the 2013 Goodreads Readers Choice list, but when I saw that the audiobook was narrated by the author herself, I eagerly snapped it up. As much as I adore many narrators, I enjoy listening to authors read their own work because then you know you are getting to hear their story and characters exactly as they sound in their heads. I loved the little sighs and chuckles, the cadences and pauses — all the things that became unique to each character. It made everyone feel that much more real.
The BiblioSanctum 