Kathryn Troy's Blog, page 5

Prepare to Fall in Love is Right! - The Spindle Cove Series

I'm new to reading the straight romance genre, but after a few bad apples I came across Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove series. I have to tell you - I'm hooked.

The connecting thread is Spindle Cove itself, a quaint coastal English village full of rakish dukes, military officers, and women who don't fit the mold of conventional English life. Spindle Cove is   their safe haven from the unforgiving conventions of Regency-era Britain, with its many rules and constraints. Here, each female protagonist is unique, with her own interests and quirks, and therefore utterly out of place in such a conformist society. That also means she's the one of a kind sort of woman this very human, realistic, and swoon-worthy men can change their lives for.

There is a bit of formulism in these stories, but I suppose that's the trap of reading romance. It's hard to not assume they're going to live happily ever after, when that is one of the definitions of the genre itself. But within those confines Dare has managed to keep each new couple's adventures fresh and exciting. Even if you know the ending, you relish the journey. And that's what counts.

I highly recommend this series to people who love historical romances with saucy encounters. You won't regret it!

K Rating: 4/5

Perfect Apart and Together: Bid Time Return

People who come to this blog occasionally will probably have heard me rave at least once about how much I love Somewhere in Time, the time travel romance starring Christopher Reeve and based off Richard Matheson's novel Bid Time Return . I finally got around to reading the book, after many viewings of the adaptation, in which Matheson wrote the screenplay. All I can say is - wow. I'm pretty sure this is one of my favorite stories of all time, across all genres. Yup.

So, to the book: I loved the things that were in the book but not in the movie- things that couldn't possibly be, like Matheson's writing style itself, especially in the beginning, when Richard Collier is talking to himself through a tape recorder. The sharp jaunty nature of his speech is really powerful, especially in one of the opening scenes where Richard is walking through a historical museum and feelings of unease wash over him. The way in which Matheson describes the threat of these inanimate objects, as if they could reanimate at any time, is so intense and powerful, that you remember just how terrifying a prospect time travel, or even the concept of time itself, is.

I also appreciated the greater discussion of the process of time traveling itself, and the description of Richard's multiple attempts, which make their way into the film through a dialogue with a professor (a scene I've always loved). The fact that Richard is losing his mind and becoming obsessed is even clearer in the book than it is in the film, and carries through to how he interacts with the past once he's able to "put down roots," as he says, and remain in the past even after sleep, a mental process which always threatens to erode the mental bond he forges in wakefulness.

The character of Elyse is a bit different in the book, as is her manager William Robinson. He's much  more of an intriguing character in the film, as one of the major shifts in the script was to suggest that he may also be a time traveler- and clearly, a more successful one. It's much better than the book's explanation of Elyse's initial reaction to Richard. She talks about her abstract interest in the occult and fortune-telling, which could have been interesting, but didn't go anywhere. The Robinson theory is much tighter. And in the film, the pocket watch is a boot-strapped item, something that exists in a timeloop. That is also unique to the film, but is of absolute importance when thinking about the dramatic ramifications of time and time-travel on the characters.

In short, through both the written word and silver screen, Matheson has created something that's untouchable. It's for this reason that no other time-travel story compares. (Yes, I did write one of those, and no that doesn't alter the statement I just made).

Of course I watched the movie, again, and of course now I'm going to voraciously read all of the other tales of his I'm aware of through adaptation, and see where they go. I have a particular interest in What Dreams May Come.

K Rating: 5/5

Solid Historical Thriller: Heresy

As a historian, when I read historical fiction, I expect the world-building to be as robust as it would be for a fantasy title. Heresy  delivered, while also providing a thrilling murder mystery tied deeply to the biggest conflicts of the period - the religious wars in England.

Though at times I felt that this investigation could have moved at a slightly quicker pace (I listened, rather than read, so that could be the issue), there were no details or scenes that were superfluous or didn't add to the thickening plot of one Oxford professor after another being murdered in the sensational manner of the saints/martyrs. The political and religious tensions between Catholics and Anglicans were palpable, as was the very precise and authentic perception of the emerging theories of Copernicus and his ilk. I greatly, greatly appreciated the exactitude and attention to detail that brought these intellectual movements to life and made them so organic to the plot itself. And also, accessible to people who may not know as much as I do about the Scientific Revolution and the ideas that drove it. Even good historical descriptions can tend to feel like so much window-dressing, but here the plot was tied to the period inextricably, and that is quite a grand feat indeed. All of the characters were distinctly plotted out, and their motivations and character came in all shades of gray, another major accomplishment.

I especially liked the flavor of secret societies and hidden messages - it added a little something special not often seen these days, especially in this style.

I'm happy to have found a historical series that I can sink my teeth into, and the premise for the second title of Giordano Bruno sounds all the more enticing.

K. Rating: 5/5

Mesmerizing: The Witcher

I was happy to learn about The Witcher adaptation on Netflix on the horizon, but I have to admit, I was not excited by their casting of Henry Cavill as Geralt. I came to this franchise through the Witcher 3 game, and was of the firm believe that the actor playing Geralt needed to have a gruffer look. 
Well. I stand corrected. Henry Cavill is Geralt of Rivia. He's absolutely perfect, and his love of gaming and of these characters in particular shows, and shows well. The voice he puts on is absolutely amazing, and everything I hoped it would be. So is the dry humor that I've come to love Geralt for. 
Enough gushing about Geralt. Time to gush about the production values, the setting, the costumes (except for many of Yen's - they were ridiculous), and the fights - ohmygod, the fights. I could have taken a lot more of those wonderful combat sequences, and the choreography that felt really unique and exciting and utterly compelling. Especially Geralt's first big fight done in one take. That was absolutely incredible, and I was grinning ear to ear for a long time. I haven't felt this excited about a series since Castlevania. I devoured this show, and am very very glad that it will be getting a second season (at the least). I hope it gets a thousand.
The show was fleshed out by really interesting characters, some familiar some not, of course. But all the casting is well done, and Yennefer, Ciri, Tissaia are all super interesting, as is the way the world is slowly being established in the show in a way that should satisfy both newcomers to the content and die-hard fans. It was very clever to intersect multiple timelines at the start of the show so that the characters could be established in their own right, and then bring them together to see how all their stories weave and fit together. Much better weaving here than on, say, Game of Thrones, where the tiniest snippets of people no one cares about took away from the things that were actually exciting here. There was a care and balance brought to each of the main story threads, which made is super satisfying to see develop and connect as the season progressed. 
Also, Jaskier is hilarious, and the on-screen chemistry between him and Geralt is just perfect.The Witcher is an absolute delight, a genre fan's paradise. Those numbnuts who panned it without watching it are...well...numbnuts. 
K Rating: 5/5

The Wild West in Space: The Mandalorian

I'm aware that everyone has been talking about this since the first episode aired, but here at Bathory's Closet I review seasons, not episodes. That way you get a bit of hindsight. So: The Mandalorian: great first episode, good droid design, poor intermittent characters and episodes, picked up again at the end.

Those are  my feelings in a nutshell. Yes, Baby Yoda is super cute, but more importantly, it's sort of a game-changer to have a Yoda, which raises all kinds of questions that I hope this show will eventually answer about yodas, their powers, their numbers, and how/what this little mind-bender has survived.

I say Western because that's how the majority of the show was structured - with these episodic adventures and episodic characters. Towards the end, we see the reason for that, as all these parties come together for season finale and a dramatic confrontation with the vestiges of the Empire seeking out the yodaling, but actually watching the show was not all that exciting in the middle, because many of those episodes didn't appreciably further the plot, or maintain the tension from the first episodes revelations. The writers saved me from boredom in the last two episodes, but then that makes three total that were well-written and well-executed. Not...great.

Especially when you consider that this was the only original content that was launched with the Disney+ service, which is attempting to be competitive with Netflix and the like, which, I will add, also released high-profile genre programming: The Witcher. And that, my friends, was damn near perfect. More on that in a minute. In the meantime though, hopefully Disney will realize its mistake of thinking name recognition is enough in the streaming content game, and of hyping a service and a bunch of shows (ahem, Marvel) that aren't even close to being ready. Because that's my real problem with The Mandalorian. It just wasn't enough. It wasn't a strong enough showing for a Disney launch. My hope is that they too recognize this. In the words of the immortal Xena: "Don't be sorry, Gabrielle. Just improve."

K Rating: 3/5

Better than Maclean, Not as Good as Dare: The Duke and I

Romance is a very large genre, one whose market is glutted, and runs the range from excellent to exceedingly poor in terms of writing quality and also narrative quality. As I am just getting my toes wet with straightforward romances, and I am a discerning reader, my goal is to identify those authors whose voices and characters resonate with me, and stick to that as my foundation. I tried Sarah Maclean -didn't care for the machismo. I tried Tessa Dare-God bless that woman. Most recently I tried Julia Quinn, with The Duke and I. I am on the fence.

The story of Simon really resonated with me - he was a well-developed character, and it made perfect sense to me that a young duke-to-be with a speech impediment would grow up ignored or overly coddled, which of course Simon does. I also really liked Daphne, and the majority of her family, including the overbearing mother.

Really, all of the characters were really fine - well thought-out, well-developed, and endearing. What I didn't like though, what I continue not to like wherever I encounter it, is the "I can lust you but I can't love you" trope. It turns men into jerks, and then my gut reaction is to run in the opposite direction. In this story, it made Daphne feel like she was dealing with a broken man, and only she could fix him. That's a gender/relationship stereotype I like even less, and a very outmoded way of thinking about romantic couples and interrelationships.

All in all, I'm open to giving Quinn another try, to see if she can take her ability to create wonderful characters and have them behave in ways that don't make me want to smack my head against a wall.

K Rating: 3/5

Much Better Fantasy Faire: Caraval

It's taken me a while to be convinced that I would like the Caraval series, as I usually distrust hype, but after reading a sample, the story lingered. I picked it up and gobbled it down very quickly. This is perhaps what The Night Circus should have been. (huge disappointment there, as seen here). The grand game contrived here had very high, dramatic, and violent stakes, and the game master Legend, who is all that his name implies, becomes an unfeeling villain in the eyes of Scarlett, who is forced to keep playing the game to find her kidnapped sister Donatella. That I wasn't expecting, and it was very satisfying.

The game world was a bit more on the dark/saccharine side, reminding me of things like Alice in Wonderland, which was never my favorite piece of literature, but all the same I thoroughly enjoyed the clues and the hunt, and the magical assistance Scarlett received along the way from the other characters inside the game (working there or otherwise). And the way in which the game works on a balance of illusion, magic, and people's own perceptions was very, very well executed. I thoroughly enjoyed the dark elements here, and it gave the game a sense of uncertainty throughout, that there would be no limits to the potential harm inflicted or sacrifices to be made. And it carried right through to the end, even when you get an ending that's satisfying for the characters. That's rare, and it was appreciated. So was the more Latin/Spanish-flavored worldbuilding, and the way in which magic is described and operates in this world. Another uncommon characteristic that went over well.

Her and Donatella's father was an especially well-crafted villain, as was the mysterious fiance that Scarlett agrees to marry just so that she can escape her father's control.

The end of this book (not spoiling), and the lingering premise that leads to the second in the series is tempting me to go through the series faster than is my habit. I'm restraining myself - for now.

K Rating: 4.5/5

An Excellent Mystery: Still Life

I'm always enamored of the covers of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series, but when you have a to-read list as long as mine, it can take forever just to get a series started. I finally did, with Still Life, and right aftewards (which was less than 24 hours, mind you), I was kicking myself for not giving in to that alluring cover image sooner.

Inspector Gamache is a solid inspector. I like his personality and how he dealt with his underlings. But he wasn't the star of this story. The mystery itself was superlative, dealing with the mysterious death of an elderly and beloved member of the community shortly after she opens her home to her friends for the first time, and submits her very secretive artwork to be publicly displayed.

I have a soft spot for stories that organically weave the visual arts into their tales, and this was a top-notch iteration of that. When we finally get to see the images the woman has been painting, the reaction of the characters, and by extension the reader, is visceral. You know something of the utmost importance is hidden there, but you don't know what. And it's an absolute pleasure finding out. It reminded me very much of way this storyline works in Profundo Rosso , Dario Argento's greatest work of mystery/horror/thriller cinema. I was at the edge of my seat with this book.

What I absolutely appreciated was that the investigation takes places through the eyes of multiple characters - not just Gamache and his officers, which was definitely exciting and showcased both Gamache's skill as a detective and Penny's keen ability to write flawed, human, believable characters, but also through the townsfolk itself. They are on a path to discovery as to what has happened in their sleepy little town as much as the investigators are. That's not something you see every day, and it was extremely satisfying, pulling the plot and all of the characters together rather than treating them as standing on different sides of the fence, which is what you get out of most procedurals.

I will be back for more soon. Very, very soon.

K. Rating: 5/5

Look carefully. 

Rogue Done Right: A Week to be Wicked

I like to keep a good distance between reading books by the same author, because I just have so many things on my to-read list. But Tessa Dare has hit upon a tempting concoction that has me borrowing her books from the library inbetween practically every other title on my shelf.

A Week to be Wicked solved the problems that I had with A Rogue Less Taken, because the male love interest was actually a likeable guy. He had a reputation with the ladies, sure, but he was never a terrible person to Minerva (who I loved - I mean, who doesn't love a female scientist?), and it was very clear throughout the book that guy's attraction to her only grew. And that translated into his kindness and increased attention to her as a person, and the two of them generally having great chemistry, which is what all good romances should have. The geological details and adventure are great, and not at all shallow, which is refreshing and necessary to help elevate the genre. And once again, the steamy scenes are all you hope they will be.

K Rating: 4/5

Intriguing and Fun: Kakuriyo - Bed and Breakfast for the Spirits

I am extremely particular with my consumption of anime. Anyone who's seen my facebook/goodreads profile knows what I mean. (Hint: It's Vampire Hunter D). And though I certainly watch much more anime than I read manga, I do venture in some of the time: The Getbackers, Phoenix Wright, and most recently, Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for the Spirits.


As a religious historian and also as a fan of Japanese culture, I'm always intrigued by stories of yokai, Japanese spirits, and the dark more monstrous elements of Japanese spirituality. So the title pretty much sold me on this one. After having read the first two volumes, I immediately requested the third from my library. Manga is always a fast read (no more than 20 min for a volume, for me anyway), but in this case what is going to keep me coming back is the sympathy I have for Aoi, a young human girl who recently lost her grandfather and has now been sucked into the world of the spirits to pay off his debt to a powerful ogre who also runs a B&B. To pay back his debt (for what we don't know- apparently the spirits were afraid of her grandfather's spiritual power, and he wasn't always kind), she is being forced to marry the ogre. Unless, of course, she can work off the debt in some other way - perhaps by cooking the delicious human food that yokai love so much?

There's a lot of back story to this premise that pulls me in, and I want to know more - about Aoi's grandfather, the nature of his powers and his reputation among the spirits, and why the Odanna is insisting on marrying a human girl even though everyone in his circle thinks it's the worst possible idea. There's a lot of room for this series to grow, and I'm interested to see both more of the spirit world and more of the internal workings of the inn and its staff, and their relationship to Aoi and her grandfather.

K Rating: 4/5