The BiblioSanctum

Book Review: Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell

Posted on February 18, 2014 5 Comments

Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Greatcoats

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (March 6, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my, this one was SO MUCH FUN. Unexpectedly so. Even when the earliest descriptions came trickling in calling this book a bold, dashing adventure and pure, swashbuckling entertainment, I had no idea! I figured those were just buzzwords, right? Ah, no. In this case, Traitor’s Blade really does deliver the great time that all those descriptions promise.

There are so many things I love about this book, but most of all I love how it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It was lighter in tone than I expected, which was a huge plus because I always appreciate a bit of humor with my fantasy! The only thing sharper than main protagonist Falcio val Mond’s rapier is his own clever wit, and if you don’t believe me, all you have to do is read the prologue. (Edit: actually, Tor has an excerpt here!) It had me hooked, not to mention earning a few chuckles from me by page 3.

What strikes me about this book is how well it presents itself. To me, it reads like a medieval fantasy told in the tone of an urban fantasy, mainly due to the narrative style and the of the snappy pace of storytelling. Falcio and his companions Kest and Brasti are the last remnants of late King Paelis’ mighty force of Greatcoats, quite possibly the only ones still dedicated to upholding the laws of the land despite their order being labeled as traitors. Before the Dukes took the kingdom and killed the king, however, Falcio was given one last mission. And trying to fulfill it is probably going to get him killed, if his silver tongue doesn’t manage to do it first.

A natural born smooth talker (the other characters in the novel even poke fun at this), Falcio’s narrative is as delightful as they come. He will endear himself to you with his fierce loyalty and moral compass, but also keep you on your toes with his unpredictability. Here is a protagonist who would just as soon vanquish his foes using his words and cunning, despite his strength and skill with a sword. As Falcio is quick to remind everyone, above all the Greatcoats value justice, not honor, and therefore he shows no qualms about certain unsportsmanlike behaviors such as, er, kicking a lady between the legs (trust me though, that character totally deserved it — justice, remember!) There is also a darkness within Falcio, and I thought one of the more interesting aspects about him is his goodness warring with that inner pain.

So brace yourself, this is a very fast-paced book filled with non-stop action and tons of obstacles thrown at the characters, one right after another. The humor throughout keeps things nice and light, making this the perfect choice for readers looking for a story with traditional fantasy elements — like heroes, magic, and epic quests — but also with the added flair of dash and panache. In other books that have a lot of fight scenes, I’m always tempted to skim, but not so with this one. First of all, as a former fight choreographer, the author knows what great action looks like! And like I said, with Falcio’s devil-may-care ways and the unpredictability of his fighting style, you really don’t want to miss a thing!

As we all know, very few books are perfect but some stories have a way of bringing you to a point where you’re just having too much fun to care. That’s the place Traitor’s Blade took me. I thought the ending and the revelations therein were a bit predictable, but honestly, that was my only quibble and it is a teensy tiny one at that, considering how much overall enjoyment I got from this book and how much I adored these characters. I cannot wait for the sequel.

In short, I loved loved loved Traitor’s Blade. I would recommend it to everyone, and I think fencing and sword fighting types will especially get a kick out of it. Seriously, this is one excellent and remarkably entertaining book! Read it.

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!

PANELS: Batman: Heart of Hush

Posted on February 18, 2014 Leave a Comment

After a harrowing showdown against Hush,
Bruce Wayne has a confession to make.

Learn more about the woman who stole his heart in our review of
Batman: Heart of Hush.

Book Review and INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY: The Barrow by Mark Smylie

Posted on February 17, 2014 Leave a Comment

***Our GIVEAWAY for THE BARROW is now over. Thanks for all who entered!***

The Barrow by Mark Smylie

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1

Publisher: Pyr (March 4, 2014)

Author Information: Website

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Before we begin, I feel I should make it known that this book is not for the faint of heart. If you know you’ll feel uncomfortable with things like brutal violence, ear-bendingly foul language, and extremely graphic sex, then you may wish to reconsider having a go at this … especially when it comes to that last one. In general, I am not the kind to be bothered by lewd and explicit acts in books, and yet there were still certainly no shortages of eyebrow raises from me with this one! Anyway, it was enough that I feel I should say something. Fair warning!

And now with that out of the way, let’s get down to the reasons why this book totally rocks. If you’re the kind of person who likes the combination of a good adventure story with the dark and gritty aspects of fantasy (of course, keeping in mind the caveats mentioned above) then you’ll love The Barrow! Incidentally, this is exactly the kind of mix I enjoy. The fact that it was even darker than I expected was a nice surprise, though I don’t know if I would call it full-out grimdark. In an interview with The BiblioSanctum, Mark Smylie described the book as more of an “archetypal Dungeons & Dragons adventure as run through the filter of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” … and well, yes, actually I suppose that description would do nicely!

Furthermore, the book also takes place in the world of Mark Smylie’s Artesia graphic novels. I won’t deny that an emotional attachment to the setting was a factor for me, but if you are not familiar with the comics, do not fret! This is a brand new self-contained story, no previous knowledge of the world or characters required — which is actually great for me too, since I’d only read the first volume and it was quite a while ago. However, you can still tell that writing a story within a setting that has already been established works well in the novel’s favor; the world-building is phenomenally robust and very deep, with many layers to the descriptions of the people and places.

As the reader, I felt like I was transported right there — and that is both a wonderful and terrifying experience, considering the type of world we’re thrown into, one filled with dark magics, shady politics, and disreputable characters. Scoundrels and perverts lurk at every corner, and if you’re really unlucky, you might even run afoul of demonic horrors and evil gods. The main plot is actually quite simple, deceptively so perhaps; on a routine tomb-robbing operation, Stjepan Black-Heart and his crew stumble upon an ancient map which details the final resting place of a long-dead wizard, who was said to have been buried with a priceless legendary sword.

Here’s where the adventure narrative comes in. To find the sword, our protagonists must first gather their allies and go forth to locate this tomb. Of course, epic quests are never so easy or straightforward. But even when a curse placed on the map kills one of the essential members of the crew and ends up transcribing itself onto the skin of a young noblewoman, you think that would stop the Black-Heart? Nope! Whether it’s wealth, fame, freedom, or absolution, everyone on this journey has a reason to find this fabled Barrow, which makes this story a riveting one filled with secrets and unexpected twists.

Among these colorful personalities, some of the characters are so disturbing it will make you sick to your stomach, while others are so crazy it will make you laugh; but there’s definitely no accusing any of them for being boring. Out of everyone, I think I like Erim the best. A young woman masquerading as a man, Erim is Stjepan’s protege, and despite her skill with the blade, in many ways she is as sheltered as her mentor is well-traveled. It’s ironic that she doesn’t find herself to be very interesting, because she was my favorite with her quiet introspection and fierce loyalty. That pretty much also makes her the most honorable of the lot; we’re talking about some rather grim and nasty characters here, after all.

This is a book that pulls you in immediately, starting with an explosive intro that sets the tone and mood of the story quite nicely. It also contains possibly one of the most heart-pounding prologues that has ever graced the pages of a fantasy novel, and my head is still reeling from the events at the end of that chapter. However, the pacing of the novel is a bit uneven, which is probably the only quibble I have about this book. After the introduction comes a middle that slows down considerably as the characters travel towards their destination. There are frequent stops along the way, but the good news is that something interesting happens at every one of them. These encounters often added to the depth of the lore and setting, giving me more of a sense of the world’s vastness.

But while it took me several days to read the first three-quarters of this book, I think I devoured the last 150 or so pages in one exhilaratingly intense sitting. Everything that happens after they find the Barrow is pure insanity. Also, I just love twists and surprises! It’s a climax and conclusion that goes beyond just being an ending, because more importantly it reveals how all the themes and undercurrents of the novel come together. It speaks much about Mark Smylie’s skills as a storyteller. He marks his transition to full-length novels with this incredible debut, and I’m glad to hear we will be seeing more from him following The Barrow.

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Pyr Books!

* * *

THE BARROW GIVEAWAY

And now here’s what you all have been waiting for! Thanks to the kind folks at Pyr, we have two print copies of The Barrow up for grabs, and entering our giveaway is easy peasy! There are no geographic restrictions. That’s right, international entries welcome! All you have to do is send an email to bibliosanctum@gmail.com with your Name and valid Mailing Address using the subject line “THE BARROW” by 11:59pm Eastern time on Monday, February 24th, 2014.

Only one entry per household, please! Two winners will be randomly selected when the giveaway ends and then be notified by email. So what are you waiting for? Enter to win a copy of this amazing book! Good luck!

Mogsy’s Book Haul – The NetGalley Pile

Posted on February 16, 2014 Leave a Comment

I normally gather up my new books to feature my hauls every other week, but I think I’m going to sneak a special post in with just the titles I received for review from NetGalley this time, simply because there are more of them than usual! It’s hard to believe my stats are still above 80% sometimes, but Review Copy Cleanup month has really helped with that. On the other hand, it’s done nothing to stop me from requesting books at the same rate as I’m completing them, but there has been a lot of great looking books in the last week and a half that I just couldn’t resist, and I’m super excited about them:

Honor’s Knight – I already devoured this one, which goes to show how much I’m digging this series. Like Fortune’s Pawn, it’s a hell lot of fun, and I hope to have the review up later this week.

The Lascar’s Dagger – last month we put together a post about science fiction and fantasy books by women authors that we’re really looking forward to in 2014, and this is definitely high on my list!

Unwrapped Sky – everything about this book grabbed my attention right away — the enchanting title, the gorgeous cover, the interesting sounding description. I’m really looking forward to this one.

Stolen Songbird – this was one of my Waiting on Wednesday picks, and one of my top anticipated YA novels for 2014. A lot of recent Strange Chemistry titles I’ve picked up lately have been excellent, and I hope this one will be too.

Morningside Fall – so I really enjoyed the first book Three but at this point I was also aware my Netgalley list was getting a little overloaded. I debated whether or not I should wait until I polish off a few more books before I start requesting again. But then I saw this one was a READ NOW. How could I say no? I love it when life makes the tough decisions for you!

Graphic Novel Review: Joker by Brian Azzarello

Posted on February 16, 2014 Leave a Comment

Joker by Brian Azzarello

Publisher: DC Comics

Date of Publication: November 4, 2008

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Tiara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars – “I thought this was a great read. It’s one of those comics that provide an alternative perspective of the Joker.”

The Joker has been released from Arkham Asylum–released, not escape. No one is sure how the Joker managed such a thing, and he’s unwilling to divulge his secret. This story is told from the POV of a hood with lofty goals named Jonny Frost. He volunteers to pick Joker up the day that he’s released and follows him down a dizzying spiral of destruction as Joker begins a madcap scramble to reclaim what he considers his.

While the Joker is a dark figure in the DC universe, there’s always this aspect of him that seems to be morosely gleeful no matter the situation. You don’t often see him outside of that “clown” mode. In this book, there’s something deadly serious about the Joker. For sure he’s still the smiling murderer, but there are more moments where he’s just not amused in such a serious way, and it shows all over his demeanor. I know there are moments in the past where he isn’t amused with his current surroundings, but he’s always managed to hide that behind murderous glee as he meted out his punishment.

In this comic, readers can catch glimpses of him where he appears to be angry and bitter with no smile in sight. There’s even a scene where we catch the Joker in a very vulnerable moment with Harley. It’s almost like a slip of the mask, very human moments from a character that doesn’t show many other human emotions. Part of this different view on the Joker might be colored by the fact that story is told from Frost’s point-of-view. So, Joker may be acting in the ways the reader normally sees him, but Frost’s perception of Joker and the situation may temper this view.

Joker’s sanity or insanity is never really directed addressed. This books allows the reader to speculate on this throughout. It’s a topic that’s actively avoided by the Joker with him saying only a few words about his release. I think that Riddler has the most interesting things to say about the Joker and his sanity/insanity when I wasn’t being distracted by his belly tattoo and the fact that he looked like he was a rejected extra from The Fast and the Furious.

Another thing that was different was the Joker’s reaction to Batman. Joker is not Batman’s number one fan in this book. He’s very antagonistic toward him when they finally encounter one another late in the book. So many writers tend to write Joker as a sort of twisted admirer of Batman who seems to cause all this mayhem as some of orchestrated play that involves only the two of them. While I liked this alternate view of Batman and Joker’s “relationship,” their confrontation felt a bit overdramatic and pulpy when it happened.

Even with me being a little ambivalent about the ending, I thought this was a great read. It’s one of those comics that provide an alternative perspective of the Joker.

4 of 5 stars

YA Weekend: The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

Posted on February 15, 2014 Leave a Comment

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Series: Book 1 of The Mortality Doctrine

Publisher: Delacorte (October 8, 2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’ll start by saying that I’ve never read James Dashner before this, but I know his name is well known in the world of Young Adult science fiction with his books in the Maze Runner series. Why I chose to tackle this book instead of starting with The Maze Runner is simple: I was initially drawn to the gamer culture aspect in the description, and it sounded enough like Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One (which I loved) to make me even more curious.

There are definitely some similarities; the book follows Michael, a young man who spends most of his time in the VirtNet, a virtual reality network that offers total mind and body immersion so that anyone plugged in can experience any one of thousands of fantasy worlds like they are actually there. That’s pretty much where the resemblance ends though. In Michael’s VirtNet, a new cyber terrorist known as “Kaine” is purportedly hacking the code and trapping people inside games, so that in-game deaths lead to real life casualties and victims becoming brain-dead.

The best part about being in the VirtNet was never having to worry about risking your life, but now all that has changed. VirtNet Security forcibly recruits Michael, a talented gamer and hacker in his own right, to hunt down this dangerous enemy threatening the whole system. From here on out, the rest of the book is laid out in classic action-and-adventure format, where the hero and his two friends set out on a quest to find Kaine, picking up clues and investigating leads along the way.

The beginning had me pretty interested. The VirtNet system is very well described, especially with the setting of the game “Life Blood” serving as the opener. I loved the idea of how realistic and immersive these worlds are, and the infinite possibilities they present. The novel had a great intro, and a quick subsequent build-up to the main part of the story. I really thought this was going to be a winner.

But then something stalled along the way. The tight focus that was maintained throughout the first part of the book gradually unraveled, so that by the time we’re in the middle chapters I felt that the story had lost its steam. It almost feels like the author had a clear vision of how the book begins and how it ends, but didn’t really plan well for everything that needs to go in between. Michael and his friends’ journey felt far too prolonged and lost its direction, leading me to ask myself several times while reading this, “Wait, what are they supposed to be doing again?”

To the book’s credit, the ending did indeed hook me back in, but by then it was a little too late for me to feel the full impact. In any case, the big shocking twist at the end was certainly well worth it, though like I said, at that point it did not have the effect that it should have had. I also wonder if this novel would have been better served told in the first person; I think that would have given me a deeper connection to Michael’s feelings, especially during that final revelation.

All in all, not a bad book, but I’m still debating whether or not I will pick up the sequel which is slated for a summer 2014 release. I very well may end up checking out The Maze Runner before I get a chance to read book two of this series.

Book Review: Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard

Posted on February 14, 2014 Leave a Comment

Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Viking Adult (February 20, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Moth and Spark was one of my top anticipated novels of 2014. My gut instinct told me it was going to be a good one, and while my gut might not be the best guide for a lot of things, it has hardly ever steered me wrong when it comes to books. And I was pleased to see to that it was right once again. If anything, Moth and Spark gave me even more than I bargained for.

To understand why I liked it so much, you also have to understand that I’ve been looking for a book like this for a long time. While I was reading Moth and Spark, a Goodreads friend of mine commented on one of my status updates with: “Fantasy with a romance sub-plot is rare.” Indeed it is! Everyone who knows me knows I enjoy a good love story. And I would be reading a lot more romance, except I prefer it combined with other elements, especially from speculative fiction.

What I’ve always wanted to read was a meaningful and actively engaging romance in a high fantasy, but typically, most of the adult fantasy novels I enjoy merely scratch at the surface of romantic relationships. It’s pretty much made me resign myself to the fact that I can only have one without the other. That is until this book came along and filled that void.

Moth and Spark is also different from a lot of romances. Yes, the love between the two main characters features heavily in this book, but at the same time it never lets you forget that both Corin and Tam are organically part of a much bigger story unfolding around them. Their relationship, as suddenly and swiftly as it occurred, is not merely the central focus with just the fantasy setting tacked on; it is part and parcel of the overall plot which involves a rich tapestry of courtly intrigue, back alley conspiracies and impending war, all culminating into a nation hanging in the balance. Together, the crown prince of Caithen and the commoner daughter of a renowned doctor must work together to save their homeland, combining their powers to free the dragons from their bondage to a mad emperor.

That’s right, there are dragons. Just when you think things can’t get any better, eh?

I think most of all, I loved this book for the wonderful characters that Anne Leonard has created. Call me a softie, but I like it when I see strong and inherently good, decent people find each other and fall in love. I like it when I see lovers like Tam and Corin sacrifice for each other, care for each other, and respect one another. I like that their romance is a partnership, where the chemistry is natural and mutual.

The author is also very adept at world building. She has a way of inserting very detailed information about the environment without encumbering the prose. For instance, I only noticed afterwards that there is actually a good amount of description in the text, but I hardly felt overwhelmed by them at all as I was reading. Anne Leonard accomplishes this by not laying out the background of the world all at once; instead, we gradually get to learn about things like the Empire’s history or magical lore as the story progresses.

I could go on and on about a lot of the other aspects that I enjoyed, such as the magic, the dragons and their riders, the king’s wizard-assassins (I really liked Joce, who was probably my favorite character after Tam and Corin), the court politics, the formal dances and elegant fashions, the sword fighting scenes and so on, but I should leave some of the more enchanting parts for people to discover for themselves. I will reveal though, that the ending involves quite a gripping scene of a duel on dragonback. Oh yes, this book gets my heart pounding in more ways than one!

Suffice to say I was very impressed with Moth and Spark, which is a debut for Anne Leonard. The novel’s story of love and adventure struck the right chord with me, and it’s going straight onto my shelf of favorites. I’ll definitely be watching this author in the future for more.

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Viking Press!

Book Review: Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord

Posted on February 13, 2014 Leave a Comment

Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord

Genre: Re-imagined Folk Tales

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Publication Date: August 2010

Author Info: merumsal.wordpress.com

Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Based on a Senagalese folk tale, Redemption in Indigo follows a similar quirky story telling style to weave an intricate and sweet little story about a woman named Paama. Paama is the elder of two daughters, married to a not-overly-impressive lord. The match seemed like it would work well enough, though, since Paama is an exceptional cook and Ansige loves food. But after ten years of feeding his insatiable maw, Paama has had enough and returns home to her family. Ansige follows with his moronic bumbling, but Paama reveals her true character by never once trying to make him look bad (though he does it well enough on his own). When they finally part ways, the djombi see her true heart as worthy of the Chaos Stick, but the indigo lord disagrees and demands she return his power. What happens next is both surprising and bittersweet.

This originally popped up as a Goodreads recommendation and I quickly grabbed it, though I ended up reading and loving Lord’s second book, The Best of All Possible Worlds, first. The two books are very different in many ways – the latter being more of a subtle science fiction story that sneaks in romance – but both books share Lord’s artful storytelling. It’s something that I can only describe as “comfortable,” because that’s how it makes me feel when I read her books. Her words flow so smoothly and unobtrusively, quietly sucking you into the story and characters before you even realize it. Lord is, quite simply, a master storyteller.

Re-imagined fairy tales and folk tales are not uncommon, but it is rare to find ones that aren’t based in European lore. Some might recognized the trickster spider, Anansi, making an appearance in Redemption in Indigo, but otherwise, this is a refreshingly different tale. And different is very, very good.

Graphic Novel Review: Viscera: Epic Frail by Nathan Massengill

Posted on February 12, 2014 Leave a Comment

Viscera: Epic Frail by Nathan Massengill

TRIGGER WARNING: Violence against women.

Genre: Science Fiction, Social Commentary

Publisher: Bad Damsel Media

Publication Date: December 2013

Author Info: nathanmassengill.com

Wendy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Viscera, or so she calls herself now, having defined this viscous “killer virgin” persona from the previous scared, victim, is of a race of humanoid creatures that live secretly among us. The women – assuming they are even permitted to live at birth – are nothing more than property to males who very violently use and abuse them for the sole purpose of procreation. The females have one small hope of survival: a personal shield.

Waiting on Wednesday 02/12/14

Posted on February 12, 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!

Mogsy’s Pick

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen: April 1, 2014 (Strange Chemistry)

I need more Strange Chemistry in my life! I haven’t had the chance to pick up their newer titles recently, but this one is one has been on my top-anticipated list for a while.

“For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy…

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.”