Graphic Novel Review: Batman: Hush/Heart of Hush
Posted on December 5, 2013 1 Comment
Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee
Batman: Heart of Hush by Paul Dini and Derek Fridolfs
Wendy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
These books are squeaking through a three star review almost entirely because they indulge my OTP of Batman and Catwoman, but only because I have let my imagination take that relationship where my imagination needs to take that relationship. Otherwise, I was very disappointed with that and with the story in general.
Hush introduces a new villain for Batman; someone who knows him extremely well and is able to manipulate his enemies into attacking him where it hurts most. The villain parade seems to be a thing for Jeph Loeb, culminating in a brand new villain that Batman must defeat. Hush is so clumsily and obviously shoehorned into Batman’s life that the outcome became quite obvious early on in Hush. Heart of Hush tries to give the character more depth and reason for his obsessive hatred for Batman as he goes after Batman’s “heart” : Catwoman, but ultimately fails because of the amount of exposition involved.
Like I said, I am a big fan of Catwoman and Batman’s romance, but the introduction of their relationship felt too much like an immature fanservice plot device, shoehorned in just like Hush and Bruce’s new bestfriend, Tommy Elliot.
I admit that I have not read much in the Bat-universe beyond the major story lines like this, so I don’t know how much has been established between the two characters prior to Jeph and Jim shoving them together, but I think they did a poor job of making their relationship clear within the context of Hush alone. For comparison, the nature of the new52 Batman/Catwoman relationship is evident from the start – and no, it’s not that they are merely ****buddies. Perhaps the key factor in the latter is that Catwoman actually gets to have a personality, whereas in Hush, she’s a plot device in a catsuit.
Both Hush stories also did a lot more show than tell, which is pretty disappointing in a comic. And what they showed was so fractured and filled with gratuitous splash pages that it all grew very tedious. I realized that my love affair with Jim Lee was long over. His art has not changed or matured over the years and his characters continue to look the same. Derek Fridolfs’ art was new to me, and I enjoyed it, but I would have preferred if Dustin Nguyen got to do more than just the covers of Heart of Hush.
Book Review: Lost Covenant by Ari Marmell
Posted on December 4, 2013 Leave a Comment
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of Widdershins Adventures
Publisher: Pyr
Date of Publication: December 3, 2013
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I gotta hand it to Ari Marmell. His Widdershins Adventures books have this way of repeatedly stabbing me in the heart, but all I can say to that is “Please, may I have some more?” Lost Covenant became one of my most anticipated new releases this season, after the events at the end of False Covenant took my emotions on a roller coaster ride and left me wondering in awe about what our protagonist will do next.
Waiting on Wednesday 12/04/13
Posted on December 4, 2013 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!
“By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.
Common enemy, common cause.
When Jael’s brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.
And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.
But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz … something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.
What power can bruise the sky?
From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.
At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?”
Book Review: The Language of Dying by Sarah Pinborough
Posted on December 3, 2013 1 Comment
The Language of Dying by Sarah Pinborough
Genre: (Fantasy)
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
Publication Date: December 5, 2013
Author’s Info: sarahpinborough.com
From the moment this book arrived in my mailbox, I knew I was in for something very special.
There is a tiny thread that binds this book to the fantasy genre, but otherwise, it is firmly ground in the harrowing reality of death, the pain of love and loss, and the struggles of family. It is told in the first person by the middle daughter of a man dying of cancer – and it is told directly to you, the reader, as she speaks to her father. Recollections of events in the past are told in the same present tense as current events, leaving raw, open wounds as her train of thought flows through these traumatic experiences.
This is not a long book, yet it took me a very long time to read it because it is not an easy book. Anyone who has watched a loved one wither away to disease will break to this book, if they are able to read it at all. Anyone who has not had such an experience will come to understand. But death is not just about dying, it is an opportunity to deal with the living and the lived, which Pinborough carefully unpacks through the narrator and her interactions with siblings. But ultimately, in the language of dying there are no happy endings.
Book Review: Something More Than Night by Ian Tregillis
Posted on December 2, 2013 2 Comments
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars – “Mind-bendingly original and inventive ideas in this book’s story and world; Tregillis’ writing leaves me in awe, especially the crime noir fiction-inspired voice of the narrator”
YA Weekend: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Posted on December 1, 2013 5 Comments
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication Date: March 2012
Author Info: sarahjmaas.com
Wendy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars: Celaena maintains a level of charm and sass that makes it easy to understand why the prince, the captain and soon the visiting Princess Nehemia find her endearing as often as they find her frustrating.
Celaena Sardothien is the infamous “Adarlan’s Assassin,” betrayed and sent to slave away in the salt mines. The king had expected her to die a slow, torturous death, but he failed to break her. To her surprise a year later, she is summoned some time later to fight for her freedom in a competition that will name the King’s Champion. Sponsored by the Crown Prince Dorian, Celaena is removed from slavery and treated with almost every courtesy as a lady, and trained by Chaol Westfall, the Captain of the Guard, but warned that she must not reveal her true identity.
The balance of Celaena’s moments in finery with her time in training and competition were really well done in terms of revealing her character. She is as comfortable and confident in either situation, though her sometimes overwhelming ego makes it difficult for her to hold back the truth about her identity. I appreciate that, while her time in slavery does haunt her, there is no over-indulgent brooding. Celaena maintains a level of charm and sass that makes it easy to understand why the prince, the captain and soon the visiting Princess Nehemia find her endearing as often as they find her frustrating.
As much as I loved these moments of Celaena getting to be herself with Dorian, Chaol and Princess Nehemia, I grew impatient with the repeated referrals to her as Adarlan’s Assassin as there was little but her repetition of her esteemed title that indicated her skill. While she occasionally got to display her physical abilities, the focus of the story moved away from the competition. And while I suppose I have no choice but to accept that she is an excellent assassin with a hit list to prove her worthy of the praise (at least until I read the novellas), her survival training seems suspect.
Still, these moments reveal that Celaena is just a normal girl beneath whatever title she may hold and whatever tortures she’s been through. The moment she truly endeared herself to me was when she discovered the library and happily twirled through it. The book won me over when her follow up with the prince on this library led to him commanding her to read his favourite books that they might discuss them. I immediately developed a strong desire for Celaena, Dorian and Chaol to start up a secret book club.
Magic is initially very subtle. It has been banished when the book begins, but it is evident that it will play a role in Celaena’s future. I liked that I almost forgot about the fantasy aspect as Celaena adjusted to her new life. Maas spent a healthy amount of time developing the characters and their relationships. There is most certainly romance involved, but it does not preclude friendship. Once these bonds are strongly established, the story eases back into the major plot of the competition and the magic that will eventually alter Celaena’s experience.
Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on November 30, 2013 Leave a Comment
Another week, another great haul of books. This time, it’s mostly review copies from publishers. I’ve curtailed my book buying in the last half of November, with NaNoWriMo winding down and I really had to put most of my efforts into writing and not book shopping. Right.
Something More Than Night – courtesy of Tor Books, I’ve been looking forward to reading this for a while, ever since finding out author Ian Tregillis has been working on a noir detective style novel featuring angels. I’ve enjoyed his books in the Milkweed Triptych and so far this one is proving just as innovative and imaginative.
Banished – earlier this month folks who went to World Fantasy Convention in Brighton showed off their ARCs of this gorgeous book by Liz de Jager. No, I wasn’t lucky enough to be there, but Tor UK sent this one over to my delight, because I can never resist a paranormal story about the Fae.
The Doctor and the Dinosaurs – doesn’t that just sounds like a boatload of fun? A finished copy sent over from Pyr, I’m still really excited about giving this one a look.
A Darkling Sea – I had plans to pick up this one at release early next year, but fortune smiled upon me and I won an advanced uncorrected proof copy from a giveaway held by the publisher. Very excited to read this one, too.
The Cure – a sci-fi technothriller courtesy of Forge Books; not my usual type of read, but it was a blast nonetheless. I love it when books like this shake up my reading list, and this particular one had a twist that totally floored me. You can actually check out my review here!
Lost Covenant – I caught up with book two of the Widdershins Adventures series just to prep myself for this one! False Covenant was so good, I can’t wait to start this one, with much thanks to Pyr Books.
And now on to the digital pile, because there will always be an ebook deal or two I can’t say no to:
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu – inaugural title from Ragnarok Publications for review, and I’m so happy to be offered the chance to review it. These good folks also had a Kickstarter for their Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters anthology recently, which was the only anthology (I usually go for the full-length novel projects) I’ve ever backed on there because it just looked too damn cool to pass up.
Poison Dance – earlier this month, while browsing other blogs checking out their Waiting on Wednesday selections, I came across one featuring Livia Blacburne’s Midnight Thief. It looked so awesome I had to add it to my to-read list on Goodreads as well, and shortly thereafter I was contacted by the author wondering if I would be interested in reviewing this prequel novella. Heck yes!
Falling Kingdoms – a Kindle Daily Deal (I can never go two weeks without falling prey to at least one of those) probably because the second book is coming out very soon, and I’ve had this YA title on my to-read list for a while, so it was a no-brainer.
World After – an ebook I preordered, which was waiting in my Kindle for me the morning I woke up on release day. I loved, loved, loved the first book Angelfall so this for me was a must-buy.
The Burning Sky – Another YA title that I’ve been ogling for a while, so when it was a Kindle Daily Deal I jumped on it and snagged it. Seems to be a pattern with me.
Planesrunner – after a much impassioned conversation with other bloggers about upcoming Jo Fletcher titles, I ended my next book browsing session with this one in my shopping cart. Empress of the Sun is due to be released in early 2014, so I had best catch up with the first two installments starting with Planesrunner. I’ve heard great things!
Wendy’s Book Haul
Posted on November 30, 2013 Leave a Comment
I may have accidentally revealed my bibliophilia to someone who now has a mighty weapon to use against me. He should be pleased with the result (as I am pleased with Amazon’s speedy delivery, even though UPS interrupted dinner).
But a book haul post wouldn’t be right if I didn’t blame Mogsy for some of my purchases. She mentioned Audible Matchmaker, resulting in the following:
My excuse is that I already owned the ebooks and now I can WhisperSync them and listening to audiobooks means I’ll get through that TBR pile faster and … and….
Book Review: Heartwood by Freya Robertson
Posted on November 29, 2013 Leave a Comment
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Elemental Wars #1
Publisher: Angry Robots
Publication Date: October 2013
Author Info: www.freyarobertson.com
Wendy’s Rating: 3.5 stars: The world of Anguis is a beautiful one, and I love the way the religion is bound into it and the characters so deeply and how Robertson explores that.
Peace between the people of Anguis is tenuous. In a last ditch effort to fix this, leaders from all realms gather together, but the peace talks are interrupted when mysterious and powerful water warriors attack, stealing the heart of the Arbor, the tree that is at the centre of all things.
After a lengthy discussion with a friend about religion in fantasy, reading Heartwood was very timely for me. The Arbor is the central figure in Robertson’s pantheon, and she takes the time to carefully present how the different characters and realms feel about their religion and how those views change as the story progresses. The Militis defends the tree with their lives, but the loss of the Pectoris (the holy tree’s heart), cuts some of them more deeply as it is a failure of their duty as well as an attack on their beliefs. Meanwhile, others take a more realistic view with their beliefs and some are even disturbed by the Arbor itself.
Nonetheless, when the Pectoris is stolen, all must work together to get it back and the journey they each take is both external and internal as they come to terms with their beliefs and with their personal struggles. However, this is where the book falters somewhat. To save the Arbor, five Nodes must be discovered and activated some how. This is conveniently discovered during the water warrior attack and disclosed in detail as new information is recited from long hidden tomes that shake the foundation of the practices surrounding the Arbor’s care. Robertson’s gaming influence becomes obvious as groups head off on their respective Quests. She does a great job of keeping the groups separate and unique, but the process of discovering the hidden tomes and the respective Nodes lacks subtlety.
This is a pervasive problem in the book, as much of the information about the world is delivered through extensive exposition that feels very much like reviewing a game codex. World building is always a difficult process and I praise Robertson for the beautiful and complex world she has created here, but again, the book could use more subtlety in teaching us about this world. World building is a necessary part of any story, but it can be very difficult to determine how much information should be handed out and it is not easy to avoid too much exposition. In some cases, Robertson attempts to find the balance by incorporating the lore through characters actually reading from history books, etc, or giving long speeches explaining the particular view points of their cultures, but this is all still obviously exposition that should be shown, not told.
That said, the world of Anguis is a beautiful one, and I love the way the religion is bound into it and the characters so deeply and how Robertson explores that. The characters themselves are interesting and, while their personal quests could use a bit more subtlety as well, they went through some very interesting transformations. I was particularly impressed with the twins, who have a strong bond, as is normal with twins, but there is a bitterness between them that Robertson takes the time to explore by separating them and leading them to a fate I hadn’t expected. I’m also a huge fan of the intuitive character of Fulco, who speaks in sign language.
As the first book in the Elemental Wars series, and Robertson’s first venture into the realm of epic fantasy, I imagine that she has learned quite a bit about the process. Since much of the lore has already been established, I’m looking forward to things really getting going with the sequel.
The BiblioSanctum 