Beth Tabler's Blog, page 173
July 15, 2022
Review – THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE by R. Scott Bakker
“The Darkness That Comes Before” (Book One in the “Prince of Nothing” Trilogy) R. Scott Bakker’s debut novel, is one that has become quite well known and revered in dark and epic fantasy circles. I must say, after hearing a bit about the book, and the series it was part of, it gained traction on my radar, because of the amount of recommendations from friends who raved about Bakker’s writing.
The author had a reputation for writing stark, dense, and at times confusing books, that warrant patience, but that are worth the struggle. Well, after beginning to tackle “Malazan Tales of the Fallen” recently, I figured, it can’t be any more difficult than that.
Or can it?
Well, while it was not (for me anyway) as daunting as “Malazan”, there were certainly some similarities. Yet ultimately, I absolutely loved this book, and it truly left an impression on me.
What is the book about?
At it’s heart, it’s about a religious crusade, a chosen one, and potentially, a new apocalypse.
Two millennia have gone by, since the First Apocalypse almost completely devastated the world of Eärwa. The enemies of First Apocalypse were the dreaded No-God, Mog-Pharau, and the No-God’s abominable minions born of twisted sorcery, called the Consult, who caused the death of millions in battle.
Thus, the cost of Mog-Pharau’s defeat was high. But two thousand years is a long time, and many have forgotten the tales of how horrible the ancient catastrophe was. Many have forgotten, but not the sorcerers of the Mandate School of magic. They could not forget even if they tried.
Because EVERY night they dream of the venerated sorcerer Seswatha, the Mandate’s founder, who lived in the time of the First Apocalypse. And is not just the frequencies of the dreams that characterizes these dreams as pervasive. Those dreams are beyond visions. Those sorcerers who experience the dreams actually feel like they are not just seeing but RELIVING events in Seswatha’s life through his own eyes, and his own senses. All the final battles, in all their horror and glory, of the First Apocalypse. The dreams are lurid, frightening, and startlingly and disturbingly real.
Most unsettling, the dreams seem to be intensifying. This increasing of intensity signals, in the minds of the Mandate sorcerers, the coming of a new Apocalypse, putting the Mandate on highest of alert. But sorcerers (which are split into several schools, not just the Mandate, though the Mandate are one of the most powerful) are considered anathema by many nations, post-First Apocalypse, and it is unlikely anyone will listen to their concerns of another impending catastrophic event.
Such warnings would be considered the ravings of the insane at worst, or fables to frighten children at best. The Mandate sorcerers are particularly derided for their belief in the Consult. Since the Consult has not been seen since the First Apocalypse, it would seem they have been destroyed, and passed into legend.
Meanwhile, an inspiring and idolized religious leader of the Inrith faith, declares a Holy War upon the realms of the Fanim people. This zealot has whipped the Inrith devotees into a frenzy, to take back the land of Kian, especially at all costs the city of Shimeh, considered the most holiest of cities, from the grasp of the Fanim, who are considered infidels.
The charismatic leader, called Maithanet, Shirah of the Thousand Temples, is determined to bring fire and sword to Shimeh, and eradicate what he believes is the filth of the Fanim that infects the holy ground. Such a war appears unwinnable for Maithanet, based on the strengths of the Fanim, but Maithanet is convinced victory is assured, and manages to draw an impressive following to rally to the cause.
Enter our main characters, of which primarily there are six, led by Achamian. Achamian is a mid-level sorcerer and spy with the Mandate. For me, Achamian was the protagonist, if there is one, of the novel. He appears innocuous, and uses this to his advantage, in his spy duties.
When Achamian’s superiors in the Mandate learn of the Holy War that is being planned, they initially fear that the real purpose of the Holy War is to destroy the Mandate itself, any of the other schools of sorcery that Maithanet might despise. Therefore, as one of Achamian’s former pupils (to whom Achamian was an uncle-type figure) is now a priest in the Inrith sect, Achamian is dispatched to use his former pupil as a conduit to learn more about what Maithanet’s true intentions are.
The next main player is Esemenet, a prostitute, who Achamian is in a relationship with. Esemenet is trapped by her station in life, but is clever, and wants to be part of world affairs beyond the paid trysts she must endure to earn a living. While her feelings for Achamian are genuine, she also sees him as a vehicle to be something greater than what she believes she is unavoidably destined to be.
Another major POV is that of the paranoid and Machiavellian-like Emperor of Nansur, Xerius III. Xerius backs Maithanet’s Holy War, but for his own unscrupulous purposes. The emperor wants to restore the former glory of his empire, and cleverly, he agrees to fund the Holy crusade to take back Shimeh. IF all the countries who sign up for the crusade agree not only to be provisioned by Xerius, but also to grant him the lands of the Fanim once they are defeated.
Figuring prominently as a POV is Xerius’ nephew Conphas. Conphas is a highly popular war commander and brilliant strategist, and is the leader of Xerius’ armies. But Conphas is also Xerius’ heir, and he would not mind ascending to the throne a bit ahead of schedule. Shortening his uncle’s life prematurely might fit well into his plans to claim the title of Emperor expediently.
The fifth main player is Cnaiür, and indomitable warrior and chieftain. Despite his fame in battle, he is disgraced, and dubbed a kinslayer. Cnaiür burns for revenge against those who have wronged him, and he refuses to be denied.
Finally, perhaps the most interesting, yet most ominous principal perspective is that of Anasûrimbor Kellhus. Kellhus is a Dünyain monk. The Dünyain are a stoic, cloistered, and mysteriously powerful sect. Kellhus previously was confined for his whole life to the fortress of the Dünyain, but now has embarked on a quest to find his father, which brings him to the centre of the mustering for the Holy War.
Coincidentally, it was Kellhus’ predecessors who were the leaders of the fight against the No-God. This fact only exacerbates Achamian’s belief that the arrival of Kellhus on the scene signals the coming of a Second Apocalypse, and his apprehension about the enigmatic Kellhus.
Each of these characters are very engrossing, and while of course every reader will have their favourite, I found that I was equally drawn to all of their storylines. To affirm, these characters are EXTREMELY grey. In some cases, they are downright detestable. From Xerius’ shallowness and cowardice, to Conphas’ avarice, to the sociopathy of Kellhus, this is largely an awful bunch of people, but they are awful in a compelling way.
Self-interest reigns supreme amongst this group, and the closest we have to sympathetic characters, for me, were Achamian and Esemenet. Most of the characters were driven by either the dogged pursuit of their own desires above all else (irrespective of collateral damage), their faith (or lack thereof), their greed, their lust, or their desire for vengeance. Many are very smart in a conniving sort of way, and one will admire their intelligence, while being appalled at many of the choices they make, despite that intelligence. No one is completely trustworthy.
The REALLY dangerous villains, the Consult, are very very creepy. The reader may be hard pressed to cheer for anyone in this book; there will be more pity, perhaps, than actually rooting for anyone.
Bakker’s character work is excellent. For a cast of so many, all the book’s main characters had their distinct voices, and they all felt real.
Of note, Kellhus was my favourite character.
“A prince of nothing…”
Kellhus’ near invincibility in combat made for some fantastic (if predictable) action moments, but it was his ability to influence people, and the thought process behind it, that will grab the reader’s attention. Watching Kellhus clinically and dispassionately manipulate those around him, his magnetism, his cold-blooded plotting and faking of emotions to gain trust and eventual dominance was disturbing, chilling, and enthralling.
“‘How could you be anything other than a slave to the darkness that comes before?'”
Bakker’s worldbuilding is stellar. The primary parts of the vast world Bakker has created can be described as Middle-Eastern inspired, reminiscent of Mesopotamia or Egypt. The northern portions of the realm seem to be more European.
The history, languages, religions, and philosophies of the various realms and cultures Bakker creates is extremely detailed and carefully interwoven to make a vivid, rich tapestry of a world that feels highly authentic. The novel comes with great references to help the reader keep things sorted, including maps, lists of characters and the different rival factions. I was engrossed by the politicking, intrigue, strategy, and very dark, sinister sorcery that Bakker teases us with, but never fully explodes. I am very much looking forward to seeing more of it in future books.
There was a very philosophical tilt to Bakker’s writing (think Nietzsche’s moral philosophy), and a poignancy, that really worked for me. The writing is extremely layered, and in combination with the complex, intricate worldbuilding, and periodically the lack of elucidation about much of what is going on (what some would consider info dumping), as a reader one may feel, at times, that they’ve jumped into the deep end of the pool without swimming lessons or a life preserver (à la Malazan).
Still, I was able to keep up, and I found the plot much more straightforward than Malazan, to the point where I was completely immersed and really enjoying my read, for the vast majority of the book. The large scale battle scenes are stirring, and the smaller one-on-one combats exceptionally done. And when magic is thrown into the fighting sequences, it REALLY pops.
In terms of themes, look away, dear reader, and find different reading, if you are uncomfortable with violence and utterly reprehensible acts of almost every nature. Early in the book, sexual molestation of children occurs, and throughout the novel, there are depravities committed that will continue to make your skin crawl.
There are tender moments, and there is kindness and compassion, and unquestionably there is extreme courage, and a lot of moral introspection. But the sum of things is that Bakker gives us a VERY dark, violent, and amoral world, filled with religious fanaticism, irony, pathos, usury, caste systems, slavery, torture, elitism, misogyny, extreme poverty balanced against opulence and excess.
Women in the novel do not hold much agency in the novel beyond selling their bodies. Even the clever, scheming Empress, the mother of Xerius, who does have somewhat of a role in terms of being a political player in the court intrigue, is implied exert her influence mainly by being a whore (according to her nature as per Bakker), with some very disquieting incestuous overtones further marring her image (and that of Xerius and Conphas). Many readers may take umbrage with how the arcs of the female characters are dealt with by Bakker.
That said, there is an argument that it is merely the lot of women in the highly patriarchal, sexist society that Bakker has drawn, which completely dehumanizes them, turning them into little more than chattel. Bakker seems to imply that the women in “The Darkness that Comes Before” use the only tools that seem to be in their toolkit, given the context, just to survive.
Still, it is difficult to read a book without female characters being able to defy the expectations and limitations that society imposes on them, as they do in real life, and as I have read in many of my favourite fantasy books. I am curious to see how Bakker handles his portrayal of women moving forward in the series, and if this aspect will be improved, because this was the one part of the novel that didn’t work for me, and knocked the rating down a quarter mark from a complete five star read. I am certainly willing to give Bakker a chance in this regard, and will continue reading this fascinating series.
The pace of the novel is slow and immersive, which I adore, however it won’t be for everyone. But for me, the writer’s powerful, thought-provoking, philosophical prose, the amazing character work, the enthralling politics, love, sex, and battle, framed by the Holy War, and the sense of impending disaster, make this book one of this year’s most interesting reads for me.
This novel is ambitious, engrossing, and overall, exceptional. 4.75 stars for “The Darkness That Comes Before.” I am very captivated and intrigued, and can’t wait to see what comes next in the series.
Check Out Some of PL Stuart’s Other ReviewsReview -; Dragon Mage by M.L. Spencer
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Review – The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne
I grew up on fairy tales. As a young child, they were the pretty, dumbed down ones with the happy endings and the lack of gore. As I got older, I read the original, often brutal, versions. I guess my love of fairy tales has chased me. As an adult, I am drawn to fairy tale reimaginings or fantasy with that beautiful fairy tale cadence. So, of course The Book of Gothel called to me.
The Book of Gothel is a reimagining of the story of Rapunzel, told from the point of view of the villain. Known as Haelewise in the story, it starts with her as a young woman in a small village and continues on, the conclusion summing up the fairy tale we all know. If you’re looking for a story that doesn’t stray at all from the original fairy tale, The Book of Gothel is not for you.
Haelewise suffers from fainting spells and sensitivity to light. Of course, these things make her a pariah in her village, where such things are seen as unnatural. A daughter of a midwife, Haelewise is really only tolerated because of her mother’s skill with delivering babies. Then, her mother dies and Haelewise is left running from accusations of witchcraft.
While so much of the story happens in her village, I felt like the book didn’t really begin until Haelewise reaches the Tower of Gothel and begins to learn more about who her mother was and who she herself is. The choices she makes and her resourcefulness are what make her into an intriguing character. I wouldn’t necessarily call her likeable, but she is interesting, which is better.
There were things that I wish had been explored further, with less time being spent on others. For example, Haelewise’s almost-obsession with other women’s newborns was such an interesting aside that I wish it had been more fully explored. I would have loved to know more about her almost savage hunger for a child. I could also have done with less from her sort-of boyfriend, who I really truly hated. He was well-written; he was also a spineless jerk who wanted to have his cake and eat it too (just my personal opinion. I’m not sure that’s the effect the author was going for).
I enjoyed seeing bits and pieces from the original tail sneak through into a new narrative. The storyline was so different that these moments would serve to remind me that I was, in fact, reading a fairy tale reimagining. Otherwise, I would have forgotten completely, caught up in an engrossing and creative coming-of-age story. Because, at the end of the day, that’s what The Book of Gothel is. It is a lyrical, pretty story about a girl learning who she is and the power that she has, not as an evil witch or villain but as a woman.
While not what I expected, The Book of Gothel sucked me in and kept me quickly turning pages. It is mysterious and charming, a novel worth getting lost in.
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July 14, 2022
Book Review: Paladin Unbound by Jeffrey Speight
I picked up this book on the recommendations of several friends who said it would scratch my TTRPG itch, and boy, did it ever! I plowed through it in 48 hours, mostly at the beach, and it was an enjoyable ride. The main character, Umhra the Peacebreaker (what a name, btw!), is a half-orc leading a band of misfits on the hunt for a job. The job turns ugly, and leads to another quest, and another, building up to world-level stakes and a satisfyingly epic final battle involving the gods themselves.
The world is very well fleshed out for such a short book (around 300 pages), and the descriptions of the towns and cities put you right in the action. The main character has some complexity to him, and the side characters are reasonably well fleshed out, but don’t get too attached to any of them. Speight is not afraid to kill a character or two, but it’s not a TPK either (that’s Total Party Kill for the non-D&D readers out there). The action is virtually non-stop, with rising stakes in each leg of the adventure and plenty of side quests and chance encounters to liven up the narrative. There are quiet moments in between the adventures, where the characters and the readers get a break from the mayhem, and we get little insights into their relationships and backgrounds.
The book’s greatest strength may also be a weakness for some readers. The world and the story are very conventional, old-school, classic D&D style, which is very satisfying if you’re looking for that sort of thing, but at times I found it a bit too “by the book” classic fantasy. Though the fantasy races and creatures sometimes have different names and slightly different characteristics than ones you see in other books and in TTRPG, almost everything is immediately recognizable from fantasy lore. Which could make this a perfect comfort read, as it was for me, but your results may vary. The book knows exactly what it’s trying to do, and it does it exceedingly well, but I would have liked to see it stray a bit farther from the genre conventions. I did appreciate the twist on the paladin concept, which I won’t spoil here. Umhra is anything but your traditional paladin, and the mystery behind his origin and his powers was well paced and intriguing.
Paladin Unbound is highly recommended for readers eager for a rollicking swords and sorcery adventure that can be quaffed in great gulps like a mug of frothy tavern ale.
Check Out Some of Our Other PostsReview – Titan Hoppers by Rob Hayes
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Review – Titan Hoppers by Rob Hayes
I was kindly given the ARC for Titan Hoppers to read and give an honest review before it’s release on the 12th July. I am pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed this mash-up of progression fantasy, science fiction, D&D and coming of age drama.
With all the many different genres and concepts that Rob throws into the proverbial kitchen sink for his new book Titan Hoppers, it should suffocate under its own weight, and yet, with nimble prose, an eclectic mix of colourful characters and a coming-of-age, level-up arc for our main protagonist, he pulls it off with aplomb.
Hayes introduces us to Titan Hopper’s science fiction setting, a civilisation of people who live on a fleet of ships in space, what they call ‘the dark’. The fleet also orbits a gigantic spaceship called a titan. Within the titan are powerful monsters, deadly traps and mysteries that the fleet are only just beginning to discover and understand. To survive and maintain the fleet, to provide food, water and metal for weapons and ships, each ship provides a squadron of Hoppers, warriors with unique talents that they obtain through Gates of Power. Each Gate gives an individual access to more powerful abilities, but opening such Gates requires unique situations and factors to come into play. To level-up challenges must be overcome.
Rob Hayes does an excellent job of helping us understand how much this civilisation relies on the titan’s resources, and how dangerous each hop is to gather them. There is a prevailing mystery surrounding the origin of the fleet and the titans, even the fleets smartest engineers still don’t know what much of the machinery and components does, and this mystery bubbles to the surface every now and then, giving the readers, and the characters, scintillating clues and theories.
There is a fantastic mesh of high tech and fantastical magic that works together so well in this world and mixed with the progressive elements we are given a fantastic dungeon crawling RPG in book form.
What I really loved about Titan Hoppers though, are the characters and their dynamics and relationships. The main protagonist is Courage Iro, who is born talentless and idolises his older sister Neya, who is a hopper. After certain events occur on a mission, Iro is sent to a different ship to a training school for potential hoppers, to learn and develop the necessary skills and talents required to fight and defeat the many monsters that roam the titan.
This is where he meets his academy friends and there is some wonderful character dynamics here; a lot of fun dialogue, some kindling of a possible romance and some simmering tension between Iro and his shipmate Emil. Both boys trying to prove themselves the strongest, the best. It makes for some great drama that results in some brilliant character moments towards the end.
Rob Hayes has always been a master of writing action scenes and he does it once again in Titan Hoppers. Kinetic, visceral, immersive and at times breath-taking, Hayes brings the action to life with his words. The clang of steel, the gargantuan size of the monsters, the balletic nature of movement, the pain of a broken bone or a slice of flesh, its an absolute joy to read his battle scenes.
A good third of the book is paced relatively slow, but the story needs this time and space, to establish Iro’s relationship with his fellow classmates and Emil in order for there to be any emotional weight and story significance in the latter parts of the book. And believe me the latter part of the book zips along at quite a pace and makes for an intense read.
Roby Hayes has managed to to give us an exciting, fun and kinetic, progressive science-fantasy story with engaging character dynamics, a dangerous and challenging world and action scenes that spring from the page. One of the best pick-me-ups I have read in a long while 5/5.
Go read this now!
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Review – Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee
This book was absolutely incredible. I found myself both wanting to devour it faster, and force myself to slow down to prolong the experience all at one. The Green Bone Saga has been one of, if not the top, Epic Fantasy series on my bookshelf since I read Jade City about 2 years ago, and Jade Legacy is the conclusion we all deserve.
The intricate political landscape that Lee wove in the first two books comes to fruition here- all of the little intricacies and small decisions add up to get the players where they are in the final installment. The slow build up makes these positions logically sound, and consistent with the inner workings of the world Lee created.
The same can be said of the characters. The Greenbone Saga has some of the best character work I’ve ever seen; each individual has a plethora of motivations for why they do what they do, all which make sense for them. They are also morally grey, and have a complicated code of morality. I don’t know how Lee was able to make me feel so deeply for characters that she previously made me despise, but she managed it.
The ending is also a masterstroke in story telling. Things are tied up, but not too neatly. We get the answers we need, not necessarily the answers we want, and it makes for a better story in the end.
I laughed, I raged, I cried, and I stared at my wall in disbelief at times. I’m also dealing with a massive book hangover knowing that I can’t go back into the vivid world of Janloon and the Kaul family (at least for now).
This trilogy is now cemented as one of my favorites of all time and I’m sure I will come back to it for years to come.
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July 13, 2022
Game Review – HORIZON: ZERO DAWN
HORIZON: ZERO DAWN is a game that has already been talked about extensively and has deservedly received many accolades. It’s a video game with an inherently fun premise: what if you were a cute redheaded bow-wielding girl who fought robot dinosaurs? Turok: Dinosaur Hunter plus Brave. It’s a pretty hard to screw up formula and one that seems like would be a can’t miss. It wasn’t either, I finished the game as well as its DLC after all, but it did have some flaws.
The premise is Aloy (Ashly Burch) is an outcast of the Nora tribe due to mysterious circumstances. Raised by a fellow outcast named Rost. Aloy grows up disdainful and angry at the Nora for their treatment of her while Rost attempts to teach her to be respectful of the All-Mother as well as their traditions. Also, to fight robot dinosaurs. What is revealed fairly early is this is a post-apocalypse setting where robotic machines have taken over a vastly-changed Earth. Like the Last of Us with robots instead of mold.
Aloy manages to find a loophole around her outcasting by competing in the games to join the Nora’s warriors. Things proceed to go catastrophically wrong and our heroine soon finds herself on a quest to find out her origin, save the world, and avenge an attack made on her tribe. Well, as much as Aloy can really be called a Nora since she utterly despises them and finds the entirety of their traditions to be ridiculous. It’s a coming-of-age story with lots more arrows and huge monsters to kill across a massive open-world map.
If you want to know what Horizon Zero Dawn is like, it’s basically an Ubisoft game despite being published by Sony. There’s a wide-open map filled with stuff to collect, explore, and kill. The game feels a bit like a 3rd person Far Cry as you’re always crafting new arrows or pouches from the things you hunt. Instead of going up radio towers, though, you find yourself climbing the top of giant long-necked robot dinosaurs and that does improve the experience. There’s also only one type of gun and it is vastly less fun to use than your various kinds of arrows.
Gameplay-wise, I’d best describe Horizon: Zero Dawn as serviceable. I never disliked being Aloy, though the easiest modes are “too” easy and this is a rare game I’d say to play on normal for casuals like myself. I also feel like the game’s inventory system is flawed as the barter economy means that while most things can be bought with metal shards, you also need to have the specific kind of robot part you need to get anything good.
Story-wise, I have to give Horizon: Zero Dawn some props for an interesting world. Ironically, I didn’t actually care that much for the post-apocalypse element. Aloy must solve the “mystery” of Project: Zero Dawn and how she relates to the mysterious Doctor Elizabeth Sobek. Truth be told, I was much more interested in the setting in the present-day. I liked learning about the Nora, Carja, and Banuk peoples over finding out exactly how a bunch of idiots in our time killed everyone.
There’s some great world-building in establishing the post-apocalypse setting with its tribalistic Nora, Aztec-like Carja, and Inuit-like Banuk. Those are the cultures I enjoyed learning about and their politics were actually fascinating. Unfortunately, I do feel like Aloy herself feels a bit dissonant from these elements. She acts more like a 21st-century woman rather than someone raised in a tribal environment (or at least its edge). She’s a little too snarky, irreverent, and materialist to be believable.
In conclusion, Horizon: Zero Dawn is an entertaining and enjoyable game but it doesn’t feel like an awesome elevation of the genre either. The graphics are beautiful, the characters likable, and the worldbuilding is good. However, the game seems like we should be more interested in how the world was destroyed than we are. The big “revelation” about it isn’t really that interesting either. It’s worth a play but I’d say it’s also not an amazing game either.
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Review – Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
What a wonderful story! We follow Xingyin (said daughter of the moon goddess) as she is forced from her quiet peaceful home on the moon and thrust into the broader world of The Celestial Kingdom. She must try to find a way to help her mother, who is still imprisoned on the moon, in a world that seems pitted against her. Xingyin is an incredibly strong and proud character that is easy to root for as a reader; you truly want her to succeed with all of your heart. She forges her own path in the world based on her own skills and determination and so, when the love triangle is introduced, it feels like an addition to the plot, rather than taking over everything (as they are wont to do). The other two points on the triangle are also wonderfully crafted characters, so you find yourself actually torn between who she should choose. If you are a character based reader like me, you will love this book.
The world is incredibly rich and I felt immersed in it the entire time. The descriptions are vivid and full of life so you find yourself envisioning the world with crystal clarity as you read. I would love to visit The Celestial Kingdom and experience the brilliant colors and bustling markets Tan writes about. Also, the plot never stops, so I never found myself feeling bored- there is always a twist or new perspective around the corner that shifts the way the reader views any given situation. Basically this book was everything it was promised to be and more and I’m here for it.
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July 12, 2022
Review – A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
We live in unprecedented times. I wish we didn’t, but life lately has been rough. Between Covid, War, Dictators, and environmental catastrophes, sometimes you need a story that is a warm hug or a mug of hot cocoa. This is what the A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is about. It is a book that replenishes a world-weary soul.
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the second book in the Monk & Robot series. We find our intrepid duo on the road and picks up right where the last one left off. Mosscap, the robot, and Dex the tea-monk are going from village to village, meeting with people and experiencing life in many ways. You would think that all this traveling would be for Mosscap’s benefit, but it isn’t. Instead, you have Dex reexamining ideas and things they hold dear as they watch Mosscap experience things for the first time.
There isn’t a plot. Instead, think of the travels of the duo as vignettes. They are moments in time that impart a bit of wisdom. All that said, this isn’t a preachy novel, far from it. Chambers walks the line between memorable and heartfelt with preachy and shmaltzy well. One of the main takeaways from this story is a conversation about mental health and how it is a journey rather than a destination.
Dex has struggled with their mental health in the past. They have to internalize that it is ok not to be ok. It is ok to be one of the folks that rely on others and doesn’t bring anything to the table. This echoes moments in the first book where Dex sets off into the forest to be alone.
Again, Chambers has written a beautiful story about hope and the many ways we find it in the world. And that it is ok to rest for a bit on other people. Echoing my first sentiments, the world is brutal right now. We are staring at these unprecedented moments in shock. This book soothes the soul; the tales of Monk & Robot stick to your heart and are ready to go on an adventure with you wherever that leads.
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Review – Second String Savior by Rick Gualtieri and R.E. Carr
SECOND STRING SAVIOR is a novel set in the Tome of Bill world. Rick Gualtieri and R. E. Carr have written a story that takes place roughly contemporaneous with the first three Tome of Bill novels, culminating in the latter half of the book taking place during The Mourning Wood. As you can tell by the titles of the books, they’re a comedy urban fantasy series that has a heavy emphasis on crass humor as well as puns.
This novel is surprisingly different from the mainstream Tome of Bill series, though, in large part because the protagonist isn’t a 30-year-old male nerd but a teenage girl. Much to my surprise, the authors did a fantastic job of switching perspectives with Jesse Flores being entirely believable as a girl just entering into adulthood. She’s snarky, geeky, and yet believably “cool” in a way her peers wouldn’t appreciate until after high school.
The premise is that Jesse Flores is an ordinary girl working at a comic book store with her family of MMA fighters as well as Sheriff father. Okay, maybe not so ordinary but Jesse is largely unaware how cool she is. There’s a lot of Buffy homages present and these are all very well done, especially when Jesse gets a witch to tell her she’s the Chosen One destined to save the world from monsters. Except, this is called “False Icons” and we already know from the Tome of Bill series that the legendary Icon is someone else. So what is Jesse?
There’s a lot of really fascinating stories spread throughout this novel. Jesse trying to get her high school rivals’ boyfriend, being courted by a vampire who has seen many romantic movies, and also learning how to fight from her witch former gym teacher. It all leads up to the second half of the novel where Jesse is a secret guest at the peace treaty conference between the Sasquatch and vampire race.
The second half of the novel is very different from the first half and really the two could have been expanded into separate books. I really enjoyed meeting the characters like Burp, Floof (the cuddliest Sasquatch ever), as well as the Dryads. The Dryads form the basis for a lot of the books fun as they are the ones most eager to make sure Jesse achieves her “destiny” while also being a wild hedonistic bunch.
The real heart of this book is the fact that the characters play off one another extremely well. Gary the Witch and Jesse have a good relationship, I like her father’s overprotective but not ridiculous nature, plus there’s the unexpected romantic hints with her archenemy Wyatt. The fact Jesse is someone who doesn’t want to be the Chosen One despite initial enthusiasm is also handled realistically.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and think it’s probably the second best novel in the Tome of Bill universe (the best being Sunset Strip). Jesse Flores is a more likable protagonist than Bill and doesn’t have nearly his issue with sexist comments or being a complete jerk. Take that from someone who likes Bill. I’m eager to see how her journey progresses and what’s going to happen next in the series.
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#FirstChapterFirstParagraph – Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King
“There is nothing of God or Light in that heartless sound – it is all black winter and dark ice.”
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What is Cycle of the Werewolf About?
The first scream came from the snowbound railwayman who felt the fangs ripping at his throat. The next month there was a scream of ecstatic agony from the woman attacked in her snug bedroom.
Now scenes of unbelieving horror come each time the full moon shines on the isolated Maine town of Tarker Mills. No one knows who will be attacked next. But one thing is sure.
When the moon grows fat, a paralyzing fear sweeps through Tarker Mills. For snarls that sound like human words can be heard whining through the wind. And all around are the footprints of a monster whose hunger cannot be sated… Cycle of the Werewolf.
First Chapter, First Paragraph of Cycle of the Werewolf
Somewhere, high above, the moon shines down, fat and full—but here, in Tark- er’s Mills, a January blizzard has choked the sky with snow. The wind rams full force down a deserted Center Avenue; the orange town plows have given up long since. Arnie Westrum, flagman on the GS&WM Railroad, has been caught in the small tool-and-signal shack nine miles out of town; with his small, gasoline-powered rail- rider blocked by drifts, he is waiting out the storm there, playing Last Man Out solitaire with a pack of greasy Bicycle cards. Outside the wind rises to a shrill scream.
Westrum raises his head uneasily and then looks back down at his game again. It is only the wind, after all . . . But the wind doesn’t scratch at doors . . . and whine to be let in. He gets up, a tall, lanky man in a wool jacket and railroad coveralls, a Camel cigarette jutting from one corner of his mouth, his seamed New England face lit in soft orange tones by the kerosene lantern which hangs on the wall.
First Chapter, First Paragraph -; Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning
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