Waiting on Wednesday 06/30/21
Posted on June 30, 2021 20 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
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi (March 22, 2022 by Tor Books)
I’ll be honest, I didn’t love Scalzi’s Interdependency trilogy but his next project looks like it’s going to be very different and perhaps more up my alley. Still, I can’t be the only one disappointed by this cover when they did the reveal, right? Here’s this book about Kaiju, and that’s seriously the cover we’re getting. Arrgh.
“Something BIG is coming… John Scalzi’s first standalone adventure since the conclusion of his New York Times bestselling, Hugo-nominated Interdependency trilogy.
When COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food delivery apps. That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls “an animal rights organization.” Tom’s team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit. Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on.
What Tom doesn’t tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth. Not our Earth, at at least. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm and human-free world. They’re the universe’s largest and most dangerous panda and they’re in trouble.
It’s not just the Kaiju Preservation Society whose found their way to the alternate world. Others have, too. And their carelessness could cause millions back on our Earth to die.”
Book Review: The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
Posted on June 29, 2021 18 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Series: Book 2 of The Goblin Emperor
Publisher: Tor Books (June 22, 2021)
Length: 240 pages
Author Information: Website
The Witness for the Dead is marketed as a standalone sequel to Katherine Addison’s The Goblin Emperor, but to tell the truth, it’s more of a separate story rather than a direct continuation. The story follows protagonist Thara Celehar, who holds the titular role of Witness for the Dead, or someone who has the ability to speak to the recently deceased. Sometimes, he may even glean the final moments of their life—what they saw, what they thought, what they felt. You might remember him from the first book as the court Prelate of Ulis who helped Maia find out the truth about the deaths of his father and brothers, but even if haven’t read it, it won’t matter. This novel works perfectly fine as a self-contained story, and it’s something of a murder mystery, which held the greatest appeal for me.
As the book begins, we discover that Celehar is now residing in the city of Amalo, far removed from the royal palace setting we were introduced to in The Goblin Emperor. His new post allows him to serve the common people, which he finds rewarding, though as we’ll soon find out, he has not been able to completely escape the world of politics. His latest assignment takes him to the glamorous Vermilion Opera where he must investigate the death of Arveneӓn Shelsin, one of their star performers whose body was pulled from the canal in one of the seedier parts of town. As the elven singer was something of an arrogant and petulant prima donna when she was alive, there is no shortage of people who disliked her, but did any of them despise her enough to kill her? If Celehar is to do his job properly, which means burying Shelsin with the respect she is due, then he needs to know the truth. Unfortunately though, this means he must interrogate everyone close to the victim, and before long Celehar is faced with the unpleasant possibility of having to confront some powerful and dangerous people.
My impression is that Katherine Addison has a fondness for writing mysteries, given that her last novel The Angel of the Crows was pretty much Sherlock Holmes fanfic with angels. But for several reasons, I felt The Witness for the Dead is a much better book and a lot more effective. One, the world of The Goblin Emperor is entirely her own and so is the character of Thara Celehar, who is one of the best protagonists I have had the pleasure to come across in ages. Two, I loved being back in the Elflands, despite—or perhaps because of—the fact that the setting is so different from the first book. Don’t get me wrong, I had fun exploring the glitz and glamor of the royal court with Maia, but personally I found the bustling city of Amalo to be much more interesting. Certainly, we got to meet a greater diversity of characters and experience a more varied slice of life in this world than we got from the palace.
But ultimately—and I feel it’s worth reiterating again and again—it was really Celehar who stole the show. I liked that he was a unique character, with endless layers to his personality and thought process, making him a rather unconventional detective. The religious piety and respect for rituals that he showed in the first book are emphasized here, as on the whole the common people of Amalo are more devout than the nobility at Court, and so our protagonist finds himself in his element. Still, he is painfully formal in all his interactions, but also likes to speak frankly. While on the surface, this combination of traits might not make him seem very appealing, I have to say it had the effect of endearing him to me even more. It’s also important to note that he’s not just being overly polite for the sake of etiquette, but because he relies on some of that formality as a shield in uncomfortable social situations. This somehow made him come across as more authentic to me, a narrator I could easily sympathize with, and I liked how Addison was able to subtly convey all that about his personality through just his conversations and actions.
And obviously, I can never resist a fantasy mystery. I thought the storyline was well done here, with the author utilizing a number of plot devices and genre elements to great effect. As Celehar conducts his investigation, clues are dropped aplenty, with seemingly unrelated side arcs ending up playing a role later on. Sure, the novel didn’t have the same glowing softness and aura of opulence that The Goblin Emperor had, but to me, that’s a good thing. To be honest, I much preferred the murder mystery feel to the courtly drama and political intrigue, and admittedly my mood at the time was probably better suited for the more down-to-earth vibes of The Witness for the Dead.
As such, this book gets my recommendation for readers with a penchant for mystery fantasy fiction, especially if you enjoy character-focused stories. Thara Celehar is an unforgettable protagonist whose incredible characterization and unique voice will stay with me for a long time. I also wouldn’t be too concerned with reading the series books in order. Since The Witness for the Dead reads more like a spin-off than a true sequel, not having the first book under your belt isn’t going to disadvantage you at all, not to mention that as much as I enjoyed The Goblin Emperor, I actually think this book was better.
Audiobook Review: The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
Posted on June 28, 2021 11 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: HarperAudio (June 8, 2021)
Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
The Wolf and the Woodsman takes us to a small pagan village called Keszi, where our protagonist Évike is the only young woman among her wolf-girl peers without any powers. This leads her to be shunned by the rest of the villagers, who whisper behind her back about her parentage, blaming her Yehuli father and his corrupted bloodline for her lack of magic. Every few years though, the Holy Order of Woodsmen will travel through the village, taking a magic-wielding wolf-girl as a sacrifice to their king as tribute. Évike figured she would be of no interest to them, but when the soldiers arrive on that fateful day demanding a seer, she is handed over to the Woodsmen by Keszi’s leader under false pretenses.
On the way back to the capital though, their party was ambushed by monsters, leading to the slaughter of all save for Évike and the lead Woodsman. His name is Gáspár, and it turns out he is actually the crown prince. Furious that Évike is not who she claims to be, he is nonetheless aware that they must work together if they are to survive. Of course, it helps that Gáspár knows what it’s like to be an outcast. His own people distrust him because his mother is a foreign queen, and he also worries that his brother, Nándor, will try to usurp the throne. To keep Keszi from being destroyed by the king’s wrath, Évike enters into tenuous agreement with the prince, promising to help him stop his fanatical brother.
As their alliance strengthens, the feelings between Gáspár and Évike also continue to grow. What follows is a tale of action and adventure, palace intrigue, beguiling magic systems and world-building, and tender romance. On a deeper level, each of the characters also embark on their own journeys of self-discovering and acceptance. The world has given Évike very little reason to show mercy, having lived her whole life treated like a second-class citizen by the villagers of Keszi, and yet she will not allow the darkness of the past overshadow the goodness in her heart, no matter how full of rage she may be. Gáspár too has led a troubled life, despite being royalty. His father is a power-hungry maniac, and his cruel and vindictive brother Nándor isn’t any better. Gáspár had no need to risk his life, but for the sake of his people and their future, he would not stand by and let evil continue.
The story and themes behind The Wolf and the Woodsman are also heavily influenced by Jewish mythology and folklore, as well as Hungarian history and fairy tales. So if you enjoyed the works of Rena Rossner like The Sisters of the Winterwood and The Light of the Midnight Stars, or books like Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, this definitely falls within the same vein and might be one to check out as well. The sources from which the author draws her inspiration are varied and rich, and it’s fascinating the ways she incorporates and transforms them for the story. There’s also a strong dash of horror elements, a smattering of traumatic sequences with descriptions of violence, blood, and gore. So it’s good to keep in mind while there is plenty of magic and beauty in this novel, it’s not so gentle either.
So why not a higher rating? Like so many debuts, The Wolf and the Woodsman suffers from pacing issues. The typical pattern applies here: a strong intro peters out into a dragging middle, made slower and more meandering with a romance arc and general overcomplication of the plot, and then finally finishing with an explosive ending. To be sure, there are high points as well as the low points, but I would say the latter seem more frequent and prolonged. While listening to the audio version, there were parts where I tuned out when my attention wandered, but found I couldn’t really be bothered to go back and relisten, and in the end it didn’t even matter because it turned out I missed nothing important anyway. Too often, the narrative takes far too long to get to the point, leading to a too busy plot and a lack of focus, ultimately dragging down the experience.
Still, it’ll likely be worthwhile for the right audience, say, if you are a fan of the aforementioned authors and books, and certainly if you are a fan of fantasy romance or folklore and mythology inspired stories you may wish to give The Wolf and the Woodsman a closer look. The audiobook edition I reviewed was also well done, read by the very talented Saskia Maarleveld who is one of my favorite narrators.
Bookshelf Roundup: 06/26/21: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on June 26, 2021 17 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.
Summer is in full swing, which means with school out and me still working from home, the last week has been one of schedule changes and adjustments. I didn’t get time to read as much, and even less to write reviews, which is why I haven’t been as active around the blog or with comments, so please bear with me while I sort things out! With long weekends and vacations coming up, it might be take a few weeks, but I’m determined to get through my stack of beach reads this summer, and nothing’s gonna stop me!
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!
Big thanks to Tachyon Publications for an ARC of Arch of Bone by Jane Yolen, which has a fantastic premise. Described as a story continuing from where Moby Dick left off, this adventure follows 14-year-old Josiah Starbuck and his dog Zeke as they they journey to discover the secrets of the Pequod and what really happened to his dad.
Also thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books for a hardcover copy of Wings of Shadow by Nicki Pau Preto, the final book of the Crown of Feathers trilogy. I’m looking forward to see how everything will end, and I love that cover so much!
Thank you as well to Subterranean for an ARC of The Best of Dark Terrors edited by Stephen Jones and David A. Sutton. As of this writing this book still isn’t on Goodreads and I can find little about it beyond what’s on the publisher website (which I’ve linked), but if the cover is any indication, this is going to be one terrifying collection. I might even check it out, as there are a quite a few authors on the list I’m familiar with.
On to the digital review copies, which is really the audiobook pile these days! With thanks to Tantor Audio for a listening copy of Darling by K. Ancrum, a Peter Pan retelling. ‘Nuff said!
And with huge thanks to Penguin Random House Audio, I received the following haul: Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian, The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig, The Lost Girls by Jessica Chiarella and Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell. Gotta get my mystery/thriller fix in, after all.
Reviews
Adrift by W. Michael Gear (5 of 5 stars)
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (4.5 of 5 stars)
Blood Like Magic (3.5 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!
Friday Face-Off: Upside Down, Topsy Turvy
Posted on June 25, 2021 6 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 that is UPSIDE DOWN or TOPSY TURVY
The Possession by Michael Rutger
The Possession opens with the arrival of a journalist in Birchlake, a quaint little village nestled in the hills of northern California, with its curious network of low stone walls that twist and turn across its wooded landscape. Kristy has come searching for more information on the disappearance of a14-year-old girl whose social media accounts show signs that the girl may have a victim of harassment. But to Kristy’s frustration, her questions around town seem to lead nowhere, and worse, strange things suddenly start happening around her. Queue her ex-husband Nolan and the crew of his YouTube documentary series “The Anomaly Files.”
Most of these covers give off a certain vibe, but if you go into this one expecting horror or a paranormal thrill ride, I think you’ll be disappointed. The story does place more emphasis on the atmosphere of intrigue though, so I’d say it’s probably more suited for mystery lovers. Let’s take a look at the contenders:
From left to right:
Grand Central Publishing HC (2019) – Grand Central Publishing PB (2020)
Zaffre HC (2019) – Zaffre PB (2020)
Winner:
These covers are definitely going for the creep factor. A shame that many these are so dark though, it’s hard to see a thing. With that said, I’m going to have to go with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover as the winner, as it’s the only one with a splash of color and enough light to make out all the details.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Thursday Thriller Audio: Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Posted on June 24, 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.
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (July 6, 2021)
Length: 12 hrs
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Adam Lazarre-White
I wish I had the words to describe Razorblade Tears. A crime novel at its heart, the story also has elements of a gritty revenge thriller, but it is also about so much more. The book follows two men, Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins, a couple of rough-around-the-edges ex-cons whose lives would never have crossed had fate not put them on the same path for truth and retribution.
One might even think all this sounds just a bit like the beginnings of a buddy vigilante story, had the circumstances not been so tragic. Ike, a black man, got out of jail fifteen years ago and vowed to turn his back on the criminal world after he saw how it nearly cost him his family. But when his son Isiah came out to him and announced that he was going to marry the love of his life Derek, Ike couldn’t find it in himself to accept it, tearing a new rift in their relationship. Derek’s father Buddy Lee, who is white, was not so supportive of his son either when he found out, but things between them were already strained due to the older man’s alcoholism and multiple stints in prison.
Both our protagonists saw themselves as failed fathers. Neither were able to accept that their sons were gay, declining to attend the wedding. But mere months later, Ike and Buddy Lee receive the devastating news—their boys are dead, gunned down outside an upscale wine store in Richmond, Virginia. Meeting for the first time at their sons’ funerals, the two of them recognize in each other their pain and regret, and when the police turn up no leads, Ike and Buddy Lee decide to team up and do right by their children by finding their killer. For some reason though, people seem reluctant to come forward with any information. It almost seems like they’re afraid. Fortunately, Ike and Buddy Lee still have their contacts in the underworld, and unlike the authorities, they don’t have to do things by the book or worry about getting their hands dirty. They might not have been there for Isiah and Derek when they were alive, but they’d be damned if they were going to let those who killed them walk free…and when they catch them, there will be hell to pay.
Still, I promise this won’t be like any revenge story you’ve read before. It doesn’t matter how much violence and chaos and death Ike and Buddy Lee leave behind, the book never lets us forget why the two men are doing it in the first place. Despite this being first and foremost a mystery crime thriller, with some brutal action thrown in, it was also a heartbreaking read. Here we have two fathers grieving the loss of their beloved sons. It’s a pain that’s always near the surface, the idea that some things are just too late, and there’s no way to go back in time to right the wrongs. So not only is Razorblade Tears a tale of vengeance, in many ways it is also a tale of redemption, for both Ike and Buddy Lee realize they will never be able to see their boys again and tell them they love them, or say they’re sorry. All they have is the way forward, and while it won’t ever be enough, knowing that the corrupt system has failed to bring Isiah and Derek justice, finding out who killed them will be a good first step to absolution.
There are also some powerful messages here, handled in incredibly meaningful, nuanced ways. At first, a tenuous bridge is built between the racial divide as Ike and Buddy Lee team up, brought together by their shared grief and anger towards those responsible for their sons’ murders. But this partnership gradually grows into a genuine friendship of trust and loyalty as both men start to better understand each other. Together they also share stories of fatherhood, their guilt at having rejected their sons for being gay, lamenting their past mistakes and all that they wish they could take back. Years of ingrained upbringing and viewpoints might not be changing overnight, but by the end of the book, the main characters definitely reach a point where they are willing to open their minds and see things differently.
If there was a single weak point in the novel though, it might be the story. Still, these are relatively minor issues, like a few instances where the plot leans heavily on tropes, or where someone might act out of character or do something irrational just for the sake of moving things in the right direction. And although the identity of the killer was obfuscated behind layers of motivations and even the involvement of a rough biker gang, ultimately it was still pretty easy to guess who was behind it all.
Still, I loved this book. Razorblade Tears is easily the most hard-hitting thriller novel I’ve read so far this year. If you’re looking for crime fiction that’s unflinchingly brutal, emotionally cutting, and moves at a relentless pace, then you need to pick this up. Also kudos to Adam Lazarre-White, the narrator the audiobook. Some of his voices could use a bit more emotion, but overall I loved his portrayal of the characters. Highly recommended if you want a suspenseful and thought-provoking read. This one definitely needs to be made into a movie.
Waiting on Wednesday 06/23/21
Posted on June 23, 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
Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson (November 23, 2021 by Delacorte)
I’m going through Sanderson withdrawal! But just a few more months until book 3 of the Skyward series. I know what I’ll be reading this Sci-fi November!
“Spensa’s life as a Defiant Defense Force pilot has been far from ordinary. She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell—the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What’s more, she traveled light-years from home as an undercover spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home.
Now, the Superiority—the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life—has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa’s seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator.
Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it. And maybe, if she’s able to figure out what she is, she could be more than just another pilot in this unfolding war. She could save the galaxy.
The only way she can discover what she really is, though, is to leave behind all she knows and enter the Nowhere. A place from which few ever return.
To have courage means facing fear. And this mission is terrifying.”
Book Review: Adrift by W. Michael Gear
Posted on June 22, 2021 21 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: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 5 of Donovan
Publisher: DAW (June 1, 2021)
Length: 512 pages
Author Information: Website
Every time I find out about a new book in this series, I simply cannot contain my glee. I do hope the W. Michael Gear keeps them coming, because I don’t think I could ever get tired of returning to Donovan, watching yet another group of know-it-all settlers think they can get the better of the planet only to be slapped down and shown just how wrong they were. Nope, it never gets old!
This time, Adrift takes us to the seas of Donovan, 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. For many of them, Donovan represents more than just a new life—it’s also a fresh start for humanity. Vowing never to make the same mistakes as their ancestors back on Earth, this was their ultimate opportunity to put a lifetime’s worth of training and education to good use. They will respect the world’s creatures, study and understand them, and hopefully bring a wealth of knowledge back to their corporate sponsors and employers to aid in the colonizing efforts.
But this idealism is shattered almost immediately. Visiting from the mainland, Supervisor Kalico Aguila tries to warn the scientists that Donovan is not like Earth. Nothing can be inferred or assumed based on what they previously knew. Treat every living thing as a threat that’s out to kill you. Always carry a weapon and never let your guard down.
Unfortunately though, hubris proved to be Maritime Unit’s downfall. Even with Scientific Director Michaela Hailwood as their leader, the team has always been largely run by consensus, functioning more like a family than a workplace. 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. Which is why, even at Michaela’s insistence, the unit could not be convinced to follow the supervisor’s directives, voting to go it alone even when threatened with a shutdown. Frustrated, Aguila decides to simply wash her hands of the matter, letting the scientists learn for themselves why the local saying “Welcome to Donovan” is less of a greeting and more a warning.
Obviously, for members of Maritime Unit, this spells very bad news. For readers though, what follows is a nerve-wracking, heart-pounding, gut-wrenching series of events, resulting in what might be the darkest, bloodiest Donovan novel to date. Considering all that we’ve been through already with the last four books, that’s definitely saying something! One of the reasons for this extra horror might be the fact that quite a few children are involved in this book, and if you find you that you are more sensitive to stories where bad or disturbing things happen to kids, then yeah, you might want to stay away. Just a warning.
As always though, Gear always keeps several plot threads going, and believe me, there’s much more happening out in the world of Donovan beyond the reef. In Adrift, we also get the chance to catch up with series protagonist Talina Perez, whose relationship with Dek Taglioni is certainly heading down some interesting roads. The former playboy and wealthy scion has made a complete transformation since his early days aboard Ashanti, and with quetzal TriNA now in his body, the changes just keep on coming.
Still, while the romance explored between Talina and Dek was compelling, their plotline was definitely not where my fascination yearned. I confess, as terrifyingly disastrous things were back at in the oceans, I just always wanted to get right back there to see how things were going. From deadly sea monsters to killer algae, poor Maritime Unit never catches a break. That’s what they get for disrespecting my girl Kalico Aguila! The no-nonsense, tough-as-nails supervisor is now officially my favorite character of the series, and I find I just love her more with every book.
But anyway, I could go on forever about how much I loved Adrift, how much I love the Donovan series if left to my own devices. This latest installment is proof that there is so much more of the planet to explore, and that author W. Michael Gear can still keep things new and fresh. If anything, these books just keep getting better and better, and I’m so glad that signs point to there being more to come.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Outpost (Book 1)
Review of Abandoned (Book 2)
Review of Pariah (Book 3)
Review of Unreconciled (Book 4)
YA Weekend: Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
Posted on June 20, 2021 24 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Book 1 of Blood Like Magic
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (June 15, 2021)
Length: 496 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Meet Voya Thomas. She’s a Torontonian teen, with the magic of her Trinidadian ancestors running through her veins. At sixteen, she must now face what every witch in her family had had to go through in order to come into her power—the Calling. During this trial, Voya would be assigned a task, and only if she completes it will she pass the test and become a full-fledged witch.
Given the intense pressure to succeed, Voya has been preparing for this moment her entire life. Still, she can’t help but be worried. She’s always been indecisive, and just her luck, the Calling always involves making a difficult choice. Of course, whatever it is, she could always choose to refuse…except, doing so would mean that no one in her family would ever be Called again. Worse, those who have their powers now would also lose them, and a life without magic is simply unthinkable to Voya.
So, the Calling it is. And just as she feared, the challenge her ancestors have chosen for her is a doozy. In one month’s time, coinciding with the city’s Caribana festival, she must kill her first love. Needless to say, Voya is devastated. While she’d be willing to do anything to save her family’s magic, taking a life also goes against everything she believes in. On top of that, how could she ever hope to fulfill her task, if she’s never even been in love?
Fortunately, Voya has hatched the beginnings of a plan. Everyone’s been talking about a new matchmaking program, one that promises to pair you with your perfect mate based on your DNA. Voya intends to join this program, get matched with her one true love, then sacrifice him to fulfill her destiny, all in the span of one month. This should go off without a hitch, right?
Yeah, no. Things start off poorly right away as the genetic program matches Voya with the insufferably arrogant Luc Rodriguez, whom she can’t stand. But, a plan is a plan. More lives than hers are at stake. Putting her trust in technology and magic alike, our protagonist sets out a path to secure her family’s future.
So, I didn’t really know what to expect from Blood Like Magic, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. Also, I feel I need to make a confession: the main reason I was drawn to this book, at least initially, was the setting. Lately, I’ve been real picky when it comes to YA, but a novel that takes place in my hometown of Toronto? Still going to be irresistible.
And wow, if nothing else, author Liselle Sambury has written a love letter to the city that holds my heart. It’s been years since I last lived there, but this book transported me right back. All the neighborhoods, landmarks, and vibrant communities are represented. Even my old haunts at the University of Toronto, uptown in Richmond Hill, even good old Pacific Mall! And the cherry on top was of course Caribana. Ah, the memories of dangling our feet from apartment balconies overlooking Yonge Street, watching the parades from above. Of course, this being an urban fantasy story set in the future, we’re also looking at an incorporation of paranormal and sci-fi elements, but deep in its bones, this is still the Toronto of diversity and culture that I know and adore, and reading this book made me realize how much I miss it.
Then there are the characters who gradually grew on me. Voya is a fun and refreshing voice, and realistic in her uncertainties and fears of failure. It’s also clear how much she loves her family and cares about preserving their traditions. Admittedly, it took me longer to find a connection with Luc, but perhaps that’s not so surprising considering he was a character who held himself at a distance, at least at first. It was certainly a while before Voya could get through to him, and only then was I able to see deeper beyond his haughty and aloof demeanor. I also can’t say I was crazy about the whole genetic matchmaking concept, which reminded me of the premise to The One (as it so happens, I thought it was completely ridiculous there too) but thankfully that only turned out to be a minor aspect, and ultimately I became curious to see how Voya would resolve her conflict of having to fall in love with Luc knowing that she’ll end up having to kill him.
My only big point of criticism? I thought the book was kind of slow. I found as I read there would be pages and pages going by without any real advancement in the plot. I suppose everything came together in the end, but for all that there was plenty going on, sometimes it just felt like we were zipping back and forth yet still not getting anywhere fast.
That said, despite its flaws, Blood Like Magic was still a promising first book to what I think will be a very successful series. While the ending didn’t go exactly the way I wanted, the fact it mattered to me hopefully shows how much I was invested in the story by that point, and the leadup to the climax was definitely riveting and I want to know more. I just love how central the themes of family are in this one, and it’s one of the main reasons why I’ll probably continue with the series. Something tells me there’s still much more in store for Voya, and I want to find out what.
Bookshelf Roundup: 06/19/21: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on June 19, 2021 10 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!
Only a couple books in the mail this week. First, with thanks to Tor Books for the arrival of a finished copy of The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison, the standalone sequel to The Goblin Emperor. I enjoyed the first book, so I’m really looking forward to returning to Maia’s world!
Also a huge thank you to Del Rey for sending along an ARC of The Free Bastards by Jonathan French, the conclusion to The Lot Lands trilogy. We’ve already gotten Jackal and Fetch’s stories, so it’s only fair that we follow Oats this time around! The “thrice” (a term for a three-quarters orc) has always been one of my favorite characters, so I’m pretty excited about this one.
On the digital front though, we have a pretty full haul. With thanks to Tantor Audio for listening copies of The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He and Horrid by Katrina Leno. I’m so glad these books got audio editions, better late than never! Also thank you to Harper Audio for The Chariot at Dusk by Swati Teerdhala, the final installment of the epic Tiger at Midnight trilogy.
As well, thank you to Macmillan Audio for the following ALCs: Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby is a mystery thriller that’s been gaining a lot of buzz lately, and it does sound incredible! Not to be outshone, Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens also caught my eye, setting this summer up to be an excellent one for thrillers. And finally, I also grabbed A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, a novella that kicks off a new series by the author called Monk & Robot. The book’s blurb sounds positively delightful and I’m always up for anything Becky Chambers writes.
Reviews
Rabbits by Terry Miles (3.5 of 5 stars)
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten (3.5 of 5 stars)
Survive the Night by Riley Sager (3 of 5 stars)
The Ice Lion by Kathleen O’Neal Gear (2 of 5 stars)
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!
The BiblioSanctum 