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.
Panels: Batman / Superman #1
Posted on November 29, 2013 Leave a Comment
Book Review: 14 by Peter Clines
Posted on November 28, 2013 4 Comments
14 by Peter Clines
Genre: Paranormal/Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Permuted Press
Date of Publication: June 5, 2012
Author Information: Website
I’d like to start this review off with some background information. So for the past year, I’ve been playing a massively multiplayer online role-playing survival horror game called The Secret World. The developers’ description of it as a “dark fantasy” MMO is quite apt, due to its paranormal setting and the creepy mysteries-of-the-unexplained nature of the story and quests, heavily inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft. So that’s why when a fellow gamer asked me for a book recommendation that has the same kind of vibe, my mind immediately went to Peter Clines’ 14.
At the time, I hadn’t read the book myself but I’d heard good things and knew from its description and others’ reviews that it could be thematically and atmospherically similar to what my friend was looking for. A group of tenants living in a strange apartment building where bizarre things like strange light fixtures, wonky room temperatures, and mutant green cockroaches with extra legs are an everyday occurrence? The book definitely has that creepy-paranormal feel going for me.
Anyway, little did I know, in so many ways this book turned out even more like The Secret World than I could have possibly imagined. Those familiar with the game will know that there are certain types of quests called “Investigation Missions” that require the player to find facts and solve puzzles. That’s pretty much how I saw this book. The main character Nate and his fellow neighbors gather to examine all the oddities they’ve found in their own apartments, and together they try to solve the mystery of the old Los Angeles brownstone they call home.
Overall this was a fantastic read, quite different in tone and subject compared to the author’s other books that I’ve read and very much enjoyed, mainly the Ex-Heroes series. But the things I loved, such as Clines’ light style and funny dialogue, are still all there. I’ve noticed he is excellent when it comes to writing about large ensemble casts. In the case of Ex-Heroes, it was his engaging and unique band of superheroes; in 14, it’s the diverse group of tenants living in the strange Kavach Building. Clines gives them all distinct personalities even if at times they are a little cliched, and the conversations that result are always natural, witty and entertaining.
In terms of the story, I think some might find it slow to take off, particularly at the beginning and especially if you’re expecting something more along the lines of pure horror. There are certainly horror elements in this book, but for the most part there’s nothing too frightening. Is 14 scary? No, not really; there’s nothing that would give me trouble sleeping anyway. But creepy and a bit unsettling? Definitely. This eeriness strengthens throughout the course of the novel with each new discovery of weirdness in Nate’s building, every one of them adding to the atmosphere.
Beyond that, it’s going to be hard to talk about the plot without giving too much away. I can’t say I was a big fan of the ending, but after all that build-up everything does come to a head in a big, meaningful, almost overwhelming way. That, I can guarantee.
In general, 14 is a tough book to categorize, but think a mix of science fiction and fantasy with a dash of horror, with emphasis on mystery, paranormal, and topics relating to unexplained phenomena. It’s a lot like the show Lost in this regard, but with a heavier dose of humor. A fun read all around, which held my attention from the first page to the last.
Book Review: Darkwalker by E.L. Tettensor
Posted on November 27, 2013 4 Comments
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Nicolas Lenoir
Publisher: Roc
Date of Publication: December 3, 2013
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars – “A new paranormal mystery series featuring an intriguing main character and rich, thorough world building; once the story takes off, it does not stop”
Of course, there is still the big question of Nicolas Lenoir’s past, which did not go fully addressed. So I was so glad to see this would be a series, even though this book can certainly be read as a stand alone with no cliffhangers or glaring loose ends to worry about. I would love to see further exploration into his character and this world, or heck, even stories about Lenoir that take place in an earlier time. Regardless of what comes next, I’m really looking forward to book two!
Waiting on Wednesday 11/27/13
Posted on November 27, 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!
Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.
Marie Brennan introduces an enchanting new world in A Natural History of Dragons.”
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson: March 4, 2013 (Gollancz)
I recently finished The Way of Kings and am now chomping at the bit for Brandon Sanderson to get on with this epic fantasy series.
Roshar is shared by humans and the enigmatic, humanoid Parshendi, with whom they are at war. Among those caught up in the conflict are Highprince Dalinar Kholin, who leads the human armies; his neice Jasnah, a renowned scholar; her student Shallan, a brilliant but troubled young woman; and Kaladin, a military slave who, by the book’s end, was beginning to become the first magically endowed Knight Radiant in centuries.
In Words of Radiance their intertwined stories will continue and, as Sanderson fans have come to expect, develop in unexpected, wonderfully surprising directions. The war with the Parshendi will move into a new, dangerous phase, as Dalinar leads the human armies deep into the heart of the Shattered Plains in a bold attempt to finally end it. Shallan will come along, hoping to find the legendary, perhaps mythical, city of Urithuru, which Jasnah believes holds a secret vital to mankind’s survival on Roshar. The Parshendi take a dangerous step to strengthen themselves for the human challenge, risking the return of the fearsome Voidbringers of old. To deal with it all, Kaladin must learn how to fulfill his new role, while mastering the powers of a Windrunner.
Comic Review Bites
Posted on November 26, 2013 Leave a Comment
Artesia is an epic, Eisner-award nominated masterpiece of story and art. The world, its people and its pantheon are so richly detailed, but as the title says, this story is about Artesia. What an incredible character she is, embodying all aspects of the female, from priestess to warrior to daughter to sister to concubine and eventually, reluctantly, queen. As both concubine, priestess and captain to the king, Artesia begins the story obviously wielding a lot of power and influence. Even the gods have touched her and those that follow her do so out of the purest respect. She may seem too perfect, which is exactly why certain people want to see her brought down. But the conflict they bring is only part of her struggle. The inner journey that she takes as she struggles to accept all that is thrown at her, and more importantly, all that is expected of her, whether she wants it or not, is beautifully depicted in word and images.
Star Wars Legacy II: Prisoner of the Floating World by Corinna Sara Bechko and Gabriel Hardman
One hundred and thirty-eight years after A New Hope, Star Wars Legacy II mercilessly jumps right into the aftermath of Legacy with exciting lightsaber battles, dogfights, political conflict and more. It wastes no time on exposition, which means that yes, you need to read Legacy, both for backstory and for awesomeness. The Galactic Fleet, the Empire and the Jedi are clinging to their tenuous triumvirate in an attempt to bring order back to the galaxy after the death of Darth Krayt. Meanwhile, on some backwater planet, the feisty young salvager, Ania Solo, finds a lightsaber that inevitably leads her and her friends, a Mon Cal refugee and an assassin droid with morals, into a whole lot of trouble and brings her to the attention of, well, everyone.
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Ania. I didn’t want her simply to be Girl Han of the Future and I didn’t want a repeat of Cade Skywalker’s struggles with the legacy of his surname. Skywalker is, after all, a pretty big name in this universe, even a hundred years later, but Solo is not necessarily the name bad guys remember and fear. Fortunately, within five issues, there was only one small motivational speech involving Ania’s ancestor.
If you enjoyed Legacy as much as I did, then this is definitely going to grab you. If you’re a Star Wars fan and haven’t read Legacy yet, then get on it! The series is a refreshing take, breaking out of the standard trappings of the Star Wars universe.
With thanks to NetGalley and DarkHorse Comics for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
Dresden files: Ghoul Goblin by Jim Butcher and Joseph Cooper
A small town cop requests Harry Dresden’s aid in a pair of grisly murders that seem different in M.O. but share one important factor: a family curse. Dresden is struggling in the aftermath of werewolf events that got his best friend Murphy’s partner killed. Murphy no longer trusts Dresden, and on top of that, he’s developed a nasty head cold. But ever the good guy, Dresden joins Pres and stumbles into the typical small town strangeness as he tries to solve the mystery.
There’s not a lot of meat to this rather predictable story, but it was still enjoyable and definitely worth the read for any Dresden Files fan. I was worried that the art would lean too much into the bulky, over-muscled superhero type that is sort of implied in the covers, but Joseph Cooper did a great job of making sure Dresden’s appearance matched his self-deprecating manner. And of course, there was the obligatory trench coat.
With thanks to NetGalley and DarkHorse Comics for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
X-Men Vol.4 #4 by Brian Wood and David Lopez
The X-Men book featuring an all female cast has failed to impress me, relying on a typical big bad storyline and lots of explosions and lots of opportunities for the ladies to show off powers that we’ve seen a million times already. (Although Rogue getting to play with Psylocke’s recent medieval psionic adventures in the Danger Room was pretty cool). What I really care about is the interpersonal relationships between the characters, which I’m just not getting enough of. I don’t necessarily want a ladies night out, but I also don’t want issue after issue of things exploding and the women worrying about the expense. Storm and Rachel do end up having a disagreement over Storm’s decision to risk Karima’s life in the previous issue, but Rachel’s tirade felt forced and petulant, especially with her questioning Storm assuming the role of team leader. This was sort of resolved by the end of the issue and hopefully it won’t be too much of a dominant issue.
The best part about this issue is right there on the front cover. If there’s one thing I love about Wolverine, it’s how he deals with his girls. From Kitty to Oya and here, back to Jubilee, who is compelled to visit her old life, including, fittingly, the mall where she first saw the X-Ladies and wanted to have their babies based on their sheer awesomeness. Logan chauffeurs Jubilee and baby Shogo around, offering some touching moments and encouraging words on her new status as a mother.
Hawkeye vol.2: Little Hits by Matt Fraction and David Aja
I ❤ Hawkeye. Perhaps not as much as Pizza Dog, his tenants/neighbours and the women in his life, but enough to make sure this series is always on my shelf. This is all about Clint Barton and what he does when he’s not Avengering. Most of the time, that means getting himself into a lot of trouble and increasing his collection of bandages by doing the sort of wrong thing for the the sort of right reasons. I adore that entire issues of the this volume were dedicated to time spent with the neighbours in his apartment. As usual, Kate Bishop is a constant fixture in Clint’s life, doing her best to keep him from getting run over. She gets to have a few moments of glory to herself. As does Pizza Dog in a dog’s eye view story that deals with a particular plot that would have gone completely differently had Pizza Dog not gotten involved. My only frustration is the art, which keeps changing from Aja’s perfection to the harsher lines of the other artists which, while good, just don’t hold the same casual vibe that permeates the book, literally from cover to cover.
Cyberforce: Rebirth vol.1 by Matt Hawkins and Marc Silvestri
Image fans will remember this shiny, perky team from the ‘90s, but they definitely didn’t look like this. This is a very gritty reboot that changes everything we once knew about them, save for that fact that they are still cyborgs. Formerly soldiers of a corrupt leadership, Morgan Stryker’s team are escaped refugees, struggling with their cybernetic implants. Meanwhile, the evil corporation is set on weeding out the less fortunate and the obsolete in order to usher in a new era of blah blah blah. There are some mildly interesting twists and turns and its great to have Marc Silvestri’s art back, but otherwise, the story is fairly typical and filled with lots of violence, epic posing and cheesy one liners. In other words, it’s a reboot that tries to bring this story into the new century by being more brutal, but is still solidly grounded in the ‘90s superhero style of storytelling.
The entire five issue series and this volume are available for free on Comixology thanks to Kickstarter funding.
Book Review: The Arrivals by Melissa Marr
Posted on November 25, 2013 Leave a Comment
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy
Series: Stand-alone
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of Publication: July 2, 2013
Author Information: Website | Twitter
This book was a bit quirky and slightly odd at times, but for me it was like a breath of fresh air. It’s different from the stuff I usually pick up, and ultimately it may have been a little too bizarre for my tastes, but I certainly don’t regret reading it. When it comes to originality and interesting ideas, this book gets massive points.
My love for speculative fiction, especially when other genres are infused with a paranormal twist, is what drew me to this book in the first place. A fantasy western about a group of people from different times and places all mysteriously ending up in an unfamiliar world called the Wasteland? It sounded too intriguing to pass up.
Other than the fact this Wasteland is full of monsters and other unsavory types, however, I didn’t know much else about the novel, so I settled back and prepared to let myself be drawn in. And that’s exactly what the story did, thanks to the unusual but simply extraordinary ideas I found in here. The characters are a motley group made up of: Jack and Kitty, siblings from the Wild West; Edgar, a bootlegger from the time of the prohibition; Francis, a hippie; Hector, a former carnie; and Melody, a crazy 1950s housewife. And then there’s Chloe, the newest addition to the team, who passes out one night in 2013 after a crazy night of binge drinking, and wakes up in the Wasteland.
These “Arrivals” were all ne’er-do-wells in the times they came from, but the most remarkable thing about them is what happens after they die — or rather, what doesn’t happen. Death isn’t always permanent, but they don’t find out whether it is or not until days later when the Arrival who died either wakes up good as new…or they don’t. Their nemesis is a man called Ajani, a force of evil they have been struggling against ever since the first Arrival came to the Wasteland.
This is very much a character-driven novel, and their relationship dynamics form the basis for much of the story. Jack and Kitty take center stage most of the time and sometimes Chloe, even though I wished more attention could have been paid to the other Arrivals, such as Melody. I gathered she’s pretty unbalanced through the fearful conversations the others have about her and their reluctance to get too close, but I would have loved to see more examples of Melody living up to her reputation. There are great characters here, but it’s a pretty short book and it’s just a shame the secondary characters don’t get more screen time.
As I said, the book has many interesting and original ideas, and expect to have a lot of questions when reading this. If you’re like me and prefer your books to also provide the answers, then you might find it a little frustrating, because at times you’ll feel like you’re only getting half the story. I was disappointed that there weren’t more explanations, but the good news is that this doesn’t diminish the quality of the world building. The Wasteland is not as desolate as it sounds, and the essence of the land and its creatures will constantly surprise you.
In many ways, The Arrivals is the kind of book you have to take as it is, and just go with the flow. I’m not a big fan of info-dumps, but I also like some explanations when they’re warranted, and I have to say I enjoyed this book a lot more once I’ve accepted that I probably won’t get answers to all my questions. What this novel offers, though, is a story of adventure about an unusual but fascinating group of people, and what they mean to each other. There’s nothing out there like it!
The BiblioSanctum 