E.S. Barrison's Blog, page 24
September 16, 2020
The Messengers – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Total Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5 stars)
The galaxy has been at war for decades. When Zane, a messenger, comes head-to-head with a refugee, he talks just a little too much, getting himself into more trouble than he anticipated. A young man confused by his duties in a war and plague ravaged society, he inadvertently gets a scientist from the opposing side captured. Little does he know that she is a geneticist that sees DNA as something as more than a puzzle: but a messenger itself.
Meanwhile, a seemingly normal mission to deliver a package causes a soldier and a pilot to disclose more about their pasts than they intend. Could their pasts be the key to the future?
While the fates of these individuals do not transform the galaxy, this short audible production, reminiscent of a playwright script, takes us on a simple voyage, asking the single question: how do we carry our pasts? Does it matter what is in our blood, or are we defined by our actions?
While this short play-like story is not revolutionary, it’s fun to listen to as a whole. I got a feel of the different characters, their universe, and their conflict in the one hour listen. Would it have been as good on paper? I’m not sure. But even with only dialogue and sound-effects to tell the story, it was enough to understand the overall conflict and dilemma. Was all the dialogue realistic? Not necessarily. But as is with any play on paper, sometimes you need more dialogue to explain what is going on.
I don’t think this needed to be longer in order to tell its tale. While there is much more in this universe to be explored, the goal of this story was simple: show us the past and how it relays into the future, and the conflicts that coincide with it.
This might not be for everyone, but as a sci-fi lover, I thought it did a fantastic job. If you want a quick listen on audible, I encourage you to check it out. I had fun with it at least.
What’s it about?
A mysterious plague ushers in an intergalactic war that ravages the galaxy for decades. A soldier and a pilot are tasked to deliver a package. A messenger and a refugee decide to work together on a dying alien planet. A love letter is lost that could be the key to a new future. A dark comedy about the messages we carry in our bones.
The Messengers on Goodreads
The Magic Misfits: The Fourth Suit – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 Stars)
Total Rating: ★★★★★ (4.5/5 stars)
The Magic Misfits are back in their final act, but will they take a bow at the end? After a tumultuous summer with the nefarious Kalagan stirring up chaos, ultimately resulting in the destruction of Vernon’s Magic Shop, the Magic Misfits have been forced to meet in the shadows. This time, we take a journey through Ridley’s eyes, as she tries to thwart Kalagan’s plans one last time as well as mend the ties between her friends and her family. In a fun, high-stakes finale, filled with the magic of friendship and transformative word, embark on the Magic Misfits’ finale as they question everything they know.
Throughout the entire series, we have seen Ridley as the hard-headed, tough-as-nails, loyal friend. Now, in the finale, we get to see her in full; she is terrified of losing her friends and family, particularly to herself. She is constantly battling her inner turmoil, trying to mediate her personality, while also holding to her convictions. Children need to see this: not every hero is perfect. As truths unravel in Mineral Wells, that made even more pertinent. Things aren’t always as they seem. While many things seemed to come together by coincidence, Kalagan’s influence has been there throughout the whole story, playing each piece, one at a time, to bring our misfits together.
But even those we trust might not be trustworthy. Ridley knows this, and even if the truth hurts, she’ll stop at nothing to make sure her friends understand. Without Ridley, the Misfits might not have taken a final bow. They might have succumbed to Kalagan’s influence.
But they also could never act alone. Neil Patrick Harris has painted this group as equals; no matter their strengths and weaknesses, without each other, Kalagan might have won. While Kalagan is cunning, with multiple twists up his sleeves (one of which I anticipated, but the other I did not), he cannot win against such a close and important group of magical children.
In a satisfying conclusion to the series, we see all these pieces come together. Each child gets the chance to shine. But I think what is even more important about this book is Ridley. The fact that she is in a wheelchair is never seen as an inconvenience or an annoyance to her or her friends. She is strong, smart, and resourceful. There are important accommodations made by her friends, but never as a burden. Children need this…and adults do too: no one is a burden.
In fact, Ridley’s insecurities come more from her behavior. Is she too harsh? Too mean? Is she going to end up like her workaholic mother? What is left unsaid is more important than what is said, proving one heavy point: Ridley is a child just like any other.
Ultimately, this story is about trust. Everyone keeps secrets, but a secret should never cause someone to be misdirected. If a secret is such a burden, you lay the grounds to be manipulated by a man such as Kalagan. In the end, if you want your friendships to thrive, have trust in each other. It’s essential.
The Fourth Suit is a satisfying conclusion to a fun, but also heartwarming, story about a group of magical misfits. I highly recommend, whether young or old, you take a journey with the group. I am sure Carter, Laila, Theo, Ridley, Izzy, and Ollie would be happy to have you.
What’s it about?
Ridley Larsen is everything you want in a friend. She’s tough as nails, she’s fiercely loyal, and she’s smart as a whip. But she can be a harsh critic, which has put her position with the Magic Misfits on the rocks, even as the threat of the group’s longtime enemy Kalagan looms large. Ever since his recent appearance in Mineral Wells, the kids know that a showdown with the vicious magician is imminent.
They must first deal with a series of odd instances and random attacks, though, all of which they use to bring themselves closer to discovering where Kalagan may be hiding, and the nature of his true identity. But can Ridley finally master her temper and put her essential magical skills to good use? She’ll do anything to protect her friends, and when the time comes, she’ll find that the Magic Misfits are strongest when they all work together.
Join the Magic Misfits as they discover adventure, friendship, and more than a few hidden secrets in this finale of the unique and surprising series. Whether you’re a long-time expert at illusion or simply a new fan of stage magic, hold on to your top hat
The Magic Misfits: The Fourth Suit on Goodreads
September 14, 2020
Dead Jack & The Pandemonium Device- Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Total Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Life shouldn’t be hard for dead guy, but for Jack the only thing that seems to make him happy is pixie dust. He’ll stop at nothing to get some to, taking on odd detective jobs, such as searching for a Goblin Queen’s missing cats. Little does he expect that the search for cats unveils a plot by a former acquaintance to destroy Pandemonium and return to the “real” world.
In a story reminiscent of many adult cartoons – such as Rick & Morty and Futurama – Dead Jack takes on an almost cartoonish, but still fantastical and creepy, approach to a dimension filled dead and undead creatures alike. With the help his homonculus partner, Oswald, as well as from a half-pixie witch and an insane bat god, Jack inevitably is forced to save the day. The characters are fun, unique, and ultimately charming in their odd ways, even if Jack can be petty.
A straightforward story with interesting characters is always the type to keep me engaged. It might not be for everyone, since it does start with Jack behead a leprechaun after a disagreement. He is a zombie (addicted to pixie dust) after all. Dark and twisted in the best ways, you’ll want see where Jack’s antics take him next. Overall, it’s fun, and that’s what matters.
I do wish we could have spent more time with Oswald and some of the other characters. To an extent, Jack as our narrator is one of the more normal and less interesting characters. That probably why he makes a good narrator though. He’s zombie, but he’s fundamentally human at heart. Even though he claims his soul is gone, to an extent, I think he has more soul than anyone else. He just hides it under an exterior of nonchalance.
The story of the Pandemonium Device wraps up nicely, but with enough of a cliffhanger that readers will be back for more. Is his dear little buddy okay? Will he find his soul? Will the Leprechauns get their revenge?
I guess I’ll find out in the next book.
What’s it about?
Dead Jack and the Pandemonium Device kicks off a wild and irreverent fantasy / horror series following the exploits of a zombie detective and his homunculus frenemy. In the fast-paced novel, the drug-addicted zombie detective and his shapeshifting sidekick battle and outsmart supernatural creatures, from tough-guy leprechauns to sex-obsessed shark women and insane bat gods, in a hellish, alternate New York City of the 1940s.
Dead Jack and the Pandemonium Device on Goodreads
September 13, 2020
The Cthulhu Casebooks: Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadow – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
Total Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
Everyone knows the story of Sherlock Holmes. The original story, A Study in Scarlet, has paved the way for this notable detective to influence ever element of popular culture. But, even John Watson lies. At the end of his days, Watson has decided to tell us the truth. There is more to Sherlock Holmes than being a witty detective. He had stretched the truth and changed the stories to suit a better narrative, for the truth is much darker. Upon meeting Sherlock Holmes by pure chance in a pub, rather than introduced by a friend as he so claimed (although the friend is still to blame), Watson and Holmes embark on a journey that takes them to the world of Eldritch Gods, the Necronomicon, and deaths that defy humanity.
Sherlock Holmes answers the call of Cthulhu in James Lovegrove’s retelling of Sherlock Holmes. In a tale told in the same format as the original Sherlock Holmes stories, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this first part of The Cthulhu Casebooks feels as if it comes right out of the original narrative. Even if you don’t know every Sherlock Holmes story, or only have a small knowledge of HP Lovecraft’s work, you’ll be able to follow along with this adventure. The Old Gods are real, and they are haunting London as shadows, taking lives and stumping even the notorious Sherlock Holmes.
While Lovegrove stays true to the original characters, the retelling did grow a little cumbersome. It spent time recounting details, as is customary with Sherlock Holmes’s stories, and I found myself losing focus on certain passages that went into the deep details of the Old Gods. This is of course expected in a story that combines two author’s work: the author is forced to find a balance between telling the readers enough without confusing them.
As per expected, Moriarty becomes the villain, as is with every Sherlock Holme’s tale. To Sherlock, the answers always come easily, and as is per usual with any Sherlock Holmes tale, he always has a cunning way out of every situation. To some extent though, Sherlock facing these Old Gods seemed almost too intense and bizarre, even for him.
Finally, it can’t go unsaid that since the story tries to stay loyal to its source material, there are instances of racism and prejudiced dotted throughout the story. While the author attempts to rectify this in a preface, taking the role of a fictional author from our time who came into possession of the manuscripts, it is important to be aware of these faults. Yes, it keeps them close to the source material, but could they have been handled better? Possibly.
With all that being said, it was an entertaining read. I’ll probably pick up the next book eventually, more so out of curiosity of how Sherlock Holmes deals with these perplexing foes. It’s just not at the very top of my to-read list.
What’s it about?
In the stews of London’s East End, an outbreak of insanity sees ordinary men and women reduced to gibbering, incoherent wrecks; a mysterious creeping fog hides terrifying apparitions within that rob the wits of all who see them and even inspire suicide.
Sherlock Holmes, in the infancy of his detecting career, deduces a connection between these sinister “shadows” and an Oriental drug lord who is bent on expanding his criminal empire. Yet there are even more sinister forces at work, as the great detective faces a challenge so fearsome and deadly that his career may be over almost as soon as it has begun.
Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows on Goodreads
Werewolf Nights – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5 / 5 stars)
Catherine Mercy is just trying to survive; not from werewolves, of course, but from financial destitution and keeping herself afloat. She still has not recovered from her husband, Frank’s, supposed death, leaving her in financial ruin. All she has is her bakery and two good friends, Anne and Steve. But her memories haunt her: of Frank, of Jimmy – her long lost highschool sweetheart – and of the town’s lore. When a movie begins production about her town’s local legend, suddenly Catherine’s life is thrown into a row of movie stardom and romance. But is she ready cast aside her past and make the plunge into change…especially when real werewolves might just be afoot?
In a story constructed with hefty unique lore that transports the reader into Wereville’s stories of real werewolves, we embark on Catherine’s journey to come to terms with her past. Little does Catherine know, the truth is more complicated than it seems. Hamill does a fantastic job weaving these components into the story, and as I read, I slowly began to work through the mysteries of Catherine’s past. Wereville is enchanting, the type of campy place I would like to visit. In fact, the story has every element of a campy werewolf movie. So it’s fun, at least at its core.
Overall though, the story faltered. The first 60% of the book basically summarizes the first half of the back cover summary. We meander through the first few days, experiencing Wereville, learning about Catherine’s past through long memory-based chapters, and are told what Catherine and the other characters feel without quite experiencing it. The romance that Catherine begins (and subsequently ends) with Charles, feels inorganic. Later, when the same emotions come tumbling around Greg, it once again felt forced.
The last 30% of the novel was the most interest part, coming face-to-face with real werewolves. But the pacing was too fast, especially compared to the beginning. While the first 60-70% covers a series of maybe a week, the last 30% spans months. This works in some occasions, but personally, I would have much preferred the beginning be cut short to spend more time in this part of the novel. We could have explored the legend, as well as Catherine’s confused and budding feelings for her costars. In fact, I hate to say it, but the back cover summary basically surmises 80-90% of the book.
I was hoping for more, overall. I was hoping for an exploration of werewolf myth while delving into the romance between Catherine and her costar. Instead, the story meandered. I learned all about Wereville, and was told everything about Catherine and Greg…but I didn’t get as much real werewolf (or werewolf hunters) as I was expecting.
Everything came together in a nice package though. Like any campy werewolf movie, Catherine gets her ending. All the details come together in a nice box, making sense in the end, even if the execution could have been better.
I can see why people would enjoy this story though. It has steamy romance, compelling lore, and werewolves. Even if I didn’t enjoy the execution, others will, so I don’t want to tell people not to read it.
If it sounds interesting, I encourage you check out Werewolf Nights. It certainly adds a whole new element to werewolf lore.
What’s it about?
Threatened by financial ruin, widowed bakery owner Catherine Mercy leads a solitary life with more interest in reading about werewolf lore than in finding a man. Her one true love disappeared after high school and her now deceased husband kept her trapped in the house claiming that a werewolf might hunt her down one day, just as her grandmother repeatedly warned her. When Hollywood interrupts the town’s monotony by shooting a werewolf movie on location, Catherine’s best friend Anne pushes her to audition. Already in her thirties, Catherine feels ridiculous trying to become an actress, but lands the leading role.
Catherine’s daily routine turns into a hair-raising adventure as fame begins to surveil her wanderings and she falls for her sexy costar Greg Byron despite this actor’s neon warning sign that flashes conceited womanizer. He’s also smitten by her, but just when they are about to find happiness, a wolf bites him.
While Greg’s features turn lupine, Catherine discovers a resemblance between the movie script and her family’s history. Frightened, Catherine recruits werewolf expert Steve to figure out if the movie’s werewolf legend is real and if Wolfern, the werewolf her grandmother dreaded, has finally come for her. If so, Greg will turn into a werewolf. Only undoing Greg’s curse and destroying Wolfern before the next full moon can save their love and their lives.
Mari Hamill blends fantasy, intrigue, and passion to create a chilling, unique story
Werewolf Nights on Goodreads
September 12, 2020
Do YOU Want to Help Indie Authors?
What if there was a week, or maybe a month, that focused entirely on the community coming together and supporting each other? While yes, we’re already a very supportive community, I mean something like this: we host giveaways, interviews, contests, webinars and how-tos, connect readers with reviewers, and other such fun things! Think of it as a digital event, right here, online.
But this would be a serious endeavor, and I can’t do it alone. I need help.
So this is me asking for YOUR help! If you’re interested in this event in any way shape or form (as a host, guest author, or just wanting to be in the know), please fill out this form:
This is all just an abstract idea right now, but I would really LOVE to throw this together.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
E.S. Barrison
September 10, 2020
Broken Melody – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 / 5 stars)
Alana has a demon living inside her that she calls Sunshine. This is demon is dark, constantly throwing her between mania and depression, and the only way that Alana can silence Sunshine is through her addiction to toxic substances. Time is a mere figment. Her relationships are falling apart. And everything is spinning out of control.
In a harrowing, passionately written story, Nikki Haase takes us deep into the psyche of what addiction does to people. It’s unique to find a story specifically about a female addict as well, since most ride off the wave of Breaking Bad, focusing on the lives of male addicts instead. The story, told from Alana’s point-of-view, has the jittery focus of a drug addict. When she is high or stoned, her speech pattern reflected it, and while sober, she is more observant of her friends and her surroundings. Time moves weird in the book; sometimes days go by, or months, and like with any one struggling from addiction and mental illness, it doesn’t always make sense. This was brilliantly done.
Yet, while time becomes meaningless in Alana’s life, it does negatively impact the pacing. The first half of the book is a little slow, while second half moves a little too fast. I would have liked to spend more time with Alana after her life takes a turn for the worst. Possibly we don’t see it because Alana is living in a haze of addiction. She is inwardly focused, and when she’s on her high, she doesn’t feel anything.
Because of her inward focus, a lot of her friends are seen through a selfish lens. She sees them as “I don’t know why she loves me,” “I don’t understand why he cares,” etc. This doesn’t always work in a narrative, but I think it works well with Alana’s story…since it is very much about her. Granted it does take away from an emotional event that occurs, leaving two of her friends empty, as well as how her parents feel about her addiction. She’s a teenager, after all, and teenager are selfish.
Despite the book’s flaws, I really enjoyed it. It gave a sort of perspective that isn’t always addressed, and it also creates a sympathy for people who get stuck in a cycle of addiction. The book is also an examination of failed mental health systems, which ultimately led to Alana self medicating. Friends, even if they shouldn’t forgive someone, often are the changing forces in someone’s life. Even if I think some characters should have walked away from her, I understand why they didn’t. In real life, you don’t always give up on someone despite their battles. You might walk away for a bit, but it’s very realistic that you would come back.
I do recommend this book but with a caveat. It is dark. It’s about addiction and the horrors that face it. If this makes you uneasy, then this book is for you. But, if you want to explore the depth of someone’s psyche as they struggle through these horrors, I do recommend you check out Broken Melody.
I think it will be on my mind for awhile.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What’s it about?
I think a demon lives in me. Her name is Sunshine and she wants the numbing chemicals of cocaine. She craves the sweet, disgusting taste of heroin and the sharp flavors of crystal meth. We’re often told that drug addicts are lowly humans that drop out of school, can’t hold down a job, and they always come from a life of abuse and pain. I have friends who love me, parents who care about me, and a beautiful girlfriend who I adore. I was a straight-A student in high school. I was at the top of my class. I’ve been getting high since I was a kid to self-medicate mood swings that feel like whiplash on a good day. And I’ve messed up. Big time. Now, I owe the biggest dealer in town thousands of dollars! If he finds me, I’m dead. I can’t get the money and I can only hide out for so long. I have to get sober so I can get my head straight and figure this out. All I need is one more hit.
Broken Melody on Goodreads
September 9, 2020
We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 Stars)
Total Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5 stars)
Merricat is content with her life. Sure, her sister Constance never leaves the house, and Uncle Julian seems to be getting worse every day, but she enjoys her life secluded from the rest of town. She explores the Blackwood Estate, left to her after her parents died in an unfortunate accident involving arsenic in their sugar, and keeps to a routine she finds soothing. But people talk. They blame Constance for the murder. When their cousin Charles appears one day in attempts to claim unknown riches, Merricat will stop at nothing to get him out of their house, even if it risks revealing her secrets.
In an intricately woven tale, we see the world through Merricat’s eyes. Her childlike nature, her distaste for most people, and her games infect the reader. We become sympathetic to her pleas, even if they are on the irrational side. Besides, who doesn’t want to be left alone? Who doesn’t want to protect those they care about? And who isn’t afraid of their entire world being upended? Merricat is painted as the perfect sympathetic character, but beneath it she harbors sociopath tendencies, with the inability to connect with anyone else. She likes to watch others squirm. But as the reader, you want them to squirm too.
As an audio book, Merricat’s personality shines, and that helps in the more drawn out portions of the book. While the writing was beautiful, weaving intricately through a maze of problems just like the house, I wonder if it meandered too much. After the most destructive moment, due to Merricat’s hatred of Charles, the book continued wandering through the narrative, almost as if it was uncertain how to conclude. Possibly, the story might have been stronger if it was ended sooner, or was shorter. I am not entirely certain. The thrilling nature of the narrative comes from the way it’s written, but for me at least, that was also it’s flaw.
That being said, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, will chill you to the bone. The revelation is well thought out, and while I figured it before its reveal, the seeds are planted well enough that it’s neither too obvious nor too wild a discovery.
With Halloween approaching, this thriller is definitely one to add to your TBR list.
Before you eat dessert tonight, make sure to check your sugar.
What’s it about?
Six years after four family members died of arsenic poisoning, the three remaining Blackwoods—elder, agoraphobic sister Constance; wheelchair-bound Uncle Julian; and 18-year-old Mary Katherine, or, Merricat—live together in pleasant isolation. Merricat has developed an idiosyncratic system of rules and protective magic to guard the estate against intrusions from hostile villagers. But one day a stranger arrives—cousin Charles, with his eye on the Blackwood fortune—and manages to penetrate into their carefully shielded lives. Unable to drive him away by either polite or occult means, Merricat adopts more desperate methods, resulting in crisis, tragedy, and the revelation of a terrible secret.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle on Goodreads
September 8, 2020
Insights: Why It’s Okay to Write About Dark Topics…and why I Edited a Scene Post-Publication
I’ve debated this post for awhile, as well the decision I ended up making.
In our current culture, there many sensitive topics. Which is good. We need to have conversations about these topics. But, it does leave creators with uncertainty: is it okay to write about sexism? What about violence or assault? Do I have put warnings on my books?
I do think warnings, such as what we have in film and TV, would helpful, especially for those who are extremely uncomfortable about these topics for various reasons. But that’s not what this post is about today.
Today, I wanted to address one thing: it is OKAY to write about dark topics. It does not normalize them, but instead allows us to explore these topics in a way that is health for human nature. If we never discussed these topics, never depicted them, then how would we know? Fiction lets us explore, to reach into the deepest confines of our minds, and create something…no matter how disturbing.
Some people will prefer more pure and “fluffy” type of pieces. There are areas of writing just for that. But do not condemn those of us exploring these topics, especially if we are doing so out of criticism.
I like to explore sexism in my writing, but not because I am (inherently) sexist. As woman, this is an area I can write about, even if I haven’t experienced it to the degree. I chose dark fantasy because it allows us to explore these areas. My villains are notably sexist, they’re being called out for their actions, and main characters fight it. Assuming you are rooting for the main characters, then you should be wanting to fight sexism too. So this is ALRIGHT. This is the goal of fiction.
Where depicting sexism or other dark topics does not work is for two reasons: shock value or when it is not condemning the action. If a scene is there for no reason, then the writer is just trying to draw out emotions, and it might seem gratuitous. But, what I think is even worse than that, is when a writer seems to believe what they’re saying. A writer who shows a woman not going to war in a statement of “historical accuracy” because “women belonged at home”, might actually be fueling sexism. Fantasy and sci-fi give us a chance to explore these topics, but we also have the freedom to create something miraculous and unique. It comes down to the author’s views.
That being said, I decided to alter a scene in my book.
Isn’t that going against everything you just said? No.
The beauty of self-publishing is the ability to change your work for the better.
This scene, and some people might know what I am talking about, became misinterpreted. I had spent countless hours trying to make it work. Multiple beta readers and my editor went through it with me. I no intention for it to be used for shock value and it wasn’t supposed to be interpreted the way many have read it.
I’ve gone back and forth with changing it, since I have faith in the story I want to tell, but the amount of times people misinterpreted it left me with heavy bouts of anxiety. That is not the legacy I want to hold.
Being a self published author means I can recognize these mistakes and change them. So I messaged my editor, and together we spent time review the small scene. We altered a few words, giving a scene a more definitive meaning, without altering the outcome that my character faces. It wasn’t supposed to be for shock; it plays into her development in the next book.
But with the scene so close to the ending, I didn’t want to keep it that way.
I won’t go into details on what the scene is, as I am sure some of you can deduce what this scene is based on what I’ve been talking about. I am happy to be making the change though. It reduces some of my stress over it. I usually don’t even read my reviews, but just this reaction left a taste in my mouth…about myself. Rather than fight the reviews, or respond to them, I made the effort to change the scene.
It’s amazing what altering a couple words can do.
I hope this will garner better reactions from the audience. If anything, I know I have done what I can to remove something gratuitous and shocking.
If you have read The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice, or already have a copy but haven’t read it, and want to see the change I made, feel free to email me at esbarrison (@) gmail (.com). If you have proof of purchase, I am happy to send along an updated digital copy. I can also just send along the updated chapter.
Until next time,
E.S. Barrison
September 7, 2020
The Techno Mage – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.25 / 5 stars)
Airships teeter in the sky. Alchemy fuels the mechanics. As two mechanics and an alchemist, Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana have ingrained themselves into society while under the wing of Arteus’s father. But after Art’s father dies and sky pirates raid their shop, the trio are sent on a whirlwind of an adventure, surrounding the mythical figure: the Techno Mage.
The mage is everything Magaliana thought was fantasy: charming, charismatic, and with the ability to perform true alchemy, he completely enthralls her. She wants nothing more but to master the art of alchemy just like he did. But will mastering it mean sacrificing her own values?
A well written, fast paced adventure, S.W. Raine’s debut novel will whisk readers young and old into a world of magic and technology. The characters are well defined: hot-headed Arteus, level-headed Ikarin, and tough-as-nails Magaliana serve as three different insights into the story. Then you have Josepheus, the slimy Technomage, who’s voice cuts through the paper like a deceptive breeze. The beginning is well thought out, giving the reader a chance to get to know the characters and see their motivations, as well as learn what brought them all together. Even if you haven’t read too much steampunk fiction, Raine does a good job at introducing the different elements to the world without inundating the reader with world building.
Yet, despite the well thought out beginning, the pacing grows muddy throughout the narrative. Parts will meander, before speeding up. While this often happens in many narratives, there were parts I would have enjoyed exploring more in depth: the Haze, the dichotomy between the above and below worlds, the second half of Mags’s arc, as well as the ultimate confrontation with the Technomage and his beloved Juliet. Yet, despite the fast paced nature of these part, I learned enough to still enjoy the story.
What did ultimately knock this book down to 3 stars for me though was a single trope. This is a personal opinion and might not impact most people’s thoughts on the book. Unfortunately, while Magaliana is a tough, powerful, and intelligent woman who I really adore, she falls into the “Smurfette Principle.” She is basically the only woman in the story. Yes there is Juliet and the characters mother’s, but they’re so brief in comparison to Magaliana’s role. While this occurs plenty in fiction, and often times is easy to overlook, the one issue I had was how so many of the male characters were infatuated with Magaliana, or used her to their advantage. Yes, Magaliana is endearing and intelligent, but it was something that personally made me a bit uneasy. This was made worse by how I interpreted the ages of characters, which are never blatantly mentioned, placing Magaliana’s fate at the hands of men older than her.
That being said though, Magaliana does receive some justice at the end by choosing her own destiny. I do hope to explore more of her adventures one day too, to explore more of her abilities as well as how her experiences shaped her into a powerful alchemist.
Still, The Techno Mage by S.W. Raine is a promising first novel that will captivate audiences. I definitely recommend that people jump on this voyage with Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana…it will be a fun time.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What’s it about?
She’s being held hostage and yet, Magaliana doesn’t want to be saved.
Close friends Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana always knew the dangers of sky pirates, but what they didn’t expect was having their airship repair shop pillaged and being separated when Magaliana, a noble, is sold for a hefty bounty.
Once in the hands of the Techno Mage, her world changes. He’s a mythical man with the ability to flawlessly combine both technology and alchemy, and his mythical ship is a haven for Magaliana. There, she discovers how to refine her craft.
Ikarim and Arteus are determined to escape the sky pirates to save her, but do they have what it takes before the Techno Mage initiates his grand plan?
The Techno mage on Goodreads
