Adrian Collins's Blog, page 76

REVIEW: The Peripheral

The Peripheral is an adaptation of William Gibson’s novel of the same name. As a long-time cyberpunk fan, I was, of course, extremely excited to see anything by the godfather of the genre (though not the only one for those who haven’t checked out Bruce Bethke, Pat Cadigan, Walter Jon Williams, or George Alec Effinger).

Cyberpunk is making a hefty resurgence thanks in part to Cyberpunk 2077 but also the rise of independent publishing as well as a greater class awareness. Cyberpunk is, at its core, a genre about being “****ed by technology” and the idea that while we may advance in our toys, those toys will not necessarily solve any problems if they’re wielded the same way the ones we currently have are.

The premise of The Peripheral is Flynne Fisher (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a woman who works at a printing shop in rural America with her brother, Burton (Jack Reynor), in the not-so-distant future. There are strong True Blood vibes here but only in the sense of properly capturing the quiet desperation of small-town life. Burton is a former soldier for the US military and doesn’t have many prospects, so he spends his time hanging out with his buddies. The first big twist is the fact that Flynne, despite living in the middle of nowhere, has excellent wi-fi and has managed to make herself one of the country’s most talented online gamers as a side hustle.

Flynne is given a virtual reality headset that she believes is just a tool for a brand-new crime game akin to Grand Theft Auto. It was meant to go to her brother, Burton, but he passes it along to her since Flynne’s gaming skills are significantly better and he’s been using her to raise his own score while they compete for small amounts of money online. The virtual reality Flynne finds herself in, complete with an avatar that feels very real, is a post-apocalyptic London that has technology far more advanced than her own time’s. To get into the actual plotline further would potentially spoil some genuinely interesting twists but conspiracies, corporate crime, gangsters, and time travel ensue.

The show is genuinely good and benefits strongly from the likability of the leads. Flynne is your every woman protagonist, and you appreciate both her hesitance at putting herself in danger while also wanting to have something in her life that is genuinely exciting. Burton feels like a screw up but his military experience makes him the kind of person who understands the level of threat they’re under. There are also some genuinely funny moments in the show like when the villains put a hit out on Flynne, only to attack when Burton is hosting a cookout with a bunch of his ex-Special Forces buddies (that have access to his gun collection).

The show does have some flaws. It’s clear the writers assumed they would have access to a second season and are taking their leisurely time with the plot. There are a few episodes that get caught up in meaningless diversions while we could be advancing the main plot. Which unfortunately leaves the series on a cliffhanger that will never be resolved. Despite the show being critically acclaimed and popular, it was renewed then cancelled by Amazon Prime due to the writer and actor’s strike. This may impact your interest in the series.

In conclusion, The Peripheral is a very entertaining cyberpunk action drama. The characters are fun, the writing is only occasionally slow, and the world-building is fantastic. Rural America rarely shows up in cyberpunk fiction and the use of it here makes the series stand out a lot more from other cyberpunk series. It’s a damn shame this series was cut short by executive meddling and deserved better.

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REVIEW: A Day of Reckoning by Matthew Harffy

A Day of Reckoning is the third volume in the A Time for Swords series and continues the tale of Hunlaf – once a peaceful, naïve monk and now a true warrior. Familiar characters meet new friends and foes in a stunning new setting to prove once again that Matthew Harffy (Bernicia Chronicles) is a master storyteller.

A Time for Swords and A Night of Flames both highlighted Harffy’s brilliance for historically authentic adventures full of danger and intrigue with a band of characters facing difficult situations and pulling together to overcome them. A Day of Reckoning ramps up the danger and places Hunlaf, now a more confident warrior, into the distant land of Islamic Spain (Al-Andalus in AD 796). Hunlaf’s bonds with his crew and the friendships formed throughout the series are the threads that shone through the whole series and A Day of Reckoning is no different. Drosten, Hereward, Gwawrddur, Ahmad, and my personal favourite, the brutal but caring Runolf Ragnarsson all help Hunlaf to grow as a character from the young, innocent monk that he started the series as. Harffy is brilliant at drawing on the idea that people from different backgrounds can become fast allies when given time to understand one another and identify a common cause and this is a message that is relevant throughout all history.

Whether Hunlaf fights Norsemen, Picts, or Pirates, the battles ring true and pull you deep into the intense action at the heart of the story. Though Hunlaf is telling the tale from a point of view at the end of his life (similar to Anthony Ryan’s brilliant The Covenant of Steel Series), there is still a lot of tension to be found as Hunlaf fights for his allies and knows that the decisions that he makes will have profound impacts on those around him. The prose is as brilliant as ever with a fast pace full of heart and brutality. Previously, I have compared Harffy’s work with Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Stories but at this point, I feel that the comparison is not needed. With A Day of Reckoning, Harffy proves that he stands atop of the mountain of historical fiction and both new and old fans to the genre will be delighted.

A fresh setting, deadly foes, and a violent story full of heart. A Day of Reckoning is a stunning story with numerous characters you can root for. If this is the final book in the series, then it is a fantastic way to go. However, I hope that there are more tales to tell by Hunlaf of Ubbanford and I know that I will not be alone in saying that.

Read A Day of Reckoning by Matthew Harffy

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REVIEW: The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

It is not a foreign concept, in fantasy, to have two elements like light and darkness set as oppositions. In fact, it can almost be argued that it’s done too often. Thea Guanzon’s execution in this, however, is perfect. Set against a detailed political backdrop and an overwhelmingly vivid magic-system, whilst taking inspiration from the mythology and lore of the author’s native Philippines, The Hurricane Wars is a sweeping epic fantasy that will surely take the fantasy romance sub-genre by storm. (See what I did there? Hah.)

Talasyn has been fighting in the Hurricane Wars all her life. A helmsman in the Sardovian army, Talasyn has known nothing else but the innate need to survive – and to stop at nothing to do so. What separates her from the rest of her fellow helmsmen, as well as the rest of the world, is the powerful light coursing through her veins, branding her as the last surviving Lightweaver, after the Night Emperor had slaughtered the rest. Prince Alaric of House Ossinast, Master of the Shadowforged Legion and heir to the Night Emperor, follows one path, and it is to obey his father, and to later follow in his footsteps. That is until he comes across Talasyn on an empty battlefield, lit up with the power that he had once believed was eradicated. Their clash of opposing powers bring forth a litany of revelations; the most foreboding being that they must work together against a darker magic that is threatening to overtake the continent, leaving the possibility of survival in the hands of two volatile and bitter enemies.

Alaric and Talasyn meet for the first time in the second chapter, and it is a truly glorious first meet. Whilst fighting off a hulking legionnaire, Talasyn finds that in order to survive this particular ordeal, she’ll have to exhibit her Lightweaver powers, despite being instructed to keep her abilities secret. Alaric intercepts her before she can kill the legionnaire, and they set off on a lethal dance of raw vengeance and slight curiosity. The chemistry between the two is first rooted in this scene, where they are at odds with each others opposing powers, until a defensive strike leads them to combine their powers, Lightweaver and Shadowforged, to create an unexpected barrier; the first of its kind. The angst that follows from this introduction is palpable, and breathes a steady life into the rest of the novel.

Whilst the novel borders grimdark to an extent, it is important to note that The Hurricane Wars pivots on the romance between Alaric and Talasyn, whilst still maintaining a strong hold on the political warfare between the two kingdoms. Readers are still able experience classic grimdark elements: battles, duels, the throes of war and the brutality of an empire. But one does not overcome the other, in that Guanzon manages to balance the romance with the political backdrop very well, never overwhelming one side more than necessary. I’ve always appreciated when a political fantasy is able to convince me to somewhat sympathise with both parties. Wars are not so black and white, and so it was thrilling reading from both perspectives, especially in a third person narrative. Both characters remain loyal to their beliefs and to their nations, while allowing themselves to explore the possibilities of what a coalition between them could bring. It was terrifically refreshing, and so very addictive.

The pacing is perfect; the storyline stays lively throughout to ensure the reader is engaged, and no span of time is ever too short or lightly skimmed, neither is it convoluted or unnecessary. The author has the talent of seamlessly transitioning to different settings and point of views without it seeming forced or unfulfilled. Guanzon’s gift for storytelling is coupled with her ability to imbue the readers into the South-East Asian-inspired culture of the world she has built. It is with both that she was able to create such an immersive reading experience, one that had me gasping, laughing and crying, all in the same sitting! The name of the sequel hasn’t even been announced yet, and I already know that it will be my most anticipated read for the coming year. Guanzon has stepped into the ever-growing game of writing enemies-to-lovers, and with The Hurricane Wars, she will surely remain a worthy player.

Read The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

The post REVIEW: The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon appeared first on Grimdark Magazine.

REVIEW: Conan The Barbarian #3 by Jim Zub (W), and Rob De La Torre (A)

After reading Conan The Barbarian #3, from Titan Comics, fans of Conan who, like me, are of a certain age, will remember well the flood of Conan pastiches that hit the shelves of our local bookstores and libraries during the 1980s.  They had a character called Conan, and featured action and adventure…but were they close to what RE Howard created in the violent ferment of his mind?

Well…no.  In many ways, while they were a gateway drug into sword and sorcery fiction, they weren’t particularly good examples of fantasy and certainly not good examples of the heights to which Howard took his seminal creation.

Which is why reading Conan The Barbarian #3 and the two earlier issues, is like being punched in the face by certain barbarian from northern climes.  This is the real deal, folks.  Writer Jim Zub has done something alchemical, pulling the essentials of Conan – that simmering berserker fury, that lethal physicality, that love of life and adventure and women – and poured them onto the page in one concentrated blast of pure action and adventure.  In a way, Zub has brought to vivid life these fantastic words from Conan (and Howard):

“Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame crimson, and I am content.”

Conan The Barbarian #3 has that exultation for life running through it like a rich seam of gold in a darkened mine.  His companion, the lush Pict Brissa, is his equal in her yearning for adventure and revenge, and the duo make a powerful and compelling team as they hunt for the undead Tribe of the Lost who have invaded Conan’s homeland and carved a bloody swathe through it.

Zub’s writing in Conan The Barbarian #3 is, like Conan, fierce and exultant, rich and vibrant, probably closer to Howard’s diction than any writer has managed in the 80 years since the character stalked out of the mists of the north and into fantasy legend.

Matching the writing is the artwork by Rob De La Torre.  Conan and Brissa’s hunt through the Citadel of the Black Stone for answers brings to life a structure of darkness and menacing shadows, a twilit world with danger around every corner.  Look at the opening page, as Conan and Brissa enter.  The light behind them is fading, and all that is promised is a murky, cobwebbed gloom of vaulted ceilings and plunging abysses. In Conan The Barbarian #3, De La Torre breathes life into Zub’s words, creating an atmospheric, claustrophobic nightmare for our heroes.  There’s a definite 70s feel to the artwork – it’s raw and primal, heedless of convention, with lots of shadows and hints of nightmares on the edges of panels.

The opening page contains my favourite image of Conan – hulking, yet panther-ish in movement, black eyed and sullen, ready to burst into red handed violence at a moment’s notice, full of pent up fury at what has been done to his people.  Titan – give us a poster!

Conan The Barbarian #3 layers on what was introduced in the opening issues, deepening the mystery while introducing darker elements such as ritual sacrifice and the prospect of Thulsa Doom.  There are moments of high action, as Conan and the prisoners he has freed run amok amongst the lizard men deep in their lair.  And that cliffhanger – wow!

Zub and Rob De La Torre have done what few creators have done with Conan since Howard’s death – taken the raw elements that made the character, and breathed real and true and bloody life into him and his world.  Conan The Barbarian #3 feels like Conan was under Howard’s hand.  And what could be better than that?

Read Conan The Barbarian #3 by Jim Zub (W), and Rob De La Torre (A)

The post REVIEW: Conan The Barbarian #3 by Jim Zub (W), and Rob De La Torre (A) appeared first on Grimdark Magazine.

REVIEW: Conan The Barbarian #3 by Jim Zub (W), and Walt Simonson (A)

After reading Conan The Barbarian #3, from Titan Comics, fans of Conan who, like me, are of a certain age, will remember well the flood of Conan pastiches that hit the shelves of our local bookstores and libraries during the 1980s.  They had a character called Conan, and featured action and adventure…but were they close to what RE Howard created in the violent ferment of his mind?

Well…no.  In many ways, while they were a gateway drug into sword and sorcery fiction, they weren’t particularly good examples of fantasy and certainly not good examples of the heights to which Howard took his seminal creation.

Which is why reading Conan The Barbarian #3 and the two earlier issues, is like being punched in the face by certain barbarian from northern climes.  This is the real deal, folks.  Writer Jim Zub has done something alchemical, pulling the essentials of Conan – that simmering berserker fury, that lethal physicality, that love of life and adventure and women – and poured them onto the page in one concentrated blast of pure action and adventure.  In a way, Zub has brought to vivid life these fantastic words from Conan (and Howard):

“Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame crimson, and I am content.”

Conan The Barbarian #3 has that exultation for life running through it like a rich seam of gold in a darkened mine.  His companion, the lush Pict Brissa, is his equal in her yearning for adventure and revenge, and the duo make a powerful and compelling team as they hunt for the undead Tribe of the Lost who have invaded Conan’s homeland and carved a bloody swathe through it.

Zub’s writing in Conan The Barbarian #3 is, like Conan, fierce and exultant, rich and vibrant, probably closer to Howard’s diction than any writer has managed in the 80 years since the character stalked out of the mists of the north and into fantasy legend.

Matching the writing is the artwork by Rob De La Torre.  Conan and Brissa’s hunt through the Citadel of the Black Stone for answers brings to life a structure of darkness and menacing shadows, a twilit world with danger around every corner.  Look at the opening page, as Conan and Brissa enter.  The light behind them is fading, and all that is promised is a murky, cobwebbed gloom of vaulted ceilings and plunging abysses. In Conan The Barbarian #3, De La Torre breathes life into Zub’s words, creating an atmospheric, claustrophobic nightmare for our heroes.  There’s a definite 70s feel to the artwork – it’s raw and primal, heedless of convention, with lots of shadows and hints of nightmares on the edges of panels.

The opening page contains my favourite image of Conan – hulking, yet panther-ish in movement, black eyed and sullen, ready to burst into red handed violence at a moment’s notice, full of pent up fury at what has been done to his people.  Titan – give us a poster!

Conan The Barbarian #3 layers on what was introduced in the opening issues, deepening the mystery while introducing darker elements such as ritual sacrifice and the prospect of Thulsa Doom.  There are moments of high action, as Conan and the prisoners he has freed run amok amongst the lizard men deep in their lair.  And that cliffhanger – wow!

Zub and Rob De La Torre have done what few creators have done with Conan since Howard’s death – taken the raw elements that made the character, and breathed real and true and bloody life into him and his world.  Conan The Barbarian #3 feels like Conan was under Howard’s hand.  And what could be better than that?

Read Conan The Barbarian #3 by Jim Zub (W), and Walt Simonson (A)

The post REVIEW: Conan The Barbarian #3 by Jim Zub (W), and Walt Simonson (A) appeared first on Grimdark Magazine.

Arthurian inspired fiction: Where to start reading

Once more unto the breech, my friends. Welcome back to part two of the books inspired by myths and legends series. This is focused on stories based on Arthurian legend – although Arthur himself pops up surprisingly little in this selection. The story of the once and future king and smart, ambitious women has captured audiences for almost a millennium. With the wizard Merlin it also features arguably one of the first Grimdark characters in written literature – twisting and manipulating the world through prophecy and magic, making his vision come to life, but always considered the sage advisor. As with many legends, the corpus of Arthuriana has been in flux ever since the story was elevated to somewhat of a national mythology for Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the early 12th century. Transmitted predominately orally before that, the stories became central to medieval literature in both England and France after that, constantly evolving and changing. And so, the authors writing about Camelot, Avalon and their inhabitants today are proud successors of this tradition. They take the legends and make them into new tales of their own.

This is the second in a series of articles on myths and legends, the first of which, Classical Mythology can be found here. Look out for fairy tales coming next.

Sword Stone Table

Not quite sure what flavour of Arthuriana you’re looking for? How about trying all of them and seeing what sticks? Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington’s anthology Sword Stone Table covers short fiction inspired by the corpus of legends split into three sections: past, present and future. These diverse stories are a refreshing take on the myths, and there are some truly excellent pieces of short fiction contenting for your attention here. Ever read Arthuriana set in a Native American environment, for example? An excellently curated and edited anthology to whet your appetite for more. Read our full review here.

About the book

Here you’ll find the Lady of the Lake reimagined as an albino Ugandan sorceress and the Lady of Shalott as a wealthy, isolated woman in futuristic Mexico City; you’ll see Excalibur rediscovered as a baseball bat that grants a washed-up minor leaguer a fresh shot at glory and as a lost ceremonial drum that returns to a young First Nations boy the power and the dignity of his people. There are stories set in Gilded Age Chicago, ’80s New York, twenty-first century Singapore, and space; there are lesbian lady knights, Arthur and Merlin reborn in the modern era for a second chance at saving the world and falling in love–even a coffee shop AU.

Brave, bold, and groundbreaking, the stories in Sword Stone Table will bring fresh life to beloved myths and give long-time fans a chance to finally see themselves in their favorite legends.

Read Sword Stone Table, edited by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington

Once and Future

If you’re more into graphic novels and comics, we suggest you check out Once and Future created by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora. Using a contemporary setting to kick off from, this is a gritty story where legend is used for nefarious purposes, high-octane races for artifacts happen on a regular basis and survival is not guaranteed. This is solid graphic story-telling and a lot of fun, from a team of stellar comic creators.

About the book

When a group of Nationalists use an ancient artifact to bring a villain from Arthurian myth back from the dead to gain power, ex-monster hunter Bridgette McGuire escapes her retirement home and pulls her unsuspecting grandson Duncan, a museum curator, into a world of magic and mysticism to defeat a legendary threat.

Bestselling writer Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Star Wars) and Russ Manning Award-winning artist Dan Mora (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Klaus) explore the mysteries of the past, the complicated truths of our history and the power of family to save the day – especially if that family has secret bunkers of ancient weapons and decades of experience hunting the greatest monsters in Britain ‘s history!

Read Once and Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora

Blackheart Knights

Another unusual take on the lore is Laure Eve’s Blackheart Knights and its sequel, Blackheart Ghosts. This is set in a world in which motorbikes take the role of horses, and leather-clad bikers are the closer visual than traditional knights. Blackheart Knights takes these familiar stories and turns them into a gritty, grimdark take on a futuristic London, in which magic is forbidden and legal disputes are often fought out through melee battles. Enter Red. A girl with magic and a desire for revenge, enmeshed in a world of knights and fights bigger than herself. And perhaps something of a destiny.

Read our full review here

About the book

Power always wins.

Imagine Camelot but in Gotham: a city where Arthurian knights are the celebrities of the day, riding on motorbikes instead of horses and competing in televised fights for fame and money.

Imagine a city where a young, magic-touched bastard astonishes everyone by becoming king – albeit with extreme reluctance – and a girl with a secret past trains to become a knight for the sole purpose of vengeance.

Imagine a city where magic is illegal but everywhere, in its underground bars, its back-alley soothsayers – and in the people who have to hide what they are for fear of being tattooed and persecuted.

Imagine a city where electricity is money, power the only game worth playing, and violence the most fervently worshipped religion.

In this dark, chaotic, alluring place, any dream can come true if you want it hard enough – and if you are prepared to do some very, very bad things to get it . . .

Read Blackheart Knights by Laure Eve

Perilous Times

Perilous Times is a wickedly funny Arthurian inspired satirical fantasy novel, set in a contemporary world. Its premise has the knights of the road table rise up from a magical sleep whenever England is in peril. This means they have been called upon to help in almost every battle in English history, from Agincourt to the Somme. (To which, there is historical precedent – Arthur is not only considered the Once and Future King, but there is a hilari0us treatise in the 12th century text Draco Normannicus, where the Bretons ask Arthur to come and help them in their fight against the Anglo-Norman King. And yes, I’m a massive nerd and love spotting these things.) In this novel though, the current peril resurrecting the knights is a doomsday level of climate change – mass extinction of birds and bugs, rising sea levels – oh, and the price of a pint has risen to £25 in the north of England. And a dragon is on the loose. Perilous times indeed. Read our full review here.

About the book

Sir Kay and his fellow knights awake from their mythical slumber whenever Britain has need of them; they fought at Agincourt and at the Somme. But in these perilous modern times, the realm is more divided than ever, a dragon has been seen for the first time in centuries, and Kay is not the only ancient and terrible thing to come crawling up out of the ground . . .

Perilous Times is a fiercely entertaining contemporary take on the myths of Camelot, which asks: what happens when the Knights of the Round Table return to fix the problems of the modern world?

Read Perilous Times by Thomas D. Lee

The Cleaving

Going back to the more traditional setting of Arthurian legend, Juliet E. McKenna’s The Cleaving is a fresh take on the smart, ambitious women that form the driving force behind the men that dominate the stories. It doesn’t exactly tell new stories, but it does give new perspectives to what we know, and is a wonderful addition to the corpus. The Cleaving is probably the most classically Arthurian entry on this list. You’ll meet Guinevere, Morgana, Nimue and Ygraine, women you’ll recognise, but who perhaps have a lot more meat and grit to them than you previously thought. Strong women, betrayal and dubious morality – yes please.

About the Book

The Cleaving is an Arthurian retelling that follows the tangled stories of four women: Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, as they fight to control their own destinies amid the wars and rivalries that will determine the destiny of Britain.

The legendary epics of King Arthur and Camelot don’t tell the whole story. Chroniclers say Arthur’s mother Ygraine married the man that killed her husband. They say that Arthur’s half-sister Morgana turned to dark magic to defy him and Merlin. They say that the enchantress Nimue challenged Merlin and used her magic to outwit him. And that Arthur’s marriage to Guinevere ended in adultery, rebellion and bloodshed. So why did these women chose such dangerous paths?

As warfare and rivalries constantly challenge the king, Arthur and Merlin believe these women are destined to serve Camelot by doing as they are told. But men forget that women talk. Ygraine, Nimue, Morgana and Guinevere become friends and allies while the decisions that shape their lives are taken out of their hands. This is their untold story. Now these women have a voice.

Read The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna

Spear

Last on this list, but far from least – yes I admit to personal bias – is Spear by Nicola Griffith. This slim volume packs a punch and manages to tell an epic story fully within the limitations of a novella. The prose is outstanding, the setting is early medieval, well-researched and comes to life vividly. Griffith manages to create a diverse, colourful canvas on which to tell her Arthurian story. Peretur, the main character, is based on the many legends and versions of Parcival, one of the more well-known figures of the Arthurian corpus. Except, this Peretur is a woman. Because her role in the story, she is often perceived as a man, which opens up an interesting dialogue about gender roles, perceptions – and whether heroes and heroines are really the same thing. Griffith makes it clear that to her, the two are entirely different, not least in the tropes that are employed to write about them – and Peretur, while female, is a hero. Read the full review here.

About the Book

She left all she knew to find who she could be . . .

She grows up in the wild wood, in a cave with her mother, but visions of a faraway lake drift to her on the spring breeze, scented with promise. And when she hears a traveler speak of Artos, king of Caer Leon, she decides her future lies at his court. So, brimming with magic and eager to test her strength, she breaks her covenant with her mother and sets out on her bony gelding for Caer Leon.

With her stolen hunting spear and mended armour, she is an unlikely hero, not a chosen one, but one who forges her own bright path. Aflame with determination, she begins a journey of magic and mystery, love, lust and fights to death. On her adventures, she will steal the hearts of beautiful women, fight warriors and sorcerers, and make a place to call home.

Read Spear by Nicola Griffith

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REVIEW: A War to End All by Michael R. Fletcher and Clayton Snyder

Eight years after the publishing world gifted us with the magnificent Beyond Redemption and six years after The Mirror’s Truth, we finally have Michael R Fletcher’s conclusion to the Manifest Delusions trilogy. A War to End All by Michael R. Fletcher and co-author Clayton W. Snyder is in, and it’s everything I had hoped it would be. I am sad it’s over, and happy I’ve seen this trilogy through to the end. I’ve laughed a lot and dry retched a little. I’ve been inside the minds of two brilliant authors to bring this story to a close and I need an internal imagination scrubbing, please. Or a beer and somebody to betray. Either way: welcome to the crazy town express; next stop, the madness central business district.

A word of warning: this is book three in a trilogy. Spoilers for books one and two ahead. If this is the first you are hearing of Michael R. Fletcher and this wonderfully insane trilogy, I suggest you stop right now, and click through to our review of Beyond Redemption and start this madness where it should be begun. For the rest of you, come with me.

In A War to End All the godling Morgen wants use his delusions to rule a world that he shapes to be clean and ordered. Morgen’s reflection (an alter ego given human form and power by breaking free from a mirror) Nacht wants to supplant Morgen to rule a world of chaos and filth. Konig just wants to rule whatever steaming pile of rubble sits beneath him, as long as he is top of the tree. Morgen and Konig’s doppels (parts of their personalities freed from their bodies and given human form and a splinter of power) want chaos and freedom and power. And Gehirn wants to burn it all. Amongst the weft and ruin of greater powers Wichtig (the Greatest Swordsman in the World) takes on a new apprentice while his knees start creaking and his sword slows, and Stehlen does what Stehlen does by ruining everything good in her life. From the filth of the final battle and the fates of our favourite crew in The Mirror’s Truth Morgen and his doppels begin a crusade to cleanse the world. A war to end all.

If that last paragraph read like an absolute bloody mouthful, it’s not surprising at all. So much has happened since we first met Konig as he created a god that he would rule, who Bedeckt and his crew then stole, that it’s very difficult to wrap up what this story is in one fell swoop. It’s a book of contemptible characters who you somehow care about as they make their ways towards an oft-deserved end, in whatever form that takes. It’s a story of self reflection, of realising who you are and accepting it, running from it, or fighting against it. And all of this against a backdrop of the end of the world. In the words of the authors:

Anyone who expected any of this to end well is a fucking idiot.

For me, this book is more about the wrapping up of characters than it is the overarching apocalyptic plot line. It’s about Morgen’s obsession with cleanliness and order, and trying to impose that on a species (us) that accepts anything but, leading him to be what he hates most. It’s Gehirn finding her freedom in the purity of the cleansing flame; of her breaking free of every man that has used her to destroy people and cities as opposed to create things with her power. It’s Wichtig’s gradual crumbling from a god of the duel to a man whose age has caught up with him. And its about how the authors have given these characters, and more, a fitting ending–some what they deserve, others, not so much. As it is in life.

For me, the best plot lines belong to these three characters. Wichtig’s story is funny, and cruel, and the chapter where he fights a duel against two swordsmen which begins the first real crumbling of his confidence in three books is just wonderfully written, laugh out loud hilarious, and hits home for any of us that were once half decent amateur sportspeople and now can’t stand up without groaning. Morgen’s slow crumbling into what he hates is the central masterpiece of this book. Brutal and bluntly questioning some of the core ethics that make up modern society, he’s an excellent read. But Gehirn remains my favourite, with her transition from being used as a thing by every man in power she is unfortunate enough to run in to, to obtaining her own will–albeit a very unhinged will bent on some seriously horrible genocide-level stuff–and unleashing her true self on the world around her. She is a fiery joy to read.

Morgen and Konig’s doppels and Morgen’s reflection Nacht also help bring this story to life, wreaking havoc left, right, and centre. They provide plenty of unexpected events and loads of funny moments where you look at yourself and some of the ridiculous things you do in life and laugh out loud (cynically, naturally). In my eyes, apart from Nacht, who was a key antagonist actively fighting against Morgen, a little too much of the book was dedicated to these characters. They provided plenty of necessary introspection on the thematic underpinnings of the world and the series, but sometimes I felt an urge to skip ahead and get back to the characters driving the end of the age who I was more invested in. I did smash out the last 60% of this book in one glorious sitting, however, so take that with a pinch of salt.

Fletcher and Snyder’s customary cynical commentary, which makes tremendous fun of some modern world politics (a quote from Tangerine Trumpf, anyone?), is a joy to read, with plenty in there for readers looking for some cheekily philosophical layers on top of a fun fantasy romp. In particular I did very much love the the intro snippets of lore quotes at the start of each chapter throughout the book.

The War to End All is not a book you can pick up and read with no prior knowledge of the first two books, but when you have those previous works under your wing, this book is just fun and wild, and expansive, and bloody out there. The Manifest Delusions trilogy has been an absolute ride, and I am so happy to have read these three wonderful books over eight years. To create a satisfying ending to this trilogy based on such a wild magic system was no mean feat, and I tip my mug of horse piss to the authors.

Read A War to End All by Michael R. Fletcher and Clayton Snyder

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REVIEW: Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin

Tana considers herself one of the good girls. A life planned out from birth, engaged to secure an alliance for her coven, she has never doubted her role in her community – and in life. Until she meets Wolfe, that is. Drawn into a world that makes her doubt the truths she has been told her entire life, Tana has to reevaluate her morals, her relationship with magic, and her family, as she falls in love. Bring Me Your Midnight is a dark and haunting tale of romance and betrayal, of sea and storms – in both the literal and metaphorical sense. It is not a book for every reader of Grimdark Magazine, but one that will appeal to many – Rachel Griffin’s work is perfect for those who have enjoyed Belladonna by Adalyn Grace or A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid.

Like Rachel Griffin’s first two standalone novels, The Nature of Witches and Wild is the Witch, the atmospheric setting is a key character in the story. In the case of Bring Me Your Midnight, Tana’s coven lives on an island, cut off from the mainland through magically induced currents. Rather unsurprisingly, the mainland society does not have access to magic, and is wary of it. As someone who experiences ultimate happiness sitting by a rocky coast, hearing the sounds of the sea and smelling the salty air, reading Griffin’s lush descriptions and having the island come alive was a wonderful, sensual experience. As the story progresses, so does nature’s character arc. What starts out as a pleasant side character grows into a menacing threat, one that influences all other story arcs and may threaten the entire island. The powerful role of nature and setting in Griffin’s books makes them stand out.

What will make Bring Me Your Midnight appeal to many readers of Grimdark Magazine is the shift of perspective Tana has to navigate throughout the story. As she meets Wolfe, who claims to be from another coven hidden on the same island, she is forced to question everything she has been told. What her coven has called “dark magic”, Wolve’s coven calls “high magic”. The morals Tana has considered so black and white are suddenly rather more shaded in grey. Ultimately, every major character in Bring Me Your Midnight is harboring secrets, manipulating others for their own gain and no stranger to betrayal.

It is wonderful to have these hallmarks of what we like at Grimdark Magazine packaged into a beautiful-looking, lush and atmospheric YA fantasy with a good dash of romance. Because what falls under the umbrella of what we can consider grimdark is far broader than our reputation may suggest – and Bring Me Your Midnight is a wonderful addition for those who would like to branch out from the obvious.

Read Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin

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REVIEW: The Anatomy of Songs by Megan White

Megan White’s debut The Anatomy of Songs drew me in with a stunning cover and great copy, only to make me fall in love with the writing on the very first pages. Published by New Dawn Press, a small Australian publisher, I was doubly keen to see this cross our inbox – and I’m looking forward to seeing more of both Megan White’s and New Dawn’s work more generally in the future. Lush descriptions, strong characters, plenty of betrayal and one of the most feminine instances of a book that truly feels like a grimdark fantasy make this a very strong offering.

Kasira Severen leads a double life. By day, she is a healer, by night an assassin, controlled by her father. And he’s set her onto her biggest target yet – Crown Prince Veridian Erris. But Veridian has his own slew of issues to worry about. Trying to wrangle Livadha into shape and figuring out a way to broker peace with the exiled Queen make surviving the attempts on his life long enough to secure political stability just one of many chores.

The book opens on a young Kasira being manipulated by her father to poison a man with Belladonna. He dies, very publicly, in agony. It is heartbreaking to watch as not only she has her innocence shattered, but also her trust in the people who are supposed to be pillars in her life, who she is supposed to be able to rely on. This scene sets the tone for the entire novel, and its haunting effect is what made me fall for The Anatomy of Songs.

One thing I particularly enjoyed about The Anatomy of Songs are the chapter epigraphs that often discuss either human anatomy or poisons, often from work that Kasira has written or commented on. They helped set the tone for the book and build atmosphere – and were little tidbits of trivia that I loved learning about. In more general terms, The Anatomy of Songs was an engaging read with well-crafted characters and strong world-building. Livadha came to life throughout the story, as did Kasira and Veridian.

Politics is a dominant theme, which makes it seem slightly slower paced at times, but there is always plenty going on to interest the reader. While there are some romantic elements to the story, they are less prevalent than I had expected, which I found refreshing as it left more space for the characters to develop on their own. The prose is evocative and descriptive, drawing the reader in, with close first-person narration switching between Kasira and Veridian in alternate chapters.

A very intriguing debut for the grimdark audience, situated at the crossover mark between YA and adult fantasy. I’m looking forward to seeing what Megan White writes next!

Read The Anatomy of Songs by Megan White

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REVIEW: Stimulant

Stimulant is a 2023 Canadian science fiction/cyberpunk movie. It has strong vibes like the Channel 4/AMC show Humans as well as David Cage video game Detroit: Become Human. Basically, it has elements of Blade Runner but is more focused on it taking place in a near-future environment as well as the implications of sentient life versus action sequences. Nevertheless, it has a very noir feeling to it and the ending is surprisingly dark.

The story follows four protagonists with Kessler (Sam Worthington) as a member of AICE (Artificial Intelligence Compliance Enforcement), a painter named Faye (Jordana Brester), Faye’s husband Evan (Robbie Amell), and a simulant repairman named Casey (Simu Liu). There is also a young simulant named Esme who comes in a variety of models and plays a role in each of their lives to a certain extent.

The premise is that Faye’s husband, Evan, died in a car wreck recently but she had previously “backed him up” as part of a life insurance plan with both herself as well as him. The idea was meant to provide them both a kind of immortality as well as give each other a chance to renew their lives together. However, Faye finds herself creeped out by her reincarnated husband rather than reassured. It doesn’t help that he can’t disobey her and is obsessive with her love due to being programmed as, essentially, her security blanket.

Simultaneously, Kessler is nonplussed by capturing a Simulant, Esme, that shows a far greater degree of self-awareness than normal. Having a deep distrust of Simulants due to his son dying because of one being left as a babysitter, Kessler struggles between his empathy versus a belief that Simulants represent an existential threat to humanity. Watching him fail to reconcile these points is arguably the highlight of the film.

Eventually, Evan and Kessler’s plotline intersect when Faye drives Evan out of her house and into the arms of a Simulant repairman, Casey. Casey wants nothing more than to free Evan from his precepts that force him to obey humans, though, and is plotting a massive hack of the world’s other advanced androids. Evan is not interested in the revolution that Casey proposes, though, and just wants to figure out how to win over his wife. The fact he’s a clone of a dead man not really registering as a reason their relationship is doomed.

What follows is a cat and mouse game that could have been very stereotypical but goes in a lot of surprising directions. Typically, there’s no doubt that the humans and robots are the same. There’s something distinctly “off” about them and just how messed up Evan is by the exploitative and weird system in place is clear from the beginning. Kessler may have a point that Simulants are dangerous and “freeing” them as Casey wants may not be a liberating act but just a grand mistake–especially when we find out he used to believe they needed much larger numbers of restrictions.

Ultimately, the movie suffers for the fact that there’s a lot going on and not enough time to focus on any one character given the runtime. It feels less like a single coherent narrative than two reasonably well-done Black Mirror episodes shoved together. Kessler’s story about bonding with Esme versus his own hatred of Simulants versus Evan being a creepy substitute to a dead man who doesn’t know why “his” wife doesn’t love him anymore. Sadly, they’re already two very good stories. One is called Blade Runner and the other is the Black Mirror episode, “Be Right Back”, starring Hayley Atwell. Which, bluntly, are both better by a large margin.

Robbie Ammell is a better actor than his brother, Stephen, but the movie doesn’t let him display much of his comic skill that is in the Amazon show Upload. He manages to display a creepiness and general mixture of likable everyman with “Nice Guy” that is maybe going to stab you if you say no to coffee. Sam Worthington really is the MVP of the movie, though.

While he’s basically just playing a discount Rick Deckard, Worthington does a really good job of it, and I really wanted him to have more time on screen. It’s not even that the movie needed to be two separate movies but at an 1:30:00, it’s already a brisk inoffensive breeze but could have gotten some real teeth with an extra thirty minutes. Just some more scenes of Evan and Faye or Kessler and Esme would have gone a long way to upping the emotional stakes.

If it sounds like I’m saying the movie is pretty much just “okay” then, yes, you have my opinion on the film. It’s probably a two and a half or three-star sort of film. It feels very much closer to television than film. However, I give the credit and state that the unexpected darkness of the film was surprising and welcome. A more uplifting film would have chosen to go with the idea that Kessler overcome his prejudice to fall in love with Esme or that Evan would either let go of his obsession with his wife. Neither do and go instead in much more interesting directions. So, I’m going to give this the stamp of recommended for someone wanting an “okay” cyberpunk film for an afternoon’s or evening’s watching.

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