While I read broadly, I rarely reach for dystopian YA fiction. I have nothing against the genre, but given the choice, I pick other things. That said,While I read broadly, I rarely reach for dystopian YA fiction. I have nothing against the genre, but given the choice, I pick other things. That said, I rarely ignore Sarah Chorn’s opinions, and she’s just announced Sowing as her SPFBO 2018 finalist. As one of the supporting judges, I must read it anyway, so why wait?
The story takes place in the nation of Etholia, in a city walled from all around. Militarised Hulcondans rule the city and expect its citizens to follow ruthless policies. They can be cruel and abusive but they also provide protection from the enemies lurking beyond the wall.
The dystopian scenario requires a rebellion, and one is just starting. Not yet city-wide but groups of rebels led by a mysterious Sorek try to shake highly regimented society. And here comes the twist. Grigaliunas doesn’t follow key characters on both sides of the barricade. Instead, she focuses on two sisters - Ariliah and Rabreah - who interact with change-makers. The novel is told in first-person chapters that alternate between their points of view.
Ari trusts Hulcondans and believes their rules will bring peace and safety. Rab despises them and dreams about ending their tyranny. She joins the underground resistance but soon she realises she doesn’t know the people she’s aligned herself with.
Sowing impressed me on many levels, namely character growth, in-depth study of trauma and emotional abuse, skilful showing of strong emotions. While the sisters were irritating and I couldn’t fully connect with them, they grew a lot. Each character feels three-dimensional, not only because of behaviour but also thanks to intriguing back stories and unique quirks.
Ariliah never gives non-verbal responses to direct questions, and she stutters, especially when nervous or afraid. Rabreah is always on the defensive and lashes out on people. Rebellion leader, Sorek, remains snarky and composed while one of oppressors, Masrekah displays a dry sense of humour.
Both sisters suffered emotional and physical abuse from their mother. They care for each other deeply and I would say sisterhood and their relations remain more important than the plot. Obviously, there’s a plot and larger scale-events but Grigaliunas doesn’t focus on them. Instead, she focuses on people involved in the conflict and their emotions. We get little action or graphic violence but the in-depth study of characters wrestling with their respective fears (in first person POV) makes Sowing surprisingly dark and intense.
I appreciate the lack of an evil villain. Both city Lords, Masrekah and Siserah, fit the role but there’s much more to them. I’m especially interested in manipulative Mas. I have a feeling that his icy pretense is just a mask. I definitely want to see how his arc develops. And I like him.
Then we have Sorek. He cares for people, but he will do anything to stop monsters. When needed, he’ll become one. He makes an impression of someone who doesn’t care whether he lives or dies as long as he reaches his goals.
I’ll stop before this review becomes too long (probably too late anyway). I’m thoroughly impressed with the book. Impressive intrigues and cleverly exploited character flaws make it exciting and memorable read. Fans of non-stop violent action may feel disappointed as not much is happening. If, however, you appreciate introspection and character study, you can’t go wrong with Sowing.
Disclaimer: I'm one Fantasy Book Critic SPFBO judges, but this review doesn't reflect our collective rating or opinion. It's just my opinion....more
The Anointed shows a lot of promise. It blends well-known tropes/topics (chosen one figure, coming-of-age arc) with interesting setting and unique ideThe Anointed shows a lot of promise. It blends well-known tropes/topics (chosen one figure, coming-of-age arc) with interesting setting and unique ideas (transfer of life-span through Proxies). Unfortunately, it also falls short on providing a substantial character development and strong storytelling.
I liked the setting and the concept of lengthening the life. In theory, anyone with sufficient means can reach immortality through Transfers. In the process, a Transfer recipient gains the life Span of a Proxy (usually innocents and children). Getting more Transfers, gives you a longer life but increases the risk of Transfer Sickness that leads to insanity.
Story’s protagonist, Xinlas, had done nothing noteworthy in his life. As the fortunate son of a rich, influential family, he dreams about becoming a hero. When it turns out his Span was probably miscalculated, Xinlas acts like a typical teenager. It gets him into troubles but it also drives the story forward, especially when he meets Greengrass - a mysterious and strange girl from Peacewood.
Their worlds have little in common. In Peacewood, everyone works for the benefit of the community and they even don’t have words like money or buying. Greengrass’ driving force is curiosity. Xinlas’ actions steer from ambition, arrogance and angst. Their interactions are usually fun.
That said, I haven’t warmed up to any of them. As most characters in the story, they felt rather two-dimensional. Their arcs contained uninteresting repetitions and lacked a hook that would make me turn the pages frantically just to learn what happens next.
Even though the story’s bad guy, DuQuall, feels slightly over-the-top, I liked his chapters most. DuQuall is a cold, ruthless and ridiculous ruler who doesn’t care for his people. He’s portrayed mainly through Plionya (his wife) and Jiixe (Span-seer) POV’s. Their parts of the book never lack tension, strong emotions, and good hooks that made me wonder what would come next.
DuQuall used his children as Proxies. He wants to live forever and he fears his offspring would follow his footsteps and, once allowed to live and age, usurp his throne. I admired Plyonia’s strength and Jiixe’s skill in dealing with him.
Ward’s utilitarian and simple prose is easy to follow but also repetitive and lackluster. I firmly believe in the power of brevity and I dislike unnecessary description or slowly developing chapters. Ward’s writing didn’t immerse me in the world and the events. Take a look at this quote about a character falling from the skies:
So this is what it feels like to fall off a dragon. Strange. Wow. I’m moving really fast. The ground is approaching quickly. I. Am. Going. To. Die. Nothing I can do about it. I just never thought something like this would happen. What about my destiny?
Maybe, just maybe, someone would actually think those words. No idea, I’ve never fallen off a dragon. But that’s irrelevant. They just don’t convey the danger and the drama.
With its strong setting and interesting premises, The Anointed shows some promise. Unfortunately, parts of the book are monotonous, especially when it digs into the repetitive descriptions. It lacks strong chapter hooks that would make me feel the urge of page-turning hunger.
Disclaimer: I'm one Fantasy Book Critic SPFBO judges, but this review doesn't reflect our collective rating or assessement. It's just my opinion....more
I rarely read YA fiction, especially when it features romance. And yet I enjoyed Ruthless Magic. Crewe draws inspiration from Hunger Games, but she doI rarely read YA fiction, especially when it features romance. And yet I enjoyed Ruthless Magic. Crewe draws inspiration from Hunger Games, but she does everything right.
Each year, the North American Confederation of Mages assesses magically gifted teenagers. Some will succeed and enter the Confederation while unlucky or less-talented ones will lose magic. Anyone who doesn’t qualify in the initial stage of cutting the chaff from the wheat can enter a brutal Mages’ Exam.
The story focuses on teenagers who had to (or decided to) try themselves in the exam. It alternates between two viewpoints.
Rocío Lopez, a gifted magician, comes from a poor family. It turns out Confedaration picks Champions not only because of their talent but also because of their social standing.
Finn Lockwood comes from an influential and wealthy family. He makes up for his mediocre magical abilities with natural charisma, charm and good-naturedness.
Thrown into the testing with little preparation, Rocío and Finn become allies, and more. Painfully cliche? Probably. The execution, though, thrills and entertains.
Crewe’s characters are instantly likeable and relatable. Their struggles with terrifying magical challenges felt exciting. I appreciate a twisted creativity behind the tests they undergo. Clear storytelling allows to see each situation easily, with all the details and emotional load.
YA characters often display insecurity and experience self-loathing. Rocio has a crush on Finn but she considers herself inferior to him. Despite her talent and magical skills, she still sees herself as a ghetto-trash girl. There’s no way a guy like Finn would care for her.
In the meantime, Finn cares for her, looks for her attention and deals with his own insecurities. As naïve as it sounds, it felt endearing. I liked them both and followed their chapters with pleasure. That said, I think Rocio‘ and Finn’s voices weren’t distinct enough. They narrated the events in a very similar way. If the chapters didn’t start with a narrator name, I would probably had to guess at times.
Secondary characters remained underdeveloped. A pity, as I would gladly learn more about Prisha, Desmond or Lacey. A protagonist needs an antagonist. We get one. Callum is as wicked as they come - violent, calculating, utterly flat and boring.
The story develops at a breakneck pace, with short pauses for food and development of characters’ feelings toward each other. I dislike romance in books, but this one made me feel good. Crewe knows what she’s doing and even when the story becomes dark and unsettling, she smuggles hope to the events. I needed uplifting, clever story with solid character development and intriguing plot, and she delivered.
I really liked Ruthless Magic and I encourage you to try it. It has flaws, but it entertained me, made me feel good and engaged in the story. I even missed two metro stops while reading it, and if it’s not the best endorsement a book can get from a reader, I don’t know what else would it be.
Disclaimer: I'm one Fantasy Book Critic SPFBO judges, but this review doesn't reflect our collective rating or assessement. It's just my opinion. ...more
The Rise of the Fallen contains thrilling ideas but feels like a B-movie. If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and violent advenActual rating: 2.5/5
The Rise of the Fallen contains thrilling ideas but feels like a B-movie. If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and violent adventure set in exotic landscape (pirate ships, jungle, forgotten places), look no more. Your quest is over.
If, however, you're looking for a complex plot, interesting villains and believable characters, look elsewhere.
Fungal magic and combat use of spores impressed me. I appreciate fresh ideas and Fugazzotto delivers good ones. His characters, however, didn't impress me that much.
Maja used to be a part of an elite group of royal bodyguards. After failing to stop an assassination, she was cast out and forced to live in exile on the outer islands. As she's skilled with the sword, she's built a new life with pirates.
Her past comes to hunt her when she's asked to protect a monk boy from a mad pursuer. The story develops at a breakneck pace, but constant running and fighting and running and testing loyalties and running tired me early on.
Maja has an interesting backstory (she was captured as a child, raised on a tropical island as an empress' caprice, abused, exiled), but I didn't manage to warm to her. She's impulsive, illogical and I just didn't understand changes in her attitude. Unfortunately, she's no exception. I simply didn't care about a single character in the story.
The plotting itself felt naive and repetitive. I finished the book tired of running through the jungle.
All in all, The Rise of the Fallen is okay as simple escapism, but Fuggazzotto's storytelling skills don't match his easygoing prose yet.
If you’ve ever watched and loved Forever, chances are you’ll enjoy Out of Nowhere. While not entirely similar, both stories focus Actual rating: 3.5/5
If you’ve ever watched and loved Forever, chances are you’ll enjoy Out of Nowhere. While not entirely similar, both stories focus on an immortal character working in a medical field. Despite long lives, both characters haven’t turned cynical. They share a dryish sense of humour and need to help others.
Sean Danet works as a paramedic. He’s immortal, and he has a gift - a healing power. As amazing as his powers might be, they don’t make him any money. He has to work, and he’s chosen a profession where his healing power is useful. He uses it discretely and in small doses. Unfortunately, during one intervention he heals the wrong man. Soon, someone starts to ask questions about Sean and attack his beloved ones. That won’t do.
I liked Sean as a character and POV. Despite ages of experience as a soldier, a healer or a witch, he still believes in humans and tries to help them whenever he can. He appreciates good food and good company. While he probably wouldn’t win MasterChef, Sean has strong opinions on cooking:
“I have definite views on garlic. The garlic press is a tool of the devil, garlic powder is for the lazy, and the jarred stuff is an abomination. If you can’t be bothered to chop it, you don’t deserve garlic.”
He doesn’t take direction well, and that’s why he appreciated his job - he can do pretty much whatever he needs to get the patient to a better place, so long as he can justify his actions after the fact. Faced with adversity, he uses his brain rather than muscles. He’s smarter and sneakier than his opponents.
Side-characters and Sean’s love interest feel well rounded, although not really three-dimensional. A sexy friend, an asshole work buddy who throws gay jokes fit well in the story and are fun to follow, but they don’t feel real. That said, I enjoyed paramedics’ banter and stories from the interventions. Not much happened during the first half of the book, but it read well.
The second half is much tighter and brutal in places. A well-crafted combination of humour and drama keeps the reader’s attention, lending moments of honest excitement to the story.
The plot is not without its flaws. When you look at things critically the beginning is slow and focuses on things that don’t move the plot forward (but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it). I don’t buy the antagonist’s motivations and the way the author resolved the conflict felt a bit anticlimactic. And too tidy.
The overall light tone makes it a quick and entertaining read. It’s not perfect (especially plot and conflict-wise), but I found the experience pleasurable. I’ll definitely read the sequel....more
Shel’s Aching God receives great reviews and does well in SPFBO contest. I had to see for myself what’s the hype about.
The plot is fairly simple, but Shel’s Aching God receives great reviews and does well in SPFBO contest. I had to see for myself what’s the hype about.
The plot is fairly simple, but not simplistic. Clever twists and turns keep the reader guessing and turning the pages. A mysterious plague devastates the Syraeic League, and no one knows how to fight it. Perhaps returning the Besh relic to the temple will help? Because of the plague, the League “employs” story’s protagonist Auric and his companions to make it work.
Auric Manteo, a retired Agent of the Syraeic League, is a traumatised but otherwise skilled and resourceful adventurer. In the past, during and after his missions for the League, he’s lost most of the people he had cared about. He still deals with PTSD. I think his intriguing and dark back-story makes Auric compelling and relatable. His faults make him more tridimensional, more layered and human. He reacts to events in believable ways. I think Auric’s character and POV make this novel interesting to read.
Other characters get much less time and, as readers, we don’t get a chance to get in their heads. The cast of supporting characters includes a trustworthy mace-wielding fighter Belech, an alchemist, a sorceress, a showy swordsman and an inexperienced priestess of Belu (god of healing).
Because of the choice of narration, all of them (except Belech) remain underdeveloped and two-dimensional.
I liked simple and straight-forward writing style that focuses on telling the story and not on crafting beautiful sentences. I’m impressed with the editing - expect none typos or grammar mistakes. Someone put an admirable effort to clean the book.
My main gripe with the novel concerns occasional but dense info-dumps and expositions (for example the Queen’s back-story). Fans of rich and detailed world-building will probably dig it. For me, it was tiring.
The other thing is the ending. It doesn’t answer many questions, but I get it. I’m supposed to buy the sequel. That’s how this business works. Unfortunately, a good Lovecraftian horror that made Aching God exciting, transforms along the way into dealing with more conventional evil. The build-up was great, the resolution rather disappointing (but it’s just me).
Shel crafts a good escapism. He delivers a thrilling story full of action, wonder, and characters you can grab onto. Aching God is unpretentious (except for its significant length) and fun. The author does his best to immerse you in his world with admirable conviction and he mostly succeeds. For me, there was too much info-dumping to feel fully engaged and, at times, I felt tempted to DNF it. But I can see RPG fans love it, especially the parts of the book that take place in the Dungeon....more
The Endless Ocean tells the story of orphans Clare and Adrian Watts who find themselves caught up in the currents of the larger world. They are swept The Endless Ocean tells the story of orphans Clare and Adrian Watts who find themselves caught up in the currents of the larger world. They are swept into a world of ritual and myth where only their unique heritage can save them.
You shouldn’t know too much about the plot as most of the fun comes from discovering it along the way.
Orphans, I must confess, aren’t the most relatable heroes I’ve ever met. They’re a bit bland. Life just happens to them and they have no real agenda. Captain Billy makes a great entrance, but later on, he devolves into Mr. Know-it-all who explains everything and throws info-dumps here and there. Adrian’s familiar - lizard Ecko is the highlight of the story. He adds a lot of fun and his interactions with orphans and the outside world add humour to the plot.
While the story develops in unexpected directions and keeps on surprising the reader, I didn’t feel fully immersed. I can’t explain why but I guess it’s the result of my lack of connection with characters.
Anyway, if one of the objectives of good fiction is to throw you into a land created by an author’s vivid imaginings, Bennett succeeds in grand fashion. It won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but I don’t see why you shouldn’t try for yourself....more
Because Julian made it, we may enjoy Hawthorne House series. And there’s a lot to enjoy. Actual rating: 3.75/5
Moving in with a werewolf was a mistake.
Because Julian made it, we may enjoy Hawthorne House series. And there’s a lot to enjoy. Titular house residents belong to an elite group of fictional characters that quickly won me over.
A warlock and a vampire share a flat next door to a ten-year-old esoteric physics genius and a supernatural weapon constructor - Jessica, and her sister Fiona. Only Fiona probably isn’t Fiona. Plus a monster is living in her shadow. Did I mention that Jessica owns two automatons: raven and a turtle? Because she does, and they bring a lot of freshness to the story.
Ghost Electricity takes all urban fantasy tropes (ghosts, werewolves, vampires, wizards, and more), shakes them, and creates something fresh and unexpected.
I’m sure the author had fun bringing characters to life, fleshing them out and making them breathe on the page. He made me cheer for them. Interesting and surprising plot helped to sustain my interest and engagement in the story. Colourful and diverse supernatural community hiding in plain sight in London tries to follow a special treaty that prevents bloodshed. Not an easy task as werewolves and vampires have their urges and instincts. Add malevolent ghosts and overpowered warlocks to the mix and prepare to see things explode.
Proper humour balances gory details and violence that appear here and there. Description of geography and care for the small details of world-building contribute to the feeling of reality. The climax and resolution satisfy but leave enough loose threads to make you almost instantly buy the sequel. It seems it’s just a start of an epic UF series and real problems are still ahead of us.
Intriguing plot and relatable characters made me burn through Ghost Electricity in two sittings. As long as you don’t expect Dostoyevsky’s level of psychological depth, you should appreciate character development.
I don’t want to make this review too long but I need to say that Jessica rocks. I adore her and her pragmatic no-nonsense approach to all things supernatural. Her train of thoughts is peculiar. I’m sure if someone shot at her, she wouldn’t experience any fear. Instead, she would think about joys of disassembling the gun to understand how it works. Here’s Jessica explaining Fiona why she allowed a vampire to leave:
Oh, I had to let him go. I mean, what else could i do with him? I couldn’t keep him, mum would completely freak out. I thought about killing him too and Mr Shell says that vampires burn really well, but I couldn’t set him on fire in my room and the neighbours would see if I did it out in the backyard.
While I have zero problems with plot and characters, I feel Cunningham’s writing skills are a little behind his imagination and clever plotting. Misspellings and awkward sentences appear here and there, and the prose lacks lightness in places. Additionally, the author introduces a lot of characters and I can’t say it’s always done skilfully. Omniscient POV transforms into third-person limited and in some paragraphs it’s unclear who’s doing an action. Another pass of editing should significantly improve the flow of the story and the quality of writing. I hope the author will find a balance between regular releases and polishing the final product.
That said, this smart, surprising series opener left me impatient for the next installment. I started the sequel immediately after finishing Ghost Electricity and I’m enjoying it a lot so far. ...more
Lords of Asylum mixes political intrigue, a murder mystery and thriller. Black Death ravages Europe. The civil war breaks out. AActual rating: 3.5/5
Lords of Asylum mixes political intrigue, a murder mystery and thriller. Black Death ravages Europe. The civil war breaks out. All these events, and more, throw the city of Asylum into chaos. Sir Luther Slythe Krait, compelled into the service of his arch-nemesis, Lord Raachwald, must solve a murder mystery involving black witchcraft.
While the storyline becomes unwieldy at times, Wright does a skilled job overall of keeping things focused and directed. Adeptly written and replete with dark imagery, this novel continually surprises. The overarching storyline isn’t exactly innovative, but readers who enjoy narratives that explore grey morality will find this novel — and its damaged protagonist — intriguing.
The world-building does the job well and allowed me to immerse in the events. Unfortunately, the stylised prose broke the flow for me more than once. Wright uses repetition and rhythmic sentences that will appeal to some readers, but discourage others. I’m in the middle. At times I enjoyed it, at times I felt tired of it.
Aside from strong, “visible“ prose, the novel is a little overweight - I can see it loosing 15-20% of the content without loosing direction.
But these are just minor complaints. If you’re into noir fantasy with clever plot, troubled characters and great twists, give this one a try.
As I enjoy lighthearted books I needed to check Nicol's debut novel. We've all seen persecuted mages and mage-hunters. Happily, SoActual rating:3.75/5
As I enjoy lighthearted books I needed to check Nicol's debut novel. We've all seen persecuted mages and mage-hunters. Happily, Sorcerous Rivalry plays with the theme and offers something fresh.
Mage hunters scour the Kingdom looking for seven mage-born siblings. Each of them has a special talent and a unique way to replenish his/her magical well when it empties. The story's protagonist, Reshi, is the youngest and weakest of the siblings. Able to shape-shift in few animal forms, he tries to hide from bounty hunters and enjoy himself and the company of both men and women.
Two leading characters and their slowly developing (gay) romance move the story forward and make it charming. Reshi is a flirty, talkative and easily distracted young man. Kestral is a cold, disciplined ex-soldier. I'm not sure what made them develop feelings toward each other but I appreciate the slow-burning journey.
Antagonists feel somewhat two-dimensional. Their motivations seem more complex than it appears but the big reveal is still ahead of us.
The book is told from first person POV. To be honest, it took me a while to figure out Reshi's gender. I was convinced he was a woman. Interestingly, Rishi's voice feels more feminine than the voice of many female characters. As enjoyable as it is, it may not appeal to readers looking for a strong, masculine lead.
Nicol's easygoing, accessible writing style gives her book a light-reading appeal. A thing I deeply appreciate as it allows to breeze through the book in one, two sittings.
While Sorcerous Rivalry is a largely enjoyable read, it’s not without its flaws. A few characters could do with a bit more depth and occasionally Reshi’s attitudes seem strangely reductive, jarring with an otherwise well-rounded protagonist. The plot hinges around protagonists and antagonists playing cat and mouse and going from point A to point B. And then C and D.
Battles, while imaginative, lack tension and follow the same scenario - our protagonists almost win, but then something happens and an antagonist runs away in the last moment or they join forces to fight the bigger threat.
I liked the story for its amiable writing, likeable protagonists and a lot of heart. It moves briskly and almost never fails to entertain. I plan to read the sequel soon....more
I’m a SPFBO addict. I promised myself to read more traditionally published books this year, but I didn’t keep this promise. I find too much fun navigaI’m a SPFBO addict. I promised myself to read more traditionally published books this year, but I didn’t keep this promise. I find too much fun navigating through unknown spaces of the indie scene.
Here’s another worthy pick.
Sable’s music holds power over souls. It can enchant, but also kill. Because of a tragic accident, Sable flees her KIngdom into the frigid land of exiles and thieves, known as The Wilds. She lives in hiding, burdened by guilt, and survives as a healer.
Soon, she finds herself on the run again.
The story, told in third-person limited, follows two distinct POVs - Sable and Jeric. Jeric, the second son of a king, spends his life tracking down and killing ‘threats’ to the country. Sable will have to trust him to survive, even though she despises him at the beginning.
With time, things change, and they develop feelings toward each other. Happily, nothing feels rushed or unnatural. Quite the opposite. Sable and Jeric are flawed individuals who struggle to find their place in a world. When they story arcs meet, things start to gel. Slowly but inevitably leading to striking realisations.
The cast of side characters is nicely mixed and likeable. Good work.
Kloss’s clean prose, brisk pacing and clear structure keep the narrative engrossing from beginning to the end. Her novel never becomes confusing or unconvincing.
Flaws? Even though both main characters feel distinct and real, I didn’t care much for them. But it’s strictly subjective. The plot was interesting enough to make me finish the book and I appreciate final twists and reveals.
I would say this book deserves more attention. ...more
I read everything - if there are words I’ll read them. Paranormal Romance, though, is not my cup of tea. Happily, Chaos Wolf offers both action and stI read everything - if there are words I’ll read them. Paranormal Romance, though, is not my cup of tea. Happily, Chaos Wolf offers both action and steamy romance (including explicit threesome action between two male vampires and a female werewolf).
Bitten by a stray werewolf and rescued by a vampire, a literature major Jordan Abbey lands in a lot of trouble. She has to master shape-shifting fast or else she and her patron may end dead. To make matters worse, Chaos Wolf looks for her and wants to make her his mate.
The book didn’t surprise me plot wise - it follows tropes, but does it intelligently trying to give a broader scope of vampire/werewolf conflict and local packs’ customs. Contrary to more conservative books in the genre that focus on a budding romance between the two lovers, Jordan doesn’t limit herself to one sexy vampire. She does two. I assume PR’s readers expect steamy scenes, but Chaos Wolf would be a decent book even without it. Despite simple premise, the plot is engaging and interactions between characters never fail to entertain.
Jordan, an attractive and plucky twenty-something is a perfectly likeable heroine. She has an attitude and a sarcastic mouth that gets her into troubles and I’m sure younger readers will easily relate to her.
There’s no single villainous villain in the story and it’s a plus - it’s more nuanced than that. Most characters feel reasonably complex (for the genre that’s often very formulaic). Editors have done a stellar job, the prose feels polished, and you won’t find any spelling or grammar errors.
Chaos Wolf is a bit predictable, but I would definitely recommend it to paranormal romance readers. It won’t rock your world, but it should entertain you. ...more
Kingshold does almost everything right. The combination of proper humour, social satire and the commentary on real-world history in a fantasy setting Kingshold does almost everything right. The combination of proper humour, social satire and the commentary on real-world history in a fantasy setting works well for me. Add memorable characters to the mix and take my money.
Mr Woolliscroft's debut is ambitious, and it mostly succeeds on all fronts.
After the assassination of Kingshold's rulers, the ancient wizard behind the throne decides he wants kings and queens no more. But what's the alternative? Well, why not let the people vote and choose their next ruler?
Kingshold follows society's transition to proto-democracy. Obviously, the idea of a free vote and election doesn't excite nobles and lords as much as it does the old magi. Treason, assassinations and mayhem ensue. And amid all this turmoil, a charming cast of characters tries to survive and do some good.
The novel takes place almost exclusively in Kingshold. I have a clear image of the city in my mind. Bravo for making it real. Readers looking for exciting worlds to explore may find the scope of the story is too limited, but I'm sure sequels will explore new lands and introduce new characters. Personally, I've enjoyed the narrow focus.
The prose flows nicely and is often humorous. Where some novels try too hard to be funny and assault readers with way too many jokes and anecdotes, Kingshold remains focused on plot development. The humour never felt forced or out of place.
The pacing. Well. It could be better. The story develops slowly, and sometimes it drags. I'm sure cutting out 20% of the book would make it stronger, better and faster. Happily, likeable characters and plot twists compensate slower moments.
Efficiently handling five POVs requires skill. Using more than one POV allows readers to see things through more than one character’s mind. Cool. But everything comes at a price. Using multiple POVs can make the story feel fragmented and destroy its focus. Additionally, there's just no way a reader will care equally for all POV characters. The more POV characters you have, the more you’re forcing me to spread out my attention and my loyalty. Unfortunately, that's the case here. There are three POVs that feel deeply important, one that makes one of the final chapters shocking and one I could live without (sorry Alana).
Colourful cast of main and secondary characters moves the plot forward. Two characters that stood out for me were Mareth (a bard rumoured to be a Spellsinger, a drunkard and a decent human being) and Neenahwi (a powerful but still young and relatively unexperienced wizard). I'm sure every fantasy reader will easily find a relatable character in Kingshold.
Despite minor flaws, Kingshold is an exciting debut worth attention. Especially when you're looking for a lighter read that doesn't try to be deadly serious all the time.
Who among us hasn’t dreamed about picking up a sword and going full Berserk (or Amazon) on the world? Most of us will never do it. Those who will atteWho among us hasn’t dreamed about picking up a sword and going full Berserk (or Amazon) on the world? Most of us will never do it. Those who will attempt it should be strapped to walls in some sort of Asylum. Reading about warriors is another matter entirely.
The Godmaker is a short (160 pages), action-packed novel. Bia is a Skillbarren Goddess - her godly powers remain dormant, and no one knows if they'll ever activate. Unfortunately, the time of trial has come and all young God aspirants will face each other on the arena and only one will ascend. Others will die or become mortals - a fate considered worse than death by most godlings. Once you become a supreme being, losing it is not a viable option.
There's a lot to like about Godmaker - it focuses on storytelling rather than world-building and descriptions. Everything that happens, happens for a reason and serves to move the plot forward. Every word counts, and there're no embellishments or distractions. The story's structure is clear and easy to follow. While the plot is rather straightforward, it remains exciting - the trials Bia faces are dangerous, fights are nicely choreographed and violent, and the tension never drops.
The setting and plot are strongly influenced by Hunger Games, Roman Gladiators and Wonder Woman. The story takes place in a mountain-top citadel and we see little of the world outside it. Gods loathe humans and treat them like cattle. We learn there's a human city not far away from the citadel but basically, that's it. The world is slightly underdeveloped.
The trials faced by Bia, her friends and foes kept me glued to pages, but they're not really inventive. We've seen all of it done in books and movies (gladiator-style games where kids fight to the death facing each other on the arena, pits filled with snakes and acid, facing inner fears and illusions). The setting remains generic. Short and terse sentences make it quick to read though.
Bia is well written. As a goddess who loathe humans and weakness, she's not the most relatable character ever. But I liked her. She's dedicated and loyal to her friends. She's sharp and determined to change the cruel traditions of the citadel. To do so, she has to survive. Not an easy task. She could always surrender and become mortal, but that would mean dishonour and exile. Her mother is powerful and influences hungry Goddess. She would never forgive her daughter losing a trial. So, yes, there's a mother/daughter conflict I'm sure will be further explored in the sequels.
Bia feels realised as a character. Her friends and her mother remain two-dimensional and a bit flat.
Overall, it's a solid page-turner with a strong final twist softened by an Epilogue. A good pick for readers looking for a kick-ass warrior who's ready to change her world. ...more
As a fan of superhero comic books, I'm eager to read books in the genre. Battlecry's premise sounds exciting. It twists superheroeActual rating: 2.5/5
As a fan of superhero comic books, I'm eager to read books in the genre. Battlecry's premise sounds exciting. It twists superheroes mythos a bit.
Jillian Johnson fights crime as Battlecry. She belongs to a team of superpowered individuals micromanaged by a psychotic leader - Patrick (codename Atropos). Superheroes keep up appearances in public, but their reality is grim.
Bred to fight and raised in camps with no access to education or modern technology, they don't understand the society and reality they're supposed to protect. Interacting with civilians, accessing the internet or public libraries are forbidden.
The situation changes when Battlecry fights back. The band breaks up and reorganizes. One of them becomes a threat to everyone in the city.
The book’s main strength is its brisk pacing — the plot moves smoothly from one event to another and remains engaging throughout. Don't expect impossible twists and turns - it's a straightforward and predictable story told in a clean, uncomplicated prose. Twists and turns are obvious but aptly delivered.
Unfortunately, weak characterization and half-baked world-building overshadow interesting setting and decrease overall enjoyment of the story.
Characters lack charisma and complexity, most of them are one- or two-dimensional. The story's villain is utterly flat, one-dimensional individual. Imagine a paranoid control freak who regularly abuses (physically, verbally and emotionally) others and has no believable motivations to do so nor any redeeming qualities. He's that evil. Sigh.
Jillian's friends and romantic interest have some distinct traits and cool superpowers. None of them is fully developed but I can see potential here.
The story is told through Jillian's POV. She's reckless, action-oriented and internally conflicted. Her self-loathing and conflicts weren't believable. The other problem I have is with her powers - Battlecry can throw punches through walls and yet when she unleashes the fury of blows on another superpowered individual (who has none invulnerability powers) he recovers surprisingly fast. He should be dead.
Another thing that bothers me is how team members are cut off from society - I mean they have phones, they patrol streets. Sure, they're forbidden to interact with civilians but I just can't imagine how they haven't heard the word euthanasia. The explanation isn't entirely satisfying, not in the 21st century that floods us with streams of information.
The writing is neat, but some scenes lack logic. For example, Jill and Ben are hiding in a closet. Their potential oppressor stands 20-30 centimetres from them and just when he reaches for the doorknob this happens:
There was a tiny, almost imperceptible sound of metal clicking against metal as he grasped the doorknob. A knife? A gun? I angled my body so I could spring at him as soon as the door opened. Benjamin's breath stopped. "XXX! Come on!" A woman's voice called from downstairs, making us jump. "Yeah, I'm coming.".
How exactly do you jump soundlessly in a closet without alarming the person standing outside it?
Overall, this is the kind of book that is fun for the commute. It isn’t long and it's doesn't require deep thinking.
SPFBO 2018 is in full swing. Stakes are high. I try to keep up and read books from all batches. A Wizard's Forge hooked me with anActual rating: 3.5/5
SPFBO 2018 is in full swing. Stakes are high. I try to keep up and read books from all batches. A Wizard's Forge hooked me with an attractive cover and intriguing synopsis.
It's not a classic fantasy as the story happens in the future on a planet far from Earth. Advanced technology of ancestors is long gone, and their descendants fight a decades-long war. Shy scholar Victoria knows nothing of this conflict until pirates kidnap and sell her as a sexual slave to the sadistic tyrant - Lornk Korng.
Lornk subjects her to months of psychological torture and abuse. When she manages to escape, Vic joins the army (I totally oversimplify things) that fights her former master. The prey becomes the predator, but in this case, the newborn predator is still deeply traumatised.
Vic is a chilling example of a Stockholm syndrome victim. She suffers both the physical abuse of imprisonment and the severe emotional manipulation that locks her in place when Lornk is involved. Vic's coping with the trauma is the essence of the story. It influences her behaviour, choices and relationships.
There's a lot to like about this story. It touches delicate subjects (sexual slavery and abuse, trauma) and handles them with care. Bad things happen but there's no gratuitous violence or scenes that serve to shock the reader. I appreciate it as way too many contemporary fantasy books try to hide thin plot and weak characterization underneath layers of gore.
Vic and Ashel are two enticingly complex characters, and their chemistry is obvious from the get-go. Vic is still coping with her trauma, which makes it hard for her to start a healthy relationship. Achel, meanwhile, keeps convincing himself his feelings aren't that serious, and just when he comes to terms with the reality, a tragedy that will change things forever happens. Watching these two come to grips with reality is emotionally satisfying.
A well-rounded supporting cast includes despicable, but complex villain and traitor, trusty allies, and a princess who is no damsel-in-distress by any means. Every character shapes the story in his or her own unique way, and there are some inventive twists and turns to freshen things up when the storytelling starts to drag.
The world in which A Wizard's Forge takes place is nicely fleshed out and nuanced, with historical and esoteric details rendered in a skillful, but sometimes too detailed way. Having a race of sentient insectoids (Kragnashians) is another creative touch, and Justice’s description of the species and their role in forging Vic's titular destiny is impressive.
The world feels medieval although airships are mentioned and the inhabitants of the planet are descendants of marooned space-travellers. Some sci-fi elements, like the Device (a transporter machine that allows an individual to travel instantly between one Device platform and another) are included in the story. There's also a Slotaen - a gel-like substance distilled by Kragnashians from their own blood that has both anesthetic and antibiotic properties. It seems creating a wizard involves infecting a candidate with parasites. Exciting stuff.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot crowded into this narrative—some of it interesting and some of it unnecessary. This creates an unwieldy read with erratic pacing throughout. Some of the descriptions and internal monologues were too long and tiring to me. There's also an unexpected time-jump that happens in the first half of the book. I can understand it, but it felt jarring.
Overall, though, it was a satisfying book to read. A scientific fantasy that feels fresh and manages to handle difficult topics well. It's a slower book than the average fantasy, but it offers both - a unique setting and a tale that focuses on character's inner dramas. ...more
I’m still not sure how I feel about Steven McKinnon’s Symphony of the Wind. An ambitious and gritty epic fantasy series starts here, in the technoI’m still not sure how I feel about Steven McKinnon’s Symphony of the Wind. An ambitious and gritty epic fantasy series starts here, in the technologically advanced world. People conquered skies and filled them with airships. Different fractions and ethnicities fight for power while citizens suffer. Tormented heroes must stop a conspiracy before the kingdom falls to ruin.
Sounds simple? Well, it isn't. Unless you're a battle-hardened Malazan veteran, that is*. Slowly revealed and nuanced plot with multiple arcs and even more characters requires undivided attention and a trained memory. It's easy to lose track of the secondary characters' motivations and backstories.
The world-building is simply amazing. I have no other words to describe the world, the science, dark magic, monsters and airships. Mind-blowing stuff guys.
McKinnon’s prose is visceral, precise and descriptive, feeling both spare and lush. His pacing varies from breakneck to measured at the beginning of the book. The closer to the end we get the faster it becomes. Near the end, the events told from different POVs flash before our eyes.
Story's characters – flawed, complicated, human – are enormously compelling, and their self-discoveries and betrayals are fascinating to follow. Some of them turn their beliefs into weapons and inflict their will upon others. Others try to remain human despite their urges or conditioning. I can't choose a favourite character, but if you insisted I would probably indicate Damien - poised and cultural psycho-killer and a living weapon. His fight scenes became my instant-favourites.
Both secondary characters and villains feel fully fleshed out as well.
At this stage, some of you may start to wonder why on earth I gave SotW three stars if everything's so exciting?
Let's get to it.
I like multiple third person POV, but switching characters too frequently irks me. McKinnon does it all the time. Too quickly. Sure, there’s no real rule about how long a particular scene should be for any character, but switching back and forth between characters makes the prose confusing.
I loved the world and the story and I was interested in the individual characters but the sheer amount of them and constant jumps between different POV's wore me down.
To be fair, the scenes for each POV are clearly separated. Despite this, I struggled with the story 's structure and abrupt perspective changes. It felt fragmented and unclear. As a result, I started feeling distant and disengaged from its action and characters.
Let's clarify things - McKinnon is an imaginative writer and, paradoxically, this is hurting his ability to tell a convincing story. The writing, as impressive as it is, with its constant perspective changes, just keep getting in the way.
This book has so much awesome stuff that I would love to praise it. But I can't because of the aspects of the book that I can’t handle and that pull the rating down.
* In this case, approach it like a childish puzzle with a twist. Or two.
Disclaimer: I'm one Fantasy Book Critic SPFBO judges, but this review doesn't reflect our collective rating or opinion. It's just my opinion....more
Larin has a problem. Call it a magical Tourette syndrome - he reacts to stress with uncontrollable, thActual rating: 4.25/5
Kinech Aklad Vahrusen!*
Larin has a problem. Call it a magical Tourette syndrome - he reacts to stress with uncontrollable, three-word outbursts. Being a laughingstock is no fun, but things get worse. It turns out the words he repeats every time can unleash Haraf, Lord of Demons, who’s been imprisoned by Six-Legged Gods. Larin will have to play, unwillingly, an important role in this conflict.
Raised in a four-block area of a slum (known as a Wormpile) by his junkie, warrior-priest uncle, Akul, Larin lacks skills to face this kind of adversity. He's a bookworm, not a hero. Alas, daydreaming and study will have to wait. Harnessing his magical powers and choosing the right path is more important.
Happily, he has allies. Who wouldn't feel confident facing the evil gods in the company of a drug-addicted uncle, an alcoholic priestess and a haughty wizardress?
Rodgers plays with traditional fantasy tropes and refreshes them. Sure, Larin's journey is full of well-known elements (monsters, magical powers ready to harness, treason), but it's also unpredictable, and nuanced. His possibilities vary between bad and worse - each choice he can make carries dark consequences. There's no way around it.
Rodgers' heroes are flawed but believable. Making humans relatable is easy though. Making strange, ungodly creatures, like Lidathi, understandable is a much bigger achievement. And it's done remarkably well. We learn about the Created ones through Kemharak's (a Lidathi "general") POV. His efforts to understand humans and their emotions made me smile a few times. Here's what a Lidathi thinks about humans:
Both humans and the Created ones had heads, necks, and faces, and both faces held sensor pods on the top and feeding orifices on the bottom. Yet the human sensor pods were three colors and used only for vision, with separate pods for hearing on the sides and a strange protuberance in the middle for sensing things Kemharak could only guess at. Whereas, Kemharak's four bulbous pods were evenly spaced around his head, each functioning independently for vision or hearing. In addition, the human's vision pods never revealed its intent through color, as did his people's. It was as if the human creator had been drunk on the fermented fruits of the forest or was new to the act of creation. In every physical way, his people were better designed.
As most relationships in the book, the relationship between Kemharak and his human prisoner - Theralle is done very well. It's probably the most intriguing bond in the book. Also, the one that leads to a strong cliffhanger.
The Empire of Treban feels real; there's some serious effort behind the realm's comprehensive history, politics and varied races. At times things get dense, but I never felt assaulted with info-dumping. Magic system is interesting and unique - to succeed in magic you need a natural talent, the correct pronunciation of a spell and the right phase of the huge moon, Spellgiver.
The author’s writing style is accessible, crisp, and engaging. It propels the book through a wealth of plot twists. While there's no purplish prose here, it tends to be strongly descriptive in places.
As you've already guessed, I enjoyed this book a lot. The sequel is on my kindle. I'll read it shortly. I encourage you to give this one a try.
I've been looking for some fresh Urban Fantasy for a while. Not an easy task when you grow tired of angry chicks in leather or selActual rating: 4.5/5
I've been looking for some fresh Urban Fantasy for a while. Not an easy task when you grow tired of angry chicks in leather or self-loathing wizards/detectives. Hero Forged surprised me in a good way - it's a right mix of everything I love in the genre served in a way that works on all levels.
Gabe is a charming, clever con artist with a skewed (but working) moral compass. He's the master of talking his way out of things he'd talked himself into. Also, he's short on cash. When a chance to earn a decent amount of money appears, Gabe accepts.
Things go downhill fast. Gabe finds himself trapped in a mansion with bloodthirsty and power-hungry lunatics from other dimension and with a god trapped in his head. Oh, and a sexy succubus bonded to him.
Despite his hopes it was all a drug-induced hallucination, it's real. Demons are after him, the god trapped in him wants to tear free, and the god's wife plans to bring the world to its knees.
Hero Forged shines because of three things: characterisation (especially of Gabe and Heather), masterful pacing and action, and overall writing style. First, characterisation–Gabe is smart, witty, and charming. He tries to be cynical but somehow fails. Under all his false personalities, he's a decent human being with the heart in the right place. His point of view is often hilarious, sometimes profoundly philosophical. As the story progresses, we discover the even shaped him. Beyond Gabe, the other standout character in this book is Heather - Gabe's succubus side-kick. There's much more to her than curvy lines and sex-appeal. I think the author nailed the perfect balance between sly succubi side and a layered, relatable character. Bad guys deserve high praise as well - they were all nuanced, and it was tempting to see the things the way they did.
There’s a lot of information packed into Hero Forged, but Erikson’s accessible writing and slick plotting make the pages fly by at a lightning pace. The novel is propelled by Gabe’s efforts to discover the nature of deity trapped in his head and looking for a way he can survive another day. A cinematic conclusion is satisfying, and the ending gives a strong final twist that surprised me. And Gabe as well, I'm sure.
Any drawbacks? Well, there were some plot devices used to move things forward (especially diverse foes' attacks that "forced" Gabe to negotiate with Aka Manah and gain new "skills"). Anything else? Not really.
By any means, read it. Do it before it gets cool. Josh Erikson is a natural storyteller, but also somewhat of a philosopher too. He's one of these authors who can create original narratives from the elements we all know and love. Hero Forged was fun, clever, and entertaining....more