Book Review: Banished by Liz de Jager

Banished by Liz de Jager

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Series: Book 1 of The Blackhart Legacy

Publisher: Tor UK (February 27, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 


At first glance, Banished may seem like another relatively routine venture into the paranormal young adult genre, but dig a little deeper and you'll find this first book of Liz de Jager's new series has a few surprises up its sleeve.

Displaying shades of Buffy, the book follows Katherine "Kit" Blackhart, a teenager who hails from a family of monster hunters tasked to enforce the peace between our world and the supernatural realm called the Otherwhere. Upon returning from her first solo assignment, Kit is told to stay at the Blackhart mansion to recover while her cousins head off on another mission, leaving her home alone. One night, she wakes up to a kerfluffle in the woods and finds herself rescuing Thorn, a prince of the fae, from a vicious group of redcaps. Whee! Have I mentioned how much I love stories about the Fae?

Anyway, on the run from enemies who are out to capture the prince, the two of them escape to London where they hope to find help, since all of Kit's extended family seem to have mysteriously dropped out of contact. From here on out, it's a full-tilt, no-holds-barred roller coaster ride of insanity as Kit and her allies race from one place to another to figure out just what the heck is going on. There are sword fights, explosions and magic aplenty, not to mention a whole line-up of supernatural threats including goblins, chimera, and even a dragon! I think my ARC was about 400 pages, but looking back, the book ended up feeling like a much faster read simply because it. Does. Not. Stop.

Events certainly moved at rapid pace. For the most part, this was excellent, taking us on an action-filled journey with the story's courageous and kickass heroine. But whew! At times I actually wouldn't have minded some slower sequences, if anything just to take a breather and let some of the details of the world sink in. That said, the breakneck pace didn't hinder my enjoyment much, even if I felt a respite here and there could have given the narrative more opportunities to fill in some important information.

Kit, for example, is wonderful as a main character, though I sensed there's still so much I don't know about her. We know she carries a pool of magic within her, but the nature of that power isn't fully explained, and I'm still not yet clear on the whys and hows of it. It's also revealed that Kit wasn't always a part of the Blackhart family of monster hunters, and that she only came back to rejoin them after her grandmother who raised her passed away. We get frequent glimpses of Kit's past about her time with her nan when she goes back to her memories, but not the full story about why she was taken away in the first place. So yes, there may be a bit of mystery here that might leave readers wondering, but my guess is that this will be further explored in the later books.

Because the story moved along so quickly, it also felt like Kit and Thorn barely had the chance to know to one another before their feelings for each other deepened. In between all the action, there really wasn't much time to develop Thorn and give his personality more depth (this goes for some of the other supporting characters like Aidan as well), so I wasn't entirely convinced that their relationship would have blossomed so quickly in just a few days. Kit and Thorn's romance was perhaps the main thing that could have used more attention, but otherwise I enjoyed the dynamic between these two characters.

While prolific readers of paranormal YA probably won't find anything too new in the overall plot, there's still plenty of fresh ideas here to keep things interesting, not to mention a few twists and turns you won't see coming. All in all, Banished was great fun. Despite some minor criticisms, I think it's a great beginning to a brand new series, and the author is one I would definitely read again. I'm really hoping we'll see more of Kit and the Blackharts' history in the next book, and I can't wait to see what else Liz de Jager has in store.

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Tor UK!

Book Review: Vicious by Victoria Schwab

Vicious by Victoria Schwab

Genre: Superheroes, Science Fiction

Publisher: Tor

Publication Date: September 2013

Author Info: www.victoriaschwab.com

Wendy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars

The way Schwab weaves the story and characters together is spellbinding, especially as she moves between the past and the present to paint a picture of Eli and Victor and their relationship.

Victor and Eli are young, brilliant college students on the edge of sociopathy, though Eli better hides his darker self behind a charming mask. In fact, it is the mask that attracted Victor to Eli in the first place, glimpsing the kindred spirit hiding behind the outward persona. The sneaking darkness is enough for Victor to overlook Eli’s irrational belief in God, especially when the two decide to play God in order to learn the mystery of E.O.s – Extraordinary human beings. E.O.s tend to keep to themselves, and the police and government do their best to keep their existence under wraps, but enough information has leaked out to spark Eli and Victor’s scientific interest.

Vicious references comic book super heroes and villains from time to time, while injecting some science and psychology that results in a pithy explanation of how superhumans are created. Once this is established and Eli and Victor succeed in turning themselves into E.O.s, the back and forth, past and present plot really takes off as the two former best friends go after each other with murderous intent.

It took me a while to warm up to the main character of Victor, from whose perspective the majority of the story is told. He is not meant to be a likable person, much less a likable character, and initially, I felt like Schwab was trying too hard to give us another empathy-free killer along the lines of Dexter Morgan. But as the story progresses, a lot of preconceptions slowly mutate into something else, particularly when Victor is joined by Mitch, his former cellmate in prison, and Sydney, a young E.O. they stumble across in their journey to find Eli.

The way Schwab weaves the story and characters together is spellbinding, especially as she moves between the past and the present to paint a picture of Eli and Victor and their relationship. We quickly come to understand the reason why they now hate each other so entirely, but their motivations are what Schwab teases through her thrilling back and forth storytelling process. The inevitable showdown between the two former friends is not at all predictable, as Schwab carefully introduces new elements all throughout the story that fit together like a perfectly crafted puzzle. Or rather, I should say that the final showdown is to be expected, but it becomes a race against chapters and time to find out exactly how it will all come together – and for whom it will all come together.

Book Review: Star Wars: Honor Among Thieves by James S.A. Corey

Honor Among Thieves by James S.A. Corey

Genre: Science Fiction, Media Tie-In

Series: Book 2 of Empire and Rebellion  

Publisher: LucasBooks, Del Rey (March 4, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been a reader for as long as I remember, but science fiction is still a relatively new genre for me. In fact, I don't think I started until I well into my high school years, and back then, I remember cutting my teeth on novelizations of the Star Wars prequel movies. There you go, my not-so-secret confession!

Obviously, I've branched out a lot more since those days, but I still retained my love for Star Wars books. To date, I've read a bunch by many different authors, and some of them have been better than others. Media tie-in novels have always been my guilty pleasure, especially when it comes to my beloved Star Wars, but admittedly the bar has never really been set that high. That's why whenever I do come across one that I genuinely like, I can't help but do a little happy dance.

And I'm definitely dancing now. Actually, I'd been excited about Honor Among Thieves for a long time, ever since I first learned that Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck will be working on a new stand alone Star Wars book under their nom de plume of James S.A. Corey. I adore their work on the Expanse series, and to hear that they would be writing a story about my favorite scoundrel was like a dream come true. Come on, James S.A. Corey and Han Solo? You just can't go wrong with a winning combination like that.

So you can see why I am so thrilled to say this book lived up to all my expectations. You can tell right away that the authors are fans of Star Wars and the characters themselves, because the first thing I noticed was how "right" Han sounded and felt in his dialogue and actions. He even felt true to the character in his internal narrative, all the way down to his growing affection for his new friends in the Rebel Alliance. This book takes place after the destruction of the Death Star but before the events of The Empire Strikes Back, so we get a real good look at how those experiences have affected and changed him.

The best part is, this is a Han Solo book through and through, and no doubt about it. Expect lots of his signature seat-of-the-pants approach to solving problems, the usual daring flyboy maneuvers, and of course a healthy dose of roguish humor. The plot is relatively simple, beginning when Han and Chewy are tasked on an assignment to extract a high-level rebel spy deep in Empire territory. Meet Agent Scarlet Hark, whose moxie might just give Han a run for his money. But as it turns out, Scarlet has uncovered delicate information about a new technology, one that can turn the tide of the war if only the rebels can secure it before the Empire gets their dirty hands on it.

I would say it's fairly predictable how things turn out, but then I think that is to be expected. We all know the war goes on in The Empire Strikes Back, et cetera, et cetera, so to an extent you can guess how everything in the story ends. Still, none of that manages to take away from the fun. Another thing I liked about this book is how deftly the plot involved all the main characters. One of my biggest problems with a lot of Star Wars books is how desperately some authors try to squeeze in all the prominent players, sometimes resorting to giving them obligatory sub plots that feel shoehorned in. Not an issue with this one, I can happily say. Despite Han Solo taking the center stage in this, Luke and Leia both also have their parts to play, and they actually are integral to the story.

Sure I may have my biases, being a big fan of James S.A. Corey and having a massive soft spot for Han Solo, but this is probably now favorite Star Wars novel, beating out Darth Plagueis, which is the former holder of that distinction and also another really great story. Star Wars books have certainly come a long way, and I look forward to seeing this trend continue.

 A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Del Rey Books!

Waiting on Wednesday 02/26/14

"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 Blasted Lands by James A. Moore: June 24, 2014 (Angry Robot)

James A. Moore's Seven Forges was a pretty big surprise for me last year. I probably went through the first three-quarters without my heart being completely into it, and then BOOM! that ending. The last 50-60 pages or so pretty much ignited everything else that came before in a wildfire of explosion, so you bet I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. The Blasted Lands is the sequel, and wowzas just look at that cover.

"The Empire of Fellein is in mourning. The Emperor is dead, and the armies of the empire have grown soft. Merros Dulver, their newly-appointed – and somewhat reluctant – commander, has been tasked with preparing them to fight the most savage enemy the world has yet seen.

Meanwhile, a perpetual storm ravages the Blasted Lands, and a new threat is about to arise – the Broken are coming, and with them only Death."

Book Review: Astra by Naomi Foyle

Astra by Naomi Foyle

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 1 of The Gaia Chronicles

Publisher: Jo Fletcher (February 6, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars


If there's one thing I learned from reading Seoul Survivors and now Astra, it is that author Naomi Foyle has a remarkable way of making me feel. I have been shocked and disturbed by some of the ideas in her books, but likewise there have been times where the touching beauty of her writing has bought me to tears. Her stories might not necessarily read like heart-pounding thrillers or page-turners, but no matter what, they always pack a powerful punch.

That most certainly describes Astra, a bold dystopian tale about a girl growing up in a closed and isolated nature-worshiping community called Is-Land. The novel is divided into three parts, detailing the journey of its eponymous heroine as she ages from a child to young adulthood. Because of the format in which her story is told, it's probably going to be easier for me to summarize and give my thoughts and opinions on each part separately.

The first part begins when Astra is only seven years old. In this section, we learn a lot about the nation of Is-Land from her perspective. Life seems wonderful and perfect in her little town of Or, where the social structure is highly fluid and everyone lives as naked as the day they are born in harmony with Gaia's creatures. At the same time, advanced technology exists in his world, used to do things like engineer alt-meat for consumption, or to allow children to learn the ways of Is-Land and Gaia on devices called "tablettes". Starting with Astra's generation, children will also be getting the Security Serum, a shot that would make the subject physically stronger, but would also give them a more obedient and pliable personality.

Not surprisingly, many of the details we read about in this section are filtered through the lens of Astra's youth and innocence. She's lively, curious, and not just a little bit impish. It's challenging to write young characters, but I believe Naomi Foyle nailed it perfectly. Astra is good at driving her caregivers up the wall with her unending questions, quick temper and silly antics -- in other words, she thinks and acts like a very active and bright seven-year-old. Just thinking about the possible loss of that precociousness really hits home, which is what I think the author intended. Receiving the "Sec Shot" would be the end of everything that makes Astra who she is, and so her Shelter-Mother Hokma devises and carries out a plan to help the young girl avoid getting it.

Then the book skips ahead to when Astra is twelve years old. This is probably the longest section, but it was also the one I found the most interesting. While the previous part amazed me with the depth of the world-building, this part blew me away with its character development and unique take on the classic coming-of-age tale. All sorts of changes are happening to Astra at this point, both physical and emotional. The theme of sexuality also features heavily in this section, and I felt Foyle's bold and fearless writing style did an excellent job of describing this stage of Astra's life, conveying all the excitement and poignancy that comes with it. Once again, she gives her main character a voice that is both age-appropriate and believable.

This section also introduces Lil, an orphaned child rescued from the woods who comes to live with Astra in her community. An uncannily realistic "frenemy-like" relationship is forged between the two girls, one of friendship but also rivalry. Astra, who has always felt like an outcast knowing that she has not received her Sec Shot like the rest of her peers, takes an immediate fascination to Lil, who also doesn't seem to quite fit in. Eventually, the latter's ideas of the world begin to bleed into Astra's view of the world, and as everything Astra thought she knew begins to crumble, that's when things start getting very interesting...

The final part, which is also the shortest, focuses on Astra when she is seventeen. This is the section where everything comes to a head. For the last decade, she has grown up seeing the world differently than her "Sec Gen" friends, and that fateful decision Hokma made with her all those years ago finally leads to some widespread repercussions. A lot of dystopian novels come to a point like this, where the main protagonist's worldview is shattered by a life-changing event. I can honestly say, however, that there was no way I could have foreseen what happened afterwards. Indeed the conclusion may come as quite a shock.

Like I said, this book isn't exactly a page-turner, and don't go in expecting too much action or a grand adventure because that's not what it is about. But by following Astra through all three life stages, I feel like I've come to know her very well, and the author has managed to make me care deeply about her character. I didn't even realize how completely immersed I'd been until I reached the end, and tears started coming to my eyes while reading a scene that was particularly touching. I don't know if that would have hit me so hard emotionally if the book hadn't been so well-written overall.

The sequel will no doubt focus more on the bigger world, now that Astra has discovered some truths about herself and Is-Land. This book, however, was an intensely deep, complex and thought-provoking narrative of the main character's life. It's a beautiful story, unique and daring, which serves as a solid foundation for everything else to come.

 A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Jo Fletcher Books!

Winners for The Barrow Giveaway

Our giveaway for The Barrow by Mark Smylie last week drew an impressive number of entries, and random.org has drawn our two winners:

Jeremy F.

John S.

Congratulations! Winners have been notified by email and information has been sent to the publisher. Your copies of The Barrow should be on their way to you soon, courtesy of the amazing folks at Pyr Books.

Thank you to everyone for entering the giveaway. If you didn't win this time, don't despair! Our friends at the Review Barn are also running a giveaway for the book and I encourage you to enter there too if you haven't already. And as always, be sure to keep checking in on The BiblioSanctum for more reviews and future giveaways!

Interview with Anne Leonard, Author of Moth and Spark

Today is a great day, and I'll tell you why! It is with great excitement that we welcome Anne Leonard, author of Moth and Spark, to the BiblioSanctum. As you can see from the review, I loved her book! A perfect blend of romance and fantasy, her debut is not one to be missed.

Anne has graciously agreed to an interview and she joins us today to talk about her new book. I hope you'll enjoy!

* * *

Mogsy: Hello, Anne! Welcome to the BiblioSanctum, we're so happy to have you join us today. Let's start with questions about your new book. First, I think congratulations are in order. Moth and Spark is your debut novel, you must be so excited! I know I'm looking forward to telling people all about it. How would you describe the book to someone new to your work?

Anne Leonard: It’s an adult fantasy that has both adventure and a love story (but not a bodice-ripper). It’s character-driven, and it uses many standard fantasy tropes – dragons, princes, wizards, swordfights -- but tweaks them here and there. My male and female leads have equal stage-time and are equally important to the resolution of the story. My prose style includes a lot of details but I try to keep it adverb- and adjective-lean, so that it’s descriptive but not flowery.

Mogsy: In your author's bio, you mentioned that the science fiction and fantasy genres have always drawn you in because of the world-building. What aspects of world-building appeal to you most?

Anne Leonard: I enjoy making up the places – the human-made places like cities and buildings, and the natural geology – and the customs and social structure. I also have a lot of fun with the backstory and history, much of which never makes it into whatever I’m writing. In Moth and Spark most of the world is very much like our world, but I look forward to creating much stranger things in future books.

Mogsy: For me, romance has always worked well with fantasy. A plot must contain conflict to engage me as a reader, and love is an area often fraught with it. Those kinds of complex and intense feelings have always added to my favorite stories, and it’s what I loved most about Moth and Spark. Were there any challenges to striking a balance between the romance and fantasy elements when you were writing the book? 

Anne Leonard: It was really important to me that the romantic elements matter equally to the male and female leads, rather than dominating her life while he was all about action. This was tricky to do when I had constructed a patriarchal, hierarchical world where men had the power and made the decisions. Also, I had to balance relationships and external events as much as the characters did because I didn’t want either the love story or the main plot to dominate the other.

Mogsy: I just have to say the characters in Moth and Spark are wonderful. I enjoyed Tam and Corin as the main protagonists, but I think my next favorite character would be Joce (I have a thing for those mysterious mages and wizard types, I guess). Of all your characters, do you have one who is particularly near and dear to you?

Anne Leonard: I’ve lived with these people for so long that I can’t say I have a favorite among the major characters – it’s kind of like asking me to compare my family members. The minor characters are the ones I really want to get to know better.

Mogsy: When I first heard there were dragons in Moth and Spark, it just made me want to read it even more. I mean, who doesn't love dragons! Do these mythical creatures hold any significance for you? What can you tell us about the dragons in your book, what makes them unique?

Anne Leonard: I had no idea that dragons were as popular as they are when I started writing this – I just liked them because I wanted something big and dangerous and more powerful than human beings. I like the idea of a world where people aren’t in control of everything. One of the things that makes dragons extra-interesting for me is that I imagine them as gloriously beautiful, even if terrifying. My dragons are somewhat unique in that they are subject to magic which controls them – they are slaves, not domesticated animals. They also have an existence beyond the physical realm.

Mogsy: Do you have a favorite dragon, whether from myth, literature, art, film, or anywhere?

Anne Leonard: I like Ursula K. Le Guin’s dragons in her Earthsea books a lot, and of course I have a fondness for Smaug.

UK Edition, published by Headline

Mogsy: You're probably tired of hearing me gush about the cover by now, but I do think it's beautiful! To me it's eye-catching and speaks such volumes about the story within. When the book arrived, I just couldn't wait to open it up and read. Just wondering, what are your thoughts on the cover and how do you feel about it?

Anne Leonard: I LOOOOOOOVE the cover too. (I also like the cover of the edition put out by Headline in the UK.) I like it because it is gorgeous in its own right, because it’s unique to this book and doesn’t look like lots of other books out there, and because it really does capture the magical elements of the book – there’s this neat, civilized, palace, but flame is turning into moths. There’s a really wonderful symbolic element to it. Also, it doesn’t show any characters, so people can imagine them as they wish and aren’t led by a standard cover into thinking the book is something it’s not.

Mogsy: So whenever I read a debut novel I really like, I always want to find out more about the author. Anyway, I saw that one of your hobbies is photography! Do you have a favorite subject when it comes to photography, any specific area of interest?

Anne Leonard: I do a lot of landscapes, and I also like to do close-ups of textures and colors – I do rocks, and sun on plant leaves, and interesting patterns. Going out and taking picures is a way I refresh myself; it’s almost meditative at times. A lot of the detail in the novel comes from the way I look at the world with a photographer’s eye.

Mogsy: Are you currently working on any other writing projects? And I know Moth and Spark is a stand alone, but is there a possibility that we might see future stories set in this world?

Anne Leonard: I am working on another novel, which I don’t want to talk about a whole lot because it could still crash and burn, but it is set in the same world. It’s darker and much less romantic, though it’s not grim and violent the way “grimdark” fantasy is. I’ve also thought some time it would be fun to write a prequel. I don’t want to go into Series-Land, because I want to stretch myself as a writer with different plots, characters, and even writing styles, so any future books in that world will also be standalones.

Mogsy: Sounds fantastic! Once again, I appreciate you stopping by the blog and giving me the opportunity to interview you. Thank you so much for your time! For more information on the incredible Moth and Spark and Anne Leonard, please visit her website at http://anneleonardbooks.com!

Mogsy's Book Haul

Among Thieves and Sworn in Steel - a long, long time ago...well, okay, it only feels like a long, long time ago, I read the excellent debut Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick. I've waited the last two years for the sequel Sworn in Steel, putting it on my anticipated lists for 2012 and 2013 only to be disappointed. But now it's FINALLY HERE!!! Words cannot describe how excited I am. I'll be writing a review for the book tour closer to release date, and was sent a package with both books by the publisher.

Night Owls - I'll also be doing a tour review of Night Owls next month. I've been seeing some great things about this fun looking urban fantasy already, so I'm really looking forward to it.

The Waking Engine - I wrote a review of this a couple weeks back, and even though the style of the writing and story isn't exactly my cup of tea, I think it's a really well written book and I'm not surprised at all at the praise it has gotten already since its release earlier this month. My thanks to Tor Books for this!

Night Broken - Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite urban fantasy series so I was pretty psyched when I received a review copy. I will be getting to this post haste after I finish off a couple more books in my Review Copy Cleanup reading list.

Stolen Crown - I'm a little surprised that I hadn't heard of this until recently, since according to Goodreads Stolen Crown is actually the 17th book in the long-running Mithgar series. I'll admit that was a little intimidating when asked to review this, but I told the publisher I would be willing to give it a shot! It certainly looks very interesting.

And now the digital pile, which is much lighter since I featured my NetGalley haul last week. 

Lineage - B.J. Keeton is a very cool gamer friend of mine, and he is working on a trilogy of books called the Technomage Archive. I've read and enjoyed the first book Birthright which he funded through a very successful Kickstarter, and he was awesome enough to send me a review copy of the second. I'm ready to dive in!

Chimera Vector - I was sent a complimentary copy of this awesome looking book by the author, who found me through Goodreads because of our mutual love of Myke Cole's Control Point!

vN - Angry Robot had a sale recently, bringing bunch of their ebooks down to $1.99. I'd read a lot of them already but not this one, and I've always been curious about it. How could I resist? For that price I picked up the ebook and the audiobook bundle.

YA Weekend: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Series: Book 1 of The Sweet Trilogy

Publisher: HarperTeen (May 1, 2012)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 2 of 5 stars


I wish I could say this book just wasn't for me because I'm not into YA paranormal romance, but that wouldn't be true. In fact, I quite enjoy this genre. Nothing beats a good love story for giving me all the warm and fuzzy feels, and the best ones do just that. On the flip side, however, there are books like Sweet Evil that somehow manage to diminish the mood by pushing all the wrong buttons. There were a couple things about it that I found off-putting, though I'm aware it's a matter of personal taste and that others might not feel the same way.

Unfortunately, the characters Anna and Kai too closely resemble a couple of my biggest pet peeves. Pet peeve the first: a weepy, insecure female protagonist. I have no problems with Anna being the living embodiment of goodness (in fact, I admire her all the more for it) but naivete and innocence does not have to translate to neediness, ceaseless pining, crying or completely falling to pieces over a guy. Especially when the guy in question has done so little to deserve such obsession. So many times I just wanted to shake her and ask her where she has misplaced her self-respect.

Which brings me to pet peeve the second: male love interests that are pure scum, just wrapped in a pretty package. Take away Kaidan's good looks and hot accent and all you'll have left is arrogance and patronizing smugness. I'm not even taking into account his (literal!) life's work to sleep with as many women as possible. Seeing as he is the half-human son of the Demon of Lust, I'll just let that one slide as an ingrained part of his nature. Still, regardless of whether he can help it or not, most sane people tend to find that sort of behavior repellent. So what does that say about Anna, who falls head over heels for this guy anyway?

All right, with that out of the way, now I can tell you about the things in the book that DID work for me. Sweet Evil offers an interesting take on angels and demons and how they interact with us mere mortals here on earth. It's a deliciously sordid affair involving the demons of sins/vices taking over the bodies of men in order to have children with human women, resulting in the half-demon sons and daughters called Nephilim. The intricate system and hierarchy of fallen angels described in this book shows that much care and effort was put into world building, proving Sweet Evil is not just about the romance, and that there is actually quite a lot of substance behind the story as well.

In spite of this, the plot flounders in many places for being too convenient and coincidental for my tastes, as in it's very obviously done for the sole purpose of forcing the characters right where the author wants them to be. Otherwise, you know there would be no story. For example, Anna's demon father who has been behind bars for the last sixteen years suddenly has a parole hearing coming up, well-timed to be just right after Anna meets him for the first time. And then, of course, there is Anna's mom Patti. What mother in her right mind would allow her teenage daughter to go on a road trip alone with a seventeen-year-old boy (son of the Demon of Lust, no less), just the two of them driving across the country and staying in hotels by themselves, to visit a total stranger in a penitentiary? That's just a little too hard to swallow.

I will give the story this, though: at no point did I want to stop reading. That I was going to see this whole thing through was always a foregone conclusion, despite the character flaws and the hitches and holes in the plot. I was entertained, even if I felt little sympathy for either Anna or Kaidan. Like I said, I had some pretty idiosyncratic reasons for why this book ultimately didn't work for me, but I can also see how other readers with a penchant for the young adult genre and paranormal romances may find plenty to like.

#MisLT Book Review: Miserere: An Autumn Tale by Teresa Frohock

Miserere: An Autumn Tale by Teresa Frohock

Genre: Dark fantasy

Publisher: Night Shade Books

Publication Date: June 2011

Author Info: www.teresafrohock.com

Wendy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever read a book and wished you could chat with the author to find out what they meant at a certain part? To learn what went into the crafting of a character or plot line? Well I've been chatting with Teresa Frohock a bit on Twitter for a while now, with the intent to read her book. Then I was struck with the idea of actually livetweeting my read the way I livetweet TV shows. Ms. Frohock loved the idea and as a result, I got to have the most wonderful reading experience with a great book and a fantastic author.

Misere is a tale of hope and redemption, of love and of faith. But it is not a tale involving pretty flowers (in fact, there is one not-so-pretty flower that would make an interesting Valentine's Day gift) nor is it a sweet love story. Frohock delves into the darkest emotions and desires with Miserere and, perhaps the only flaw I have with this book is that she could have gone even deeper.

From the first chapter, I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the subtext that teased out the relationship between Lucian, his twin sister Catarina and Rachael, the lover he betrayed. They are all older characters who have faced severe and even physically debilitating hardships. What they face in the story is just as likely to lead to their deaths as to their redemption, and the reader is often uncertain of which the character truly wants. This sets Miserere apart from many of the other books in the fantasy genre that feature naive young protagonists setting out on glorious adventure with the promise of a happy and heroic ending.

Actually, there is a young protagonist here - a girl named Lindsay who is pulled through the Veil from Earth into Woerld. She is drawn to Lucian and the exiled knight must choose whether or not to keep his promise, or open the Gates of Hell to save her. Lucian's dealings with her are touching and a little heartbreaking as, through Lindsay, you learn bits and pieces about his relationship with Catarina and the guilt he feels over her current sinister condition.

There is a lot of religious reference that could easily turn some readers off. I love religion, but due to my upbringing with an overbearing Christian mother, I have no interest in being preached at. Miserere does not shy away from the religious references, but it never proselytizes and there's no whining over why God might be punishing a particular character. It's quite clear that each character is responsible for their own predicament or that of others around them. They remain true to their faith and I really like that faith is the source of actual magic. I am curious as to how the same would work within the other religions - which is the other thing I like about this book. While you don't get to spend much time with the other sects, they are there and they all *gasp* get along.

Something else that pleases me about Miserere is Frohock’s treatment of female characters. As in, there is no difference between the women and the men. They are each considered capable in their various roles, and Frohock did not feel the need to justify or even point this fact out. Men and women are simply equals.

Imagine that. A fantasy book that actually frees itself from the prejudices of our reality.

As I mentioned, I really like the book's darkness. This is one of the few truly dark fantasy books I've read and it's definitely something I want more of. I enjoy the rainbows and dragons and happy endings as much as the next reader, but sometimes, I want to read books that aren't afraid to be just for adults.

Book Review: The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez

The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez (Night Shade Books)

Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publication Date: August 13, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Being a type A personality and stickler for organization, I employ the use of many different shelves to sort my books on Goodreads. Anyway, just to give you an idea of the kind of book we're talking about here, these are just some of the ones I've tagged for The Daedalus Incident: Action-Adventure. Aliens. Alternate History. Fantasy. Magic. Science Fiction. Time Travel. Oh and I almost forgot, Pirates, too.

As you can see, this is a novel that mixes elements from many genres. We're talking about some pretty wild stuff here, like 18th-century ships sailing between planets, or famous historical figures like Benjamin Franklin being one of the most skilled alchemists to ever come out of the American colonies. And that's just in one timeline. Another story thread takes place in 2132 in a whole other universe, where the personnel team on a trillion-dollar mining operations taking place on Mars has been experiencing some strange things lately -- things like a 300-year-old journal that is writing itself, or like a giant pyramid forming itself out of the desolate terrain.

What do these two disparate timelines have to do with each other, you ask? Now that's the million dollar question of the day. The answer is a journey that will take you beyond the limits of time and space, introducing you great characters you'll care about and fantastic new worlds to boot.

It did take a short period of adjustment, but once I got into the rhythm of jumping between the two different story lines, I started having a lot of fun. Admittedly, the 18th-century timeline was the one that held a greater appeal, featuring a world that was more interesting with its alchemical-powered ships, alien races living on different planets, and the explosive clashes against space pirates. In some ways, it read much like a high fantasy plot line done up in a different package, so you get things like planets instead of faraway kingdoms, alchemical artifacts instead of treasures troves, ancient alien forces instead of an evil demonic adversary, etc. No doubt my usual preference for the "historical" over the "futuristic" probably has something to do with it as well.

On the other hand, the 2132 Mars storyline started losing me around the halfway point -- though to be fair, I'm thinking that it's not the book. It's me. Start throwing around terms like "non-ionized radiation" or "particle physics" and you might as well be spraying your book with a big dose of anti-Mogsy repellent. I can't help it; my eyes seem predisposed to glaze over whenever they wander too close to hard sci-fi territory. I'm really more of a life sciences kind of person, whereas the more complex workings of the physical sciences tend to go over my head.

Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed the characters -- in both timelines. I love the immersive quality of Lt. Thomas Weatherby's voice, which sounds convincing coming from a man of his time period in the 1700s. There were a lot of memorable characters in that alternate universe, including Dr. Finch and Anne Baker. In the future Mars timeline, I liked following the central character of Lt. Shaila Jain, mostly because of all the different relationships she has to juggle while trying to keep things from falling apart at the mining base. And don't even get me started on that critical moment when the characters from both worlds finally meet -- oh come on, you had to have known that they would at some point! Anyway, it was definitely a scene worth waiting for, not to mention the full scope of the events that follow.

It's true that this one had its ups and downs, depending on where I was in the story, but I have to say the overall premise is unquestionable unique. I would recommend this to fans of cross-genre fiction or anyone looking to check out a book that blends fantasy and science fiction in an innovative way.

Book Review: Honor's Knight by Rachel Bach

Honor's Knight by Rachel Bach

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Book 2 of Paradox

Publisher: Orbit (February 25, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars


You know how some books you just don't realize how addicted you were to them until it occurs to you how badly, desperately, severely you're craving the sequel? Yeah well, this is one of those cases! I even broke away from my February reading list to fit this one in as soon as I received it for review, because I knew I couldn't wait any longer.

I'm happy to report Honor's Knight is just as much fun as the first book. In that, it certainly did not disappoint. But speaking of which, before I go further it probably behooves me to warn readers that this review might contain spoilers for Fortune's Pawn. I don't think there's any way around it when talking about this book, since it picks up right after the events of the last one. So if you'd like to skip this and read my review for the first book instead, I'll totally understand. Better yet, you should just pick up Fortune's Pawn! It was the most fun I've had with a sci-fi in a very long time.

As I'd expected, it was a joy and a treat to catch up with Deviana "Devi" Morris. I've always enjoyed courageous and determined women characters in science fiction, and Devi lends her own brand of cool to this spirited space drama, which in my opinion single-handedly makes this whole entire series. Even though she begins this book with her mind tampered with and her memories wiped, she is still the Devi I know and love. She can't remember how her security team partner was killed or why a single glance at the ship's cook now makes her feel physically ill, but none of that's about to stop her from doing her job.

Nevertheless, the wrench thrown into the relationship between her and Rupert Charkov damn near killed me. These two belong together, and to see them apart pains me, especially when I understood the reason for Charkov's tortured reactions but meanwhile Devi can't even hold on to his name. Can you tell that I'm really into this romance? Because I am. I'm not usually so taken with this much drama in romantic subplots, but I think this an exception because of how candid Devi is with the situation. There's no angst or sensationalism; she handles all her problems with the same direct, no-nonsense way -- with her wits and with her guns. I love it.

If you enjoyed the story in Fortune's Pawn, then you'll definitely like Honor's Knight as well. The first book alluded to a mystery involving the crew of the Glorious Fool, and rest assured everything is revealed here at last. The story also takes us to new places, including a handful of exotic planets as well as a brief sequence in which Devi returns to Paradoxian territory. In fact, I wish we had been able to see more of the world in those scenes; more details about the culture in which she grew up would have been very interesting. Regardless, it was pure satisfaction to watch all the puzzle pieces finally fit together, but there were still plenty of twists and turns. Alliances will shift and secrets abound as Devi becomes embroiled in something huge, something that puts the safety of the entire galaxy on the line.

When Rachel Bach/Rachel Aaron goes for action and thrills, she's clearly not afraid to go all the way. So far this series has been wildly entertaining, but to me it has also become a lot more than just a sci-fi adventure story about Devi blowing away big bad aliens (though there is also plenty of that). Like I said in my review for Fortune's Pawn, what started off as a popcorn read has gotten me more emotionally invested than I realized, and I find myself caring deeply for the story and characters. Will Devi and Rupert end up together? (I hope so.) Will she achieve her dreams of becoming a Devastator? (I'm guessing probably, but after all that she's been through, a life as a Devastator now seems kind of tame!) I'm very curious and eager to see how all of this will play out.

In short, Honor's Knight picks up the energetic pace set by the first book and runs with it, carrying on with the momentum and revving it up even more. If this trend continues, the third and final book should be outstanding. I can't wait.

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Orbit Books!

Audiobook Review: Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Chalion #2

Publisher: HarperTouch

Publication Date: April 2005

Narrator: Kate Reading

Author Info: dendarii.com

Wendy's Rating: 5 of 5 stars

"How fortunate for Us that We thirst for glorious souls rather than faultless ones, or We should be parched indeed and most lonely in Our perfect righteousness."

The Curse of Chalion taught me a number of things about this world and about Bujold. The first lesson is: do not make assumptions about where the story might be going. Bujold politely walks you down each path, letting you get comfortable with each captivating step until you are certain of what comes next, then gently tugs the carpet out from under you and keeps moving on before you have time to catch your breath.

Like Cazaril, this book begins with a broken, older protagonist. Royina Ista, dowager of Chalion, spent most of the previous book in a curse-ridden, god-touched fog that everyone but Cazaril wrote off as madness. Now free, though still heavy with the guilt of her dreadful crime, Ista sets off on a pilgrimage to visit the shrines of the Five Gods. In truth, after being trapped for so long within a life of royalty and sainthood, Ista simply wants to get away. There is irony in her deception, since Ista bares a grudge against gods for what they have done in her life. She spends much of her time cursing them, but the gods of Bujold's world accept all of this in stride.

Curse initially had me believe that the Five were merely figureheads, where prayer might result in something miraculous occurring, but such events could just as easily be explained by coincidence or parlour tricks. By the end, the guiding hands of the gods becomes shockingly clear. Now, Ista is unable to escape them as they haunt her dreams, guiding her to some unknown purpose. When her pilgrimage is interrupted by an enemy attack from which she is rescued by an unexpected hero, she begins to unravel the mystery as she attempts to decipher the cryptic messages from the Bastard god.

I adore the Bastard. He is not a typical trickster god, though he certainly takes his amusement whenever and where ever he pleases. He does not choose his saints randomly, and Ista's resistance seems to amuse him as much as her potential pleases him. Ista quickly became a favourite character for me as she does for him.

As I said of Ista and the other women in Curse, heroes come in many forms and one who is able to endure the kind of things Ista has must not be overlooked. She carries herself with such grace and dignity, but is not above humility - something else that struck me with Cazaril when we first meet him in Curse. Both he and Ista are easily recognizable as brilliant, brave and capable people, but neither of them abuse their intelligence or status and they respect everyone, both lowborn and high.

Finally, I have to praise Kate Reading's narration. I have listened to her before, usually reading the female-centric chapters of Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan's epic fantasies, but here she is on her own - and completely *owning* Ista. Reading captures all of Ista's subtext, every nuance, every emotion. She lets her be weak and flawed as easily as she is strong, commanding and determined. Reading truly embodies this incredible character and brings her perfectly to life.

Waiting on Wednesday 02/19/14

"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 Three by Sarah Lotz: May 20, 2014 (Little, Brown and Company)

I want to read this one so much. As to why, I think the description speaks for itself. Mix of paranormal, thriller, mystery and horror. It's already giving me the heebie jeebies.

"Four simultaneous plane crashes. Three child survivors. A religious fanatic who insists the three are harbingers of the apocalypse. What if he's right?

The world is stunned when four commuter planes crash within hours of each other on different continents. Facing global panic, officials are under pressure to find the causes. With terrorist attacks and environmental factors ruled out, there doesn't appear to be a correlation between the crashes, except that in three of the four air disasters a child survivor is found in the wreckage.

Dubbed 'The Three' by the international press, the children all exhibit disturbing behavioural problems, presumably caused by the horror they lived through and the unrelenting press attention. This attention becomes more than just intrusive when a rapture cult led by a charismatic evangelical minister insists that the survivors are three of the four harbingers of the apocalypse. The Three are forced to go into hiding, but as the children's behaviour becomes increasingly disturbing, even their guardians begin to question their miraculous survival..."

Book Review: Traitor's Blade by Sebastien de Castell

Traitor's Blade by Sebastien de Castell

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Greatcoats

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (March 6, 2014)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 5 of 5 stars


Oh my, this one was SO MUCH FUN. Unexpectedly so. Even when the earliest descriptions came trickling in calling this book a bold, dashing adventure and pure, swashbuckling entertainment, I had no idea! I figured those were just buzzwords, right? Ah, no. In this case, Traitor's Blade really does deliver the great time that all those descriptions promise.

There are so many things I love about this book, but most of all I love how it doesn't take itself too seriously. It was lighter in tone than I expected, which was a huge plus because I always appreciate a bit of humor with my fantasy! The only thing sharper than main protagonist Falcio val Mond's rapier is his own clever wit, and if you don't believe me, all you have to do is read the prologue. (Edit: actually, Tor has an excerpt here!) It had me hooked, not to mention earning a few chuckles from me by page 3.

What strikes me about this book is how well it presents itself. To me, it reads like a medieval fantasy told in the tone of an urban fantasy, mainly due to the narrative style and the of the snappy pace of storytelling. Falcio and his companions Kest and Brasti are the last remnants of late King Paelis' mighty force of Greatcoats, quite possibly the only ones still dedicated to upholding the laws of the land despite their order being labeled as traitors. Before the Dukes took the kingdom and killed the king, however, Falcio was given one last mission. And trying to fulfill it is probably going to get him killed, if his silver tongue doesn't manage to do it first.

A natural born smooth talker (the other characters in the novel even poke fun at this), Falcio's narrative is as delightful as they come. He will endear himself to you with his fierce loyalty and moral compass, but also keep you on your toes with his unpredictability. Here is a protagonist who would just as soon vanquish his foes using his words and cunning, despite his strength and skill with a sword. As Falcio is quick to remind everyone, above all the Greatcoats value justice, not honor, and therefore he shows no qualms about certain unsportsmanlike behaviors such as, er, kicking a lady between the legs (trust me though, that character totally deserved it -- justice, remember!) There is also a darkness within Falcio, and I thought one of the more interesting aspects about him is his goodness warring with that inner pain.

So brace yourself, this is a very fast-paced book filled with non-stop action and tons of obstacles thrown at the characters, one right after another. The humor throughout keeps things nice and light, making this the perfect choice for readers looking for a story with traditional fantasy elements -- like heroes, magic, and epic quests -- but also with the added flair of dash and panache. In other books that have a lot of fight scenes, I'm always tempted to skim, but not so with this one. First of all, as a former fight choreographer, the author knows what great action looks like! And like I said, with Falcio's devil-may-care ways and the unpredictability of his fighting style, you really don't want to miss a thing!

As we all know, very few books are perfect but some stories have a way of bringing you to a point where you're just having too much fun to care. That's the place Traitor's Blade took me. I thought the ending and the revelations therein were a bit predictable, but honestly, that was my only quibble and it is a teensy tiny one at that, considering how much overall enjoyment I got from this book and how much I adored these characters. I cannot wait for the sequel.

In short, I loved loved loved Traitor's Blade. I would recommend it to everyone, and I think fencing and sword fighting types will especially get a kick out of it. Seriously, this is one excellent and remarkably entertaining book! Read it.

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Jo Fletcher Books!

PANELS: Batman: Heart of Hush

Bruce's confessions.

Batman: Heart of Hush

Book Review and INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY: The Barrow by Mark Smylie

***Our GIVEAWAY for THE BARROW is now over. Thanks for all who entered!***

The Barrow by Mark Smylie

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1

Publisher: Pyr (March 4, 2014)

Author Information: Website

Mogsy's Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Before we begin, I feel I should make it known that this book is not for the faint of heart. If you know you'll feel uncomfortable with things like brutal violence, ear-bendingly foul language, and extremely graphic sex, then you may wish to reconsider having a go at this ... especially when it comes to that last one. In general, I am not the kind to be bothered by lewd and explicit acts in books, and yet there were still certainly no shortages of eyebrow raises from me with this one! Anyway, it was enough that I feel I should say something. Fair warning!

And now with that out of the way, let's get down to the reasons why this book totally rocks. If you're the kind of person who likes the combination of a good adventure story with the dark and gritty aspects of fantasy (of course, keeping in mind the caveats mentioned above) then you'll love The Barrow! Incidentally, this is exactly the kind of mix I enjoy. The fact that it was even darker than I expected was a nice surprise, though I don't know if I would call it full-out grimdark. In an interview with The BiblioSanctum, Mark Smylie described the book as more of an "archetypal Dungeons & Dragons adventure as run through the filter of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" ... and well, yes, actually I suppose that description would do nicely!

Furthermore, the book also takes place in the world of Mark Smylie's Artesia graphic novels. I won't deny that an emotional attachment to the setting was a factor for me, but if you are not familiar with the comics, do not fret! This is a brand new self-contained story, no previous knowledge of the world or characters required -- which is actually great for me too, since I'd only read the first volume and it was quite a while ago. However, you can still tell that writing a story within a setting that has already been established works well in the novel's favor; the world-building is phenomenally robust and very deep, with many layers to the descriptions of the people and places.

As the reader, I felt like I was transported right there -- and that is both a wonderful and terrifying experience, considering the type of world we're thrown into, one filled with dark magics, shady politics, and disreputable characters. Scoundrels and perverts lurk at every corner, and if you're really unlucky, you might even run afoul of demonic horrors and evil gods. The main plot is actually quite simple, deceptively so perhaps; on a routine tomb-robbing operation, Stjepan Black-Heart and his crew stumble upon an ancient map which details the final resting place of a long-dead wizard, who was said to have been buried with a priceless legendary sword.

Here's where the adventure narrative comes in. To find the sword, our protagonists must first gather their allies and go forth to locate this tomb. Of course, epic quests are never so easy or straightforward. But even when a curse placed on the map kills one of the essential members of the crew and ends up transcribing itself onto the skin of a young noblewoman, you think that would stop the Black-Heart? Nope! Whether it's wealth, fame, freedom, or absolution, everyone on this journey has a reason to find this fabled Barrow, which makes this story a riveting one filled with secrets and unexpected twists.

Among these colorful personalities, some of the characters are so disturbing it will make you sick to your stomach, while others are so crazy it will make you laugh; but there's definitely no accusing any of them for being boring. Out of everyone, I think I like Erim the best. A young woman masquerading as a man, Erim is Stjepan's protege, and despite her skill with the blade, in many ways she is as sheltered as her mentor is well-traveled. It's ironic that she doesn't find herself to be very interesting, because she was my favorite with her quiet introspection and fierce loyalty. That pretty much also makes her the most honorable of the lot; we're talking about some rather grim and nasty characters here, after all.

This is a book that pulls you in immediately, starting with an explosive intro that sets the tone and mood of the story quite nicely. It also contains possibly one of the most heart-pounding prologues that has ever graced the pages of a fantasy novel, and my head is still reeling from the events at the end of that chapter. However, the pacing of the novel is a bit uneven, which is probably the only quibble I have about this book. After the introduction comes a middle that slows down considerably as the characters travel towards their destination. There are frequent stops along the way, but the good news is that something interesting happens at every one of them. These encounters often added to the depth of the lore and setting, giving me more of a sense of the world's vastness. 

But while it took me several days to read the first three-quarters of this book, I think I devoured the last 150 or so pages in one exhilaratingly intense sitting. Everything that happens after they find the Barrow is pure insanity. Also, I just love twists and surprises! It's a climax and conclusion that goes beyond just being an ending, because more importantly it reveals how all the themes and undercurrents of the novel come together. It speaks much about Mark Smylie's skills as a storyteller. He marks his transition to full-length novels with this incredible debut, and I'm glad to hear we will be seeing more from him following The Barrow.

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Pyr Books!

* * *

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THE BARROW GIVEAWAY

And now here's what you all have been waiting for! Thanks to the kind folks at Pyr, we have two print copies of The Barrow up for grabs, and entering our giveaway is easy peasy! There are no geographic restrictions. That's right, international entries welcome! All you have to do is send an email to bibliosanctum@gmail.com with your Name and valid Mailing Address using the subject line "THE BARROW" by 11:59pm Eastern time on Monday, February 24th, 2014.

Only one entry per household, please! Two winners will be randomly selected when the giveaway ends and then be notified by email. So what are you waiting for? Enter to win a copy of this amazing book! Good luck!

Mogsy's Book Haul - The NetGalley Pile

I normally gather up my new books to feature my hauls every other week, but I think I'm going to sneak a special post in with just the titles I received for review from NetGalley this time, simply because there are more of them than usual! It's hard to believe my stats are still above 80% sometimes, but Review Copy Cleanup month has really helped with that. On the other hand, it's done nothing to stop me from requesting books at the same rate as I'm completing them, but there has been a lot of great looking books in the last week and a half that I just couldn't resist, and I'm super excited about them:

Honor's Knight - I already devoured this one, which goes to show how much I'm digging this series. Like Fortune's Pawn, it's a hell lot of fun, and I hope to have the review up later this week.

The Lascar's Dagger - last month we put together a post about science fiction and fantasy books by women authors that we're really looking forward to in 2014, and this is definitely high on my list!

Unwrapped Sky - everything about this book grabbed my attention right away -- the enchanting title, the gorgeous cover, the interesting sounding description. I'm really looking forward to this one.

Stolen Songbird - this was one of my Waiting on Wednesday picks, and one of my top anticipated YA novels for 2014. A lot of recent Strange Chemistry titles I've picked up lately have been excellent, and I hope this one will be too.

Morningside Fall - so I really enjoyed the first book Three but at this point I was also aware my Netgalley list was getting a little overloaded. I debated whether or not I should wait until I polish off a few more books before I start requesting again. But then I saw this one was a READ NOW. How could I say no? I love it when life makes the tough decisions for you!

Graphic Novel Review: Joker by Brian Azzarello

Joker by Brian Azzarello

Publisher: DC Comics

Date of Publication: November 4, 2008

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Tiara's Rating: 4 of 5 stars - "I thought this was a great read. It's one of those comics that provide an alternative perspective of the Joker."

The Joker has been released from Arkham Asylum--released, not escape. No one is sure how the Joker managed such a thing, and he's unwilling to divulge his secret. This story is told from the POV of a hood with lofty goals named Jonny Frost. He volunteers to pick Joker up the day that he's released and follows him down a dizzying spiral of destruction as Joker begins a madcap scramble to reclaim what he considers his.

While the Joker is a dark figure in the DC universe, there's always this aspect of him that seems to be morosely gleeful no matter the situation. You don't often see him outside of that "clown" mode. In this book, there's something deadly serious about the Joker. For sure he's still the smiling murderer, but there are more moments where he's just not amused in such a serious way, and it shows all over his demeanor. I know there are moments in the past where he isn't amused with his current surroundings, but he's always managed to hide that behind murderous glee as he meted out his punishment.

In this comic, readers can catch glimpses of him where he appears to be angry and bitter with no smile in sight. There's even a scene where we catch the Joker in a very vulnerable moment with Harley. It's almost like a slip of the mask, very human moments from a character that doesn't show many other human emotions. Part of this different view on the Joker might be colored by the fact that story is told from Frost's point-of-view. So, Joker may be acting in the ways the reader normally sees him, but Frost's perception of Joker and the situation may temper this view.

Joker's sanity or insanity is never really directed addressed. This books allows the reader to speculate on this throughout. It's a topic that's actively avoided by the Joker with him saying only a few words about his release. I think that Riddler has the most interesting things to say about the Joker and his sanity/insanity when I wasn't being distracted by his belly tattoo and the fact that he looked like he was a rejected extra from The Fast and the Furious.

Another thing that was different was the Joker's reaction to Batman. Joker is not Batman's number one fan in this book. He's very antagonistic toward him when they finally encounter one another late in the book. So many writers tend to write Joker as a sort of twisted admirer of Batman who seems to cause all this mayhem as some of orchestrated play that involves only the two of them. While I liked this alternate view of Batman and Joker's "relationship," their confrontation felt a bit overdramatic and pulpy when it happened.

Even with me being a little ambivalent about the ending, I thought this was a great read. It's one of those comics that provide an alternative perspective of the Joker.

4 of 5 stars