Set in northern Norway in the Viking age, The Fox and the Hunter explores difficult themes of a religious and political conflict. The clash of indigenSet in northern Norway in the Viking age, The Fox and the Hunter explores difficult themes of a religious and political conflict. The clash of indigenous nature religion and monotheism is brutal and destroys lives.
The story's protagonist, Elva, is raised to replace her grandmother as the noaidi (shaman) of her tribe when the time comes. She hopes it won't happen anytime soon, but she may have no choice when a Viking earl accuses her grandmother of witchcraft, a practice punishable by death. Elva decides to do everything in her power to stop the execution.
I deeply believe in the power of brevity and I like focused narratives. It seems Linn Tesli shares my preferences. The story moves forward at a quick pace and doesn't focus on background static. Each scene serves something, Elva has a clearly defined goal (saving her grandmother), and the religious themes are well intertwined with the plot progression and interactions between her and secondary characters, especially with the Hunter (a young and naive son of a Viking Earl, who desires to be baptized).
I liked Elva's connection to nature and animals, and I found descriptions of shamanic rituals (communication with the spirit world) involving the use of a drum very suggestive. Her character arc is all about change. We observe as she slowly changes, hardens herself to the harsh realities of the Viking world, and becomes more, shall we say, cunning.
The Hunter, on the other hand, remains naive and doesn't learn from what he experiences. I mean, he wants to be baptized for some bizarre reason and even witnessing the acts of cruelty committed by overzealous "evangelists". I hope we get better insights into his psyche in the second book of the duology.
Because the story develops in a harsh, cold climate with little food supply it doesn't shy away from showing a grim reality of killing animals to survive. Many readers (me included) react badly to violence towards animals, so I feel they should know upfront what they're getting into. There's one shocking scene that enraged me but I can't discuss it. Damn spoilers.
Tesli has created a gritty and gruesome world in which violence happens but it’s never included for the sake of shock value (except, maybe, for that one scene). While the plot development is solid, there are a few weak points, including a few awkward sentences and the dialogue in certain scenes, where it feels unnaturally formal and stiff. Sure, a dialogue isn't exactly like speech in real life, but it should give the impression of actual, believable conversation. And here, characters' speech varied between nicely flowing and unbelievably formal.
Overall, though, The Fox and the Hunter is a solid, well-written, and engaging story I liked enough to read the sequel once it's published....more
The City Screams was my introduction to the Ordshaw world and after finishing it I want more. Tova is deaf since childhood. We meet her in Tokyo whereThe City Screams was my introduction to the Ordshaw world and after finishing it I want more. Tova is deaf since childhood. We meet her in Tokyo where she’s just about to undergo revolutionary ear surgery that will allow her to get her hearing back. In theory, surgeons succeeded. Except, instead of hearing people, Tova hears things she shouldn’t. Are those voices from another dimension? Or is the city screaming?
Willis does a good job of telling this twisting tale with excellent pace. The set-up has so much going for it that the plot could definitely have been stretched out into a much more sizable book, but the author opted for making it a fast, high-impact read. With less than 50 000 words, it’s probably the shortest book in the contest. Despite my lack of knowledge of the Ordshaw series, I never felt lost or confused.
The story has plenty of action mixed with horror elements and the final twist is brilliant and hilarious. Just wait and see what was the goal of agents of elsewhere :) We can debate if it doesn’t change the tone of the book, but I loved it.
Tova is a relatable lead character, one that could definitely carry future novels, so hopefully, there is more in store for this compelling protagonist....more
"Rinaldo has been dead for over three years before he decided to return home." I loved Exhumations' opening line. Combined with the cover alluding to "Rinaldo has been dead for over three years before he decided to return home." I loved Exhumations' opening line. Combined with the cover alluding to the famous Shakespearean graveyard scene, where Hamlet holds up the unearthed skull of Yorick, it sets the tone of the book. And does it well. Exhumations is different, weird and eerie, and it requires attention from the reader.
A sorcerer’s apprentice who took his own life returns to the small town of Recillio. Disguised as a friendly count, he interacts with people but his goals (including overthrowing reality) are at odds with what most living creatures expect from life. Things get weirder when we meet a spirit who mistook an ordinary night for the apocalypse or discover a city sprouting up in streets and alleyways.
Corbitt created an interesting and imaginative setting and memorable characters, all described with a rich vocabulary. I found the writing elegant, but experience shows part of fantasy readers prefer more utilitarian straightforward prose. As imaginative as the setting is, a casual reader may feel lost in a tempest of myths and legends, prophetic visions, and dark memories.
While I appreciate Corbitt's creativity and subtlety, I feel the novel spends too much time meandering, setting things, giving subtle hints. In consequence, it lacks strong character/development hooks that would fuel the reader's urge to turn the pages.
Exhumations, with its eerie atmosphere and strange phenomena, will appeal to people who enjoy different, weird books with moments of profound introspection and less emphasis on non-stop action.
Most literary editors advise, strongly, against writing a novel in the second person. Such narration tends to disorient a reader who, instead of 4.5/5
Most literary editors advise, strongly, against writing a novel in the second person. Such narration tends to disorient a reader who, instead of focusing on the story, may wonder if the narrator/protagonist addresses her or someone else in the story. Blenman’s Necromantica plays with the narrative and switches, deliberately, between the second and first-person point of view.
In this visceral story, a pair of thieves charge through an epic battle between monsters and men. One, a necromancer, the other, a rogue assassin and skilled swordsman. They want to steal an amulet from the most powerful man in the world. Basically, they go from point A to point B in Dungeons & Dragons type setting, kill everyone along the way, and then they have a boss fight with the bad guy. We’ve already seen it. But never told this way.
I barely notice myself. The whisper of my blades is echoed by mists of blood. I liberate orc heads from their bodies. I slap the flat side of my swords against the arrows meant for me, deflecting them into other enemies. I break bones. I shatter faces. Their infantry surrounds me and I teach them to regret it. I become lost in my own rampage. One of them shot you. For that there are sliced torsos. There are severed jaws. And there are screams. So, so many horrible screams.
Emotionally charged storytelling makes it visceral. It switches between past and present (in separated chapters), and has a trance-like quality. I won’t spoil anything by revealing something obvious - it’s not the author speaking to us in second-person POV; it is a first-person narrator (Lama, the rogue swordsman) who is speaking to Marnia (necromancer). We observe the events through his eyes as he refers them in the present tense. His connection and deep love for Marnia make the second-person narration both plausible and meaningful. Once you get used to it, it creates a feeling of immediacy and intimacy. But yes, it’s a little experimental. Some readers will embody Mornia, while others will feel lost.
Necromantica is, essentially, a love story. You feel it in the way Lama speaks to Marnia. You see it in Marnia’s behavior. Remember, they’re not sharing a drink. They’re in the midst of the battle and they slaughter enemies. Call it a dark fantasy romance. I mean, you don’t write a story called Necromantica without it being dark, right?
Lama and Mornia share heart-wrenching stories. Mornia used to live a free, spiritual life and wanted to grow into a healer. By the time the story begins, her life has been robbed from her and ell her loved ones killed. She survived, but she’s broken. Whatever magic she possessed, she used for revenge. Instead of healing people, she focused on black arts and necromancy.
Lama, a son if a slumlord who used to pit his bastard children in dogfights for profits, is a thief and a murderer. He’s never experienced much kindness from others, save for Mornia. He’ll do anything for her. And, with his swords, he can do a lot. Split arrows. Decimate enemies. Maim and kill.
Despite being brutal and dark, the story doesn’t read as nihilistic. It offers some comic relief (introduction of The Fish Thief of Luna Falls) and deep connection between protagonists. Necromantica impressed me with a memorable blend of first- and second-person narration, visceral action-scenes, and skillfully developed characters. There’s something special about it. I can’t promise you’ll love it as much as I did, but I think you should try it as it is, in many ways, unique....more
An entertaining and viciously funny heist story with lots and lots of pop-culture references, twisted and dark sense of humor (think Family Guy meets An entertaining and viciously funny heist story with lots and lots of pop-culture references, twisted and dark sense of humor (think Family Guy meets Guy Ritchie). Also, lots and lots of profanity and swearing :)...more
Brian McClellan is primarily known for his Powder Mage series. I haven’t read it yet, but if Uncanny Collateral is indicative of McClellan’s writing sBrian McClellan is primarily known for his Powder Mage series. I haven’t read it yet, but if Uncanny Collateral is indicative of McClellan’s writing style, I have some catching up to do.
Alek Fitz works as a Reaper - he tracks down debtors and solves various supernatural problems. He’s well equipped for the task - as a tall, strong guy covered in magical tattoos giving him cool (and lethal) powers he commands respect. When a fight starts, Alek turns into an animal. Well, mostly. His ancestors mixed with Trolls, and such genetic heritage gives Alek cool upgrades like strong retractable tusks and preternatural strength. He also wears a ring in which lives a powerful djinni - Maggie. All things considered, Alek has a lot of raw power and magical tricks up his sleeves.
It makes him fit for the most challenging jobs and when Death himself approaches his boss - Ada, she flings him into a case unlike any other. He has to recover stolen souls, survive a fledgling imp war and save the world. Easy.
In just 150 pages, Uncanny Collateral throws the reader into a relentless, straightforward action. Thanks to an excellent pacing and fun twists it’ll keep you glued to the pages. It doesn’t treat itself too seriously, and that makes it even more fun. I mean, imagine a half-blood Troll covered in magical tattoos (including Mjolnir that, when activated, allows him to punch through stuff, bodies included) riding a truck and smoking cigars. His best friend is a female Djinni trapped in a ring on his finger. They exchange quality telepathic banter all the time and their relationship is the highlight of the book.
I liked Alek as a protagonist - he’s dangerous but he’s not an assassin or a thug. Troll blood flows in his veins and makes him prone to the outbursts of a berserk rage in times of danger, but it doesn't define him. He remains likeable and caring. Both he and Maggie have secrets, hinted here and there. I can’t wait to explore them in the sequels. We learn enough to understand what’s going on, but not enough to feel overhelmed with the details. Secondary characters and the world entertain as well. McClellan has a knack for characterisation - he introduces a retired and greedy angel, Death who looks almost like Keith Richardss, and pissed undead.
I loved it. I feel tired of oversized epics with billions of POV characters and convoluted plots. I crave good entertainment and McClellan delivers precisely this. Uncanny Collateral is short, entertaining and fast-paced. It ends with no cliffhanger, but with enough hooks to make me impatiently await the sequel.
ARC through Fantasy Book Critic. Uncanny Collateral is scheduled for release on April 2nd....more
Blood of Heirs follows the parallel tales of Lidan Tolak and Ranoth Olseta, two teenagers whose lives don’t go as planned.
Lidan, the eldest of her faBlood of Heirs follows the parallel tales of Lidan Tolak and Ranoth Olseta, two teenagers whose lives don’t go as planned.
Lidan, the eldest of her father’s ten daughters, should become an heir. The only problem - she lives in a patriarchal society that disregards women. Lidan’s father wants a son, and one of his wives may finally fulfil his wish. Lidan’s mother is a maniac willing to do whatever she has to to preserve her daughter’s position.
Ranoth wants to impress his father, the duke, but everything ends in disaster. When his latent magical abilities are triggered, his dad has no choice but to sentence him to death. Ran escapes his home with unexpected help, but his father’s soldiers pursue him wherever he runs.
It took me some time to relate to the characters. Lidan is confident, but she struggles with anxiety and self-doubt. Ran is scared and lonely and he’s doing his best not to die. Both are naïve and angsty and it usually tires me. They don’t lack complexity, but I don’t find them particularly interesting. But I want to see what happens to them next.
The pacing feels uneven, but it rarely drags. Near the end, it becomes relentless. The ending is strong and opens many possibilities for the sequel.
With its strong sense of character, solid world-building, and many plot twists and turns, Blood of Heirs should satisfy most dark fantasy fans. The well-developed cast of characters is an obvious strength; all are involved in their own respective journeys of self-discovery. ...more
Seraphina’s Lament breaks genres, conventions and taboos.
Set in a secondary world based on the Russian Revolution and the Holodomor, it gives a detaiSeraphina’s Lament breaks genres, conventions and taboos.
Set in a secondary world based on the Russian Revolution and the Holodomor, it gives a detailed look at a dying world.
A collectivist government controlled by an ex-revolutionary, Premier Eyad, used to have noble objectives. Things and people changed. Rulers inflict starvation, forced labour, and death on their subjects. Rampant famine forces people to commit acts of unspeakable cruelty and despair, including cannibalism. Magic leaks from the world.
Seraphina, a slave with a unique fire affinity, escapes her tormentors and joins revolutionaries. She wants Eyad dead. Her anger consumes her humanity. The same happens to other protagonists. As they head to Lord‘s Reach city to fight a corrupted government, they undergo significant changes. Some of them start to Become.
Seraphina’s Lament is a dark and unsettling book. Using elements of fantasy, horror, symbolism, magical realism and allegory, it dives into metaphysics and creation of gods.
Food, eating, and starvation represent life, death, guilt, and withheld love. Early in the book readers get to know Taub who undergoes a shocking metamorphosis. Chorn describes radical changes (mutations?) in such hallucinatory detail that I had to stop and reread chosen passages to picture them accurately. We can see protagnists’ bodily torment and share their disgust and terror when they first witness and experience it.
You’ll know early in the novel if her writing style works for you. It switches from poetic and allegorical to no-nonsense. I loved parts of it, but had to slowly reread others to see things. Some similes didn’t work for me. Others felt creative and imaginative. Chorn’s writing is dense and her story is so different from mainstream fantasy that I expect it to divide the audience.
Some will “get it”, while others will feel lost and helpless. I like allegories and Seraphina’s Lament may appeal to readers who enjoyed themes of unbecoming pictured in Dyachenko’s brilliant Vita Nostra.
Seraphina‘s Lament is a strong debut. It evokes feelings of futility, confusion, and helplessness, but I wouldn‘t call it nihilistic. It ends with a glimmer of hope.
It impressed me and I can't wait to see where it goes from here....more
Hugh of Emblin is a whining, unbalanced boy. He had a difficult childhood. As a result, he feels worthless all the time. He has noActual rating: 2.5/5
Hugh of Emblin is a whining, unbalanced boy. He had a difficult childhood. As a result, he feels worthless all the time. He has no friends and no talent.
His mana reserves are big though. A shame he can’t cast any spells. Magical academies expect it from a student.
To Hugh’s surprise, an Errant Librarian Mage chooses him and two other unpromising students as his apprentices. They learn to trust each other and develop arcane skills. Who knows, maybe they’re not a group of losers?
Into the Labyrinth relies heavily on tropes. A country bumpkin tries to find his place in a magical academy where he’s bullied. He doesn’t realise how special he is until an eccentric teacher tutors him and unblocks his potential. He discovers people can like him and finds his inner strength.
For coming of age fantasy, it’s as formulaic as it gets. On the other hand, tight, straightforward plot and likeable (but underdeveloped) characters entertained me. I felt motivated to turn the pages and learn more about their adventures.
A complex magic system deserves praise and will appeal to hard magic systems’ enthusiasts. An interesting bestiary of creatures available for contract added much colour to the world although it felt a bit like a filler.
Characters, especially secondary ones, remain underdeveloped and lack complexity. Observing Hugh gaining confidence made me feel good, but he still has a lot of work to do. A school bully is just that - a jerk. Of course, he comes from a noble family and is crazily talented - I would say we’ve all seen it. Probably million times.
The writing feels utilitarian and flat, but it delivers the story well and makes it easily accessible. Another pass, or two, of editing, would clear the typos and overused words (everyone grins in this book. All the time). It would give ItL the feel of a finished product.
All said, the book is short and entertaining. It has flaws, but also some charm. I think it’ll do as a palate cleanser between longer / more complex books.
It’s a strange day when the guy who talks to dead people begins to think he’s the normal one.
The Lore oActual rating: 4.5/5 but I'll round it up.
It’s a strange day when the guy who talks to dead people begins to think he’s the normal one.
The Lore of Prometheus protagonist, John Carver, is a broken ex-military with severe PTSD symptoms. During his last field mission in Kabul, terrorists killed his squad members. Saved by a miracle, he blames himself for the tragedy. His dead squad members share the sentiment and express it on a daily basis.
A desperate situation forces John to return to Afghanistan. Things go downhill almost instantly. A group of researchers obsessed with magic and superpowers abducts those who miraculously survived impossible situations in their past. They hope to activate hidden powers by subjecting captives to stress, hunger and torture.
In Austin-King’s story, superpowers stem from rage and despair and only deeply traumatised individuals can experience them. Such powers bring only pain and destruction. For some, it’s too much and they turn in feral animals.
Telling more about the plot would spoil it for you, so I’ll stop right here, right now.
Apart from the excellent and well-researched moments of introspection and trauma analysis, the story shines because of the believable and relatable characters. John’s dry sense of humour and no-nonsense approach to life made me instantly like his voice. Since he narrates the story, we see the world through his eyes and experience it with him.
There’s also a second protagonist, an Australian nurse, MacKenzie. Her story, told in the third person, pulled no punches and I was furious at the author for dragging her through hell. It served something though. The payoff was sweet.
As a side note, is mixing first and third-person point of view becoming a trend or it’s just Austin-King and Galley writing in a sync?
Flaws? Well, I have one small(ish) issue concerning Janan’s ending but it would be a spoiler.
The Lore of Prometheus is enormously fun, with vivid, visceral action scenes, disturbing realisations and engaging characters who are definitely on the darker end of the “moral shades of grey” spectrum. Austin-King blended high-octane thriller, in-depth analysis of trauma and pure badass moments into a compelling and memorable story.
TLoP gets a comfy place in my top three superhero novels, in the company of Daniel O’Malley’s The Rook And Ayize Jama-Everett’s The Liminal People....more
I deeply enjoyed Galley’s Heart of Stone. This guy knows how to grab the reader’s attention. Once I learned about his new book, I put it near the top I deeply enjoyed Galley’s Heart of Stone. This guy knows how to grab the reader’s attention. Once I learned about his new book, I put it near the top of my TBR list. How could I say no to an early ARC of Chasing Graves?
You’re right. I couldn’t.
The story is nuanced, dark and complex. A master locksmith, Caltro Basalt, dies a gruesome death on his first night at Araxes. He won’t enjoy eternal rest though. Soulstealers led by Boss Boran Temsa turn him into a Shade (a ghost slave) and sell him to serve the rich.
Somewhere between life and death, Caltro struggles to “survive” and make things right. He doesn’t realise he had a role to play in a cutthroat game of power. Now, that he’s dead, dead gods have a business with him.
Castro’s arc intertwines with other complex stories featuring a cast of intriguing, morally grey characters. I especially enjoyed Boss Boran Temsa - a consummate and cruel player of games of power. I can’t say I like him as a person, yet he intrigues me. Sisine, a young princess, willing to purge some nobles stood out as another interesting character. Not to mention older Shades who may have an agenda of their own.
World-building, influenced by Egyptian and Greek mythology, hooked me early in the book. To say it’s great wouldn’t make it a justice. It’s engrossing and introduced in a skilful way.
As Chasing Graves opens new trilogy, you shouldn’t expect it to work as a standalone. It doesn’t. To make things worse, it ends with a cliffhanger. I don’t mind as I expect to read the sequel in 2019.
As you see I enjoyed the novel. Asked about Chasing Graves’ issues I would admit that choice of narration troubles me. Ben Galley did something unorthodox, you see. He tinkered with the expected narrative flow and told the story mixing first and third-person point of view. Caltro’s chapters are told in the first-person, other in third-person limited. While not jarring, at times it felt a bit off to me.
It made Caltro’s voice much more intimate and much stronger that other characters. I assume it was a deliberate choice. As a result, though, I cared much less about other characters and their stories. Despite excellent plotting of all story lines, I grew impatient when separated from Basalt’s POV for more than one chapter.
It didn’t bring me out of the story, but I can’t say this POV mix became my instant favourite. I recall few books written in this way, for example, Feersum Endjinn by Iain Banks. So, yes, writers do it, readers read it, life goes on. And yet I don’t fully embrace it.
But it’s just a minor gripe.
Chasing Graves, with its well paced and tight plot is complex, intricate and rewarding. I can’t wait to put my hands on the sequel....more
Benedict Patrick writes peculiar books, and From the Shadows of the Owl's Queen Court is no different. It's a deliciously dark fairy tale with an eeriBenedict Patrick writes peculiar books, and From the Shadows of the Owl's Queen Court is no different. It's a deliciously dark fairy tale with an eerie atmosphere and engaging plot. Accompanied by the story's protagonists, we venture into the Magpie King's realm. The creatures of the forest are dangerous and malicious, and the new Magpie King is half mad half the time. Instead of protecting people, he terrifies them.
His son, Bradan, wants to help people. His intentions are noble and clean, and yet the Magpie Spirit won't give him the power he so desires. There are other entities ready to fulfil his wishes, but everything comes at a price.
>Nascha's a servant in the castle of the Owl Queen. Her Knack – the innate magical gift most of the Owlfolk develop at puberty – is for cleaning. She's a true master of scrubbing kitchen floors. Not the most impressive Knack ever, but quite useful. But here's the thing - Nascha's hair is white, the colour reserved for witches.
After Owl Queen's death, Nascha finds herself sentenced to death. She runs with Foxfolk just to run away from them soon after. Bradan's and Nascha's paths will cross and the end-result will change the forest forever.
Mysteries abound and nothing is what it seems. As usually, tales within tales give a broader context to the plot and characters' choices.
From the Shadows of the Owl's Quee Court takes place in a complex, richly designed world with a substantial history and mythology behind it. The book is rich in the elements of standard fantasy (like magic, the chosen/special one) but takes them in different directions.
Characters are multi-faceted and well developed, with none of them ever either too saintly or unbelievably villainous. The author wisely avoids a simplistic good-vs-evil struggle. Delving deeper into the Yarnsworld mythology was an adventure of its own. New entities appear, namely a terrifyingly fascinating Lady of the Forest ready to claim her rights or Gentleman Fox and his dark secrets.
The only negatives to the novel would be the slightly confusing beginning and the fact that all conversations are rather similar to each other in terms of wordage used.
From the Shadows of the Owl's Queen Court is a highly engaging fantasy novel that not only provides good entertainment, it also offers a thoughtful plot that engages the mind and the heart.
Actual rating: 4.5 but I'll round it up to 5 because I enjoy Yarnsworld a lot....more