Book Review: Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks
Posted on November 18, 2021 13 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Series: Book 1
Publisher: Angry Robot (November 9, 2021)
Length: 400 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Ah, Angry Robot, as ever living up to their mission of publishing the best in science fiction, fantasy, and WTF, and Swashbucklers is definitely one that belongs into the WTF category. This one sure threw me for a loop! To start, I was first drawn to the book because of its cover, so cleverly adorned with a video game controller in disguise, as well as its description which hinted vaguely at a sci-fi type adventure involving virtual worlds and the like. In reality though, it’s all that but also more.
The story first begins with the return of our protagonist Cisco Collins to his hometown after many years away. Tagging along is his eight-year-old son George, who has no idea why the move is having such a strange effect on his father, and to be honest, neither really does Cisco. Many of his childhood memories have faded away, including those of the event that happened thirty-two years ago when he and his friends fought off an invasion by an evil magical pirate called Deadman’s Grin and his army of minions from another realm. After it was all over, though, in an attempt to explain the away the phenomenon, the town blamed a gas leak for causing mass hallucination and the whole situation was eventually swept under the rug.
But now, some of the memories are returning to Cisco, which is why he has come home. A recent report in the news about a man killed by his child’s stuffed toy come to life has triggered something in his mind, and he’s not the only one. His best friends growing up—Jake, Doc, and Michelle—are also reminded of the enemy they had vanquished so long ago, and they fear the story of this bizarre death might be a sign of Deadman’s Grin’s reawakening. Still, they beat him once, they can do it again…right? Except now they are all several decades older, saddled with all the responsibilities that come with adulthood. Cisco himself is not in the best of health, and he has also his son to care for and to keep safe. Times have changed, so much that maybe even their old weapons and tricks will not be enough.
The best descriptions I have seen for Swashbucklers are the ones that compare it to Stranger Things, except the kids have all grown up and are reunited for one more go at the big baddie. It sits somewhere in the overlap between sci-fi and fantasy, bringing a strange mishmash of horror and the paranormal, geeky pop culture references, laser guns and video games of 80s nostalgia, and for good measure, we even have a bit of Halloween and Christmas thrown in.
Anyway, that’s all the good stuff. What didn’t work so well for me was the plot structure and pacing. Things also got weird, and to be fair, “weird” can be hit or miss. I very much enjoyed the intro and the first half of the book, which started out relatively linear and well-reasoned, but around midway, the story went off the rails a bit and started to lose me. Multiple flashbacks and switches in perspective also contributed to the confusion, but mostly I think my struggles were caused by the strangeness and surrealism, the almost phantasmagorical aspects of this novel. While more descriptive world-building may have helped, a lack of explanations and a failure to make certain connections left me feeling a bit untethered and disengaged.
Fortunately, I loved the characters. The premise of old gang getting back together is one of my favorite tropes, and author did a superb job showing how the years have changed everyone—some of them in more drastic ways than others. Fatherhood has made Cisco reevaluate his priorities, and a big chunk of the book shows him being torn between the desire for the adventure and doing the right thing. Whenever I felt the story losing me, the characters’ personal narratives and conflicts always somehow pulled me back.
Overall, a few stumbles aside, Swashbucklers was a good read and a nice surprise! A lot of quirky and a little crazy, this book would be perfect for readers who enjoy speculative fiction that doesn’t fit neatly into any category.
#SciFiMonth Waiting on Wednesday 11/17/21
Posted on November 17, 2021 7 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
Black Tide by K.C. Jones (May 10, 2022 by Nightfire)
Black Tide is described as a “character-driven science fiction/horror novel that explores what happens after a cataclysmic event leaves the world crawling with nightmares.” Straight onto the TBR it goes!
“It was just another day at the beach. And then the world ended.
Mike and Beth didn’t know each other existed before the night of the meteor shower. A melancholy film producer and a house sitter barely scraping by, chance made them neighbors, a bottle of champagne brought them together, and a shared need for human connection sparked something more.
After a drunken and desperate one-night-stand, the two strangers awake to discover a surprise astronomical event has left widespread destruction in its wake. But the cosmic lightshow was only a part of something much bigger, and far more terrifying. When a set of lost car keys leaves them stranded on an empty stretch of Oregon coast, when their emergency calls go unanswered and inhuman screams echo from the dunes, when the rising tide reaches for the car and unspeakable horrors close in around them, these two self-destructive souls must find in each other the strength to overcome past pain and the fight to survive a nightmare of apocalyptic scale.”
#SciFiMonth Sci-5 Tuesday: Extraterrestrial Plagues
Posted on November 16, 2021 18 Comments
To celebrate science fiction during the month of November, I’ve put together a series of posts I’ll be doing on Tuesdays to highlight the sci-fi tropes or themes that I find simply irresistible! I’ve also been fortunate to read some great books in the genre over the last few years, and to give them some extra attention, each week I will also be featuring five titles that I recently enjoyed or thought were pretty special.
So, Halloween might be over, but that doesn’t mean the horror has to stop! Today’s topic is one that pops up very often in in sci-fi horror, because earthly diseases are bad enough, but who knows what an alien virus can do? Without further ado, I present to you the following list of books featuring EXTRATERRESTIAL PLAGUES.
Salvation Day by Kali Wallace
Salvation Day is a thrilling, cinematic experience. Around a decade ago, the space exploration vessel House of Wisdom became abandoned after a deadly infectious virus was released on board, killing everyone on the ship. The sole survivor was Jaswinder, the son of a very prominent family in the political and scientific community. Subsequently adopted by his aunt, Jas spent the next ten years pretending he could not remember what happened and has tried to keep a low profile ever since. Meanwhile, the spaceship, which has become massive tomb, is left drifting in space. Now older, Jas is about to embark on his first journey back into space since the incident, along with a small group of his friends. But unbeknownst to him, he is the key to a plan hatched up by a cult who want to use his genetic signature to bypass the security measures guarding House of Wisdom. Zahra is one of the members of this cult, acting upon orders to hijack Jas’ shuttle and kidnap him. But not long after they take over of the shuttle, everything starts going wrong. Not surprisingly, when they reach the House of Wisdom, they find bodies. However, what Zahra finds disturbing is not the presence of the dead, but the way that they died, which does not appear consistent with what was reported by the government. She and her team had been inoculated against the virus that supposedly killed everyone, but the threat they are faced with is something else entirely. (Read the full review…)
Contagion by Erin Bowman
Contagion by Erin Bowman stars the ragtag crew of the Odyssey, a mining ship that responds to an SOS at a seemingly deserted base on a remote planet. Led by their determined but inexpereinced captain Dylan Lowe, the team immediately begins searching for survivors but instead find a pile of dead bodies. The ship’s doctor, microbiologist Dr. Lisbeth Tarlow appears baffled at the cause of all the death and carnage, but her seventeen-year-old intern Thea Sadik suspects her mentor may know more than she lets on. Meanwhile, the Odyssey’s pilot Nova Singh struggles with her developing feelings for Dylan, even as the headstrong captain makes increasingly impulsive decisions that endanger her people. On the planet, the crew also finds a disturbing message along with a chilling video made by one of the personnel before he died. Not long afterwards, the group is separated and Thea’s life is saved by a mysterious young man who claims to be the only survivor. But who is he and where did he come from? How did he stay alive when no one else was spared by whatever killed them? Finding the answers becomes imperative as one of the Odyssey’s crew suddenly becomes infected with an unknown contagion, putting all of their lives at risk unless the outbreak can be contained. (Read the full review…)
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Illuminae follows a pair of high school students, Kady and Ezra, who break up the morning their planet was invaded. Talk about poor timing. It is the year 2575 and whole galactic empires are ruled by megacorps, and the two teenagers just happen to reside on Kerenza, a small ice planet on the edge of the universe involved in a secret and illegal mining operation by one of these corporations. Rival corp BeiTech descends upon them, destroying the Kerenza settlement, leaving thousands dead and on the run. Kady and Ezra are among the lucky (unlucky?) survivors who end up on the Alexander fleet, made up of the three ships that came to Kerenza’s rescue. Damaged and crippled, the fleet limps away towards the closest jump gate more than half a year away, while an enemy dreadnaught follows in hot pursuit, determined to leave no witnesses. But when it comes to the refugees’ problems, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Exposed to some of the biological weapons BeiTech used in their attack, many of the survivors come down with a highly contagious plague which turns its victims into mindless, savage husks. To make things worse, several systems on the Alexander were also damaged beyond repair, resulting in a crazed AI running the ship. Through it all, Kady and Ezra are starting to realize just how tiny and insignificant their problems were back in their simple, sheltered lives on Kerenza. After all this death and destruction, all they have left is each other. (Read the full review…)
Adrift by W. Michael Gear
Adrift is the fifth book in the Donovan series, taking us to the seas where the Maritime Unit has just set up their research facilities perched on the edge of a reef, hundreds of miles from the closest shore. Having survived the last ten years trapped aboard the Ashanti with a cult of cannibals, the members of this small team mostly made up of oceanographers and marine scientists are excited to have finally arrived on the planet and are eager to start studying its aquatic ecosystems. Unfortunately though, hubris proved to be their downfall. Most of the members of this close-knit group are parents, their children having been born on the Ashanti, and this shared communal experience of raising their kids under those harsh conditions had brought them all even closer than before. But from deadly sea monsters to killer algae, poor Maritime Unit never catches a break. They thought they could handle themselves and do their research the way they wanted to, but no one understands life on Donovan, and anyone who thinks they do are taught a swift and deadly lesson. (Read the full review…)
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
When James Holden and the crew of his ice mining ship encounter a derelict ship near Saturn, they find themselves in possession of a deadly secret that certain shadowy factions are willing to kill for. Now Holden is on the run, even as tensions are running high through the system, threatening to boil over. Meanwhile, a whole different world away, a detective named Miller is looking for a missing girl on Ceres. Her father is a billionaire who seemingly has unlimited resources to throw at the search, but his daughter proves elusive, having run away to join the Outer Planets Alliance, a loose network of militant organizations. Eventually though, Miller does find her, which also leads to the discovery of a mysterious new organic life that infects the body and feeds on exposure to energy and radiation. With all that has happened in The Expanse series after so many novels and even a TV show, it’s easy to forget it all began with the protomolecule, an alien entity first discovered on Phoebe and then released on Eros as part of an experiment to find out what it was designed to do. Well, we sure found out, didn’t we?
#SciFiMonth Audiobook Review: Activation Degradation by Marina J. Lostetter
Posted on November 15, 2021 15 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Activation Degradation by Marina J. Lostetter
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: HarperAudio (September 14, 2021)
Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
Author Information: Website
Narrator: Hayden Bishop
The publisher description compares Activation Degradation to The Murderbot Diaries, which is quite ambitious, to say the least. But how does that really stack up? Well, let’s just say I despise blurbs like these for a reason, mainly because they have a way of raising undue expectations and setting readers up for disappointment, not to mention that, more often than not, they tend to diminish the books themselves. Personally, Activation Degradation did not feel anything like Murderbot to me, but honestly, that’s not a bad thing. Although it also features a cyborg protagonist, the story itself is uniquely its own and offers something different.
Readers are thrown into the action right away, as the book opens with an alien attack on an orbital helium-3 mine above the planet Jupiter where the defender bot known as Unit Four was being stored, triggering its activation. The sudden switch is disorienting, but with the help of its handler, Unit Four is able to fend off the invaders and protect its home and its precious cargo. However, its actions ultimately lead it to become captured, though it has protocols in place for dealing these kinds of situations too. Following its orders, Unit Four is prepared to lay low and observe the enemy while awaiting retrieval by its handler, whose arrival should be imminent.
What Unit Four did not expect though, is to have its entire worldview blown apart. The enemies are not as they have been described to it by its handlers, and nothing in its databanks can resolve this discrepancy nor any of the new information it is receiving now from its captors. All of it can be a lie, of course, but somehow Unit Four doesn’t think so. The sudden realization that it may have been deceived its entire short life sends shock overloading its systems, but at least now Unit Four knows it has an even more important mission. Its sister-units are still under the control of their makers, unaware of the truth, and in order to free them, Unit Four must also save everyone on the ship before time runs out.
One reason I love reading books about A.I. or robot protagonists is being able to experience a whole different point of view. These characters, the best ones at least, should be relatable but also sound distinctly “robot-like” to make them stand out from their human counterparts. That is, after all, why I love Murderbot, whose personality is quirky enough to feel “other” but still familiar enough to be charming and appealing. Bringing this back to Activation Degradation though, Unit Four is definitely a more simplistic character, because it is also a more emotional one. While this in itself is not a negative, I certainly hadn’t expected to suspend my disbelief so much when it came to Unit Four’s plausibility as a cyborg protagonist.
On its surface, Activation Degradation also reads very much like an action sci-fi thriller. I’ve read one other book by Marina J. Lostetter before this, which was the moody, broody dark fantasy mystery The Helm of Midnight, and it’s a testament to the author’s versatility, I suppose, that this one felt completely different. For one, the story moved at a breakneck pace that just wouldn’t let up, with info dumping kept to a minimal. The prose was also lighter and more readable, creating an energetic and entertaining atmosphere that’s obviously geared more towards mass appeal. I’m sure it comes as no surprise when I say this was by far a much more fun book to read.
Still, there was a lot going on in this story too, and perhaps not enough time to fully explore the themes and topics the author wanted to bring attention to. A major twist was also telegraphed too early, spoiling a couple of the plot’s biggest surprises, though that might just be due to the way I approached the book by overthinking things. Needless to say, this is a novel best experienced with no expectations; simply enjoy this one as an action-adventure story, let it whisk you away and treat any allusions to deeper philosophical messages as a nice bonus.
All told, I would consider this for your TBR if you’re into thrilling adventure sci-fi that explores the themes of artificial intelligence and what it means to be human, though Murderbot fans please treat what’s written in the publisher’s blurb with a grain of salt. Overall a solid novel that combines the excitement of space escapades with the complexities of human drama.
Audiobook Review: The Hidden by Melanie Golding
Posted on November 14, 2021 17 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC (November 9, 2021)
Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Melanie Golding became an author to watch after her haunting debut Little Darlings kept me up for nights; it was so unnerving. The book was the exactly the type of mystery thriller I like to read—suspense laced with a touch of the paranormal, just enough to make you wonder. When I learned that her next novel The Hidden would also strike a similar kind of balance, I became very excited to read it, and I’m pleased to say it did not disappoint. In many ways, I might have liked it even more.
The story opens on an intriguing scene: it’s the middle of winter, on a cold dark night. A local shopkeeper at a small seaside town notices a little girl wandering around by herself and calls the authorities. Not long afterwards, a frantic woman arrives, claiming to be the child’s mother, saying that her daughter had run off on her while she wasn’t looking. Both police and social services watch on as the toddler embraces the relieved woman, looking genuinely happy to see her. Satisfied with the explanation, they decide to release the pair with just a stern warning. After all, it is a familiar enough situation—curious kids manage to get away from their distracted parents all the time.
Meanwhile, in a nearby town, DS Joanna Harper is none too pleased to be summoned to a bloody crime scene on Christmas Eve, though if she’s honest with herself, a part of her is somewhat glad for the distraction. Her personal life is a bit of a mess right now, and one way she deals with it is by throwing herself into her work, and this sure to be a case to keep her busy. A man was found in his flat lying in a bathtub bleeding out, but miraculously, he’s still alive, albeit in a deep coma. Interviewing the neighbors, Joanna finds out from one of them that there might have been a child living with the victim, even though records showed that the man lived alone. A search of the apartment turns up a few toys, however, confirming that suspicion, but then that leaves the question, where might that child be now?
The story then kind of switches tack, revealing a portion of it in flashback, going back several months to follow Ruby, a kind-hearted but naïve young woman who had just moved out to be on her own. She ends up at a quaint little apartment complex where she becomes drawn to a neighbor named Gregor who is handsome, charming, and perfect boyfriend-material—except for the fact that he still lives with his agoraphobic and mentally unstable ex and their young daughter. That’s too much baggage for Ruby, who decides to be just friends, helping Gregor care for his little girl Leonie and her mother Constance. As the weeks pass, Ruby begins to see what Gregor means. Constance seems to believe herself to be a kind of sea creature, claiming to be a part of a selkie clan, and that she can’t return to her home in the sea anymore because Gregor has her sealskin coat. Still, as crazy as it all sounds to Ruby, she can’t deny there are things that seem off about Gregor, and as she grows closer to Constance and Leonie, she also can’t help but notice the strange dynamic in the household, or the ever-present atmosphere of fear.
While the above might seem confusing or disjointed, I promise all of it will eventually make sense in the end. Admittedly, I was thrown off very early on by the flashbacks, finding it disorienting with the frequent transitions, but as the story progresses and the timelines eventually converge, following it became easier.
Also, I think it’s worth mentioning that this isn’t DC Joanna Harper’s appearance. If you’ve read Little Darlings, you might recall she was a major character, even though The Hidden doesn’t appear to be a traditional follow-up and neither does this feel like it’s shaping up to be a traditional kind of series. To be clear though, you absolutely do not have to read Little Darlings to pick up The Hidden, and quite honestly, I didn’t even make the connection with Joanna until about halfway through.
Still, I believe readers who enjoyed Little Darlings will appreciate on a deeper level this fantastic opportunity to get to know her on a more personal level as well as discover more about her home life. First, we find out early on that Joanna and Ruby are related, and in a most complicated manner. Though in truth they are mother and daughter, the two were raised as sisters since Joanna had Ruby as a young teen. Joanna’s mother, an alcoholic, made their lives growing up together very difficult, so that by the time The Hidden starts, the three women are barely speaking to each other.
Needless to say, even though the main story is a mystery, the side arcs exploring Joanna and Ruby’s relationship also gets a lot of attention, making this book a tale of family ties and hardships as well, delving into topics related to estrangement, alcoholism, emotional abuse, and mental illness. And you know what? I loved The Hidden all the more for it. As much as I enjoyed the thriller and mystery aspects, I thought the family themes gave the story much greater significance and richness.
If a thrill was what you came for though, do not fret—the final sections of the book will keep you on edge for sure. Thanks to Golding prose, which was just so tense and on point, I found my attention utterly riveted to the events playing out before me and could not stop tear myself away until the very last word.
A final shoutout also goes to the narrator of the audiobook, which I had the unbelievable pleasure and privilege to listen to. I’ve been an audiobook listener for years, and have heard incredible performances by many readers, but only a handful have ever blown me away the way Penelope Rawlins did. Many narrators read the lyrics or verses to songs in books, for example, but not Rawlins, who actually sang all the parts. And what a beautiful voice she has—clear, ringing, and haunting—bringing to life all the Celtic tunes and lullabies that were a big part of the story, and so meaningful as well because the character of Ruby is also a violinist, with music being a huge part of her life. Overall, Rawlins delivered a fantastic performance as a reader, with pitch-perfect accents and voices, making The Hidden one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to.
Bookshelf Roundup: 11/13/21: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on November 13, 2021 22 Comments
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
Received for Review
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!
A huge thanks to Orbit Books for a couple surprises in my mailbox this week! First came this ARC of Engines of Empire by R.S. Ford, the first book of The Age of Uprising series. I’ve definitely got my eye on this one, so its arrival was definitely a welcome one. And then came this curious ARC without a final cover, which turned out to be The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan. Another one I’m interested in, so looks like my early 2022 will be packed with some exciting epic fantasy.
You might recall that a couple months ago I featured The Hawthorne School by Sylvie Perry on one of my Waiting on Wednesdays, so when I saw the audiobook for request at NetGalley, I just couldn’t resist. I love me a story with a creepy school setting and Gothic vibes! With thanks to Dreamscape Media for the listening copy.
And with thanks to HarperAudio for an ALC of Nanny Dearest by Flora Collins. I still very much find myself in the mood for thrillers these days, and was craving a bit of the domestic suspense variety. The synopsis to this one just caught my eye!
Reviews
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant (5 of 5 stars)
The Body Scout by Lincoln Michel (4 of 5 stars)
Hyde by Craig Russell (2 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
What I’ve Been Reading
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!
#SciFiMonth Friday Face-Off: “Star” in the Title
Posted on November 12, 2021 17 Comments
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
~ a cover of a book with “STAR” IN THE TITLE
The Stars Now Unclaimed by Drew Williams
The Stars Now Unclaimed is a book that wastes no time in dumping readers into a story embroiled in secrets, intrigue, and action. Jane, our protagonist who starts off unnamed until her purposes are revealed around halfway through the book, is an agent for the Justified, an organization dedicated to locating and retrieving gifted young people scattered throughout the galaxy. Years ago, when the mysterious Pulse happened, whole worlds were changed when they lost all their technology due to the radiation, but one of its side effects also caused children to be born with strange, incredible powers. The Justified believe that these special children are the key to fixing the damage caused by the Pulse, which is why Jane has been dispatched to a wild and untamed planet to find one of them now, a teenager named Esa. But almost immediately, Jane is ambushed by the Pax, an army of aggressive conquering zealots who were largely unaffected by the Pulse and believe that gives them the right to rule the entire galaxy. The retrieval job quickly devolves into a rescue mission as Jane desperately tries to get Esa off-world to some place safe, recruiting the help of some new and old allies, including her ship’s AI, a sentient robot named Preacher, a Justified information broker, as well as her roguish ex-lover Javi.
Let’s take a look at the covers:
From left to right:
Tor Books (2018) – Simon & Schuster UK (2018)
Simon & Schuster UK (2019) – German Edition (2020)
Winner:
It’s simplistic, but I just love the Simon & Schuster 2018 UK edition with its representation of the planets’ orbits, and in particular the delightful typeface they’ve chosen that goes so perfectly with art style. It wasn’t even close, that one’s my favorite this week.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Thriller Thursday Audio: These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Posted on November 11, 2021 25 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (November 16, 2021)
Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Bronson Pinchot
I challenge anyone to read These Silent Woods without falling to pieces. No, seriously, I was an emotional mess after this one, even with prior knowledge that this wasn’t going to your typical sensational thriller. For context though, this is a story about a man and his young daughter living in isolation in a cabin in the northern Appalachians. The father is secretive and careful about keeping to themselves, barely venturing out beyond their patch of forest, relying on a trusted source on the outside to bring them supplies. He’s even nervous about using his real name, going by the alias Cooper instead, while his little girl is given the nickname Finch.
Later, we discover that the two of them have been living like this for a while, ever since Finch was a baby. Out here in the remote wilderness though, with no running water, no electricity, and no contact with the outside world, how long can Cooper hope to keep raising his child under such conditions? Already, Finch has been asking difficult questions, and showing increasing defiance in the face of his strict rules. At eight years old, her precocious mind is craving knowledge as well as social interaction, and Cooper knows what he can provide is not enough, though neither can he bring himself to tell Finch the truth of why they must live this way or how they got here. He’s still haunted by those past events, and he’s afraid of slipping up even just a little bit, because it would mean losing his daughter forever.
Only two people in the world know they exist. One is a local hermit named Scotland whom Cooper barely trusts, but the old man seems amenable to keeping his secrets for now, and he is also kind to Finch. The other is Cooper’s old Army buddy Jake, who actually owns the property and had arranged for them to hide out in his cabin. Every winter, Jake is also the one who brings them their much-needed supplies before the snows set in. But this year, Jake misses his visit, making Cooper very worried for his friend as well as what he must now do to survive. He and his daughter will need food, making a trip into civilization all but unavoidable, and if that wasn’t bad enough, for days, Cooper has been noticing signs that their once safe haven has been breached. A trespasser has been in their woods, that much is clear, but what are their motivations? And how will Cooper keep Finch’s curiosity from putting them at risk?
Sometimes you go into a book with expectations, but then get something you weren’t prepared for, something that makes you think and feel in ways that surprise you. I love it when that happens, and These Silent Woods was that kind of novel. Yes, it’s a thriller, but calling it that feels inadequate and risks selling it short. It is also a family drama, a story about genuine characters just doing all they can to try and stay together and survive. Cooper is many things—a widower, a war veteran, a man in hiding—but above everything else he is a loving father who wants to do right by his daughter. He knows he’ll have to explain everything to her at some point, but he can’t quite bring himself to do it just yet because…well, it’s complicated.
And so, the plot gradually sheds its layers of secrets, revealing to readers, little by little, the events in Cooper’s life that have led him and Finch to this point. Along the way we are also treated to some pretty intense situations, like for instance, with their too-curious neighbor Scotland who always seems to be poking his nose into their business, and who may or may not have ulterior motives for keeping such a close eye on them. Then there are all the too-close encounters in town, where every friendly citizen stopping to engage in small talk with Cooper suddenly becomes a high-stress edge-of-your-seat scenario that threatens to expose him. All this tension culminates eventually in a moment of truth as an unexpected ally shows up at the cabin, and Finch spies a lone stranger with a camera taking pictures of the woods around where they live.
As for the rest, you’re going to have to find out for yourselves by picking up this book, because I’m not going to reveal anything more about the plot past this point except to say that the story just gets better and better. As for how my emotions got completely destroyed, well, that came later in the novel, in the climax and denouement sections of the ending, and all I can say about that is…wow. Just wow.
Needless to say, I highly recommend These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant, and looks like I’m going to have to look into what else she’s written, because now I want to read more! I also want to praise the audiobook and give a shoutout to Bronson Pinchot, who did most of the narration. This isn’t the first audiobook I’ve heard him read, but by far it’s his most memorable performance and one of my favorites. He was absolutely perfect as Cooper, his voice conveying all the strength and emotional weight required for this beautiful tale to come alive.
#SciFiMonth Waiting on Wednesday 11/10/21
Posted on November 10, 2021 14 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
Rosebud by Paul Cornell (April 26, 2022 by Tor.com)
In honor of Sci-Fi Month, I’m featuring sci-fi picks for my Waiting on Wednesday posts for the whole of November! This week, the spotlight is on this upcoming novella by Paul Cornell. Sure, I may prefer longer novels, but this one had me at the locked-room premise. How can I resist that?
“A multilayered, locked-room science fiction novella from Paul Cornell in which five digital beings unravel their existences to discover the truth of their humanity.
“The crew of the Rosebud are, currently, and by force of law, a balloon, a goth with a swagger stick, some sort of science aristocrat possibly, a ball of hands, and a swarm of insects.”
When five sentient digital beings—condemned for over three hundred years to crew the small survey ship by the all-powerful Company—encounter a mysterious black sphere, their course of action is clear: obtain the object, inform the Company, earn lots of praise.
But the ship malfunctions, and the crew has no choice but to approach the sphere and survey it themselves. They have no idea that this object—and the transcendent truth hidden within—will change the fate of all existence, the Company, and themselves.”
#SciFiMonth Excerpt & US Giveaway: Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
Posted on November 9, 2021 9 Comments
***The giveaway is now over, thank you to everyone who entered!***
As part of Sci-Fi Month, I’m excited to celebrate the highly anticipated paperback edition of Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, which officially releases today with a gorgeous new cover! Back in 2011, the author’s debut Ready Player One took the world by storm with its depiction of virtual worlds and 80s nostalgia. Now in the sequel, protagonist Wade Watts returns with another action-packed adventure. The BiblioSanctum is pleased to be working with the publisher to feature an excerpt and giveaway for the book, so we hope you’ll check it out and also see the end of the post for more information on how you can win a copy!
Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
An unexpected quest. Two worlds at stake. Are you ready?
Days after Oasis founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.
Hidden within Halliday’s vault, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the Oasis a thousand times more wondrous, and addictive, than even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle and a new quest. A last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.
And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who will kill millions to get what he wants. Wade’s life and the future of the Oasis are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.
Excerpted from Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline. Copyright © 2020 by Ernest Cline. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Cutscene
After I won Halliday’s contest, I remained offline for nine straight days—a new personal record.When I finally logged back in to my OASIS account, I was sitting in my new corner office on the top floor of the GSS skyscraper in downtown Columbus, Ohio, preparing to start my gig as one of the company’s new owners. The other three were still scattered across the globe: Shoto had flown back home to Japan to take over operations at GSS’s Hokkaido division. Aech was enjoying an extended vacation in Senegal, a country she’d dreamed of visiting her whole life, because her ancestors had come from there. And Samantha had flown back to Vancouver to pack up her belongings and say goodbye to her grandmother, Evelyn. She wasn’t due to arrive here in Columbus for another four days, which seemed like an eternity. I needed to distract myself until our reunion, so I decided to log back in to the OASIS and try out a few more of the superuser abilities my avatar now possessed.
I climbed into my brand-new top-of-the-line OASIS immersion rig, a Habashaw OIR-9400, then put on my visor and haptic gloves and initiated the login sequence. My avatar reappeared where I’d last logged out, on the planet Chthonia, standing outside the gates of Castle Anorak. As I’d anticipated, there were thousands of other avatars already gathered there, all waiting patiently for me to make an appearance. According to the newsfeed headlines, some of them had been camped out there all week—ever since I’d resurrected them in the aftermath of our epic battle against the Sixers.
In my first official act as one of GSS’s new owners, just a few hours after the fight ended, I’d authorized our admins to restore all the items, credits, and power levels those heroic users had lost, along with their avatars. I thought it was the least we could do to repay them for their help, and Samantha, Aech, and Shoto had agreed. It was the first decision we’d voted on as the company’s new co-owners.
As soon as the avatars in my vicinity spotted me, they began to run in my direction, closing in on me from all sides at once. To avoid getting mobbed, I teleported inside the castle, into Anorak’s study—a room in the highest tower that I alone could enter, thanks to the Robes of Anorak I now wore. The obsidian-black garment endowed my avatar with the godlike powers Halliday’s own avatar had once possessed.
I glanced around the cluttered study. Here, just over a week ago, Anorak had declared me the winner of Halliday’s contest and changed my life forever.
My eyes fell upon the painting of a black dragon that hung on the wall. Beneath it stood an ornate crystal pedestal with a jewel-encrusted chalice resting on top of it. And cradled within the chalice was the object I’d spent so many years searching for: Halliday’s silver Easter egg.
I walked over to admire it, and that was when I noticed something strange—an inscription on the egg’s otherwise pristine surface. One that definitely hadn’t been there when I’d last seen it, nine days earlier.
No other avatars could enter this room. No one could’ve tampered with the egg. So there was only one way that inscription could’ve gotten there. Halliday himself must have programmed it to appear on the egg’s surface. It could have appeared right after Anorak gave me his robes, and I’d just been too distracted to notice.
I bent down to read the inscription: GSS—13th Floor—Vault #42–8675309.
About the Author
Ernest Cline is a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. He is the author of the novels Ready Player One and Armada and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 150 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his family, a time-traveling DeLorean, and a large collection of classic video games.
Ready Player Two Giveaway
And now it’s time for the giveaway! With thanks to Random House, we have three copies of the Ready Player Two paperbacks up for grabs. With apologies to our international readers, due to geographical restrictions, this giveaway is only available to addresses/residents in the US only.
As to how you can enter, this part’s super easy. All you have to do is fill out the form below with your name and email address. Winners will be randomly selected and noticed by email once the giveaway entry period ends in one week. All information will only be used for the purposes of contacting the winner and sending them their prize.
So what are you waiting for? Enter now for your chance to win! Good luck!
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