Beth Tabler's Blog, page 186
May 19, 2022
REVIEW – THE SHADOW OF THE GODS BY JOHN GWYNNE
Let’s be clear, John Gwynne has nothing to prove.But he went ahead and proved it anyway.
He already has plenty of accolades: David Gemmell Morningstar Award, BookNest Award, bestselling lists, and more. He is already acknowledged in the fantasy world as one of it’s brightest stars, thanks to his famous ‘The Faithful and the Fallen” and “Of Blood and Bone” series.
But he went ahead and proved it anyway.
He proved that he can get even better. Somehow, he accomplished this, with the debut entry of his new “The Bloodsworn Trilogy”, called “The Shadow of the Gods”. When a writer of this calibre shows that he still has another gear, that he can turn things up quite a notch, and exceed already lofty expectations, it is incredibly impressive. Gwynne will have your “thought-cage” spinning with the dizzying brilliance of his latest novel.
The concept of “The Shadow of the Gods” is an intriguing one. In this Norse-inspired world, a war has taken place between the gods, where all of them were either killed or imprisoned, and they have left the land that humans inhabited partially devastated in the wake of the conflict. These gods took the form of mammoth beasts, such as dragons and giant wolves. Because of the havoc they wreaked on the land, called Vigrid, for the most part, the gods are reviled, rather than revered. While there are still some devotees to these seemingly callous gods, most people shun them, hoping they stay dead, and vanquished. The gods may have vanished, however eerie, tangible traces of them remain. Such as major human cities constructed inside or even on top of their bones. The dichotomy is that humans still covet the protection of the gods, and believe that the carcasses of the individual deities that were worshipped can ward off further evil.
With incredibly beautiful prose, compelling human drama, fantastic world-building and realism, and of course Gwynne’s trademark – some of the most gripping and realistic battle scenes this side of GRRM or Bernard Cornwell – “The Shadow of the Gods” deftly marries dark and high fantasy into a blood-soaked, gritty, ingenious saga, full of heart, romance, humour, stunning plot twists, and overall, pure magnificence on a completely epic scale.
The plot pivots around three main POVs. The first is Orka, an indomitable warrior, married to another awesome fighter, Thorkel, with whom she has a son, called Breca. The three are simply trying to lead a peaceful life on their farm, however someone in the vicinity is stealing children and murdering their parents. The three are drawn into political intrigue and danger, as they begin to unravel what is behind the sinister kidnappings and killings.
The second POV is Varg, a fugitive on the run, haunted by the death of his sister, and thirsting for vengeance. Varg’s life changes when he encounters the eponymous Bloodsworn crew, as he seeks to trade bondage for battle, and find a true family to belong to.
The third POV is that of Elvar, a warrior of noble birth, trying to prove herself, and seek glory, among a hardened group of sellswords, called the Battle-Grim. The loyal and fearless Elvar will end up on one of the greatest quests ever dared: to seek the sacred tree Oskutred (the equivalent of Yggdrasil), and uncover its treasures. But the costs will be high, and formidable enemies, betrayal, and the unleashing of ancient evil await her.
“The Shadow of the Gods” is sure to make the vast majority of ‘Fantasy Book of the Year” lists, and that is entirely well-deserved. Many may have considered Gywnne to be a jarl in the nobility of fantasy wordsmiths – safe to say with “The Shadow of the Gods”, he has ascended to princedom, and no doubt kingship awaits. I have long been a huge John Gwynne fan, and no secret he is one of my influences as a writer. He has truly outdone himself, and “The Shadow of the Gods” is a masterpiece.
I will be anxiously awaiting book two of “The Bloodsworn Saga”!
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The Only Thing Left is Wrath and Sheep
About
From the publisher, “Ever since Great Grandfather Isom killed a man over some sheep, a black cloud has hung over the Rath family. Now, over a century later, Ira Rath, the coldest hitman ever to walk on Alabama soil, has taken a job that will decide the fate of his cursed family once and for all. Writer Jason Aaron (Southern Bastards, Scalped) and artist Ron Garney (Weapon X, Thor: God of Thunder) reunite, to bring you the story of a Southern family, whose only heirloom is violence.”
Stats
4 out of 5 Stars
Paperback
136 pages
Published April 28th, 2015 by Marvel (first published April 14th, 2015)
Awards
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominee for Best Writer (for Jason Aaron) (2015)
My Thoughts
Are we captive to our darker biology or can we rise above our inner desire and step away from our baser urges? That is the question that Jason Aaron asks in this powerful southern noir-style story “Men of Wrath.” One hundred years ago the patriarch of the Rath family, Isom, stabbed a man in the neck over some sheep. Since then “folks began to take notice of the Raths.”
The Raths have an issue with Wrath.
Since then, for the last 100 years, each generation of male Rath children has expressed their wrath in different ways. Isom’s son, Alford, witnessed his father murder a man in a pasture and has had a dangerous mean streak culminating with him catching rabies and murdering his entire family save for one son, Monroe. The son who ended up having to kill him to protect himself. Thus the family line of wrath continues. Monroe begat Ira, a Cynical hitman from Alabama who has no problem with the expression of rage in his line of work. He will murder anything: men, women, children, priests anything that gets in his way of doing his job. Ira, in turn, had a son named Ruben. Here is where the story gets interesting. Ruben is often on the cusp of violence, yet he chooses not to express it. He is in every way the polar opposite of his father. Ira does not care for family when everything Ruben does is to protect them. He fights his natural Rath family tendencies where all Ira does is express them. His sensitivities get him in trouble with the wrong people, and a hitman is dispatched to take care of Ruben. There is no familial love between Ruben and Ira, and Ira goes after Ruben.
“Somethin’ started back then with Isom. Somethin’ that’s been passed down in our family from father to son ever since. Somethin’ that’s gotten a little bit meaner and bloodier with each generation. Used to be folks in Choctaw County never paid much mind to Isom and his kin. They weren’t troublemakers or drunks.Weren’t catholics. Werren’t much of anything at all. Just another bunch of poor white farmers in a county full of ’em. But after that day…The day Erastus Grievers laid down among his sheep and died. Folks began to take notice of the Raths.”
Excerpt from Men of Wrath by Jason Aaron
I want to say that Ira is the protagonist of the story, but that isn’t accurate. Ira is what he is, he neither revels in it or seeks change. He is a murderous bastard who hates everyone. His inner monologue is the narration of the story; the real protagonist is his relationship with his son Ruben. Although I will not give away the explosive climax of the story, know that it is true to the Rath family name.
The artwork of the story, done by Ron Garney, evokes dark and early Frank Miller. The linework is bold, thick and uncompromising. The perpetual darkness and heaviness match the dialog and setting of the story perfectly. Not only do you read the inner monologue of Ira wrath, but you can also feel it from panel to panel.
Men of Wrath is a short and dirty story of man’s inherent darkness, and if one can rise above their baser natures. All told in the dark and gritty southern crime noir format reminiscent of Southern Bastards, Sin City, and Blacksad. It is excellently written and beautifully illustrated/penciled. This is not a story for the easily offended, but if you can keep going through the violent panels, the ending is well worth the journey.
Check Out Men of Wrath
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May 18, 2022
Review – Duckett & Dyer Dicks For Hire by G.M. Nair
I usually avoid science fiction and crime novels. Not because I think there’s anything wrong or bad with these genres but rather because the science is generally over my head, and I am anti-social enough already. I don’t need to learn any new tricks from literary criminals. That said, I happily admit to faulty research before purchasing the self-published Duckett & Dyer series by G.M. Nair.
Little did in know I was in for a hilarious, universe hopping, interstitial bad-guy hunting, against-all-odds story of lifelong friendship and loyalty. Now, the last bit comes off as a tad schmaltzy but in all honesty, that’s the big takeaway from all three books. Michael Duckett and Stephanie Dyer, no matter how irritated they get with each other, simply do not know how to NOT be friends. And there’s the charm.
Michael Duckett is a neurotic, anxious, keep-your-head-down, worker drone. He has a pointless job with the city’s largest company, The Future Group, and is pretty sure what he does doesn’t matter to anyone in the organization. His paycheck barely covers the bills in the crappy tenement apartment he shares with Stephanie. Michael just keeps on keeping on.
Stephanie Dyer is a larger than life dreamer, into everything while doing nothing. She is positively unpredictable and keeps Michael on his toes. Stephanie Dyer impulsively forges ahead and damns the consequences.
Both have a talent for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and the results are spectacular.
“Please Don’t Drink the Poison Even Though You’re Thirsty”
In Dicks For Hire, advertisements for the detective agency “Duckett & Dyer, PI’s For Hire” have been popping up all over the city. Neither Michael nor Steph have any idea why. Nevertheless, Michael’s phone rings constantly with potential business. One particularly insistent ‘client,’ searching for her missing fiancé, drags the bickering duo into an investigation which literally opens up the spaces between universes and drags them into the crosshairs of a local police detective, Rex Calhoun.
“Thanks, In Advance”
The One-Hundred Percent Solution sees Michael fired from The Future Group for not being a team player. Worried about keeping the roof of their less-than-desirable step-down apartment/offices over their heads, Michael and Steph are involuntarily recruited to investigate some shady dealings by his former employer. Recruitment along the lines of, “Do this or we’ll kill you. Don’t worry about the assassin running around killing people associated with the company. No pressure. Oh and by the way, you dodged a multi-verse, demon worshipping, cult-bullet by being fired. Good job.” No big deal.
“A Talking, Gender-Fluid, Reverse Werewolf”
In case you were wondering if Duckett & Dyer work on cases which are less universally threatening, well, they do. Kinda. The Mystery of the Murdered Guy jumps from case to case while Michael and Stephanie grow into their roles as entrepreneurial private investigators. The aforementioned reverse werewolf, a very angry otherverse Santa Clause, performative train-jacking, and a lady who keeps losing her cats all make appearances. If you read the first two books, you’ll see some old friends (acquaintances?) along the way.
G.M. Nair delivers a weird and supremely entertaining triple-hit with this series. The science isn’t overwhelming and rendered believable to non-science readers like me. The crimes are so far beyond human reality that the bad guys don’t have a chance. The humor is slick and smart. Traipse around the multi-verse with Duckett & Dyer for a few days. Maybe you’ll meet yourself along the way.
Check Out G.M. Nair’s BooksDuckett – Dyer: Dicks for Hire – The Mystery of the Murdered Guy Playlist
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May 17, 2022
Review – Against All Odds by Jeffery H. Haskell
AGAINST ALL ODDS by Jeffrey Haskell is a military science fiction/space opera story that I absolutely loved. There’s a huge amount of science fiction available on Kindle Unlimited but I’ll be the first to admit that quite a bit of it isn’t great.
As the old saying goes, everyone can be an author but only a few people can be a good author. Well, Jeffrey Haskell manages to slide into the latter category and this is a really good first time effort (though he has a lot of experience as a journalist, explaining the work’s quality).
Jacob Grimm thought he was going to be a hero when he managed to stop an enemy flotilla during a sneak attack. Unfortunately, he finds out too late that the enemy was carrying a cargo of children. Blamed for the horrific casualties, Jacob has no options but to wait out his career in disgrace. However, he unwittingly finds himself as a pawn in the Navy’s attempt to rebuild itself after being gutted following a disastrous war.
Jacob finds himself reassigned to a battered ship in the rear-end of space but unwittingly at the flashpoint of what could rapidly turn into the frontlines for a second war. Whipping his crew into shape and trying to inspire them to be better, Jacob finds himself at the center of local criminals and conspiracies that are just the tips of a vast network of human trafficking as well as arms dealing.
I really liked the world-building of this book. The various competing space nations and their conflicts among one another. The “baddies” of this book are primarily the Caliphate of Hamid and it is every bit the nasty collection of misogynist slavers that space opera is inclined to make them. Haskell is smarter than some authors, though, and this group doesn’t represent all Muslims in his universe. There’s also the Iron Empire, which is an authoritarian state that is every bit as threatening.
The book doesn’t just follow Jacob Grimm’s perspective but several others, giving us a fascinating insight into the politics and factions populating the setting. There are true believers, mercenaries, and people just trying to make their way in the galaxy. One of my favorite perspectives is Captain Nadia, who fled from the Caliphate as a young child, and is struggling to live as a tramp freighter captain.
This is a solid and well-written book with plenty of action as well as likable heroes. It does, however, include slavery and human trafficking so those triggered by such subjects should be warned. A sexual assault also occurs off-camera. Despite this, I give it extremely high marks and will certainly be reading the next volume.
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First Chapter, First Paragraph – Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning
Right now I am reading a whole lot of books, but a standout of a book I am reading is Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning.
This book is nuts but in an absolutely fabulous over-the-top way. Imagine Hitchhiker’s and John Dies at the End got together, they would make Cryptofauna.
Here is the first chapter, first paragraph:
“Jim Grabbed a can of root beer for his suicide. He Wasn’t particularly big on sassafras or licorice, but drink choices were limited. The tap water at St. Militrude’s Home for the Insane and Elderly was notorious for its eggy flavor. Mellow Yellow was tasty, but the potassium citrate was known to have undesirable drug interactions. Coke was the obvious front runner, except one of the residents, had recently thrown every last can of it off the roof in protest of an earlier bedtime.”
Cryptofauna – by Patrick Canning
I love how this starts with someone discussing their impending doom so casually. It sets the tone for the entire rest of the story. This is turning out to be bizarro at its finest and I am really enjoying it. If you all are interested in partaking in the crazy check it out. Cryptofauna on Goodreads Patricks Instagram is @catpanning.
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May 16, 2022
Review – Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Storm Front follows the supernatural misadventures of a wizard named Harry who lives among the bustling crime-filled neighborhoods of Chicago.
Unlike a certain boy wizard named Harry that we are all familiar with, this wizard named Harry is our cocky, witty and resourceful protagonist that most certainly isn’t a chosen one or your stereotypical everyman hero.
He’s got problems, major problems. He’s upset the governing circle of the world’s most influential wizards are on his back. He is unwillingly thrown into situations well beyond his control. He also has to make overdue rent as a professional practicing wizard while trying to manage a desperately dying dating life.
This premise is what makes Harry Dresden such an amazing character to follow. He doesn’t pretend to be something he isn’t. He’s grounded. A little pessimistic and is simply trying to get by in life without any major hassle.
Alas, mob gangsters, evil wizards, vampire queens, and deranged demons all stand in his way of a happy life. Did I mention that he doesn’t seem to have much luck with the ladies either?
Dresden prefers to spend his life in solitude at home with his pet cat and a horny spirit trapped in an enchanted skull (named Bob) rather than pursuing the richer, higher, glamorous lifestyle Chicago can offer.
His relationship as a (consulting psychic) with the local police is rocky at best. And business is slow as a freelance wizard. But a fella had got to make rent, so when a passing client requests his services, he’s not one to say no… And now our adventure really begins.
Butcher writes fantastic characters. His women are independent, strong, and unique and the villain though a little stereotypically consumed by evil motives, serves his purpose to progress the plot.
There are several times where Butcher really brings a quality level of humor. The story unfolds in first person (something I really don’t have a blight with) as it really allows us to hop into our character’s cowboy boots and duster coat, perceiving this fantasy/supernatural version of Chicago with undeniable perspective and clarity.
Not every character grows in this story but the resolution is strong enough to last the foundations for future installments. The pace can be choppy at points, but I guarantee the final act will have you hooked. The magic system isn’t overly complicated and like many aspects of Butcher’s laws for this fictional universe, is approached light-heartedly and with great creativity.
I’m so glad I decided to get into this series. This is a great first entry. Whatever kind of trouble our gunslinging wizard decides to get into next will definitely have my invested anticipation. It’s 2 am in the morning right now and I have no regrets about staying up late to burn through this awesomely compelling book.
Final Verdict: 8 out of 10
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South Asian and Indian Subcontinental fantasy Stories You Should Be Reading
Mihir over at Fantasy Book Critic was kind enough to curate a list of South Asian/Indian fantasy stories to add to your TBR. Check out these titles and get reading!
Palace Of Illusions by Chitra B. Divakaruni
A reimagining of the world-famous Indian epic, the Mahabharat—told from the point of view of an amazing woman.
Relevant to today’s war-torn world, The Palace of Illusions takes us back to a time that is half history, half myth, and wholly magical. Narrated by Panchaali, the wife of the legendary Pandavas brothers in the Mahabharat, the novel gives us a new interpretation of this ancient tale.
The novel traces the princess Panchaali’s life, beginning with her birth in fire and following her spirited balancing act as a woman with five husbands who have been cheated out of their father’s kingdom. Panchaali is swept into their quest to reclaim their birthright, remaining at their side through years of exile and a terrible civil war involving all the important kings of India. Meanwhile, we never lose sight of her strategic duels with her mother-in-law, her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna, or her secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husbands’ most dangerous enemy. Panchaali is a fiery female redefining for us a world of warriors, gods, and the ever-manipulating hands of fate.
Pradyutita by Geetha Krishnan
In Hastinapura, Atiratha and Radha find a baby floating in the river. In the palace, the impotent King Pandu is forced to abdicate the throne while his bastard half brother Vidura conspires with his queen Kunti. The blind King Dhritarashtra struggles against his autocratic uncle while the sage Vyasa fights desperately to avert a power struggle within the Kuru family. This is the saga of Mahabharata, as it has never been told before.
Sons Of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty
SOME BALLADS ARE INKED IN BLOOD.
Bled dry by violent confrontations with the Magadhan Empire, the Mathuran Republic simmers on the brink of oblivion. The Republic’s Leaders, Krishna and Satyabhama, have put their plans in motion within and beyond its blood-soaked borders, to protect it from annihilation. But they will soon discover that neither gold nor alliances last forever.
They are, however, not the only players in this game.
Mati, Pirate-Princess of Kalinga, must mend her ways if she is to be a good wife. But old habits die hard, especially when one habitually uses murder to settle scores. Karna, the gifted son of a lowborn charioteer, hopes to bury his brutal past, but finds that life is not generous in offering second chances. The crippled hero-turned-torturer Shakuni struggles in the maze of daggers, that is politics, leaving little time for him to plot the revenge he craves.
Alongside a cast of sinister queens, naive kings, pious assassins and predatory priests, these dubious heroes will converge where the Son of Darkness is prophesied to rise and break the World, even as forgotten Gods prepare to play their hand.
The Boy Of Earth & Fire by Sami Shah
Wahid’s father was a textile merchant in Karachi. His mother, however, is a djinn. Growing up in a city rife with corrupt cops and religious extremists can be challenging, and it gets downright dangerous once the djinns start hunting Wahid. To survive beings made of smokeless fire, women with feet turned the wrong way, and a violent terrorist sent to kill him, Wahid has to turn to the devil himself for help. But can Iblis be trusted?
What starts as a quest to save the soul of the girl he loves, ends up on the road to the dark heart of Pakistan’s nuclear fears, and the coming of the Islamic apocalypse. Islamic mythology blended with South Asian urban horror, Sami Shah’s epic novel is filled with vivid insights into life in Pakistan, and a whole new pantheon of mythical creatures.
Boy of Fire and Earth brings together Sami Shah’s Fire Boy and Earth Boy into one unputdownable volume.
These Savage Shores by Ram V (graphic novel)
In 1766 an insatiable vampire sails from London to the Malabar Coast, aboard an East India Company ship. But along the shores of the Indus lurk darker and more ancient powers, and a war is brewing in the night.
ALONG THESE SAVAGE SHORES, WHERE THE DAYS ARE SCORCHED AND THE NIGHTS ARE FULL OF TEETH.
Two centuries after the first European ship sailed to the Malabar Coast and made landfall at Calicut, The East India Company seeks to secure its future along the lucrative Silk Route, in the year 1766. An old evil now sails aboard a company ship, hoping to make a home in this new found land. But he will soon find that the ground along the Indus is an ancient one with daemons and legends far older than himself.
The Gamesworld trilogy by Samit Basu
The Simoqin Prophecies marks the debut of an assured new voice. Written with consummate ease and brimming with wit and allusion, it is at once classic SFF and subtle spoof, featuring scantily clad centauresses, flying carpets, pink trolls, belly dancers and homicidal rabbits. Monty Python meets the Ramayana, Alice in Wonderland meets The Lord of the Rings and Robin Hood meets The Arabian Nights in this novel-a breathtaking ride through a world peopled by different races and cultures from mythology and history
Mrityunjaya (the Death Conqueror) by Shivaji SawantThe sixth son of Kunti, Karna is often reduced to an antagonist in most modern renditions of the Mahabharatha. In Mrityunjaya, The Death Conqueror: The Story Of Karna, a study of humanity, life and existentialism through Ved Vyasa’s epic, Shivaji Sawant examines Karna’s life. Summary of the Book The autobiography of Karna, this book contains six dramatic sililoquies to form nine parts. Four of these are in Karna’s point of view, mixed with the view points of Kunti, Duryodhana, Shatruntapa, Vrishali and Krishna. The author makes a comparison between Karna and Krishna, changing the reader’s perspective of Karna’s “sins.” About Shivaji Sawant Shivaji Sawant is an Indian writer. He has also written Chhava, Yugandhar and Muktigaatha Mahamanavachya among other popular Marathi books.
The Devourers by Indrapramit Das
On a cool evening in Kolkata, India, beneath a full moon, as the whirling rhythms of traveling musicians fill the night, college professor Alok encounters a mysterious stranger with a bizarre confession and an extraordinary story. Tantalized by the man’s unfinished tale, Alok will do anything to hear its completion. So Alok agrees, at the stranger’s behest, to transcribe a collection of battered notebooks, weathered parchments, and once-living skins.
From these documents spills the chronicle of a race of people at once more than human yet kin to beasts, ruled by instincts and desires blood-deep and ages-old. The tale features a rough wanderer in seventeenth-century Mughal India who finds himself irrevocably drawn to a defiant woman—and destined to be torn asunder by two clashing worlds. With every passing chapter of beauty and brutality, Alok’s interest in the stranger grows and evolves into something darker and more urgent.
Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Author of Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne, beginning a new trilogy set in a world inspired by the history and epics of India, in which a captive princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic become unlikely allies on a dark journey to save their empire from the princess’s traitor brother.
Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters — but is now little more than a decaying ruin.
Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides.
But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
“Patel’s mesmerizing debut shines a brilliant light on the vilified queen from the Ramayana….This easily earns its place on shelves alongside Madeline Miller’s Circe.” –Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.”
So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.
Desperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her.
But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind.
A stunning debut from a powerful new voice, Kaikeyi is a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak—of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.
The Shiva trilogy by Amish Tripathi
1900 BC. In what modern Indians mistakenly call the Indus Valley Civilisation. The inhabitants of that period called it the land of Meluha a near perfect empire created many centuries earlier by Lord Ram, one of the greatest monarchs that ever lived. This once proud empire and its Suryavanshi rulers face severe perils as its primary river, the revered Saraswati, is slowly drying to extinction. They also face devastating terrorist attacks from the east, the land of the Chandravanshis. To make matters worse, the Chandravanshis appear to have allied with the Nagas, an ostracised and sinister race of deformed humans with astonishing martial skills!
The only hope for the Suryavanshis is an ancient legend: When evil reaches epic proportions, when all seems lost, when it appears that your enemies have triumphed, a hero will emerge.
Is the rough-hewn Tibetan immigrant Shiva, really that hero? And does he want to be that hero at all? Drawn suddenly to his destiny, by duty as well as by love, will Shiva lead the Suryavanshi vengeance and destroy evil?
Honorable mention to:The Paternus trilogy by Dyrk Ashton for being so in-depth about Hindu mythology.
Described as American Gods meets The Avengers and Supernatural meets The Lord of the Rings, Paternus combines myths from around the world in a modern story of action and intrigue that is “urban fantasy on the surface, but so much more at its core!”
Even myths have legends. And not all legends are myth.
When a local hospital is attacked by strange and frightening men, Fiona Patterson and Zeke Prisco save a catatonic old man named Peter—and find themselves running for their lives with creatures beyond imagination hounding their every step.
With nowhere else to turn, they seek out Fi’s enigmatic Uncle Edgar. But the more their questions are answered, the more they discover that nothing is what it seems–not Peter, not Edgar, perhaps not even themselves.
The gods and monsters, heroes and villains of lore—they’re real. And now they’ve come out of hiding to hunt their own. In order to survive, Fi and Zeke must join up with powerful allies against an ancient evil that’s been known by many names and feared by all. The final battle of the world’s oldest war has begun.
Paternus: Rise of Gods, is Dyrk Ashton’s critically acclaimed debut novel and the first book in The Paternus Trilogy. It has been compared to works by Neil Gaiman, Scott Hawkins, Roger Zelazny, China Miéville, Joss Whedon, and Kevin Hearne.
Editions note: Earlier editions list the title as simply Paternus. These are the same book as Paternus: Rise of Gods.
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Contemporary Fantasy / Mythic Fiction.
Market: Adult to New Adult (as opposed to Teen or YA, though savvy 16 or 17-year-olds might survive without permanent damage).
Review – Paternus: Wrath of the Gods by Dyrk Ashton
Review – Paternus: Rise of the Gods by Dyrk Ashton
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#musicmonday I’m Shipping Up To Boston by the Dropkick Murphys
And I lost my leg
Hanging with hooligans and running from cops.
Lyrics to Shipping up to Boston
I’m a sailor peg
And I lost my leg
Climbing up the topsails
I lost my leg!
I’m shipping up to Boston (whoa)
I’m shipping up to Boston (whoa)
I’m shipping up to Boston (whoa)
I’m shipping off
To find my wooden leg
I’m a sailor peg
And I lost my leg
Climbing up the top sails
I lost my leg!
I’m shipping up to Boston (whoa)
I’m shipping up to Boston (whoa)
I’m shipping up to Boston (whoa)
I’m shipping off
To find my wooden leg
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May 15, 2022
Review of John Dies at the End by David Wong
“Son, the greatest trick the Devil pulled was convincing the world there was only one of him.”
― David Wong, John Dies at the End
“And watch out for Molly. See if she does anything unusual. There’s something I don’t trust about the way she exploded and then came back from the dead like that.”
― David Wong, John Dies at the End
This book is not for everyone but it is certainly for me. Weird and smart and rather wonderful.
I read a lot and because I read a lot I don’t often come across things that are new and exciting. So when I do come across something that is different I get really excited. This is different. This is a cross between bizarro, science fiction, horror, and comedy. It has the best of each of these genres in a mish-mash snowball of glee. I am not even sure I can adequately describe the plot of the story. It is secondary to the dialog of the main characters. They are a pair of sarcastic semi-losers thrust into a surreal situation. It also involves parallel dimensions, hell, and an exploding dog. They sorta just roll with every scenario they fall into.
The imagery is graphic and tinged with the gross, ““Fred said, “Man, I think he’s gonna make a fuckin’ suit of human skin, using the best parts from each of us.”
“Holy crap,” said John. “He’ll be gorgeous.”
Also includes a large use of the profane. “No, no. Keep driving,” said a soft voice in my ear. “She will not bite if you keep driving.” Fuck that. Fuck that idea like the captain of the Thai Fuck Team fucking at the fucking Tour de Fuck.” C’mon that’s funny.
Just go with it. I know I am selling the hell out of it, but It is one of my favorites!
Check Out John Dies At the End
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May 14, 2022
Graphic Novel Review – The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson
By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39087797
“Remember the seven Ps. Seven what? Proper preparation and planning… Prevent piss-poor performance.” ― Garth Ennis, The Boys, Volume 1: The Name of the GameAwards2008: Nominated, “Best Continuing Series”, Eisner Award2009: Nominated, “Comic Book of the Year Under $3.00”, Diamond Comic Distributor Gem Awards2010: Nominated, “Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel”, Scream Awards#892 on the 1001 Comics to Read Before You Die#262 on CBH – Best Comics to Read
My Thoughts on The BoysFrom the publisher, “THIS IS GOING TO HURT! In a world where costumed heroes soar through the sky and masked vigilantes prowl the night, someone’s got to make sure the “supes” don’t get out of line. And someone will. Billy Butcher, Wee Hughie, Mother’s Milk, The Frenchman, and The Female are The Boys: A CIA backed team of very dangerous people, each one dedicated to the struggle against the most dangerous force on Earth-superpower. Some superheroes have to be watched. Some have to be controlled. And some of them-sometimes-need to be taken out of the picture That’s when you call in THE BOYS”
“As the old saying goes: With great power comes the total fuckin’ certainty that you’re gonna turn into a cunt.”
― Garth Ennis, The Boys, Volume 9: The Big Ride
The Boys is a hefty series written by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Ennis, of “Preacher” fame, that “blows the bloody doors off” of the Superhero genre. This is not your tidy and inoffensive Superman story. Rather, this is bloody, gory, disgusting, and brutal. It is repulsive, but in typical Ennis style, the reader can not turn away.
The Plot
This story takes the adage of absolute power corrupting and applies it to superheroes. The superheroes in this story are called The Seven, which is a nod to the Justice League, and are your basic despotic, raping, and pillaging psychopaths. They kill for the fun of it, lord over humans, live to the excess and are generally horrible but powerful human beings. In turn, the book explores governments’ and by extension societies’ response to the superheroes with a band of misfit black ops soldiers of varying degrees of sociopathic and homicidal tendencies. They, too, are extremely screwed up in exciting and equally terrifying ways. Their sole purpose is to keep the “supes” in check. In the center of all this is a sweet and goofy love story. No really, I am serious. Ennis makes it work and it is awesome.
The plot follows The Boys through a series of screwed-up interactions with superheroes. The Boys “manage, police, and sometimes liquidate Vought-American’s superhumans,” so that is what they do. They attempt to keep the supes in check, things go awry, there is much sex and death, people die in awful ways, and there is always another superhero to stop. Neither side can claim the moral high ground. Through the series, we learn the backstory about why The Boys are the way they are, and why each of them has a reason to hate supes. We have a much richer picture of The Boys and some closure to the story by the end. It would be exhausting if the writing and art weren’t so good.
Additionally, Ennis created one of his characters into the guise of Simon Pegg as a sort of fanboy nod. To some, they find it distracting to read about “Wee” Hughie (aka Simon Pegg) walking into an orgy but my sophomoric sense of humor found it utterly hilarious.
The Art and Execution
The art is a very “Marvel comic” style, purposely drawn to convey the superhero motif. The supes and their world are drawn and colored to emphasize the grandness and gaudiness of the superhero world. Versus The Boys who are dark and melancholic.
The Writing
Typical of Garth Ennis’s style, the writing is large, precise, and excessive. If you are familiar with Preacher, you will be familiar with his style. This is a hard book. It is full of sex, and violence to the extremes. If this bothers you, maybe look for something from a different author. But for me, this severity and excessiveness are part of its charm. Superheroes are maniacs at their core. This book acts on the extremes of superheroes with extreme characters in retaliation. Who else could keep superheroes in check than people with nothing to lose except their own personal moral code?
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