Beth Tabler's Blog, page 148
December 26, 2022
Review – Even Though I Knew The End by C.L. Polk
She signed and pulled me close. “We’re going to be so happy.”
We would be. I’d dust the knickknacks, burn the sausage, wake up next to her every morning. I’d be grateful, even though I knew the end.”
C.L. Polk’s lovely Even Though I Knew the End is a beautiful way to spend the afternoon. To describe Even Though I Knew the End you take one part supernatural thriller, one part hard-boiled same-spade detective story, and one part queer romance dash in a bit of the late 1930s-1940s in Chicago, and you have it.
“I never told her how she had saved me. I never told her how she became the dearest friend I’d ever had. I told her I loved her, but never enough. My Edith of the sparrows. My heart. My world.”
The main protagonist is an “exiled augur, Helen, who sold her soul to save her brother’s life and is offered one last job before serving an eternity in hell.” Because of her choice, she lost everything. Now, she makes ends meet by working various investigative jobs that require her unique skill set. She has found true love in Edith, who softens Helen’s rough edges. They fit together like a matched pair. It is charming and authentic, and I loved every moment of it.
The great thing about this story is that Polk has left it open for more books. This book is not enough for one helping; Polk needs to bring them out again and again.
Buy from Amazon
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December 23, 2022
SIX ELEMENTALS AUTHOR INTERVIEW – A.J. CALVIN
Six Elementals Author Interviews will introduce prospective readers to some of the best writers in their genre you may, or may not, have heard of, via a series of six questions. I encourage you to check out the work of these phenomenal creatives! Links to their websites and purchase links will always appear, accompanying the interview. Check them out!
Today I get the honour of speaking to A.J. Calvin, a marvellous person and great author of epic fantasy! A.J.’s current published works include: The Moon’s Eye; The Talisman of Delucha; and Hunted.
P.L.: So honoured to be able to interview you, A.J., for Six Elementals Interviews! For those reading this post who may not be as familiar with your work as I am (I loved both books I’ve read by you thus far, The Moon’s Eye & The Talisman of Delucha) can you please tell us, in some detail, about your Relics of War series, your writing style, what we can expect to read when we delve into a book written by A.J. Calvin?
A.J.: Thank you so much for this opportunity, P.L., and I’m thrilled you’ve enjoyed the books!
Most of my books are epic/high fantasy, with the exception of Hunted, which is urban fantasy. I’m a scientist (microbiologist) by day. One thing I try to incorporate in my books is an element of biological realism, whether it’s explaining the genetic component of the summoners’ power, or how the venom glands in Vardak’s tail work, there’s always something, even if it’s minor. My current project has involved a lot of research on boa constrictor anatomy, for reasons that I can’t reveal right now.
The Relics of War follows a relatively classic good vs. evil theme that crops up in epic fantasy often enough. When I began writing the series in the late ‘90s, I’d been reading a lot of Katherine Kerr, Raymond Feist, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Tad Williams. I think the basic format of the series was influenced heavily by what I was reading at the time.
But I wanted to add some unique elements to my work. There are a number of different peoples in the world of this series (more on them below), as well as a pantheon of gods who are relatively active in the scope of the world. As the series progresses, the gods become more intertwined with the story—and their presence isn’t always welcomed by the main characters.
As for my writing style, I strive to imbue emotion in my characters, even the villains. I want the reader to feel the characters’ heartbreak, their pain, their joy and sorrow…or their rage, in Dranamir’s case. I believe for a character to be memorable and relatable, the reader ought to feel something of their emotional state.
I also enjoy writing combat/fight scenes, probably more than I should. I think they’re a lot of fun, and it gives me an excuse to watch movies like 300 or Gladiator for “research” and inspiration. Not all of my books have fight scenes, but most do.
P.L.: I thought your fight scenes were excellent, so I see the passion you have for crafting them come out when I read your books. How did your writing journey begin? Have you always wanted to be an author? What made you decide to self-publish?
A.J.: It started long ago, in a classroom not so far away…
Ok, I’ll admit I’m a nerd and that was a bit cheesy. But that’s me. And I like cheese.
The truth is I first started writing stories for fun (not for school assignments) when I was in elementary school. At the time, I didn’t realize it wasn’t something other kids did in the spare time, it was something I did, and I enjoyed it. As I grew older, I continued to write more and more. It’s hard to remember a time when it wasn’t part of my life.
I didn’t start to think about publishing until around 2007, when my husband encouraged me to look into it. Self-publishing as it is now didn’t exist yet. I did the query thing for a while and kept writing in the meantime.
I think I’m fundamentally unable to stop writing. The characters in my head demand that I tell their stories, and I can’t disappoint them.
Anyway, it wasn’t until the covid lockdowns a couple years ago that I really had the time to research and look into self-publishing. As I said, I’d been doing the query thing (for The Caein Legacy mostly, more on that series below), and while I got some feedback, I kept hearing, “I love your writing, but I have x number of other fantasy projects at this time and can’t take yours.” It was depressing, but I had other books drafted and more in the works. Rejection wasn’t going to stop me.
So, I decided to publish Hunted on my own, as an experiment. I never queried that book for a couple of reasons. It’s longer than the industry’s standard for a debut, and as an urban fantasy, I wasn’t entirely sure how to pitch it. Epic fantasy is more in line with my comfort zone, and I didn’t really know what to compare Hunted to. It’s…unique, to say the least.
I continued to query, with much the same results even after a lot of tweaking. So, I decided to update and publish The Relics of War while I waited. That was about a year and a half of rewriting and revising manuscripts I wrote as a teenager. It’s amazing how much improvement there is with twenty years of experience under your belt!
Side note: The Relics of War series was originally published in 2008-2010 through a vanity press. That was a huge mistake for several reasons, and a story for another time. Due to it being published previously, I didn’t believe it would be “qualified” for the query process in the eyes of most agents, so I didn’t bother.
Publishing The Relics of War was yet another experiment (I’m a scientist, so I tend to do that a lot). I was still holding onto the hope that I’d get somewhere with the query process for The Caein Legacy, but I wanted to see how well my other epic fantasy series would do in the indie world.
Let’s just say it exceeded all of my meager expectations and then some. After The Moon’s Eye was published, I understood just how well an indie book in that genre could do (and I’m pretty sure it could go a lot farther if I keep working at it!) I made the decision to stop querying altogether.
The fact is, I have so many stories I want to share, and I’m not getting any younger. I’m going to publish everything on my own from here on—because my experiments have proven I can do it, and people enjoy my writing.
P.L.: I felt the same way, A.J., which led me to self-publishing my first novel in my early fifties. I can definitely relate! Can you please share any books you’ve recently released, or are about to release, or any projects that you’re currently working on?
A.J.: I’ll start with the recent release, War of the Nameless, which is the third and final book in The Relics of War trilogy. It was published on December 6. If you’re a fan of epic battles, this book has one. I believe when I calculated it out, the events of that final battle span about 30% of the book. It isn’t all fight scenes, but there is a lot going on relating to the battle, and six major characters to keep track of.
As for upcoming releases, I’m planning to publish Exile, book one of The Caien Legacy in the first half of 2023. This series is set in a completely different world than The Relics of War, features different peoples, and a vastly different magic system. There’s a single main character who is half dragon and the last of his kind (this fact plays a significant role in the storyline.) The Caein Legacy was probably one of my favorite projects to write so far, and because of that, I’m both excited and terrified to be so close to sharing it with everyone. Exile is currently in the final editing phase, and the other three books in the series are written and mostly revised. I have a bit more work to do before they go to the editor, but I’m almost there.
I’m currently writing a standalone novel that runs parallel to the events in The Relics of War. The main character of this book makes a brief appearance at the end of War of the Nameless. I haven’t shared the title publicly yet, but I plan to soon.
I’m also working on yet another series, The Mage War Chronicles, which is set in the same world as , but at a much earlier point in time. I have the first four books drafted, but it will be some time before I begin to publish them. I’d like to release The Caein Legacy first. (Laughs) I have a lot of projects going on.
P.L.: Ohhh! Can’t wait to read some of those projects when completed! They sound amazing! Who are some of your writing influences?
A.J.: This is a surprisingly difficult question. I read a lot, and in many different genres. There are so many authors I admire, either for their storytelling, their prose, or just because they’re great people. I think everything I read has an impact on my writing in some way.
But if I had to mention at least one author, I’ll say it’s Dan Simmons. Not only are his books amazing and he’s won quite a few awards, but he’s a genuinely nice person. When I was sixteen, I learned he lives in the same area as I did, and was actually a customer where my mother worked. She knew I’d been reading his books, and arranged for him to sign my copy of The Fall of Hyperion.
I wrote a letter with the book, which looking back, was a bit rambling and very teenager-fangirl-esque. I had zero experience with authors at the time and was in awe that he’d even agree to sign my book. He did more than that, though. He wrote me a letter in return, answered my questions, and provided me with some invaluable advice about writing and publishing. At the time, I didn’t understand the true impact of his words, but years later, when I reopened that letter (yes, I still have it), I understood. And I am still grateful he took the time to respond to me at all. I truly feel that encounter set me on my current path.
P.L.: That’s a wonderful story A.J.! And Dan Simmons sounds like an amazing person! Reptilian Drakkon, the warlike and fascinating Murkors and Scorpion Men, intrepid feline-like fighters, sea serpents, and more, come to life on the pages of The Moon’s Eye. Can you tell us how you came up with some of these fascinating creatures and races, or what from where you drew inspiration to feature some of these creatures and races that aren’t your original invention?
A.J.: The different species originally came about as an experiment. I was trying to see what I could come up with that weren’t the typical elves, dwarves, etc. seen in so many fantasy series. Some were 100% my creation, whereas others were influenced by external sources.
In the original version of the series, which I wrote more than twenty years ago, the Drakkon were dragons. When I decided to rewrite the series, I made the decision to make them bipedal lizard-like people, because by that time, I’d written The Caein Legacy and I didn’t want to oversaturate my books with dragons. I mean, dragons are really cool and I love them, but sometimes it’s nice to do something a little different.
The Murkor were completely of my creation. They’re a cave-dwelling, humanoid species who are naturally nocturnal due to their sensitivity to light. They’re very private, and don’t show their faces to anyone outside their immediate families. Instead, they rely on the color of their clothing and tattoos visible on their hands to identify one another. I had a lot of fun creating their society, even though the reader doesn’t get to see much of it in the trilogy.
If you’d like to learn more about the Murkor, I wrote a novella featuring two from the series—it’s their story prior to the events of The Moon’s Eye. It’s more of a love story and not so much about the fantasy, so I don’t usually promote it, but for those interested, it’s called The Ballad of Alchemy and Steel. It’s written as a shared journal between the two characters (and that journal makes a cameo appearance in War of the Nameless.)
The Scorpion Men were inspired by a Babylonian myth that featured half-scorpion warriors who acted as the protectors of something akin to the Fountain of Youth. Those featured in my series come from a militaristic society and are well-known for their battle prowess.
On a side note, I’ve had a number of reviewers comment that the Scorpion Men reminded them of the movie The Scorpion King. Until a few weeks ago, I’d never watched the film. I decided to, just to see where the comparisons were coming from, and… There was a decided lack of half-scorpion warriors in the movie. I’ll admit, I was a bit disappointed. (laughs) I honestly don’t see the similarities myself.
P.L.: Please, please, where can I get my hands on a copy of The Ballad of Alchemy and Steel? It sounds right up my alley! The malevolent powers of The Nameless, a Satan-like figure, whose main servants are the hideous, demonic, Soulless, are the big overarching baddies of your series, and to me they were gorgeously terrifying. I love the way you write your villains in The Relics of War series. What do you think makes a good “villain” in a fantasy novel? What do you think about the Nameless and the Soulless make them compelling villains?
A.J.: Thank you! My husband’s favorite character of the series is one of said Soulless, Dranamir, so you aren’t alone in your love of the “baddies.”
I think my favorite villains are the ones that have some form of motivation behind their actions, whether it’s politics, their beliefs (even if misguided or flawed), or they believe they’re doing the right thing.
As for my villains, the Soulless are all followers of the Nameless god (who used to have a name – and you’ll learn what it was in War of the Nameless!). Their motivation stems from their desire to uphold their god’s beliefs, and on a lesser note, personal gain.
The Nameless is motivated by a desire for revenge, but also the hope he’ll regain his freedom. He doesn’t believe his imprisonment was justified, and the other gods—his siblings—wronged him.
In terms of making them compelling, that’s a more difficult phenomenon to explain. Their individual personalities just sort of happened—beyond Dranamir’s rage and blood-lust, I didn’t plan the rest of them ahead of time. This actually happens quite a bit as I write my stories, but most of the time, I’m happy with the end result. I do try to make each character unique and relatable in some way, even those as questionable as the Soulless.
P.L.: A.J., I have truly enjoyed our chat and I truly appreciate you joining me on Six Elementals Interviews! Thank you so much!
A.J.: Thank you for chatting with me!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJCalvin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAJCalvin
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5624825.A_J_Calvin
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/A-J-Calvin/e/B00L2PPDMC/
Buy The Moon’s Eye here
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09L5FL1PF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
Buy The Talisman of Delucha here
https://www.amazon.com/Talisman-Delucha-Relics-War-Book/dp/1737920425/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Buy The War of the Nameless here
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XJ55JQN/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3
Buy Hunted here
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GSW5P9J/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2
The post SIX ELEMENTALS AUTHOR INTERVIEW – A.J. CALVIN appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
December 22, 2022
REVIEW – FUGITIVE PRINCE by Janny Wurts
My reading of my favourite fantasy series of all-time, “The Wars of Light and Shadow”, by the incomparable Janny Wurts, continued in October 2022 with book four, “Fugitive Prince”. This wondrous installment, as with the previous three books in the series, interlaces interminable spectacle, intricately crafted and incredibly plausible plots and subplots, utterly convincing and captivating characters, prodigious world-building, and seminal, redolent prose that will have readers begging for book five.
The book begins with a highly emotional and important scene involving the repudiated Koriani sorceress, Elaria. Elaria is tragically separated from the man she loves (and who loves her) – who is one of our two primary characters: Arithon s’Ffalenn. Elaria, bound to a life of chastity and service to her order, as someone versed in medical arts, becomes entwined in the destiny of a couple about to give birth. But the baby may not survive. And if it does, dark auguries swirl around the child that have stark implications for the broader plot.
That broader plot, of course, continues to be focused around said Arithon, dubbed the ‘Master of Shadow’, vilified by his half-brother and nemesis Lysaer s’Llessid, ‘the Lord of Light’, and by Lysaer’s supporters. Mage-trained, but having been denied access to his mage powers, Arithon is doing everything to avoid his brother’s relentless pursuit, while protecting those sworn to him from Lysaer’s wrath. Thanks to Lysaer’s vituperative attack of his character and deeds, Arithon has been portrayed as the devil incarnate across the realms of Athera. But in the face of this unjust misrepresentation of the sensitive, compassionate, and empathetic Arithon, blessed with a musical talent and position of a Master Bard, strives to find a path to peace, by returning the mystical Paravians who once dominated Athera, to the world.
Meanwhile, Lysaer – the other main character of the series – struggles with multiple issues. Including the most heart-wrenching, which is his estrangement from his wife, Tailth, as their relationship turns tragically beyond repair. Not humbled by his devastating defeats in the previous books, but rather even more resolute in his convictions, Lyaser’s obsessive determination to end his half-brother, all the while both are inextricably bound to the Curse of the Mistwraith, takes on a whole new level in “Fugitive Prince”. As Lysaer’s ingrained suspicion and mistrust of all things magic (because of Arithon, and the curse), escalates, Lysaer makes all magic, except his own, anathema, and targets the rival Fellowship Sorcerers and Korani Enchantresses as his enemies as well.
Once again, the brilliance of Wurts’ characterization, especially of the half-brother protagonists, drives the story in “Fugitive Prince”. What stood out to me in this novel, compared to the previous three in the series, is how diametrically opposed the half-brothers have become, as the series have progressed. The brothers started off as mortal enemies, however had never met nor known each other. Once they did meet, after initial continued animosity, battling common cause, under duress, had brought them close enough to form some brotherly bonds of love, sadly ripped apart by the Mistwraith’s malediction. Now, some time after their animosity has grown to true enmity, their true character attributes, enhanced by the curse, one brother juxtaposed against the other, is on full display.
Lysaer is clearly beginning to lean towards more villainy, at least in this juncture of the series, than in the previous installments. He is lavish in the trappings of his personal dress and court, preens over the sophistication and urbanity of his personal conduct and all that surrounds him, yet oddly obtuse when it comes to appreciating music and art – something that (notably) is integral to his half-brother’s (and his opposite) character. He seems more lustful for power, more willing to resort to pure scheming and malintent to accomplish his goals. In particular, his horrific treatment of his wife Talith, whom he seemed to be completely enraptured with until she (through her own reckless and impetuous actions) was kidnapped by Arithon, stands out as abhorrent. Lysaer is becoming increasingly myopic, and even somewhat delusional and fanatical in his approach to leadership, and it sent chills down my spine, in terms of what it bodes for the future of the series.
Yet what stands out most about Lysaer in “Fugitive Prince ”, is his overwhelming PRIDE, and unwillingness to see anything other than his hatred for Arithon, and his mission to take Arithon down. Lysaer’s charm, majesty, and political savvy continues to help him mount a smear campaign against his half-brother, and draw allies around the Lord of Light in almost cult-like fashion. But his hubris seems to be taking over the better parts of his personality. He increasingly sees his followers as expendable foot soldiers in his personal war against Arithon, and this worrisome trend towards “by whatever means necessary” does not bode well for those who swear fealty to him.
By contrast, Arithon, living humbly, a fugitive on the run from his dogged enemy, is MOSTLY concerned for protecting those who follow him AND those who follow Lysaer, from death. Arithon’s altruism, the sense of clear-minded devotion (rather than the near-cultism Lysaer inspires) of his feal subjects, his humility, all truly set him apart, and as the antithesis of his brother.
The extremely well-drawn secondary characters in Fugitive Prince have intriguing roles in the narrative. I’ve spoken a bit about Arithon’s beloved Elaira. But the complicated, hilarious, and increasingly more lovable Dakar (who is part of a spellbinding and harrowing journey later in the book with Arithon), the single minded, iron-willed Morriel, Prime Senior of the Koriani, Princess Talith, and stewards Maenol and Jieret all have pivotal places in “Fugitive Prince”, along several other auxiliary characters.
In terms of themes, predestination, character assassination, pride, malice, loyalty, justice, balance, love, all figure prominently in “Fugitive Prince.” For me, by far, Lysaer’s ability to renounce Arithon for many of the same crimes he himself has committed, is not only incredibly hypocritical, but fascinating in that his followers seem blind to the facts. The Lord of Light’s ability to spin propaganda to achieve his ends is miraculous. Reading about real historical figures, or watching current, living world leaders display this same ability, is frightening, and sobering.
As I have noted in previous reviews of Wurt’s novels, the author has created (in staggeringly meticulous fashion and to an incredibly believable degree) ancient history, backstory, lore, a variety of current and defunct kingdoms, ethnicities, races (including sun-children, unicorns, and centaurs!) and cultures, and complex mythologies clans, magical guilds, complex royal genealogy, prophecy that transcends millennia, unique languages, complex magic systems and mysticism.
Readers will learn a bit more in “Fugitive Prince” of the sacred pact involving the Fellowship Sorcerers, the ancient royal lineages of Athera (of which Arithon and Lysaer are the inheritors) and the Paravians. It has become more evident that besides restoration of balance, the return of the Paravians is also the key to ending the half-brothers’ conflict.
Wurts’ imagination, skill, and depth of research, particularly in all matters equine and of seamanship, is fabulous.
I have continually praised Wurts’ prose as being the best out there in terms of epic fantasy. Let me repeat, for me, no one writes like Janny Wurts. I’d sell my soul to have a fraction of her ability to spin words, maximize vocabulary, and make just reading words on a page such a complete joy. Her prose is so vivid, so lush, so beautiful. Yes, of course, the sheer density of this wondrous writing will not be for everyone. But it’s what I crave in fantasy literature, and among so many fantastic authors that I’ve read, her prose is easily my favourite.
“Fugitive Prince” is a beautiful slow-burn read. There are some terrific action sequences, though this book was more languorous for me than past installments in the series. That did absolutely nothing to deter my utter enjoyment of the novel. Wurts’ writing is something to be savoured, and the plot moves steadily forward, seamlessly. And, as always with Wurts’ books, expect a masterful conclusion. Of her many strengths as a writer, Wurts DEFINITELY knows how to write an ending, many of them explosive, extremely poignant, and unforgettable.
In some ways, “Fugitive Prince” reads, I think, as an incredible table-setter for the next Arc in the long “Wars of Light and Shadow” Series. But this amazing book is far, far more than merely a set-up novel. Wurts cleverly draws in the reader by resolving some lingering, persistent threads that the reader was burning to have resolved in previous books, while creating tantalizing new ones that propel the series forward in momentous fashion.
So many mysteries remain unsolved, and Wurts slowly, meticulously, begins to peel the curtain back, inch by inch, to reveal more of her stupendous world, more of the spiralling conflict between the two main characters, building gradually and inexorably towards what I have no doubts whatsoever, many books hence, will be a mind-boggling conclusion to this stunning achievement of literature.
I realize I am still very early on in the series (of eleven books), but, of course, I am COMPLETELY invested in the “Wars of Light and Shadow”, and Wurts’ luxurious, dazzling prose, incredible storytelling, and marvellous characterization will keep me coming back to her writing time and time again. She is definitely my favourite author, and “Fugitive Prince” only further cements that.
Onto “Grand Conspiracy”!
Buy from Amazon
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Graphic Novel Review – Guinea Pigs by Benacquista Tonino, Barral Nicolas
About
From the publisher, “A pharmaceutical testing center. Three human test subjects. Three pills a day for twenty-one days. And at the end, a check for 3,500 euros. Our three guinea pigs begin the test thinking they’re in it for the money. Three weeks later, they leave transformed. Have their dreams come true, or will their lives become living nightmares?”
My Thoughts
The premise of this story is one of those simple but not easy things. A pharmaceutical company has created a revolutionary drug they want to test in drug trials, subsequently, choosing three people as their guinea pigs. This drug takes individuals and frees them from their deepest inhibitions. If you are shy, you would become bold. If you are cowardly you would become courageous. The story is what happens to these three individuals and how they change morally from the effects of the drug. No, this is not some run-of-the-mill superhero story. They don’t receive powers from their magic pills. Imagine mixing the movie, “Limitless” with a moral tale. That’s these three. The story progresses to testing, subsequent side effects, and societal changes. How does the world change around them once they have changed? Madness doesn’t ensue. Instead, the individuals get everything they wanted, good or bad.
One of the drawbacks for me as a reader is I didn’t care about the characters. I wanted to, but it did not feel as if there was a true protagonist to the story to care about. Yes, the characters change. Yes, they do get their most “deep-seated” desires. But, although they change psychologically it does not necessarily equal to them being a protagonist. The only character I felt connected to in this was Daniel Martinez. Even then, in the story I do not understand his progression from family man, to living at home with his mother, to spy? It is all a bit hazy.
One thing this story absolutely excelled at was flow. The pages read like a movie or TV show and moved from scene to scene effortlessly. At the beginning of the story, before it got a bit hazy, I could see this being a TV series or movie. It read that well.
Graphically, it is drawn very well. Kudos to Barral Nicolas. He nailed the characters and the settings. Instead of being a detractor, his use of a minimum colored palette helped define scenes and details. The coloring and illustration are solid completely throughout the story.
In conclusion, I know this is a rather short write up and I wish I had more to say about this but I think the story lacked the meat for a weighty analysis. In the end, I liked it. It was a quick and good read. Is it the best thing I have ever read? No, but it is a worthy endeavor for an hours worth of reading. Check it out.
Check Out Some of Our Other reviews
Review: The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
Review – The Girl and the Moon by Mark Lawrence
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December 21, 2022
Review – MEMORIES OF ICE by Steven Erikson
“Memories of Ice”, Book Three in Steven Erikson’s “Malazan Tales of the Fallen” epic saga, sees old familiar faces return, a slew of new ones introduced, horrific but thrilling battle-field action, magic, humour, and the heartbreaking loss a favourite character.
With the action of the book occurring conjointly with what happened in Book Two of the series, “Deadhouse Gates”, Erikson takes us back to the war-torn continent of Genabackis, a few months following the events in Book One, “Gardens of the Moon”.
The multifaceted plot pivots around four main threads, which I have tried to outline below.
First, an unlikely alliance has formed between the supposedly renegade Malazan 2nd Army, the forces of Warlord Caladan Brood and the Lord of Moon’s Spawn, the enigmatic Tiste Andii leader Anomander Rake.
What has prompted these once enemies to unite? A common foe. A new, terrifying, and formidable power has arisen in the south, known as the Pannion Empire, led by a Jaghut prophet known as the Pannion Seer. Amongst the Pannion hordes are one hundred thousand Tenescowri peasants. Starved through famine and whipped into a frenzy of bloodlust by the Seer, the Tenescowri rabble practice both cannibalism and necrophilia. This rabid, ruinous group are bent on wreaking havoc on the continent.
The first major strike of the war against the Pannion will fall in the costal city of Capustan. Still, the 2nd Army, led by High Fist Dujek, second-in-command former Sargent Whiskeyjack, Captain Ganoes Paran and the elite Bridgeburner company, don’t plan to fail in their mission to save Capustan, no matter the personal cost.
For we learn that the Pannion conflict is just a small part of a larger war, involving a chained and Crippled God, who is part of the reason magical warrens are poisoned, and the entire world is in grave danger. Another key figure here is the wounded Burn, another elder goddess, who has the Crippled God bound to her wound, infecting it, and endangering all.
While all this is transpiring, Paran seems to be on the verge of ascendancy, and becoming the Master of the Deck, a new, unaffiliated wildcard in the Deck of Dragons. Silverfox, the child containing the reborn souls of former Malazan mages Tattersail and Nightchill, is mustering through her powers a summoning of undead T’lan Imass race, to aid in the war against the Pannions.
But Caladan Brood’s second-in-command, the bitter, self-proclaimed High King Kallor, wants Silverfox killed before she becomes too powerful and a threat to everyone. This causes major conflict which will have devastating consequences.
Second, the situation in Capustan looks utterly hopeless. The occupants leadership includes Prince Jelarkan, the Mask Council (a collaboration of clergy who don the faces of ascendants and gods), with Karnadas the Destriant, Brukhalian the Mortal Sword, and Itkovian the Shield Anvil as the chief military commanders responsible from keeping the ravaging multitude of the Pannions at bay.
Heroism and sacrifice will be required to save the city, and these leaders will bear the not only the horrible decisions that must be made, but also personally face the terror that is the Pannion empire.
Third, Toc the Younger, who vanished in Book One, emerges from a warren, and meets Onos T’oolan, sorceress Lady Envy one of the daughters of the Elder god Draconus, the three formidable who protect her, known as Seguleh, Envy’s dog named Garath, an Ay (dire wolf) called Baaljagg. Their journey together will lead Toc into the heart of darkness and despair, as Toc will confront the evil of the Pannion Seer himself.
Finally, Daru caravan guard commander Gruntle, and his comrades Harllo and Stonny provide bodyguard services for the mysterious trader Keruli to Capustan. Enroute to the besieged city, the group encounter the sorcerers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. This pair are also journeying to Capustan. Buke believes Bauchelain and Bach have been murdering citizens in Darujhistan, and believes that the pair are bound for the same mission in Capustan. Buke plans to assassinate the two sorcerers.
Another addition to the group arrives in the form of three Barghast warriors, Hetan, Cafal, and Netok. The Barghast, from the White Face clan, are on a demon hunt, and warn Gruntle’s party about demons prowling the land. It is soon learned that the demons in question are undead creatures called K’Chain Che’Malle not seen in millennia, and presumed extinct.
I found Erikson’s characterization to be superb in this book. Part of my love of “Memories of Ice” is that we are reunited with the core of the cast from “Gardens of the Moon” and the Darujhistan plot, including Bridgeburners such as Whiskeyjack, Quick Ben, and their former foes like Crone, Rake, Brood, plus the council members like Coll, Murillio, Estraysian D’Arle, and the incomparable, cherubic Kruppe.
We are also treated to a plethora of new characters, yet for me it was a comforting feeling to get to be reacquainted with the old ones, who did not appear in “Deadhouse Gates”, more than the nostalgia of reuniting with my favs that makes me praise what the author did in this third book. Erikson has added layers of dimension and complexity to the Bridgeburners in particular in this novel, especially Whiskeyjack, who finds an odd yet firm friendship with Rake and love with Rake’s second-in-command, Korlat.
We get very close to our heroes in this story. We learn more of the origins of the Bridgeburners, for example. We are treated to some very tender and funny moments of camaraderie, dark humour, and immense heroism. Paran was still the standout for me, as the noble-born captain struggles with the responsibilities of leadership, possible ascension, and the weight of grief, loss, and uncertainty in all he does, while still displaying incredible strength, bravery and compassion.
The colossal scope of Erikson’s fertile worldbuilding and magical elements continues to be displayed, as in “Memories of Ice” we see for the first time the devastating K’Chain Che’Malle, which are highly intelligent, raptor-like, with deadly blades like claws as part of their anatomy, and the nomadic Rhivi tribe who inhabit Genabackis’ plains.
These already added to the vast array of human and non-human species and gods, such as the warrior-like Barghast, the highly disciplined Moranth, the undead T’lan Imass, the elder races of the Jaghut and the Tiste Andii, and of course the Malazan Imperialists. Combined with the various gods, ascendants, and the intricate and sometimes confusing Deck of Dragons and all its implications for steering the course of the universe, I am still marginally bewildered at times by the sheer density of worldbuilding at times, still, after now my third book in the series, but I seem to be adapting better to Erickson’s style.
Like other incredible authors such as Janny Wurts, you simply can’t turn off your brain and not pay attention to the ALL words in front of you, if you truly want to appreciate the beauty of the overall work. I especially found the insights into the long-standing (centuries) feud between the Jaghut and the T’lan Imass.
The battle scenes in “Memories of Ice” were blistering, stunning in terms of visual imagery, colossal in terms of spectacle, brutal, and devastating in terms of the aftermath. Erickson’s prose continues to shine, and there were some particularly beautiful passages that really resonated with me in this book.
Erickson continues to weave an uncompromisingly detailed and brilliant military fantasy series, with superlative storytelling, where he demands the reader push themselves to the brink of capacity in terms of absorbing the world he has created, and then pushes them some more.
This was the pivotal book for me in the series, where after reading it I was to decide if the writing was too overwhelming to press forward, or worth the effort irrespective of the density. I have definitely decided to press on, and am very much looking forward to House of Chains. I consider myself now officially a fan of “Malazan Tales of the Fallen”, and writer Steven Erikson.
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Review: The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
Ruth Ozeki’s latest novel, The Book of Form and Emptiness, is an ingeniously told magical realism tale focusing on Benny, whose musician father has perished in a drug-induced accident.
In The Book of Form and Emptiness, the primary narrator is the Book itself, i.e., the Book telling the story of Benny’s life. The role of the Book is both to convey an accurate account of Benny’s life and also to help him through his psychological struggles in the aftermath of his father’s untimely death.
Benny hears the Book speaking to him, narrating his story. Benny also hears other household objects talking to him, communicating their feelings and trying to influence his actions.
The situation is exasperated by the hoarding behavior of Benny’s mother, Annabelle, whose problem becomes significantly worse in the wake of her husband’s death. Her mental condition is not much better than Benny’s, e.g., she believes that her dead husband is communicating with her through the magnetic words on her refrigerator. She is also woefully negligent toward Benny.
Ruth Ozeki takes us deep into the distressed minds of Benny and Annabelle through all their struggles. As readers, we are not sure what is real and what is imagined. By the end of The Book of Form and Emptiness, we gain more clarity on what is actually happening in the story, but Ozeki leads us to doubt our own minds in the process.
The Book of Form and Emptiness is clearly drawing inspiration from Czech author Milan Kundera’s classic novel, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. Beyond the similar titles, both novels deal with the creation and loss of memories and embrace magical realism combined with a highly creative narrative approach. In Kundera’s case, the narrator is revealed to be the author himself, or a fictionalized version of himself, whereas in the Ozeki’s novel the narrator is the Book.
I should also comment on Ozeki’s beautiful prose, with is especially poetic when the Book is addressing Benny directly. The Book of Form and Emptiness will capture you from the very first sentence and not let you go
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December 20, 2022
Graphic Novel Review – Mooncop by Tom Gauld
About
“Living on the moon . . . Whatever were we thinking? . . . It seems so silly now.”
The lunar colony is slowly winding down, like a small town circumvented by a new super highway. As our hero, the Mooncop, makes his daily rounds, his beat grows ever smaller, the population dwindles. A young girl runs away, a dog breaks off his leash, an automaton wanders off from the Museum of the Moon.
StatsHardcover94 pagesPublished September 20th 2016 by Drawn and QuarterlyOriginal TitleMooncopISBN1770462546 (ISBN13: 9781770462540)Edition Language English
Awards
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominee for Best Graphic AlbumBest Writer/Artist (for Tom Gauld), and Best Lettering (for Tom Gauld) (2017)
My Thoughts
This is tiny, and I mean really tiny melancholy story about a cop who lives in a now-defunct colony on the moon. Everyone is leaving the colony and heading for parts unknown. This leaves the cop with decreasingly less and less to do. Until he is almost the only person left… almost. I don’t want to give anything away about how this story ends up. However, the ending has a bittersweet tinge with a splash of hope. Perfect for the timbre of the story.
The artwork is simple and subdued. It is odd how it is drawn, almost so stark that you believe it to be the desolate land of the moon. I think if it had been drawn any other way, it would have been too fancy for this story. As it stands it is perfectly rendered to convey the almost ennui of the cop.
I recommend this. Plus, donuts play a bit of a roll so you can’t go wrong.
Check Out Some oof Our Other ReviewsGraphic Novel Review of -;Mouse Guard Fall: – by David Peterson
Graphic Novel Review -; The Sandman Preludes – Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
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December 18, 2022
Review – Tangle of Choices by Eve Koguce
I finally got to read “Tangle of Choices”, Book 2 in the dystopian fantasy-romance “Neglected Merge” Series by the phenomenal author, Eve Koguce. “Neglected Merge”, the first installment in the series, was one of my favourite reads from 2021.
It has also picked up quite the impressive hardware, in terms of accolades, since its publication: winning a Silver Medal at the 2021 Global Book Awards; being a Finalist in the 2021 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest; and an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.
“Tangle of Choices” should also go on to garner writing awards, as Koguce continues her outstanding work, creating highly believable and fascinating characters, crafting compelling stories full of emotion and heart, and spinning prose in an elegant and very unique style that I have come to adore.
“Tangle of Choices” picks up the story of main character Tauria, her husband Doron, and all the other auxiliary characters, seven years after the events we saw transpire in “Neglected Merge”. Tauria, now a Winged One, and Doron, are blissfully happy with each other. There are some relationships that are yet in doubt, and require some mending, such as Tauria and Byrne, but for the most part, contentment reigns over Tauria’s life. However Doron is growing increasingly disenchanted with the leadership of the Winged Ones, including the head of the Senate and overall Ruler, his father Duxe.
But there are far more troublesome problems brewing. While the different worlds of Winged and Wingless are growing closer than ever before, as interracial unions blossom in addition to that of Tauria and Doron, as the two camps begin to live together more harmoniously, the group of Rebel Wingless that oppose peace are stirring up trouble.
The Rebels begin abducting both Winged and Wingless Ones, demanding Tauria in exchange for those they have kidnapped. No one can be sure of what sinister plans the Rebels have for the wife of the future Winged leader, and Doron does everything he can to convince his beloved wife not to offer herself as a sacrifice, even for the greater good.
But Tauria bravely insists on being exchanged for the safe return of the hostages, surrendering herself to the mysterious Rebels, led by the enigmatic Grayson. What do the Rebels truly want with Tauria? How can she save herself, and the hard-won peace that exists between Winged and Wingless, a peace that she was instrumental in forging? Will the cost for Tauria be losing Doron, the breakdown of two societies, madness, or ultimately death? And could there be even more personal costs to bear for Tauria, too horrible to even contemplate?
“Tangle of Choices” is beautifully written, full of heartfelt moments, temptation, passion, intrigue, unrequited love, and tension. Tauria courageously faces danger, uncertainty, and desperation in a hostile environment, that pushes her considerable reserves of intelligence, compassion, and diplomacy to the brink. Meanwhile those who care for her – Doron, Duxe, Dayah, Byrne, Alfred, Abelia, Mirana, and more – struggle with their own interpersonal challenges, while distraught over Tauria’s safety, and determined to rescue her.
This was an incredible follow-up to “Neglected Merge” and I will be moving onto the series finale, “Shifting Directions”, as soon as possible. A definitive five-star rating for “Tangle of Choices”!
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Review – The Girl and the Moon by Mark Lawrence
I had very high expectations for The Girl and the Moon, the final installment in The Book of the Ice trilogy, and Mark Lawrence blew those expectations out of the water. Lawrence is known for his consistent high-quality writing, and even by those high standards this ranks among his best work to date.
The Girl and the Moon picks up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of The Girl and the Mountain. There is so much action here from the first pages to the last, making the book essentially unputdownable.
Mark Lawrence does an outstanding job with all aspects of worldbuilding and character development. I love the characters and the friendships that develop among them, which become especially strong in this final volume of the trilogy. There are so many touching moments and subtle callbacks to Lawrence’s earlier books. For example, the last words that Yaz utters to a young Sister Pan in The Book of the Ice are exactly the same last words that centenarian Sister Pan uses to implore Nona Grey at the end of Holy Sister. Mark Lawrence is so good at capturing these details, which add extra emotional depth as well as understanding of the connections across his five trilogies.
Speaking of connections, this is the book that brings everything together from across all five of Mark Lawrence’s trilogies. I had guessed at some of the connections prior to reading The Book of the Ice, but there was still so much here that I hadn’t predicted. I’m not going to spoil anything for your future reading enjoyment, but let me just say that one character who is never mentioned by name in either The Book of the Ancestor or The Book of the Ice has been present in subtle and not-so-subtle ways across both of these trilogies. It’s not until the midway point of The Girl and the Moon that this becomes clear, and even then this character is not mentioned by name. Looking back, there were so many subtle hints sprinkled across all the books and even Mark Lawrence’s short stories. For example, his short story, “The Devil You Know,” essentially spells out one of these important connections. It went right over my head the first time I read it, but now the connection is obvious. The clue is even there in the title.
When it comes to interconnected universes, Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere usually gets the most attention, and indeed he has done a tremendous job conceiving the multiple planets, religions, magic systems, world-hopping characters, etc., throughout his universe. Across his fifteen books, Mark Lawrence has built an equally impressive universe across two planets (Earth and Abeth), but he has built these connections in a much more subtle way. In his Cosmere books, Sanderson is quite explicit about all of these details. In the Lawrencian universe, Mark Lawrence leaves much more to the reader to notice subtle details and put the pieces together. I love both of these universes, but I have found Mark Lawrence’s work to be the more rewarding of the two, owing to the more subtle way that he approaches his worldbuilding. Also, while Sanderson’s writing ranges from excellent (think Words of Radiance) to mediocre (in some cases), Lawrence’s writing is consistently outstanding. He combines the lyricism of Patrick Rothfuss with the ability to put out at least one new book every year (not the ridiculously high publication rate of Sanderson, but still very high).
The key character that runs throughout all of Mark Lawrence’s books is Dr. Elias Taproot, whom we first meet as a brilliant young scientist in the Impossible Times trilogy set here on Earth. Taproot appears again throughout the post-apocalyptic Earth depicted in both The Broken Empire and The Red Queen’s War trilogies. And then he is present on Abeth in a subtle way in The Book of the Ancestor and more explicitly in The Book of the Ice. But the connections across the trilogies run so much deeper than just one character, spanning religion, anthropology, history/mythology, and science/technology.
The scientific and technological aspects of Lawrence’s work are especially rewarding for me as a reader, particularly in how he cleverly blends fantasy and science-fiction. All the “magic” depicted across his trilogies has a scientific or technological basis. This becomes apparent if you put together the pieces of information from across his body of work.
Although I’m emphasizing the brilliant interconnected universe that Mark Lawrence has created, I should also stress that any of these trilogies, including The Book of the Ice, can be enjoyed independently of the others. In other words, you don’t have to read all these other books before reading The Book of the Ice. The trilogies themselves can be read in any order.
As a trilogy, The Book of the Ice is more of a slow-burn than Mark Lawrence’s other work. The first book, The Girl and the Stars, takes place in the stark world of the ice-tribes on Abeth. Much of it occurs underground, with many scenes having a claustrophobic, fever-dream-like quality. The first half of The Girl and the Mountain finds Yaz and friends confronting the priests of the Black Rock and then trekking their way across the dangerous ice toward the narrow Corridor of green vegetation that encircles Abeth. It’s not till the latter part of The Girl and the Mountain that Yaz’s storyline intersects directly with The Book of the Ancestor, when she finally arrives at the Convent of Sweet Mercy.
I love how Mark Lawrence writes about Yaz’s experiences in the Corridor during The Girl and the Moon. The vibrant colors and smells are a stark contrast to the white, sterile world of the ice. I smiled so many times as Yaz ate the delicious food of the Corridor or encountered animals and plants for the first time.
Most of all, I love the friendships that were developed among the four characters who arrived from the ice (Yaz, Quina, Thurin, and Erris), together with the novices and sisters of Sweet Mercy. This is so well done, at the same level that Mark Lawrence employed throughout The Book of the Ancestor. I would suggest that another appropriate name for The Girl and the Moon would be Mystic Sister, since this book feels like a fourth installment of The Book of the Ancestor and the two principal characters (Yaz and Mali, a.k.a., Sister Pan) are both powerful quantals.
The Girl and the Moon is a book that is intellectually stimulating while at the same time having a lot of heart. I’ve formed such a strong emotional bond to this book—to all of Mark Lawrence’s novels, actually—which is a testament to his ability to develop such an amazing cast of characters across an intricately detailed and intellectually compelling universe.
Let me just say it: The Girl and the Moon is my #1 new book of the year. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.
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December 17, 2022
Review – The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
They sing of a red-headed devil, one who fights with strength that borders on supernatural and agility as if a sword were born in her hand. But isn’t this devil, this dervish, just a serving girl? So goes the tale of The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix Harrow. This brilliant short story is part of a continuing series of bite-sized fantasy offerings from acclaimed authors Lev Grossman, Nghi vo, Tomi Champion-Adeyemi, and more. They are described thus, “Some truths are carefully concealed; others merely forgotten. In this spellbinding collection, seven acclaimed fantasy authors create characters who venture into the depths where others fear to tread. But when forbidden knowledge is the ultimate power, how far can they go before the darkness consumes them?”
Alix E. Harrow is easily one of the best short story fantasy authors writing today. If you are someone who looks at CVs, you would see Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award nominations and wins. As this young girl in Six Deaths of the Saint battles as if a sword had always been in her hand, Harrow writes as if she was born with pen and paper. That is why this series of stories, and by extension Harrows is such a decadent treat to read. She had me at The Saint of War, be still my shriveled dark fantasy-loving heart.
“I would rather love a coward than mourn a legend.”
The story’s protagonist is a servant girl on the verge of death, spared by The Saint of War. “Always mindful of the debt she owes, the girl finds her worth as a weapon in the hand of the Prince. Her victories make him a king, then an emperor. The bards sing her name, and her enemies fear it. But the war never ends and the cost keeps rising—how many times will she repeat her own story?”
There is a unique difficulty in writing a short story; the author must get to things quickly and concisely. The characters must have agency, and be well-rounded in, usually, less than 30 pages. It is a tall order.
However, instead of world-building, The Six Deaths of the Saint is a deep character story. Yes, there is gore and battle. Ones that are so vivid that you swear you can smell the copper penny stink of blood and iron, but all of the fighting and descriptions of gore support the characters in their struggles. What struggles, you ask?
I can’t give that away. It would ruin the fun.
However, I commend Harrow on creating characters that are now on my favorite ride-or-die list in 30 pages. When you read this, you will know exactly what I am talking about. You should give this story a go, especially if you are a fan of Harrow’s other work.
5 out of 5 stars
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