Waiting On Wednesday 9/18/13
Posted on September 18, 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!
“Miriam is on the road again, having transitioned from “thief” to “killer”.
Hired by a wealthy businessman, she heads down to Florida to practice the one thing she’s good at, but in her vision she sees him die by another’s hand and on the wall written in blood is a message just for Miriam. She’s expected…”
Book Review: Charming by Elliott James
Posted on September 17, 2013 Leave a Comment
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Pax Arcana
Publisher: Orbit
Expected Date of Publication: September 24, 2013
Author Information:
My thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an e-ARC of Charming in exchange for an honest review. My first impression of this book — and keep in mind this was before I knew anything at all about it — was that it was going to be an urban fantasy targeted more towards female readers. I suppose it was the reference to “Prince Charming” that did it. And the cover image featured a tall dark and handsome young man wielding a shiny silver sword emerging from a background of predominantly light pastel teals and purples, the title rendered in pretty loopy scrollwork classical font.
Turns out, I was a little off-base. In actuality, found that Charming read more like an urban fantasy novel in the same vein as those in series starring male protagonists like The Dresden Files or the The Iron Druid Chronicles. More recently, I read Jim C. Hine’s Libriomancer which also came to mind when I read this. And what do all the leading men in these series have in common? They all have these kick-ass supernatural powers, possess a sense of humor that falls slightly on the geek-side, are all great at battling vampires and other forces of darkness that threaten the human populace, and always come to fights armed with plenty of witty pop culture references.
Which is just a rambling, roundabout way of me trying to point out that readers who enjoy the genre should also feel right at home with this book and its main character John Charming. Trained by the modern day version of the Knights Templar, John comes from a long line of monster hunters and was one of their best fighters. But a werewolf attack on his mother right before he was born had resulted in John becoming a new type of strange hybrid, and the day he manifested his symptoms was the day his own people turned on him, labeling him an abomination that must be destroyed.
Now John is on the run, hiding in rural Virginia with a new identity. He’s rented a home near the woods and has taken up a bartending job in a college town, hoping to stay under the radar. Everything’s copacetic, until two mysterious newcomers show up one night at the pub where John works, threatening the peaceful and quiet undercover life he has worked so long and so hard to maintain.
Like I said, if you love urban fantasy and especially the series I mentioned above, there’s a really good chance you’ll like this too. I think that’s one of the reasons I took so quickly to Charming and its characters, because reading it was like returning to a place that feels comfortable and familiar. The problem with this, however, is that it can always act as a double-edged sword. While on a certain level a lot of the urban fantasy series I read may share a lot of similar traits and elements, my favorites are always those that stand out amidst the rest somehow, very often setting themselves apart through a unique idea or memorable features, say, like an alternate history or an interesting magic system.
As such, one issue I have with Charming is that I don’t feel like it adds much to the genre. Many of the ideas I read here felt like the retreading old ground or that I’ve seen them elsewhere before. Somewhat related to this is also the sheer amount of info-dumping I noticed spread all throughout the novel. I usually give first-in-a-series books like this a pass on this since world-building from scratch is a tough but necessary evil, but I’ve seen other authors pull this off much more subtly. Of course, this also just might be an indication of me having read too damn much UF; I’m sure someone just diving into the genre reading this book through fresh eyes might have a totally different experience and opinion on this than me.
Anyway, every hero needs a team, and John Charming’s no different. As expected, we have the supporting cast here including a couple of your instantly recognizable archetypes (“the hot leader chick that everybody has a crush on”, “the genius techie guy with all the cool gadgets”, “the smarter-than-he-looks cop”, etc.) but on the whole I liked the diversity of characters. The ones that stood out for me are Parth the naga scientist that brings with him a refreshing take on South Asian mythology, and Dvornik the jealous boyfriend who despite his hideous personality has a pretty interesting dynamic with Sig, the aforementioned hot girl. I have to say this made the resulting Sig-Dvornik-John love triangle pretty interesting to read about, and this is coming from someone not usually keen on romantic drama bogging down my action in UF.
Character-wise, I think my one disappointment was actually with John himself, and more specifically, it was his “Prince Charming” background and angle of the book that I wish had been more overt or explored further. After all, Prince Charming is a prominent but often underdeveloped figure in many classic and beloved fairy tales, and he rarely gets top billing like this. The blurb for this book and some of the other publicity materials for it appear to play up this point, which is why I was surprised there was not more of a link between John Charming (and his ancestors) and the Prince Charming of legend and fable. It it weren’t for the family name, there wouldn’t have been much of a connection.
All in all, a fun read. I had some mild issues with the main character and wished that the plot, lore and world were a bit more inventive and unique, but on the whole I enjoyed this and would be interested in reading more of the series.
Book Review: The Plague Forge by Jason M. Hough
Posted on September 16, 2013 Leave a Comment
The Plague Forge by Jason M. Hough
Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
Series: The Dire Earth Cycle #3
Publisher: Del Rey Spectra
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Author Info: www.jasonmhough.com
With thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey Spectra for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The second book of the Dire Earth Cycle, The Exodus Towers, ended with a slow, tense burn that continues in The Plague Forge. Skyler Luiken, the main character, now shares the spotlight with Tania Sharma and Samantha Rinn and all are on separate missions to retrieve the last three alien artifacts to complete the puzzle on the alien “Builders” Key Ship. Tania and Skyler’s teams deal with the ever present threat of subhumans and the SUBS disease, while Samantha, within Darwin, must steal the blue artifact from the cold and deadly Grillo and his Jacobites.
Initially, I appreciated the way the Jacobites, a cult based on Jacob’s Ladder, were unobtrusively incorporated into the story. I’m not fond of religious cults as authors often allow them to take up a lot of the plot with preaching and indoctrination. In the previous book, they did play a prominent role, which continued here as the official Big BadTM, but Hough did not bog the story down with their zealotry as I feared. The Jacobites and their leader, Grillo, existed as our heroes’ foil, and, while they did attempt to indoctrinate a few people here and there, it was not their prominent function within the plot.
Similarly, the characters of Pablo and Vanessa, Skyler’s new crewmates, served their plot function as efficient soldiers in Skyler’s new crew, but as actual characters, I would have liked to see them be more fleshed out. I never gained a connection with them as I had with Skyler’s original crew, no matter how often Skyler referenced them as “his crew.”
Otherwise, I really liked a lot of Hough’s characters, including some that were not meant to be liked, such as the deplorable Russell Blackfield. I’ve really enjoyed the insight into his character. When he was first introduced, he was the evil despot, but I loved that Hough allowed us to see more of him as the trilogy progressed without merely turning into a bad guy to be destroyed or redeemed. I respect that all the characters were very much flawed and the heroes weren’t necessary likable, while the evil despots weren’t necessarily bad, considering the circumstances. And I loved that Hough was not afraid to kill his babies. No one died needlessly, but it certainly raised the stakes to realize that any of them could die at any time.
As this was the final book in the trilogy, it meant that we finally got the answer to the question that hung over the entire story: What the hell do the Builders want?? Of course the heroes would obtain the three artifacts and of course they would put the puzzle together and meet the Builders, who were already on their way. But when I finally got to the answer, I was shocked by it and by the pithy perfection of its delivery. It offered the closure I needed, while opening an exciting, entirely new door. Don’t walk into this expecting any sort of happy ending, considering the devastation the Builders have caused, but Hough left me with a bittersweet offer of hope and forgiveness that surprised me and left me in 2am tears.
Book Review: 23 Years on Fire by Joel Shepherd
Posted on September 16, 2013 Leave a Comment
23 Years on Fire by Joel Shepherd
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 4 of Cassandra Kresnov
Publisher: Pyr
Date of Publication: September 10, 2013
Author Information: Website | Twitter
23 Years On Fire was a bit of a pleasant surprise. Not really knowing what to expect when the book arrived from the publisher for review, I didn’t exactly plan on reading this right away, seeing as it is described as the fourth Cassandra Kresnov novel and I generally prefer not to start reading in the middle of a series if I can help it.
However, my curiosity became too hard to ignore. Plus, the sleek, elegant cover image was part of the attraction, appearing to show an armored female black ops-type soldier in the midst of performing a military free fall jump. I flipped it open to read the first line, with the intention of just checking out the first few pages…only to get pulled in by the explosive opening scene of a covert assault on an enemy base. I ended up finishing the whole book in a matter of days.
As it turned out, not having read the first three books that came before did not hinder me too much, and I was able to follow this one just fine. It can definitely be read by itself, and the main character Cassandra “Sandy” Kresnov’s backstory is easy enough to unravel just based on what unfolds in this book alone. An artificial person or an android called a “GI”, Sandy was created by the League but defected to the Federation to join their security forces on the world of Callay.
That decision had a lot to do with the one thing Sandy would not stand for, which is the mistreatment of her fellow GIs. Just because they are synthetic doesn’t mean that they do not possess humanity, and when it is brought to light that New Torah is involved in ruthless experimentation with artificial soldiers, Sandy leads a mission there to investigate. What she finds on New Torah, however, is a lot more than she bargained for.
Before this, I never would have thought military sci-fi would be my kind of thing (actually, I hadn’t even read enough of it to determine whether it’s my “thing” or not) but this turned out to be highly entertaining. It rather reads like a summer Hollywood sci-fi flick, and as such I thought the sex was a little overplayed and the book is heavily indulgent on the action, gun fighting and explosions, but it is a high-tech in-your-face roller coaster ride as it should be.
Sandy herself is somewhat of an enigma, even though I think she’s a great character. She’s certainly a different and unique kind of protagonist, being a synthetic human. Because she is a more advanced designation, this also gives her higher intellect, thus leading to her ability to have a wider range of emotions, to question her circumstances and form her own moral code.
As a result, she has a developed personality but also a childlike attitude towards certain topics, sometimes caring too much about something and at other times caring too little, and often her approach is very direct. I think Joel Shepherd did an incredible job giving Sandy an identity that stands out and at the same time making it clear that she is hardwired to be a certain way. I still don’t know what to make of her yet, but then again I didn’t have the benefit of getting to know her from the beginning of the series.
Ultimately, I went into this book knowing very little about it, but came out glad for the experience. Furthermore, I enjoyed this even though it has a bit of a cyberpunk feel to it, which was surprising but also a credit to the author, given how that has been a subgenre I’ve had little luck with in the past. A lot of the ideas I encountered were very interesting, and the book proved tough to put down.
Mogsy’s Book Haul
Posted on September 14, 2013 Leave a Comment
Thank goodness the influx of incredible ebook deals seems to have tapered off, or else I don’t know how much more my TBR pile can take. After the explosion of my last Book Haul, I promised I would show more restraint…still, there were one or two good deals that I couldn’t resist. But more on that later; for this time, most of my new arrivals are from the wonderful publishers I’ve gotten in touch with, and you should really check out their books! Here are this fortnight’s epic book loots, the physical pile first:
The Rift Walker and The Kingmakers – after I reviewed The Greyfriar, Pyr sent over the next two books in the Vampire Empire trilogy, which was swell because I’m loving this series! You can already read my review for The Rift Walker, because I couldn’t wait one more second to devour it.
Thief’s Covenant – also sent was something to whet my appetite for YA fantasy fiction. A very fun novel about a thief named Widdershins, and I’ve just finished reading this one, actually. Keep an eye out for my review, coming soon!
A Guile of Dragons – described as darkly humorous, I was told this one’s actually the first book of a prequel trilogy to Enge’s Morlock Ambrosius books. Sounds like something right up my alley, I can’t wait to get to this.
Mayhem – I recently got in touch with Jo Fletcher Books, the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror imprint of Quercus. They may be new-ish, but already JFB has published a lot of great titles. Mayhem was one I’d wanted to read for a while, and I was not disappointed. Easily one of the best, most exceptional books I’ve read this year.
Autumn Bones – huge fan of Jacqueline Carey here, and her Kushiel trilogy featuring Phedre will forever and ever be a favorite of mine. So I was intrigued when I got word she would be writing an Urban Fantasy series called Agent of Hel. I found I very much enjoyed the first book Dark Currents, and Autumn Bones is the second book Roc sent my way. This one is going to be fun, I can tell!
23 Years on Fire – an unsolicited arrival and an unexpectedly pleasant surprise! Out of curiosity, I’d picked it up to read the first few chapters and ended up finishing it soon after that. I haven’t read enough military sci-fi to know how I feel about the genre yet, but this book makes me optimistic. Review will be coming up in a few days, so look out for that.
The digital pile:
Pantomime – I really wanted to get this book when Strange Chemistry discounted a bunch of their ebooks for their first birthday celebration last month, but for some reason this title was the only one not showing up on Amazon with the sale price. It finally did, and you can bet I jumped on it! It’s still for $1.99 as far as I know, but grab it quick, because I don’t know for how much longer!
Infinity Blade: Redemption – who am I kidding, how can I ever turn down anything Brandon Sanderson does, even when it’s a novella based on an iOS game I’ve never played? I’ve read the first one (Infinity Blade: Awakening) after all, and with this for $2.99, heck yeah I’ll bite.
Ancillary Justice – been seeing a lot of good stuff about this book already, and I have a feeling this one is going to be BIG. So when I saw it up on NetGalley, I couldn’t help myself.
Ex-Purgatory – also couldn’t help myself. Loved the first three books of the Ex-Heroes series by Peter Clines and I’m sure I’m gonna love reviewing this fourth book as well.
Audiobook Review: City of Lies by Lian Tanner
Posted on September 13, 2013 Leave a Comment
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult
Series: The Keepers #2
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Author Info: www.liantanner.com.au/
Just assume that if I listen to an audiobook narrated by Claudia Black, that I will be giving her performance five stars. Not only does she once again do an excellent job with the various characters, but I continue to be amazed by how she can pull so much emotion from words on a page. It’s impossible not to get wrapped up in the action and emotion when she is so completely immersed in her telling. Not that this is surprising for me. I’ve been known to shed real and true tears along with her as she expresses her deepest regrets to a puppet.
Anyway, City of Lies takes place six months after the events of Museum of Thieves. The Fugleman is assumed dead and his Blessed Guardians have been removed from power, which means children are now free to roam without chains. Some parents and children aren’t quite ready for the change and make their own bindings. A broken limb and an almost drowning are raising tensions in the city of Jewel and calling the Protector’s abilities to keep the children safe into question, especially when rumours of a return of kidnappers proves true with the disappearance of a little girl.
Meanwhile, Goldie Roth has been busily avoiding the Museum of Dunt and the request to take her place as Keeper. Her parents are both unwell and she places their poor health squarely on her own shoulders as a result of her running away in the last book. Becoming a Keeper would mean abandoning her parents and that’s not something Goldie is willing to do, no matter how much her parents encourage her and her friend Toadspit demands it. The kidnapping forces Goldie to forget both of these concerns to focus solely on the rescue of not one but two children, whisked away to the city of Spoke which is about to celebrate its Festival of Lies. For two days, everything will be backwards. How will Goldie learn the truth and rescue her friends within a city of lies?
Once again, Goldie must rely on her wits and the skills of theft and stealth she learned in her previous adventure. And she must also deal with the mysterious voice in the back of her mind that continues to steer her. I’m glad the issue of the voice is addressed. It plays such a prominent role in Goldie’s decisions, as does the broach she wears that once belonged to her bold Auntie Praise. Neither device received much explanation for their purpose in the previous book, but clearly they are important. I’m not certain how I feel about the voice by the end of City of Lies, but I’m curious about how things will play out in the final book in the trilogy. Hopefully we’ll also get to learn a bit more about Auntie Praise.
I’m glad that Goldie’s guilt over her parents does not become an overwhelming shadow to the story, though I appreciate the level of responsibility it shows in Goldie. The whole concept of The Keepers series is to show that children don’t need as much protection as we believe they do. They can be trusted with responsibility and don’t need to be locked in protective bubbles for their own safety. That was more heavily addressed in the previous book, but the lingering paranoia of adults who don’t believe this to be true continues to hang over the plot.
I was disappointed in the lack of Broo in this story, though the tattered cat was a worthy replacement. I also missed the Museum of Dunt, which is a character unto itself. Not that Broo, the Museum and the other Keepers are forgotten, though. They all play a very important part in the story and their connection to Goldie and the children remains strong.
The festival of lies is a fun part of the adventure and the idea of having everyone say the opposite of what they mean is not overdone. Or rather, it could have become annoying, but keep in mind that this is a book written for a younger audience who would probably appreciate the backwards antics of the festival. I am a bit skeptical about the introduction of Princess Frisia, but am curious enough to find out how everything falls into place in the end.
Book Review: Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff
Posted on September 12, 2013 Leave a Comment
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Steampunk
Series: Book 2 of The Lotus War
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Date of Publication: September 17, 2013
Author Information: Website | Twitter
It’s going to be extremely difficult to talk about the sheer awesomeness of this book without giving spoilers, but darn it, I’m going to try! In general I tend not to do spoilers in reviews, but more important is the fact that I simply don’t think anything will compare to the emotional roller coaster of experiencing all the ups-and-downs of this book yourself.
Like the first book, though, it took me a while to get into the story. However, it’s significant to note that some of the best books I’ve ever read start off slow in the first 100 pages, and this has been the case with both books in this series so far. Part of this also has to do with the writing style, which I still find over-encumbered and hard to get used to.
But none of that mattered in the end; as soon as this book got its arashitora claws and talons in me, I was pretty much putty in its clutches! After the events of Stormdancer, I was on pins and needles wondering what Yukiko, Buruu, and the Kagen rebels would do now with the entire Shima Imperium in turmoil. My first shock was discovering the Lotus Guild’s choice for the new Shogun. That just can’t end well.
Now the Kagen are in a frenzy of planning, hoping to sabotage the Shogun-to-be’s wedding and foil the Guild’s aim to put him at the head of this new tyrannical dynasty. The enemy, however, are also plotting something of their own, something that would have the power to end the Kagen and destroy their forest home. Meanwhile, Yukiko flies off across the oceans on Buruu to learn more about the Kenning, her mysterious power that has been unstable as of late.
There’s definitely an epic feel to this series now, especially with the addition of more characters, their points-of-view, and multiple plot threads occurring in different places all at once. For the first time, we also get a brief glimpse of the world happening outside Shima, finally giving some context to this “gaijin war” we’ve been hearing about for the whole of the first book and a part of this one, but so far have seen none of the fighting or battles.
And if I thought the first 100 pages were slow, the last 100 pages certainly made up for them and more besides. I know “unputdownable” sounds cliched, but it was almost literally the truth when the book was practically glued to my fingers with the nervous sweat coming off of my hands, I kid you not. I don’t often like making comparisons to A Song of Ice and Fire when I talk about books (because truly, I have never come across anything quite like George R.R. Martin’s series) but there were definitely times where I felt this one was “Game of Thrones-ing” me. It was just shock after shock in the last quarter of the book, some which were expected, some not.
Of course, I had some issues, especially with some parts of the plot (like, what a nice convenient way to get Yukiko out of the picture for a while), and the prose with its excessive use of metaphors often made me want to tear my hair out, but overall these were overshadowed by the climax and finale, as well as an insane revelation about Yukiko. I cannot believe I didn’t see that one coming!
In the end, I think I liked this book even more than the first one because it was darker, more visceral, violent. I love books which are unpredictable and that keep me guessing, whose direction can change like the wind without warning. I liked how this was not a happy story. It has evolved a lot in this book, and its characters as well. Considering how Jay Kristoff left things off here in total chaos, I’m already looking forward to the next book which I have no doubt will be explosive.
Note: My copy was an advance reader edition from the publisher provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Book Review: The Incrementalists by Steven Brust and Skyler White
Posted on September 11, 2013 Leave a Comment
The Incrementalists bySteven Brust and Skyler White
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy
Series: Stand-alone
Publisher: Tor Books
Date of Publication: September 24, 2013
Author Information: Steven Brust Website | Twitter Skyler White Website | Twitter
My copy of this book was an ARC I received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Tor Books and NetGalley for making that happen! My recent positive experiences with the Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust had made me curious about this novel, so I was looking forward to checking it out.
The concept behind The Incrementalists is a very interesting and original one, and it only gets wilder as you read more of the story. Phil and Celeste are part of a secret society of two hundred people with an unbroken lineage of memories reaching back to the dawn of humankind. Their ongoing mission: to make the world better a little bit at a time through a process called “meddling” or “meddlework”, which they achieve through influencing others by nudging them gently towards a certain inclination.
With Celeste’s recent death, Phil goes looking for a new recruit for her next reincarnation, which is how he meets up with Renee “Ren” in Las Vegas. The book is told in alternating parts by these two characters, though Celeste remains a prominent presence in their lives. Always an unstable personality in life, Celeste is no different even in death. Now not only has her meddlework jeopardized Ren’s initiation, her plans also extend to affect her fellow Incrementalists, changing the rules and putting them all in danger.
The idea behind the Incrementalists’ work was what initially attracted me to this story. Personally, I felt the hints of both sci-fi and fantasy in the way their meddling process operates, which makes me think this would be an excellent book for readers who love cross-genre speculative fiction. To influence people, the Incrementalists would gather a list “switches” which are essentially memory and sensory factors which would trigger a reaction from their individual target. The Incrementalists themselves experience a sort of memory and personality “immortality” for as long as their consciousness stays stable through the reincarnations. All their collective knowledge or history of the world is seeded to the memory “Garden”, available for any Incrementalists to “graze” from. This concept feels almost magical to me in a way.
This would also be perfect for those looking for something more cerebral and abstract, as the book is also heavy on symbolism and metaphors and would be positively mind-bending for someone not expecting it. The story mostly focuses on the Incrementalists and their own inter-societal crisis that Celeste has wreaked, but I would have loved it even more if there had been more on their history, or if their mission goals of making the world “better” had been expanded upon.
I also enjoyed the writing style. Of the two authors, I’m not familiar with Skyler White, though after this book I may be open to checking out more of her writing. But from what I’ve read of Steven Brust’s fantasy novels, this definitely has the distinct feel of his work. The storytelling is so fast-paced, the reader has to be quick on their feet to keep up and you can’t zone out for a second lest you miss something. I like that the book isn’t bogged down with superfluous details, and in fact starts off with very little information, so you have to trust to the fact that more will be explained as the story progresses.
Overall, a great read if you’re looking for something a little fun, a little strange, and a little different!
Waiting On Wednesday 9/11/13
Posted on September 11, 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!
Star Wars: Razor’s Edge by Martha Wells: September 24, 2013 (Del Rey)
Martha Wells’ The Cloud Roads made me an immediate fan of the author and it was a no brainer that I would need to read her first adventure within the Star Wars universe. I love the leaps into the Star Wars future with stories like Legacy, but I’m also enjoying this recent return to tales about our original heroes.
Times are desperate for the Rebel Alliance. Harassment by the Empire and a shortage of vital supplies are hindering completion of a new secret base on the ice planet Hoth. So when Mid Rim merchants offer much-needed materials for sale, Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo lead an Alliance delegation to negotiate a deal.
But when treachery forces the rebel ship to flee into territory controlled by pirates, Leia makes a shocking discovery: the fierce marauders come from Leia’s homeworld of Alderaan, recently destroyed by the Death Star. These refugees have turned to pillaging and plundering to survive—and they are in debt to a pirate armada, which will gladly ransom the princess to the vengeful Empire . . . if they find out her true identity.
Struggling with intense feelings of guilt, loyalty, and betrayal, Leia is determined to help her wayward kinspeople, even as Imperial forces are closing in on her own crippled ship. Trapped between lethal cutthroats and brutal oppressors, Leia and Han, along with Luke, Chewbacca, and a battle-ready crew, must defy death—or embrace it—to keep the rebellion alive.
Mogsy’s Pick
The Terror, Dan Simmons’ horror novel inspired by the 1845 Franklin Arctic Expedition is probably one of the most bone-chilling novels I’ve ever read. The Abominable sounds very much like something in the same vein, and as such is right up my alley.
As they set off toward Everest, the men encounter other hikers who are seeking the boy’s body for their own mysterious reasons. What valuable item could he have been carrying? What is the truth behind the many disapperances on the mountain? As they journey to the top of the world, the three friends face abominable choices, actions–and possibly creatures. A bone-chilling, pulse-pounding story of supernatural suspense, THE ABOMINABLE is Dan Simmons at his best.”
Book Review: Mayhem by Sarah Pinborough
Posted on September 10, 2013 Leave a Comment
Genre: Horror
Series: Book 1
Publisher: Jo Fletcher
Date of Publication: April 25, 2013
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Interestingly enough, well before this book came into my life, I’d happened to be browsing through the many publishing-related newsletters in my email inbox one day when a deliciously creepy animated gif banner in one of them caught my eye. In fact, it was an announcement for this very title, bearing the tag line:
“Jack the Ripper is terrorizing London. Now a new killer is stalking the streets, the victims’ bodies are dismembered and their heads are missing…the killer likes to keep them.”
It gets even more intriguing than that. The book’s blurb also describes it as a supernatural thriller, and given my penchant for historical horror novels (particularly those featuring a paranormal angle) I just couldn’t resist. So you can imagine my excitement when I received Mayhem for review from Jo Fletcher Books, and remembering that banner with its promise of a hunt for a serial killer in Victorian London, I needed little convincing to start this right away.
Still, Mayhem isn’t really a story about Jack the Ripper. Between 1888 and 1891 there were a series of murders in or around the Whitechapel area, and the modus operandi of some of these were different enough that investigators theorized that they could have been committed by another person other than Jack. The idea of a separate “Torso Killer” in these “Thames Mysteries” is what forms the basis for this book, and in Sarah Pinborough’s version of the events, he takes his victims’ heads as trophies.
Though Jack the Ripper doesn’t take center stage in Mayhem, his name and his crimes are referred to frequently, and his terrifying hold over East London is part and parcel to the creation of the setting. Establishing that there’s the possibility of not just one but two killers stalking the streets creates this sense of dread that is pervasive throughout the novel. Because of the way the plot is set up, even when nothing suspenseful was happening on the page, the book always had me steeling myself in apprehension for something horrible to come along — that’s what a good horror novel does to me.
The supernatural aspect also helps in this regard; as I’ve said before in my past reviews, I like a touch of that in my horror. In Mayhem, it adds a whole new dimension to the story, making it a lot better than if this had been just a straight-up hunt for an ordinary mundane killer.
In spite of this, much in this book is rooted in reality. The author did her research, and even included events like the true instance of a reporter’s dog used in finding a severed leg during the Whitehall Mystery. Also, a couple of the book’s chief characters, like those involved with the investigations, were actual historical figures — the police detective Henry Moore and the British physician Thomas Bond, for example. The latter comes closest to being our main protagonist, with his chapters being the only ones written in the first person, while the others are in the third person. Initially, I found this point-of-view switching to be quite bizarre, but ultimately it worked for me.
Reports from news articles about the killings are also interspersed between the narratives, which not only establishes the timeline but also provides historical context. A work of fiction this may be, but the book never lets you forget that the Whitechapel murders, their victims and their grisly circumstances (especially in the case of Mary Jane Kelly) had really occurred, that at least one insane and very real killer had actually once terrorized London’s East End, and I think that’s what unsettled me the most as I was reading.
This was a very dark tale, chilling and disturbing without being overblown or excessive. The atmosphere of tension is subtle and builds gradually, but things peaked for me during that terrible scene at the dinner table involving Dr. Bond’s revelation. I didn’t realize until then that I was just like him — bracing myself for the inevitable macabre conclusion. This is highly recommended for those who like historical mysteries and crime fiction, particularly if you don’t mind a little paranormal thrown into the mix.
Note: I received a review copy of this book compliments of the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinions. My thanks to Jo Fletcher Books!
The BiblioSanctum 