First, the caveat. I have met Guy Gavriel Kay several time and consider him a friend. I received this free Advance Reading Copy from the publisher.
WrFirst, the caveat. I have met Guy Gavriel Kay several time and consider him a friend. I received this free Advance Reading Copy from the publisher.
Written On the Dark will be published in May, 2025, but doubtless readers can preorder it now!
Like all books by Guy Gavriel Kay, the style of Written on the Dark is graceful and almsot poetic. And that is very fitting. This is the tale of a tavern poet, Thierry Villar, living in a time and place that might well put the reader in mind of Medieval France.
A chance circumstance on a cold winter night brings our poet to witness the aftermath of the murder of a very important man. From that moment on, both Thierry and the reader are swept away in a tale that combine intrigue, mystery, mysticism and romance in one satisfying feast. Along the way, he will have encounters with some very engaging characters. Kay's ability to present such a wide variety of characters and sketch them so deftly is one of the strongest points of his story telling.
At intervals throughout the story, there are brief paragraphs in italics, where Thierry speaks directly to the reader. I found them immensely charming.
I believe that this tale will appeal as much to those who enjoy historical novels as to those who love fantasy. It is all so deftly done!
This book is not for everyone. (Hm. Didn't I just say that about another book?) Well, it's true. A book can rate a 5 star review from me and still not This book is not for everyone. (Hm. Didn't I just say that about another book?) Well, it's true. A book can rate a 5 star review from me and still not be for everyone. Patrick Rothfuss shares that opinion and says so in the introduction to his narrow volume.
Who is this book for? Well, that's easy.
If you have read The Kingkiller Chronicle, as in The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear, then you can enter this little volume with a rudimentary knowledge of the character Bast. Without that foundation, well, hm. I think it would be both enjoyable and baffling. So, that's the first group of readers who this book is for.
The second group of readers are the ones who have, yes, read both volumes of the Kingkiller Chronicle and they want to know more about Bast.
I admit that I had this book on my nightstand for months. And it's a skinny little book, probably a one day read for some of you. So why didn't I dive into it sooner?
Because I wasn't sure I wanted to know more about Bast. And this book is written from his Point of View.
In The Wise Man's Fear and in The Name of the Wind, Bast is an enigmatic character. We know what he says and what he does, but most of him remains a delectable mystery. Who is he, what is he, and what is his peculiar bond to the Innkeeper? And I, for one, really enjoy characters like that. So, in some ways, I will admit, this little book told me more about Bast than I actually wanted to know.
Setting that aside: This is classic Rothfuss. Beautiful prose that reads like clear running water. I could admire the clever turns of phrase without them distracting me from the tale. And magic described exactly as magic should be described. I will add that the illustrations by Nate Taylor are charming and a lovely addition to the story.
So, you have been warned. The Narrow Road Between Desires . . . The desire of the reader to enjoy another Rothfuss book and the desire of the reader to allow Bast to remain mysterious. It's a narrow road indeed. Good luck choosing....more
This book is not for everyone. But then, what books is?
The caveats: I received this copy free from Del Rey, along with a very shiny copy of a Brzrkr cThis book is not for everyone. But then, what books is?
The caveats: I received this copy free from Del Rey, along with a very shiny copy of a Brzrkr comic from BOOM! Studios.
Now it might be important for you to know that this is my first foray into this world. If you are an established reader of BRZRKR comics, you may find or have found many nuances that I have missed in reading this.
But, for me, coming cold to this book, this is my honest response.
It wasn't what I expected. 'Well, it's based on a comic-book with an immortal hero who gets in lots of battles and wins and even if they kill him, he regenerates (respawns?) and goes on.' (I don't think that's a spoiler for anyone.) So I thought it would be fast paced, action, lots of battles, lots of gore, full speed ahead.
It isn't.
So, imagine you are part of 'B's team. The team is not just the fighters who go where he must go and follow the orders given to them. It's the management at the top. Diverse people who have to look after not just B but also those who serve alongside him. All of those people have reactions to him. Philosophically, morally, scientifically, socially.
This is not the first time comic readers will encounter a pause to consider what having a Superhero or being a Superhero might mean. Spiderman: With great power comes great responsibility. Superman is for truth and justice.
But this time, the reader will have time to think about what it might really mean. So this isn't a fast, action, on-to-the-next-fight read. This is a character study of not just B but those who support and command him and his team.
I really liked the narrative flashbacks in this book. Who summoned this being, and how? Is there another one like him? Can he ever fall in love? Get married? Be over-powered? Truly be a friend to a mortal who will never share his years? When would any of that happen in the thousands of years he has walked among mortals?
Be prepared to look up a few words along the way. I did. And I flatter myself that I have a pretty wide vocabulary. And be prepared to stop and think about what the characters do and say. Never a bad thing.
I worried that because this is based on comic books, nothing would be resolved at the end, no question answered. Relax. You will have a satisfactory finish.
I have no idea how Keanu Reeves and China Mieville split the creative duties on this. And tha's good, as it means no obvious seams. One cohesive piece of story telling.
I would put this at the science-fantasy end of my fantasy bookshelf. Yes, some 'willing suspension of disbelief' will be required. It's worth it for this thoughtful tale.
I purchased this book at International Comic Con in San Diego from the Mysterious Galaxy booth. It rode home in my luggage and is my first post-con reI purchased this book at International Comic Con in San Diego from the Mysterious Galaxy booth. It rode home in my luggage and is my first post-con read.
My usual caveat: I consider Brandon Sanderson a friend. But note that I've enjoyed previous reads enough that I spent my very own money to get this book!
I chose it for a several good reasons. I haven't read a Brandon Sanderson book in some time, and I'm going to see him at Dragon Steel Con in a few short months. And I was intrigued as this was one of the 'secret' books he had written. He launched them with a Kickstarter that brought in over 41 million dollars. So. Hm. Got to read at least one of them.
The not so big spoilers: This is a Cosmere novel, and the narrator is Hoid. If that means nothing to you, don't worry at all. In my opinion it will not affect your enjoyment of this book.
The first Sanderson book I every read was Mistborn. I will mention in passing that the tones of these two books are miles apart.
This was a fun read. It starts with a fairly simplistic fairy-tale sort of beginning. A budding romance between a humble window washer and the son of a noble. The young man is shipped off to find a more suitable match. (In my opinion, it if happens in the first 17 pages of the book, it's not a spoiler.)
As I mentioned above, this book is a fun read. Whimsical. If you don't enjoy books such as The Princess Bride, this book is probably not for you. The dialogue, the situations, the variety of characters, the descriptions and the unlikely friendships are all light-hearted. That doesn't mean this tale has no nuggets of wisdom or pithy observations of the human situation. The narrator addresses the reader directly, offering not just events and dialogue but also his opinion on the state of the adventure.
Other things you might like to know. This book works perfectly well as a stand alone tale. Knowing more about the Cosmere and Hoid might increase your enjoyment, but it you don't know, you won't miss it. Though it might make you decide to seek out more books in the Cosmere. The trade paperback is only 365 pages, if you don't count the Postscript by Brandon. But I recommend you read it also as I think you will enjoy it.
I bought this book for myself because I wanted to read it. It's the sequel to The Desert Prince.
However, Peter V Brett and I have been friends for yeI bought this book for myself because I wanted to read it. It's the sequel to The Desert Prince.
However, Peter V Brett and I have been friends for years. I don't believe that influences my review.
I gave this book a 5 star review.* See that asterisk? Here's why. If you have been following Peter V Brett's novels, that begin with The Warded Man (US title) and if you have read The Desert Prince, then this is definitely a must-read and a very satisfying one.
But I do not recommend that anyone jump into this book as their first experience of P V Brett's story. At the very least, go back and read The Desert Prince first. Best would be to start with the Warded Man and make your way to this one.
The Hidden Queen follows closely on The Desert Prince, with the same basic cast of characters. There's a good arc of character growth and change, action scenes advance the plot and there's a lot of magic. The 'save the world' plot tangles very effectively with various power struggles and differing ambitions.
Additions to the book that I found very helpful are a glossary of vocabulary specific to this story and a genealogy chart that helps track the lineage (and hidden loyalties!) of the characters.
Definitely a great book for lovers of political intrigue and family politics and dark, overwhelming magic.
But seriously, get the foundation works first and you will enjoy this book one thousand times more than if you jump into this middle book of a trilogy. ...more
First, the caveats. This book was a gift from a long time friend. I do not believe that affects my review.
I write books. And I read a lot of books andFirst, the caveats. This book was a gift from a long time friend. I do not believe that affects my review.
I write books. And I read a lot of books and stories. So it is always a special pleasure to read a book when I absolutely cannot predict what is going to happen next.
The tale begins in Bruges, in 1302. I have little knowledge of the history of that place and time, and it mattered not at all to my engagement with the tale. The author centered me in the book's version of that place and time, and the people and creatures that inhabited it.
War. There is the war that is waged by powerful people and soldiers. And there is the war that ebbs and flows over ordinary people who are caught in its path. And in this tale, there is the war that erupts when the powers of hell emerges to enhance that war with its own special terrors.
In the midst of that, there is a mother, a wife, a widow whose greatest drive is to ensure her offspring's survival. A soldier whose weapon has been torn from him. A young woman whose love endures past death and defies the powers of Hell. Creatures who once were human and the humans who knew and cared for them.
Now, that is as much as I can say without major spoilers.
I am struggling to describe the pacing of this book. The narrative construction. Some books are so swept up in style that they become (for me) difficult to read. That is not what I'm talking about here. I will say that as this tale shifts between narrators, it takes the reader down the strange paths of each character's version of what is most important in the conflict. The reader witnesses how one conflict can send individuals sliding past one another when their goals and desires do not mesh with one another.
There is magic in this tale, and supernatural events. There are manifestations of power. There are twists and turns and even petty legalities that must be dealt with. Old loves and new hates. Hierarchies that prevail even in ridiculous circumstances.
This is a book that ignores the usual boundaries and rules of fantasy.
This story will stay with me for a long time....more
First, the caveats. I received a free copy of this book from my friend Stephen Aryan. I try not to let friendship or free affect my reviews.
The JudasFirst, the caveats. I received a free copy of this book from my friend Stephen Aryan. I try not to let friendship or free affect my reviews.
The Judas Blossom is book one of The Nightingale and the Falcon. Some people like to know that while some threads will be tied off in this book, others will dangle until the entire tale is complete. At 419 pages, this is a heft but not gargantuan read.
The Judas Blossom will be a five star for readers who enjoy historical fantasy. I will freely admit that the setting for this story is an era that I know very little about, that is, the time of the Khans and the Mongol Empire. The tale is told during the invasion and occupation of Persia by the Mongols.
The varied cast of characters means that the story is told by opposing viewpoints. Not all the grandsons of Genghis Khan are eager to be warriors. A woman given as a reluctant wife has an agenda of her own. Persian fighters are seeking to overthrow the invaders but brothers may be set against brothers as they plot how to do it. Strange and unlikely alliances are formed.
But this is a fantasy, so of course there is magic threaded through the story as well.
As you might suspect, Wes Chu is a friend of mine. And his editor sent me an advance reading copy of this book. But I don't think that will affect my As you might suspect, Wes Chu is a friend of mine. And his editor sent me an advance reading copy of this book. But I don't think that will affect my review of it.
So there's a prophecy and the one chosen to fulfil it has been discovered and his training has begun with a cadre of amazing instructors in a lush and exotic setting.
Ho hum. Another coming-of-age story with a Chosen One hero. You've read this one before.
Not.
Jian is definitely a Chosen One. He has been foretold. He is the Champion of the Five Under Heaven, and as such, he is being raised in a lavish environment with the finest martial arts instructors. All hail him as the one who will defeat the enemy and change the world.
But when Taishi arrives to evaluate the Chosen One's training, she finds that the youngster has been indulged and spoiled. He is definitely not prepared for the epic challenge that he will face. She has no choice but to dismiss his instructors and take over the young man's discipline and training.
And maybe you think you already know how this story will go. I know I did. But it doesn't go that way at all.
The setting is a fantastic alternate China, and the martial arts are ones that will only exist in your wildest dreams. Neither Taishi nor Jian are the characters you might expect. It IS a coming of age story, if you understand that all people, at every stage of their lives, are coming of age. As the story progresses, the cast of characters increases. Jian's situation changes, as does Taishi's. Old friend and new enemies abound. You will be swept along.
I do have to warn you that this is not a stand alone. This volume resolves some issues and leaves other threads hanging to be completed in subsequent books. But it's a nice fat book (533 pages in the ARC) so there is plenty here to introduce you to a new world.
Merged review:
As you might suspect, Wes Chu is a friend of mine. And his editor sent me an advance reading copy of this book. But I don't think that will affect my review of it.
So there's a prophecy and the one chosen to fulfil it has been discovered and his training has begun with a cadre of amazing instructors in a lush and exotic setting.
Ho hum. Another coming-of-age story with a Chosen One hero. You've read this one before.
Not.
Jian is definitely a Chosen One. He has been foretold. He is the Champion of the Five Under Heaven, and as such, he is being raised in a lavish environment with the finest martial arts instructors. All hail him as the one who will defeat the enemy and change the world.
But when Taishi arrives to evaluate the Chosen One's training, she finds that the youngster has been indulged and spoiled. He is definitely not prepared for the epic challenge that he will face. She has no choice but to dismiss his instructors and take over the young man's discipline and training.
And maybe you think you already know how this story will go. I know I did. But it doesn't go that way at all.
The setting is a fantastic alternate China, and the martial arts are ones that will only exist in your wildest dreams. Neither Taishi nor Jian are the characters you might expect. It IS a coming of age story, if you understand that all people, at every stage of their lives, are coming of age. As the story progresses, the cast of characters increases. Jian's situation changes, as does Taishi's. Old friend and new enemies abound. You will be swept along.
I do have to warn you that this is not a stand alone. This volume resolves some issues and leaves other threads hanging to be completed in subsequent books. But it's a nice fat book (533 pages in the ARC) so there is plenty here to introduce you to a new world....more
First, the caveat. I received this book as an Advance Reading copy, for free. Although I've never met Mark Lawrence, I consider him a good friend. ButFirst, the caveat. I received this book as an Advance Reading copy, for free. Although I've never met Mark Lawrence, I consider him a good friend. But I would love this book no matter who wrote it. So, as usual, no spoilers or as few as I can manage.
So. Wow. Where do I start?
Welcome to the labyrinth. And I'm not just talking about the setting, I'm talking about the plot. And even the characters. This is one of the things that Mark Lawrence is absolutely the best at; he leads the reader along, and you can see where the story is taking you, then suddenly there's a switchback and what you thought was the overpass is a tunnel and then you're going down a slide. And he just laughs while you're yelling, "Hey, you can't do that!" And the next thing that happens is there's this little thread that leads completely out of this book, and as a writer I think, "Mark, do you really think that's a good idea? Aren't you afraid you'll trip on all those tangled lines?"
But if he's tripped, I've yet to see it happen.
I read a lot of books. I don't review all of them. But I'll say, without arrogance I hope, that almost always I can pick up on the early cues and clues and then I smile when the book takes me just where I thought it would. But there is a special pleasure in a book that opens trap doors under me and surprises me, not just once but several times over the course of reading it. Mark does that.
Every writer, I think, has fascinations that creep into their stories. (Mine is blood and memories and blood that carries memories. But this isn't about me.) Mark, I would say, thinks a great deal about time. Time, of course, is something humans invented. And in several of his books now, I'd say Mark is intent on dissecting that invention.
Well, I could go on like this for pages and pages, and pretty soon I'd be talking about his other books and really digressing. So I'll just say, 'Read this book.'
Oh, and this is as close as I'll get to a spoiler. Pay attention to the credit lines on those bits at the start of each chapter.
You should also know that this is book one of the Library Trilogy. ...more
First, the usual caveats. Not only is Shawn Speakman a long time friend and publisher of the most recent edition of the Lindholm book Wizard of the PiFirst, the usual caveats. Not only is Shawn Speakman a long time friend and publisher of the most recent edition of the Lindholm book Wizard of the Pigeons, I received the Advance Reading Copy of The King-Killing Queen for free.
I don't know about you, but of late I've felt a bit daunted when I acquire a book and it's five or six or eight hundred pages long. And then it's the first of a series! I think to myself, "So many books, so little time!" Do I want to invest all that time in one book, or read three for the same amount of pages? That isn't, of course, my most deciding factor in starting to read, but I will admit that I found it refreshing to pick up a book that is less than 300 pages long.
And it packs a lot of story into those pages. Very good!
If you've been following my reviews for a time, you know that I avoid spoilers. I'm always horrified when the blurb on the back of a book cover gives up a fact I would not have discovered until page 123. So. No spoilers here, just some hints and bits of the kind of book it is.
Speakman has a nice knack for a turn of phrase. Here's one: "A riddle is merely truth wrapped around itself." (Well, that's very quotable, yes?)
The King-Killing Queen lives up to its title. It's not riddled with gore, but the main character does what she must. That's not to say she's ruthless but that she has a strong dispassionate logic when it comes to protecting her future. Enough said there.
Speakman has mined legends and lore for this tale, picking up Arthurian threads and re-weaving them for his own purpose. This is a telling that does not waste time. The story moves swiftly and strongly, with characters well defined and a plot that doesn't pause. When backstory is needed, it's deftly embroidered into the tale without the need for a whole chapter of backstory. This tale is as much about family politics as it is about the greater politics of a realm threatened by war.
The cover art is by Magali Villeneuve, an artist I greatly admire, and features interior art by Donato Giancola. If you are unfamiliar with those names, I suggest that you will enjoy a visit to their respective websites to explore more of their art.
The King-Killing Queen is clearly part of a larger tale. A trilogy or a series, I do not know, but it's a strong opening and definitely beckons the reader to continue the journey.
Like many independently published books, there is a Kickstarter for this. It has 11 days to go, as of this posting, and there are a lot of goodies for supporters who jump in now. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
First, the caveat. I've met Django Wexler several times and found him to be a nice person. NIce enough and interesting enough that I went out and bougFirst, the caveat. I've met Django Wexler several times and found him to be a nice person. NIce enough and interesting enough that I went out and bought his book. Uh, several years ago.
The thing is, books migrate in my house. Sometimes they go to Kat's house, or wander off with a grand-daughter, or get shuffled from the to-read stack to a different stack that may involve coffee cups or laundry or a manuscript of something I'm going to finish writing someday. Anyway, I think I bought this one in 2019, just as Covid was scrambling everyone's lives.
But somehow, it floated to the top of a stack of stuff and I went, "Oh, there you are! I did buy you!"
And I read it. And liked it very much.
I think I'd give this book 5 stars just for the totally unexpected setting. Although the story does not begin on a ship, when it shifts there, it's one of the most bizarre maritime settings I've ever read. And it's not just the physical setting. The social strata within the ship are fierce and unforgiving.
The protagonist Isoka is an adept of one of the wells of magic. There are nine of them and each conveys to the user a different realm of power. Isoka is strong in hers, and it enables her to manifest both weapons and armor as she needs them. Her territory is the streets and her magic has enabled to make her fairly powerful there.
But, of course, there is always someone more powerful. And Isoka finds that instead of the game master, she is suddenly a pawn for someone else. And if she fails, she will lose the only thing she values above her life.
There is a lot of action, a thread of romance and the plot and character development moves forward swiftly. The growth of the characters is convincing, and the cast is nicely varied.
Tor marketed this as a Tor Teen. I disagree. Well, teens can certainly read this book and enjoy it, but the 'teen' label may put off some adult readers of fantasy. I'd put it on the 'anyone who likes fantasy' shelf.
This book is the first of The Wells of Sorcery trilogy. Don't let that discourage you. Because of its sojourn in my house, the other two books are readily available to eager readers....more
First, the usual warning. Ed McDonald and I are friends. Friends at a great distance and mostly electronically, but friends. I do not think that affecFirst, the usual warning. Ed McDonald and I are friends. Friends at a great distance and mostly electronically, but friends. I do not think that affects my review of this book.
I received this Advance Reading Copy for free from Tor many months ago. Many, many months. Before I had my eye surgery to take out my cataracts and restore me to pristine sight. Only, sadly, that didn't happen right away. I won't go into all the ups and downs, but will only say that I can now drive, even at night, with no glasses. And I now have reading glasses so I can read again. Easily. But sadly not as swiftly as I once read. Ah well, being 70 takes a toll.
Anyway, on to the book in question.
This story doesn't wait for the reader. It dumps you into a world and expects you to read along until you find your feet or learn to swim with it. I like that.
At first reading, I wasn't sure I liked Raine, the narrator. Oh, she was telling a compelling story and I knew I'd read it, but did I like her? she is 16 maybe 17 years old and doing all the same sorts of stupid things I did at that age. Well, I wasn't shooting people with a bow when I was 17, but you know what I mean.
It turned out that it didn't matter if she was a 'likeable narrator' or not because she got swept into a story where so many things were beyond her control, in very deadly ways.
I've said before in a long ago essay that I wrote somewhere else (don't ask me to remember where) that the stories of 'sidekicks' or minor characters are often the most interesting. Those great events are grinding along and those very important people are involved. But then there's Sam Gamgee, just doing the best he can. Or Watson, keeping track of what's going on. Alfred, butlering along for Batman. And that is where Raine ends up. Not an apprentice at Redwinter, moving toward knowledge and power. Sure, Raine was saved from horrid death and played a major part in preventing a Very Bad Thing. So she gets to be a Head Retainer. Stand behind the guests and pour the wine. Run errands and deliver messages.
So as a member of the household staff, she watches deadly events begin to unfold, and she's doing her best to keep her secrets safe, the secrets that would probably end in her messy execution if anyone gets to know of it. But she cannot resist the rip tide of events that pulls her into the thick of things.
This book builds along solidly, painting in a complex backdrop of culture, magic and characters. But the final six chapters are a rocket ride, so don't start reading those if you have to get up early the next day. Save them to read all at once when you can really focus and enjoy them.
The book does have a solid satisfactory ending. No cliffhanger, but obviously there is more to tell and I have great faith that McDonald will deliver it in more books to come.
First, the Caveat. Jane Johnson is not only my editor of many, many years but also an excellent friend. But I do not think that affects my reactions tFirst, the Caveat. Jane Johnson is not only my editor of many, many years but also an excellent friend. But I do not think that affects my reactions to this book.
I've been through a frustrating six months or so. Cataracts! As they dimmed my view and stole my colors, they also took away my pleasure in reading. Even in the best of times, I don't like reading off a screen. I'm a paper person, and I love my 'real' books. But my reading speed slowed and slowed until I felt like reading was like an exercise bike. All the work, and no distance traveled!
Then I got my surgery, and I thought, hurray! I will get it all back. But, no. My eyes were slow to heal and my doctor didn't want to prescribe reading glasses until she was sure they were completely healed.
Well, here I am, months later, and I have my new reading glasses and my reading speed is coming back. I have a huge stack of books by my bed, some released months ago, but now that I can read them, I intend to enjoy myself.
But . . . back to The White Hare.
I'm not sure how to classify this book. The best stories defy classification.
It's a contemporary fantasy set in 1954 Cornwall. Well, not contemporary to our world, but certainly to that world and time. Not urban fantasy; do we have rural fantasy? While it has romance in it, the romance is not the sole focus of the book. There's a mystery to the story, one that can be solved. And another mystery that does not lend itself to an easy resolution. There's lots of history, both of the land and of the characters. These are not simple characters. But those are facets of the tale rather than the focus of it.
What is the focus? Magic. Such a small word for such a big concept. It's the magic of a place and of a world. It's the magic that seeps and dyes and flavors a particular place and a people. It's not a gentle magic, or a magic that explains itself. It can rebuke or it can welcome. It is powerful, and powerful forces are always dangerous.
This book does not hesitate to evoke a sense of wonder. It's a renewal of 'what if' and it does that better than I've seen it done in quite a while.
I"ll add a comment down here that might be a spoiler for some people. If you don't worry about spoilers then read on. If you hate spoilers, as I do, stop at the large white space below here.
Stop
No, I mean it. Stop.
Spoiler, perhaps, below. Stop reading.
Seriously, stop.
Spoiler!!!!
I dislike stories that evoke a sense of wonder, of magic and fantasy, and then, at the last possible moment, they go, "And then I woke up." Or, "just kidding, it was a man in a scary suit (a la Scooby Do cartoons)" Or, "But maybe the protagonist was a little bit crazy. Or maybe it was drugs. " I dislike books that create that awesome sense of wonder, and then snatch it back because the writer doesn't dare believe in it.
The While Hare doesn't do that. Not even a little bit.
Well, the usual caveats. I got this book for free, in the form of an Advance Reading Copy. Peter V Brett has been a friend of mine for years. But I doWell, the usual caveats. I got this book for free, in the form of an Advance Reading Copy. Peter V Brett has been a friend of mine for years. But I don't think either of those things will affect my review of this book.
Things to know. This is book one of a yet to be finished trilogy. So if you wolf this down in one go, you will have plenty of time to wonder (as I am) what's going to happen next. However, it does tie up enough story threads at the end of this volume that you will not be left dangling over a cliff. At 600 some pages, it's a nice chunk of story.
This book returns to Peter's world of his Demon Cycle, with warding magic and a stunning array of different demons and dangers. The protagonists are descendants of characters you may have met in the Demon Cycle books, and the history and politics of those previous books are touched upon.
But if you are worrying that you will be lost if you have not read the previous Demon Cycle books, set that aside. The author has done a great job of reintroducing his world and the magic system. I think this volume is a great entry point for new readers as well as a wonderful continuation for those who have traveled here before.
The story is told from the tight first person points of view of two very different characters. Both are teenagers, but I would not characterize this book as young adult, even though in many aspects these characters and their friends are all coming of age. Both characters are intriguing and their development bodes well for the next book.
Peter V Brett does love a fight scene, and there are many in this tale. The trick of a good fight scene, I believe, is that it not only advances the plot, but embroiders the characterization of the fighters at the same time.
Recommended for readers new to the Demon Cycle world, and for those who want to continue their adventures there.
First, the caveat: Brian McClellan is a friend. I do not think that affects my review of this book. And as always, I will strive to avoid all spoilersFirst, the caveat: Brian McClellan is a friend. I do not think that affects my review of this book. And as always, I will strive to avoid all spoilers.
On my Kindle, this book is 545 pages long and the first book in a trilogy. Although there is obviously more story to come, this volume is a satisfying read as a stand alone. You will wonder what happens next, but not in a 'cliff hanger' way. (I'm going to start including this information in reviews. Some readers are daunted at the prospect of a 900 page book that is one third of a story!)
Promise of Blood is the first book in the Powder Mage Trilogy. It is also the first published book by Brian McClellan (2013)
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that this tale takes place in a time of gunpowder and firearms. But in addition to the ordinary explosive property of black powder, for some people it can be used in magical ways. Hence the title, Powder Mage. But that is not the only source of magic in this tale. Some folks have a Knack, a lesser, very specific ability, such as going without sleep. And some, the Privileged, are endowed with a great deal of magical ability.
With several magical systems, it would be very easy to confuse the reader. So often in fantasy, we are introduced to a flood of characters with unusual names, in a world of countries that are allies or enemies, and a complicated political history. The flood of information in a first chapter can be so dense that I end up setting the book aside. I simply don't want to work that hard, nor to take notes to remember who is allied with whom and what the relationships are.
But McClellan does an excellent job of trickling out the information in a manageable flow. It's an easy entry into the world and into the various magical systems. The writing style is transparent as we meet characters one at a time via a tight, third person point of view. The actions of one character that the viewpoint character finds foolhardy or appalling become understandable as we shift characters in the next chapter, and discover the history and motivation from the point of view of that character.
(What an appalling sentence. I will trust you to parse it out and understand what I'm saying!)
I find this book to be an appealing entry to a complex world with engaging characters. Recommended.
First, the usual caveat: I received a free Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher. I do not think that affects my review of this book.
FiFirst, the usual caveat: I received a free Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher. I do not think that affects my review of this book.
First book in a trilogy
This is a world I would love to step into. It's dangerous, wondrous and populated with strange creatures, some possibly loyal allies and others vicious antagonists. The backdrop of the tale is stunning in its scale; I don't think it's a spoiler to say that a city may grow within the skull of a fallen god. The magic and power of the fallen gods are everywhere, as both traps and treasures for those who encounter it. That divine heritage of bones and bloodlines is not always visible, nor always a blessing. Kings, queens and jarls struggle for power, but the reader witnesses all from the viewpoints of a smallholder, a slave and a nobleman's daughter who has escaped family constraints to command her own fate. As the three tales of these divergent characters begin to converge, reader anticipation can only rise for the next two volumes in this story.
Highly recommended. I enjoyed the diverse viewpoints of characters from very different social strata and expectations.
First, the usual caveats: I received an advance reading copy from the publisher, for free. I have not (yet) meatThreadneedle is my first read of 2021.
First, the usual caveats: I received an advance reading copy from the publisher, for free. I have not (yet) meat the author, Cari Thomas. This book won't be published until May of 2021, but you can probably pre-order it now.
And, of course, my permanent reminder that I try to avoid all spoilers in a review.
And a new notification that I'm adding: The Trilogy or Series notification. This is book one in The Language of Magic. In this case the ending resolves a major issue, but many plot threads will go tendrilling into the next book (s).
To begin, this story is a contemporary urban fantasy. The protagonists are mostly school girls. The magic in the book is witchcraft, and it presumes that the ability to do this magic is something passed on through families. Much of the tale takes place in an ordinary school, what we would call a high school in the US.
Things that made this book a compelling read for me. We accept the family culture we are born into. When we become teenagers, that is when a lot of us begin to question 'the way things are' and either embrace that culture or rebel against it.
A couple of things I really enjoyed about this book: The witchcraft practiced in this book summons enough traditional information about witchcraft that it feels very authentic. The magic both gleams and threatens.
The nasty girl politics that hit in the late teens are so accurately portrayed that it almost triggered high school PTSD in me. Any girl who has ever stayed in the bathroom stall because you can hear the 'popular' girls combing their hair as they rip you to shreds will know what I mean.
There's a library. Trust me, it's a good one.
There are riddles and puzzles to be solved, and they are handled well.
For the most part, the young protagonists in this book have only themselves to rely on. There is no Dumbledore waiting to intervene, counsel and guide. There is no kindly mentor offering wise counsel. The protagonists must rely on their own wits. The mistakes they make are the genuine errors of youth, including avoiding the adults that might have helped. And the errors in judgment of the adults are also plausible if horrifying.
Anything else I should mention? Hm. I think that about covers it.
I will add that if you are a Hobb reader, and what you want is epic fantasy set in a quasi medieval world, this isn't it. But I still think you might really want to give this one a try.
The usual caveat: I received this book free as an advance reading copy from the publisher. I do not think that prevents me from giving an honest revieThe usual caveat: I received this book free as an advance reading copy from the publisher. I do not think that prevents me from giving an honest review.
Another caveat: While this book can stand alone, I believe one should read The Watchmaker of Filigree Street before diving into The Lost Future of Pepperharrow.
This story takes place a handful of years after the events related in The Watchmaker of Filigree Street.
Most of the events take place in 1888 and in a Japan that almost might have existed. Ether theory is still taken very seriously. Electricity is in its rebellious adolescent years. Russia, Japan and the UK are flexing some muscle at one another. And in the midst of this, Thaniel, a civil servant who excels at translating Japanese and operating a telegraph key and composing music, is dispatched to the British legation in Japan to deal with reports of ghosts wreaking havoc with the staff there.
If you think of a book as the sum of its ingredients, rather like a cake from a recipe, you will already see that you probably have not seen these elements combined before, in quite this way.
Now add a clairvoyant samurai. And Six, a precocious and peculiar child rescued from the workhouse. Stir in a clockwork octopus.
Now you all know that I despise spoilers, so that is as much as I'm going to say about the actual plot or ingredients of the book.
I'm going to mention instead something I really liked. The author uses very vernacular English in the dialogue between Japanese characters in the late 1800's. At first, it puzzled me and put me a bit off stride. So, I suggest that before diving in, the reader leaf to the back of the book and read the explanation for her choice of language. It fascinated me and added a very nice dimension to the story.
This is a book that demands your close attention to detail. And the title of the book is absolutely perfect for it.
That's all I'm going to say. If you read Filigree Street and enjoyed it, don't deny yourself the pleasure of this one.
There is, of course, a wonderful anime about this book, with the same title. But as is true of many, many books and movies, I found the experience of There is, of course, a wonderful anime about this book, with the same title. But as is true of many, many books and movies, I found the experience of reading to be very different from that of viewing.
In my opinion, any movie based on a book is really a movie about one reader's reaction and interpretation of a book. In this case, it's an enjoyable one, but I felt that it missed many of the nuances of the story that made it such a great read.
I've yet to read a book by Diana Wynne Jones that did not enchant me. But among her books, this one is special to me. Every character is engaging. The world and situation is unique. There is a thoughtful thread that runs through the story about how we see ourselves and how we see others. Appearances can be deceiving, and not just to people outside ourselves.
There are magics here that are both gentle and profound. Definitely a book that can be enjoyed more than once....more
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