Book Review: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Rural Fantasy
Series: Sookie Stackhouse
Publisher: Ace Books
Publication Date: May 2001
Author Info: www.charlaineharris.com

Wendy's Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars - As far as strong female characters go, I’d put Sookie right up at the top with the best of them.

Sooo a few years back I tried watching True Blood and didn't get far. Oh it wasn't just the blood and sex for the apparent purpose of blood and sex. Well, maybe it was, but I've long since come to terms with the ways of the HBO. The problem was with Anna Paquin. I don't know what it is, but since Rogue, I just haven't liked her. And as Sookie Stackhouse, the Mary Sue every vampire wants, I sufficiently couldn't stand her enough to not watch the show again. Give me a Lafayette and Tara spin off and I'll be happy.

But Audible had the first Sookie Stackhouse book on sale so I decided to check it out. The first thing I have to say is that I honestly wasn't expecting to like this book. Or rather, I honestly wasn't expecting to actually like Sookie.

As far as strong female characters go, (the kind Joss Whedon is often praised for single-handedly creating), I’d put Sookie right up at the top with the best of them. She’s brave, as in, she’s willing to defend what is right, even at risk of her own life, but she’s not afraid to admit to her fears. She has standards and upholds them, even when her desires are urging her body to do otherwise. And I like that one of her greatest weapons is her smile.

Despite her disability (telepathy), she maintains a positive outlook and quite often, her smiles are genuine. But when faced with a threat or people who want to put her down, she battles them with a smile on her lips, that thankfully does not make her come across as dumb blond at all. Being able to say "FU" with a smile is a fine art.

Sookie is a waitress at a small town bar where ghastly murders have been occurring. The victims, all female and all a bit promiscuous, bare fang marks, which puts suspicion on the sudden influx of vampires in town. One such vampire is Bill Compton, whom Sookie immediately takes a liking to because she can’t hear him in her mind like she can everyone else. She rescues Bill from a couple intent on draining his blood for profit, and their relationship develops from there.  And it actually does develop in a rather nice, old fashioned way (though I eventually did grow tired of the couple. I'm not sure Bill Compton could be any more boring).

There are a lot of interesting characters, though sadly, not enough Lafayette and no Tara at all. The story is told, first person, through Sookie, and her honesty paints interesting pictures for all of them and I liked the way the characters are developed in this way as she interacts with them throughout the story.

There was one questionable moment, where a certain character who cannot be named appears, but I’ll let that slide. Otherwise, this was a surprisingly enjoyable read. Is it enough to make me try out the show again… hmmm…

Audiobook Review: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Bone Season

Publisher: Audible for Bloomsbury

Date of Publication: August 20, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars - "The main character is a smart, capable 

heroine whose strength and poise is wonderfully conveyed by 

the narrator. A strong protagonist along with an amazingly 

detailed world gives this book wide appeal."

I've heard so much about The Bone Season, which was quite possibly one of this summer's most talked about debuts by author Samantha Shannon. Though I'm the kind of person who's generally wary of the hype machine, I won't deny I was quite curious to see for myself what all the fuss was about! And now that I've had the chance to finish the audiobook, I can certainly understand why readers have been so impressed by it.

Though not officially marketed as a Young Adult novel, I'm also not surprised to see so many categorize The Bone Season as such. The nature of its story, main character and dystopian setting all mingle to give it that distinctive YA vibe, yet that's not to say that adults won't be able to enjoy this too. The book's crossover appeal probably has a lot to do its protagonist and narrator, 19-year-old Paige Mahoney who is a strong, mature and level-headed heroine with whom a wide audience can relate.

Paige is also known as a "Dreamwalker", in this alternate world set in the future where individuals like her who possess supernatural abilities are called "Voyants". The book takes place in London, 2059 where the security force Scion holds authority, declaring all voyants criminals simply by existing. Paige is forced to live a secret life, working for the underworld organization where she gathers information by using her rare powers to breaking into other people's minds.

When an unfortunate incident leads to her arrest, however, Paige finds herself imprisoned at a penal colony in Oxford, a city long forgotten. She finds out that Scion has been sending captured voyants here to become slaves and soldiers to an otherworldly race called the Rephaim. She is assigned to Warden, her Rephaim keeper in charge of her care and training. Now all Paige wants to do is to escape and find her way home, but as the days goes by she discovers there is a lot more at stake than just her freedom.

First, the good stuff: I really liked Paige, a smart and capable young woman who is also not infallible. Her history is well-developed and written in such a way that her past details are revealed gradually throughout the course of the novel, keeping things interesting for those curious about her story. My Audible version of The Bone Season is narrated by Irish actress Alana Kerr, who brings Paige to life with her performance. This was the first experience I've had with her work, and I could be wrong but I believe she's new to reading audiobooks. Generally, I prefer narrators who can do a broader range of voices (because sometimes it was hard to tell which character was speaking) but I probably wouldn't be averse to checking out her future audiobook performances if she does any. Overall I was happy with her reading, because she did such a wonderful job conveying Paige's strength and poise.

The world Samantha Shannon has created is also amazingly detailed, but this also means an almost overwhelming amount of information to take in. This does cause some hitches in the pacing,  especially during the first half of the novel which didn't flow as well as the second half. I also had to go back several times at the beginning to learn and familiarize myself with all the different names and terms of people, places, organizations, voyant types, and slang. Doing so wasn't easy with an audiobook, but it was also absolutely worth it in order to get the full impact of the setting, and I got to appreciate just how rich it is.

In the end, I felt The Bone Season was an incredibly impressive debut novel from a 21-year-old new author. Hype can be a dangerous thing sometimes, and though it was impossible to ignore the comparisons calling this book the next Hunger Games or Samantha Shannon the next J.K. Rowling, I think going into this book with realistic expectations helped me a lot. I came out of this one pleasantly surprised, and I'm definitely open to reading more from this author and series.

Story

 4 of 5 stars

Performance

3.5 of 5 stars

Overall

4 of 5 stars

A review copy of this audiobook was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting on Wednesday 10/30/13

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can't wait to get our hands on!

Mogsy's Pick

 The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley: January 14, 2013 (Tor)

On my must-read list for 2014!

 "When the emperor of Annur is murdered, his children must fight to uncover the conspiracy—and the ancient enemy—that effected his death.

Kaden, the heir apparent, was for eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery, where he learned the inscrutable discipline of monks devoted to the Blank God. Their rituals hold the key to an ancient power which Kaden must master before it’s too late. When an imperial delegation arrives to usher him back to the capital for his coronation, he has learned just enough to realize that they are not what they seem—and enough, perhaps, to successfully fight back.

Meanwhile, in the capital, his sister Adare, master politician and Minister of Finance, struggles against the religious conspiracy that seems to be responsible for the emperor’s murder. Amid murky politics, she’s determined to have justice—but she may be condemning the wrong man.

Their brother Valyn is struggling to stay alive. He knew his training to join the Kettral— deadly warriors who fly massive birds into battle—would be arduous. But after a number of strange apparent accidents, and the last desperate warning of a dying guard, he’s convinced his father’s murderers are trying to kill him, and then his brother. He must escape north to warn Kaden—if he can first survive the brutal final test of the Kettral."

Book Review: Heartwood by Freya Robertson

Heartwood by Freya Robertson

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Elemental Wars

Publisher: Angry Robot

Date of Publication: October 29, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars - "An ambitious novel that takes some time to build up, yet ultimately an impressive feat of storytelling featuring rich world-building and a story on an epically massive scale"

Featuring exotic lands, magic and adventure and warrior knights embarking on sacred quests, Heartwood had everything I like going for it. Now that I've finished this book, I'm still amazed at the sheer scope of the story; epic doesn't even begin to describe it. Though as I soon found, "epicness" could also be something of a double-edged sword.

The book opens with a scene at the Congressus, a conference of peace talks in which representatives from all across Anguis come together in an attempt to negotiate and maintain stability between the many nations. Chonrad, Lord of Barle, joins the holy knights of Heartwood to oversee the talks in the fortified temple, where the great tree called the Arbor stands. Congressus does not go well, however, and then the gathering is ambushed by an army of warriors who seem to have materialized from the water of the river itself. In the ensuing battle many are killed, but it is the Arbor with its massive trunk split and its heart stolen away that is the worst blow of all.

Because the great tree is what binds the land and all its people, it must be saved. First, the Arbor's heart must be retrieved, but five Nodes located in five different hallowed sites across the land must also be activated in order for the tree to heal. In addition, a powerful magician called the Virimage must also be found, brought back to Heartwood so he can lend his abilities to the mending. Thus it begins; we have seven different groups, each on their own journey, each tasked with a special Quest.

Like I said, the scope of this is massive. It's what I loved best about this book, and the author Freya Robertson pulls off an impressive feat of storytelling by weaving no less than six or seven different plot threads together into a one big whole. She's also done incredible things with world building, creating this land made up of many different nations, all with their own unique population and cultures. The characters featured in this book all have ties to their own homes and histories, which also reflects in their personalities, motivations and value systems. I liked this last point a lot too, reminding me very much of the worlds in the role-playing games I like to play.

Viewed as a whole, however, the massiveness of Heartwood -- both its length and scale of the story -- can also make things a little problematic for the reader. When you have so much going on, such as half a dozen quests occurring all at once, that's a lot to take in. First, we have the introduction to the characters, of which there are many, and that shouldn't be a surprise given the intricacies of the plot. Still, I like to see momentum build in the first quarter of a book, because that's generally when I expect to be pulled in by the story as well. In Heartwood, much of the first 100-200 pages is given to establishing the characters and world, which made for a slower-paced beginning. It felt sometimes like I was encountering a new character and his or her long and detailed back-story every few pages, when what I wanted very much was for the story to move forward. Structurally, I think if some of the information could have been edited out or even just spread out more evenly, it might have improved the flow for the first part of the book.

These insertions of character history and moments of information dumping persist throughout the novel, but I think they are the heaviest in the first half. The good news is, I think the story picks up considerably in the second half, after we have the all the introductions and necessary details established. Though a little patience and determination was required of me to reach this point, I have to say it was worth it in the end. I'm still astounded by the way Freya Robertson was able to make all her quest stories come together. She manages to keep all the threads in line, never once letting any of them get away from her, and keeps up a steady level of suspense for each group throughout. With all the perspective changes and jumping around in places and time, I would have expected this book to be way more disjointed than it is, but surprisingly it wasn't, at least not for me.

I didn't get to connect to all the characters equally, since one of the downsides of this format is having to spread my attention between a whole bunch of different players. And some like Chonrad, for example, disappear for a chunk of time after Part I as the book shifts focus to the people on other quests. But over time, I did develop a few favorites. The writing is admittedly not very subtle when it comes to revealing their every thought or emotion, but regardless I came to enjoy Heartwood's female characters a lot. Their depth made them memorable, and the holy knights Procella and Beata stood out for me in particular. Both are strong leaders who are capable and competent, and yet also have their own personal battles between duty and love, what's insides their heads versus what's inside their hearts. On that note, I also want to say how much I appreciate a little romance in my epic fantasy. There's definitely an element of love here, and Freya Robertson is so good at creating passion and sexual tension between couples. I was not surprised when I found out that she has also published a number of romance novels under a different name.

Ultimately, my overall feelings towards Heartwood are positive, though it did take a little time for me to get into the flow of the story. It is, after all, an ambitious novel, and despite a few hitches in its structure and pacing, for a first book in a series I think this one does an admirable job in establishing the world and characters. The way the story unfolded and came together in the end made me curious enough to want to read more from this series and author, and I'll most likely be picking up the next book.

3.5 of 5 stars

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Betrayal in the Highlands by Robert Evert

Betrayal in the Highlands by Robert Evert

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Series: Riddle in Stone #2
Publisher: Diversion Books
Publication Date: September 2013

...if there’s one fantastic thing about Evert’s atypical hero, its been Edmund’s journey from middle-aged, stuttering, self-doubting librarian to middle-aged, stuttering, one-eyed survivor...

3 of 5 stars

With goblins hot on their heels after escaping the Under King’s clutches, Edmund, his loyal friend Pond and the unruly puppy named Becky try to maintain their tenuous hold on freedom, only to come face-to-face with the troll Edmund met when he’d started his ill-fated search for Iliandor’s treasure. But if there’s one fantastic thing about Evert’s atypical hero, its been Edmund’s journey from middle-aged, stuttering, self-doubting librarian to middle-aged, stuttering, one-eyed survivor who’ll risk his life to keep even a troll from standing in his way or hurting those he cares about.

With the wealth Edmund and Pond abscond with after defeating the troll, they are able to find temporary lodgings as noble adventurers to the south. Not long after their arrival, a mysterious letter warns of great peril and soon, Edmund learns that Norb, now married to the love of Edmund’s life, has been spilling Edmund’s secrets back in the Highlands. One of those secrets is the fact that Edmund is a magic user, a group that continues to be persecuted.

Edmund, joined by a couple more companions, must make his way back to Rood to stop Norb, avoiding goblins and a deadly new enemy who wants the secret of the riddle in stone along the way.

The best part about the previous book, Riddle in Stone, was the goblins and Edmund’s struggles while in captivity. He had to learn to rely on his wits and his meager magical spells and he had to learn to make some very difficult life and death decisions without anyone but himself to rescue him.

Betrayal in the Highlands spends most of its time with Edmund hoping for a quiet life and deliberating this with his inner voice and with his companions. Unfortunately, for a book about adventurers, there is far too much time spent talking instead of adventuring.

Still, there is an excellent story hidden away in there if some of the conversations could be cut down. When we finally get to the meat of the story, we also get back to Edmund’s continued character development as he grows from survivor into leader and hero, leading into a third book that promises a lot more goblin time. And I do so love Evert’s goblins…

With thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

YA Weekend: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Genre: Middle-Grade fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The School for Good and Evil

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date of Publication: May 14, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter  
 

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars - "An original and magical take on fairy tales that will enchant you and make you smile."

Technically, this one is considered more Middle-Grade than Young Adult, but really, I don't see why it can't be enjoyed by all ages. I'm a strong believer in that fairy tales are not just for children, that the stories and characters in folkloric fantasy can appeal to a much wider audience -- and it's especially entertaining when familiar concepts like "fairy tale romance" or "happily ever after" are being parodied or turned on their heads.

That's the idea behind this book; in a village called Gavaldon, two children are kidnapped every four years, never to be seen again. One was always beautiful and good, the other an outcast and strange. It didn't take long for the village children to speculate where these missing boys and girls go. They say a mysterious schoolmaster takes them to the fabled School for Good and Evil, where storybook heroes and villains are made.

For as long as she can remember, Sophie has dreamed of being whisked away to the School of Good, imagining a magical world of pretty dresses and handsome princes. On the other hand, she figures her friend Agatha with her homely face and frumpy black clothes would be a perfect fit for the School of Evil. So it's no surprise then when the two were the ones taken way this year. However, when they arrive at the Endless Woods, Sophie is dumped into the school for Evil, while Agatha ends up in the School for Good! This has to be just a terrible mix-up, right? Or is it?

How cool is this idea? Let's face it, traditional fairy tales aren't about character development; off the top of my head, Prince Charming and others like him are good examples of characters that don't go beyond being a mere caricature. We don't tend to think beyond what is presented, and that's what makes this book so great. You know the kind of satire we see in Shrek? It's similar here, poking fun at how shallow princesses must be for obsessing only about their beauty and who will take them to the formal ball. It also makes you wonder about the villains, like, do any of them have hopes and ambitions other than cooking up nefarious schemes? Who gets to determine what is good and evil, anyway?

Obviously, there also some good messages here. "Beauty is only skin deep" and "believe in yourself" are only a couple amongst many, but it's presented very well in this original and magical tale, all wrapped up in a whimsical package. There are lovely illustrations scattered throughout the book as well, and I can't help but feel grumpy now about the lack of pretty drawings in my adult fantasy novels. Is there a rule or something that pictures can only belong in children's books?! Regardless, this book is so much fun. At once ridiculous and full of heart, I couldn't help but melt for this story and its characters. Oh so cute at times, but sinister and dark at others, this book will enchant you and make you smile.

4 of 5 stars

Wendy's Book Haul: Santa!

Parents who stress over Christmas like I did last year might be a little envious of this week's book haul. This represents the the last of my Christmas shopping for my daughters. Six gorgeous hard cover books! My eight year old will love them, and while the five year old isn't so big on reading, the Elements of Harmony My Little Pony book will give her lots to look over while she watches her favourite show.

Yeah okay... I did grab a few digital and audiobook titles for myself too... damn Amazon sales...

Graphic Novel Review: The Last of Us: American Dreams by Neil Druckmann

The Last of Us: American Dreams by Neil Druckmann

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Zombies, Survivalist Adventure, Gaming
Series: Last of Us (video game tie-in)
Publisher: DarkHorse Comics
Date of Publication: July 2013

Great art, but a rather straightforward story without enough meat to be as powerful a tie-in to the game as it should be.

3 out of 5 stars

Nineteen years ago, a parasitic fungal outbreak killed or infected almost everyone. Those that remain are sequestered within military-run quarantine zones. Not everyone is pleased with the arrangements, and various groups have arisen with their own plans for survival.

Among them are the rebel group known as the Fireflies, led by Marlene, whom players of the game this graphic novel is based on should recognize. Players will also recognize Ellie, one of the main characters of the game. Here, she is 13 years old and unhappy in the orphanage. She meets fellow inmate Riley, who has dreams of joining the Fireflies. Ellie reluctantly joins her in tracking them down, a process which involves a few misadventures and dangers for the young teens.

When they do meet Marlene and the Fireflies, it is, unsurprisingly, not what they expected. Moreover, Marlene knows much about Ellie from her mother, adding a bit of mystery to an otherwise fairly straightforward story.

I considered whether the fact that I have not yet played the game would negatively impact my appreciation for this, but, as a prequel, I felt it ought to be able to stand on its own and entice me to get off my guns and go buy it. Having read other game tie-in books and comics, I don't feel there was enough meat in this one.

The art was very gritty, despite its childlike appearance. I'm a fan of anime and manga, so I'm not at all opposed to the large-eyed style that lends itself well to younger characters. It still strongly conveys the necessary emotion.


With thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

Manga Review: Attack on Titan, Volume 2 by Hajime Isayama

Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin), Volume 2 by Hajime Isayama

Genre: Dystopia, Horror

Publisher: Kodansha

Date of Publication: September 11, 2012

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Tiara's Rating: 4 of 5 stars - "Eren may be at the center of it all, but a win won't be possible without the people rallying around him and the strength and trust they're placing in him [...] To quote Aristotle: 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' They group is beginning to understand this to be a fundamental truth for them as they begin to rely on one another and work together in Trost."

In the previous volume, the walls that separated humanity from the titan were breached by a colossal titan standing more than 50 meters in height. Five years after that breach, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin have just graduated training to become full-fledged soldiers. During that time, Eren is even more resolved to join the scouting team, especially after the huge loss he suffered with the attack. Humans now live within two of the three walls after abandoning Wall Maria (Wall Rose and Wall Sina are the two remaining walls standing) to the titans. Humans lost 20% of their population and a massive amount of land in that attack, but they are still packed together behind the smaller walls.

Not even a full day past their graduation, Wall Rose is breached by the colossal titan. When faced with this threat again, Eren responds in kind, trying to stay true to his vow to kill all the titans. While his companions are taken aback by the reappearance of the colossal titan, Eren takes the helm and attacks, hoping to end the aberrant once and for all. However, things can't go that easily, and just as Eren is about to make his fatal strike, the titan vanishes--just as it did five years earlier.

The fight isn't over, though, as titans once again begin to terrorize the people within the walls. Here we witness an astounding transformation in Eren as the energy he's fueled with all his anger and desperation come back to aid him and his comrades in an astonishing way. Even though these books and the anime pretty much mirror one another (with the anime adding just a bit more padding, naturally), I was just as caught up in the story and the plight of Eren and his comrades, even though I already knew the outcome of this particular battle.

Mikasa Ackerman, Queen of Everything

Eren may be at the center of it all, but a win won't be possible without the people rallying around him and the strength and trust they're placing in him. Part of me believes, and I could be wrong since this is on-going, that even once this is all said and done another character will probably have a bigger impact on the outcome. Even though this is largely Eren's story, there seems to be another important story playing along beneath it in more subtle ways. More characters are coming into play who display characteristics that will be necessary for humans to win this fight.

Isayama seems to be setting up the story in a way that Eren will need the support of these characters to be successful.They're not given these talents just for show. Their talents round them out for sure, but they also play an integral part in the story, as well. Eren will need Mikasa's strength and faith in him. He'll need Armin's strategic intelligence. He'll need Jean's ability to command, even if Jean still isn't sure of himself. This has already been proven. I know all these characters will not make it out of this alive, but they will still contribute in their own way.

Many of these characters are coming into their strengths during this battle. They're learning things about themselves in the urgency of the moment that they might not have been aware of before the latest attack. Many of them joined the military to live a comfortable life, especially those who were refugees. They were tired of doing without and being treated like second class citizens because their arrival behind Wall Rose made things more difficult for everyone due to things like food shortages. However, they're more capable and resourceful than they could've ever imagined despite their youth and inexperience.

They understand that they're going to have to rely on unconventional methods to get through that hell. To quote Aristotle: "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." They group is beginning to understand this to be a fundamental truth for them as they begin to rely on one another and work together in Trost. I really like that brute strength and Eren screaming he'll kill all the titans will not be the only thing to win this war. This volume stirred up all the proud feelings that I remember having the first time I watched the anime as these characters start to evolve.

4 of 5 stars

An Interview with Wesley Chu, Author of The Deaths of Tao

Following the success of his debut novel The Lives of Tao, Wesley Chu is back with the highly anticipated sequel. Be sure to check out our review of The Deaths of Tao, which was everything I could have hoped for and more!

And yet, I still couldn't get enough. Thankfully, it was Wes to the rescue! He was awesome enough to stop by here at The BiblioSanctum for a nice chat, and I got to geek out about Roen, Tao, the Prophus and the Genjix for a little while longer. I had so much fun doing this interview, and I really hope you'll enjoy it too!

Book Review: Copperhead by Tina Connolly

Copperhead by Tina Connolly

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 2 of Ironskin

Publisher: Tor

Date of Publication: October 15, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars - "The story and world were both interesting, but I loved the characters most of all in this book about using one's wits and power to take a stand against the enemy and oppression."

Our book club came very close to reading Tina Connolly's Ironskin earlier this year, back when it was one of the choices in our theme for July, which was "2012 Nebula Awards Nominees". We ended up reading another book, but the description of Ironskin had stuck with me ever since. The idea of a gothic fantasy re-imagining of Jane Eyre was just too intriguing to ignore.

So when I received the sequel Copperhead for review, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to check out this author and series, especially after finding out it continues the story in Ironskin but shifts its focus to the protagonist's sister. This means a brand new chapter to this tale, told from the perspective of Helen Huntingdon. It has been six months since her sister Jane uncovered a nefarious fey plot to take over the city, and society is still recovering from the aftermath. It is too late for Helen, who has already traded her old face in for a beautiful fey-charmed one, and now has to wear an iron mask to protect herself and her identity from being possessed and erased by the bodiless fey.

Jane, however, is determined to help Helen and the other women of The Hundred (society's richest and most priviliged who have opted for fey faces) get their old faces back. As it turns out though, not everyone is so eager to give up their new beauty, and it is up to Helen to try to convince everyone to accept her sister's help. But then Jane goes missing during one of the face-switching procedures, and becomes implicated in a murder to boot. Helen begins her search for answers, leading her down the path towards a confrontation with Copperhead, a group that has risen in recent months with their aims to rid the world of everyone but humans -- even if it means destroying their allies the dwarvven.

What I liked most about this book are the characters. Helen's narration was perhaps the strongest point of the story, and I was sorry not to have gotten to know her before this in Ironskin, because it would have been interesting to see the growth and development of her character over the course of the two novels. Mind you, not that I was disappointed with what I got to see in this book; Helen is an impressive example of female strength, though she is not without her foibles, such as her impulsive nature and her streak of vanity. Reading about her led me to many questions -- the good kind, which reflected my desire to find out more. It made me think that perhaps I should pick up the first book to see how she ended up with her fey face in the first place, or to find out more about the events which led her to marry the aloof and temperamental Alistair. It was clear based on Helen's personality that she was never meant to be with a controlling husband like him, and I liked how she stood up to him in her own various ways, even when she couldn't defy him openly.

Beyond Helen, I also really liked a couple of the other characters. Jane, for example, takes on a supporting role in Copperhead, letting her sister shine instead. But she and Helen are so different, and once again I am curious to go back to the first book and find out more about their relationship. Jane spends much of this book in the background, but it was enough to make me want to get to know her better. Another character who stood out for me was Frye, the forward-thinking actress who is so funny, full of life and unbeholden to societal conventions. She wasn't featured in the book as much as Helen or Jane, but she quickly became a favorite.

On the downside, with so much context built around the characters, I did feel it overshadowed the setting and the world behind these books somewhat. The world building was admittedly a bit on the lighter side, not as robust as I would have liked. It took me a while to get a good feel for the fey threat, and I couldn't grasp the full extent of their impact with the limited information I was given about them and their origins. Despite including flashbacks and explanations, the world also never felt truly fleshed out for me. I was aware that the setting is that of a magical alternate Victorian-era England, but details about it were sparse, making it almost feel removed from everything else while events played out on the page. Perhaps the world building simply felt so much lighter because I'm comparing it to the character development, which I thought was given a lot more attention.

In the end though, this was a great story about an individual taking a stand, of using one's own wits and power to rally support against both a supernatural enemy in the form of the fey, as well as battle a more societal concern, that of oppression and control. I love these characters, and I look forward to checking out Ironskin at a later date so I can fill myself in on rest of the story.

 3.5 of 5 stars

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting on Wenesday 10/23/13

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can't wait to get our hands on!

Mogsy's Pick

Starhawk by Jack McDevitt: November 5, 2013 (Ace)

I haven't read any of The Academy books by Jack McDevitt, but from its blurb this one seems to go back to the character's "first unforgettable adventure." This sci-fi novel sounds fantastic and looks to be a good place to start if I want to check out the author and the series. 

"Priscilla "Hutch” Hutchins has finally realized her lifelong dream: She’s completed a nerve-bending qualification flight for a pilot’s license.

Her timing is far from optimal, however. Faster-than-light travel has only recently become a reality, and the World Space Authority is still learning how to manage long-range missions safely. To make matters worse, efforts to prepare two planets for colonization are killing off native life-forms, outraging people on Earth.

So there’s not a lot of demand for space pilots. Priscilla thinks her career may be over before it has begun. But her ambition won’t be denied, and soon she is on the bridge of an interstellar ship, working for the corporation that is responsible for the terraforming.

Her working conditions include bomb threats, sabotage, clashes with her employers—and a mission to a world, adrift between the stars, that harbors a life-form unlike anything humanity has ever seen. Ultimately, she will be part of a life-and-death struggle that will test both her capabilities and her character..."

Book Review: The Osiris Curse by Paul Crilley

The Osiris Curse by Paul Crilley

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Series: Book 2 of Tweed and Nightingale Adventures

Publisher: Pyr

Date of Publication: October 15, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter
 

Mogsy's Rating: 3 of 5 stars - "The fast-paced action and brave protagonists 

in this fun fantasy adventure novel would hold great appeal 

to middle-grade or early-teen readers"

The Osiris Curse is an interesting novel. I think reading this one has made me develop a new appreciation for Pyr's Young Adult titles, as I've noticed they are typically more offbeat and original. Which is great for me, since I'm always on the lookout for YA books that do things a little differently!

I was also drawn to this book immediately because of its tagline: "Steampunk Sherlock Holmes meets The X-Files", with plenty of action-adventure and ancient Egypt to boot. The Osiris Curse is actually the second book of the Tweed and Nightingale Adventures series, but nothing prevents it from being a good starting point even if you are new to these books, like I was.

The story is set in an alternate Victorian England, starring two teenagers who work for the secretive government agency called the Ministry in the Queen's service. Sebastian Tweed, whose history is a conundrum which I won't go into for fear of giving away any revelations from the first book, is dealing with some issues from his past, and his friend Octavia Nightingale is on the trail to find her missing mother.

This case ultimately leads them to something much bigger, when their investigations reveal that the brilliant scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla has been murdered, his blueprints for super weapons stolen. Tweed and Nightingale's hunt for the killers is just the beginning to an adventure of epic proportions, involving secret cults, travel to exotic places, and the discovery of a threat that could change the face of the world.

The plot is actually quite enjoyable in its simplicity and straight-forward nature, making me feel that in some ways The Osiris Curse reads like a middle-grade or early-teens novel. Nevertheless, I had a hard time trying to pin down the perfect target audience. The story itself is pure fun and fantastical adventure, which should appeal to younger readers who will like a fast-paced, action-filled journey across the globe and beyond. But at the same time, I was a little surprised to discover that the main characters are in their late teens, practically considered adults in that particular era, and their dialogue and mannerisms seem skewed towards the older side. Overcoming and resolving this disparity in my mind was perhaps the biggest challenge for me, and I think overall this might make it tougher for the book to "click" with everyone.

Still, Tweed and Nightingale themselves are very charming and likeable, their back-and-forth dialogue witty and fun to follow. There's also a hint of a budding romance forming between them, which is starting off on the right foot, very sweet and cute! The two of them are a good fit, their personalities playing off each other perfectly, creating interesting situations and dynamics.

What's interesting though, is that I didn't find out until after finishing the book that the author Paul Crilley spent a year writing for one of my favorite video games, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Star Wars: The Old Republic, and it made me see a couple aspects of the book in a whole different light. One of the main features in SWTOR involves your character's "light" or "dark" side alignment, determined based on your moral choices in game. These choices in turn add new dimensions to your personal class story, and I have to wonder if Crilley aimed for a similar effect in The Osiris Curse by making Tweed ponder some rather difficult moral questions. Regardless, they should make for some good discussion points for young readers.

If you ask me, this would probably be best enjoyed by children in the ages 10-12 range. Though it may occupy a narrow niche, I really do hope this book finds its audience; it's entertaining and good fun, with the promise of much more excitement to come for our two brave protagonists.

3 of 5 stars

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu

The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 2 of Tao

Publisher: Angry Robot

Date of Publication: October 29, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter 

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars - "Even bigger and better than the first book, with both the Prophus and Genjix raising the stakes. Not to mention that incredibly explosive ending"

I had the great pleasure of reading Wesley Chu's debut The Lives of Tao earlier this year, so needless to say I was pretty excited about reading the sequel. And to my delight, The Deaths of Tao turned out to be a worthy follow-up to its predecessor! In many ways, I liked it even more than the first book; after all, the scope of the story has gotten bigger, but it still retains all the humor and action that first drew me in.

And yet, there are some changes too, most of which I enjoyed. For one thing, we're no longer focusing on the transformation of Roen Tan from an overweight dejected IT guy to an athletic fighting machine. After the first book, Tao has managed to train his human host into a full-fledged Prophus agent. But just because we no longer have the amusement of seeing Tao whip Roen into shape anymore, that doesn't mean the fun is over. Roen still has problems, just most of them now involve his personal life.

A few years have passed since the end of the first book. Apparently there has been no happily-ever-after for Roen and Jill, even after the two of them had gotten married and had a son. The Prophus and Genjix war has caused a rift between the couple, and Jill blames Tao for making Roen put his missions ahead of his family. It also hasn't helped that their side has been steadily losing ground while the enemy has been making headway in their plans to dominate the human race.

Things are looking dire, but I actually quite like the direction this series has taken, as the dynamics between Roen and Tao's relationship have shifted. Of course, the humor and witty banter's still there, but now Roen's crumbling marriage is a source of tension between the human and alien, not to mention the pressure's on everyone now that it looks like the Genjix are about to win. The Prophus aren't taking it lying down though, and are still doing what they can to stop them.

Normally, I'd be wary about sequels that skip ahead a bunch of years, with characters whose relationships have evolved drastically. To a certain extent, a part of me always wishes that they could stay the same, but at the same time I know that runs the risk of becoming stale and stagnant. Changes therefore have to be handled carefully. However, I liked everything Wesley Chu did in this sequel; the changes are all compelling and they add to the story. I especially enjoyed reading about how the past few years have affected Roen and Jill, as well as their Quasings Tao and Baji. It's also great how the narration has expanded beyond Roen to include Jill and others.

Like I said, The Deaths of Tao is bigger and better. Firstly, this time we get to follow the war on a more international scale. Roen and his team are sent on a mission to Taiwan, where most of this book takes place, and Wesley Chu brings this setting to life with his wonderful descriptions of the country and its culture. Next, we discover that the Quasing conflict actually goes a lot deeper than we realized, extending into the economic and political realms. More information is revealed about how the aliens have influenced humanity and our history since time eternal. Lastly, a new villain emerges in the form of Enzo, a truly scary and insane megalomaniac who's unpredictable because he doesn't always play by the rules. Still, I find it incredibly interesting to see into the heads of bad guys, and as such I was pretty happy that we also got a part of the book told in his perspective.

I couldn't believe it when I got to the ending. Admittedly, it came way too soon, but it was also everything I could hope for. We get not one but three explosive clashes happening in different parts of the world, and then both alien factions raise the stakes. Now begins the wait for book three, and thanks to that cliffhanger I know I'm going to have a hard time being patient to see what happens next!

For more about Wesley Chu and THE DEATHS OF TAO, be sure to check in again later this week for an interview with the author!

 4 of 5 stars

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

How to Train Your Kickstarter

Following the success (and by success, we mean the current top funded project in the Publishing: Fiction category with $35,353 in pledges and 948 backers!) of her first Kickstarter, Arena Mode author Blake Northcott has the perfect brain to pick for Kickstarter advice. The Toronto-based, self-publishing author very kindly took time out of her busy schedule, which includes work on her new Kickstarter, Assault or Attrition, and regular comic book and pop culture contributions to CBS Man Cave Daily, to share her Kickstarter experience with us.

Q: Your ebook Vs. Reality series was a success. What prompted you to up the game for Arena Mode?

A: I had an idea for about a year surrounding superhumans in a dystopian, slightly futuristic setting, but I really hadn't sat down to write it out until September of 2012. That's when I was in Los Angeles for Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo, and someone introduced me to the concept of 'crowdsourcing'.

I thought Kickstarter might be a good way to get my work noticed by a larger audience, so I set a goal for myself to get it funded, and release it that way. While my books were doing well on Amazon Kindle, without a publisher I was kind of spinning my wheels - this newfangled Kickstarter thingy sounded interesting. Apparently I was the last person on the internet to have heard of it!

Q: Arena Mode ended up being the #1 most funded fiction book of 2013 to date. How long did it take to reach your first goal? How did it feel? Were you expecting to get as much funding as you did?

A: I was originally asking for $6,500 USD to pay for the printing costs, packaging, artists, cover and logo - plus all my additional expenses. I figured that, worst-case scenario, I'd get funded and break even. Then at
the very least I'd get my name out there.

My campaign was scheduled for thirty days, and I hit my target on the second day. The feeling was indescribable. The closest word I can think of is "Whooooaaa!" That's what I was screaming inside of my own head for nearly a month non-stop. Needless to say I didn't sleep very much last February!

Q: We've heard that putting together a Kickstarter can be quite a task. What challenges did you face? What did you learn about the process and how do you feel about the end result?

A: I knew it would be a battle, but I had no idea just how insane the process would be. Figuring out packaging, shipping, organizing the rewards, issues with international labels...it was completely nuts.

And since I'm Canadian I had to drive down to the US and do all of my shipping from there, because it would have literally cost me thousands of dollars more to do it here. In America they have 'Media Mail', which allows domestic shipping of books for a ridiculously low price, so it saved me a bundle. I had to get everything packed up in a hotel in Buffalo, New York, and the process took nearly a week straight, 14 hours a day. The word 'exhausting' doesn't even cover it!

I learned a lot my first time around, and hopefully my new campaign will go a little smoother.

'Brynja & Melvin the Manticore' - by Jon 'Roc' Upchurch
Character design for the novel 'Arena Mode'
by Blake Northcott © 2013, Digital Vanguard Inc. 

Q: What are your plans for the Assault or Attrition Kickstarter launching this fall? Will you be doing things differently for this Arena Mode sequel?

A: The plans are to do pretty much the same thing - deliver the best possible reading experience I can, and deliver it on time. I've got more artists from Marvel, DC and Image Comics lending their talents, so I think this will be even better than Arena Mode. At least I hope it is!

The campaign is running right now at AssaultorAttrition.com. (and is already the hottest book on Kickster with 100% funding in a mere 9 hours! Congrats Blake!)

Q: Any advice to writers looking to use Kickstarter to give them a jump on publishing?

A: Figure out a great reason to write your book. Something you're passionate about and in love with. Once you have all the basics: an outline, sample chapters, a title, a summary and a great cover, then figure out the Kickstarter part.

I think the biggest mistake people make is doing it backwards. At least once a week someone asks me, "I want to make money on Kickstarter or Amazon - how do I do it?" You're asking the wrong questions. If you already have a great concept and something to work with, getting it out to the world will be a lot easier.

But once you have something that you want to share with readers, make sure it's as attractive and professional-looking as possible. Check out some of the most-funded projects on Kickstarter, and pull them apart. Find out what makes them appealing - from the video, rewards, description, etc. Anything that catches your eye, make a note of it. I researched relentlessly before I launched my campaign back in February, and I think that's what made it a success.

For more details on the lovely and amusing Blake Northcott, visit her website, www.blakenorthcott.com and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Check out the Kickstarter for Assault or Attrition at www.assaultorattrition.com and stay tuned for our review of Arena Mode next month!

Thanks Blake!

Book Review; The Mage's Daughter by Amelia Sides

The Mage's Daughter by Amelia Sides

Self Published

Publication Date: September 9, 2013

3.5 of 5 stars

A brutal attack left a young girl without parents and without a name and any time she tries to speak her name or tell the details of her attack, the spell cast about her immediately causes it to slip from the minds of any listener. Going simply by “Mage,” the skilled young magician ends up in the negligent care of an uncle who uses her for her abilities. Fortunately, she is rescued by the king’s decree that all mages receive instruction.

As Sides’ first published story, I’m impressed with her character building as Mage travels to the kingdom, gains a new master and learns the fundamentals that she missed during the time with her uncle. Mage’s journey is reminiscent of A Wizard of Earthsea’s main character, though the dark secret Mage carries is perhaps not as imposing as Duny’s ominous and ever-present shadow. Similar to Duny, Mage also forms strong bonds of friendship along the way, however, her friends are mainly animals.

Another strong point is the magic. There are so many ways to present magic in a fantasy setting. Sides has chosen to focus on the use of runes and stones. I loved the descriptions of the processes, especially the opening sequence where Mage carefully and artfully wards a village.

This is a slow, steady story that might be too slow for some, however the book is fairly short and ends with a major event in Mage’s life that will have repercussions in the sequel.

Mogsy's Book Haul

Spending most of the last two weeks traveling means fewer books for me to feature today; it's pretty much all review books this time and not a lot of purchases (my wallet is weeping with joy and relief) and I was also fortunate to be able to take a few of these on vacation with me to enjoy on the road.

The physical pile:

Mage's Blood - this is one I'm really looking forward to! I've heard such great things and I really wanted to read it, but it just never was too high on my priority list given its tome-like size. I was fortunate enough to win a copy of it from a giveaway hosted by Riffle though, and so now I can enjoy this one at my leisure, probably next month when I catch up on my personal reading.

The Forbidden Library - I know I've gushed so much on this blog about how much I loved Django Wexler's The Thousand Names, and so I totally freaked when he offered to send me an ARC of The Forbidden Library, his middle-grade novel to be published next spring. And hear me now, this book is GREAT! I've read it but won't have a review up until closer to release date, but both kids and adults are gonna love this one, I promise.

Drakenfeld - received from Tor UK, this was one I got to take with me on vacation so I read it, loved it, reviewed it. It doesn't have a US release date yet as far as I know, and I hope that changes soon, because this incredible mystery-fantasy book needs to get into the hands of as many people as possible.

Masks - looks interesting from its description, and looks like it could be really good. This was actually waiting on my front porch for me when I got home from my trip, and I don't know how long it'd been sitting there, but good thing nothing happened to it because I'm so paranoid about my precious books!

The Osiris Curse - I haven't read too many YA books from Pyr so I was really curious as to what I'd think of this. It was another one I was able to bring on the road with me, and now that I've read it I can say it's definitely fun and a little different...but in a good way! Keep an eye out for the review next week.

Digital pile (see, I didn't go nuts at all!):

Talus and the Frozen King - I've been doing great keeping up with my NetGalley eARCs lately, so I didn't hesitate to request this cool upcoming title from Solaris.

Between Two Thorns - Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry/Exhibit A did something new on NetGalley recently, featuring some of their past picks for a special rewind month. This book was one I'd always been curious about.

The Mad Scientist's Daughter - another rewind pick from Angry Robot. I must have missed this one completely the first time around because I knew very little about it, but the more I found out the more I wanted to read it.

The Mage's Daughter - our book club's October read, from our very own Amelia Sides!

Year Zero - I just can't seem to let a week go by without picking up a good ebook deal. I've heard this one is a pretty fun read, and for a buck I figured why not give it a try?

Fade to Black - yet another deal I couldn't resist. It's this month's Orbital Drop and I swear Orbit Books gets me with that like every...single...time...

An Interview with Matthew Quinn Martin, Author of NIGHTLIFE

Ah, the fall season is here! With the days getting shorter and the chill in the air, October is the perfect month to check out some horror novels and other scary fiction. If you happened to catch our review yesterday, you'll know that we here at the BiblioSanctum had the great honor and pleasure of reading Nightlife, the horror urban fantasy novel from debut author Matthew Quinn Martin.

But that's not all! Matthew was also kind enough to stop by for an interview, giving us an opportunity to ask him about his book and to pick his brain. "Mmmm...brains!" as Matthew likes to say! As you can see, he has a great sense of humor and we had a blast chatting with him, and we hope you'll enjoy the interview!

Manga Review: Attack on Titan, Volume 1 by Hajime Isayama

Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin), Volume 1 by Hajime Isayama

Genre: Dystopia, Horror

Publisher: Kodansha

Date of Publication: June 19, 2012

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Tiara's Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars - "It feels hopeless, and the powerlessness of the characters in that situation is very tangible to the readers. However, as human nature goes, you want them to fight and win."

Nearly a century before the start of this story, humanity is attacked by a group of humanoid beings dubbed "titans" who push them almost to the brink of extinction. Titans are much larger than their human counterparts (with most standing between 3 to 15 meters) and immensely strong. They seem to possess no intellect as they can't communicate and show no signs of understanding. Even though they look characteristically male or female, they lack reproductive organs, making many question their origins.

They mindlessly graze on human beings, ignoring all other forms of life in favor of only devouring people. Titans have lived 100 years without feeding on people which seems to indicate that they don't feed on humans to satisfy hunger. Many believe their goal is to exterminate humankind, but the reasoning for that is a mystery. In response to the threat, three 50 meter walls were built, which effectively keep the titans out while keeping the people inside. Talk of the outside world is considered taboo and information about the outside world has been outlawed and destroyed.

Our story begins with Eren Jäeger, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert. Eren dreams of joining the scouting team and seeing the outside world. The scouting team's primary goal is to find whatever information they can about the titans with the hope of learning their origins and how they can be eradicated for good. Eren hopes to contribute to that effort. He equates the people within the wall to "cattle" waiting for the slaughter and becomes increasingly disillusioned with the complacency of everyone inside the wall--especially after Armin shows him a book that talks about the outside world and all the beauty humans have had to relinquish.

Mikasa, Eren's adopted sister and one of the most awesome people in the manga and anime, feels she owes Eren a great deal, and she's resolved to be by his side to protect him even if it costs her own life in the process. Even though she doesn't agree with Eren's decision to join the scouting team, she's willing to travel that road with him when that time comes.

After 100 years of relative safety, the walls are breached by an aberrant titan--aberrant because it exhibits behavior unusual for a titan and because it's huge--standing more than 50 meters in height. In the beginning, before the breach, the world that these people live in isn't exactly bleak inside the walls. They seem to live relatively normal lives, but they're happily corralled and confident as long as their walls are up. They know the titans are out there and there's fear of them in the back of their minds, but it doesn't seem to truly touch the illusion of safety they have behind the wall. The only time the mood shifts is when the scouting team, who always suffers losses when scouting, returns to remind them just how dangerous things are beyond their walls.

Read from right to left.

With the breach of the wall comes the all too shocking realization of how fragile their safety is in this new world they live in (a world they have largely ignored for the past century), how much arrogance has been placed on those walls to keep the titans out. The situation becomes dire quickly since they have nothing that is truly effective against the titans. After a hundred years, they still know very little about them. The titans, and how nigh unstoppable they are, quickly add apprehension to the story, making readers wonder how the people in this book will ever hope to survive. Making the titans themselves more human-like in appearance rather than some fantastic monsters makes the story even more unsettling and grim. It feels hopeless, and the powerlessness of the characters in that situation is very tangible to the readers. However, as human nature goes, you want them to fight and win.

I'm not sure if this was Isayama's intent, but this manga (and its anime) seem to be an extreme reflection on life now and how those who live in relative comfort sometimes choose to ignore the monsters outside that threaten their comfort until that comfort is actually attacked.

Now, I do like the manga, but I am partial to the anime a bit more because it adds a bit more detail to some of the scenes. Some of the art is sort of awkward in places and distracted me from the story a little bit. Eren is obviously the most important of the three main characters we've encountered, but he can grate on your nerves, especially with how hotheaded he can be. I try to chalk this up to him initially having a very black and white view of life. Things are either good or they're either evil to him. Evil things must be eliminated no matter the cost in his eyes, and he's very passionate about that. He's now having to adjust to gray areas in his life, and it's leaving him a bit off balance right now.

If you're not a fan of violence, you probably don't want to read this. If bleak situations where sudden, violent death is the norm rather than the exception, you probably don't want to read this. The situation is depressing, but you have to hope that, despite whatever frailties and foibles humans possess, their indomitable will to survive will prevail.

3.5 of 5 stars