Esslemont continues his early empire Path to Ascendancy sequence impressively with the fourth instalment, Forge of the High Mage. This series is a preEsslemont continues his early empire Path to Ascendancy sequence impressively with the fourth instalment, Forge of the High Mage. This series is a prequel to the events of Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen and Esslemont's own Novels of the Malazan Empire, with this entry seeing Kellanved (The Emperor), Dancer (Master Assassin), Dassem Ultor (The Sword), Tayschrenn (High Mage) and their armies advancing into Falar. Awaiting them in or approaching their destination are a powerful religious faction that worships the elder god, Mael, the tribes of the Jhek that includes soletaken wolf and bear warriors, formidable Crimson Guard mercenaries, and something mysterious and ancient that, if left unchecked, could cause devastating damage to the surrounding environment and those within the vicinity.
Forge of the High Mage is a book that I have been eagerly awaiting since I finished my early review copy of Kellanved's Reach in January 2019. Fortunately, due to the fact that Esslemont's prowess and talent as a writer is ever increasing, this novel was worth the wait. Whereas Dancer's Lament only featured three point-of-view perspectives, Forge of the High Mage has approximately a dozen. These present a varied mix of interesting characters whose thoughts and feelings we are given witness to. The Path to Ascendancy novels are shorter, being more concise and focused, than the sweeping epics of the two main series. When reading Forge of the High Mage, like previous entries in this series, it is easier to keep track of the people, places, and the plot.
One minor criticism that I have with Forge to the High Mage, though, is that we spend less page time with the duo of Kellanved and Dancer, whose interactions are always memorable. However, by Esslemont taking them away from the absolute forefront of this narrative, he is adding to their infamy and legend, when other perspectives are deciphering the rumours or contemplating the reputation of the pair.
Readers of the two main series will be familiar with around fifty percent of the dramatis personae. Some of the finest moments of this tale occur when following a recognisable magic-wielder, the titular High Mage, Tayschrenn. The book's title is perfect in describing his character arc: which includes his doubts and concerns, trying to understand his place within the military, his working relationship with Nightchill and Dujek Onearm, as well as his magical potential, leading to mastery. In addition to Nightchill and Dujek, other main series players that stand out include Bellurdan and Cartheron, with new members to the ensemble such as Seven Cities warrior Imanaj and faith runaway Gianna having excellent moments too.
Forge of the High Mage is a fast-paced and gripping epic fantasy read. It is loaded with set pieces, contains wonderful dialogue, witty exchanges, explosive showdowns, unlikely alliances, and features some of the finest character creations that the genre has to offer. As ever, the excellent magic system (through the use of warrens) is finely showcased here and, for the most part, I found my reading experience to be extremely rewarding; leading me to score Forge of the High Mage an 8/10 rating.
There are a couple of final points I would like to raise before finishing my review:
As mentioned, Forge of the High Mage frequently features showdowns, sometimes between some of the most powerful beings in the Malazan Universe. One such occasion, unfortunately, left me feeling frustrated as it was a blink-and-you-will-miss-it, over-in-a-page encounter. I understand that this segment was at a heightened stage in the book with regards to pacing, yet, even so, I think the breakneck speed wasted the potential of what should have been a legendary confrontation. This led me to reflect, are these set pieces truly engrossing me as much as they could as I know which characters survive (having read eighteen Malazan books so far) and have already concluded who I should be rooting for prior to these exchanges? This must be an interesting consideration for an author when creating drama for particular scenes in prequels to a popular series.
Finally, it is worth noting that there are a couple of big-name cameos in Forge of the High Mage with characters who are not directly involved in the action taking place (yet). I found that these were handled brilliantly, with a few special easter eggs for Malazan fans who read closely. These special appearances seemed more organic and purposeful than those in The God is Not Willing.
I received a finished copy of Forge of the High Mage in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Ian C. Esslemont and Bantam Press....more
The City of Last Chances is Ilmar and it's currently under Palleseen occupation, which the majority of the city's inhabitants are unimpressed with. ToThe City of Last Chances is Ilmar and it's currently under Palleseen occupation, which the majority of the city's inhabitants are unimpressed with. To assist with keeping the city in order the Palleseen use many organisations such as The School of Correct Speech and The School of Correct Conduct. Individuals and groups that have opposing attitudes or who act in a manner that doesn't align with the guidance presented by the occupiers are dealt with promptly. Equally unnerving is the Anchorwood on the city's outskirts, which contains magics, indwellers, monstrous beings, and portals to distant places.
We witness happenings that relate to the criminal underworld, academia, workers and demons, refugees and outsiders, forgotten gods, and magical artefacts from a wide range of perspectives. Ilmar is the novel's main character though, and this includes distinct and atmospheric areas such as The Reproach, The Hammer Districts, and The Anchorage. I found The Reproach to be a haunting and intensely interesting part of the city and I adored my time reading about that area and its inhabitants most of all.
Approximately every 8-10 chapters, there is a Mosaic chapter, which I would describe as a city-eyed view of happenings: summarising what is taking place throughout many areas of the city at the given time. As City of Last Chances progresses, we're updated regarding the potential revolution that is stirring underneath the surface: who will light the fuse, will the Palleseen military be prepared, what will the consequences be and what part will the supernatural elements of the city play?
The characters presented, their dialogues, interactions, and motives are close to perfection for a grimdark audience. Personally, my favourite characters here were Blackmane, a pawnbroker who deals in magical items, Lemya, a wide-eyed student, Ruslav, a thug who becomes surprisingly infatuated with a painting, Ivarn Ostravar, a senior lecturer, and Yasnic, a priest and the only believer of an old god. Although the above stood out to me, many great moments belonged to other, fine creations. Tchaikovsky presents some impressive and memorable set pieces that are peppered throughout the book. The finest involves a group hanging and when I witnessed it, my initial thoughts were "That that's an excellent future Netflix cliffhanger right there!"
As alluded to above, I found City of Last Chances to be an ambitious epic fantasy read that contains many quality elements and memorable characters. Unfortunately, certain sections of the novel didn't quite work for me and at times I had to force myself to plod through the 500 pages. Tchaikovsky's presentation of the city throughout is admirable and detailed, yet after about the halfway point, even as events were heating up, I found that I didn't care about certain chapters or characters at all. It's possible that I was drifting away from certain events or members of the dramatis personae because the city itself was more important than them in the grand scheme of things. I purchased (and enjoyed) the audiobook during these harder chapters when I found myself disinterested, to help keep me focused and push forwards to the excellent scenes and exchanges that I knew would come. Having completed the novel, I'm content as the highs outweigh the lows, the ending is satisfying and this standalone epic fantasy all wraps up in a rewarding manner.
I'm rating City of Last Chances 6/10 as it features moments of Tchaikovsky's brilliance but was hard work in places too. That being said, it was a unique reading experience that I would recommend mostly because I'd be interested to see what other people think of this intriguing book. I’d especially recommend City of Last Chances to readers who enjoyed the sweeping scale, industry, revolution and political turmoil of Joe Abercrombie’s Age of Madness.
I received a review copy of City of Last Chances in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Adrian Tchaikovsky and Head of Zeus....more
I received a review copy of Anatomy of a Heretic in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to David Mark and Head of Zeus.
The prologue in Anatomy ofI received a review copy of Anatomy of a Heretic in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to David Mark and Head of Zeus.
The prologue in Anatomy of a Heretic takes the crown for the most intense, uncomfortable, and gruesome opening section of a novel that I can remember reading. It had me feeling nauseous and gripped to find out what could follow. It's a memorable opening and sets the tone perfectly for what follows in Mark's grim historical standalone book.
The action of Anatomy of a Heretic initially takes place in London and Amsterdam, 1628. The novel is presented in the third person present tense and mainly follows the point of view perspectives of two finely crafted, albeit questionable individuals. First is Nicolaes de Pelgram, gentleman assassin, thief, spy, and vassal of George Villiers (favourite of the King of England). Second - and I am ordering them as per who I enjoyed spending the time reading about most - is Jeronimus Cornelisz, a highly intelligent, extremely scarred apothecary, who has religious ideals that are heretical and motivations that are nefarious. (I viewed him as being reminiscent of The First Law's Sand dan Glokta.)
As fate would have it, they are both destined to be on the same ship to the Indies, yet for very different reasons. Anatomy of a Heretic wouldn't be living up to its full potential if two characters this unalike and well-written didn't cross paths during a voyage full of mystery, intrigue, and violence, both sharing their unique and very different viewpoints.
Head of Zeus won me over with the novel's blurb stating "two assassins go head-to-head on the open seas" and likening the novel to Stuart Turton. There are similarities between Anatomy of a Heretic and The Devil and the Dark Water, both are set during the same time period, feature crime, mystery, the happenings of the upper and the lower class on a claustrophobic vessel at the mercy of the open water, with elements of the supernatural.
I think that Anatomy of the Heretic spends too much time introducing the main characters, side players, motivations, and agendas prior to the action moving to the ship (about a third of the book). I found it quite exhausting reading another chapter after chapter, adding a slight extra level of detail or intrigue, when I wanted the action to move to the open seas as the blurb suggested. This is probably down to my prejudgement rather than anything the author does wrong, yet if I can set someone else's expectations more realistic than mine were, then hopefully they will enjoy the story slightly more.
One other minor criticism I have is that, unfortunately, as I have a lot of time and respect for Head of Zeus books, there were a fair few typos and grammatical errors that even my casual reading gaze picked up which jolted me out of the unfolding events. It surprises me when I see errors in books that are this well-produced.
Mark has crafted a believable, grimy, and dangerous world that his finely crafted characters inhabit. It's bloody and violent and harsh. However, there are some genuine comedic, warmhearted moments, mainly during Otto and Pelgram's exchanges which neatly juxtapose the many instances of tragedy. There is a heart and a moral code to some of the characters and the overall story, we have to look deeply through the darkness to find it, and just because goodness is there doesn't mean it will win the day. Mark's characters go through a lot in these pages, by the novel's excellent ending, some may be unrecognisable from who they were when the journey started, if they survive that far.
There are some fine supporting characters too. Stonecutter is as brutal and uncompromising as his name would suggest, Zwaantie is mischievous and manipulative but likeable, and some well-penned epistolary chapters are present, letters written by upper-class Lucretia who is also on-board the ship. She is writing to her husband who she'll soon be joining in the Indies. These segments are a nice break from the lion's share of the action and she is a great character to read the thoughts of and to see how she's viewed by others too.
Anatomy of a Heretic scores a 7/10 for me yet I think it will be enjoyed by many grimdark fans. There are happenings aplenty that I believe could make hardened GdM fans squeamish. One such moment being "taking clubs and hooks to the rabble of near-tame penguins”.
Seriously though, Anatomy of a Heretic is a brutal and unforgiving grim historical read that features elements of crime, mystery, and the occult....more
I received an advanced review copy of Jade Legacy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Fonda Lee and Orbit Books.
I have spent the last montI received an advanced review copy of Jade Legacy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Fonda Lee and Orbit Books.
I have spent the last month residing in Lee's spectacularly detailed and wonderfully crafted fantasy world. I'm certain that re-reading Jade City and Jade War prior to starting the mammoth-sized yet never dull Jade Legacy heightened my enjoyment of this entry greatly. In Jade Legacy, Lee has perfectly honed her fantasy and gangster thriller experience with more drama, bloodshed, showdowns, political intrigue, and higher costs. By the end of this novel, we've been following some of these characters for almost thirty years, twenty or so of which happen throughout The Green Bone Saga's final entry.
The world-building and the magic system (Jade powers) are some of modern fantasy's finest but it's Lee's characters, their dialogues and interactions, and the sublime character development that makes this series such an addictive and memorable read. Favourites include the obvious such as Hilo and Shae but I empathised with Anden's journey the most. He's of a similar age to me and has gone through disappointment and alienation, to what comes next and finding his own way, place and identity in the world. Although only young children at the end of Jade War, Niko and Ru headline the next generation of characters and have excellent standout moments as they age and mature. Even Bero, who's always been my least favourite of the point of view perspectives, I found that I had time for and sympathy towards as he rode the highs and lows of luck, presenting the gutter-eye view of events.
Lee has excelled throughout Jade Legacy, solidifying herself as an excellent writer and masterful storyteller. I cried during my lunch break because of a character's death and had the metaphorical rug pulled out from under my feet at another occasion with a shocking twist of fate that brought to mind The Mountain vs. The Red Viper for the absolute unpredictability of the turn of events. The author takes us through a rollercoaster of emotions. I should have expected this though when a skilled wordsmith presents us almost thirty years of these characters' lives, creating close affinity, even with players who used to be detested and villainous. There are a lot of changes to the people around the key family, which is akin to reality as it progresses. Work friends change, relationships change or develop, political views and business aspirations may change, there are struggles and sorrows, yet family remains. I believe that is a major theme at the core of this series: love and loyalty, especially to family.
As previously mentioned, I re-read the previous two novels before Jade Legacy as I wanted all the intricacies and details at the forefront of my mind to really appreciate what is presented here. Jade Legacy has as much action and drama as the previous two books combined. I will admit though that at around the 50%-70% mark, I did question where Lee was going with a couple of seemingly peculiar side storylines. The same thing happened as what always seems to when I doubt an author of this class, they all wrapped up in fine fashion and had definite crucial purposes. It took me about a week to finish the final five brilliant chapters as I really didn't want the Saga to end and was savouring it in my own way. I'll repeat again that Lee is a fantastic writer and The Green Bone Saga has cemented itself in the top five series that I will recommend when people ask me for the best that I think the fantasy scene has to offer....more
I received a review copy of The God is Not Willing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Steven Erikson and Bantam Press. I don't believe my I received a review copy of The God is Not Willing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Steven Erikson and Bantam Press. I don't believe my review contains spoilers, but with releases this anticipated I tend to include a minor spoilers may follow warning.
Set approximately ten years after the events that concluded The Crippled God (MBOTF #10), The God is Not Willing returns readers to Northwest Genabackis, specifically Silver Lake. In House of Chains (MBOTF #4), the warriors Karsa Orlong, Delum Thord, and Bairoth Gild ventured here to cause havoc. Now, less than twenty Malazan marines have been sent to investigate stirrings in the North, bringing them to the garrison at Silver Lake. The tribes of the Teblor are setting their sights on the South and in addition to these thousands of warriors, something cataclysmic approaches Silver Lake too.
I feel the need to mention early on in my review that Karsa Orlong does not feature in The God is Not Willing. Now referred to as The Shattered God, Karsa resides in a dwelling outside Darujhistan, being generally morose and miserable and refusing the affections of those who revere him.
In The God is Not Willing the main characters are the "knifey-mage" Stillwater, Oams, who may or may not be a Claw assassin, the last and arguably the least of the Bridgeburners, Spindle, and the young half-Teblor Silver Lake resident, Rant. He's the bastard son of Karsa Orlong and was conceived during a rape a decade and a half ago.
Two of my favourite characters in The God is Not Willing were Rant and Spindle. We're introduced to Rant as something pretty harrowing happens to him, a scene that may be upsetting for quite a few readers. Throughout the novel, he develops and changes a lot, goes through a plethora of feelings, yet there's still much potential for further growth and innocence to lose. Quite early on in the book Spindle graces the pages, a character that I vaguely remembered from my time reading Memories of Ice (MBOTF #3) and Toll the Hounds (MBOTF #8), so I was pleased to see a player that I recognised being in the mix here. Spindle is calm and unshakeable, probably the most experienced Malazan marine still active in this era, although none of his squad believe he was actually a Bridgeburner, whereas Rant is raw, emotional, and confused. In a way, Erikson could be presenting us the old school and the new school of this world through these two characters, their differences, and their world views, and I was intrigued throughout to see whether or not their paths would cross.
Although Karsa doesn't feature, his actions and legacy can be felt throughout, especially witnessed from the views of the Teblor contingent of the Dramatis Personae which includes two of Karsa's daughters, Delum's son, and Bairoth's widow and her daughter. Even the Malazan marines are aware of the events that occurred at Silver Lake many years before and about Karsa's ascendancy.
I finished my read of Malazan Book of the Fallen about five years ago and I rate it one of my top two fantasy series. My expectations for the first novel in the Witness trilogy were high but I tried my best to keep them levelled to avoid disappointment. The God is Not Willing is as good as I expected it to be. A solid 8/10 and an admirable first entry. Erikson continues to showcase his talents as an impressive wordsmith who I believe sprinkles the perfect amount of humour and camaraderie to balance the darkness and impending doom. Frequently, especially in the second half of the novel, I found certain scenes and set-pieces to be almost hypnotic with the way they drew me in, being equally mesmerising and memorable. Add to this intense battles, witty banter, advanced warfare, new curses, new gods, and escapades with warrens and this world's supernatural and you'll see why I had such a good time with this book.
There were also some very neat and unexpected, albeit brief cameos by a handful of major players from the main series. To mention who would be to spoil, but I can't help but think these were more thank yous or easter eggs to Malazan fans rather than significant to the plot. I hope I am wrong though, as would love to see some of these players get more page-time in the rest of the trilogy. There is a lot of depth to this world as Malazan readers will already be aware and this novel rewards people who know what has come before. I couldn't help but chuckle or smile at occasions such as a character saying "it's not a couple of Necromancers is it?"
Could you start your Malazan experience with The God is Not Willing? I honestly don't know. This is my sixteenth book in the shared world of Erikson and Esslemont so I've built up a decent knowledge of the way this world works. That being said, I did find this an easier, more succinct and streamlined read than the main series though, with a reading experience similar to the excellent Path to Ascendency novels.
The God is Not Willing is a worthy next step after the mighty Malazan Book of the Fallen. Not as grandiose in scope but still packed with the qualities that I previously adored. It features a heavy body count but has lots of heart at its core. I'd also like to add that I admire everything about the cover artwork and how it relates to events in the book....more
2022 Reread: I’m on The Garden of Empire blog tour so decided to revisit the first entry in Greathouse’s series. I don’t have much to add to my origin2022 Reread: I’m on The Garden of Empire blog tour so decided to revisit the first entry in Greathouse’s series. I don’t have much to add to my original review other than I really enjoyed refreshing my memory and reading this again.
I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Hand of the Sun King in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to J.T. Greathouse and Gollancz for the opportunity.
The Hand of the Sun King is the first-person perspective autobiography of Wen Alder as he informs the reader of his younger, formative years, and his thirst for magic with no limitations. On one side of his family, Alder is a descendent of the great General Wen Broad-Oak, and after a dip in the family's fortunes, Alder's father wishes for him to redeem their name to its previous place of prestige. From his mother's side, the blood of the old magic runs in his veins, and his grandmother and notorious uncle Harrow Fox route for the resistance against the Emperor and Sienese rule. Alder has two possible paths, a choice of two cultures, a decision of where his loyalties lie, the possibility of two different types of magic, our protagonist even has two names. Wen Alder and Foolish Cur.
The Hand of the Sun King is set in an expressive and picturesque fantasy world with Eastern influences. It contains an intriguing yet not too complex magic system that embraces the pattern of the world where the user manipulates the world like a calligrapher would their art. The magic system and the world-building is cleverly presented to the reader as Alder sees or learns things during studies or his postings throughout the Empire. There are deep histories, detailed cultures, teachings of famous philosophers, and some wonderful children's stories, such as an extremely memorable and important moment about a Cat who wanted to be a Student. The Hand of the Sun King is full of political maneuvering, characters with unclear motives, betrayals, hardships, and tragic moments that will impress fans of Robin Hobb's Fitz and the Fool novels.
It wasn't always pleasant to follow Alder's adventure because a lot of horrible things seem to happen to him and those he cares about and because, in his search for a possibility of magic without limitations, he isn't always likeable. The Hand of the Sun King is an arresting read that is full of drama and some fine characters to help or hinder Alder on his journey to find his place in the world. Greathouse is an excellent writer and when reading one of the many impactful, emotional, and engaging passages I often nodded to myself knowing that the author got the most out of that moment in an admirable, satisfying manner.
The pace throughout is pretty steady, almost soothing sometimes which juxtaposes the harrowing happenings. The Hand of the Sun King takes place in about 4 very distinct settings which are the backdrop to 7-8 very impressive, standout moments. With about 40 pages left of this 400-page book I built myself up for disappointment. I didn't know how the author could possibly wrap up the novel in a gripping, exciting way that allowed it to work as a standalone instead of just a first-in-a-series groundwork book way. It was as if that author has envisaged my doubts as what followed was one of the best finales of a debut novel I can remember reading in a very long time.
Greathouse should be proud of what he has accomplished here. The Hand of the Sun King is an excellent mix of classic and modern fantasy with a grimdark undertone of despair. The author wears some of his influences on his sleeve which works well mostly but there was one, I assume, The Name of the Wind-inspired moment that made me groan. That aside, I had an extremely positive time reading The Hand of the Sun King and heartily recommend it to readers who have enjoyed debuts from recent years such as The Poppy War, Blackwing, and We Are the Dead. Depending on what comes next, the Pact and Pattern series could become a future classic with the pieces on the Stones board now set and the possibilities and potential endless. One final note is that the title and the cover, to me, seemed to be added new meanings by the time I'd finished the book, but perhaps I'm just peculiar. Either way, a solid 9/10 rating....more
I received a review copy of Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to T.A. Willberg and Trapeze Books for theI received a review copy of Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to T.A. Willberg and Trapeze Books for the opportunity and for inviting us to the book’s Blog Tour. Minor spoilers may follow.
Marion Lane and the Midnight MurderA colleague asked me today what I’d been reading recently and I described Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder to them as follows: Well, you know Harry Potter has a Wizarding School? Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder has an academy for Sherlock Holmes-esque Detectives and Inquirers. It’s set in the 1950s, in London, and there is an underground secret village where they operate from. The entrance of which is a trapdoor in a bookshop. They are extremely secretive, intelligent, ghost-like crime-solvers, who come to the aid of Londoners when nobody else can assist and they even have their own postal service. Near the start of the novel, there is a murder at the academy. So, that person must have been killed by an agency employee. Marion Lane, a first-year apprentice whose point of view perspective we follow, spends the novel trying to figure out who committed the crime and how it could have taken place. Things get a bit more intense when one of her closest acquaintances is accused of the titular Midnight Murder. After probably wishing they had never asked me, my colleague said they liked the sound of it and then went to their next meeting.
I liked the sound of it too when Trapeze were kind enough to approach me. I was intrigued by the book’s premise and Stuart Turton’s cover blurb sealed the deal. I found the UK cover to be striking yet it does give an impression of the novel being YA. That’s okay though as Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is one of those books that graces the crossover ground of YA and Adult and can be appreciated by both types of readers.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a quality mystery thriller, which takes place not long after World War II and is mostly set in a subterranean setting. It’s a fun, clever and intricate read which includes some intriguing engineering and Steampunk elements. Marion is a likeable lead and the supporting cast, which includes students, Inquirers, and professors, are varied and entertaining to follow.
T.A. Willberg is a writer with huge potential and a very readable style. I found this was a story that rewarded me for paying extra careful attention to what was happening. There were a lot of great story elements throughout including characters gossiping about events, strangers following others, motives, ambitions, and the internal hierarchy of the academy, complex character histories, mysterious maps, unwalkable pathways, and a mechanical area-guardian.
On reflection, I had a mostly positive time with Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder and I will happily rate this debut as a solid 7/10. Although that’s the case, I’d say that the first 33% was just interesting enough to keep my attention. If I wasn’t on the blog tour I may have DNF’d this and moved on to something else. After the first third of the novel though, happenings get really interesting. This is when somebody is accused of the titular murder and they must be guilty as nobody else entered the room. Or did they? How is that possible? After this point, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder reminded me of what makes a fine, unique, and memorable mystery novel and why I love the genre....more
I received a review copy of The Girl and the Mountain from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mark Lawrence and Ace Books.
TheI received a review copy of The Girl and the Mountain from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mark Lawrence and Ace Books.
The Girl and the Mountain continues the action after the enormous cliffhanger that ended The Girl and the Stars. What could possibly occur next has often plagued my thoughts for almost a year and a half. To be truthful, apart from the knockout of a finale, my memories of the previous novel are hazy which is why I applaud Lawrence for including a The Story So Far section. When I was caught up and was content that I didn't need a reread of the first book, I was excited to continue with The Book of the Ice, and was hopeful that I'd enjoy it as much as I did The Girl and the Stars.
This is the ninth of Lawrence's novels that I have read, and if my memory serves me correctly, it is the first time he has written multiple point-of-view perspectives. Yaz is still the titular Girl and the main protagonist. She's influential, likeable and extremely powerful as she can wield the power of the stars and touch the river that runs through all things. The two other point of view characters readers will be familiar with from the first novel and they both care deeply for Yaz in their own unique ways. For the first 50% of The Girl and the Mountain, the three protagonists are all having adventures in or around the Mountain, which is known as the Black Rock, where the priests who keep order on the Ice reside. The three storylines come to a head in spectacular fashion at about the 50% mark with an expertly composed climax and set up for what comes next. This was deftly written so that The Girl and the Mountain has a halfway mark that many other authors would thrive to achieve at the end of a novel or even a series.
I won't go into the exact details of what happens either before or after the 50% point yet, much like its predecessor, The Girl and the Mountain is a finely crafted mix of dark fantasy and science fiction with mysterious advanced technology, made by the previous occupants of this dystopian, dying planet. We find out further information about the Missing, the Gods worshipped on the Ice, and the many players behind the scenes, and what their goals are and could mean for Abeth. The harsh elements and realities on the Ice almost felt like a character or a villain in itself, to be respected and feared equally.
"Starvation is a much swifter process when you’re cold, but nobody dies truly thin on the ice. Starvation simply opens a gate for the wind to come through. It’s the wind that wields the knife."
Lawrence's writing often plays at the heartstrings, with the words, patterns, and emotions overtaking and overwhelming the reader like the winds on the Ice. I read a lot of fantasy, however, quite often when reading Lawrence, I have to put the book down, take a breath, reflect, and then continue, nodding to myself that this author really knows how to tell a great story.
There is a lot to really enjoy in The Girl and the Mountain including many fine characters who we get to know far better in this entry, some intense and thrilling action segments, interesting and unique world history and technology with some neat crosses over with (potentially) our world as well as the world of The Book of the Ancestor. There are a few Easter Eggs for fans of Nona's story and we're given an idea of when this series takes place in relation to the previous trilogy. The Girl and the Mountain even includes a loyal, mechanical dog-like companion named Zox!
If I had to be extremely critical, 5-10% of the second half of this novel dragged and seems a bit repetitive, but, when analysing, I can't really see this as a negative because I don't know how Lawrence could have filled the pages differently to get from the already-mentioned, excellent halfway point, to the almost as fulfilling and well-worked conclusion. If the cliffhanger ending of the first novel "knocked you for six" then you'll be curious to discover that The Girl and the Mountain also has a monster cliffhanger, just when things seem to be looking positive too.
With any other author, having to wait for the next novel on such a cliffhanger playing on your mind might be unbearable, but with Lawrence and his work rate, I'm certain the follow-up will be released next year. Book of the Ice is an excellent and artful merger of fantasy and science fiction by an author who knows how to make us care about his characters, many of whom may not make it to the final page. Even those who do make it that far, their safety is not assured and danger always seems to be lurking close, which is one of the reasons why I will pick up the as yet untitled 3rd book in the series as soon as I can.
Additional note: I listened to about a third of The Girl and the Stars by Audiobook. Helen Duff gives a fine performance and I particularly liked her Scouse-sounding accent for Yaz....more
I received a review copy of Odin's Game in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Tim Hodkinson, Aria Fiction, and Head of Zeus.
Odin's Game beginI received a review copy of Odin's Game in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Tim Hodkinson, Aria Fiction, and Head of Zeus.
Odin's Game begins the tale of Einar, a young lad from Iceland who spends his time helping his mother on their farm, hoping to win the affections of one of the local ladies, and practicing at Knattleikr in preparation for the yearly showdown with the neighbouring village. Events take an unfortunate turn for our protagonist quite early on in the novel and he finds himself outlawed from his estate and Iceland as a whole. Following the prompting of his mother he leaves the only home he's known and travels to the Orkney Islands where his uncle resides as Jarl. How he will be received and what will happen to him during his two years of exile is uncertain. Einar goes to seek his fate and hopes along the way he can unravel the mystery of who his father is.
"'Don't feel bad,' he said. 'To jarls and kings, the lives of men like us are just pieces in a game of tafl. But the nobles in turn are just pawns in Odin's greater game.'"
Set in the 10th century, Odin's Game is a quick fun read, full of excellent action passages, great supporting characters and exciting twists. The chapters can be devoured in 5-10 minutes and being as riveting as they were, "just one more chapter" easily turned into reading 100+ pages in one session. Einar is a fine protagonist and it was enjoyable to see how he handles himself, and the thoughts that go through his mind, during some of the awkward and worrying scenarios he finds himself in throughout his adventure to the Orkneys and then to Ireland.
Hodkinson's Dark Ages Europe was presented really well, being just descriptive enough to paint a clear image in my mind's eye without detracting from the intense, well-worked set pieces and thrilling pace. I have no idea how historically accurate any of what is presented throughout The Whale Road Chronicles is, but I knew after about 40-pages that I was absolutely all-in, just going with the novel's flow as if it was a fantasy read set in a world I'm more familiar with. The old gods like Odin and Thor are revered by many but the messages of the Christ God are circulating throughout Europe too.
I've had a bit of a reading drought recently and could not decide what to read next. I decided to pick up Odin's Game because I had no expectations and knew nothing about it other than that it was supposed to be fast-paced historical fiction. I'm glad I made that choice. Odin's Game is very solid historical fiction that is gritty and violent, yet was still a joy to read. My only, very minor issue is that there were a few errors that I believe an editor should have picked up but that didn't distract me from my extremely positive reading experience and I'll be moving on to the next book shortly. Recommended.
"When he was a boy the thought of travelling at night had evoked terror at the idea of what monsters lurked in the dark. Trolls, witches, dark elves and, the most fearsome of all, the dreadful walking dead, the draugr, who rose from their burial mounds at night and haunted the darkness, waiting to pounce and kill. This night, however, Einar was in the company of the monsters."...more
I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Shadow of the Gods in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to John Gwynne and Orbit Books.
The Shadow oI received an uncorrected proof copy of The Shadow of the Gods in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to John Gwynne and Orbit Books.
The Shadow of the Gods is a gritty and violent Norse mythology-inspired tale that features monsters, magic, vengeance, warbands, and shield walls. It takes place approximately 300-years after the Gods of Vigrið fought and battled themselves to annihilation and follows three distinct point of view perspectives as they traverse Gwynne's well-realised dark fantasy world.
These characters are Orka, an ex-warrior who lives with her husband and son at a quiet steading, Varg, a thrall who is running to escape his slave masters, and Elvar, a young warrior who is trying to find battle fame with the monster hunting warband the Battle-Grim. They all have deep and interesting pasts of which we are given more details of as the story progresses. Through the eyes of these characters, I was engrossed from the very first chapter and by about the fourth chapter I was chuffed that Gwynne had worked his magic again.
Gwynne has crafted a fresh and unique fantasy world and adventure that I'd summarise as a mixture of some of the finest elements from Norse Mythology and Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom novels. (There are a few people who get called "arselings" as homage to Leofric I imagine and warriors in this world wish to die with a weapon in their hand.) It features The Witcher-esque monsters and heartwarming friendships and camaraderie that I also adored in Gwynne's The Faithful and the Fallen series. It seems like Gwynne went into writing this series with big ambitions and wasn't going to hold back on his vision. This world is as majestic as it is haunting, as macabre as it is beautiful. An example is that one of Vigrið's main cities is in the skull of a dead god. The imagery throughout is phenomenal.
The Shadow of the Gods has dozens of excellent set pieces, standout moments, action segments, skirmishes, and showdowns. So often I finished a chapter with a cheesy grin knowing that something awesome had just happened and imagining how epic a live-action version of these scenes would be. Gwynne is one of the best in the fantasy game at writing thrilling fighting and brutal action moments.
For a 500-page novel, there is a huge cast of characters. The three main protagonists are all great to follow but I did find myself most excited when returning to Orka's storyline. I think this is probably due to Orka's arc being precise and more classic fantasy than Varg's and Elvar's who both find themselves as members of warbands. In the warbands, there is a wide mix of players from varying backgrounds, cultures, and skillsets. Einar Half-Troll, Rokia, and Grend were really fine supporting characters and some of the banter and humour is witty and wry. When we returned to one of the warband-focused point of views, I will admit that I sometimes had to refamiliarise myself with the crew of each faction and what they'd been up to during their last chapter as their missions and objectives were similar occasionally. A nice touch that I really enjoyed was when one of the characters would mention another person the reader is familiar with from another story arc, fitting another piece in the puzzle of how the storylines may or may not be interconnected.
So, why am I only giving The Shadow of the Gods four-stars? Without a doubt, The Shadow of the Gods was my most anticipated read of the year and all the reviewers I trust have given it glowing five-star reviews. Gwynne is one of my favourite authors and I think all of the aforementioned are reasons that I overhyped it to myself. It's an excellent start to what I have no doubt will be a stunning and fresh fantasy saga. I awarded Malice and A Time of Dread four-stars each too and ended up adoring those series. In my mind, I expected the world's most phenomenal fantasy standalone novel and on that front, it doesn't quite deliver. The endings are fantastic, the set-up for the next novel is intriguing, there may be animal or monster companions(!), it's an addictive read, and, knowing Gwynne's previous work, I think every book in the series will build on these fine foundations to a conclusion of epic, possibly world-shattering proportions. Gwynne's a talented wordsmith and the next tale in The Bloodsworn Saga will probably be my most anticipated read of the year when that's released too. If you haven't read any of Gwynne's books yet, The Shadow of the Gods might be the best place to start....more
Reread before starting the sequel. Still a very solid 5-star read.
I received an advanced review copy of Empire of the Vampire in exchange for an honeReread before starting the sequel. Still a very solid 5-star read.
I received an advanced review copy of Empire of the Vampire in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Jay Kristoff and Harper Voyager. Minor spoilers may follow.
"It was the twenty-seventh year of daysdeath in the realm of the Forever King, and his murderer was waiting to die."
The murderer is Gabriel de Leon. Paleblood. Silversaint. Vampire-hunter and bane of the creatures of the night. He is a legend and having settled a vendetta, killing the Forever King, he is now at the mercy of his enemies. The new ruler of the vampires wishes for Gabriel's story to be recorded before his demise. In a similar fashion to The Name of the Wind, the historian Jean-François of the Blood Chastain chronicles the events of our protagonist's epic tale, as told by the chevalier Gabriel himself.
With this being the setup, in addition to the above-mentioned "present-day" storyline, there are two past timelines that the killer recounts. The first of these surrounds the events of Gabriel's teenage years including his relationships with his parents and sisters, daysdeath and the increased strength and threat of the vampire empire, his infatuation with blood, and his perplexing abilities which leads Gabriel to the brotherhood of the Silversaints. The second of the past accounts finds a thirty-something, disgruntled, addict Gabriel, whose deeds are the tales of legends. He reluctantly joins a sort of fellowship, bemused to find himself part of a prophecy that relates to a god Gabriel thinks is a prick.
Gabriel is an awesome character. He's humorous, bitter, witty, sweary, and world-weary. He isn't thrilled to have to tell his tale to the vampire historian but, as the stories progress, there is some excellent back-and-forth banter between the duo. An element that often made me smirk is when the historian will tap his quill on his manuscript, a nonchalant reminder to Gabriel that the Queen of Vampires wishes for him to explain certain parts in-depth, as if to a child. As Kristoff jokes in his Goodreads review of this novel, this is definitely for adults and is "not a book for children". I'd hesitate to say that it is a bit too dark and violent for even the youths of the vampire empire. By the historian doing this though, it adds extra depth and insight and makes for clever worldbuilding when explaining intricacies such as the vampire houses, or familial powers or legacies, etc... Gabriel's "I don't give a fuck"-attitude is prevalent in these exchanges too, especially when Gabriel opts to time hop in his tale instead of telling it chronologically, to the frustration of Jean-François. The Silversaint calmly signals the word PATIENCE that is tattooed on his knuckles.
I read de Leon, especially as he ages, as being reminiscent of Geralt of Rivia from Sapkowski's The Witcher Saga. He comes across as a reluctant hero at certain points, a legendary warrior and swordsman that possesses magical abilities, with acts of bravery or heroism normally following a sigh or a "for-fuck's-sake" grunt. At least that's how I envisaged him.
"I am the boy's master. He's impatient. Arrogant. Far too keen for glory. But he's one of the finest swords I've trained, and he took down this highblood alone, drugged to the eyeballs on rêvre. If what I suspect of his line is true... he could be the greatest of us, Talon." "Or the most terrible."
Although this is Gabriel de Leon's tale, he shares the page-time and has interesting relationships with a whole range of intriguing characters. Favourites for me were the rival Aaron de Coste, the master Greyhand, the enigma Dior, and the Holy Sister Astrid. He also has a slightly unhinged talking blade called Ashdrinker. The members of the Forever King's family whose paths cross with Gabriel's in Empire of the Vampire make for fine antagonists, being imposing, beautiful, ageless, and terrifying. A part that I really enjoyed and applaud Kristoff for the way he presented this, was when a character we were familiar with from de Leon's youth returns to the page over a decade and a half later in the other timeline. This brought a few true smiles to my face.
There is a lot to enjoy here in Kristoff's horror-tinged, vampire-laden, epic fantasy tale. In fact, it was the most I’ve enjoyed a fantasy novel for a long time. I thought it was very well written, being descriptive enough for my mind to fill in the blanks, crafting some impeccable imagery, and adrenaline-fuelling grand set-pieces. Occasionally dancing on the line of melodramatic, but for me personally, it stayed on the right side, being more cinematic than needlessly extravagant. Empire of the Vampire is packed with many stand-out scenes, and knowing that this is only a portion of de Leon's legendary tale, I'll be picking up a copy of the sequel as soon as I can. 9/10.
Final Note: The internal artwork by Bon Orthwick (@monolimeart) is incredible....more
I received a review copy of The Fiends of Nightmaria in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Steven Erikson and Tor Books.
The Fiends of NightmI received a review copy of The Fiends of Nightmaria in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Steven Erikson and Tor Books.
The Fiends of Nightmaria is a 112-page novella that is set within Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont's Malazan Universe and is the sixth entry in the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series. Necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were minor characters in Erikson's epic fantasy Malazan Book of the Fallen, only appearing in Memories of Ice, however, their performances there were memorable to many readers. The novellas featuring these necromancers are dark, humorous, and extremely fun quick reads.
The Fiends of Nightmaria takes place in Farooq. The king has been murdered and the throne has been taken by none other than Bauchalain, with Korbal Broach acting as the Grand Bishop. Since becoming a self-professed tyrant monarch, Bauchalain has emptied the coffees, arrested all actors and players for their crimes against humanity, and waged war against the quite peaceful, solitary lizard-people of Nightmaria. Add into the mix an escaped God, a demon prince, a gang of thieves looking to rescue their captured leader, and a horde of headless undead and you can get an idea of what to expect from this novella.
"Who knows what that insane necromancer's let loose in the crypts."
I think Bauchelain is an incredible character and that is on full display during The Fiends of Nightmaria. He's extremely intelligent, powerful, quick-witted, and somehow absurdly likeable, having the reader routing for him in whatever dastardly scheme he's decided to try his hand at. He's always the cleverest man in the room, which, with all due respect, isn't that difficult with the company he keeps in Korbal Broach. We don't see that much of Korbal Broach here, with him being the brute force to Bauchelain's suave and calculated coolness.
"It seems that on this gentle night, we must summon and unleash a veritable host of demons."
The other main character in this book and in this series of novellas is Emancipor Reese who is the necromancers' ageing manservant. He has to use drugs and alcohol to numb his mind to the acts he has witnessed whilst working for the duo. If I remember right, Reese joined the employ of these dark mages as an excuse to be away from his wife. The conversations between Bauchalain and Reese, the way they flow, and the way the two bounce off each other is an absolute joy to follow, in the Fiends of Nightmaria as much as anywhere else we see them.
For a short story, there are a lot of characters in The Fiends of Nightmaria and the majority of them have bizarre, bordering on silly names. After about 20-pages, It wasn't that difficult to remember who was who with most of the action following either the above-mentioned three, the group of thieves, or the ensemble of actors and critics awaiting their torture and eventual execution. We also have scenes following the forked-tongued lizard ambassador and an extremely enthusiastic Commander of the Royal Farrogal Army.
I had a pleasant time reading The Fiends of Nightmaria, which sounds sort of contradictory seeing as it's full of lots of gruesome horrors, brutal injuries and deaths, the undead, and a god who masturbates so hard his penis falls off. The Fiends of Nightmaria is a perfect example of Erikson showcasing his sillier side, in a similar fashion to his SF-comedy novel, Wilful Child.
The Fiends of Nightmaria is a humorous and enjoyable, ultraviolent dark horror fantasy that doesn't take itself too seriously and contains likeable yet fiendish necromancers. One of these novellas can be read comfortably in a couple of hours and it's definitely time well spent, although if I'm being critical, they aren't that memorable. I've tried to be pretty thorough in my review, possibly approaching spoiler territory, about some of the elements a reader can expect here as The Fiends of Nightmaria isn't for everyone. Some may think that some moments are sick or go too far. I'll let you be the judge of whether this sounds like your cup of tea or not.
All the novellas in this series are standalone so The Fiends of Nightmaria is as good a place as any if you are considering just trying one of them. With Erikson though, I have to recommend his Magnum Opus, starting with Gardens of the Moon. To me, Malazan Book of the Fallen is no doubt a 10/10 series, whereas I'd give The Fiends of Nightmaria an entertaining but not Earth-shattering 6.5/10.
"By the time I'm done, the audience will be cheering for the fucking necromancers."...more
I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Blacktongue Thief in exchange for an honest review. Thanks go to Christopher Buehlman and Gollancz.
I've hI received an uncorrected proof copy of The Blacktongue Thief in exchange for an honest review. Thanks go to Christopher Buehlman and Gollancz.
I've had my eye on The Blacktongue Thief for a while, with friends referring to it as the book they were looking forward to the most in 2021, and the ratings by reviewers I trust all coming back extremely positive. When a review copy arrived on my doorstep I decided to try it next to see if it lived up to the hype. Although to me, it won't quite be a best of the year read, it is an admirable and thrilling fantasy debut for Buehlman who has a lot to offer to the world of modern fantasy.
Kinch Na Shannack is a thief who was trained by the Takers Guild. They educated him in the way of the thief and now he owes them for that education. He can pay off his debt by doing jobs for the Guild but at the start of the book, Kinch and the group of thieves he travels with have chosen the wrong mark. They have decided to cross an Ispanthian bird knight who is betrothed to the goddess of death. Not a good decision at all.
"I was about to die. Worse, I was about to die with bastards."
We follow the action in The Blacktoungue Thief in the first-person perspective through the eyes of Kinch as he is relaying the tale at a later date. It was an absolute joy to follow Kinch, he's witty, critical and sometimes cynical, the humour and flow of his thoughts being addictive to read. His commentary surrounding events such as "though at the time I did not know" and "I would find out later it was..." adds useful facts and opinions to the narrative as the narrator sometimes dips in and out of the action. This could have been jarring but I had no such qualms and believe Buehlman administered these moments artfully.
Buehlman's world features fantasy tropes but in imaginative and unique ways. There are goblins, giants, witches, thieves, mages, magic tattoos, sea monsters and an adorable blind cat who is arguably one of the best characters in the book. As well as Bully Boy the cat ("Rao"), the novel is littered with memorable and detailed characters, notable inclusions are the aforementioned knight Galva, the niece of a witch Norrigal, and Kinch's fellow countryman Malk. What makes these characters stand out is Kinch's relationships with them throughout the adventure that ensues after the novel's beginning showdown. The book also features inventive languages, dialects, myths, songs, classes, and perks. Kinch has two birth gifts that aid his craft. These are Luck and Cipher.
I've touched on the humour and the fantasy elements which are both well-worked throughout, but it's absolutely worth noting that some of The Blacktongue Thief's standout moments are horror-tinged sections that play on the mind long after the eye has read those chapters. A friendly game of "Pull" or an assassin trying to escape from a nightmare are very vague descriptions of some truly scary moments. I'm aware Buehlman is an acclaimed horror writer and after seeing these elements presented in such fine fashion here, I will certainly be investing in his back catalogue.
The Blacktongue Thief is a detailed, nuanced, intricate and sweary adult fantasy debut that starts off strong and rarely stutters. It's action-packed and imaginative with huge standout set pieces that lead to a fulfilling crescendo where all the threads are neatly wrapped up. As far as I can tell by reading it, The Blacktongue Thief is a standalone, yet the fine worldbuilding and the fact we don't know how far in the future Kinch is retelling his tale from means there could be many more adventures in this world. If that's the case then I'll definitely be rejoining Kinch, Galva, and their ragtag crew for whatever escapades they find themselves involved in next. Highly recommended....more
I received a review copy of Good Morning, Midnight in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Lily Brooks-Dalton and Weidenfeld & Nicolson FictionI received a review copy of Good Morning, Midnight in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Lily Brooks-Dalton and Weidenfeld & Nicolson Fiction.
Good Morning, Midnight follows two characters. Astronomer Augustine who resides in isolation in the Arctic, still studying although the rest of his team were evacuated the year before, and astronaut Sully who is returning to Earth with her space shuttle crew after a successful mission observing the moons of Jupiter. Silence on the radiowaves has left Augustine unable to contact the outside world, and with Misson Control falling silent, the crew of the Aether have no idea what awaits them upon their return to Earth.
Good Morning, Midnight is a beautifully written and thought-provoking dystopian fiction novel that focuses on exploring and analysing relationships when faced with an unknown and uncertain future. The book examines themes such as friendship, isolation, parenting, love, loneliness, longing, regret and the future's uncertainty. This uncertainty is accentuated to the reader in the way that Brooks-Dalton never gives us any real detail to what has happened to humankind which heightens out affinity to our two protagonists and the scenarios they are facing. It is often uncomfortable to read how these characters are smothered by the silence.
The novel is quite a short read, clocking in at around 250-pages, with chapters alternating between Augustine and Sully, each taking about ten minutes to read. A key part of what kept me intrigued with Good Morning, Midnight was wondering if and how the two storylines would cross over and if the two protagonists had been chosen for a specific, important reason. As previously mentioned, this novel is beautifully written, with incredible and picturesque imagery, which is impressive as much of the novel is about the nothingness of space and the seemingly endless ice and snow. The language used is a definite juxtaposition with the hopelessness and forboding atmosphere the potential end of the world would present.
I'm glad that I read Good Morning, Midnight but my reading experience wasn't wholly positive and I wouldn't choose to read novels like this all the time. Reflecting on the narrative, apart from a handful of very standout moments, not that much actually happens. For every time that I was gripped and truly engrossed there was another time where I was a bit bored and had to force myself through to the next chapter. That being said, this book feels like an essential read for the days we are currently living through, with all of us now reanalysing our relationships, our priorities, our pasts, what we have taken for granted and are now forced to be without. That uncertainty and trepidation are emotions imbedded in Good Morning, Midnight. For that, it isn't always a comfortable read. With it being a relatively short book and with many of us now having more time on our hands, this is a novel I would recommend people add to their to-be-read list this year. I give Good Morning, Midnight a 7/10 rating, and will soon watch Netflix's The Midnight Sun which is based on this novel. ...more
I received a review copy of A Fool's Hope in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mike Shackle and Gollancz.
A Fool's Hope picks up events abouI received a review copy of A Fool's Hope in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mike Shackle and Gollancz.
A Fool's Hope picks up events about a minute after the conclusion of We Are the Dead. Tinnstra and four-year-old Queen Zorique are on the deck of a ship in the Golden Channel seeking to escape to the shores of Meigore. Having been wracked with fear, with death and destruction seeming to follow the pair, they are at last hoping to receive refuge with Zorique's uncle - the King of Meigore. Upon arrival, they are pinning their hopes on persuading the monarch to join the Jians in the war that they seem to be losing against the Egril. In A Fool's Hope, the respite for these ladies doesn't last long at all. In Shackle's well-imagined and gritty dark fantasy world, things don't go to plan very often.
In the aftermath of the intense warfare fought throughout the city of Kiyosun, we rejoin young revolutionary Dren and former Shulka commander Jax. Both were tortured brutally by the Egril in the Council House and the war has had dramatic effects on them. The duo, who previously despised each other, are still trying to play their part to aid the resistance, but the conflict really is taking its toll on them. Physically and mentally respectively. In a similar fashion, Yas has changed greatly since the Egril invaded, still cares intently for her mother and son, and is dealing with the consequences of her actions from We Are the Dead. She is trying to survive and also assist in the war effort, albeit reluctantly with the latter initially.
There are four new point of view perspectives that join the narrative in addition to those mentioned above. Two are viewpoints from the enemies, the Egril. Those of new recruit "acorn" soldier, Mateon and of Francin, a high ranking Chosen of Kage who has some very unique skills. These two new players were fine characters giving extra insight into the Egril's war effort. We see much more through these two characters' eyes about the Egril's conquests than we did through torturer Darus' in We Are the Dead. Another perspective that I enjoyed following was that of the honourable and respected Meigorian sea captain Ralasis, who may or may not have a slight crush on Tinnstra. The final point of view I won't go into much detail about, however much I'd like to, as it does approach spoiler territory. However, later in the novel when we start following them is a pleasant surprise, seems fitting, and really adds to the experience and drama of A Fool's Hope's final third.
The point of view perspectives give a grand overview of the full happenings of the conflict. I enjoyed that I felt that I was getting to witness the whole picture. Some of the characters I had issues with at the beginning of the first book, I no longer have any qualms with at all. Dren's character arc is particularly impressive to say how much of a bugbear I had with him during the first sections of We Are the Dead. One of my other minor pet peeves from the previous book was the number of times a chapter or section ended with the world exploding or, ...and then everything went black. That still happens here but it didn't gripe me whilst reading. Either I've gotten mellower in the last eighteen months or, in A Fool's Hope, Shackle injects these moments less frequently and more deftly.
If Shackle was just finding his voice as an author in We Are the Dead, he has really excelled and polished his craft in the sequel. A Fool's Hope knows precisely what sort of beast it wants to be from the very beginning and it doesn't disappoint fans of The Last War who have been looking forward to this novel. The action and drama predominantly takes place in Kiyosun and Meigore, but we see brief yet important glimpses of other places in this crafted fantasy world such as Kagestan and Aisair.
If I had to describe A Fool's Hope and this series in three words they would simply be War. Action. Drama. If I had to add a bit more detail then I'd go with: A Fool's Hope is gritty, thrilling, with well-crafted and surprisingly likeable characters (for the most part), and it progresses the overall narrative in fine fashion. The endings are really well presented and have intrigued me greatly to see what will follow next. The Last War is a series that many more fans of grimdark and dark fantasy should check out and I'm glad that I've been following Shackle's work since day one. 9/10....more
I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Library of the Dead in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to T.L. Huchu and Tor Books.
The Library ofI received an uncorrected proof copy of The Library of the Dead in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to T.L. Huchu and Tor Books.
The Library of the Dead is the first entry in the Edinburgh Nights series. Throughout the book, we follow a 14-year-old dreadlocked punkish youth called Ropa. Ropa works as a ghostalker, using her unique skills and her mbira (an African musical instrument) to converse with the many deceased of this alternative Edinburgh. Passing messages from the dead to the living and banishing unruly spectres are just a few of the tasks that would appear on a professional ghostalker's CV. She has to get paid for such duties after all as her caravan's rent, where she lives with her gran, sister and her pet fox, doesn't come cheap.
I was particularly impressed with Ropa's voice as the MC. Her thoughts and feelings are expressed in the first person present tense and, although it took me a little while to get used to this style, I found it kooky and a joy to read. Ropa's a witty and likeable protagonist who often uses Scottish dialect and slang in a similar way to the style that charmed me as a youth when I would read Oor Wullie comics. Ropa being young, energetic and using some youth-speak makes her an endearing lead to follow.
The Library of the Dead features dark themes, gruesome happenings, otherworldly monsters, and supernatural horrors yet, because of Ropa; I believe that it could be enjoyed by both adult and YA readers alike.
The action takes place in an alternate Edinburgh that features slums, violence, poverty, and magic. It is set after an event known as the catastrophe and although it is hinted at that this could be slightly in the future, the whole atmosphere has an almost 80's vibe to it, but with mobile phones.
With the paranormal, the unknown, and magic lurking within the novel, there are also other planes of existence that can be frequented by those with the necessary skillset. One of these is known as the EveryThere which has a definite Stranger Things' Upside Down feel to it. There are some moments that take place there that stood out in my mind but I am hoping to see more of it in future books. It's a distorted and stifling place where time and gravity don't exist and it is full of shuffling forlorn spirits and guardian demons know as Voykors. Another standout section in this well-crafted and sometimes warped world is later on in the novel. It's a great segment that has trippy modern-day Grimm fairy tale feel to it and introduces the incredibly creepy sounding Midnight Milkman. The titular Library of the Dead is pretty intriguing too and in the next books, I want to find out more regarding what happens there and the exclusive individuals who frequent the establishment.
My reading experience with The Library of the Dead was mostly positive. After I got used to the writing style I found that I really enjoyed the tale's feel. One minor criticism I have is that I found some of the chapters at the beginning, when the novel's groundwork was being set, to be a bit stuttering and plodding and I wasn't completely "all in" until the 90-page mark.
To conclude, I'll say that The Library of the Dead is an enjoyable dark urban fantasy tale that is set in a nicely depicted alternate Edinburgh, with a great lead character and a vibrant supporting cast. To say that this is a debut release though means that a lot of plaudits should go to Huchu here for what he's accomplished. There are many great elements to this novel which I've mentioned throughout the review but it doesn't quite live up to the lofty heights of the concept and what the blurb presents the book as. The Library of the Dead works perfectly as a standalone with everything wrapping up expertly with enough intriguing hints and ideas of what is to come in the follow-up. Will I continue reading this series? Yes, probably. Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would as I give it a well-earned 7/10 rating....more
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