Adrian Collins's Blog, page 201

REVIEW: The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Trouble with Peace in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank both Joe Abercrombie and Gollancz.

Following on from the dramatic events that concluded A Little Hatred, we return to the First Law world whilst it is enjoying a period of relative peace. Although Abercrombie is the master of defying our expectations and misleading the reader, even for him, everything remaining peaceful for a whole book would have been a step too far. Orso with his newfound power and responsibilities has to now deal with the Union’s politics and becomes aware that not all is rosy on his advising councils. The Breakers and Burners are still rubbing their wounds but their need for change and revolution is still a flame that has not been extinguished. Also, with characters such as the Young Lion, the Great Wolf, Gunnar Broad, Vick dan Teufel, Clover, Savine dan Glokta, and Caul Shivers frequenting the pages the drama was inevitable.

There are so many standout moments throughout The Trouble with Peace that it is incredible that Abercrombie was able to fit them all within a 500-page book. The only negative thing about receiving an early copy of this novel is that I can’t discuss these scenes with anyone yet, and I’m not mean-spirited enough to spoil these awesome events. Calling them spectacular is not an over-exaggeration. Furthermore, when I believed that it couldn’t get any better, the last three chapters deliver. Abercrombie really knows how to end a novel. In The Trouble with Peace, he absolutely nails it.

For me, Abercrombie’s greatest gift to his readers is his characters. We follow the same point of views as A Little Hatred. All flawed, all likeable, often frustratingly so as many shouldn’t be at all. My favourite perspective to follow was that of Orso. Throughout The Trouble with Peace, he is really developing into something special. Rikke’s sections deserve a special mention too, especially the dreamlike Long Eye segments when they occur. If I force myself to be overtly critical then I would say my least favourite viewpoint was that of Vick’s. Truthfully though, that isn’t really a negative in a company so fine as her perspective presents some great moments too, including one with an assassin. In addition to the 7-or so points of view, which sometimes change mid-chapter, certain extremely important events are presented through the eyes of many different side characters or very minor players to give a fully 360-degree immersive experience of these happenings. It’s deftly done.

The author writes war and battle scenes unlike anyone else I’ve read. They are marvellous, intense, sometimes tragic, and extremely gritty. Often injected with completely unheroic actions, hopelessness, and humour, too. The Trouble with Peace has many humorous scenes in general but to find something that happens amusing when it’s shadowed by chaos and death definitely plays with the emotions. I even chuckled when reading the kindly included Dramatis Personae. An example is as follows:

Downside – one of Clover’s warriors, with a bad habit of killing men on his own side.

The cover of my copy of The Trouble with Peace features the words conspiracy, betrayal, and rebellion and this is a great summary of what the book is about. The story completely exceeded my high expectations and I enjoyed it even more than A Little Hatred. It features stunning dialogue and wit and has memorable characters who leap off the page to attack your emotions. It’s a story that I know will stay with me for a long time. To conclude, I’ll simply say that The Trouble with Peace is a masterwork of grimdark fantasy by an author who is one of the finest the genre has to offer.

Read The Trouble With Peace

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REVIEW: The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell

In The Burning Land, the fifth entry in The Saxon Stories, we follow the escapades of a 35 or 36-year-old Uhtred of Bebbanburg. He’s still Alfred’s oathman and has been residing in Lundune. The Danish warrior, and Uhtred’s ex-servant Haesten is an everpresent nuisance, but in this novel, we are introduced to the leader and lover of another force of Danes who are being problematic and threatening Alfred’s peace. Harald Bloodhair and Skade. Haesten informs Uhtred that Skade is Bloodhair’s woman, bitch, lover, and sorceress. He also kindly warns Uhtred that “if you see her, my friend, you’ll want her. But she’ll nail your skull to her hall gable if she can.” The Burning Land is about these Danish threats to Wessex and Mercia and the importance of oaths.

Recently The Saxon Stories series has been my go-to choice when I couldn’t decide between other books to read next. I find myself drifting back to them every 3rd or 4th book. My experiences with all of the stories so far have been 4 or 5-star reads and at approximately 300-pages I tend to race through these in under a week. The chapters here take about half an hour to read and I tended to devour 2 or 3 in a sitting. The Burning Land is more of the same of what has come before yet the series is nowhere near becoming stale, in fact, I’d say that as Uhtred is ageing his life experience and intelligence lead to really clever moments that are great to read. Such as a moment including bees and another with ships’ sails.

We still have battles, war councils, friendships, loyalty, and omens but, however much I have enjoyed the previous novels, I think this entry has been the perfect example of Cornwell’s strengths as a writer put on display. There is still humour featured in The Burning Land when the scenarios permit it, as there is dread, fear, and hatred. Uhtred’s utter loathing of Christianity is known throughout at least three nations and he doesn’t let that up in this entry either, as can be seen in quotes such as the below:

Folk tell their children that success lies in working hard and being thrifty, but that is as much nonsense as supposing that a badger, a fox and a wolf could build a church. The way to wealth is to become a Christian bishop or a monastery’s abbot and thus be imbued with heaven’s permission to lie, cheat and steal your way to luxury.

Another highlight of The Saxon Stories is the rich and diverse cast of characters. Uhtred’s first-person perspective presents a wide plethora of emotions dependant on who he is discussing. Love for someone like Gisela, respect for someone like Steapa, loyalty for someone like Finan, admiration for someone like Æthelflæd, and detest for someone like Æthelred or any number of the gaggle of religious influencers.

‘Æthelflæd remains your wife,’ I told him quietly, ‘but if she dies mysteriously, or if she sickens, or if I hear rumours of a spell cast against her, then I shall find you, cousin, and I shall suck the eyeballs out of your skull and spit them down your throat so you choke to death.’ I smiled. ‘Send your men to Lundene and keep your country.’

If I hadn’t received a review copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year (R. F. Kuang’s The Burning God) then I more than likely would have just carried on with this series. At this rate, I will have finished the books that are already out before the release of the final novel, Wolf Lord, on the 15th of October. My fellow reviewer Edward Gwynne‘s reviews of the later novels remain extremely positive so it looks like I am in for more fine reading experiences with Uhtred, Finan, Osferth et al. Uhtred is 35-36 during this novel, not much older than me, and he is still in the front row of the shield wall or the first over the palisades. I’m intrigued to see if, and how, that changes as he ages further, yet I predict his importance will not be diminished. I really can’t wait to continue with Uhtred’s adventure and know for sure that I will be back very soon.

Read The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell

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REVIEW: Interlibrary Loan by Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe’s Interlibrary Loan is a sequel to his 2015 A Borrowed Man. The premise of both is that in a future Earth, libraries not only offer books to be loaned, but also authors – clones of long-dead writers, housed by the library and put at the disposal of the borrowers.

It’s a fascinating conceit – the only comparison I can bring to mind is one of the constituent tales of Dan Simmons’ Hyperion, but Wolfe has much more room to work in a full novel.

Both A Borrowed Man and Interlibrary Loan deal are told from the perspective of Ernest A. Smithe, an author of thrillers and detective stories largely forgotten in the present day. The trope of calling upon a crime author to help solve murders is fairly well established, but this treads new ground. Smithe is firstly a man out of his own time – even if he is fairly familiar with the machinery of the future, he is always asking questions about it. We expect the detective to be an outsider – not himself a criminal or a suspect. Smithe makes that rather more literal.

Secondly, he is bound to a system that keeps him in servitude. As a book is the property of a library, so too is a reclone. At best, they might be cherished as a racehorse is cherished. What is more, Smithe is expected to speak and act as the narrator of his own books. His speech patterns tend to the formal and systematic, but as we move through the plot with him, it is clear that he would instinctively prefer a different style in person than he would for his crime fiction. There is no tortured speculation about the question of a reclone’s identity, but the question remains.

Smithe has been transferred by the titular inter-library loan from Spice Grove to Port Cove, where he is asked to look for the disappeared husband of a local woman, Mrs Fevre. While the events of A Borrowed Man are referenced, they do not as such influence the plot. Smithe’s actions in pursuit of Dr Fevre will lead him away from the rural, sparsely populated but technologically active future America that characterised A Borrowed Man, to the harbour of Port Cove and the island of Lichholm.

Interlibrary Loan is more discursive than A Borrowed Man, and may suffer somewhat from the greater number of settings and characters. However, the tale of Smithe’s struggles and discoveries remains arresting.

Gene Wolfe died in April 2019; Interlibrary Loan is his last book. In such cases, it is tempting to wonder how much of an author is really in such a work. Nothing I have read suggests that Interlibrary Loan was completed by another hand. We may say that it is no reclone, but a genuine Wolfe.

I would give Interlibrary Loan Three Stars. A familiarity with the works of Gene Wolfe (not least A Borrowed Man) would be good before going in.

Read Interlibrary Loan by Gene Wolfe

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REVIEW: ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

‘Salem’s Lot was my first Stephen King read and boy it did not disappoint whatsoever. It gave me sleepless nights. Honestly.

“The basis of all human fears, he thought. A closed door, slightly ajar.”

Stephen King is an author who I’ve always wanted to read, but just never got round to it. Not long ago my dad said it was time for my brother and I to be introduced to the world of vampires. So it began. We only read at night time.

‘Salem’s Lot is a story of 3 parts. Part 1 introducing the town of Jerusalem’s Lot, mainly following the main character of Ben Mears, a writer who has returned to his boyhood town looking to conquer some sort of fear. We are also introduced to a wide cast of characters and see their lives in the town. It was slow but poignant and written very well.

“The town kept its secrets, and the Marsten House brooded over it like a ruined king.”

Part 2 – the tension built, I started to eye the window in my room peering out into the darkness with suspicion. By the beginning of Part 3, I had covered my window with a new blind, which I vowed to keep pulled down until I finished the book.

It is a story of vampires, of how it can feel real, how no matter how close you are with the residents who live around you, you never really know what’s going on behind closed doors.

“At three in the morning the blood runs slow and thick, and slumber is heavy. The soul either sleeps in blessed ignorance of such an hour or gazes about itself in utter despair. There is no middle ground.”

I loved the pacing and the storytelling of ‘Salem’s Lot. There were so many twists, so many threads that were pulled together producing lots of satisfactory smiles, or even panic at the realisation of a favourite character about to find themselves in deep horror.

Stephen King has a way of making Jerusalem’s Lot feel like a very real, breathing and living town. The characters are quirky and intense with all manner of personalities interacting with each other. I loved the main cast, such as Ben Mears, Cody, Mark Petrie, Susan and Matt. And this connection with them early on made Part 3 hit even harder.

“If a man dethrones God in his heart, Satan must ascend to His position.”

‘Salem’s Lot is a scary book, with moments that actually felt like jump scares. There are creepy scenes that I’m sure will stick with me for a long time. I fear I won’t look at looming trees, the sunset, or a cemetery the same way again. Or antique dealers.

“And all around them, the bestiality of the night rises on tenebrous wings. The vampire’s time has come.”

5/5 – One of my favourite reads this year. I am so glad I ventured into this fantastic reimagining of vampires. It’s authentic and all-too-real. Highly recommended to everyone.

Read Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

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REVIEW: The Worst of All Possible Worlds by Alex White

Alex White concludes their hit Salvagers trilogy in spectacular fashion in, The Worst Of All Possible Worlds. Picking up months after the events of A Bad Deal For The Whole Galaxy, we find the intrepid crew of the Capricious still hot on the trail of the remaining Gods of the Harrow.

With nothing less than the fate of all life in the universe at stake, the gang must leverage their now considerable resources and elite proficiencies to once again unravel an ancient mystery and confront the elusive – and terrifyingly powerful – cabal of sorcerers responsible for the destruction of their home world.

Keeping in form with its predecessors, The Worst Of All Possible Worlds is a rollicking blend of eye-popping action, heartfelt drama and endearing comedy. White will have you laughing out loud in one chapter and tears welling in your eyes the next, interspersing such moments with thrill-ride sequences boasting set pieces so massive as to make a Death Star blush.

Darker in tone and more complex in structure relative to the previous entries, the series conclusion is, for me, easily the finest of the trilogy. Notably, the writing itself is at its best in this novel; verbose without pretension, vividly descriptive despite not wasting words, White presents a stellar example of high-paced storytelling, deftly executed.

Characterization was noticeably improved as well, at least in comparison to the middle book, which suffered in that regard. This time around, White wisely chooses to mostly forgo creating interpersonal conflicts between the characters, in favour of letting the drama of the story unfold and having personalities reveal and evolve in reaction, which felt considerably more organic than the previous effort and resulted in a heightened emotional connection to the story.

If forced to scrutinize for complaints, I would say the dialogue could at times feel sophomoric, though this was also frequently an endearing aspect. Specifically, the point-of-view character, Nilah Brio’s manner of speaking, grew somewhat laborious to endure, and at times felt more like schtick than genuine conversation. Another minor blemish is the considerable length of the action sequences; while certainly exciting and well-realized, I did sometimes find my mind wandering, eager to proceed to the next stage of the plot, as such moments dragged on.

Nevertheless, and despite some issues that plagued the second novel, this trilogy was an absolute joy to experience and The Worst Of All Possible Worlds is its crowning achievement. While undeniably derivative, I would contend that the quality and ingenuity of this work transcends, and in many ways surpasses, its inspirations to create something unique and wonderful that you should absolutely go and enjoy. TL;DR? Firefly meets Final Fantasy…do yourself a favour and pick up all three.

DISCLAIMER: I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this novel to review on behalf of Grimdark Magazine. While this book, arguably, may not fall exactly into the mould of that genre, I am certain grimdark fans will appreciate its content.

Read The Worst of All Possible Worlds by Alex White

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An Interview with Chuck Hogan

Mystery and horror author Chuck Hogan has released the first book of a new series with his writing partner famed director Guillermo del Toro. The new series is called The Blackwood Tapes with the first book called The Hollow Ones and features the exploits of rookie FBI agent Odessa Hardwicke. Previously Chuck Hogan and del Toro wrote The Strain series, which was eventually adapted as a tv show for FX. GdM had the great opportunity to sit down, discuss the new series, and writing in general with Chuck.

Creatively, what is the difference between writing for a TV show versus writing for a book? Do the ideas come from the same place, or is the process entirely different?

The process is not entirely different, but TV writing is always done with production realities – such as budget, sets, episode length, etc. – in the back of your mind, whereas writing a novel is blessedly free of any creative constraints. But the ideas come from the same place; the difference is in being able to execute them.

You tend to write darker stories, whether they are mystery or horror. Have you always been attracted to these genres?

I have. There’s something about stories involving characters pushed to extremes that excites and intrigues me, and mystery and horror (or dark supernatural) is as extreme as it gets.

When was the first time that you understood that language had power?

I think I understood it when everyone first understands it, which is when you tell the first lie you are able to get away with. That is a wonderful moment (assuming it gets the young liar out of a bit of innocent trouble) and also a terrible moment (understanding that deceit has clear advantages).

Your newest book, The Hollow Ones, is horror, occult, and a solid detective story. What inspired you to write it?

Guillermo has always been inspired by the great occultists, and I thought the idea of an occult detective in modern times would have resonance. As we did with THE STRAIN trilogy, Guillermo presented an outline of characters and an idea, I returned serve with some other ideas, and another tennis match was born.

How did you create the FBI agent Odessa Hardwicke?

It started simply enough with not wanting to do anything traditional. After landing on the character of Agent Solomon as one of the first Black FBI Special Agents in the 1962 part of the story, it felt interesting and fruitful to go with a rookie female agent in modern times. I also like the screwball comedy element that comes from her relationship with Hugo Blackwood, especially as she is getting to know who – and what – he is.

What kind of research did you do for The Hollow Ones?

The most interesting thing Guillermo and I did was to take a day and visit various sites in New York City, including Blackwood’s mailbox (you’ll have to read to understand what that is) and the old grave sites of African slaves. Then we rode across the bridge (just like the opening to The Sopranos) into Newark to do some shopping at the local botanicals. That was a first for me.

Do you internalize what is going on in the world and use it as fuel in your writing, or do you try to keep everything separate?

When you are cooking on a story, it achieves its own gravitational force and starts pulling in elements from everywhere, some expected, others surprising. I don’t think we have a set way of thinking on that. Whatever works best for the characters and the story.

What were the best and worst parts of starting a new story after having finished The Strain?

The best part was Guillermo and I getting together again and starting fresh on a completely new vision. Also, knowing that this was to be a series as opposed to a trilogy was particularly freeing. The worst part is the same worst part as every novel: facing the first blank page.

Do you have a set writing environment?

The desk I am sitting at now. The great thing about writing novels is you don’t need anything more than a laptop, an idea, and time.

Are you a writer who starts with a particular scene and moves outward, or is writing a linear process?

The only real rule I follow is writing the first draft in sequence. I can’t imagine jumping around from early to late scenes and filling in the rest. I have to think that would impact the reading experience. There are so many discoveries in day-to-day writing, finding things that inform the next chapter, and the chapter after that, that I feel would be lost by skipping my vegetables and going straight to dessert.

Read The Hollow Ones by Chuck Hogan

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REVIEW: The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan have returned with a new brand of exquisite horror for their readers in The Hollow Ones. The writing team has a way of using language and imagery that creeps into the marrow of your bones in their writing. Whether they are invoking psychological terror or writing about things that go bump in the night, they scare and scare well. Del Toro and Chuck Hogan are also authors of the New York Times bestselling series, The Strain trilogy, adapted to the hit tv show The Strain by FX that aired between 2014 – 2017. Del Toro is a director and writer with notable movies such as Mimic, Hellboy, and Pan’s Labyrinth. Chuck Hogan, who is both a writer of screenplays and novels, has eight books of horror and mystery stories.

“To anyone other than a law enforcement professional, the classification of the crime matters little. The only truly important fact of the matter was that, for more than sixty years, Unruh’s shooting spree stood as the worst rampage killing in New Jersey.

    That is, until the night Walt Leppo ordered meatloaf.”

The Hollow Ones follows FBI Agent Odessa Hardwicke as she tracks down who or more importantly what killed her partner. Because even though Odessa pulled the trigger, something happened to her partner before he went crazy. And, like a cat, Odessa is full of curiosity that might get her killed. She wants to know who or what is causing this string of murder and suicides in her city. A low-level desk assignment leads her to a senior FBI agent Earl Solomon, who is coming to the end of his life. Earl introduces her to the mysterious John Silence, a man who is so much more than he seems. The John Silence character is originally based on an Algernon Blackwood character written in the early 1900s about the ‘psychic physician.’ Between Silence’s stoicism and mystery and Odessa’s curiosity, the two follow a trail of demons, magic, and the occult that leads to the answer of what killed Odessa’s partner.

The Hollow Ones are two dueling narratives. That of young and intrepid FBI agent Odessa Hardwicke. Who in the opening scenes of the story has to make a career-ending decision of killing her partner or watch him kill someone. It is unexplainable what happened to Odessa’s partner, and the FBI is in the business of real data and evidence. This case is a career-ender for Odessa. She is put on a desk job that leads her to clean out former agent Solomon’s office. Odessa brings Solomon his things in the hospital. We flash to the other narrative of a young and bold Solomon at the beginning of his career in the 1960s. He is the first African American agent in the FBI and is investigating the lynching of a white man in the south. Solomon crosses path with John Silence and with John Solomon investigates the death. There are parallels drawn between Solomon’s and Odessa’s career. Each follows a similar path with the commonality of John Silence.

“Odessa was riveted, reexperiencing her own trauma as she listened.”

Solomon has aged and is now laying dying in the hospital, Odessa is a brand new agent being first introduced to the occult, yet John Silence is the same as ever. As the story progresses, the two distinct stories wind around each other until they eventually mesh into present times. Dek Toro and Hogan do this well. The pacing of the story is quick and exciting. I was as invested in Odessa’s fate as I was Solomons. However, there is a sparseness to the writing that leads to a lack of character development. I wanted more from these characters, especially Silence. It is one thing to tell me that Silence has been around a long time, and it is another to demonstrate that. Same with Solomon. A reader could learn so much more from him. Instead, it felt like Solomon was a passing conduit to get Odessa to John Silence. Parts of this book almost felt like reading a screenplay without set descriptions; it perfectly played out in Del Toro’s and Hogan’s head but did not quite make the transition to the written page. And even though it was still a very entertaining story, the brusqueness of the dialog and story beats left me feeling disconnected from the characters.

“He remembered she recoiled from the taste, the flavor of solder lingering in his mouth. She said she woke the next morning with the burnt taste still upon her palate, the source of which he could not explain.”

However, even though the story felt compressed, there is still enough meat for a great trilogy. We are just starting on our journey with Odessa and John Silence, but if this story is any indication of the thrills in the upcoming books, we are in for a treat.

Read The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

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WRITING COMPETITION: The Matthew Ward Pay it Forward Competition

Grimdark Magazine is running a writing competition.

The publishing industry is a people industry, and is only as good as the people in it. While acquiring a short story from Matthew Ward (Legacy of Ash) for Grimdark Magazine #24 he asked me to pay his story fee forward to a new author. It was a timely reminder of how good the people in this industry can be. I was reminded of all the readers, fans, reviewers, bloggers, editors, artists, and publishers who spend their time—often for very little or no reward at all—trying to lift each other up.

To pass Matt’s story fee forward GdM will be running a writing competition—the Matthew Ward Pay it Forward Writing Competition. In one month’s time, we will open the submissions inbox for authors who have not yet sold a story above a token or royalty only payment.

What are we after?

One piece of short fiction to be published in Grimdark Magazine during 2021.

Submissions will be:

4,000 words or less
No reprints (including stories published anywhere online for free—public forums, etc)
Sci-Fi or fantasy
A grimdark story (a grim story in a dark world told by a morally grey protagonist)

This writing competition is for grimdark stories

I can’t stress this last point enough. Grimdark elements or flavours is not enough. We want full grimdark. Not rape fantasies or pointless gorefests or pure good versus evil. We want character-driven stories that showcase that evil is a matter of perspective.

When is this happening?

The window will be open for one week only–Sunday 30th of August to Saturday 5th of September, AEST.

What is first prize?

Paid publication in an issue of Grimdark Magazine. Editing, contracting, AU$0.07 per word up to 4,000 words, publication. The full treatment we give to all original stories we purchase.

Is there a second or third prize?

Yes. Second and third will both receive feedback on their stories.

There will be no feedback or reason for non-selection in the top three for any other stories.

Am I eligible?

If you have yet to sell a short story to a market that pays more than either token (up to and including US$100) or royalty only for your work, you are eligible. You can check your market’s pay rate here if you don’t remember.

Caveat: If you are a traditionally published novellist, but just haven’t gotten around to selling a short story above the rates described, sorry but this isn’t for you–that’s not quite the spirit of what we’re going for.

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REVIEW: Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The second novel in Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb series, Harrow the Ninth follows on closely from its predecessor Gideon the Ninth, continuing the same story but taking Harrow’s arc in an unexpected direction. After the dramatic conclusion to events at Canaan House, Harrow and Ianthe have taken up their new roles as Lyctors, but while Ianthe has largely taken well to her new duties Harrow is finding things difficult. Her fellow Lyctors are antagonistic to say the least, God himself is overprotective and weirdly sensitive, and both her memories and powers are proving unreliable. Add to that the apocalyptic danger of a rapidly approaching Resurrection Beast, and things are looking bleak for the young woman who was once the Ninth House’s Reverend Daughter.

While Gideon was sort of a sinister, necromantic whodunnit, this time it’s more of a what-the-hell-is-happening, digging further into Muir’s deeply thought-out world while posing all manner of unexpected questions. Why are there so few Lyctors left and why is one of them actively trying to kill Harrow? What’s the deal with the creepy dead body of Cytherea? Why does Harrow hold on so tightly to a sword she can’t use and which makes her sick just to touch, and what’s going on with her memories of youth back in Drearburgh? These and more are posed and (eventually) answered as the novel develops, but while Harrow shares many similarities with Gideon it focuses even more on the sense of mystery running through it. Muir’s choice to tell a non-linear story in a mixture of second and third person – second for the ‘present day’ sections and third for flashbacks to Harrow’s childhood – emphasises this right from the off.

Combine this with Muir’s rich, dense prose and absolute refusal to spoon feed exposition to her readers and you’ve got a book which deliberately takes an unexpected narrative tangent and demands concentration, patience and trust. What it offers in return is more of the brilliant world building and razor-sharp dialogue that made Gideon so much fun, a deeper exploration of just how messed up, fabulously capable and utterly determined Harrow is, and a plot which, when it finally resolves, is a masterpiece in complex, mind-bending storytelling. Oh, and a few great new characters in the other Lyctors. If you loved Gideon the Ninth then chances are you’ll love this too, but just be prepared to be patient (and keep a copy of Gideon by your side for reference) – it will be worth it in the end!

Thanks very much to Tamsyn Muir and Tor.com for sending me a copy of Harrow the Ninth in exchange for this honest review!

Read Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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REVIEW: Sorcery of a Queen by Brian Naslund

I received a review copy of Sorcery of a Queen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Brian Naslund and Tor.

“Let me get this straight. Sitting on this ship, we have a stranger who claims to be a Witch Queen. An emperor-killing exile. And a notorious thief. In what realm would I bring the three of you within ten leagues of our Eternal Empress Okinu?”

After the battle of Floodhaven, we join Bershad, Ashlyn, and Felgor aboard a ship that’s sailing North to Papyria. If you were wondering if the sequel to Blood of an Exile was going to be as action-focused and brutal as the first, then Naslund delivers his answer from the very first page. How does a showdown with five Red Skull dragons sound? With the third word in the novel being “goatfuck” for good measure.

Sorcery of a Queen is a high-intensity, action-packed, fantasy adventure that features large dollops of humour, as well as science and steampunk elements. It introduces many new players to the already pretty sizeable ensemble yet Sorcery of a Queen never felt confusing to follow. The new characters were mainly incorporated in Jolan’s storyline, or lived on Goth Moth island. My memory was so hazy with reference to events that occurred in Blood of an Exile that I was considering a re-read of that book before starting the sequel. I need not have worried, however, as Naslund deftly reminds us of previous important happenings and events without it ever feeling forced. With that being the case, I believe Sorcery of a Queen could be read as a standalone without prior knowledge of the realm of Terra.

In addition to the point of view perspectives of Bershad and Ashlyn, we see what is happening around Terra through the eyes of the alchemist Jolan, the widow Vera, the corsair Cabbage, and the guard Castor. All the perspectives were enjoyable to follow. It took me a while to like reading about Jolan in Blood of the Exile but his tale is strong here and includes a same-sex potential relationship. Cabbage was my favourite new character to read about as the corsairs’ banter was great but the absolute highlights were presented by the living-legend, dragon-slaying extraordinaire Bershad.

For me, Sorcery of a Queen sits somewhere between a 3 or a 4-star read. I upgraded it to 4 on Goodreads as there are many memorable set-pieces, everything wraps up nicely in a way that means I’ll definitely read the next entry, and Naslund’s enthusiasm for writing fantasy bleeds into the ink on the page. Sorcery of a Queen is a quick, fun fantasy read that is almost never dull. The only boring parts to me is when Ashyln’s point of view prints some of master engineer, borderline madman Osyrus Ward’s research. Even with those moments, Naslund’s Dragons of Terra is an enjoyable fantasy adventure worth racing through.

Read Sorcery of a Queen by Brian Naslund

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