E.G. Stone's Blog, page 3

Book Review: Misery Hates Company by Elizabeth Hobbs

I am always fond of a good murder mystery. I am especially keen on mysteries where the narrator’s voice shine’s through in exquisite detail, throwing me into a specific time or place as well as into the character’s thoughts. Misery Hates Company did this quite well, and I applaud the author for that.

This book follows Marigold Manners as she sets out for Great Misery Island to stay with some distant relatives after the death of her parents. Marigold is eminently practical, intelligent, and capable, a New Woman at the turn of the century. However, her family, the Hatchets, might prove to be a challenge even she cannot overcome, as they seem to be hiding a number of secrets. When her cousin is murdered, Marigold must figure out who did the deed. Or rather, who didn’t.

I started this book and was immediately drawn in by the language and narration. Marigold is a fantastic character to read (I am a sucker for a capable, logical woman) and her interactions with all the other characters was absolutely wonderful. I will admit that I really liked Cab and was hoping things might progress a bit more there, though the way that it was resolved did fit the story and character perfectly. I also liked the variety of personality in every character, including those that weren’t on the page all that often. Everyone felt unique and real.

I will say that I was a bit disappointed that the actual murder part of the mystery didn’t occur until the last third of the book. Granted, this murder required quite a bit of set-up and I do not begrudge the amount of time that took. It just surprised me a bit to have a murder mystery focus more on the mystery than the murder. Still, I don’t think the story suffered for it.

I do wish that the solution to the mystery had been suggested a bit earlier throughout. Oh, there were clues and such, but the culprit deserved a bit more in the story, I feel. The reasoning for the murder was explained well, but I would have liked to see snippets of it throughout the story. Otherwise, it comes as a bit more of a surprise than I would have liked. (Yes, yes, I know that the whole point of a murder mystery is to stymie the readers. But I need clues earlier on!)

Overall, I enjoyed this book a great deal and would happily read the next book, should there prove to be one (please). An excellent read.

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Book Review: Until September by Harker Jones

It’s been a while since I’ve read a coming of age story that didn’t involve magic. Yet there is something just as magical in beginning to understand oneself and the changes that life inevitably brings as there is in traversing realms and flying on dragons. Until September is a coming of age story by Harker Jones that explores the love between two boys and the consequences that growing up and falling in love can bring.

This story follows Kyle as he summers on the island during the last summer before going away to college. He and his four friends, Trent, Claudia, Carly and Dana, have been spending their summers together since they were children and they intend to spend this one together as well. But Jack, newly arrived to the island for the summer, draws Kyle’s attention in a way that could compromise his friendships and change everything, because he falls in love. Amidst the tensions in his friend group, the pressures of familial expectations, and the all-encompassing love, things will never be the same, no matter how hard one tries to pretend otherwise.

I was intrigued by this story in a way that I am not for most coming of age stories. I think the dynamics played out between the five friends, even before Kyle and Jack fall in love, was fascinating and also the perfect set-up for the events later in the summer. There are threads of tension between the friends already, and the author teases them out as the summer progresses, making something small suddenly looming and potentially fatal for the friends. Even without Jack and Kyle’s love story overlaying the piece, I think the relationships between the friends would have been enough to carry the story.

That brings us to the relationship. Kyle and Jack present as the epitome of overwhelming, star-crossed lovers. Their time together is both poetic and tragic, and the prose reflects that in the words spoken between them. I will say that Kyle’s love seemed more obsessive than healthy, but many first loves can present that way. It was the ending which made the love story feel more tainted, I think, than anything, because it had Kyle almost stuck there. Still, they were well suited and I think the story played upon their strengths and insecurities well, taking a summer romance an turning it into one of the great romantic tragedies.

Familial tensions also play a huge role in this book, as they do in almost everyone’s life as they grow up. Or older. I really enjoyed the family dynamic between Kyle and his parents, as well as the shadow of Kevin that seemed to cover every memory of the summer. The realisation that one’s parents aren’t what you thought, that their flaws and secrets are just as real as your own, is a difficult thing and I found the way that this book portrayed it poignant, yet sharp.

One thing that did bother me was the frequent mention of the Belle Epoque as “the pretty time.” While technically a possible translation of that phrase, Belle Epoque is more commonly and accurately translated as “beautiful age” or “beautiful era”, which I find actually fits the book better. Still, this is merely a pet peeve of a linguist and author, so not likely to be relevant to most people.

Overall, I would say that Until September was a masterfully written book with enough heart to fill the gaps left over from the memories of the past. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I also found myself unsettled by the ending in the best way. A very good book.

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Book Review: Destiny Arising by Jan Foster

I have a fondness for all subgenres of fantasy, but historical fantasy is, I think, quite intriguing. The ability to weave precise details of history with the breathtaking wonder of magic is a special skill. There are, of course, many ways a person can write an alternate history, but to follow along with history? To write magic into the past? Marvellous.

Destiny Arising is the third book in Jan Foster’s Naturae series. (Somehow I missed the second book?! I’m still not sure how, but it wasn’t strictly necessary for this book. Though I will go back and read it!) It follows Aioffe, Joshua, Nemis, Spenser and the two children Mark and Hope as they return to England and flee the European fae and Henry, the vampire who currently sits on the Naturae throne. Nemis is plagued with visions of queens dying, and when they start to come true, Aioffe and Joshua must stop it before it’s too late for England and Naturae both.

Now, I will be the first to admit I do not know all the precise details of the late Tudor/early Elizabethan England, especially regarding the various lines of succession and who controlled what/where, or even the various alliances. My knowledge is limited to the basic Protestant vs Catholic and general information on who ruled at the time. That is to say, I know enough to get by when talking about the period, but little more. This book, though, was a perfect immersion into the time. It described both daily life and the larger political schema with perfect detail; there wasn’t enough to be overwhelming, but nor was there too little as to leave the reader behind. This is a consistent pattern with Jan Foster’s books. The history is always impeccable.

I also loved the interplay of the vampire Henry’s difficulties on Naturae. He came across initially as a sinister figure, but as the book went on, he became more sympathetic and complex, which I enjoyed quite a bit. By the end, I was almost feeling like he needed to stay on Naturae, given how little Aioffe wanted to regain her title. Also, I think Iliana deserved precisely what she got. 

I will say that the twist regarding Iliana and her, ah, machinations, was a bit unexpected. It makes sense in hindsight, but there wasn’t really a great deal of evidence to point in that direction. Granted, this book is not a murder mystery, but a fantasy with a quest and a goal, so this is probably just my fondness for the mystery genre overpowering my expectations.

Overall, I will say that Destiny Arising is an excellent continuation of the series and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The pacing was superb, the detail exquisite, the characters complex and real (even those with wings), and I enjoyed every part of the book. I would highly recommend this series to any and all who care to dive into the world of history tinged with the wonder of magic.

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Book Review: Spy Girls by Joanna Vander Vlugt

It has been a while since I’ve read a thriller novel. I tend to read more in the way of procedurals or intellectual mysteries, but I was intrigued when I got the chance to read Spy Girls by Joanna Vander Vlugt. 

The book is a legal thriller following Jade Thyme, a defence lawyer in Victoria, Canada, who gets pulled into an explosive situation after her sister’s girlfriend goes missing, a crooked judge gets murdered, and Jade herself is thrown into the world of spies and double agents. Jade must find a missing former agent, all the while fending off malignant Russian spies and trying not to get censured by the Law Society.

This book is a lot more action-heavy than law-heavy, so if legal procedurals are not your cup of tea, then I wouldn’t worry. I don’t often read thrillers, since I tend to like slower-paced pieces, but this book is exactly what it promises. It is a thriller in every sense of the word, with kidnappings and sticky bombs, spies and secrets. It is a book that delivers exactly what it promises, and that is quite impressive indeed.

I was hoping for a little more in the way of character description, not so much as far as backstory is concerned—that was done quite well—but as something to take place between the long bouts of dialogue that show me what the character was doing or thinking or feeling. Even without that sort of narrative description, the book does quite well with character development, especially for Jade. She manages to go through quite a few dire situations and come out the same yet changed, a feat which many authors do not often manage well. I think that Katriona could have used a little more motivation other than self-interest, but she fills her role as villain quite well.

I will say that there were a few scenes that seemed to jump in time and place from moments before and didn’t seem to have the same characters. It didn’t happen often, but especially during the scenes with Coco and Jade trying to find Gillian, I was confused as to why they were there alone or what had happened to Adam and Jan, who seemed to be there only a paragraph before. Again, it was a rare occurrence, but it did throw me out of the story a bit.

Overall, I would say that Spy Girls is quintessentially a thriller and has exactly the elements that a good thriller should have. I, personally, prefer more character-driven than action-driven pieces, but this book was a fantastic example of an action-driven thriller. For people who love the chase and the game, this is most definitely a book for you. A very good book.

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Book Review: Mannigan – A Speck of Light by L. Ross Coulter

I generally like dystopian novels quite a bit, especially when they’re post-apocalyptic Earth, simply because I enjoy seeing how an author takes the world we know and makes it something unfamiliar. I was, as such, intrigued when approached to read Mannigan – A Speck of Light. Mostly, though, the book left me confused.

The book follows Will (no last name until 2/3ds of the way through the book, at which point it’s meaningless). He lives in a post nuclear war/ice age society where a few pockets of civilisation have been scraped out. At the start of the book, he is in prison (I think) for an unspecified charge, released, dying, then recruited by a group called Legion to be their saviour. He is gifted with the ability to heal and fight and agrees to help fulfil their manifest. Which is…something unspecified. Maybe helping people, but I’m not sure which people, and I’m not sure why. Will then goes on a journey to Devestation, a town outside the utopian boundaries, and there are various other groups, people, fights, and such that get in the way of him fulfilling his goal.

Honestly, I think the plot was intriguing, except I had no idea why any of this was happening. The book uses the style of worldbuilding that throws a reader into the deep end and lets them figure things out as they go. Which is perfectly fine, except that there are some severely important details left out that would clarify the book. Such as who Legion is and what they want, who the Kol/Malleus are and what they want, what exactly Will is trying to achieve, etc. The entire rest of the book becomes rather pointless without this information because the reader doesn’t know why Will is doing what he’s doing.

I also have read many books where the main character gains the ability to heal from basically anything (I’ve actually written a whole series like that). It can work really well, but it can also be a bit problematic because the stakes for the character cannot be physical. In this case, a lot of the situations Will enters in order to achieve his goal are physical, and they just don’t have any fear or punch to me because I knew he would heal and therefore didn’t care about his injuries. There were instances where Will had to deal with more metaphysical/emotional situations, but those felt incomplete because of the missing information as to why he was doing what he did.

I think the scenes with the Children of Light were the best of the book, because at least there, the motivations and interactions were very clear.

The prose for this book is grammatically correct, and I found very few spelling errors at all. However, the primary sentence structure, used for about 95% of the book, is an inverted form from the standard English sentence. For example, here is a sentence taken from the beginning of the book: “Down the stairs, and stretching on his tippy toes to reach the latch, he opened the door to them.”

It is not quite passive voice, but it very much is contrary to the expected subject + verb + object form. The majority of sentences in the book follow this form, where the dependent/subordinate clause is always first and then the independent clause appears. Often, the independent clause is unrelated to the subordinating clause, which makes for a very confusing reading experience. Linguistically, the book reads as passive voice even though the majority of the sentences aren’t passive. For this reason alone, I nearly DNF’d the book at 20%.

I will say that this book is obviously well thought out. The various cities and cultures are quite in depth and unique, and the world itself appears to be complex. I just wish that there weren’t so much missing information as to character motivations. 

Overall, I think that Mannigan – A Speck of Light has the potential to be a very good book, but in execution the missing information and the inverted sentence structure made it a confusing book to read and left me unsatisfied. A fair book.

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Book Review: The Realm of Gods by Glen Dahlgren

There is always a slightly bittersweet moment when I finish reading a series that I’ve really enjoyed. A part of me never wants it to end, while the rest of me is thoroughly enjoying the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed the series. Such it was with Glen Dahlgren’s The Realm of Gods, the final book in the Chronicles of Chaos series.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This book picks up right where the previous book left off, which is to say, right in the middle of the drama. Galen is in the Dreaming and the rest of the world is a) trying to figure out how to live now that the Child of Chaos is gone and the gods are no longer in the world or b) trying to get Galen back. Things are looking up, but there is sedition in the ranks, and the gods of Order may not be as far gone as they thought. Now Dantess, Eve, Motti and others must work together to find Galen and figure out how to save the world once and for all, for the sake of everyone.

Without going into too many spoilers, I was pleased with the many twists and turns that this book followed. I wasn’t expecting Eve to have such a big role to play, but I really liked the way it was done. I also enjoyed the way the story delved into the origins of the gods while also remaining relevant—even, dare I say, essential—to the plot. I think that the pacing was well done, starting off a bit slow with intricate details of the various temples before speeding up as things became more and more perilous. I will admit that it took me a moment to remember all the things that were going on since it’s been a while since I read the previous book, but honestly, everything was clear enough that I wasn’t confused in the slightest. And the ending? That very last line? It hits in a truly amazing way that very nearly had me screaming in joy and dismay at the same time. 

2. Thoughts on the characters

As I mentioned above, I wasn’t expecting Eve to have such a major role in this book. It makes perfect sense given her previous adventures, so I shouldn’t have been surprised. She is the perfect candidate to lead the charge into the new world. I think that she was portrayed with such intensity that she leapt off the page and fit in perfectly with the characters that were older than her in years and wisdom, while still retaining her child-like innocence. Eve’s sacrifices throughout the story tugged at my heartstrings each time, and I was thrilled to see how things ended up for her.

Also, what the author did to Dantess? Oh, my, did that just…hurt, but in the best way.

3. Favourite part

The ending was most definitely my favourite. Everything turned out so well, not just for the characters, but with every thread tied off neatly and the dangling pieces of the story were captured and sorted in just the right way. Well, except for that very, very last thread in the last line. I am still tempted to shout at the author for that, but truly with the best intentions in mind.

4. Critique

My only real critique of the book is that I think the politics played a larger role than I was expecting at the beginning of the story. It felt like the major plot points took a bit longer to raise their heads, since there was so much of the new world order to be established. However, I also wouldn’t necessarily change anything regarding the pacing of the book, since everything that was discussed was essential for later in the story. So, I guess the point is moot.

Overall, I would say that The Realm of Gods was a thrilling conclusion to a series that has captured the mind and the heart. The characters throughout the series popped off the page in such a realistic, unique way, and the world is one that deserves to be remembered. A very good conclusion indeed.

The post Book Review: The Realm of Gods by Glen Dahlgren appeared first on Quill and Pen Society.

Book Review: The Wandering Poisoner by Christopher Keene

There is something just wonderful about dashing off on the grand adventure that an epic fantasy brings. Add in mysterious plagues, poisons and secrets, and fun characters and I am sold. Such it is with The Wandering Poisoner, the first in Christopher Keene’s new series.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This book follows Holt Gnarl, a poisoner hired to save the daughter of a duke from a potentially deadly poison. To do so, he must travel across the country to find the cure. The only problem is that the duke’s other daughter, Riva, is determined to go with him. Between Riva, her overprotective guard Fade, and the quiet archer Cabe, Holt has his hands full. When they encounter the plague, though, there might be more than dealing with his unexpected feelings for the duke’s daughter to reckon with.

This book is very interesting as far as plot goes. It moves from plot point to plot point very quickly, but without making the pacing seem frenetic. I kept expecting the story to explode, only to be led into another interesting “side-quest” or exploration of Holt’s past. And while there wasn’t a massive amount of time spent on each individual plot point, I think everything flowed together quite well and was very coherent.

2. Thoughts on the characters

I really liked Holt. I think he was intelligent without being arrogant (except when well deserved). He had just enough snark to balance out the more serious aspects of the book. I found him compelling through all the various discoveries about his past and the adventures he faced. I will say that he was a bit of a ponce when it came to communicating with Riva, but honestly, even that was done in such a way that was more, “Oh, you silly man” than anything off-putting. 

As for Riva, I initially didn’t like her at all. I thought she was impulsive and foolish and that her desires to come on the adventure were more selfish than otherwise. However, as the story went on and she got a bit more seasoning, I think she grew into a very interesting and complex character and I liked her quite a bit.

Fade is a bit of a mystery to me, but I think the more we see of him in future books, the more we will know and I am quite eager to learn more.

3. Favourite part

I think my favourite part has to be the various encounters with predators. I think those scenes really added quite a bit of drama to the story and moved the character development forward without feeling forced. Also, that bit that happened with Fade was a great twist!

4. Critique

I don’t have anything really big to critique about this book. I was initially a little confused at the writing style, since I expected the detailed, flowery language that most epic fantasies provide. But I think the more direct style works really well for this story and these characters. And while I would have preferred that the ending happen once all the initial threads of the story were tied off rather than stopping in what felt like the middle of the journey, I am also aware that this is an epic fantasy and the scale of events is quite large. They will not fit easily into one book. So, actually, the story stopped precisely where it was meant to stop (though I want the next book, now, please).

Overall, I would say that The Wandering Poisoner was a very entertaining book with intriguing characters, a fast paced plot, and a world of many fascinations, all of which led me wanting more. Very good.

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Book Review: Road to the Stars by Adam Gaffen

It’s always fun, when having read one book by an author and enjoying it, to explore more in that same universe. Especially when the universe is vast and well-crafted. Such it was with Adam Gaffen’s Road to the Stars, the second (I think, I have lost track) book in his Cassidyverse.

1. Thoughts on the plot

This book follows Kendra Cassidy and her wife Aiyana Cassidy as they take their vast business holdings and turn it into a space-based, well, Federation. They are working against the political machinations of the Solarian Union, and the fractured politics of the Earthers. But when they hold a dream, especially one of a better world for their family, there is little that gets in the way.

I really like these stories, since they have a large, almost epic, style, but are also focused on the characters and the details. I think the story worked well in this book, though I was a bit bogged down in some of the technical details. I think the plot would have stood out a bit more if the details had been established ahead of the Important Scenes, but on the whole, I enjoyed the plot.

2. Thoughts on the characters

As always, these characters are varied and interesting. I like the depth and detail that is put into each one. I like the familiar characters and the new ones are fun to learn about.

I will say that there was one instance with a wheelchair-bound character which frustrated me. This was the only character with any sort of disability, and that was solved with a simple instance of inputting nanites. Now, granted, the technology does make sense and is very cool, but with there being only one disabled character, it made being disabled seem like a problem, not a simple character trait. It’s a personal thing for me, being disabled myself. (I could rant about this, but it was one small character and one instance. I will say that I would have liked more diversity in the abilities of characters.)

3. Favourite part

That bit at the end, when things are going badly? And then they don’t go badly in a really spectacular manner? Yeah, that bit was the best.

4. Critique

I mentioned this in section 1, but I think that the plot was bogged down in the technical details quite a bit. Not to say that the technology wasn’t interesting, or relevant, but in the middle of a space battle, I don’t necessarily care about the workings of a proton emitter, or how many kW a laser can produce. I want to see what the characters are feeling, what their reactions are. I want the plot and characters more than the technology in that moment. 

Overall, I will say that this book was an entertaining addition to the Cassidyverse and I enjoyed it. A very good book.

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Book Review: Into the Black by Adam Gaffen

I like sci-fi. It makes so much sense and yet still manages to be so far beyond us. Will we get to that point? Who knows! Anyways, it’s good to be back in the wide world of Adam Gaffen’s Cassidyverse with this series of short stories, Into the Black.

1. Thoughts on the…plots

I like all the stories. They generally follow chronologically in the Cassidyverse. I think each one is well thought out and fits perfectly with the short story model. I was a bit lost on some of them since I haven’t read all the books in the Cassidyverse, however, if you just treat them as interesting stories and don’t worry about the intimate details of people’s family, you get along just fine. Especially the further into the stories you get.

All of them were very good plots.

2. Thoughts on the characters

I like the diverse cast of characters just as much as I like the diverse cast of problems. I think all the characters are fun, have spunk, and are entertaining to read. It can sometimes be difficult to dive deep into character personalities in short story form, so these did a good job in making the characters seem real and interesting in the short time allotted.

3. Favourite part

Murder on the Missouri was my favourite story, probably because I’m a sucker for a good PI/Investigative story, especially when mixed with other genres.

4. Critique

I didn’t really have any critiques for this collection. It’s rare that I enjoy all the stories in a collection like this one, but I did, so…no critiques from me.

Overall, I would say that Into the Black was a very fun, entertaining adventure. I enjoyed it quite a lot. Excellent collection of stories.

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