I don't review my own books, of course—but here are some facts you might not have known about A Matter of Execution and your favourite goblin airship I don't review my own books, of course—but here are some facts you might not have known about A Matter of Execution and your favourite goblin airship captain!
FUN FACTS ABOUT A MATTER OF EXECUTION - Olivia asked Nicholas to outline a free short story for his newsletter subscribers. Three short stories in a trench coat later, this beast of a novella was born. Thus, Nicholas had to write another (actually short) short story. (That short story, now available to newsletter subscribers, is The Good, the Bad, and the Goblin.)
- Nicholas and Olivia nearly released both A Matter of Execution and Echoes of the Imperium several years earlier. Then, a sensitivity reader came back with such brilliant worldbuilding insights that we delayed release until we could incorporate the new ideas. We owe a lot of our interesting texture to questions like “how did the old empire do X, Y, and Z?”
- Generally speaking, Nicholas always writes the first draft of any story in the Tales of the Iron Rose. Then Olivia edits it. Then Nicholas edits it. Sometimes, entire chapters get rewritten. Eventually, no one can remember which parts came from which author. This is a terribly inefficient process, but the results end up being fantastic?
- Every title in the Tales of the Iron Rose is a pun, with the exception of The Good, the Bad, and the Goblin.
- The first scene of this book was inspired by an escape sequence from Pirates of the Caribbean.
- The concept of broken Oaths and the stigma associated with them was inspired by a tabletop RPG called Changeling: The Dreaming.
- Olivia and Nicholas both love the television show Leverage. As such, we wrote our party crashers in the style of a Leverage team. Lady Navi is the grifter, Strahl is the hitter, Mary is the thief, Mr Finch is the hacker/specialist, and Wil is the mastermind.
- Warden Ferric Gordian and Warden Loric Ravenelle are partially inspired by two beloved NPCs in a tabletop RPG campaign that Nicholas ran for Olivia and their friends. (In Gordian’s case, he was beloved because he was so easy to manipulate).
- Olivia ships Warden Ravenelle and Warden Albright. She has made it a condition of the series that (view spoiler)[they will end up together. (hide spoiler)] Nicholas defers to her romance authorly judgement on the matter. (view spoiler)[Granted, he was shipping them, too. (hide spoiler)]
- Nicholas has fancast exactly one character, because no one else could possibly play her. Lady Navi is definitely Shohreh Aghdashloo....more
We don't review our own books, of course—but here are some facts you might not have known about Echoes of the Imperium!
FUN FACTS ABOUT ECHOES OF THE IWe don't review our own books, of course—but here are some facts you might not have known about Echoes of the Imperium!
FUN FACTS ABOUT ECHOES OF THE IMPERIUM - Nicholas wrote the first few chapters over his work lunches as an exercise in subverting tired tropes. - Nicholas and Olivia set themselves a rule with this series, in order to explore less common fantasy creatures: No elves, no dwarves, and no orcs. As a result, none of those races will ever appear in the series—though you’ll see plenty of goblins, hobgoblins, gorgons, centaurs, cervitaurs, and more. - The first scene Nicholas wrote was the one where Captain Blair and the crew sail through the Ironspine Pass. - Nicholas’ grandfather passed away during drafting. As a result, a named character dies near the beginning of the book, and a major subplot involving grief was introduced into the novel. - Echoes of the Imperium draws inspiration from the authors’ favourite media, including Star Wars, Escaflowne, Treasure Planet, Dungeons & Dragons, Changeling: The Dreaming, and more. There are shameless, sometimes nonsensical homages littered throughout the book. We apologise for nothing. - The original draft of the book was much lighter in tone, before the authors had tea and Olivia was like ‘okay, but that’s a war crime, seems like it deserves a little more breathing room’. It got a lot more breathing room.
AMUSING FACTS ABOUT THE CREW - Captain William Blair is canonically asexual, though he appreciates aesthetic beauty. His one true love is the open sky. He is, therefore, an ace captain (pun fully intended). - Olivia set a rule that Captain William Blair is never allowed to win anything through brute force. Nicholas set a rule that Captain William Blair is never allowed to engage in uncritical macho man behaviour. Between these two rules, a fantastic disaster goblin was created. - Evie and Little were partially inspired by the romance-that-should-have-been between Poe and Finn from the Star Wars sequels. - “Lady” Navi is inspired by Shohreh Aghdashloo’s depiction of Chrisjen Avasarala in the television series The Expanse. - Nicholas and Olivia are both obsessive, habitual tea-drinkers. Mr Finch’s love of tea is drawn from their deep affection for hot leaf juice. - The gunnery ladies were aesthetically inspired by the women who worked industrial jobs during the Second World War. - If we’re being brutally honest, Miss Hawkins and her mentor, Jonathan Silver, are more of an homage to Treasure Planet than they are to Treasure Island. - Aesir MacLeod is loosely based on one of Nicholas’ old tabletop roleplaying characters. - Both Strahl and Miss Hawkins are classical heroes on their own doomed hero’s journeys. Failing outside intervention, they would both die noble, pointless deaths. Wil and his crew have bumbled into both of their stories and press-ganged them into heroine’s journeys instead, where everyone works together to survive. Strahl and Miss Hawkins are not always strictly grateful for this change in direction.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE SETTING - The four Seelie gods who created Avalon each contributed one virtue to the sentient mortals of the world. The Benefactor contributed Mercy; the Lady of Fools contributed Courage; Noble Gallant contributed Honour; and Death Victorious contributed Glory. - Certain characters in the series have an overabundance of one virtue or another. We know who they are. - The Lady of Fools is canonically in love with the Benefactor, because “Mercy is always at least a little bit Foolish”. The mortals of Avalon have no idea. It is never mentioned in any of their holy texts. In fact, the Benefactor may also be oblivious to it. - There are four Unseelie gods who stand in general opposition to the Seelie. While they may technically be capable of creating their own creatures, the Unseelie hoard their power too much to do so; instead, they twist and destroy existing creations. - Seelie aether and (view spoiler)[Unseelie aether (hide spoiler)] have no inherent morality, but one is naturally more dangerous and destabilising to Avalon. Both are dangerous in their own way, and either can be used for good ends, under the correct circumstances. - Each silver sword was created as an intersection of two virtues. (view spoiler)[Clarent (hide spoiler)] is a sword of Mercy and Courage; its misuse is an allusion to the Arthurian sword’s misuse. (view spoiler)[Galatine (hide spoiler)] is a sword of Mercy and Honour; its story is one of hard-won wisdom learned through initial weakness and shame, as in (view spoiler)[the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight (hide spoiler)]. - Sweet Laurel, briefly mentioned in Echoes of the Imperium, was the only known female Silver Legionnaire at the time of the Sundering War. Both a diplomat and an assassin, her appearance at a meeting generally signified a last ultimatum. Sweet Laurel is not dead. We know exactly where she is right now. - The nissar are based on Scandinavian house spirits, known for being helpful, efficient, and deeply vengeful when insulted. Do not anger the nissar. - Olivia calls the Underlords of Morgause ‘the goblin mafia’. They are very bad people. She loves them endlessly for it....more
I write this review with several d20’s within arm’s reach and with my shirt covered in flour from the pie crust blind-baking in the oven. What followsI write this review with several d20’s within arm’s reach and with my shirt covered in flour from the pie crust blind-baking in the oven. What follows may or may not be slightly biassed.
Legends & Lattes is exactly what it advertises on the cover: high fantasy, low stakes, good company. As a longtime D&D player and domestic-minded husband, this book found a cosy niche in my heart. It combined the best of both of these worlds into something as warm and delightful as the concoctions which Thimble whips up in the kitchen.
The story follows Viv, a greatsword-swinging orcish barbarian and now-retired adventurer. After a long and successful questing career, Viv has come across the mother of all prizes: a precious talisman that brings the bearer their heart’s desire. With her lucky charm in hand, Viv bids adieu to her dear adventuring party to settle down in Thune and open up her dream-venture: a coffee shop.
There, Viv gathers a new party of sorts, and begins her most important journey yet.
Legends & Lattes reads as a love letter to those D&D players who love turning their downtime actions into something between Stardew Valley and the Sims. Several fantasy races buck the norm with their very mundane occupations, including a hob carpenter and a ratkin baker. The story remains very slice-of-life, with a gentle romance that takes all the time it needs to steep.
I find it important to note the following, and to commend Travis Baldree. The book opens with Viv driving her greatsword into the skull of an enemy—and several times throughout Viv’s efforts to lead a peaceful, quiet life, new external threats loom. Each time, her greatsword hangs upon the wall, just within arm’s reach. It is clear, given Viv’s experience, that she could cut a swath of bloody havoc in her wake without breaking a sweat.
Instead, Viv finds alternate, peaceful solutions which allow her sword to remain on the wall, and to ultimately be reforged into something new. Though obviously, this book isn’t a male-centred fantasy story, I deeply wish that more men would read it. While Viv may be a female protagonist, she also struggles with other people’s expectations that an orcish barbarian will always solve problems with anger and violence. In a sense, this is a very male-coded problem to have.
After seeing one too many stories written by male authors which celebrate violence—typically lauded and well-received by male audiences, as well—I can’t help but find it deeply powerful and cathartic reading about a character who hangs up anger and violence, intent on never wielding it again. Even if it would be the simplest solution… and especially if society naturally expects it of you.
Tolkien once wrote: “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” This book is the living embodiment of that sentiment, and reading it will surely make your world a little merrier.
"THE THREE MUSKETEERS meets GUNDAM in this swashbuckling clockpunk mecha adventure!"
As many friends know, I do enjoy a good swashbuckling tale and ton"THE THREE MUSKETEERS meets GUNDAM in this swashbuckling clockpunk mecha adventure!"
As many friends know, I do enjoy a good swashbuckling tale and tone. Lesser known is my deep, childhood adoration for giant robots (especially Gundam). And so when I read those words at the top of the blurb, they leapt out at me like a personal attack fuelled by an alchemical furnace.
Needless to say, I read the sample. And then immediately purchased the book. I am a notoriously slow reader: so I hope one can understand the compliment when I say that I devoured it in a single sitting.
The Cataphract Oath is a fast-paced romp of a clockpunk fantasy, dripping with excellent humour and characters you can't help but root for. Victor Brinden is every bit the bespectacled, easily startled, nervous wreck of a boy-genius academic one would hope him to be. No one would ever accuse him of being hero material—which is what made him such an endearing character. Though he fails, he tries. And more importantly, he learns (a trait not often seen).
His counterpart, one Lady Diana Fenvale, is every bit as sharp as the sword she wields. She was a perfect compliment to Victor's analysis paralysis, and the resulting dialogue between them is utterly endearing. Also, she has an absolutely enormous dog named Lily—there's always bonus points for a big ol' pup.
What drew me into the book was the absolutely seamless world building that never bogged you down. Too often in fantasy books, authors fall into the unfortunate trap of over or under-explaining setting details, but Best threaded the needle of always giving just what you needed when you needed it. Just as deftly, Best managed the fine art of hooking me at the end of each chapter, or the beginning of the next so I could read "just one more chapter" each time—only to finish the book in one sitting.
All of this was written with a clean, sharp sense of humour. Writing something humourous is hard work—but Best balanced repetition, punchy asides, and witty repartee with effortless charm. He also further won me over with a heist to be completed at a fancy party, halfway through the book. So, now the book had heists and dogs: two more of my great loves.
All in all, a swashbuckling, steam-powered romp from start to finish, and the wonderful start to a new series. I cannot wait for the next instalment! Highly recommend it for those who enjoyed The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes....more
"There I was, the guy with his head halfway up a horse's ass."
His Ragged Company was a wild, weird, gritty journey into Blackpeak, Texas. Marshal Elia"There I was, the guy with his head halfway up a horse's ass."
His Ragged Company was a wild, weird, gritty journey into Blackpeak, Texas. Marshal Elias Faust is equal parts Wyatt Earp and Harry Dresden, slinging lead when it's needed and shooting his mouth off when he probably shouldn't.
In short order, it becomes abundantly clear that this is no Spaghetti Western. Denton's setting, spun in an unforgiving manner akin to Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora, establishes the brutal nature of the town that is little more than 'a pimple on the ass-end of Texas'. But for all the relative grimness, our titular hero is just a man trying to keep the peace and mete out some small measure of justice where he can.
It's a town of more sinners than saints, but through the eyes and words of Elias Faust, it becomes every bit your town as much as it is his. A supporting cast of characters certainly run the gamut. Miss Lachrimé Garland is every bit as commanding as she is shrewd, running a local fight-pit far better than the mayor runs the town. Nycendera introduces some weird into the wild west as the mechanical Herald to stranger powers. None endeared themselves to me more than Grady Cicero and his burgeoning friendship with Faust (though perhaps it's the thespian in me that makes me a touch biased).
The brutality of the novel's villain, the Magnate, kept my attention with a horrid kind of fascination. Truly, he was what left our company of Elias Faust quite ragged. Be warned; this book is no light read. I tip my hat to the author for the trigger warnings at the very beginning of the book, for they were well-deserved.
The only reason I give this book a solid 4.5/5 stars is strictly due to personal taste, rather than any flaw in the craft. Though the book danced on the edge of a knife for being too vulgar, violent, and grim for my tastes, it was greatly offset by making sure that all of the above served a purpose. It was never gratuitous or used for cheap shock value. The humour is wickedly dry, and fans of the Dresden Files will see some very Dresden-esque moments from the marshal. Elias Faust maintained a stubborn sense of decency despite what an otherworldly bargain cost to him (a bargain I was glad to see come to pass, given his particular namesake). And most importantly, his faith in in his backwater little town was ultimately worth it.
I look forward to saddling up to ride with Marshal Faust again....more
A solid 4.5 / 5 stars! This third instalment of The Charismatics starts with a slow-burning lit fuse and takes off with bang. Benson continues to expaA solid 4.5 / 5 stars! This third instalment of The Charismatics starts with a slow-burning lit fuse and takes off with bang. Benson continues to expand her world, currently in the grips of the Great War. London is weary and buckling under the weight of the injured returning from the frontlines, and grieving the many who don't return at all. It's a sharp contrast to Lily's soon-to-be wedding, and the boisterous holiday season with Strangford's family.
Benson manages to write the first chapters of seemingly innocuous day-to-day happenings during the holidays with increasing tension (I'm looking at you, you damn vase). A murder-mystery at a Lord's seaside cottage is just what we needed. Just in time for Christmas, too!
With the introduction of the inscrutable Inspector Kazi, Benson creates a wonderful antagonist that I couldn't help cheer on. He firmly reminded me a quote from Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” But what is an inspector to do when the impossible and the improbable can happen?
Though the main plot felt quickly solved (if not resolved), what continued to grab my interest were the complex relationships. With the beloved Refuge Charismatics scattered, it was nice to see Lily still call on them for help and for them to answer. Benson continues to build her world outward, painting scenes and ambience with a succinct brush, that allows the reader to fill in the blanks. As usual, she continues to weave in just enough hints about supporting characters to satisfy, with enough crumbs left over to be hungrier for more. Elements of Lily's vision in the first book come to pass and are another nod at Benson's ability to meticulously weave plot threads over several books. Benson once said that she enjoys the fantastical that expands our world rather than be a world unto itself, and she continues to do just that with The Charismatics.
I sincerely hope that the Refuge's charismatics find someone to lead them anew. Benson's created such a fun ensemble that it truly is a shame to see them all so dejected and scattered to the four winds. There are several I could see taking up such a role and would frankly be pleased with any one of them. My only gripe is that I find Lily has been railing against her powers and being the bitter student for three books now. I very much want to see her rising above it and see where such growth leads.
Ultimately, a vastly enjoyable read (though fans of Sam will keenly feel his absence in this book). Given the ending, I am very much excited for whatever comes next!
I received an advanced copy and am leaving this review voluntarily....more
"Lilith Albright rattled across the heath on the back of her motorcycle, pushing for speed as though it were possible to outrun the inevitable."
I’m a "Lilith Albright rattled across the heath on the back of her motorcycle, pushing for speed as though it were possible to outrun the inevitable."
I’m a sucker for a good opening line, and this found purchase in me. What impressed me was Jacquelyn Benson’s ability to paint vivid pictures with succinct, innocuous details that allowed my mind to fill in the gaps. The pacing was tight, leaving just enough bread crumbs to stay hungry for more (with more than one late night falling victim to ‘I’ll just read one more chapter’). Though I have no knowledge with which to know the accuracy of Benson’s occult pre-WW1 London, it feels right to me. Not only right, but plausible. Considering she wrote a thesis on paranormal investigators and studied anthropology, I’m certainly more inclined to trust these details with the authenticity they seem to bear.
All of this is woven neatly, clearly, and with a fascinating supporting cast. Benson’s “charismatics” are more like a league of extraordinary occultists than they are superheroes, rooted in very human characters. Lily Albright is very much a Cassandra; a prophet unable to change her visions of doom, no matter how hard she tries or if anyone believes her. But the vision of a serial killer targeting one of her friends is a galvanizing sight that spurs her into desperate action.
There is a grimness in her Charismatics’ London, facing down the ugliness of state-sponsored eugenicists and all the ugly ideologies it entailed. But there is an underlying determination and a feverish hope behind Lily’s efforts (and Benson’s writing) that is thankfully rewarded. To me, it underscored that there will always be people who will find comfort in each other (and their own strangeness). Admittedly, I’m also very deeply fond of found families.
The other Charismatic comrades were a delight, for all their varied abilities and characters. There was a depth to each one that is hinted at, each with their own stories aplenty waiting to be told. Every little deliberate crumb about them was devoured, and I’m quite eager to learn more about them as the series goes on.
There is a romance in this story, but for those who are not as interested in it I can safely say to take heart; there is mystery and intrigue aplenty to keep you reading. So if romance isn’t your cup of tea, I strongly suggest soldiering on through the initial setup. For full transparency, I am admittedly not keen on reading many pages devoted to lingering sighs, pining, and endless opportunities to describe the effects of a wayward glance or a passing touch. This romance was very much a slow-burning one that took the opportunity to have the characters come to know of each other more as people, than a Love-At-First-Motorcycle-Accident. Lord Strangford, said love interest, had a compelling story lurking beneath him and his power that made me want to know more and didn’t disappoint. The true thrust of the story still remained Lily’s attempt to save her friend from the serial killer Lily foresaw, and I was grateful not to have it lost in the weeds.
To my mind’s eye, a perfect blend of Penny Dreadful, and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes (with the understanding that in this instance, the supernatural was indeed real). ...more