Hûw Steer's Blog, page 22

Review – The Short StoryTeller

The first full review of Nightingale’s Sword is in – and it’s a rather nice one. Thank you to Ethan Haynes at The Short StoryTeller for some very kind words:

“one of the best hidden gems in the indie fantasy community… immersive, exciting, and fun to read.”

Some very good feedback as well. I’m pleased to be able to say that pretty much all of his character concerns will be addressed in book 3…

Read the whole thing here.

Review: Stranger Back Home

Ethan Haynes’ latest book, Stranger Back Home – an SPFBO 7 semifinalist – has been on my list for some time. At the end of November I finally managed to read it – and it was well worth it.

Stranger Back Home is the first in a new series in the story of the itinerant storyteller and general mischief Sparrow. I’ve reviewed one of the earlier stories before, but there’s no real need to read them in order – Sparrow wanders through various worlds at will, stopping for standalone adventures before hopping into the next universe. There’ve been dreamlike fantasies and even sojourns to our own world.

This one, however, is pure fantasy – and it’s the best one yet.

Sparrow is summoned home by his family to deal with a problem in his father’s will – which he didn’t know he’d been written into. In the multi-species melting-pot of Dragonsmouth, the diminutive bard is thrown into a bewildering series of mysteries and plots that test his rapier wit to the limit. There are corrupt governments to tackle, ghost murders to solve, and a kobold spa to run. Oh, and most people are trying to kill him. So it goes.

Out of the gate, the worldbuilding is fantastic. The domed city of Dragonsmouth is a really vibrant place, full of different species – elves, orcs, gnomes, and many more – all with their own outlooks and overall characters. A few – namely the elves – feel a bit like humans with pointy ears, but others, particularly the kobolds, are really well-realised.

The quality of the prose is likewise excellent – Ethan’s best so far, in my opinion. There are some scenes that are so fantastically described – notably what I’ve been calling the ‘stabby tango’ (you’ll know what I mean when you get there) – that it was genuinely like watching a film inside my head. The description and language were that bloody good. And it’s genuinely funny, too. I definitely chuckle at good jokes in books, but seldom do they make me actually laugh out loud – but I did for this.

Sparrow himself shines as a main character here. I enjoyed him in previous stories where he was wandering round more realistic worlds, but honestly they never completely clicked for me. Carried Away was too real a world for so delightfully absurd a character, which is part of why I still haven’t finished it – Sparrow just doesn’t work so well there. (The fact that it’s a disaster story about a global pandemic released during a global pandemic may not have helped either.) Episodic Sleep Disorders’ dreamlike air of general fantasy worked better, but it wasn’t well-defined enough. But in Stranger Back Home Ethan’s really cracked the formula. A fantastical stranger in a proper fantastical world – where he can let loose with all his tricks and feel right at home. Even Sparrow’s real-world anachronisms land so much better when nobody else understands what he means.

On which note, I should talk about the social allegory bit – by which I mean the running ‘he’s a little racist’ joke and its accompanying social commentary. The general idea: Sparrow, having spent ages in the ‘real’ world, has brought back our prejudices and ideas of equality with him – only to find that they don’t map so well onto a world inhabited of elves and dwarfs and dragons. The main focus is racism and skin colour – very important in our world, but far less so in a setting where there’s species equality to worry about. When Sparrow is mugged by some orcs from the ‘Black Brotherhood’, for instance, his companions are rather confused when he starts talking about skin colour:

“Sparrow, you were just involved in a highway robbery, and somehow you were convinced that it was about race.”

“It’s a big issue in the world that I’m coming from.”

“I can’t even imagine. I don’t want to imagine. A world that views everything in terms of skin colour sounds like a horrible place to live. We have enough local issues here in Telleron, Sparrow, we really don’t need you to bring more issues back with you.”

It’s an interesting idea that follows in the vein of a lot of good sci-fi in particular: Sparrow has his heart in the right place, but he sees discrimination in places that it just doesn’t exist in this universe. And this universe certainly has enough discrimination of its own going on, which is very well presented throughout the book. The running gag of Sparrow – who is revealed to be essentially a hobbit – being a ‘little racist’ is also really funny… the first few times. While it’s a good concept, this theme got too much focus for my taste, at the expense of other aspects of the plot. What starts as an interesting real-world concept through a fantasy lens ends up feeling more like a direct address to the reader that happens to be delivered by a hobbit. It starts well, but the point is made about halfway through – by the speeches at the end of the book it’s worn a little thin. That doesn’t stop it being a good idea overall, though. It was certainly very thought-provoking.

The plot is good – a nice mystery set-up that takes Sparrow all over the city and explores plenty of aspects of the new world. But the wrap-up of all the many threads at the end feels a little untidy. There are so many layers to the various mysteries, all intersecting throughout the book, that a lot of chunks of exposition are needed to make everything make sense, which is a shame – for the most part Ethan shows and doesn’t tell. But then at the same time, the many layers make the story very engaging throughout.

This, in conclusion, is a damn good book, and without doubt the best of Ethan’s Sparrow stories so far. It’s a really immersive and rich new world that lets the character of Sparrow shine to his fullest. I hope Sparrow gets to stay in the realms of fantasy for a while – there’s so much more to explore in this world and he’s the perfect man to do it.

Resolutions: 2022 Edition

Happy New Year, everyone.

I had a look back at my list of things I wanted to do in 2021… and I didn’t really do most of them. To be fair on myself, I did do the big one: publish the second Boiling Seas book (which you should definitely read). Unfortunately the doing of that one took up most of my creative time, and a very busy year of work soaked up most of what was left.

So it’s hopefully a slightly more achievable list this year:

1 – Do Another Book

It might have been published at the eleventh hour, but I did manage to get Nightingale’s Sword out in 2021, which means I’ve technically managed to keep up my streak of one book per year. I’d like to continue that. It won’t be Boiling Seas 3, because I haven’t even started that yet, but I have a few other manuscripts lying around that ought to be serviceable enough after a good polish. If I can, I’ll get it out before December this time too.

2 – Write Reviews

Reviews. I did, at least, manage to read some of the books I promised other authors I’d review. I just need to gather my thoughts and get them on paper. I’ve also got a bunch of other books and games and shows that I’d like to ramble about at some point, so I’ll see what I can put out.

3 – Write Short Stories

Again, I did do some of this one last year: I wrote several short pieces. Well, I say short. They weren’t novels, but they weren’t short enough (or good enough) to see the light of day properly. So this year I’m going to a) write some more, and b) actually plan them out first so I can keep them concise and submit them. And from there, who knows?

4 – Agents

This is the really big one for this year. Querying agents is hard work. I tried a few times last year, but didn’t get anywhere (not that I was really expecting to). But it’d be a nice thing to at least try some more. Traditional publishing is a competitive hellscape, and the likelihood of anything coming of it is next to nothing… but you never know, eh?

Let’s see how we go, in any case.

Merry Christmas

I won’t make you read much today, as the festive weekend is in full swing and I have a significant amount of turkey still to consume, as I’m sure is the case for many of you.

I shall simply with you all a merry Christmas (or equivalent winter celebration), and hope that you are all furnished with plenty of food and drink and new objects to occupy your time. Maybe some new books. (Maybe this new book?)

Now if you’ll excuse me I have boxes (or boxing?) that requires my attention before the rest of my family arrives.

It’s Out

I could have done a countdown, but why bother?

Nightingale’s Sword is now available – in ebook and paperback form. (US links, but it’s available in all markets!)

Get it while it’s fresh. Not that it’s going to go off.

And if you haven’t read The Blackbird and the Ghost yet, don’t worry – it’s free from today until Christmas Eve.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Nightingale’s Sword – Sneak Preview

Preparations continue to be made for the release of Nightingale’s Sword (either next week or early the week after). But while you wait, why not reread The Blackbird and the Ghost so you know what’s going on – or read it for the first time if you haven’t already?

Because the (ebook version of) The Blackbird and the Ghost now features a little surprise: an extract from the beginning of Nightingale’s Sword, all shiny and new! Have a read all the way to the end to get a teaser of what’s coming in book 2.

Even if you already own the book, I believe that you can download an updated version from the ‘Manage My Content and Devices’ page on Amazon. Or it’ll do it automatically. Not entirely sure. Either way, all your ebooks, whether brand new or not, should now feature the new extract at the end.

I’m excited. I hope some of you are too.

Get The Blackbird and the Ghost here.

Fresh Inspiration

It’s been a while since I tried writing something cyberpunk or cyberpunk-adjacent. But when you go away for a work trip and this is the view from your hotel window…

If only I’d been able to pick up Gibson’s Zero History and there was a new Matrix film on the horizon to get me properly in the mood.

Yeah. I can taste the neon and smell the code. Once Nightingale’s Sword is out, I think I’ll give fantasy a rest for a little while and get stuck into something high-tech and low-life.

The Boiling Seas: The Story So Far

I’m in the US at the moment so time is weird – apologies.

The sequel to The Blackbird and the Ghost is coming in a few weeks – so I figured it might be a good opportunity to recap on what’s happened in the world of the Boiling Seas so far.

Obviously, spoilers follow for The Blackbird and the Ghost. If you haven’t read it, you might like to.

Tal Wenlock: adventurer, thief, and archaeologist, depending on who you speak to. A renowned treasure-hunter, he takes to the Boiling Seas to hunt for an ancient scroll of healing magic – one of five created long ago by an unknown but incredibly powerful wizard, long lost to myth. While the scroll is immensely valuable, if it exists, Tal isn’t in it for the money. He wants it to cure the incurable disease that has crippled his sister for years.

The Boiling Seas are a dangerous place, of course. Volcanic activity on the ocean floor has made them permanently boiling hot. Only the hardiest serpents and metal-scaled fish can survive in their depths, and a wooden boat will not last long. Great steel-hulled ships and airships are the only ways to cross the steaming waters – and it is on the former that Tal pursues a lead to the city of Port Malice on the Corpus Isles.

Into the earth Tal goes: deep into the furthest reaches of an old mine, following clues from an ancient journal to find the buried remnants of an ancient palace. But he doesn’t find the scroll there. Instead he finds the agents of his bitterest enemy: another treasure-hunter, a man without moral or scruple, a man purely after profit and prepared to do anything to get it. Mikhail Siras, the Ghost, the Nowhere Man. Tal flees into the tunnels, is shot, and very nearly dies beneath the ground.

Instead, however, he is rescued by the scholars of the Lantern, a great university of every subject under the sun – and magic too. There he meets Maximillian Odyn, a young scholar who he persuades to join him on his quest. With her mastery of magic and deep knowledge of ancient languages and history, Max is able to help Tal figure out the real location of the scroll.

Together, they sail out to the tiny island of the Palm, and in its caverns they find the resting-place of the scroll – at the heart of a forgotten tomb packed with traps and tricks for the unwary. Those Tal can handle – but not the Nowhere Man, who very nearly kills him with the scroll already in his hands. But with Max’s help, the Ghost is defeated – and with the scroll of healing, Tal is saved.

The pair head for the mainland to tend to Tal’s sister – and from there, to the next of the five scrolls. And if I said anything else, I’d be giving you spoilers.

Nightingale’s Sword will tell you what happens next.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Boiling Seas… Book 2

In the endless jungles of Tyria, the Blackbird flies again.

Cover by me, from a stock photo by Quang Nyugen Vinh

Tal Wenlock and Max Odyn make a formidable team. The thief and the scholar have already unearthed one ancient scroll, filled with priceless knowledge and forgotten magic – and with it cured Tal’s sister of her crippling illness.

But four more scrolls still lurk in long-forgotten tombs – and Tal and Max are determined to find them. Unfortunately, so is everyone else. Tal and Max will have to race the world’s finest treasure-hunters across the deadly Boiling Seas, from the depths of the earth to the heights of the sky, if they want to win the glory – and the gold.

Thankfully, this time Tal and Max have help. Because Lily Wenlock is back on her feet – and she’s not about to let her little brother have all the fun.

The jungle islands of Tyria hold secrets unimaginable – all the Blackbird and his friends have to do is find them first.

It’s written. For the second time. I’ve still got some tweaking to do, but my elite cadre of proofreaders are hard at work finding all the inevitable typos. That just leaves some tedious formatting for the paperback version (and possibly the hardback, because KDP does that now) – and that should be that.

The second book in the Boiling Seas trilogy will be out before Christmas.

Feels a bit weird to say that. But it’s happening. Watch this space.

What do you mean, all the Alex Rider books take place in the span of a single year?

Boiling Seas 2 announcements are being prepared as I sort out artwork/proofing/some level of publicity. Stay tuned. For now, have a review-like ramble, and be warned for (very light) spoilers for the newer Alex Rider books.

I’ve always liked spy stories. When I was a kid I practically wore out our VHSes of From Russia With Love and Octopussy (the only Bond films we had at the time, which explains why I still have a soft spot for the Roger Moore era, campy as it is).

And I read the Alex Rider books dozens of times over. A teenage Bond was exactly what I wanted, and I devoured the original 6 books. The next 3 (Snakehead through Scorpia Rising) I still enjoyed, but I was growing up a little by then, and though they did get darker to match my ageing they didn’t quite hit the spot in the same way those first 6 did. But I still loved them. I even watched the film, though somehow I still haven’t watched the TV show. It was never going to win any Oscars but on the scale of children’s books adapted into movies, it’s definitely closer to Narnia than Eragon.

The original and best cover artwork. Alas, my Eagle Strike doesn’t match the rest of the six…

Horowitz can really write a spy story. He can write a James Bond story too – I read his Forever and a Day recently as well, and it’s a fantastic Bond book. Without wishing to offend Charlie Higson, Alex Rider was always much better than the Young Bond series.

Then recently I found out that Horowitz had picked up the series again after a 6-year break. I managed to find a copy of Never Say Die at my library, and I eagerly dove back into the world of Horowitz’s teenage spy. What stories will he tell now he’s a young adult? I thought to myself as I opened the book. It had been so long, I was looking forward to seeing Alex Rider mature.

And then I realised that, contrary to my memory of the series, all nine of the preceding books had taken place while Alex was still 14 years old.

My mind was boggled. This kid had fought international assassins, stopped a nuclear war, brought down media moguls, beaten up his own evil twin and been to space in the space of one year. I genuinely thought that each book had taken place months apart – in my head, Alex had been about 12 at the start but had finished the original run aged about 17. (I realise now that I’d been mixing him up with Artemis Fowl, who does, rather more sensibly in my opinion, age as the series goes on.)

Never Say Die opens with Alex aged 15. He’s still a kid. A highly traumatised kid, but a kid nonetheless. I started the newer books with a healthy level of scepticism – but in fairness to Horowitz, he makes it work. Alex Rider has always been a reluctant agent of MI6, but in Never Say Die, Secret Weapon and now Nightshade, Horowitz really plays up the angle that he doesn’t want to do this. He’s done with getting shot and stabbed and burned. He’s a teenager who wants to live his life, and the fact that he’s failing miserably in school (which makes much more sense given that he’s skipped the best part of a whole year rather than the few weeks at a time that I thought he’d missed) doesn’t help either.

But Nightshade is a different story. For the first time Alex is confronted by what he could have become, in the shape of brainwashed child assassins – better trained than him but utterly lacking conscience. It’s a theme that Scorpia began to touch on, but only for Alex himself, and he was able to resist that reprogramming. But when faced with a glimpse of what MI6 could have turned him into if they’d had fewer morals, Alex reassesses what he’s been through. It’s a really effective way of giving the series a fresh angle on the life of a teenage spy. For the first time, Alex wants to stop these people – not just because they’re threatening the world but because he genuinely thinks them evil.

In short, if you ever enjoyed Alex Rider as a kid, pick up the newer books. Despite the fact that I’m a decade older, I’m enjoying them just as much as I ever did.