Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Book Review - Soldier
Labels:
book review,
dragons,
julie kagawa,
paranormal romance,
Soldier,
talon,
talon saga,
young adult
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| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble |
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Version I Read: Hardcover
Rating: 4.5/5
I previously reviewed the first book in this series, and since I just finished the newest one, I wanted to talk about it.
Soldier continues the story from Talon and Rogue, following the group as they split up. Garret learns an earthshaking secret about the Order of St. George while in London and Ember and Riley continue to remain on the run from Talon while trying to protect their underground network from all sides.
MAJOR spoilers this time.
Soldier was a great read for a number of reasons. The series continues to feel more like a thriller than a young adult romance, especially considering who the publisher is. And boy is it a thriller - multiple, multiple scenes throughout this book are complete nail-biters, especially the climax and final duel between Garret and the Patriarch. The cliffhanger is not entirely welcome, (they never are) but drops some big ones on us for the next book - Garret is told his parents were operatives of Talon and then shot (though I'd be very surprised if Kagawa kills him off) and Dante meets the Elder Wyrm, who tells him she is his mother. That means she's Ember's mother too, and goes a long way towards explaining why Dante and Ember are supposedly so special. (I was starting to wonder if they were somehow half human or something).
Jade was a more than welcome addition. It's about time Eastern dragons appeared on the scene - I was starting to wonder if other cultures' concepts of dragons would make an appearance in this series. I hope we get to see more of her and her kind in later installments.
A few things still bother me that I've talked about before. I don't feel certain aspects of the story and world have been explained well enough, especially concerning why so many humans work for Talon and why there aren't any other rogue dragons (either in his network or from outside it) who have teamed up with or want to help Riley.
As for newer developments in this book: I liked the inclusion of the concept of Sallith'tahn, and especially its repression by Talon. Great concept and idea. I do, however, think having Cobalt, the only eligible male dragon Ember's had any contact with in her entire life, be her Sallith'tahn was more than a little contrived. I mean, what are the odds?
I feel the issues surrounding the Patriarch were not always given the moral questioning by the characters that they should. For example, several times during the book Ember gets very stressed and suffers guilt over killing, even though pretty much all of it is in justifiable self-defense. Garret laments once about whether or not fallen soldiers of St. George could have come around to the truth. But when they know deliberately exposing the Patriarch of St. George is likely to get him executed, no one bats an eye. And he's not a complete villain to boot - him falling in with Talon was far from entirely his fault, and the way the Order views the situation makes some semblance of sense. Talon and their operatives ARE horrible people, and very few dragons have escaped. How is St. George supposed to know that not all dragons are trying to take over the world and enslave humans or that they have human feelings, when Talon is deliberately trying to bury that information themselves? I'm not saying they were wrong to take the actions they did, but the choice wasn't given the debate it needed to have.
Another thing nobody seemed to take into account was how dangerous destabilizing and possibly destroying St. George could be. Because without them, Talon's powers will now be unchecked, and they can devote all their resources to hunting down the rogues. This will likely be addressed in the next book, given the closing line.
The Verdict: Another pulse-pounding addition to this series with great twists and turns and only some holes. The series continues to deliver more than your standard YA paranormal romance.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Evensong
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| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Title: Evensong
Author: Krista Walsh
Publisher: Raven's Quill Press
Publication Date: January 30, 2014
Version I Read: Ebook
Rating: 3.75/5
The premise of this one intrigued me a lot, and not just because I'm a writer myself. I've always been a big fan of portal fantasy, and this one had a different take on it, so I checked it out.
Evensong is about a snarky, awkward author named Jeff Powell whose characters kidnap him and pull him into his own book - one he's frantically working on to meet his deadline - in order to enlist his help to save their world.
There will be spoilers.
There will be spoilers.
The world building, even though it could have been better, was still satisfactory - the author certainly did not bite off more than she could chew. I liked how she consistently showed that there was a lot more to Jeff's novel than he knew or realized - like the true temperament of the dragon, Raul's presence (whom Jeff just had a vague idea of existing) and history with the main characters, and the true feelings and memories of his characters. There was a particularly sweet moment near the end where Jasmine thinks a memory she has is something Jeff forced upon her, and he just smiles and says he didn't write that one.
There are also interesting ethical dilemmas posed that will make authors really think about why they do terrible things to their characters. We do it to make a plot, because without conflict, there is no story. But at the same time, as the book seems to suggest, we must have meaningful conflict, and not just throw in things because you have no better ideas. We really do make our characters suffer when, if we were to know them in real life, intentionally hurting or killing them would be out of the question.
Having Jeff sacrifice his creativity for a shot at helping everyone was a good idea, but I don't think the consequences were consistently shown all that well. What does it mean to give up your "creativity?" That could go so far as to take away your basic human reasoning (i.e. use a different tool to get a better result) and I don't feel that was adequately addressed.
The plot is winding and moves along at a pace that keeps you invested (with one significant example near the end that we'll get to later), and several well-timed deaths are effective in showing both Jeff and the reader that, in this world, people play for keeps.
There are also interesting ethical dilemmas posed that will make authors really think about why they do terrible things to their characters. We do it to make a plot, because without conflict, there is no story. But at the same time, as the book seems to suggest, we must have meaningful conflict, and not just throw in things because you have no better ideas. We really do make our characters suffer when, if we were to know them in real life, intentionally hurting or killing them would be out of the question.
Having Jeff sacrifice his creativity for a shot at helping everyone was a good idea, but I don't think the consequences were consistently shown all that well. What does it mean to give up your "creativity?" That could go so far as to take away your basic human reasoning (i.e. use a different tool to get a better result) and I don't feel that was adequately addressed.
The plot is winding and moves along at a pace that keeps you invested (with one significant example near the end that we'll get to later), and several well-timed deaths are effective in showing both Jeff and the reader that, in this world, people play for keeps.
I think the biggest problem are the characters - with the exception of Jeff, none of them had a lot of depth. This was quite the missed opportunity and perhaps this will get better in later books - we'll see. Jeff's insistence that none of it was real upon finding himself in his own book went on for far too long and really dragged the story down.
The plotting also starts to suffer and drag towards the end - I'm not quite sure why Walsh decided to have Jeff imprisoned and then try and squeeze a new character in towards the end (who quickly dies). I suppose this character does give the readers a little insight into why Raul's people follow him, but her and Raul's guards' interactions with Jeff just started to get repetitive and boring. The writing and plotting suffered from after Cassie's escape to the final climax, which was an interesting ending and I'm pretty sure will lead to the issues of the next book.
The final significant issue is the lack of clarity regarding how exactly Jeff influences the world. This one isn't as glaring as the former two, but I think it's still worth mentioning. While I do like the unanswered question of whether Jeff's just observing this world and writing down what he sees vs. actually being akin to a god, towards the end of the story greater clarity was critical to make the plot make sense (why COULDN'T he just write Cassie out of the book, or kill off Raul in a twist, for example?).
The final significant issue is the lack of clarity regarding how exactly Jeff influences the world. This one isn't as glaring as the former two, but I think it's still worth mentioning. While I do like the unanswered question of whether Jeff's just observing this world and writing down what he sees vs. actually being akin to a god, towards the end of the story greater clarity was critical to make the plot make sense (why COULDN'T he just write Cassie out of the book, or kill off Raul in a twist, for example?).
Unfortunately, I can't bring myself to give the book 4 stars due to its flaws, but it is certainly not deserving of the mediocre 3 or even 3.5, so I'm going with 3.75 for this one. I am interested enough to read the next book, once my pile thins a little.
The Verdict: Evensong is a well-written, fast-paced book that poses some interesting questions to authors. The characters are weaker than they should have been, there are some plotting issues near the end, and some obscurity in how certain things worked.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Huntress
Labels:
book review,
huntress,
novella,
renee carter hall
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| Cover art courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Renee Carter Hall
Publisher: Smashwords
Publication Date: September 20, 2015
Version I Read: Ebook
Rating: 5/5
I've always loved anthropomorphic animal fantasy, so when I found this book I was instantly drawn in (the cover floored me, especially for an indie). I don't regret it - Huntress was amazing.
Note: this review is only regarding Huntress, not the short stories that are included in the ebook. I haven't read those yet, but I most certainly will when I get a minute.
Huntress tells the story of Leya, a young lioness who wants nothing more than to join the karanja, proud huntresses who bring meat to their villages. But to do that, she must forego life with a mate and cubs. At first, she can't wait to get out from village life and under her mother, but when her childhood friend confesses his love for her, her choice becomes more complicated than she could have imagined.
Huntress, is, quite simply, a magnificent piece. If anything, it could have easily been expanded into a novel.
Spoiler warning.
The world building and sheer details of the culture stand out most of all. These are truly anthropomorphized animals, as they act human but still very much live in animal ways (the males are the leaders of their villages while the karanja are groups of all female hunters - that's basically how lions work.) A lot is crammed into this novella in regards to their culture and mythology, which grabbed and fascinated me from page one. But none of it manages to get convoluted or confusing. The only thing I would have liked more of was more information on the other anthropomorphized animals out there, since Hall chose to include them (the painted dogs and the jackals). Perhaps they'll feature more in the short stories.
Even in such a small space, every character is given significance and views the world and situations in very different ways, which only serves to make the story more interesting. Leya is, of course, a spunky, likable heroine who grows tremendously over the course of the story and I'm never going to say no to that, Bahati was the very kind, stable pillar she needed, Thembe was a cool substitute mom and guiding force for her, and Nuru had lots of interesting things about him. Even Masika, Naimah, Shani, and Ndiri, relatively minor characters, all had dimension and came to life. I think I liked pretty much everyone.
Leya's choice becomes more complicated the more she learns, and it's effectively communicated to the reader how hard this choice is. At first I wanted her to get together with Bahati, but the karanja are so cool too and I wanted her to follow her dream as well. The things she had to do to become a karanja were also creative (such as the initiation test with the ants; even her thought process was well thought out and believable) and horrifying (having their breasts cut off. Eeek.). I also really appreciated the spiritualism and Hall's choice to make it maybe magic, maybe mundane - it's up to you. (Maybe the elephant is her spirit guide or Thembe's spirit, maybe it's both, or maybe it's just her own inner voice given shape.) Her final decision to take a third option and forge a path for herself, scary as that must have been, left me feeling very satisfied for these characters and the world they are going to build together.
The Verdict: Huntress is an engaging novella with fantastic world building, likable characters, and a good story.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
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| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: N.K. Jemisin
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
Version I Read: Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 3.75/5
I have mixed feelings about this one. The book is, quite simply, amazingly crafted, but I had a hard time really emotionally liking it. Perhaps this is just one of those titles that I appreciate critically while not liking personally.
I can't really think of a good way to give a quick recap, so you might want to go read the official book description. Also, spoilers.
The cultures (that the book addresses, at least) and mythology of this world are lushly presented. The plotting is also very, very good, with many engaging twists and turns, especially near the end. I like the narrative style and the voice - the way Yeine's narration jumps around feels authentic to real thought. This was one of the few pieces of media I've come across where it actually makes sense why this cruel ruling class is and remains in power: they literally have enslaved gods on their side.
The narrative isn't as vast or expansive as its title suggests, which is fine because the book really does only focus on certain characters. But I think it's a misnomer to call it The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. It's not really epic fantasy - more like political intrigue low fantasy with a dash of mystery. The focus isn't on the mortal world and its goings-on but the gods: their past, present, and future. Which, fortunately, was well done.
The big problem for me was the characters. The only ones I cared about at all were T'vril, Relad, and, most of the time, Yeine. I genuinely liked T'vril and Relad - they were decent guys and I wanted to take them home and bake them cookies. While I may not have liked him, Viraine was truly a multidimensional character - probably the only one besides Yeine, Dekarta, and, to a lesser extent, Nahadoth and Relad.
Yeine herself is a refreshing heroine in the fantasy genre, just as the author, N.K. Jemisin, is a refreshing voice, being a black woman able to make that too-long-unheard voice heard. Yeine is decidedly human, with flaws and a believable voice. Most of the time, I was completely behind her, wanting her to triumph. I especially admire her desire, even after all the horrors she has seen, to make the world a better place, even if she must die for it. But every now and again, she would really try my patience. My two biggest problems with her are as follows: her choice to kill the two Menchey men and her relationship with Nahadoth.
Whether or not she felt the need to appear strong, killing the Menchey men (especially the second one) was, put simply, a dick move and almost made me not finish the book. It would have actually made a lot more sense for her to allow the first man to die (because he had tried to attack her) while sparing the second one (because all he tried to do was help his comrade). I think that would have sent a more powerful message to Menchey: that if you attack us, we will destroy you, but if you don't, you won't be harmed. This would have sent a two-pronged message of threat and assuredness that's more likely to get what you want. Whether she felt guilty afterward or not is irrelevant; she made the choice and was the direct cause of the innocent death of a pawn who really didn't have much choice to begin with. That turned me off to her hard and fast. (Also, why didn't she bring Relad back to life at the end?)
That moment was both a little hypocritical and, I'd even argue, out of character, as throughout the rest of the book, Yeine proves herself to be a decent, compassionate human being, wanting nothing more than to not be Arameri. And then she goes ahead and does something very Arameri. It's understandable that she wants to protect her homeland, especially seeing as she knows she is going to die, has some power now, and is the former leader of her people. However, when taken along with her wish that the world become a better place, her actions come across as hypocritical. She shows no interest in any nation other than her own Darre, including the ones that she's given responsibility for.
Her relationship with Nahadoth is also problematic for a number of reasons (besides the over-the-top supernatural bed-destroying sex scene). First, it continues to pander to the "girls want bad boys" trope, which I have written about before. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but only if handled exceedingly well. In this case, I couldn't really fathom why Yeine is so drawn to Nahadoth over T'vril, unless it's because 1) she wants to experience a more exciting relationship before she dies (which is problematic because that's hardly the basis for a healthy romantic relationship) or 2) she carries the soul of his beloved sister and she is drawn to him because of Enefa (also problematic, because then she's not wholly herself in choosing him, even if you overlook the squicky fact that Enefa and Nahadoth are siblings). I'm not against sex and romance in fantasy, in fact, I encourage it, but something about the portrayal here felt lacking. He just seemed too inhuman for her to really have any chemistry with. A guy who sleeps with his kids and his brother and sister. Yeah, a real winner. Befitting behavior for a god, certainly, but not something to be admired or sought after by mortal morals.
The ending was fantastic and I want to see where this world goes now that its gods are no longer present. This is a plot I love to see in fantasy and so I will definitely be reading the next book.
The Verdict: Rich mythology, amazing take on the relations between gods and mortals, engaging plot and ending. Problematic romance. Characters largely unlikable or flat.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Artemis Awakening
Labels:
artemis awakening,
book review,
jane lindskold,
science fiction
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| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Jane Lindskold
Publisher: Tor
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Version I Read: Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 5/5
By now, it should be no secret that I'm a big fan of Jane Lindskold's work, so when I heard she had a new series coming out, I nabbed a copy at the earliest opportunity. Needless to say from my five star rating, it's good.
Centuries ago, a powerful empire dominated the stars. With their advanced technology, they were able to accomplish seemingly the impossible, like creating an entire pleasure planet for their elite, complete with residents. When the empire and their technology were destroyed in a war, the planet, named Artemis, was lost and left to evolve on its own. Now, young archaeologist Griffin Dane has come to the planet, hoping to make the archaeological find of the century. Too bad his shuttle crashes...
There's not a lot to talk about, really. It's just a good all around book. No one thing in particular sticks out, but that's because every element is done nicely and it all blends together to create a good story that still leaves some questions unanswered and some plot threads open.
Major spoilers!
First off, this book, unlike some others, has been edited down to necessity, making it very tightly-plotted. The allows the action and the story to move along at a clipped pace and never drag.
The villain, the Old One Who Is Young, is not a new breed by any stretch of the imagination, but he is an effective one. When describing the horrors of the Old One's experiment/breeding program, Lindskold pulls no punches, making a great case for why this man is so unbelievably horrible he deserves to be called a villain. (Long story short, he's breeding human beings for reasons that make sense in context, and abduction, rape, and removing children from their parents is a regular occurrence). This also allows the narrative to scratch the surface of showing how Stockholm Syndrome can cause victims to victimize others, and why they shouldn't be held entirely accountable for it. He is also mentioned early enough that his importance is consistent throughout the novel, and his betrayal is effective in its surprise.
I also found the romance realistic, especially in regards to Adara and Julyan. It's a spot-on description of a young woman, caught up in the throes of first love, falling for a man whose dominant personality becomes problematic (understatement) in the future. The interactions between Griffin and Adara and Terrell and Adara (and Griffin and Terrell's friendship in spite of the "competition") turn them into real people (albeit from completely different origins) and the reader, as well as Adara, can see the good points of each. Both Griffin and Adara thinking they are not good enough for the other (for different reasons) was a nice touch. They also make a very good team. Adara herself is sufficiently badass and crafty (pretending to be stupid around the Old One so she may avoid his attentions while sneaking about on her own to investigate), joining the ranks of other similar Lindskold heroines. Her connection to the planet itself is intriguing and I'm interested to see where it will go as the story continues.
Research was clearly done on pumas in order to write Sand Shadow, and Artemis itself is an organic, fascinating world that, hopefully, will only continue to be built upon in subsequent novels. While it's been done before, the discovery of this lost world is just as mysterious and intriguing as any which came before.
Centuries ago, a powerful empire dominated the stars. With their advanced technology, they were able to accomplish seemingly the impossible, like creating an entire pleasure planet for their elite, complete with residents. When the empire and their technology were destroyed in a war, the planet, named Artemis, was lost and left to evolve on its own. Now, young archaeologist Griffin Dane has come to the planet, hoping to make the archaeological find of the century. Too bad his shuttle crashes...
There's not a lot to talk about, really. It's just a good all around book. No one thing in particular sticks out, but that's because every element is done nicely and it all blends together to create a good story that still leaves some questions unanswered and some plot threads open.
Major spoilers!
First off, this book, unlike some others, has been edited down to necessity, making it very tightly-plotted. The allows the action and the story to move along at a clipped pace and never drag.
The villain, the Old One Who Is Young, is not a new breed by any stretch of the imagination, but he is an effective one. When describing the horrors of the Old One's experiment/breeding program, Lindskold pulls no punches, making a great case for why this man is so unbelievably horrible he deserves to be called a villain. (Long story short, he's breeding human beings for reasons that make sense in context, and abduction, rape, and removing children from their parents is a regular occurrence). This also allows the narrative to scratch the surface of showing how Stockholm Syndrome can cause victims to victimize others, and why they shouldn't be held entirely accountable for it. He is also mentioned early enough that his importance is consistent throughout the novel, and his betrayal is effective in its surprise.
I also found the romance realistic, especially in regards to Adara and Julyan. It's a spot-on description of a young woman, caught up in the throes of first love, falling for a man whose dominant personality becomes problematic (understatement) in the future. The interactions between Griffin and Adara and Terrell and Adara (and Griffin and Terrell's friendship in spite of the "competition") turn them into real people (albeit from completely different origins) and the reader, as well as Adara, can see the good points of each. Both Griffin and Adara thinking they are not good enough for the other (for different reasons) was a nice touch. They also make a very good team. Adara herself is sufficiently badass and crafty (pretending to be stupid around the Old One so she may avoid his attentions while sneaking about on her own to investigate), joining the ranks of other similar Lindskold heroines. Her connection to the planet itself is intriguing and I'm interested to see where it will go as the story continues.
Research was clearly done on pumas in order to write Sand Shadow, and Artemis itself is an organic, fascinating world that, hopefully, will only continue to be built upon in subsequent novels. While it's been done before, the discovery of this lost world is just as mysterious and intriguing as any which came before.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - The Novice
Labels:
book review,
fantasy,
taran matharu,
the novice,
the summoner trilogy,
YA,
young adult
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| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Taran Matharu
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Version I Read: Hardcover
Rating: 4/5
Version I Read: Hardcover
Rating: 4/5
I picked this one up on a whim because it sounded interesting, and I certainly was not disappointed. Not completely wowed, but certainly not disappointed.
The Novice tells the story of Fletcher, an orphan living in a small remote mountain town in the north of the empire of Hominum. On accident, he ends up summoning a demon, proving he has the ability to summon. On the run from a "crime he didn't commit," according to the book cover, but more like a possible murder in self-defense, he finds himself enrolled at the academy that trains adept summoners where he is bound to learn more about himself and the world around him.
Some spoilers.
The two biggest strengths of this book are the world building and the magic system. The entire system for summoning and keeping a demon is amazingly logical and thought out. The politics and players in them are likewise astonishingly well-detailed for a book like this, especially the relations between the races and the interesting cultural details about each one the author manages to squeeze into the narrative (like the dwarven women's customs being so similar to Islamic ones. It was nice to see a positive portrayal.) This book also had a rather fresh approach to elves, dwarves, and possibly even the orcs (as well as the somewhat unique inclusion of firearms), which I appreciated.
The plot is also pretty decent, especially the neat twist that even the reader doesn't know if Didric actually died or not. The opening third is the best part, but the book also ends on a high note with a cliffhanger of an ending that would bother me if it hadn't been built up. Unfortunately, while it does the school sections better than most, I have never been a big fan of magical school stories for precisely that reason. The school sections tend to be boring and drag. While they weren't as bad here because the magic system was so solid and the reader was learning along with the characters, these sections still felt tedious in places.
Most of the messages of the story are generic (don't discriminate against people based on their origin or race) but a small one near the end was noteworthy enough to be mentioned here: the dwarf Othello has a more radical twin brother named Atilla whom Othello regularly impersonated in order to keep his brother from harm. But near the end of the book, after Fletcher and co have rescued Atilla, Othello admits he was wrong because his brother rarely had a sense of consequence, and so his self-destructive behavior continued. While there's nothing wrong with protecting those you love, shielding them too much can, obviously, lead to problems and it was nice to see this book point that out.
There are some other issues. Namely, the sheer hatred everyone seems to have towards commoners being battlemages. It comes off as more shallow and stupid than usual. Medieval society or not, they are desperately fighting a war on two fronts and need everyone capable they can find. This leads to the order about not testing orphans for summoning ability because they could be bastard children of nobles (the ability is usually inherited) coming off as incredibly stupid. First, the vast majority of orphans are not going to be illegitimate nobles. Second, I'm sure plenty of those kids did end up with families who pretend to be their biological ones, so how is being an orphan such a big indicator? You're going to pass on a rare and powerful resource just because some of your nobles couldn't keep it in their pants and they don't want their honor tarnished? It was their fault in the first place! The racism towards the dwarves and the elves works a lot better, in spite of the fact that it's been done to death. But can we start exploring some other issues in our fantasy, please?
The characters are mostly hits with some misses. For being as many as there are, they all do have their places and are relatively well-developed. Fletcher, Captain Lovett, Othello, Sylva, Sereph, and to a lesser extent Atilla and Arcturus are all badasses. On the flip side, most of the other students at the academy don't get to do much (I was expecting both Genevieve and Rory to have more of a front and center role, and I think it was interesting that the author decided to have Sylva, Othello, and Fletcher be the power trio instead.) The villains, however, are downright irritating in their simplicity, especially Didric and Rook. At least Isadora and Tarquin have some sort of motivation, but it doesn't make them three-dimensional characters. All of the villainous characters' lack of any sort of depth or being anything other than obnoxious bullies is quite jarring compared to the excellent thought the author put into the world, the magic system, and the rest of the characters. Hell, it even looks like the orcs might not be everything they seem.
Last but not least, the book would have greatly benefited from a character list and world map.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - The Book of Three
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| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication Date: March 12, 1964
Version I Read: Paperback
Rating: 5/5
I'll make no secret of it - I think The Chronicles of Prydain is one of the masterworks of the fantasy genre, children's series or no. So, bam, five star rating right there. Going into a bit more detail why:
The Book of Three is the first novel of the Chronicles of Prydain series by American author Lloyd Alexander. While not a retelling of Welsh mythology, the series heavily borrows elements and characters from the legends, while introducing new ones. Despite the title, The Book of Three and its sequel, The Black Cauldron, were mashed together to form the basis of the 1985 animated Disney film (that no one remembers) The Black Cauldron.
The Book of Three begins the story of Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper of Caer Dallben. Taran, like the protagonists of most fantasy novels, dreams of being a hero but as his title implies, is stuck looking after the pig Hen Wen. Hen Wen, however, is far from ordinary: she is the only ocular pig in Prydain, with the power to show what one is asking for. When Hen Wen runs off, Taran sets off to find her, leading him to a group of odd companions and eventually to confront the dreaded Horned King himself.
Spoilers.
All of the books in the series feature a complex, uncommon moral/lesson/theme that makes them all stand out in one way or another. To illustrate this, I give you an exchange from the end of The Book of Three:
"I have no just cause for pride," Taran said, taking his usual place on the familiar bench. "It was Gwydion who destroyed the Horned King, and Hen Wen helped him do it. But Gurgi, not I, found her. Doli and Fflewddur fought gloriously while I was wounded by a sword I had no right to draw. And Eilonwy was the one who took the sword from the barrow in the first place. As for me, what I mostly did was make mistakes."
"My my," said Dallben, "those are complaints enough to dampen the merriest feast. Though what you say may be true, you have cause for a certain pride nevertheless. It was you who held the companions together and led them. You did what you set out to do, and Hen Wen is safely back with us. If you made mistakes, you recognize them. As I told you, there are times when the seeking counts more than the finding."
The writing itself is quite poetic and even beautiful in places. The pacing is good, the plot moves along logically without characters having to act stupid or random events happening, and there aren't any superfluous scenes. The world-building is simplistic - perhaps a little too simplistic, but I think it works okay in this book, at least. In fact, I think that's one of the only weaknesses of this series: that the world-building is a little confusing at times in later novels.
The characters are all quite memorable in their first appearances here and only become more so as the series goes on and they develop. Eilonwy is spunky and talkative, Fflewddur is the voice of reason in the group despite his tendency to exaggerate. And Doli, well, Doli is just a sourpuss, but his magical abilities make him extremely useful, and he genuinely grows to care about the band. Taran himself is in whiny farm boy mode for most of this book, but it serves to set up his development as a character over the course of the series and he genuinely realizes his mistakes. As the above exchange says, every character gets to do something that is important to the plot and they all have consistent and strong personalities. Gurgi in particular, I feel, is a lot less annoying in the books than in the film adaptation.
The Verdict: The Book of Three is a rousing adventure story set in an interesting fantasy world with complex and somewhat uncommon ideas about heroism and growing up. The characters are also well-developed and memorable.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
The Book of Three is the first novel of the Chronicles of Prydain series by American author Lloyd Alexander. While not a retelling of Welsh mythology, the series heavily borrows elements and characters from the legends, while introducing new ones. Despite the title, The Book of Three and its sequel, The Black Cauldron, were mashed together to form the basis of the 1985 animated Disney film (that no one remembers) The Black Cauldron.
The Book of Three begins the story of Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper of Caer Dallben. Taran, like the protagonists of most fantasy novels, dreams of being a hero but as his title implies, is stuck looking after the pig Hen Wen. Hen Wen, however, is far from ordinary: she is the only ocular pig in Prydain, with the power to show what one is asking for. When Hen Wen runs off, Taran sets off to find her, leading him to a group of odd companions and eventually to confront the dreaded Horned King himself.
Spoilers.
All of the books in the series feature a complex, uncommon moral/lesson/theme that makes them all stand out in one way or another. To illustrate this, I give you an exchange from the end of The Book of Three:
"I have no just cause for pride," Taran said, taking his usual place on the familiar bench. "It was Gwydion who destroyed the Horned King, and Hen Wen helped him do it. But Gurgi, not I, found her. Doli and Fflewddur fought gloriously while I was wounded by a sword I had no right to draw. And Eilonwy was the one who took the sword from the barrow in the first place. As for me, what I mostly did was make mistakes."
"My my," said Dallben, "those are complaints enough to dampen the merriest feast. Though what you say may be true, you have cause for a certain pride nevertheless. It was you who held the companions together and led them. You did what you set out to do, and Hen Wen is safely back with us. If you made mistakes, you recognize them. As I told you, there are times when the seeking counts more than the finding."
The writing itself is quite poetic and even beautiful in places. The pacing is good, the plot moves along logically without characters having to act stupid or random events happening, and there aren't any superfluous scenes. The world-building is simplistic - perhaps a little too simplistic, but I think it works okay in this book, at least. In fact, I think that's one of the only weaknesses of this series: that the world-building is a little confusing at times in later novels.
The characters are all quite memorable in their first appearances here and only become more so as the series goes on and they develop. Eilonwy is spunky and talkative, Fflewddur is the voice of reason in the group despite his tendency to exaggerate. And Doli, well, Doli is just a sourpuss, but his magical abilities make him extremely useful, and he genuinely grows to care about the band. Taran himself is in whiny farm boy mode for most of this book, but it serves to set up his development as a character over the course of the series and he genuinely realizes his mistakes. As the above exchange says, every character gets to do something that is important to the plot and they all have consistent and strong personalities. Gurgi in particular, I feel, is a lot less annoying in the books than in the film adaptation.
The Verdict: The Book of Three is a rousing adventure story set in an interesting fantasy world with complex and somewhat uncommon ideas about heroism and growing up. The characters are also well-developed and memorable.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Through Wolf's Eyes
Labels:
book review,
firekeeper,
jane lindskold,
through wolf's eyes
·
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| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Jane Lindskold
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Publication Date: June 17, 2002
Version I Read: Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 5/5
This is one of those books I read a long time ago and recently reread. Needless to say from my high rating, Through Wolf's Eyes holds up. Big time.
Years ago, the king of Hawk Haven disowned his youngest son, and the prince left on an expedition to found a colony on the other side of the mountains. He was never heard from again. Now that the king's other children have died and a fight for succession has erupted, an earl decides to lead an expedition to find out what happened to the missing prince, and, hopefully, bring either him or any heirs back.
Thus begins the tale of Lady Blysse, or, as she would rather be known, Firekeeper. A survivor of Prince Barden's ill-fated expedition, she has been raised by wolves (bigger, more intelligent wolves that live beyond the mountains), leaving her more wolf than human. With some urging from her adopted family, she chooses to return with the humans to their kingdom, the kingdom of her birth.
Spoilers!
This book knows how to do political intrigue! As the plot centers around the extended royal family fighting over the throne, unsurprisingly, there is a lot of plotting and a couple of assassination attempts, as well as strategic marriages and characters plotting out their every move. Allister Seagleam, who is the son of the king's sister who was married off to the Bright Bay nobility to ensure peace and eventual unification of their two lands, is also in the running, to the chagrin of the Hawk Haven nobility, even though a decent portion of the people support his claim. In one of the later chapters, we get the history of the Bright Bay throne explained to us too, and it is similarly creative, fascinating, and realistic. One thing that doesn't clutter up the story is the fact that there is nothing barring women from holding positions of power (in fact, Hawk Haven was founded by a woman), meaning Lindskold doesn't take unnecessary time on feminist stories that have been done to death in similar stories.
I love the setting, specifically the idea that the kingdoms where the story takes place were founded after colonizers from the Old World withdrew to deal with issues closer to home. This idea is interesting, because it is not only something I haven't seen in fantasy too often (and gives it a very "New World" feel), but it adds an extra angle to the people in power: that their power is only somewhat solidified.
Firekeeper herself is a great character - both naive in the ways of humans and wise in the ways of the world. The way her mind works is very well-written, as she constantly compares the goings-on in the human world to how the animal world works, most commonly and perhaps obviously, to power dynamics in wolf packs. Firekeeper's relationship with Blind Seer is also something of note; most readers would expect her to eventually fall in love with a human (namely Darian), but not Firekeeper. Her soulmate truly is Blind Seer and, while she is searching for a way to become a wolf in body as well as in spirit through forbidden ancient magics, she shares a kind of beautiful bond with him in spite of the fact that they are of two different species.
Pretty much all of the other characters, especially Sapphire, Derian, Elise, and Doc, are distinctive and well-rounded. I appreciate that the main villain's motivation is that he feels tossed aside after the death of his wife, who would have been Queen, and so he wants to take the power he feels is rightfully his.
The fact that magic in this world is rare and not even accepted (considered to be a relic of the Old World and not something any of them want; it is something they fear enough to go to war over the threat of it being used) is also nice, and gives the story a realistic feel while still maintaining the power and majesty of fantasy.
Perhaps the best part of the story is the ending and the resolution to the conflict. Firekeeper is not chosen to be the next queen. She is not even Prince Barden's daughter but the daughter of another member of the expedition. I love that the king knows this and accepts her into his court anyway, because he appreciates her wisdom and he genuinely likes her. Instead, the crown will go to the character that perhaps gets the best development in the story: Sapphire Shield. Sapphire goes from being an alpha bitch completely under the control of her mother to a strong independent woman and remains a complex character. Her betrothal to Allister's son ensures the promise made years ago to unite the kingdoms of Hawk Haven and Bright Bay into a stronger whole. This makes the end of the story not only perfectly logical, but also emotionally satisfying.
Years ago, the king of Hawk Haven disowned his youngest son, and the prince left on an expedition to found a colony on the other side of the mountains. He was never heard from again. Now that the king's other children have died and a fight for succession has erupted, an earl decides to lead an expedition to find out what happened to the missing prince, and, hopefully, bring either him or any heirs back.
Thus begins the tale of Lady Blysse, or, as she would rather be known, Firekeeper. A survivor of Prince Barden's ill-fated expedition, she has been raised by wolves (bigger, more intelligent wolves that live beyond the mountains), leaving her more wolf than human. With some urging from her adopted family, she chooses to return with the humans to their kingdom, the kingdom of her birth.
Spoilers!
This book knows how to do political intrigue! As the plot centers around the extended royal family fighting over the throne, unsurprisingly, there is a lot of plotting and a couple of assassination attempts, as well as strategic marriages and characters plotting out their every move. Allister Seagleam, who is the son of the king's sister who was married off to the Bright Bay nobility to ensure peace and eventual unification of their two lands, is also in the running, to the chagrin of the Hawk Haven nobility, even though a decent portion of the people support his claim. In one of the later chapters, we get the history of the Bright Bay throne explained to us too, and it is similarly creative, fascinating, and realistic. One thing that doesn't clutter up the story is the fact that there is nothing barring women from holding positions of power (in fact, Hawk Haven was founded by a woman), meaning Lindskold doesn't take unnecessary time on feminist stories that have been done to death in similar stories.
I love the setting, specifically the idea that the kingdoms where the story takes place were founded after colonizers from the Old World withdrew to deal with issues closer to home. This idea is interesting, because it is not only something I haven't seen in fantasy too often (and gives it a very "New World" feel), but it adds an extra angle to the people in power: that their power is only somewhat solidified.
Firekeeper herself is a great character - both naive in the ways of humans and wise in the ways of the world. The way her mind works is very well-written, as she constantly compares the goings-on in the human world to how the animal world works, most commonly and perhaps obviously, to power dynamics in wolf packs. Firekeeper's relationship with Blind Seer is also something of note; most readers would expect her to eventually fall in love with a human (namely Darian), but not Firekeeper. Her soulmate truly is Blind Seer and, while she is searching for a way to become a wolf in body as well as in spirit through forbidden ancient magics, she shares a kind of beautiful bond with him in spite of the fact that they are of two different species.
Pretty much all of the other characters, especially Sapphire, Derian, Elise, and Doc, are distinctive and well-rounded. I appreciate that the main villain's motivation is that he feels tossed aside after the death of his wife, who would have been Queen, and so he wants to take the power he feels is rightfully his.
The fact that magic in this world is rare and not even accepted (considered to be a relic of the Old World and not something any of them want; it is something they fear enough to go to war over the threat of it being used) is also nice, and gives the story a realistic feel while still maintaining the power and majesty of fantasy.
Perhaps the best part of the story is the ending and the resolution to the conflict. Firekeeper is not chosen to be the next queen. She is not even Prince Barden's daughter but the daughter of another member of the expedition. I love that the king knows this and accepts her into his court anyway, because he appreciates her wisdom and he genuinely likes her. Instead, the crown will go to the character that perhaps gets the best development in the story: Sapphire Shield. Sapphire goes from being an alpha bitch completely under the control of her mother to a strong independent woman and remains a complex character. Her betrothal to Allister's son ensures the promise made years ago to unite the kingdoms of Hawk Haven and Bright Bay into a stronger whole. This makes the end of the story not only perfectly logical, but also emotionally satisfying.
The Verdict: An engrossing and compelling book that amazingly combines the story of a feral child raised by wolves and a political struggle for a crown.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Falling Kingdoms
Labels:
book review,
epic fantasy,
falling kingdoms,
fantasy,
high fantasy,
morgan rhodes,
young adult
·
 |
| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: March 11, 2014
Version I Read: Hardcover
Rating: 4/5
I'm pretty conflicted about this book. On the whole, it's a good story that, at least in this first volume, is a little superficial. The major characters are both likable and infuriating, which means they are most certainly not boring. Oh, yeah, and my favorite character dies. When I read it for the first time, I was so angry I didn't want to pick up the next one. But something about this world kept calling me to come back, and I'm honestly glad I did, because, putting my emotions aside, this really is a good book.
There are three kingdoms on the continent of Mythica: prosperous Auranos to the south, poor Paelsia in the center, and cold and strong Limeros in the north. The story is told from four perspectives: Cleo, the headstrong princess of Auranos who, though no fault of her own, sets off an international incident; Jonas, a young man in Paelsia, who, after being wronged, ends up becoming a budding rebel leader; Lucia, the princess of Limeros, who, unknown to except a few, is destined to become one of the most powerful sorceresses who ever lived; and Magnus, the prince of Limeros, who harbors a forbidden love for his sister and struggles to hide his true self from his tyrant father.
Some spoilers.
The action kicks off when a party including Cleo and her soon-to-be fiance Aron go to Paelsia to purchase some wine and are involved in an altercation where the wine-seller's son is killed. Cleo has nothing to do with this - Aron was trying to rip them off - but the incident becomes a rallying cry for the people of Paelsia. With the murdered man's brother out for revenge and the cruel king of the north seeking to take advantage of the tragedy, the powder keg finally explodes into all-out war. I like that a single isolated incident like this is enough to start a major war - after all, throughout history, a seemingly small event has set things in motion when tension has been boiling beneath the surface for years.
There are three kingdoms on the continent of Mythica: prosperous Auranos to the south, poor Paelsia in the center, and cold and strong Limeros in the north. The story is told from four perspectives: Cleo, the headstrong princess of Auranos who, though no fault of her own, sets off an international incident; Jonas, a young man in Paelsia, who, after being wronged, ends up becoming a budding rebel leader; Lucia, the princess of Limeros, who, unknown to except a few, is destined to become one of the most powerful sorceresses who ever lived; and Magnus, the prince of Limeros, who harbors a forbidden love for his sister and struggles to hide his true self from his tyrant father.
Some spoilers.
The action kicks off when a party including Cleo and her soon-to-be fiance Aron go to Paelsia to purchase some wine and are involved in an altercation where the wine-seller's son is killed. Cleo has nothing to do with this - Aron was trying to rip them off - but the incident becomes a rallying cry for the people of Paelsia. With the murdered man's brother out for revenge and the cruel king of the north seeking to take advantage of the tragedy, the powder keg finally explodes into all-out war. I like that a single isolated incident like this is enough to start a major war - after all, throughout history, a seemingly small event has set things in motion when tension has been boiling beneath the surface for years.
I think the biggest problem with this book is that the writing and narrative itself are a little superficial, which doesn't work well for high fantasy. There are no organic detours from the main plot, which I think detracts from what is otherwise a good story.
The characters swing from likable to nearly intolerable, which, whether you like them or not, means they invoke strong emotions, so the author is doing something right. On the likable side, you have Cleo, who, while she makes mistakes and bad decisions some of the time, is a rather fleshed out and believable character, given her age and status. I ship her hardcore with Theon. *Sob*
Jonas has the least development of the main characters (he also has the least amount of POV chapters, which I find a little odd). I'm not sure why the author gave him so much less to do than the other main characters, and, as a consequence, he's much flatter than the others. He also changes his opinion more or less at the drop of a hat, which is rather poor writing.
Lucia is naive and easily manipulatable, which gives some depth to her otherwise Purity Sue character, as these are some major character flaws that have terrible consequences towards the end of the story. Seeing where she's going to go from here will be interesting.
Magnus is a little harder to get behind because of what an ass he can be, but as the story goes along you do see why he is the kind of person he is. We'll see which road he chooses to take in the sequels.
The mythology of the Kindred and the Watchers is also pretty well thought-out and adds a lot of depth to the story. I always like it when worlds have their own mythology and stories that get told to the readers - it makes the story feel all the more real.
There are also some minor (Why did Jonas bother getting with Chief Basilius' daughter in order to gain an audience rather than request one directly as the brother of the man who was killed?) and not-so-minor logic flaws, namely, why Jonas was so obsessed with getting revenge on Cleo when she was clearly not comfortable with the situation (and even tried to get them all to leave!). Fixating on Aron would have made sense, and I understand people do stupid things when they're that upset, but it still feels contrived by the author to make the plot move along rather than something the character would logically think or do.
(And why did you have to kill Theon off? WHY?!)
The characters swing from likable to nearly intolerable, which, whether you like them or not, means they invoke strong emotions, so the author is doing something right. On the likable side, you have Cleo, who, while she makes mistakes and bad decisions some of the time, is a rather fleshed out and believable character, given her age and status. I ship her hardcore with Theon. *Sob*
Jonas has the least development of the main characters (he also has the least amount of POV chapters, which I find a little odd). I'm not sure why the author gave him so much less to do than the other main characters, and, as a consequence, he's much flatter than the others. He also changes his opinion more or less at the drop of a hat, which is rather poor writing.
Lucia is naive and easily manipulatable, which gives some depth to her otherwise Purity Sue character, as these are some major character flaws that have terrible consequences towards the end of the story. Seeing where she's going to go from here will be interesting.
Magnus is a little harder to get behind because of what an ass he can be, but as the story goes along you do see why he is the kind of person he is. We'll see which road he chooses to take in the sequels.
The mythology of the Kindred and the Watchers is also pretty well thought-out and adds a lot of depth to the story. I always like it when worlds have their own mythology and stories that get told to the readers - it makes the story feel all the more real.
There are also some minor (Why did Jonas bother getting with Chief Basilius' daughter in order to gain an audience rather than request one directly as the brother of the man who was killed?) and not-so-minor logic flaws, namely, why Jonas was so obsessed with getting revenge on Cleo when she was clearly not comfortable with the situation (and even tried to get them all to leave!). Fixating on Aron would have made sense, and I understand people do stupid things when they're that upset, but it still feels contrived by the author to make the plot move along rather than something the character would logically think or do.
(And why did you have to kill Theon off? WHY?!)
The Verdict: A more ambitious YA fantasy than most which falls short in some places but ultimately holds up.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Hopper's Destiny
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| Cover image courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Lisa Fiedler
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: March 17, 2015
Version I Read: Hardcover
Rating: 4.5/5
I continue to really appreciate these books, and this second outing of the Mouseheart series was even better than the first.
Hopper and his friends have succeeded in driving away the feral cats from their beloved city of Atlantia and ending the rather atrocious agreement the former emperor Titus made with the feral queen Felina. It all sounds like a happy ending, except everything has gone wrong. The city is in ruins, attacked by feral cats at every turn, and food is scarce. What's worse, Hopper's sister Pinke has become the new leader of the Mus, and refuses to offer her resources to anyone else. Only Hopper's most steadfast friends are supporting him anymore. And what is going on with Pup?
I've only seen one other book that so thoroughly broke down its main character at the beginning, and that is Tad Williams' The War of the Flowers, which is decidedly less kid-friendly fare than Hopper's Destiny. That being said, the fact that everything goes so horribly wrong for Hopper and co. really makes the reader believe why Hopper would want to run away and never come back, Lion King style. This gives his inner struggle once he goes to the surface a lot more weight than would be usual.
The themes dealt with in this book are heavy and, in my opinion, quite well-handled. Titus' actions and repentance are given a lot more meaning when his motivations are revealed. Another major theme discussed is the ways of nature, and how, yes, cats and snakes eat mice. They have to to survive. Hopper eventually comes to accept this, but refuses to allow killing for reasons other than hunger or self-defense, which I think was a good moral. The final heavy topic is the book's discussion of faith and how, like the humble cockroach of La Rocha's namesake, it is indestructible. That being said, the book goes out of its way to say that the real strength of faith isn't that some supernatural force is going to come in and make everything better. No, its true strength is to inspire you and get you to believe in yourself. Again, a great message.
Fiedler takes the characters she started with in the last book and builds on them marvelously, offering new dimensions to nearly all of them (except maybe Zucker, who is MIA for most of the book), as well as showing us some new faces, perhaps most memorably Ace the cat and the mysterious true identity of La Rocha. Fiedler's writing is also top notch here, with some incredibly beautiful passages sprinkled throughout the book. Most come from La Rocha himself, but just about every character has something meaningful to say.
The plotting is tight and the action moves along at a good pace, and pretty much everything that happens in the book is important in some way, which I always love to see.
(Though seriously, what professional exterminator uses shovels?)
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Hidden
Labels:
book review,
dragonlands,
dragons,
epic fantasy,
fantasy,
hidden,
megg jensen
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| Cover image courtesy of Amazon |
Author: Megg Jensen
Publisher: 80 Pages, Inc
Publication Date: January 11, 2014
Version I Read: Kindle
Rating: 3.25/5
I’ve had only one other book in recent memory that conflicted me this much. Hidden is so interesting, because there’s so much it does really, really right, and just as much it does really, really wrong.
What it does really, really right:
The originality. The idea of a village surrounded by fog and cut off from the outside world makes this book stand out as completely unique within its genre. The reason why this village was selected for its fate made it even better.
The plot. The plot is genuinely interesting and cohesive throughout the story, especially in the latter half. It kept me guessing the whole way through, and I loved all the twists and turns.
The village itself. The society in the village feels absolutely real as a consequence of being cut off from the outside world. The selection of mates, the lack of horses, everything.
Most of the characters. With the exceptions below, most of the characters were just fine and even likable, particularly Leo and Jarrett. I even liked the forbidden love between Tressa and Bastian (cheating under their circumstances apparently doesn’t bother me as it seems to bother other people).
What is does really, really wrong:
Flat characters. Most of the characters are okay, but Vinya (seriously, what is her reason for treating her husband the way she does?) and Stacia in particular stood out as being absolutely horrible people for no real reason. Literally the only good thing about Stacia is that she’s a woman Big Bad, which makes her stand out a little. Having a weapon hidden in her hair was interesting… except for the fact that her braid was her main weapon, so it kind of entered the realm of implausibility. My biggest problem was with Henry, however, for how unbelievably poorly he was handled. His character does a 180 personality-wise for no adequately explained reason before being killed off in one of the most unceremonious and insulting ways possible for a character who was built up to be a major player in the story.
The excessive sex. I don’t mind sex in books. Hell, I like sex in books! But here the inclusion of so much of it felt juvenile, as if the author was only putting it in to make the story more “adult.” It really doesn’t work, make the story “darker,” or even more “realistic,” because people just don’t act or think that way.
A major plot hole. Who or what on earth were Tressa’s “father” and Bastian’s “mother” that our heroes encounter after leaving the fog? Maybe I missed something, but they were a major plot thread that was completely left hanging. I’m guessing they’re some kind of creatures that perhaps killed the real people and took over their bodies or something, but I suppose they could truly be who they say they are. Perhaps this will be explained in a later novel, I don’t know.
Also, their first encounter with Stacia was oddly handled, as it is poorly paced, it is far too much of a coincidence that she’s right there with her guard the moment our main characters come out of the fog, and the sacrifice of Connor made no sense because it was never really explained why (and if it was just to shag him, that qualifies as a pretty ridiculous reason).
The Verdict: For a freebie on Kindle, check it out for the good stuff, but don’t be too surprised if you’re turned off by the bad stuff.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Ink
Labels:
amanda sun,
book review,
fantasy,
ink,
paper gods,
paranormal romance,
romance,
the paper gods trilogy,
urban fantasy,
young adult
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| Cover art courtesy of Barnes and Noble |
Author: Amanda Sun
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Version I Read: Kindle
Rating: 3/5
I’ve been trying to get away from YA paranormal romance as of late, because it’s all just so boring and not very well written. Ink is only a partial exception to that, but I found myself picking it up anyway because the premise and setting intrigued me.
Ink follows the story of Katie Greene, an American teen having to go live with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, upon the death of her mother. Grieving for her mother, feeling like an outsider in a completely different culture halfway across the world, all she can think about is going to live with her grandparents in Canada instead. But when she meets mysterious Tomohiro and strange things begin happening around her involving ink, Katie realizes there’s more to Tomohiro than the rumors suggest.
For the most part, Ink is pretty typical for its genre. Mysterious boy in high school who turns out to be some kind of supernatural being, tries to push the girl away for her own protection, girl is “special” for some reason, boy loses girl for some dumbish reason, no real plot to speak of, yadda yadda yadda.
That being said, there are a few things that set Ink apart from the crowd:
The culture. Amanda Sun has clearly been to Japan, because I have too and I can vouch for nearly everything being precisely true. The accuracy of it truly makes the Japan of the book come alive, so kudos to the author on that front. The one odd exception to this is the Kami themselves, who don’t resemble mythological Japanese kami at all. That being said, her take on them is interesting.
The dialogue. The banter between Katie and Tomohiro feels real and makes them feel more like real people than typical protagonists in a paranormal YA novel. Fortunately, Tomohiro also escapes the “abusive boyfriend” problem that tends to crop up in YA because all of his “bad boy” attributes turn out to be complete accidents or lies, and, aside from his powers, he turns out to be a rather normal Japanese teenager.
The true natures of Ishikawa and Takahashi were also pretty well-done, with Ishikawa turning out not to be so bad a guy (adequately foreshadowed) and Jun being kind of a megalomaniac wanting to take over the world (not so adequately foreshadowed, but it worked because it was an interesting twist). Yuki and Tanaka don’t have much personality, but they do feel like normal high school students. I was interested in Shiori and wanted to learn more about her.
At first I rolled my eyes at the ending (Katie’s grandparents being able to take her in and Tomohiro encouraging her to leave so she won’t be hurt because of his power) but it was not too badly done because of the last few paragraphs, where Katie says screw it and doesn’t go. I also consider Katie herself to be a rather strong heroine, as she knows kendo and uses it when they’re captured by yakuza. Even without using her physical strength, she manages to be an imposing figure, not afraid to speak her mind or challenge others.
The Verdict: Not perfect by any means, especially compared to my sensibilities and standards, but if you’re still on the prowl for Twilight clones, you could do a lot worse than this one.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Talon
Labels:
book review,
dragons,
julie kagawa,
talon,
talon saga,
young adult
·
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| Cover art courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Version I Read: Audiobook
Rating: 4.5/5
I’ve always had a lot of respect for Julie Kagawa, ever since I first picked up The Iron King. She has always managed to do the whole typical “teen paranormal romance” while, you know, actually having an interesting plot. Since her publishing contract appears to be with Harlequin Teen, that alone is pretty impressive.
Because I really, really don’t like vampires and post-apocalyptic stories, however, I ultimately chose to take a pass on Blood of Eden. But when I heard she had a new series coming out about dragons, I was more than ready to give it a shot, and I was not disappointed.
Talon follows siblings Ember and Dante Hill, who are nearing the end of their training in the global dragon organization called Talon. They are dragons, who can shift into human form, and after years of lessons are now living amongst the human population for a summer as something of a final test. Once they complete integration, they will be assigned their positions in the organization. Ember, while happy to be experiencing something resembling freedom, has a rebellious streak that begins to blossom into full mutiny when she meets a rogue dragon, Cobalt, who tells her of Talon’s true nature. Meanwhile, the Order of St. George, a militant organization dedicated to killing all dragons, has gotten reports of a dragon imposter in the town Ember and Dante are living in, and they are going to send their best operatives to find the “sleeper” and kill it. But their “perfect soldier,” Garret, may get way more than he bargained for.
I listened to the audiobook, which is something I’ve tried to do more of as of late. (I can read more books that way!) I’m not as familiar with the medium as I am plain old books, but I thought the performances were pretty darn good. (And Chris Patton is a dragon! Awesome!)
Here there be spoilers!
The characters are pretty good, maybe not the most original, but likable and good nonetheless. I especially like how Ember actually is a badass who, for the most part, doesn’t need to be rescued. So often in YA paranormal romance, a spunky heroine turns into useless so the guy can save her. Not Ember. She does get help every now and again, but she kicks ass all the way. Dante keeps the reader guessing as to his true feelings and allegiance, before the ending, which is pretty heartbreaking for the reader as well as Ember. It’s interesting to see Garret’s inner thoughts and how both he and Ember begin the story as pretty convinced their side is right before changing their opinions throughout the story (while expected, I think it’s done well). Garret’s inner whining about how he can’t be with Ember even though she captivates him can get a little irritating at times, but nothing too serious. And Riley/Cobalt is a rebel with an attitude, trying to save young dragons from the organization. It’s hard not to like him, and Wes, the snarky hacker, for that matter. Even the human girls Ember hangs out with feel like people, and not just stereotypical blonde bimbos.
The plot really kicks into high gear near the end, with Ember and Garret discovering each other’s secrets and choosing to spare each other’s lives, Ember deciding to flee with Cobalt, and Dante choosing to remain with the organization rather than follow his sister. This sets up readers nicely for the next novel, with Garret captured and about to be executed by St. George for collaborating with a dragon, and Dante and Talon’s search for Ember. I came to realize just how much I liked these characters and cared about what was going to happen to them.
The biggest plot hole in this book (I even went back to the first chapter and listened to the first half of it again to make sure I wasn’t missing an explanation) is the human involvement with Talon. It’s never adequately explained in Talon, and in Rogue, it appears Kagawa might be handwaving it, which is a bit of a disappointment. I can understand if the humans they have working for them are being bought out, and that many of them don’t know the true nature of the organization, but given what I know about humanity, I have a hard time believing Talon could get too many humans (short of ones being raised by Talon, I guess) to think of themselves as a “lesser” species (we're not known for being humble). For that matter, I think she needs to go into more detail about how Talon operates in general, but she has more books for that, so I'll give it a pass for now. I also think the choice of having Ember discover and love surfing was a little “Californian surfer dude/dudette” cliche, but not too obnoxious.
The other thing I’m hoping Kagawa addresses in later books is Cobalt’s network of escaped hatchlings, its mechanics, and his plan for it. So far, it’s pretty clear that he and Wes are running this operation single-handedly, which I think is a tiny bit farfetched, mostly because a juvenile can’t be the only rogue dragon out there attempting to screw over Talon. I really hope we get to see more rogue dragons.
The Verdict: I’d say Talon gets off to a slower start than most, but I’m glad I stuck around, because the story seems to get more interesting the deeper you get into it.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Mouseheart
Labels:
book review,
children's literature,
Lisa Fiedler,
mouseheart
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| Cover art courtesy of Barnes and Noble. |
Author: Lisa Fiedler
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: May 2015
Version I Read: Paperback
Rating: 4/5
Version I Read: Paperback
Rating: 4/5
Man, I’m just on a children’s book kick recently, aren’t I? The most recent book I’ve completed that I feel I need to write a review on is Lisa Fielder’s Mouseheart.
Animal fantasy seems to be really in right now, what with the success of the Warriors series and the myriad of similar series that have followed it. Mouseheart appears to be kind of on the same track, and in many ways it’s rather typical for its genre. But I think this book goes to show there’s really nothing wrong with that. And because I like mice and rats in real life (I've owned many), I always appreciate when an animal fantasy story focuses on them (Rats of NIMH is one of my favorites, perhaps obviously.)
I wouldn’t call the plot of Mouseheart particularly spectacular or original. What does stand out is the characters. They all have well-defined personalities and motivations, and nearly all are at least somewhat sympathetic. Hopper is a relatable hero, his sister Pinky is an unapologetic badass, Zucker is a nice guy stuck in the pretty bad situation of having to betray his own father in order to save lives, Firren is an awesome revolutionary lady rat, and Titus, horrible as he is, shows some signs of regret and "doing what he has to do." And the idea of the main villain being a prissy housecat that got tossed out on the streets and then clawed her way up is pretty cool too.
One big criticism of the book I have is Zucker’s speech patterns. Perhaps it’s because he’s trying to seem less princely around Hopper, but his attempts at sounding like the “cool big bro” didn’t do much for me at all, and I felt it detracted severely from the writing and the story, and didn’t present Zucker as the kind of character the author was intending.
Either way, I’ve found myself pretty drawn into this world and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel.
The Verdict: A fun book with a lot of good characters, barring some dialogue issues and unoriginality. I think parents and kids will enjoy it.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Jurassic Park
Labels:
book review,
dinosaurs,
fiction,
jurassic park,
michael crichton,
science fiction
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| Cover art courtesy of Barnes and Noble |
Title: Jurassic Park
Author: Michael Crichton
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: November 1990
Version I Read: Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 4.5/5
Ah, Jurassic Park. Perhaps one of the only times in history that the movie has been better than the book.
That’s not to say the book is bad. It’s actually very good. It just has the misfortune of being overshadowed by one of the most successful (and in my opinion best) movie adaptations of all time. (Apologies. This review cannot help but make comparisons, and this is opinion, meaning there is quite a good argument to be had as to why the book is better.)
Nearly everyone knows the story of Jurassic Park. Rich eccentric builds a park with dinosaurs on an island off the coast of Costa Rica. And later there’s running and screaming.
Now, science will tell you this can’t work. DNA degrades over time, rendering it impossible to clone. Not to mention getting enough DNA from a blood sample in a mosquito to clone from is also highly unlikely. Not to mention the fact that T-Rex would have had feathers, dilophosaurus probably couldn’t spit venom, and velociraptor was the size of a chicken. But none of that matters, because both the book and the movie are just that freaking awesome.
I’ve been a fan of Jurassic Park since basically as long as I can remember. I had to convince my mother to let me see it when I was, like, five, and as I’m typing this, we’re actually going to go see it at a midnight showing at a local art theater, so I’m super excited.
So back to the book that started it all. I read the book many years ago when I was younger, but I opted to reread it last month in order to better comprehend it as my adult self. Obviously there are a lot of differences; some of which work better or answer questions those familiar with the movie might have. You obviously have a lot more time for detail in the book, which certainly adds to the credibility of this park. For example, the book elaborates on the reason the dinosaurs’ vision is based on movement (because of the added frog DNA), why the triceratops/stegosaurus was sick, and Dodgson’s motivations in contracting Dennis Nedry to steal the embryos.
There’s also the characters in general, as most have significant differences from their movie counterparts. (Wu and Harding get to do things! Gennaro is kind of badass! Hammond is an asshole! Grant has a beard!) Hammond being rather unsympathetic is particularly jarring to those familiar with the film, and I do wish he’d had something else to him, because as-is he’s kind of a flat character. It's also pretty horrific that two of the main deaths (Wu and Regis) were because they were trying to help someone else. Yeah, it was douchy of Regis to run off on the kids when the Rex attacked, but he came back out of guilt only to be Tyrannosaur dinner. And Wu died because he was trying to warn Ellie there were raptors nearby. Yikes.
A lot of it, I think, comes down to personal preference as to whether you like movie!character or book!character better. I think nearly everyone prefers movie!Hammond, and I certainly prefer book!Gennaro. Muldoon is pretty close between the two versions, but he gets to live in the book, which is nice. In contrast, book!Malcolm dies. It was an interesting choice for Spielberg to switch the ages of the kids - in the book, Lex is the younger sibling, and not nearly as useful. The elaboration on their parents’ divorce and the fact that Lex is obviously the favored child of their father, however, is well-done and quite sad for both Tim and Lex.
Although I do find Crichton’s choice to try and keep us guessing for the first parts of the book as to what’s going on rather well done, it is kind of odd when, even just from looking at and reading the book’s cover, it’s clear there are dinosaurs running around. Guitierrez’s presence was also odd, as you’re almost led to believe he will be the main character, before it then switches to Grant for the remainder of the book (until Guitierrez shows up again, somewhat randomly, at the end).
The book is technically classified as a thriller, and I think it succeeds in that area pretty well, particularly the scenes with the raptors near the end (and in the laboratory with Grant), the aviary scene, and the part when Grant and the kids are trying to avoid the T-Rex and get to the riverboat. I always admire writers who can make us feel afraid or anxious without the help of visual media, the way film can do, I feel, more easily. Goes to show how powerful the human imagination is.
The one thing I wasn't too keen on was the prose itself. While obviously written by a scientific mind for an intelligent audience, the prose are pretty "basic," which can take away some of the awe and imagery I'm sure Crichton's trying to conjure.
While I hold scientific progress in high regard and generally disagree with Crichton’s rather anti-science standpoint, I think the cautionary point about “just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should” is well-taken. (That, or they could just have people who know what they’re doing running Jurassic Park)
The verdict: Jurassic Park is a great book that, if you like dinosaurs or smart thrillers, you should read, no matter your familiarity with the film.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Vicious
Labels:
book review,
deconstruction,
fantasy,
review,
superhero,
superheroes,
v.e. schwab,
vicious
·
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| Cover art courtesy of Barnes and Noble |
Author: V.E. Schwab
Publisher: Tor
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Version I Read: Paperback
Rating: 5/5
Wow. All I can say is wow. When you read the summary of a book and think “There is no way in hell I’m going to like it,” yet you have this almost morbid desire to buy and read it anyway, and then it turns out to be one of the best books you’ve read in years, that’s saying something.
Victor Vale has just broken out of jail, which he was in for murder, in order to kill someone else. Seems like a great guy, huh? The reality is a lot more complicated than that. While in college, Victor and his then-best friend, Eli, became intrigued by the possibility of creating an ExtraOrdinary (or EO), a human being with supernatural powers. Ultimately, they succeeded, Eli becoming gifted with regenerative abilities, and Victor having the ability to turn off (and on) his and others’ pain. But things quickly turn sour between the two friends, setting off a plot that many consider The Count of Monte Cristo meets superheroes.
There have been more and more deconstructions of the superhero genre in recent years (Watchmen probably being the most famous and influential), but this one certainly stands on its own and I think it’s worth a read to just about everyone, even those who aren’t normally into speculative fiction. If you are into speculative fiction, buy this book and read it. Now.
Spoiler alert.
I loved every single character. And I mean loved. They are all so believable and textured, and human. Even Eli, as messed up as he is, (he was abused by his father, always sympathy points from me) is incredibly nuanced. Serena is very interesting and trying to decipher her motivations was something I had a lot of fun with while reading. I especially love her twisted relationship with Eli, and how, in a lot of ways, she really is the one in the driver’s seat. And yet her humanity still shows through, as shown when she lets Sydney go the second time, and for a very interesting reason: that Sydney seems to have become more alive and defiant after death. And Mitch. I friggin’ love Mitch. I think he’s probably my favorite character.
For being advertised as a really dark story (with “bad against worse,” as the opening quotation says), I don’t think it is. The worst thing Victor does is torture and kill Dale, and while that would normally be enough for me to hate a character, I can understand why he did what he did under the circumstances. It’s also entirely possible that the loss of empathy is something physiological that’s happened to the brains of the EOs, which means they literally cannot function the way normal humans can, which, to me, anyway, only makes them more sympathetic. And in spite of that hardship of being human anymore, all of them show signs of empathy at multiple points during the story. Victor, despite what he seems to think, clearly cares about Sydney and her feelings. And Sydney and Serena care very deeply, about each other, the respective missions, and in Sydney’s case, the dog Dol. Eli may have little empathy for his victims, but his motivations clearly stem from the way he was raised, and in spite of the horrible things he does, it’s hard not to feel sorry for him.
The powers the EOs themselves are appropriately muted and, dare I say, realistic. Of our main characters, Victor has control over pain, his own and others, Eli can regenerate endlessly, to the point where he might not even be able to die, Sydney can revive the dead, and Serena can essentially mind control others. Victor and Eli discover that EOs can be born under the right circumstances, and all of them have had near death experiences, which is also quite unique.
The non-chronological narration was an interesting choice that worked with the almost noir feel of the story, and I didn’t think it was particularly hard to follow. Sometimes this can be a problem in books, as in more visual media like comic books or film, you can show visually how different a scene in the past (or the future) is from one happening now. This is obviously more difficult with books, and I did find myself going back and checking chapter headings every now and again, but for the most part I think it worked just fine with the narration.
Eli’s end was quite fitting, and while I was reading the climax, at first I thought things kind of ended up that way, but thinking more about it, it was probably Victor’s plan all along. Which went exceedingly well, might I add, because now that he’s officially dead, no one will be looking for him. It is, dare I say, a very happy ending, and a very satisfying one.
There are some unanswered questions, which I think work to the story’s advantage. What exactly is that thing EOs lose? What will happen to Eli? What happened to Mitch? Is he going to stay with Victor? What about Sydney, for that matter? And Victor himself—what’s he going to do with his goal accomplished? We get nearly no hints of this, but, again, it works.
Verdict: Between the phenomenally unique take on superheroes, the nuanced, believable characters, and the fast-paced, intelligent plot that leads to an amazing conclusion, you do not want to miss this book.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
Book Review - Shadow and Bone
Labels:
book review,
fantasy,
leigh bardugo,
review,
shadow and bone,
young adult
·
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| Cover art courtesy of Barnes and Noble |
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Version I Read: Paperback
Rating: 3.75/5
Shadow and Bone was one of those books I picked up on a whim while I was in a YA mood, and I found it to be much better than many of its brethren.
Shadow and Bone, the first novel in the Grisha trilogy, tells the story of Alina Starkov, a teenage girl who grew up an orphan. With her through it all was another orphan named Mal, whom she has always loved but never had the courage to tell. They live in the country of Ravka, which has been cut in two and devastated by a strange dark wasteland where monsters dwell, created by a rogue Grisha (magic user) hundreds of years ago. On a trip through the Fold, the convoy is attacked, and Alina discovers powers she never knew she had that change her life forever.
Here there be spoilers.
One aspect that I really liked about this novel is Alina’s relationship with her power. I know that sounds kind of odd, but because of her background as an orphan, she has spent her whole life feeling like nothing belonged to her. So when she discovers that she has this great power inside her, she rejoices because it is hers and hers alone. This makes the Darkling’s betrayal and attempt to control the one thing that is hers hurt all the more. It’s also interesting that she subconsciously suppressed it for so long so she could remain with Mal and not have to become Grisha. While we’ve seen characters hide who they truly are for the sake of fitting in before learning it’s better to be true to yourself many, many times in fiction, I think that theme felt right at home here.
I like the characters, too. Alina, while not the most unusual YA protagonist (first person, spunky heroine with special magical powers in love with a childhood friend), manages to be a relatable, sympathetic character audiences can root for. Mal seems to have some more layers to him, even though we only really get to see that in the last third of the book or so. The Darkling steals the show in how seductive he is, and when the book teetered on the edge of making him a flat-out megalomaniac trying to take over the world, I cringed a little, because this character is so much more than that. I hope future installments make him more gray/ambiguous and less pure black, because that is one of the best aspects of his character.
The biggest flaw of the book is that the sections where Alina is in the Little Palace drag, but fortunately the book picks up again by the end. I also feel Alina’s about-face of opinion in regards to the Darkling based only on what Baghra says happened a bit too quickly. I could also have used a bit more depth to this world, as I feel the worldbuilding was a bit simplistic. (In the book's defense, however, the focus is more on Alina's relationship with the Darkling. And I always appreciate more unusual settings in fiction, and a world inspired by Imperial Russia certainly fits the bill.) Actually, if anything, this book could have been longer, with more character development and more worldbuilding. The magic system was also relatively weak as not much time was given to explaining it or how it worked.
Verdict: Shadow and Bone is a good YA fantasy novel with a good focus on the psychological connection between the protagonist and the antagonist. Weak world building and magic system.
Neither Karen Lofgren nor Loyalty Press has any affiliation with the author or publisher. This review constitutes Fair Use.
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