Book Review: Letters From A Murderer by John Matthews
Posted on November 10, 2013 Leave a Comment
Letters From A Murderer by John Matthews
Genre: Historical Mystery
Series: Book 1 of Finley Jameson and Joseph Argenti
Publisher: Exhibit A
Date of Publication: September 24, 2013
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars – “Some surprises to be found amidst an exciting mix of mystery and suspense, in this novel reminiscent of classics like Sherlock Homes”
Angry Robot may be one of my favorite speculative fiction publishers, but when it comes to their Mystery/Crime imprint Exhibit A, I have to say I’m pretty much clueless. Naturally, I was curious about their books, and Letters From a Murderer immediately caught my eye. After all, historical fiction is one of my favorite genres after science fiction and fantasy, and Jack the Ripper is the subject of another great book I read recently, and for that reason my interest in Ripper stories was still very much piqued.
However, there is one notable aspect about this Ripper story — it takes place in New York, 1891. This was around the time when the string of brutal murders in Whitechapel and east London seemed to have stopped, leading authorities to speculate that the killer must have died, gotten arrested, or moved on. So when the book opens with a prostitute in New York found murdered in a similar way, uncomfortable questions are raised about whether or not the Ripper might have crossed the Atlantic.
While I know it’s not exactly new, this idea is something I’ve personally never encountered before in a Jack the Ripper related novel. There are whole new dynamics at work here, admidst the complexities of the city’s criminal underworld as well as dark secrets in the main character Finley Jameson’s past. As one of the original English pathologists on the Ripper case, Jameson is teamed up with New York detective Joseph Argenti, and together they try to catch the murderer before he can claim more victims. The “Letters” in the book’s title have a two meanings, referring to the messages the killer sends to the press taunting the police, as well as the symbols found carved onto the victims’ bodies.
I enjoyed this, even though I’ll admit I didn’t fully appreciate the cleverness of the story until well into the book, when the major “twist” was revealed to shake things up. Before this, the book held my interest but did not exceed my expectations; the plot held a lot of the usual elements I would expect from a novel of this genre and type. In this historical mystery, the “history” takes more of a backseat as this is a mystery-thriller first and foremost, complete with gang violence and corruption, conspiracies and lies. Some of the characters fell into familiar archetypes, like the mob boss Tierney (evil and insane) or Jameson’s assistant Lawrence (the troubled but brilliant intellectual). On the other hand, this can be seen as a postive if you prefer books that are reminiscent of classics like Sherlock Homes, as this one definitely has that vibe.
The best part, however, is something I can’t really talk about much in my review for fear of spoilers, but the aforementioned dark secrets in Jameson’s past have a lot to do with it. Suddenly, everything that came before in the novel held more significance and meaning, including the details I thought were just par for the course in Jameson and Argenti’s investigation. For a book that I didn’t think was going to surprise me, it sure threw me for a loop there, keeping me guessing and wondering and beating myself up for not realizing before that this was where the author was going.
Alas, that little side plot in the story was over all too quickly, but the remainder of the book set a much more rigorous pace, with an exciting mix of suspense and mystery as our investigators have to try and solve the puzzle and deal with Tierney’s men at the same time. I thought everything unfolded naturally and came together very well at the end, and fans of crime fiction or historical mysteries will probably find lots to like about this one, especially if you have an interest in Sherlock-Holmes-style books or Jack the Ripper stories.
YA Weekend: The City’s Son by Tom Pollock
Posted on November 9, 2013 Leave a Comment
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Skyscraper Throne
Publisher: Jo Fletcher
Date of Publication: August 2, 2012
Author Information: Website | Twitter
So, on my ongoing quest to read more original and offbeat Young Adult titles, my journey has led me to The City’s Son by Tom Pollock. I’d heard great things about this book, along with some descriptions of it that are just way in the realm of the bizarre and uncanny. In other words, it sounded right up my alley.
Book Review: Ghosts of ARCADIA by Ramsey Isler
Posted on November 8, 2013 Leave a Comment
Ghosts of ARCADIA by Ramsey Isler
Genre: Science Fiction, Gaming
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: October 2013
Author Info: www.ramseyisler.com
ARCADIA is the most advanced video game ever created, going well above and beyond the concept of virtual reality by reading the users neural signals to create an impossibly real world. Millions donned the system’s technologically advanced headsets and stepped into ARCADIA, some even creating proxies to handle game play and interactions during their absence. But when ARCADIA is hacked, resulting in the slow leak of roughly twenty million dollars, the system becomes anathema.
The drama has died down since the hacks, but Unwired tech journalist Miguel Naciamento is certain there is a deeper story that others have overlooked. Determined to earn himself another Pulizter, Miguel pursues a few leads, including his former professor, now an FBI consultant on the case, Ivy Yuen, the game’s brilliant creator, and a gray hat hacker still devoted to the game.
As a gamer, ARCADIA’s concept appealed to me, though I would have loved to experience, through Miguel, some of the more involved games the story implied existed (… okay maybe it didn’t imply it… I just want to go virtual reality questing, okay?). The concept initially made me think of Ready Player One, where a similar system exists (though more easily accessible to the 99%). While I was initially disappointed that the ARCADIA system didn’t seem to involve more elaborate games, I came to appreciate the more Facebook/app like games that it employed. Considering how popular these games and apps are in our current reality, Isler’s implementation of them within such an innovative system makes sense as the focus.
Another major concept in ARCADIA that I liked were the proxies. My pixel people have come to mean a lot to me and many of them do reflect me in many ways. Imagine if you could truly create a character within a game system that *was* you! With this in mind, Isler’s prologue immediately grabbed me, beginning at the end of Miguel’s memoir as he says good bye to his proxy.
I think there were certain aspects of the proxies that could have been explored more, but everything still worked well within the story. My preconceived notions about this book continued to be derailed as Miguel explored more and more of ARCADIA and got to know the personalities involved in its creation and continued existence. This ended up being a very sweet, very human story that I really enjoyed.
Book Review: Arena Mode by Blake Northcott
Posted on November 7, 2013 3 Comments
Genre: Comic Books, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Dystopian Future
Series: Arena Mode #1
Publisher: Noösphere Publishing
Publication Date: June 2013
Author Info: http://www.blakenorthcott.com
What if superhumans were real? What if they came out of the closet to reveal themselves to the world? And what if, some of them were the 1% and accepted billionaire Cameron Frost’s opportunity to pit their superhuman powers against each other in a death match for a chance at a whole lotta money?
Matthew Moxon lives in this dystopian future and is thrilled to see his love of comic books turned into fantasy. Unfortunately, a brain tumour puts a downer on his life, leaving the Arena Mode tournament as his only option for a treatment that costs millions. The problem? Mox, as his friends call him, isn’t a superhuman. But he does have a valuable comic collection, as well as a best friend with questionable connections and that’s enough for Mox to buy his way into deceiving Cameron Frost into believing that he really is a superhuman.
Arena Mode is basically a comic book written in novel format and it’s a fun read for any comic book fan. Northcott is a card-carrying geek and obviously a huge fan of the comic industry herself. Her opinions on important topics like the prequels that shall not be named or Marvel’s misunderstanding of how death works sneak into the story in the form of Matthew’s own thoughts. (I’m perfectly fine with these opinionated moments since I share the same opinion).
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| “Sledge” |
I’m a very visual reader, easily able to picture just about anything in my head. Arena Mode’s unique style lends itself perfectly to my creative mind. But Northcott also has connections within the comic industry, giving the book its added punch in the form of full character illustrations and bios at the back of the book. Lucky Kickstarter supporters also received full colour character cards and other goodies to accompany their reading.
Each of the superhumans Matthew meets has a unique power set, though their abilities will be recognizable to comic fans. The key to making these characters unique is the way Northcott makes them more than just their abilities.
The Arena Mode battle itself was very interesting and tense, especially with Matthew having no powers, however I felt some of the battles, particularly the ones meant to be truly epic, were brushed over a bit too liberally. Again, I could picture these battles in my head, but in novel form, the details fell short.
The big reveal became evident about half way through the book, but it didn’t deter my enjoyment. Everything still flowed smoothly and interestingly, culminating in an ending that opens the door for some very intriguing events in the future.
Arena Mode is the product of a very successful Kickstarter. Its sequel, Assault or Attrition, continues with Northcott’s Kickstarter success. Want to know how she did it? Check out our interview!
Waiting on Wednesday 11/06/13
Posted on November 6, 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!
“An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.
Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.
Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.
“Book Review: Masks by E.C. Blake
Posted on November 5, 2013 1 Comment
Masks by E.C. Blake
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1
Publisher: DAW
Date of Publication: November 5, 2013
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Masks is the very promising first novel of what’s shaping up to be a phenomenal series. And to think, at first I was tentative about approaching this book because (wait for it, silly irrational reason incoming) I was a little spooked by the cover! There’s just something so unsettling about the blank gaze of an empty mask, but I couldn’t deny there was a lot of beauty in this particular one too.
Thinking back on it now, I realize that the cover for this book is actually quite perfect. The story it contains within is indeed quite beautiful, but it also has its moments of darkness, as a lot of these types of books with dystopian-like settings tend to have. Masks features Mara Holdfast, a girl growing up in Aygrima, a land overseen by the all-seeing Autarch. In this society, everyone is require to wear a mask the day they turn fifteen. Through these masks, it is said that the Autarch and his Watchers can know the thoughts of every citizen, enabling them to put down dissidents and maintain everlasting peace and security in the empire.
Mara has known from a young age that she is Gifted; the magic that few are born with in this world runs strongly in her family. She has hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a Master Maskmaker just like him, and looks forward to her masking day when she can finally become his apprentice. But then things go horribly wrong on her fifteenth birthday during the ceremony, and Mara is immediately labeled a traitor, not fit to be part of society. Everything Mara has ever known is ripped away as she is consigned to a wagon bound for the mines, where she will be forced into a life of imprisonment and slavery.
This is a story that had me riveted from beginning to end. The introduction with the build-up to Mara’s masking ceremony is probably one of the best I’ve ever read, because it really does a good job of grabbing your attention right away. And as if that wasn’t enough, the journey doesn’t ever slow down, constantly driving forward as Mara is whisked from one dilemma to another. While there are some elements to this story that are predictable, the question of where the main protagonist will end up next is always in up in the air, and I was held rapt by the multitude of possibilities that could happen.
I was also struck by the magic in this book, which goes hand in hand with my fascination with the idea of the Autarch using masks to control the population. At this point, not everything about the masks and magic is explained yet, and while I do have many questions, it also feels like the author is leaving lots of room to flesh it out in the next installment. Nevertheless, what’s established here already gives this book a certain uniqueness, and I’m excited to know more.
I’m also very much looking forward to the character growth of Mara. If there’s one thing I wasn’t particularly fond of about this book (and it’s a tiny thing), it was her constant questioning and second-guessing of herself. She also tends to dwell on things and appears to have the weakest stomach of any character I know, leading to a few instances of repetition in the narrative and a lot of vomiting on poor Mara’s part. On the other hand, I realize she is barely fifteen and has lived a relatively sheltered and privileged life before everything in her world turned upside down. In that sense, I really can’t fault her all that much. I expect there’s a lot potential for her in the next book though, as she develops into someone in a leadership position who has the ability to change things for the better.
I did ask myself after reading Masks whether or not I should categorize this book as Young Adult. The age of the protagonist along with certain factors like the not-so-subtle hints of a future romance or love triangle makes me want to say yes, and certainly I think the story could appeal to older teens. At the same time, the nature of the fantasy setting and characters that E.C. Blake has created sets this book apart from conventional YA, and so I think a wider audience can appreciate it too. I know I did…a lot!
Audiobook Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Posted on November 5, 2013 4 Comments
Genre: Supernatural, Young Adult
Series: The Raven Cycle #2
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Author Info: www.maggiestiefvater.com
Maggie Stiefvater did it to me again. As if I wasn’t already in love with Blue and her Raven Boys after reading the first book, the very last line demanded that I read the next right away (though I ended up having to wait for its release). The same thing has happened with The Dream Thieves, though now I have to wait until next year for an unnamed sequel.
Once again, I have to praise Stiefvater’s skill at painting her world. She manipulates descriptions such that they don’t simply invoke an image, but a feeling. This is most evident in my favourite character, Ronan Lynch, who takes a greater lead in the second book, after announcing his ability to take things from dreams. The Dream Thieves begins with the description of Ronan’s father, and subsequently his sons, where she depicts Ronan as “molten eyes and a smile made for war.”
Along with Ronan, is Adam, who’s sacrifice awakened the leylines and who’s circumstances have turned him into a dark and angry person. Noah, a sweet and self-conscious ghost, and Gansey, the leader of the group. The story continues their search for the Welsh king of Gansey’s obsession.
The psychic women of Blue’s household play a much greater role this time around. Their abilities are still required to help move things along, but they are more actively involved in events and in dealing with and even protecting the boys, who have become a regular fixture in their home. Their involvement takes some interesting and amusing turns when the enigmatic Gray Man is introduced. He is a deadly hitman hired to find the mysterious Gray Warren, but his involvement with the ladies reveals their ingenuity and just how closely knit the group is. Considering the Gray Man’s introduction, I was surprised when the word “endearing” popped into my head to describe the character and the subtleties of the eventual relationships that develop.
I will also use the word “endearing” to describe Noah and the relationship Blue and the boys have with him. It is firmly established now that he is dead and the circumstances of his death are horrible and brutal. He occasionally is forced, unwittingly, to replay these events, but beyond that, his friends simply accept him as one of their own who occasionally has to deal with the inconveniences of death and his connection to the leylines. There were some truly touching and some downright hilarious interactions between Noah and his friends that I really enjoyed.
But as I said, Ronan is my favourite and I treasured the opportunity to spend more time with him, as heartbreaking as it was. I have a fondness for broken people and Ronan most certainly is one. He is perpetually angry, but with damn good reason and we get to learn more and more about his secrets and who he truly is in this book. At first glance, words like nobility and loyalty wouldn’t easily be pinned on him, but there’s a lot of darkness that has to be scraped away in order to see what’s underneath.
The audiobooks for The Raven Cycle are narrated by Will Patton. While he does a good job with Blue and her household, I initially wondered why a male had been selected to narrate a book with a lead female character. Remembering that the first book is called The Raven Boys, I appreciate the choice, especially in the second book where the boys become the greater focus. That said, I was a little disappointed, in the way Blue’s role diminished. Now, not only is she a conduit for psychic powers, but she’s also the girl some of the boys are romantically linked to, particularly with the prophecy of true love’s kiss causing the death of her true love. This concern still hangs over the story, but Blue herself seemed less important overall.
Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on November 3, 2013 Leave a Comment
As you may know, NaNoWriMo kicked off this Friday, and in anticipation that the writing frenzy will be in full swing, I’ve slowly reined in on the new book additions in preparation for November. I’ll still be writing reviews, but I did want to make sure I’ll have enough time to devote to completing my NaNo goals again this year, and as such this could be my last regular book haul until this crazy month is over. We’ll see! For now I want to feature the following review copies that came to me over the last couple of weeks, as well as a few other new arrivals.
Copperhead – a surprise arrival from Tor, and it was like they read my mind. Copperhead is actually the sequel to Ironskin, which had caught my eye ever since it was nominated for the 2012 Nebula Awards. This book actually shifts its focus to a new character, so I took this as the perfect opportunity to jump on board. I’m glad I did, and my review can attest to that!
The Falconer – I was first drawn to this book by its stunning cover, and when Gollancz Geeks sent out an email offering copies in a giveaway, I was fortunate enough to snag one. Featuring historical Scotland and a fiery heroine fighting Fae, I found this one to be a lot of fun. Be sure to keep an eye out for the review in the coming weeks.
False Covenant – the first book of the Widdershins Adventures series Thief’s Covenant was a delight. With the third book coming out in December, I figure I had better catch up with the second book! With much thanks to Pyr for helping me out with that.
The God Tattoo – speaking of Pyr, here’s another surprise arrival, described as a short story collection from the world of the Twilight Reign books. I don’t do short story collections and anthologies often, but this seems like a good way to discover a new series!
Starhawk – Jack McDevitt has been writing books for a long time, but I’ve not actually read any of his books. So many of my friends have had nothing but good things to say about The Academy series, and so I couldn’t help but jump on Starhawk, described as a prequel featuring the first adventure of the character Priscilla Hutchins.
The Iron Wolves – Andy Remic’s previous Clockwork Vampire Chronicles earned the nickname of “the Tarantino of epic fantasy”, according to a post I read on Angry Robot’s site about this book, and so how could I resist? I love gritty heroes, hectic battles, and crazy plot twists, which this book promises in spades!
And now even more…
The Abominable – I loved Dan Simmons’ The Terror. LOVED IT. So when I saw he had a book called The Abominable coming out that had the same kind of historical-horror vibe to it, I knew I had to read it. I picked this up the week it came out.
Memories of Empire and Shinigami – I still remember the first thought I had after reading The Thousand Names by Django Wexler, and it was “Damn, I need to check out more of this author’s work.” Unfortunately, his older books are quite hard to find, and I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to get my hands on both of these. So happy!
Fortune’s Pawn – and eARC I received because I very much enjoyed Rachel Aaron’s The Spirit Thief earlier this year, and I was curious about her new science fiction novel, with her writing as Rachel Bach.
The Cormorant – you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for the day for this book to go up on NetGalley. As soon as I saw it up, I requested it. Can’t wait to revisit Miriam Black in this third book of the series.
Book Review: Armageddon’s Children
Posted on November 3, 2013 3 Comments
Armageddon’s Children by Terry Brooks
Many years ago, I tried to read The Sword of Shannara but the story and characters failed to capture my attention and I set it aside. I grant that I didn’t get very far into the book, but I had read enough by that time to know when a book just isn’t working for me, even that early on. Fastforward to the present and my brother is on the phone raving about the new Genesis of Shannara series. I trust his judgement, so here I am!
The Genesis of Shannara is, as the series title suggests, the beginnings of the world created by Terry Brooks. Shannara fans are likely to recognize characters, events and artifacts, but someone new to the series like myself, is by no means alienated. This is a clean introduction to this realm, and an introduction to the characters whom we will, presumably, be following through the series. Armageddon’s Children takes place in a post-apocalyptic earth, destroyed by the follies of man. Violence and mutation have reduced the human population to mere thousands. Many of the surviving humans live in compounds, some hide in ruined cities, but all are hunted by the various demonic (formerly human) creatures led by the “Old Man” at the bidding of the Void. We meet Logan Tom first, as he and his family attempt to escape an attack by once men and demons. Logan is orphaned in the process.
Logan’s tragic story is similar to many of the characters that follow, most of them teens or pre-teens or adults who were forced to grow up far too soon. The overwhelming theme is that these characters are survivors of their horrible reality and must stay one step ahead of the evil closing in on them in order to remain alive. My original complaint with the lack of interesting characters in The Sword of Shannara does not apply here. While I feel that the characters fit into various established tropes as – well, children of an Armageddon, they are still unique enough in and of themselves to be appealing and I enjoyed the way their stories and connections are unravelled as the book progresses.
As I said, this is an introductory novel and it very much plays out as one. The story establishes that the humans are being hunted by the Old Man and his minions and, eventually we are introduced to the quest that will bring the main characters together and move them forward. For this book, there is little progression in regard to that journey. This book is about letting us meet the main characters and grow to love or hate them as needed. Every major player, including the Old Man, is allowed moments to reveal their inner thoughts and motivations, as well as the events and people that have made them who they are. Many secondary characters also have back stories, strengthening the reader’s sense of attachment and understanding of just how awful this world is.
The original Shannara series is firmly seated in the fantasy genre, complete with swords and sorcery. Logan and his fellow Knight of the Word Angel Perez carry staves that are definite sources of yet to be fully explained magic, but otherwise, there is very little magic in this world just yet. The idea is that that the future world of Shannara comes from the one we know now, following this cataclysm – a concept that really intrigued me. I really liked the idea of the magic slowly leaking (back) in. Fire from a staff here, telepathy there. And when the elves are introduced, having hidden themselves away from humanity for centuries – even they do not display a significant use of magic.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, in that it does a good job of making you comfortable in its world and with its characters, and provides just enough mystery to entice you to continue on with the series to find out where this is all leading. For those who already know where it is all leading, I imagine it is nice to finally get the full details. For people like me who are new to the world, let’s just say I find myself looking forward to learning more about the genesis of Shannara. if I like this series enough, I’d not be opposed to trying The Sword of Shannara again.
Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Posted on November 2, 2013 2 Comments
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Genre: Magic, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Double Day
Publication Date: September 2011
Author Info: erinmorgenstern.com
Open the pages of the Night Circus and you are immediately absorbed into a mesmerizing world that leaves you hoping La Cirque des Rêves will visit soon so that you may experience its wonders for yourself. The simplest explanation of this circus is to have you imagine your favourite incarnation of Cirque de Soleil, only, on a more subtle scale, its grandeur hidden within the elegance of its black and white world under the stars. Like other circuses and fairs, you will still find acrobats and contortionists and fortune tellers… And you will find illusionists.
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| Cirque du Soleil |
Within the setting of the circus, a competition plays out that is reminiscent of books like The Prestige, where two skilled magicians constantly try to one up each other. The difference here is that the magic is real, and that the “illusionists” in question do not directly compete against each other. Instead, they find and raise gifted children. The children are raised knowing their purpose, but not the venue or even their competitor. In this case, Celia Bowen and Marco Alexander end up intricately entwined within La Cirque des Rêves and they fall in love – something their callous fathers cannot fathom.
The lovers’ story is beautiful and tragic, but while they are at the heart of The Night Circus, theirs is not the only story being told. Everyone – from the clockmaker who’s love for the circus inadvertently forms the circus’ elite fan club, to the young boy wishing for a fairytale ending, to the red-haired twins born auspiciously on opening night, to the circus’ founders, to the fortune teller and the contortionist – is so intricately bound together within the circus. It was fascinating to see the characters and events slip in and out of the chapters in such a graceful and sensual dance. Somewhere along the way, I realized that even Time and the circus itself were like living, breathing characters.
The true magic of The Night Circus is that, like the circus itself, it cannot be pinned down. It cannot be easily lumped into any particular genre. It is all and it is none and its wonders and mysteries must simply be experienced…
The BiblioSanctum 