Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J Parker is a historical fantasy book. It is more inclined to be on fantasy side than historical fiction. L Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J Parker is a historical fantasy book. It is more inclined to be on fantasy side than historical fiction. Like K.J Parker’s other fantasy books that doesn’t have magic, no dragons or Elves in the stories. The stories usually are full of stratagems, battle fields, economics, intrigues etc, those things are delicately used in the tightly plots in medieval-esque world. I think Parker is one of the prolific writers who has written more than 30 books and numerous novellas which are connected with some of the series.
I first knew K.J Parker, when I was looking for unique fantasy books to read; I found his fantasy books are low fantasy and using strategies to solve problems than brandishing magic swords to defeat enemies, then I took a peek on his novella, Blue and Gold. It was a satisfying read for me. The unreliable narrator and the sharp, wit dialogues totally serve the story. Even though I thought it is not a stunning read still I quite like it; then I read Purple and Black, The Folding Knife, The Company, The Last Wetness etc. those are excellent read for me. So far I have read 10 books by K.J Parker, Sixteen Ways to Defend the Walled City is my tenth K.J Parker book.
Interesting thing is that K.J Parker writes good stories but among English speaking countries, seldom readers know him. However, after K.J Parker was introduced in Chinese book markets, Chinese readers want K.J Parker books more than some popular fantasy series. It is one of the few English fantasy writers who was reckoned by Chinese readers. It is kind of ironic, because many popular fantasy books in English which don’t fit in fantasy book market in China. I am not a Chinese, I just coincidentally knew when I was surfing/ browsing the internet due to my curiosity of the fantasy books in English I am looking for. I understand why K.J Parker is popular or at least it has the business in Chinese book markets. Because K. J Parker writes books with knowledge, the story is witty in some sense and it is read like historical fiction. And most of all, it is about humans, how the characters solved problems when the situations were dire. It is about politicking and the it is maneuvering on battle fields. They want to know how a talent writer to write a story in medieval-esque setting with some plot twists and turns to the characters and the story.
K.J Parker’s books was one of the priorities to read. Then, I think I am content with that.
Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City is a story about Orhan who was an engineer, accidentally, he became the colonel of the City and preparing or the defense of the siege. Ironically, the leader of the enemy who was his best friend in Childhood Ogus. Soon it set him to ponder the situation of the siege and the relationship with him that would cost exorbitant price to pay.
I didn’t count is there actually have 16 ways to defend the walled city in the book. But it does mention that Orhan found a book which is about sieges. I am familiar with Parker’s fantasy books so that I know the narrator, Orhan is unreliable. It is not like he deliberately lie to you, instead he don’t know how to write down the story that is connected with his memories. Orhan use fake forages, engineering knowledge to save the city. He is just an engineer, and thus the note in the end questioning the authenticity of the story. K.J Parker prefers to write characters with unusual identities to dealing with the issues that they were confronting. The book could be read as a standalone. The world is also connected to the novella, Mightier than a Sword. I just read the novella earlier this year but I didn’t know it is in the same world of SWDWC. What a happenstance!
I think Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City is not the best of K.J Parker’s books to which Compares The Folding Knife and The Company. Personal Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
The second Empire could be considered as the conclusion of The Monarchies of God series. The ending of the Merduks with Romanians is concluded in thi The second Empire could be considered as the conclusion of The Monarchies of God series. The ending of the Merduks with Romanians is concluded in this book, the peace was established by the diplomatic policies with Toruńn kingdom. Corfe had become a king, who has witnessed the victory is the price of sacrificing his comrades in the battles with Merduks. The ending specifically accentuates the sorrow victory that which Corfe had brought to the kingdom Toruńn, seeing his ex-wife became Heria, the empress of the Merduks. What an ironical ending of the story!
Sadly, Heria is not a well-developed character as the other characters like Corfe. For me she is clearly a plot device or for darkening the story even the ending is Corfe and his armies had saved the kingdom. Like Heria, Alberc since the ending of The Iron Wars, he becomes the tools of the plot developments. It’s not unconvincing to see Albrec’s motivation to spread the truth of the religions, but still is easily to see how he play the role in The Second Empire.
There is still one story arc isn’t solved in The Second Empire, which is about the western continent. However, it could be considered a good ending without the fifth book. I think I will go on reading the fifth book, The Ship From the West. ...more
The Iron Wars is the continuation of the upstart Corfe’s battles with Merduk armies, the return of Hawkwood and the only remained two companions, the The Iron Wars is the continuation of the upstart Corfe’s battles with Merduk armies, the return of Hawkwood and the only remained two companions, the two abbeys who was carrying the original book of the saint, and was found by the Fimbrions who had got the order to going back to Omank.
Basically, the story focuses on the battles between Torunna and Merduks. Corfe and the Queen, Ordelia teemed together to defending the Murduk’s troops by swiftly striking the one part of the Merduk stations. Alrbec and his friend went to see the Pontiff and convince him that the script is the truth of the two religions are the same. Hawkwood and his companions had returned to Ramanion with brooding mood of the occupied western continent.
The pacing of the story is fast, some characters in The Iron Wars becomes unnoticeable that unlike in the previous two books; Aberlyon is being unconscious throughout the whole book. Galafion the wizard was trying to communicate with his apprentice, Bardolion, instead he got unexpected help from a powerful magic and lost consciousness. Many things happen in The Iron Wars and the battlefield scenes and the politicking are interesting. Sometimes I felt that some parts of the story are too convenient to be set up for the later plot developments. Overall, this book is a good military fantasy to read. ...more
The First two books of The Monarchies of Gods are underrated. It’s an epic military fantasy with big scales of battles, political intrigues, the colliThe First two books of The Monarchies of Gods are underrated. It’s an epic military fantasy with big scales of battles, political intrigues, the collision of religions from the both side of the continents, seafaring adventures and werewolves! The story combines those elements in average 350+pages per books in a series; compare to other epic fantasy books, the writing is pretty concise to read! Many fantasy books would be written in 500+ pages book that wasting pages to describe the irrelevant plots. So far the two books, which is the first half of TMoG are great that straight get in what was happening in the story, without painstaking details or aimless plot developments. Seldom fantasy writers are capable to do that in epic fantasies. Furthermore, Paul Kearney is good at writing battle scenes, the first book of the series, Hawkwood's Voyage has some exhilarating battles with gun powers, sword fights, military maneuvers. However, this books is more focused on the internal conflict of the five kingdoms, the heretic king was facing the traitors and the church’s pressures after he was excommunicated from the church. Hawkwood and his crews had found the western continent which he was looking for but it is just a premonition of discovery the more sinister enemy on the continent, that would be the villains in the later books of the series.
There has some interesting themes in The Heretic King. The two Abbeys have discovered the truth of the church religion which its original source has the influences on the prophet, the threats from the east continent which its religion is originally from the same root. The western continent had been influencing by the wizard who was escaping from proniff the bishop’s persecution, he brought other people with him and became the god in the barbaric country.
I think I probably will continue finishing the series. The series is not as complex as Malazan or Cosmere or TGoT series by Martin but it is more concise in a big scales of the conflicts with religion, monarchies. However, it is not a character driven story from my perspectives, if you want to have a character driven fantasy book to read, then you should look for somewhere else....more
Waylander by David Gemmell is a classic heroic fantasy book. As David Gemmell’s Legend, The King Beyond The Gate, Waylander shares the same vein of heWaylander by David Gemmell is a classic heroic fantasy book. As David Gemmell’s Legend, The King Beyond The Gate, Waylander shares the same vein of heroic story in that two books; battlefield scenes, besieges, the reluctant heroes were needed in the desperate time, heroes’s deed are more important in defending enemies than its dark past. Gemmell is apt at writing heroes and how they dealt with their inner and outward conflicts in dire circumstances. His heroes have scars, those scars are left on their skin but that isn’t dull their heroic spirit to moralize other people around them.
The writing is concise and straightforward to the point of the story developments. The characters are vivid, admirable of even though they aren’t perfect in their own stories. It was good for me to pick up Waylander because I wanted a more simple writing style of story to read, Waylander is a good choice.
The story is followed after Waylander who has assassinated the king. he has saved the priest, Dardalion, their path were intertwined since then. Waylander met the old man, Orien and he accept the quest of retrieving the legendary armor by him. After that, the story is divided into three parts: Waylander’s quest, Dardalion and the thirty’s defending the fortress and Durmast and Danyal’s story.
In the end, Durmast who was a notorious criminal has saved Waylander, and help retrieving the armor, with Dardalion’s help the fortress and the armor quest were successfully completed. The enemy king and his sorcerers were killed. However, I think Durmast is too obtrusive to be a plot device to redeeming himself to save Waylander. It is a bit lower down my expectation of Durmost from the rescuing aid by an untrusted ally. I think it could be done in a better way.
The story tells us whenever we can redeem ourselves as if it seems impossible. The book Waylander has done some twist of the chosen one trope. Durmast was the grey character seems not like a hero at all, but after he take the armor, he started to believe he may be the chosen one and redeemed himself. I think Waylander has many similar elements I have seen in the previous two book of Drenai series. The format of the story are from the same model in Drenai books, it is not novel and it is a bit shame. However, it is still a good story to read and a bit surprised for me to finish the story in a good way.
PS: So Far I have read three books from Drenai series. It is hard to pin down which book I like the most in the three books; I like some parts of the books better than the others. Personal rating: 7.75 out of 10 for Waylander...more
**spoiler alert** Lies Sleeping is the seventh installment of Livers of London series. You would find some answers to the previous installments like M**spoiler alert** Lies Sleeping is the seventh installment of Livers of London series. You would find some answers to the previous installments like Molly’s sisters, and the connections with first Rivers of London book, The finale battle with Martin Chorley etc. There has many magic battles in this book, so that It would be better to recap, the magic terms like vestigia, Impell etc. Peter still has done the most chasing, Investigating and researching in the book. So the narrator is still sharp and witty as usual, especially when he describes events and histories with his comments.
In Lies Sleeping Peter was part in operation Jennifer, which means that he and Nightingale had their analysts in team works. Folly became a police operation. They had their own resources and people to assist them. This time, Chorley was trying to sacrifice Punch who was the villain in Livers of London book 1, in order to change England, summon Merlin that starting a new age of England. Lesley as Chorley’s partner who with Chorley are the villains to Peter. I think when Peter was captured and put in the pit which was his prison. It was one of the funniest moments to read. Foxglove’s portrait of Peter became an art and was exhibited in a museum.
Overalls, it’s still a fun book with actions. Chorley would be killed in this book , I think it means the later installments would be very different that compare with the previous books....more
The Pinhoe Egg is the six installment of Chrestomensi series, continue with cat being an apprentice of the Nine Lifer enchanter, Chrestomensi. This t The Pinhoe Egg is the six installment of Chrestomensi series, continue with cat being an apprentice of the Nine Lifer enchanter, Chrestomensi. This time he discover an egg by coincidence and he will discover the secrets were hidden in the wood by Chrestomensi’s castle. Another protagonist, Marianne who was trying to save her family from the wicked havocs which she thought had all been done by Gammer who always commended other people to do what she requires. Two story lines are divided into two parts, one is Cat, another one is Marianne. From both side we can see the traditional family which had been remonstrating to another nearby family, Faeleighs. In this book from both Pinhoe and Farleighas POV, they both were retaliating with each other. Chrestomensi started investigating what was about The Pinhoe family’s secrets and histories of one of the oldest witch families. In addition, the hidden one was the victim who were confined by the witch family. This book has the most background stories that compares to the previous installments. Not like first book, Chanted Life, it provides the histories of the witch family and an inborn magic “Dwimmer” what is the misunderstanding and discrimination between magic creatures like Unicorns and griffins among those witch family. Due to this point, the Chrestomensi World has been expanded more details and starts connecting with magic creatures, interaction with more characters from witch families.
Sadly, this is the final installment in Chrestomensi series, but Wynne Jones proffer us readers a magic world to be immersed in. About characters, Cat becomes more active in this book rather than in Chanted Life; because his sister was controlling and manipulating Cat until he found out he need to take in charge of his life. I see Cat as a grown character makes many his own decisions to save situations. And now He has animal companions, unlike In Chanted Life, he was dismal in loneliness. It is good to see that he starts having a meaningful life of his own without his sister in his life. This time , I can imagine that smile on his face, not a grimace, but an actual smile. ...more
Farmer Giles of Ham is a short story about a middle country, Ham had the crisis of the dragon was approaching Ham and caused drastically turmoils to tFarmer Giles of Ham is a short story about a middle country, Ham had the crisis of the dragon was approaching Ham and caused drastically turmoils to the people who lived in Ham; our hero, Giles and his royal companion, Garm which is a dog, rescued the town and became heroes.
the Dragon, Chrysophylax as a villain in this book is more a comical plot-device than an impending threat to the hero, Giles who is a farmer not a knight, he would rather take the treasures from dragons than kill them as a gallant champion. Haggling and negotiating are better to treat a mistrusted dragon.
This is a fun book without multitudinous details as the Middle Earth books....more
The Canterville Ghost starts with the murder but ends up in not very happy but consummate ending to the story. This short story has the traits of otheThe Canterville Ghost starts with the murder but ends up in not very happy but consummate ending to the story. This short story has the traits of other Oscar Wilde's novellas, bitter taste, sorrow brevity and philosophy. Compare to other Oscar Wilde's novellas, The Canterville Ghost is less passionate, more concentrates on what is life after being a ghost; with a bit humors in the story, especially the twin brothers had been tricking the ghost after they moved in the Canterville. it's more delightful to read; although in the end the character who had helped the ghost in peace questioning about life, death and love may be a bit trial to the story....more
I listened to the audio book at 40 percents, but stopped listening to and switch to the E-book. Cursed is the second installment of Alex Verus series,I listened to the audio book at 40 percents, but stopped listening to and switch to the E-book. Cursed is the second installment of Alex Verus series, an urban fantasy with magic detective as a lead in the noir story. I think Benedict Jacka creates a world in dark ambiances of an atmospheric London. its immersive vibe of the London is appealing to me, sometimes the story isn’t moved rapid that I can take a peek of the secrets behind the London to discover more of this darker version of London; visiting this London is somehow dangerous for those people who don’t know the secrets of the London where is full of malice magicians and unknown creatures.
I think the most interesting part of the story which is when our protagonist, Alex had reached to Elsewhere, a dreamy realism where consciousness lingers on. Alex wanted to rescue the spider so that he brought Lucy (who is the cursed girl in previous installment, Fated) to inquire information from the dark magician who was his acquaintance. The vibe of the story is enthralling, people would get lost in Elsewhere if they can’t find the entry to leave. Some horrid things happen in this chapter, therefore this was a bit unsettling reading for me.
The plots and characters are okay, basically it follows the same formulas as Fated. negotiations, spy infiltrators, the powerful artifact caused troubles. The story ends in a convenient way defeating Alex’s opponent.
Overall, This book is for those readers who wants a Dresden clone book but with a bit darker and different vibe to the story with magician’s fighting....more
Reading this book seem like I am reading Narnia “The Last Battle” and Piranesi by Susan Clark. Not like Narnia books , this is a grimmer and abhorrentReading this book seem like I am reading Narnia “The Last Battle” and Piranesi by Susan Clark. Not like Narnia books , this is a grimmer and abhorrent story; without gallant protagonists and magic battles, with more horror vibe to the story; especially the fact of the Underhill world was decrying, enervating, was deteriorating to a worth state that the living creatures like fauns and magic dogs, wood deities were facing the predicament of losing the existence of living in Underhill.
Our protagonist, Harry is a children TV presenter, who loathe child dish things, one day he had found out a faun was in his garden and watched him, after that, he was entangled in discovering the truth of The fairy land and trying to reposition his identity as one of the Underhill heir’s predecessor.
Actually, this was a fun read for me, the themes pique my curiosity of reading this Narnia-like fantasy, the story is indicated to Narnia and occasionally mentions JRR Tolkien. It feels like I was in a parallel universe where C.S Lewis would encounter a fictitional writer Mary Boide. The ending of the story is much better than Narnia’s The Last Battle. Moreover, the concept of the energy that was maintaining and molding the structure of Underhill and a vampiric creator’s longevity is quite intrigue. Maybe one day we can find a seemingly alien creature is from other dimensions....more
The Land of Lost Things is a direct sequel to The Book of Lost Things, as dark, gruesome atmosphere fantasy as TBoLT; but not like the previous book, The Land of Lost Things is a direct sequel to The Book of Lost Things, as dark, gruesome atmosphere fantasy as TBoLT; but not like the previous book, it is more traumatic, languish experience for the protagonist, Ceres, because her child was in comma, she was desperately hoping miracle would come. Then she fall to the world where David, the lost boy in TBoLT had entered into.
This is not as delightful reading experience for me as reading TBoLT, too many explanations of the background stories and what happened after David defeated The Crooked Man. There has little spaces for recounting a new story which is different from a new characters. I must say that I had high anticipation of TLoLT, however this didn't reach my expectation. I think this is worth a read but compares to the previous book that would be less enjoyable of reading it....more
James and the Giant Peach is as whimsical as Roald’s other children books. It’s fun, hilarious and preposterous. The plots may not be logical for adu James and the Giant Peach is as whimsical as Roald’s other children books. It’s fun, hilarious and preposterous. The plots may not be logical for adults but it is reasonable enough for children; it is delightful to real such a book with a bit eccentric characters and exhilarating riding a Giant Peach! I think this book may convey some political messages to older audiences, like American dreams, some more subtle information behind the crazy story, to take a peak upon our real world from different angles. Those characters are resemble with humanoid behavior and personality that would make you laugh loud. Furthermore, James had been riding the Giant peach through majestically wonderful landscapes, that is one of the comfort read for readers.
All need to say is, hooray! The Giant peach is coming!! ...more
The Three Imposter by Author Machen is listed in Ballantine adult fantasy series. For this reason, this is why I read it and was enchanted by the sto The Three Imposter by Author Machen is listed in Ballantine adult fantasy series. For this reason, this is why I read it and was enchanted by the stories in The Three Imposters. As the title, the three imposters are the narrators in the book; they tell their stories without very grounded knowledges to the stories which they told to each others. It’s hard to detect that which stories that they told are fabricate or actually happened ?
I think the structures in The Three Imposters that were told by the three unreliable narrators, stories within stories that which add the gothic vibe to it. Myths, folklores, legend are weaved together into a horror book. The reading experience is quite good for me. Even though the story would get confusing when the story progress in the middle. Often time somethings that doesn’t tell is the clue of understanding what was actually happening to the story. Not a typical horror book to readers to read.
Personal rating: for me at least 7.5 out of 10 stars. ...more
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