“It’s been proven by all the sciences, m’boy-biolgoy, alienism, phrenology.”
Westerns and fantasy work surprising well together I am finding. ‘Territory’ by Emma Bull, ‘Half-Made World’ by Felix Gilman, even ‘Red Country’ by Abercrombie are all solid tales with a western vibe. Add ‘The Six-Gun Tarot’ to that list.
Golgotha, Nevada is a strange little cattle town whose inhabitants do their best to live normal lives. Sure they have a sheriff who may be immortal or already dead. There may or may not have been a run of rats that went on two legs a few years back. And no one really talks about the run of critters around town whom had all their blood drained overnight. But despite that, they live normal lives.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'The Black Prism' by Brent Weeks
This is one of those authors I’ve been meaning to catch up with for
ages, and this finally got to the top of my to-read pile. The opening is
snappy - short chapters, lots of action, plenty of background detail
that just about stops short of info-dump and a magic system that has me
hooked right from the start, even if I don’t quite ‘get’ it yet.
But only a few chapters in, and already there are irritants. One of them is Kip. On the one hand, hurray for a main character who’s not super-handsome, super-intelligent, super-powerful, that’s fine. But he really is stupid, sometimes. And all the oh-no-he’s-going-to-die drama - no, actually, he’s not, he’s a main character, he’s going to escape by the skin of teeth. Again. And yet again... this is tiresome. Then there’s Gavin. He’s so powerful he can do a dozen impossible things before breakfast, and that’s just not interesting. And there’s the author’s habit of switching tense for a sentence or two. It’s intended (I think) to indicate internal thought, but with no other marker to differentiate it, it’s just confusing.
But only a few chapters in, and already there are irritants. One of them is Kip. On the one hand, hurray for a main character who’s not super-handsome, super-intelligent, super-powerful, that’s fine. But he really is stupid, sometimes. And all the oh-no-he’s-going-to-die drama - no, actually, he’s not, he’s a main character, he’s going to escape by the skin of teeth. Again. And yet again... this is tiresome. Then there’s Gavin. He’s so powerful he can do a dozen impossible things before breakfast, and that’s just not interesting. And there’s the author’s habit of switching tense for a sentence or two. It’s intended (I think) to indicate internal thought, but with no other marker to differentiate it, it’s just confusing.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Gardens of the Moon' by Steven Erikson
What is wrong with me? I have a to-read pile a mile high, am engaged in a project of reading a series with 40 books, and I read the first book in one of the thickest epic fantasy series around. And I liked it? So that big to-read pile now has some major door stoppers on it as well.
For those unaware, the ‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’ is known as one of the most EPIC of the epic fantasies out there. Larger than life heroes, earth shaking magic, big-bad villains, and god’s right in the middle of everything is the name of the game. The opening book, ‘Gardens of the Moon,’ is also known as a troublesome book for first timers to get into. And to be fair, I failed to get through it once myself several years ago, though I had put it aside for something I was more excited about at the time.
With that in mind I prepared myself to either be blown away or completely disappointed. When all said and done, I found myself enjoying every page of this book. It has some flaws, it isn’t subtle, but if one buys into what it’s doing, it lives up to its reputation of epicness (shut up it IS too a word).
For those unaware, the ‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’ is known as one of the most EPIC of the epic fantasies out there. Larger than life heroes, earth shaking magic, big-bad villains, and god’s right in the middle of everything is the name of the game. The opening book, ‘Gardens of the Moon,’ is also known as a troublesome book for first timers to get into. And to be fair, I failed to get through it once myself several years ago, though I had put it aside for something I was more excited about at the time.
With that in mind I prepared myself to either be blown away or completely disappointed. When all said and done, I found myself enjoying every page of this book. It has some flaws, it isn’t subtle, but if one buys into what it’s doing, it lives up to its reputation of epicness (shut up it IS too a word).
Paranormal Review: '2012: Midnight At Spanish Garden' by Alma Alexander
One of the pleasures of reviewing books on a blog is that from time to
time an author will suggest you read their book, and as a result a
little gem drops into your lap completely out of the blue, something
that you would never, ever have found by yourself. This is one such
book. It’s rather a shame, actually, that the paranormal aspect will
cause it to fall into a genre black hole, because it truly deserves a
wider audience. Yes, it’s paranormal fantasy, and perhaps it’s
technically urban, too, but it’s not a romance, and there are no
vampires or werewolves. It’s about people, and the choices they make,
and it’s much closer to literary fiction than fantasy.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
YA Horror Fantasy Review: 'The Monstrumologist' (#01) by Richard Yancey
Synopsis:
An elderly resident of an old people’s home called William James Henry, dies in his sleep. He claimed he was born in 1876 which would make him a 131-year old man in the moment of his death but nobody believes him. His notebooks are lent to the narrator/the author.
That’s how, after a short intro, we are plunged into a story within a story, featuring a first person narration of younger Will Henry who describes one event that shaped his entire life. Will was an orphan, taken in by Pellinore Warthrop (guess why Warthrop was given such a strange first name and you will find out a lot about him), a man of wealth, a scientist, a doctor and the titular Monstrumologist. He felt responsible for the boy as he used to employ Will’s father and they were friends. Will works for the doctor in a capacity of a personal assistant and a servant.
An elderly resident of an old people’s home called William James Henry, dies in his sleep. He claimed he was born in 1876 which would make him a 131-year old man in the moment of his death but nobody believes him. His notebooks are lent to the narrator/the author.
That’s how, after a short intro, we are plunged into a story within a story, featuring a first person narration of younger Will Henry who describes one event that shaped his entire life. Will was an orphan, taken in by Pellinore Warthrop (guess why Warthrop was given such a strange first name and you will find out a lot about him), a man of wealth, a scientist, a doctor and the titular Monstrumologist. He felt responsible for the boy as he used to employ Will’s father and they were friends. Will works for the doctor in a capacity of a personal assistant and a servant.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Guards! Guards!' by Terry Pratchett
Part Eight of the Complete Discworld Reread A drunken guard captain as the protagonist. A secret society that barely functions. An overweight, middle aged love interest. The long lost heir to the throne… who just isn’t interested. Dragons! What about this book don’t I like?
Thus starts the adventures of Samuel Vimes in Ankh-Morpork, which will continue on for many more books. And what a long ways our courageous watchman has come. Something of a disgrace, leading the night watch in a town where criminal guilds are the real law, Vimes spends most of his time in a bottle. But there is still a bit of civic pride in the man, and no one can tell him that the dragon he saw is really a large bird. So it is up to him and his motley crew to save the city, beat the dragon, and save/get saved by the maiden fair!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Between Two Thorns' by Emma Newman
Ok, so there is the real world, known as Mundanus to those who know of the other worlds. There is Exilium, home of the Fae, and a very dangerous place for mortals. But in between, there is the Nether, with is neither here nor there. In this land live the Great Families, mortal, but fae touched and magical. While in the Nether they do not age, and life seems to be a nothing but a string of social climbing and political posturing between the great families.
Our heroine Catherine, Cathy for short, has managed to hid from her family and patron in Mundanus, living a typical college student life. But as the story begins the Fae known as Lord Poppy finds her, strips off the protection that hid her, and gives her three wishes ( and anyone used to ‘fairy tales’ knows this is more curse than gift). Forced home Cathy is quickly woven into the petty (but perhaps deadly) politics that make up life in the Nether. Something sinister is happening in the Nether though, as the Master of Ceremonies is missing. A gate keeper of sorts, his disappearance is noticed in Mundanus as well. Enter Max, an Arbiter (which appears to be some kind of border patrol between the magical and non). Originally searching for corruption within his ranks, he gets dragged into the disappearance by a sorcerer. Lastly there is one witness to whatever happened, a mundane named Sam. Unfortunately, Sam was drunk when he saw.. something.. and may have a magical charm blocking the memory as well.
Our heroine Catherine, Cathy for short, has managed to hid from her family and patron in Mundanus, living a typical college student life. But as the story begins the Fae known as Lord Poppy finds her, strips off the protection that hid her, and gives her three wishes ( and anyone used to ‘fairy tales’ knows this is more curse than gift). Forced home Cathy is quickly woven into the petty (but perhaps deadly) politics that make up life in the Nether. Something sinister is happening in the Nether though, as the Master of Ceremonies is missing. A gate keeper of sorts, his disappearance is noticed in Mundanus as well. Enter Max, an Arbiter (which appears to be some kind of border patrol between the magical and non). Originally searching for corruption within his ranks, he gets dragged into the disappearance by a sorcerer. Lastly there is one witness to whatever happened, a mundane named Sam. Unfortunately, Sam was drunk when he saw.. something.. and may have a magical charm blocking the memory as well.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'The Five Elements' by Scott Marlowe
I’m not at all sure how to categorise this. There are elements of steampunk, there’s alchemy, there’s a fairly standard form of elemental magic and there’s a fair dose of science in the mix as well. I don’t know whether it’s intended as YA, but the protagonists are fifteen and there’s nothing that would trouble a reader of that age, although some of the ‘experiments’ are a little gruesome. There’s an interesting premise - one of the main characters, Aaron, is a sorcerer’s apprentice, but unlike the usual such character, he’s a scientist, using logic and scientific knowledge to investigate effects related to his master’s work. Less radically, the second main character, Shanna, is apprenticed to a soap-maker, but on the side is also a thief and scavenger. Then there is the intriguing idea of the fifth element, in addition to the usual earth, air, fire and water.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Steampunk Review: 'Agatha H and the Airship City' by Phil and Kaja Foglio
How seriously do you take a book that in no way, shape, or form takes it’s self seriously? ‘Agatha H and the Airship City’ is a novelization taken almost directly from a web comic, and it shows. How much enjoyment a reader takes from the book would depend on how capable they are of turning their brain off. Lucky for me, I can turn my brain off at will, so I enjoyed the hell out of this little steampunk yarn.
This is steampunk with all the trimmings. Alternative Europe, mechanical everything, airships, even characters in goggles. It is also very Saturday morning cartoon, with mad scientist a plenty, daring heroes, and non-stop action. You see history has been turned sidewise by ‘Sparks,’ super-geniuses that snap into their ‘powers’ with little warning. Often they use their new found super intelligence to build lots of machines and take over the surrounding area, mad scientist style. Constant battles between sparks are slowed down when one particular talented man named Baron Klaus Wulfenbach consolidates his power and finds way to control other sparks, using their talents to consolidate it further. The plot moves at such a fast pace that any other background would really be a spoiler, so let’s move on.
This is steampunk with all the trimmings. Alternative Europe, mechanical everything, airships, even characters in goggles. It is also very Saturday morning cartoon, with mad scientist a plenty, daring heroes, and non-stop action. You see history has been turned sidewise by ‘Sparks,’ super-geniuses that snap into their ‘powers’ with little warning. Often they use their new found super intelligence to build lots of machines and take over the surrounding area, mad scientist style. Constant battles between sparks are slowed down when one particular talented man named Baron Klaus Wulfenbach consolidates his power and finds way to control other sparks, using their talents to consolidate it further. The plot moves at such a fast pace that any other background would really be a spoiler, so let’s move on.
Fantasy Review: 'A Dance with Dragons' by George R.R. Martin
Anachronist's review:
Synopsis or something like that:
It is he fifth volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, the fantasy epic series which has been made very popular nowadays. If you have read the previous four parts you know that summarizing the fifth would be close to impossible; if you haven’t read any of them, well, just let me tell you no summary an no TV series can prepare you for the complexity of those books. In fact the plot is so convoluted as to defy synopsis. Really even the work of Tolkien pales in comparison. What can be said…winter is coming and the seven Kingdoms are hardly prepared for it because they plot and prepare for a war – every ruler wants to assure the Iron Throne, currently occupied by a child, Tommen Baratheon, will fall into the hands of their man or woman.
Synopsis or something like that:
It is he fifth volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, the fantasy epic series which has been made very popular nowadays. If you have read the previous four parts you know that summarizing the fifth would be close to impossible; if you haven’t read any of them, well, just let me tell you no summary an no TV series can prepare you for the complexity of those books. In fact the plot is so convoluted as to defy synopsis. Really even the work of Tolkien pales in comparison. What can be said…winter is coming and the seven Kingdoms are hardly prepared for it because they plot and prepare for a war – every ruler wants to assure the Iron Throne, currently occupied by a child, Tommen Baratheon, will fall into the hands of their man or woman.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Review: 'Magic Slays' (Kate Daniels 05) by Ilona Andrews
Synopsis:
Kate Daniels, previously a mercenary cooperating with the Order of Merciful Aid, is now on her own. Not entirely of course – as the Consort of Curran, the Beast Lord, she enjoys the protection of the Pack as she tries to kick-start her own business. Independence is rarely easy, especially when your former employers keep badmouthing you publicly, the bills keep coming and the clients are not exactly swarming near your office door. When, after a month of empty run, a serious order is placed Kate must accept it willy-nilly although it might prove to be a tad too dangerous. She joined forces with her best friend Andrea, now a retired (and heartbroken) Knight of the Order but still....when Atlanta's premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, it is never a laughing matter.
Kate Daniels, previously a mercenary cooperating with the Order of Merciful Aid, is now on her own. Not entirely of course – as the Consort of Curran, the Beast Lord, she enjoys the protection of the Pack as she tries to kick-start her own business. Independence is rarely easy, especially when your former employers keep badmouthing you publicly, the bills keep coming and the clients are not exactly swarming near your office door. When, after a month of empty run, a serious order is placed Kate must accept it willy-nilly although it might prove to be a tad too dangerous. She joined forces with her best friend Andrea, now a retired (and heartbroken) Knight of the Order but still....when Atlanta's premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, it is never a laughing matter.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Film Review: 'The Hobbit'
There must be a million reviews of ‘The Hobbit’ out there already - I’ve seen a few myself - and opinions are fairly mixed. Some say it’s great, no problem, and some say it’s a fun film, even if it’s not quite true to the book, and some say it’s a travesty. I don’t agree with any of those. It’s not great, it’s not a whole heap of fun, but it’s not a total travesty either.
It was always obvious that changes were going to have to be made from the book’s plot to accommodate the needs of cinema in the 21st century, and I’m not one of those who objects to the introduction of the pale orc to represent a visible Big Bad over the course of the three movies. I don’t object to some lengthening of the story, although possibly with a little effort it could just about have been squeezed into two films (she said sarcastically). I don’t much mind that Bilbo is something of a passenger for most of this film. I certainly don’t object to a sexed-up Thorin - who’d have thought, after seeing Gimli, that dwarves could be so attractive? But still, I found the film a disappointment, overall.
It was always obvious that changes were going to have to be made from the book’s plot to accommodate the needs of cinema in the 21st century, and I’m not one of those who objects to the introduction of the pale orc to represent a visible Big Bad over the course of the three movies. I don’t object to some lengthening of the story, although possibly with a little effort it could just about have been squeezed into two films (she said sarcastically). I don’t much mind that Bilbo is something of a passenger for most of this film. I certainly don’t object to a sexed-up Thorin - who’d have thought, after seeing Gimli, that dwarves could be so attractive? But still, I found the film a disappointment, overall.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Steampunk Review: 'The Emperor's Edge' by Lindsay Buroker
Pauline's Review:
I was bouncing around websites looking at reviews for something else when I tripped over this. It was free, it had good reviews, it sounded intriguing - a female enforcer (cop) in a steam-punk fantasy setting - so I downloaded the sample, and just kept reading. It's not deep, but it's pacy, funny and has interesting characters, and sometimes that's just what I'm in the mood for.
I've never read anything steam-punk before, but it was well done. The setting felt perfectly believable, with steam-powered this, that and the other, and a lot of mechanical devices just there, without too much isn't-this-clever authorial explanation. And, being fantasy, there's magic too, which is cool, although it's a relatively minor part of the story. I very much liked the winter setting, which made the snow and the frozen lake significant factors in the plot. Combined with the steam-powered machinery, this gave the story a nicely atmospheric feel.
I was bouncing around websites looking at reviews for something else when I tripped over this. It was free, it had good reviews, it sounded intriguing - a female enforcer (cop) in a steam-punk fantasy setting - so I downloaded the sample, and just kept reading. It's not deep, but it's pacy, funny and has interesting characters, and sometimes that's just what I'm in the mood for.
I've never read anything steam-punk before, but it was well done. The setting felt perfectly believable, with steam-powered this, that and the other, and a lot of mechanical devices just there, without too much isn't-this-clever authorial explanation. And, being fantasy, there's magic too, which is cool, although it's a relatively minor part of the story. I very much liked the winter setting, which made the snow and the frozen lake significant factors in the plot. Combined with the steam-powered machinery, this gave the story a nicely atmospheric feel.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'The Thief's Gamble' by Juliet E. McKenna
Sometimes a generic fantasy yarn is just what you need. I love books that try something new, push the limits of the genre, and make me think. But sometimes a quick little romp is ok too, right? Sure it is, and when in that mood there is nothing wrong with ‘The Thief’s Gamble.’ It hits all the nice fantasy tropes, and doesn’t see any reason to bend them, break them, or subvert them. You got your talented thief with a good heart, benevolent wizards, a mysterious stranger in the bar, ancient lost magic along with the commonly used elemental magic, and a whole island of baddies to overcome.
So the story starts. The Archmage is searching for artifacts from the good old days to better understand lost magics. To do so he has send several groups out to collect these. Our heroine, Livak, is coerced into working with one of these groups as they need her thieving skills to get a piece that has been hard to get. No hard feelings though, despite being coerced she is going to be paid well by mage Shiv and his band. After some early shenanigans the plot gets going when it is discovered another group is after the same artifacts. This race of yellow haired jerks is using unknown magic and horrible brutality to get their way.
So the story starts. The Archmage is searching for artifacts from the good old days to better understand lost magics. To do so he has send several groups out to collect these. Our heroine, Livak, is coerced into working with one of these groups as they need her thieving skills to get a piece that has been hard to get. No hard feelings though, despite being coerced she is going to be paid well by mage Shiv and his band. After some early shenanigans the plot gets going when it is discovered another group is after the same artifacts. This race of yellow haired jerks is using unknown magic and horrible brutality to get their way.
Urban Fantasy/ Cyberpunk Review: 'Keeping It Real' (Quantum Gravity 01) by Justina Robson
Synopsis:
Welcome to a new world, in the aftermath of the Quantum Bomb. After ‘the explosion at the Superconducting Supercollider in Texas, at some point in the Lost Year, 2015, scientists discovered a hole in the fabric of spacetime over the blast site.’ The blast brought at least five other realities into contact with Earth (now called Otopia): ‘Zoomenon, the realm of the Elements’; ‘Alfheim,’ the elves’ world; ‘Demonia,’ self-explanatory (‘The demons are, like the elves, life-forms which appear adept in magic’); ‘Faery,’ very ancient, & with a ‘long association with certain regions of the Earth over the more interesting parts of human history’; & ‘Thanatopia’ an ‘unlikely place … bound tightly to the I-space continuum’ (to ‘cross into Thanatopia requires death and return is not possible to those not greatly skilled in necromancy’).
Welcome to a new world, in the aftermath of the Quantum Bomb. After ‘the explosion at the Superconducting Supercollider in Texas, at some point in the Lost Year, 2015, scientists discovered a hole in the fabric of spacetime over the blast site.’ The blast brought at least five other realities into contact with Earth (now called Otopia): ‘Zoomenon, the realm of the Elements’; ‘Alfheim,’ the elves’ world; ‘Demonia,’ self-explanatory (‘The demons are, like the elves, life-forms which appear adept in magic’); ‘Faery,’ very ancient, & with a ‘long association with certain regions of the Earth over the more interesting parts of human history’; & ‘Thanatopia’ an ‘unlikely place … bound tightly to the I-space continuum’ (to ‘cross into Thanatopia requires death and return is not possible to those not greatly skilled in necromancy’).
Monday, January 14, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Prince of Thorns' (The Broken Empire 01) by Mark Lawrence
Summary (mostly from Amazon.com):
A young prince like no other but hardly a Prince Charming. When he was nine, he watched his mother and brother brutally killed before him. One year later he ran off his father’s castle, freeing some men condemned to death and joining their band. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of that band, a group of bloodthirsty thugs calling each other “brother”. By fifteen, he intends to be king and by twenty – emperor...or better.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Cold Magic' by Kate Elliot
I really like Kate Elliot. I raved about her ‘Crossroads’ trilogy. She is a great world builder (her blog is titled ‘I Make up Worlds’), has always shown interesting characters, and usually her writing quickly draws me in and keeps hold of me. I have had this series on my to-read list for way to long, but finally I got to it. To my complete surprise, and eventual disappointment, the book left me a little cold.
In typical Elliot fashion the world building shows a lot of promise. An alternate history that is a little hard to explain. Rome kept some power, the Phoenicians built a fairly strong sea-trading empire, Mali was a power before disaster forced a mass exodus into Europe. There is a mix of steampunk technology along with mage houses acting as focal points of power. I could probably read an entire faux history book on this alternative world. A lot of questions are left on the table, even the map doesn’t show where a lot of the lands I wonder about are. More than anything else, it was this world building that left me hoping for more, and was strong enough for me to know I will continue the series no matter what.
In typical Elliot fashion the world building shows a lot of promise. An alternate history that is a little hard to explain. Rome kept some power, the Phoenicians built a fairly strong sea-trading empire, Mali was a power before disaster forced a mass exodus into Europe. There is a mix of steampunk technology along with mage houses acting as focal points of power. I could probably read an entire faux history book on this alternative world. A lot of questions are left on the table, even the map doesn’t show where a lot of the lands I wonder about are. More than anything else, it was this world building that left me hoping for more, and was strong enough for me to know I will continue the series no matter what.
Fantasy Review: 'Pyramids' by Terry Pratchett
Part 7 of The Complete Discworld Reread
When looking down the list of ‘Discworld’ books I was going to be rereading ‘Pyramids’ stuck out as one I couldn’t remember anything about. Therefore, my impeccable logic told me, it must be one of the more forgettable books. I have now finished this little book, and I realize that it wasn’t forgettable, I just never read it. And that is a real shame, because it is a very fine offering.
Most the book takes place in Djelibeybi, a land obviously based on ancient Egypt. Tradition is King here, even more King than the actual king. The priests help the king through his daily rituals, so he can focus on the important things like making the sun rise. Our protagonist Teppic, getting an education in Ankh-Morpork, is called back home to rule the kingdom when his father dies. I a power struggle with the high priest Dios, he finds himself upping the ante by promising to build the largest pyramid yet to entomb his father. Back at the kingdom his now educated mind is in a constant battle with the tradition that Dios keeps the kingdom following, while complications with the pyramid’s construction soon bring every problem to a head.
When looking down the list of ‘Discworld’ books I was going to be rereading ‘Pyramids’ stuck out as one I couldn’t remember anything about. Therefore, my impeccable logic told me, it must be one of the more forgettable books. I have now finished this little book, and I realize that it wasn’t forgettable, I just never read it. And that is a real shame, because it is a very fine offering.
Most the book takes place in Djelibeybi, a land obviously based on ancient Egypt. Tradition is King here, even more King than the actual king. The priests help the king through his daily rituals, so he can focus on the important things like making the sun rise. Our protagonist Teppic, getting an education in Ankh-Morpork, is called back home to rule the kingdom when his father dies. I a power struggle with the high priest Dios, he finds himself upping the ante by promising to build the largest pyramid yet to entomb his father. Back at the kingdom his now educated mind is in a constant battle with the tradition that Dios keeps the kingdom following, while complications with the pyramid’s construction soon bring every problem to a head.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Urban Fantasy Review: 'Chasing Magic' (Downside Ghosts 05) by Stacia Kane
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Magic-wielding Churchwitch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.
As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living.
Magic-wielding Churchwitch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.
As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Pool of Souls' by Cheryl Landmark
I got off on the wrong foot with this one. The first thing that happens
is that a man tries to steal the heroine's horse. Being telepathic, the
horse warns her about this, but then goes on to say of the thief, "Oh,
my, Caz, he's a handsome devil!" This strikes me as odd in so many ways.
No, not the telepathic horse, actually - this is fantasy, after all -
but the idea that a horse would have any concept of what would
constitute a handsome man. And then there's a bantering exchange between
the two humans, with enough comments about firm mouths and bold eyes to
scream ROMANCE! And within a handful of chapters, our feisty heroine
has needed to be rescued three times - from beasties, getting lost and
randy men. So not a great start.
Series Review: 'The Long Price' by Daniel Abraham
List of books in original series...'A Shadow In
Summer'; 'A Betrayal In Winter'; 'An Autumn War'; 'The Price Of Spring'
Now republished in combined versions... 'Shadow AndBetrayal'; 'Seasons of War'
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'The Curse of Chalion' by Lois McMaster Bujold
Another example of me finding a book that it feels everyone else already knew about, raved about, and left me wondering why the hell I have not read it before. ‘The Curse of Chalion’ is my first reading of Bujold, but will certainly not be my last. Here is an author who knows how to play with pacing, keeping the duller times in the character’s lives interesting somehow, but providing occasional action scenes that don’t lack either. Even better in my mind, the very strong pacing and plot is outdone by the strength of the characters.
There really isn’t much the author didn’t do just right in this book.
The book is the story of Cazaril, former soldier, former rower on a slave ship, and at the start of the book, a penniless man hoping to beg a job from a family he served earlier in life. Hoping for any job at all, he is surprised to be offered a job as secretary/tutor to Royesse Iselle, second in line to the throne. Doing his best to remain inconspicuous, he finds himself dragged into the political arena. Even worse, he becomes aware of a curse hanging over the whole family, and may be the only one who can remove it.
There really isn’t much the author didn’t do just right in this book.
The book is the story of Cazaril, former soldier, former rower on a slave ship, and at the start of the book, a penniless man hoping to beg a job from a family he served earlier in life. Hoping for any job at all, he is surprised to be offered a job as secretary/tutor to Royesse Iselle, second in line to the throne. Doing his best to remain inconspicuous, he finds himself dragged into the political arena. Even worse, he becomes aware of a curse hanging over the whole family, and may be the only one who can remove it.
Paranormal Romance Review: 'Kiss of Steel' (London Steampunk 01) by Bec McMaster
Synopsis:
After the tragic death of his father Honoria Todd found herself in dire straits: impoverished, with two younger siblings to care for, one of them seriously ill, forced to move to a seedy quarter of London to save on her lodgings and forced to change her name because she had to hide from her father's aristocratic patron, Vickers. If she thought her major difficulties were over she was wrong. Soon enough Blade, a self-styled ruler of Whitechapel, asks her to pay him a visit. Honoria lives now on his home turf so either she will earn his protection or she'll sink spectacularly, dragging her sister and brother behind.
Blade is a rogue blue blood - a kind of civilised vampire but not sanctioned by the government. He is also known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal. What can Honoria offer to him? Her beauty? Her blood? Or maybe she can simply teach him how to read and speak like a gentleman?
After the tragic death of his father Honoria Todd found herself in dire straits: impoverished, with two younger siblings to care for, one of them seriously ill, forced to move to a seedy quarter of London to save on her lodgings and forced to change her name because she had to hide from her father's aristocratic patron, Vickers. If she thought her major difficulties were over she was wrong. Soon enough Blade, a self-styled ruler of Whitechapel, asks her to pay him a visit. Honoria lives now on his home turf so either she will earn his protection or she'll sink spectacularly, dragging her sister and brother behind.
Blade is a rogue blue blood - a kind of civilised vampire but not sanctioned by the government. He is also known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal. What can Honoria offer to him? Her beauty? Her blood? Or maybe she can simply teach him how to read and speak like a gentleman?
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Alchemypunk Review: 'The Demon of Cliffside' by Nathan Fierro
I spend a lot of time seeking out interesting new reading, but sometimes
plums just drop into my lap. This was recommended to a reddit member
seeking original, unusual fantasy and that it is. So original and
unusual, in fact, that I have no idea how to categorise it. The blurb
describes it as ‘alchemypunk’, and if I fully understood what that was, I
might agree. The demon of the title is the central character, unnamed
and of unknown species, living where she has always lived, once alone
but now in the shadows of a human city. She has swirling alchemical
markings on her body, long claws which can cut through metal or stone,
and great strength and agility. She likes to walk on ceilings when
indoors because humans never look up.
YA Fantasy Review: 'The Ring of Solomon' by Jonathan Stroud
Synopsis:
Remember the naughty djinn Bartimaeus? He is back. This book is a prequel to the bestselling BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY, which I really liked.
In the novel we are transported in time to the court of the king Solomon in 950 BC Jerusalem. The said king rules because he owns a very powerful artifact – a golden ring, hiding a strong entity from the Other Place. No one has been as strong as him so far. He is surrounded by seventeen of the most powerful magicians from different countries – each and every one of them would like to bask in the glory of the famous king and also to cut a piece of this appetizing cake for him/herself. Magicians are, as usual, a very greedy, very selfish and very ambitious lot.
Bartimaeus is of course in trouble: not only had he eaten his previous master, which was considered a huge breach of good manners on the court, but he also managed to antagonize the new one, Khaba the Cruel, an Egyptian priest who took Bartimaeus as a servant soon afterwards as a form of punishment. The insolent but witty djinn is now employed as a builder of the famous Jerusalem temple and then, because he offends the king even further portraying one of his many wives as a hippo in a skirt, he is sent with other spirits to chase desert robbers. During that mission he saves the life of Asmira, a beautiful but deadly hereditary guard of the queen of Sheba.
Remember the naughty djinn Bartimaeus? He is back. This book is a prequel to the bestselling BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY, which I really liked.
In the novel we are transported in time to the court of the king Solomon in 950 BC Jerusalem. The said king rules because he owns a very powerful artifact – a golden ring, hiding a strong entity from the Other Place. No one has been as strong as him so far. He is surrounded by seventeen of the most powerful magicians from different countries – each and every one of them would like to bask in the glory of the famous king and also to cut a piece of this appetizing cake for him/herself. Magicians are, as usual, a very greedy, very selfish and very ambitious lot.
Bartimaeus is of course in trouble: not only had he eaten his previous master, which was considered a huge breach of good manners on the court, but he also managed to antagonize the new one, Khaba the Cruel, an Egyptian priest who took Bartimaeus as a servant soon afterwards as a form of punishment. The insolent but witty djinn is now employed as a builder of the famous Jerusalem temple and then, because he offends the king even further portraying one of his many wives as a hippo in a skirt, he is sent with other spirits to chase desert robbers. During that mission he saves the life of Asmira, a beautiful but deadly hereditary guard of the queen of Sheba.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
The Barney Awards - 12 Days of Christmas - Day 12
The Barney for most imaginative use of a dragon goes to...
Friday, January 4, 2013
Sci-Fi Review: 'Pariah' by Dan Abnett
How does one review a book that follows two distinct trilogies? A fan who has already read through ‘Eisenhorn’ and ‘Ravenor’ with no doubt be going after ‘Pariah,’ and no one else is going to bother.
So, if you have not read ‘Eisenhorn,’ check it out and see if it is for you. It is the best written tie-in fiction I have found (for whatever that is worth), and I wrote a real rough review for it in February. It was followed by the ‘Ravenor’ trilogy, which was almost as good. ‘Pariah’ is the first book of the concluding trilogy. Anyone still interested? Read on.
So, if you have not read ‘Eisenhorn,’ check it out and see if it is for you. It is the best written tie-in fiction I have found (for whatever that is worth), and I wrote a real rough review for it in February. It was followed by the ‘Ravenor’ trilogy, which was almost as good. ‘Pariah’ is the first book of the concluding trilogy. Anyone still interested? Read on.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Wyrd Sisters' by Terry Pratchett
Part 6 in The Compete Discworld Reread
Let’s start with a protagonist who is a cranky, elderly woman who no one much likes, Granny Weatherwax. Give her a best friend, an overweight elderly lady with absolutely no personal inhibitions, one Nanny Ogg. Need a beautiful young lady to grab the reader’s attention? Too bad, you get shy, plain Magrat, third of the witches of Lancre. It is a fantasy novel so perhaps we need a strapping young man with a destiny? Nope, we get a lonely, miserable, court jester. Add all this together and you get one of my favorite books of all time.
While the book is something of a parody, or perhaps homage, of ‘Hamlet,” I will admit I had not read the play the first time I read it and felt that I missed nothing. Bad things are happening in Lancre, and a baby ends up in the care of Granny Weatherwax and her coven of three. When henchmen demand they hand the child over, Granny refuses on general principle. Sending this mysterious child of destiny off with a traveling group of thespians, the witches think their part is done. Unfortunately, the new king of Lancre (formally the Duke of Lancre, and who was defiantly NOT THERE when the old king died) sees the witches as being in the way of his plans for the kingdom.
Let’s start with a protagonist who is a cranky, elderly woman who no one much likes, Granny Weatherwax. Give her a best friend, an overweight elderly lady with absolutely no personal inhibitions, one Nanny Ogg. Need a beautiful young lady to grab the reader’s attention? Too bad, you get shy, plain Magrat, third of the witches of Lancre. It is a fantasy novel so perhaps we need a strapping young man with a destiny? Nope, we get a lonely, miserable, court jester. Add all this together and you get one of my favorite books of all time.
While the book is something of a parody, or perhaps homage, of ‘Hamlet,” I will admit I had not read the play the first time I read it and felt that I missed nothing. Bad things are happening in Lancre, and a baby ends up in the care of Granny Weatherwax and her coven of three. When henchmen demand they hand the child over, Granny refuses on general principle. Sending this mysterious child of destiny off with a traveling group of thespians, the witches think their part is done. Unfortunately, the new king of Lancre (formally the Duke of Lancre, and who was defiantly NOT THERE when the old king died) sees the witches as being in the way of his plans for the kingdom.
Urban Fantasy Review: 'Mark of the Demon' (Kara Gillian 01) by Diana Rowland
Synopsis:
Kara Gillian a recently promoted homicide detective, in her free time summons demons. Her job gives her a sense of belonging, her hobby – an adrenaline rush sufficiently thrilling to make her forget some dark experiences from the past, like a rape at the age of eleven or a period of drug abuse or the premature death of her parents. Well, who said that demons are safer than drugs, though? Certainly not Kara.
In her small Louisiana town called Beaulac strange murders have happened and the perpetrator, known only as the Symbol Man, has never been caught. Now it seems he or she returned to previous activities and soon enough horribly mutilated bodies with a strange symbol on them are found in different places. Kara, although a newbie detective, is given this case because she happens to be a resident expert. It is a blessing and a curse – she is given a chance to prove her value but she might lose her job if she fails to do so - every help is very welcome, even some occult knowledge about arcane procedures and runes.
Kara Gillian a recently promoted homicide detective, in her free time summons demons. Her job gives her a sense of belonging, her hobby – an adrenaline rush sufficiently thrilling to make her forget some dark experiences from the past, like a rape at the age of eleven or a period of drug abuse or the premature death of her parents. Well, who said that demons are safer than drugs, though? Certainly not Kara.
In her small Louisiana town called Beaulac strange murders have happened and the perpetrator, known only as the Symbol Man, has never been caught. Now it seems he or she returned to previous activities and soon enough horribly mutilated bodies with a strange symbol on them are found in different places. Kara, although a newbie detective, is given this case because she happens to be a resident expert. It is a blessing and a curse – she is given a chance to prove her value but she might lose her job if she fails to do so - every help is very welcome, even some occult knowledge about arcane procedures and runes.
The Barney Awards - 12 Days of Christmas - Day 11
The Barney for Best Book That Shows How Much Footnotes Suck on an Old Kindle goes too...
The Barney Awards - 12 Days of Christmas - Day 10
The Barney for most amusingly self-centred characters goes to...
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Stained Glass Monsters' by Andrea K Höst
This one starts with a bang, as a mysterious woman in white appears out
of nowhere, seemingly, into the middle of a peaceful village. She stays
exactly where she is for the rest of the book, but the story races about
all over the Kingdom of Tyrland as the former Queen, now exiled into
Eferum, the ‘other’ world, tries to make good her return.
There are two main characters, of whom Rennyn is the more interesting by far. Intelligent, competent and entirely self-sufficient, yet she never becomes a Mary Sue, and it’s always clear that she has hidden depths, as well as (perhaps) an agenda of her own. She’s accused of being arrogant, but perhaps it’s more a question of self-awareness. It’s not arrogance to know what has to be done and to go about doing it with minimal fuss. Kendall is the bratty not-quite-child, whose major role seems to be to ask the tricky questions so that essential elements of the magic system or necessary plot points can be explained to the reader, or to act as a window to events not seen by Rennyn. Despite her heroics at the big confrontation, she always felt a bit extraneous. I rather liked Rennyn’s younger brother, Seb, however, who has a very focused view of magic and simply refuses to acknowledge the validity of any viewpoint other than his own. He will ring a bell with anyone with knowledge of a certain geeky type of teenage boy.
There are two main characters, of whom Rennyn is the more interesting by far. Intelligent, competent and entirely self-sufficient, yet she never becomes a Mary Sue, and it’s always clear that she has hidden depths, as well as (perhaps) an agenda of her own. She’s accused of being arrogant, but perhaps it’s more a question of self-awareness. It’s not arrogance to know what has to be done and to go about doing it with minimal fuss. Kendall is the bratty not-quite-child, whose major role seems to be to ask the tricky questions so that essential elements of the magic system or necessary plot points can be explained to the reader, or to act as a window to events not seen by Rennyn. Despite her heroics at the big confrontation, she always felt a bit extraneous. I rather liked Rennyn’s younger brother, Seb, however, who has a very focused view of magic and simply refuses to acknowledge the validity of any viewpoint other than his own. He will ring a bell with anyone with knowledge of a certain geeky type of teenage boy.
The Barney Awards - 12 Days of Christmas - Day 9
The Barney for best appearance by a chaos demon goes too...
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Fantasy Review: 'Falling Kingdoms' by Morgan Rhodes
When I read YA novels I read them from my own enjoyment perspective. I give no thought to how they would work for a younger audience, and there is plenty of YA that proves I don’t have to. Pratchett, Valente, and Westerfeld have all given series that I enjoy as much as any “adult” fantasy fiction. For about three quarters of ‘Fallen Kingdoms’ I hoped I had found another to add to my list.
‘Falling Kingdoms’ revolves around four teenagers and three kingdoms. An outing into neighboring Paelsia by Princess Cleo and friends ends in a death of a local. A long running, but fragile, peace is now threatened. The brother of the slain man wants vengeance and looks to Paelsia’s leadership for help. The northern kingdom smells blood, led by a despot king with a secret weapon in a daughter who may hold the key to magic. And Cleo looks for a way to cure her sick sister while grappling with guilt over the murder she was present for.
‘Falling Kingdoms’ revolves around four teenagers and three kingdoms. An outing into neighboring Paelsia by Princess Cleo and friends ends in a death of a local. A long running, but fragile, peace is now threatened. The brother of the slain man wants vengeance and looks to Paelsia’s leadership for help. The northern kingdom smells blood, led by a despot king with a secret weapon in a daughter who may hold the key to magic. And Cleo looks for a way to cure her sick sister while grappling with guilt over the murder she was present for.
The Barney Awards - 12 Days of Christmas - Day 8
The Barney for best all-the-things-I-hate goes to...
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