Beth Tabler's Blog, page 197
March 1, 2022
#SPFBO7 Burn Red Skies by Kerstin Espinosa Rosero
By jodie Crump 
"And then the stars came out. One by one they gleamed, bright and sharp like polished steel, but one burned a fierce amber, killing off all the winds in their paths. The last gust was barely stronger than a dying breath, a whisper that disappeared behind the trees. Riyan, he recalled suddenly. The dragon of the winds after which the amber star was named. Dragons had been dead for centuries, but the Annals insisted that when they left this world, their spirits became stars, changing in succession to protect their people." burn red skies by Kerstin espinosa rosero 
Burn red skies by Kerstin espinosa rosero Buy A Copy Here What is it about? It starts with a rift that burns a thousand scars into the sky.
It makes the winds stop.
It makes the stars go dark.
It awakens an ancient beast.
And with it, a new reign of blood.
It is the Summoning.
And at the heart of it is fire.
***
When the Summoner’s army blazes through her village, Dove is forced into hiding. Torn from everything she knows, she begins training in the elements with only one goal in mind: to find her brother. She just needs to get past the Summoner’s army—but how can she slay a dragon that is already dead?
What happens when you mix dragons, politics, airships, fascinating characters, and high stakes? You get the well written adventure, Burn Red Skies!
The first thing I noticed about Burn Red Skies is the regard it has for its readers. The author doesn’t condescend to the reader and give long, over-the-top explanations for everything. Instead, it is assumed that the reader will pick things up as the story moves along. I loathe info dumps, so this approach worked well for me. It might cause some readers a bit of confusion at first, but I liked the way the information was given organically as the story progressed.
The main character is Dove who is separated from her brother and whose only goal is to find him. The magic in this world is elemental (more on that later) and she begins training in it as a means to an end. Dove is mute, which is something I don’t usually encounter in main characters. It was so wonderful to see fantasy being more inclusive as far as different abilities. I enjoyed her determination and her strength.
While there are many characters, and the book is told from several points of view, I have to say that I looked forward to reading about Dicker and Merc the most (sky pirates! How cool!). They were just so much fun! Generally, in a book with multiple viewpoints, there’s a character that just doesn’t interest me, but that didn’t happen in Burn Red Skies. Each character brought something to the story. Another thing to note is that I never found it difficult to keep the characters straight. The author gave each one such an original personality and voice that switching back and forth worked just fine. The characters’ story arcs start out completely separate, with characters in separate areas which of course left me curious to know if and how they would finally meet. It’s an ambitious way to tackle storytelling and the author manages it beautifully.
Burn Red Skies features elemental magic, which gave me pause at first because I (incorrectly) thought there was nothing to be done with it that hasn’t been done before. I really love that I was wrong! The magic did more than just give a person a “point your finger and lightning pops out” sort of skill set. Instead, it was nuanced and affected everything from what a person can do to how they heal, or how they handle the sun.
I only have one small quibble which is that the pacing was choppy in parts. Some things that could have used a little more time or focus seemed sped up, and other parts seemed oddly stretched out. This didn’t happen too often and only in a few places throughout the book.
I enjoyed this highly imaginative fantasy and am excited to see the story continue in Rise Red Kingdom.
8/10
Check Out SOME OF OUR OTHER REVIEWS#SPFBO Review and Cut – The Deathless One by Niranjan K.
#SPFBO Review and Cut – The Hand of Fire by Roland O’Leary
If You Liked This - Please Share the Love Jodie Crump
Jodie Crump is the creator of the Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub blog. She either lives in Florida with her husband and sons, or in a fantasy book-she’ll never tell which.
When she’s not reading, Jodie balances her time between homeschooling her hooligans, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and lamenting her inability to pronounce “lozenge”. Find her online at Witty and Sarcastic Book Club or Twitter
The post #SPFBO7 Burn Red Skies by Kerstin Espinosa Rosero appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
February 27, 2022
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Sairō’s Claw by Virginia McClain
Author of eight novels, and several short stories, Virginia McClain is a seasoned novelist, with a great track record. Her novel Blade’s Edge, Gensokai Book One, was a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off Finalist (SPFBO) in 2019. A lot of fellow readers have lauded McClain’s work as excellent. That reputation, and the absolutely glorious cover of Sairō’s Claw, Gensokai Book Three (though it can be read as a standalone, rather than part of a series) sucked me right in, and I put the book down as a TBR-must. Suffice to say, I was glad I did. Now, onto the review, another #FebruarySheWrote review, where I exclusively read and review the works of authors who use the pronoun she/her!
Sairō’s Claw largely follows two main characters – Torako and Kaiyo – who are on opposite sides of a conflict that is centered around another character, named Raku. Torako and Kaiyo share a lot of similarities. Both are elite in terms of fighting skills. Both are fiercely loyal to what they believe in and care about, and both are somewhat exacting and brutal on the surface, with tenderness and compassion underneath. Both are willing to fight to the death, without ever giving quarter, to defend and protect those they feel merit such devotion.
Torako, a former famous warrior, is trying to live a quiet life, in a reclusive valley, housed in a cave with her loving wife Raku, and three-year-old daughter Itachi. Kaiyo, meanwhile, is a fearsome sea captain, devoted to her duty, and her admiral, who also happens to be her father. When the admiral dispatches Kaiyo on a mission to kidnap Raku, who is a scribe, for political purposes, Kaiyo questions the mission, but obeys the commands. To complicate the task, the admiral insists Kaiyo take fifteen hardened criminals along with her to accomplish the abduction. But, besides potential treachery on the part of the felons, even the tough and brilliant commander Kaiyo might meet her match in Torako, known as the “Night Stalker”, so legendary is her reputation as a feared fighter, and the fabled guardian of her valley home.
So, Torako will die to protect Raku, and Kaiyo is willing to die to take Raku away from Torako. Something has to give, and obviously, with two ferocious fighters like Torako and Kaiyo as opponents on a collision course with each other, blades will clash in the process, with potentially devastating results. But, unbeknownst to these two adversaries, there are secrets out there that further bind Torako and Kaiyo, even beyond Raku, and there will be revelations coming that shock them both to the core.
There was a lot to love about this book. Let’s speak about the great worldbuilding first. The Gensokai realm – the setting for McClain’s book – is heavily Japanese-inspired, and vividly depicted. McClain provides a glossary of terms at the onset of the book. Inside this glossary, some of the terms are actual Japanese words, while some are contrived to enhance the story, to add a sense of authenticity and lushness to the worldbuilding. McClain was definitely successful in that regard. From the weapons, to the clothing, to the manner of speech, to the tea ceremonies, to the belief system, to the conventions and etiquette of Gensokai, McClain vividly paints a luxuriant picture of her world, that the reader can immerse themselves in.
The magic was fantastic, and haunting: mysterious kamis (gods), possessed swords (one of my favourite magical tropes), manipulation of elemental magic to control nature, such as wind (another favourite), sea serpents, giant wolves, and more leaped off the pages of Sairō’s Claw. There was also blood magic used to promote healing, another favourite element, which is met by extreme suspicion and mistrust by Kaiyo in particular.
I have to give McCLain a lot of praise for her combat scenes. They were top-notch. The 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, set in In 19th-century Quing dynasty China, starring Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh is one of my favourite action movies. Somehow I could not help putting Ziyi and Yeoh in the place of Torako and Kaiyo in my head, when I closed my eyes and imagined these two incredible fighters taking on all comers, after reading every great action scene written by McClain, in Sairō’s Claw. The whirling katanas, the throwing knives, the blurring combat moves, fists, kicks, and blades coming at all angles – it was dizzying, chaotic, thrilling.
It’s all about the characters for me, and these were very intriguing. Torako and Kaiyo were the take-no-prisoners type, yet were not bloodthirsty for bloodthirstiness sake, and knew when not to do violence, when it was counter-productive to their aims. Both are rather austere, and it’s only through how much they love their family that they are not as harsh as they seem on the exterior. They were sufficiently complex to keep me very engaged in their fate. The secondary characters like Tanaka, the eponymous wolf-spirit Sairō, Kitsu, and Lyt, who tended to express their thoughts, moods and emotions more readily than the two main players were nice additions to compliment Torako and Kaiyo.
In terms of themes, I must also acknowledge the fantastic representation in the book re: LGBTQ2AA+, including use of multiple pronouns, non-binary characters, and love between all genders. Kudos to McClain here, for making diversity an organic part of the story.
If you want fast-paced, this is your book. It takes all of five pages or so until the action takes off, and it only lets up in brief spells for the rest of the book. Though I prefer the slower-burn, there was certainly enough backstory for the characters, lore and culture, and political machinations and family drama to keep me entertained. Overall, this book was very well-put together.
The book ends on somewhat of a cliff-hanger! I love this technique, and loved how it was done in Sairō’s Claw, though I know not every reader enjoys cliff-hangers. Yet I feel enough resolution overall has occurred prior that this type of ending only would accentuate interest in reading the next book, rather than leaving the reader feeling disappointed.
Sairō’s Claw is very well-written, inventive, briskly-paced, full of mysticism, absolutely beautifully crafted fight scenes, intrigue, love, loyalty, Japanese-inspired worldbuilding, and conflicting motivations. 4.5 stars for this incredible book by a seasoned author who really knows what she’s doing when it comes to writing, Virginia McClain.
Purchase a copy hereCheck Out Some of Our Other Reviews#FebruarySheWrote Review – The Moon’s Eye by A.J. Calvin
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Escape Reality by Kayla Frost
The post #FebruarySheWrote Review – Sairō’s Claw by Virginia McClain appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
February 26, 2022
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Behind Blue Eyes by Anna Mocikat
Behind Blue Eyes is a new entry into the resurgent cyberpunk genre, which had sort of been left for dead for quite a few years, but is thankfully seeing something of a resurgence. As we come to the years when the Cyberpunk of the 80’s was set in, it’s fun seeing what came true and what didn’t. With Behind Blue Eyes, we get to see a bit further down the road, in a Cyberpunk world set in a time where nations have fallen, and everything is controlled by three Mega-Corporations set up in various mega-cities in the ruins of the old world. This very cyberpunk world has all the social inequities you’d expect, with the haves and have-nots very much separated. The propaganda machine and societal changes ensure obedience, as a very modern form of bread and circuses have developed. And just behind the scenes in the mega-city of Olympias are the Angels, the not so mythical cyborg enforcers of order in the regime.
This is where Nephilim and her fellow angels come in. Nephilim is a ruthless agent of the regime, the perfect assassin and soldier, equally adept at disappearing dissidents and fighting cyborgs from rival mega-corps. She is the perfect tool of the order, ready for greater things, including being made an Archangel, one of the leaders of the cyborg soldiers. Perfect, that is, until a freak encounter with another cyborg send Nephilim on a path she couldn’t ever have seen coming, as she is given something no other Angel has: A choice. A choice to continue being a weapon in the service of Olympias or going her own path, and this choice has consequences for not only her, but for Olympias and the greater world in general.
The protagonist can only be as good as the villains they are fighting against, and in this case, Nephilim has not only rival corporation’s cyborgs to deal with, but also Metatron, the leader of the Angels, and the biggest threat to Nephilim if she goes off the rails of her pre-planned life. He is such a well thought out character, always seeming a step ahead, always that menace that holds the sword of Damocles over all their heads, ready to remove those heads if they fail to comply. Nephilim plays off his menace well, and you can only hope as the story goes that she is able to find a way out from under his seemingly all-seeing gaze.
This new breed of cyberpunk plays homage to the classics by writers like William Gibson, but goes in it’s own distinct direction, never feeling derivative. It’s got those interesting speculations about what the fairly near future will hold, and you can tell the author put a lot of effort into creating a world the reader can become immersed in, and will definitely have some interesting possibilities in future stories. I can see this story appealing to fans of traditional cyberpunk, and fans of sci-fi in general. I am excited to see where the story goes from here, and recommend this book wholeheartedly.
Purchase Your Copy Here
Check Out Some of Our Other Reviews
Review – Red Shirts by John Scalzi
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Wyrd Gods by Susana Imaginário
The post #FebruarySheWrote Review – Behind Blue Eyes by Anna Mocikat appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
February 25, 2022
#FebruarySheWrote Review – To Ride Hell’s Chasm by Janny Wurts
After reading To Ride Hell’s Chasm, the feeling I had upon completion of the first book I read by the iconic writer Janny Wurts (recently nominated for yet another award, this time a Reddit Fantasy Stabby for Best fantasy contributor of 2021) – The Curse of The Mistwraith – remains. In fact, that feeling is only accentuated, after reading this wonderful stand-alone novel.
That feeling can be best defined by a question. Why is this author, who has published internationally best-selling books, over 20 of them, has been a fantasy mainstay for several decades, who has penned the “Wars of Light and Shadow” Series (a millenia-spanning, completely sweeping tale spread over 11 books, that competes more than favourably in terms of scope and depth with ANYTHING of its kind, including ASOIAF, Malazan, ANYTHING like it), so criminally underappreciated?
I don’t have the answer to this question, only speculation. Regardless, To Ride Hell’s Chasm was simply fantastic, and I hope my review, and others like it, will continue to encourage readers to check out this legendary author, and her phenomenal books. Now, let’s get into my review.
PLOT SYNOPSIS
I’m onto Janny Wurts now, and one of the cleverest features of her writing. The hearts of her plots, including To Ride Hell’s Chasm, are simple, and seem straightforward. But they are anything but. In the kingdom of Sessalie, the beautiful, spunky, and beloved Princess Anja is about to be betrothed to who seems to be the perfect mate: the handsome and dashing High Prince of nearby realm Devall. The dynastic match also seems to be a love match, with both parties besotted with one another.
Yet, incomprehensibly, the Princess disappears the night of her betrothal banquet. Foul play is quickly suspected. The King of Sessalie was once sharp, and capable, but is descending into dotage. The Crown Prince, Anja’s elder brother, himself charismatic and attractive, is a bit of a slacker and carouser. There are some capable lords and ladies in the court, but there are, as typical to such environs, a lot of sycophants, incompetents, and more self-absorbed nobles, only out for self-serving means, who look to profit from the Princess’ disappearance.
But never fear, one steely-eyed general, Lord Commander Taskin, is on the case of Anja’s vanishing. Taskin is supremely competent, fair, and though aging, a brilliant warrior. The King wants more than just Taskin leading the search for his daughter. He wants the assistance of one of Taskin’s subordinates, the Captain of the city garrison, Mykkael, to also take up the trail, before it goes cold.
Mykkael, like his superior, is impeccably competent. But he is also a foreigner, hailing from desert-like regions of the world, Black, in contrast to the fair-skinned inhabitants of Sessalie, and a former mercenary, who won his crown commission by merit, not birth or connections. The haughty, upper-crust court, as well as many of the commoners in Sessalie, snob Mykkael, are suspicious of him, and don’t want him entangled in the disappearance.
Taskin does not completely trust Mykkael either. But with his legendary objectivity and fairness, the commander is willing to give enough rope for Mykkael to potentially hang himself. For Taksin, Mykkael will either prove himself to be completely trustworthy, and dedicated to finding the Princess, or an outright traitor, actually involved in the plot to abduct her.
Then murderers strike. Their identities unknown, Mykkael’s foreign breeding and unparalleled martial skills, and of course the prejudice of the populus against him, make him an immediate suspect. Taskin’s hand may be forced to shut Mykkael and his investigation down, permanently, as political pressure mounts to take the beleaguered captain off the board.
But is it all because the captain is the only one with the skills, and the magic, who can save the Princess? And precisely who is behind the disappearance? Is some greater evil at play that threatens far more than Anja’s life?
A complicated conspiracy, involving possession, dark magic, and evil of enormous proportions, awaits behind what seems to be initially, more of a straight-up fantasy mystery-thriller.
CHARACTERS
In a book which has so many superlative things about it, count Wurt’s characterization as one more thing that is magnificent. Taskin, Mykkael, Anaj, Vesnic, Jossoud, Bennett, and all the main and supplementary characters were fully realized, and drawn in exemplary fashion by Wurts. They are laid bare for all their positive and negative traits, complexities, and motivations.
The realism of the characters is a thing to behold, and Wurts makes us feel the pain, and the joy of the characters, physical, mental, emotional, in a way that we weep and laugh with them. While the secondary characters were amazing, I need to speak about the two primary ones. They were brilliant.
Mykkael is one of the most memorable characters, for me, in fantasy fiction. He is a man out of place, and under siege, constantly dealing with the ill-will of others directed towards him, all the short-sightedness and small-mindedness, the bigotry, that interferes with everything good he tries to accomplish. He constantly is demanded to prove himself, knowing it is unlikely anything he does will ever suffice. Yet he is so certain in his convictions, so superbly skilled, and so brave, the reader will be rooting for him to overcome all the odds, and demonstrate all the animosity towards him was so misplaced, and wrong.
Taskin impresses too, as an unlikely ally of Mykkael, due to his exacting nature, his own natural sense of suspicion and political acumen, and his unwavering loyalty and long history of service to the royal family. I loved Taskin’s character as well, and found him to be refreshingly honest, principilled, and also worth cheering for.
Wurts was brilliant in conceiving these two contrasting leads (Taskin the insider versus Mykkael the outsider), and all the book’s characters, and the amazing characters make the novel completely unforgettable.
PACING
Definitely a character-driven novel, Wurts drives the plot forward at a steady pace, not too leisurely, nor too quickly. She builds a complete picture of the characters, the setting, and the problems or issues that drive the action.This book is my second read from Wurts, and I am noticing she does something interesting with her work. In To Ride Hell’s Chasm, just like when I read The Curse of The Mistwraith, there is this juncture where the reader will likely think they’ve reached the defining moment or climax, and it’s really just the beginning of the action, and the best parts of the book. It’s at that point that one will be completely unable to put the book down at all.
WORLDBUILDING
The worldbuilding in this book is, as I expected, astounding. It is even more astounding when one considers it is a stand-alone novel. Everything feels so complete, as if one is reading a ten book series. Backstory, history, lore, geography, present setting, it was all so vivid. It’s woven seamlessly into the plot, and feels so organic. Wurts painstakingly created, for a single novel, several detailed maps, including a map of the principal city, a map of the immediate environs around Sessalie, and a map of the surrounding realms.
There is also a glossary of characters. No stone was left unturned, in an effort to completely absorb the reader in a five-day escapade journeying through Sessalie and beyond. The reader will feel they are walking the exalted halls of the Sanctuary Pinnacle, or hanging out with the soldiers in barracks of the Garrison Keep, or facing the horrors of Hell’s Chasm. Wurts puts you right there, in the moment, all senses engaged, with all the sights, sounds, hearing, taste, and smells. It is simply glorious worldbuilding. The magic system is wonderful, wild, mysterious, foreboding, and thoroughly constructed.
PROSE
I have said in a previous review, I do comprehend why Wurt’s prose might not be for everyone. Many readers want some humour, some action, some drama, and a plot that barrells forward relentlessly to the conclusion. For those readers, the words, how they are said, and what they say, are less important.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to read books that don’t require the level of attention to the words that books by Wurts do. To be clear, Wurts writing is not like a nesting egg doll, though reading it can make one feel like that, sometimes. She won’t take you down continual rabbit holes, to get to the heart of the book. EVERYTHING is related back to the main plot. The words are not there to overwhelm the reader with detail for the sake of detail itself, but instead to immerse the reader completely in the story.
For me, Wurt’s writing is unparalleled, and quintessential. There is so much nuance of meaning to every single word, so many layers of complexity, in a line of words, so many emotions, details, plot revelations, in every paragraph. The book is approximately 650 pages, however it feels like it is over 1000, while never being boring, too verbose, or having the plot drag. To be able to pack that much meaning into those few words, is a skill Wurts possess to a degree that, in my opinion, is unmatched.
THEMES
There are so many engaging themes I could discuss that this book explores. However, let’s talk about racism. Racism is the one theme that for me was front-and-centre in To Ride Hell’s Chasm. Mykaeel is Black, a foreigner to Sessalie, and denigrated with such terms as “desert-bred cur”.
Throughout the book, the prejudice, mistrust, and disdain – even outright hatred – for Mykaeel because primarily of the colour of his skin. The aplomb and grace, and frankly bravery, with which Wurts deals with the bigotry against Mykaeel is astounding. She should be highly commended for this, and, as with the author in general, I am unsure if she has ever been properly recognized for how courageously and unflinchingly she tackled this very sensitive topic. She should be praised, without question, for what she has done in this regard in To Ride Hell’s Chasm.
Some of the passages were so moving, so authentic, in its representation of how one feels when one is the subject of racism, and what racism LOOKS LIKE, that it brought me to tears.There is one part in particular of the book that will be with me forever. It was by far, NOT the most harsh example of racial slurs or animosity towards Mykkael that appears in To Ride Hell’s Chasm, yet perhaps it was the saddest for me.
“‘Who’s lost their beer to the rumour I can’t ride?’ Both men looked sheepish. The garrison captain was quick to commiserate. ‘I’d buy you a brew to remedy your loss, if I had any loose coin myself.’ Yet the prospect of such camaraderie with a foreigner made the guardsmen more uncomfortable still. Mykkael’s grin widened, a flash of white teeth under the cloak just raised to mask the embarrassment of their origins. ‘Think well on that,’ he murmured in the same tone used before on the gelding.”
So much of the book is about Mykkael’s overall nobility, and his dogged determination to succeed and save the Princess, despite all the opposition to his involvement, largely because of prejudice. At times, it can be heart-breaking to read, but so worthwhile to read.
CONCLUSION
Time to gush, unashamedly. Janny Wurts was well on her way to becoming my absolute favourite fantasy author, only after me reading ONE of her books, The Curse of the Mistwraith. Consider, amongst my favourite fantasy authors are luminaries such as N.K. Jemisin, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Gwynne, Mark Lawrence, Joe Abercombie, P. Djèlí Clark, and G.R.R. Martin. To Ride Hell’s Chasm confirmed Wurts is definitely my favourite.
Having a favourite, of course, is all about personal taste. My rationale for Wurts becoming my favourite, is that all of the other writers I have mentioned are incredible storytellers, can create unforgettable characters, have outstanding prose, and a distinctive writing style. The difference for me with Wurts is that she is at least the equal of all those other great writers in all those categories (yet she is the most under-appreciated, in my estimation), save for the prose.
In the aspect of prose, no other writer I have ever read writes in a manner that forces you, as the reader, to read EVERY word. It is simply the most lush, most COMPLETE prose one can find anywhere in fantasy, perhaps in literature.
I would also submit that Wurts brings the additional skill of being a world-class illustrator of her own books, to the equation. The pictures of the characters on my beautiful copy of To Ride Hell’s Chasm, truly bring those characters to life.
To Ride Hell’s Chasm is to-date my favourite standalone fantasy book and, while I never say never, I don’t believe anything is ever going to come close.
Purchase Your Copy HereCheck Out Some of Our Other ReviewsReview – Engine of the Empire by R.S. Ford
Review – Red Shirts by John Scalzi
The post #FebruarySheWrote Review – To Ride Hell’s Chasm by Janny Wurts appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
February 24, 2022
Blog Tour Review – The Iron Crown by L.L. MacRae
https://linktr.ee/Escapist_Tours
I also need to clarify that I am NOT reviewing this book as part of the SPFBO team – a separate and distinct team – that is reviewing and scoring the current finalists, including The Iron Crown . This review is strictly on a book I read for pleasure, and for the #FebruarySheWrote initiative.
The beginning of The Iron Crown was very intriguing. Set in the land of Tassar, the novel’s first pages introduce the reader to a boy named Fenn. Fenn has found himself trapped in a bog. Besides worrying he might drown, Fenn has to cope with the fact that he has amnesia. Not just a mild case of forgetting. He doesn’t know who he is, where he’s from, how he got to the bog, or what his purpose in life is. While he’s struggling with these circumstances, along comes damaged, talking vines, and a cantankerous dragon-spirit, to complicate things for Fenn even further. The dragon-spirit’s name is Hasen, and he is the guardian spirit for the forest on the Isle of Salt. Fortunately for Fenn, as irascible as Hasen is, not only does Hasen heal the damaged vines, he also rescues Fenn from the bog, saving his life. 
But this meeting with Hasen is just the beginning of Fenn’s journey. After encountering Calidra and Jisyel, who bring Hasen to the residence of Jisyel’s grandmother, the plot thickens. Soon, with his new loyal friends at his side, Fenn leaves the island for the mainland, in hopes of discovering his identity, and how he lost his memory. Eventually, Fenn learns that a deadly spirit, called the Myr, is responsible for the theft of his memories. The Myr threat, coming back to the land after a five-year absence, promises that war will return to Tassar. Fenn is considered “Myr-touched”. The apparently sinister Myr, literally sucks the life out of the land, including the memories of those that encounter them, like Fenn. The Myr have ravaged the realm in the past, and corresponding magic, cunning, and bravery is needed to stop them. Enter the unlikely heroes in Fenn, Calidra, and Jisyel. The trio is joined in time by Delays, a high priest, who worships the Dragon Spirit Neros, and Varlot, who was once a military commander. These characters will embark on a quest where truths will be challenged, incredible dangers will be confronted, and ultimately Fenn will gain more insight into who he truly is. This fantastic book was also a COMPLETE book. Characters, worldbuilding, prose, plot, pacing, in The Iron Crown, MacRae had these components firing on all cylinders. You know, for me, it always begins with the characters, and I have to admit I adored the characters in this novel. They were all slightly blemished in their own way, to some degree. But they were all very compelling. The mysterious Varlot seems to have a gambling addiction, Calidra is suspicious and grief-stricken, Fenn, of course, is tortured by his amnesia. My favourite perhaps was the eponymous Iron Queen (who holds the Iron Crown) herself. She definitely lives up to her moniker, ruling the land with a ruthless, fanatical edge, who deploys foreboding Inquisitors among her minions. Formidable female rulers will always be a favourite for me, sinister or not. And the Iron Queen was definitely ominous, as ominous as the Myr, in my opinion, though she is looked to as the leader that people need to get them through the Myr crisis. The worldbuilding was superlative. Dragons who are spirits (rather than rampaging marauders who raze cities to the ground with baleful fire breathed from their mouths), bound to the elements, griffins, shadow creatures, the Myr (who may not necessarily be the great existential threat they initially appear to be), and a light, soft, yet vivid touch with the magical system were the sort of features I crave in fantasy. Give me that soft magic, all day, every day! The prose was clear, crisp, tight, and at times, very beautiful. Paired with a pace in which things happen, quickly, while never feeling like things are rushed, MacRae really gripped me with her writing ability. “A sudden cold wind snaked through the trees, turning the damp air into freezing mist. The grass wilted away, shrinking down to the ground. Even the trees seemed to sag.”This book is what I tag as falling into the category of “tropes done right”. When an author can take tried (or some believe tired) and true themes, and make them seem new and fresh, it’s a triumph. MacRae definitely triumphs. There are the tropes of found family, apocalyptic threat that needs to be faced, reluctant heroes, and of course, DRAGONS! What’s not to love?
It is no doubt meritorious of its finalist berth in SPFBO.
I will be looping back to pick up The Citrine Key, and continuing the series when the next book, called The Shadow Gate, which should surface sometime this year in 2022. MacRae is assuredly an author to watch.Purchase Your Copy HereeBook: https://t.co/iCufW8DBnOSigned paperbacks at The Broken Binding: https://www.thebrokenbinding.co.uk/product-page/the-
iron-crown-l-l-macrae
Signed/personalized paperbacks from author website: https://llmacrae.com/shop/p/theironcrownCheck Out Some of Our Other ReviewReview – Rise of the Mages by Scott Drakeford
The post Blog Tour Review – The Iron Crown by L.L. MacRae appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
“So far as I can tell, ‘good dragon’ is just another name for coldblooded sociopath,” he said.”
I don’t know where to begin with this urban fantasy book. It is honestly so unique in terms of setting, narrative and charm.
Julius is a nice dragon. Something which his family disapprove of. Dragons aren’t nice. They’re meant to be fierce, ambitious and revered. So his mother Bathesda seals Julius into his human form and banishes him to the DFZ (a future underworld of Detroit) where he must prove his worth as a true Dragon.
Oh and if he fails… He’ll be eaten!
It’s a kinda out there premise for an Urban Fantasy but one that works so well as it embraces it’s identity and just runs with it. There’s this disarming charm and casualness that just oozes from this story. It makes the book so easy to read and very tough to put down. It’s easy to say that this is a book that you could burn through in a day or weekend, no problem.
Our protagonist Julius is a very endearing character. We feel his vulnerability and empathy for humanity. Julius has a heart of gold and while he’s a very pure and honest protagonist. He’s going to have to learn to adapt and be something different in this dark, crime invested and almost cyberpunk like world. He’s a stark contrast from the other members of the Heartstriker family, who in itself are a beautiful range and portfolio of characters.
We instantly begin to see the contrast and somewhat dysfunctional dynamics within this clan of dragons. Each sibling remains defiantly different from one another in the dragon litter and I found myself excited whenever we met a new member of the Heartstriker family. Bathesda naturally rules with an iron fist. Her word is law. And she will bulldoze anyone to ensure that she gets what she wants.
Then we meet the ambitious Ian and the temperamental Chelsie. I honestly love the older siblings’ chemistry with Julius. It’s so sharp and differing but you see that a familial bond remains and that they secretly have a soft spot for Julius. Justin was a sheer pleasure to read about. He’s very much all brawn and no brains but he paints a clear contrast between himself and Julius. While Justin feels tropeish in a “so pretty yet so dumb” kinda way. He is a pleasure to read about on the page.
But then we have Bob. The enigmatic and to some degree eccentric member of the family. This character is a scene stealer. Even when he’s merely mentioned via text message in this book. I loved Bob’s tie in with the divine which makes him so much more of a standout within the Heartstriker family. I was eagerly anticipating his actual appearance on the page and I was not disappointed by his fashionable arrival.
We also have Marci. A mage hired by Julius to help him complete the task his mother had set him. I loved Marci so much. She has a rich complexity that directly distinguishes her relationship (or should I say partnership) with Julius. On her own she’s funny, naive, vulnerable but at the same time an absolute powerhouse. It was wonderful to watch her evolve as the story progressed. I was delighted to see that Marci was openly honest in her attraction to Julius. It was layered, and the author, Rachel Aaron does a terrific job of
defining the difference between physical and emotional attraction.
The villains to this story are prolific too. It feels as if we are immersed in this criminal underworld and I love how Aaron weaved fantasy creatures into this story. Truthfully the definition of villains can be blurred more easily into antagonistic roles here. Something which I prefer. Because so many characters have their own ambitions and motivations. At it’s root, despite having so many fantasy creatures and species. They all have very human motivations.
I don’t think words can express just how fun I found this outing. It’s a series that has made an immediate impact on me and one that I certainly will now be prioritising to read through within the rest of this year. From the outside, Nice Dragons Finish Last can be taken as raw, energetic, and unapologetic mindless fun. Look a little closer though and you’ll discover some rich relationships and character dynamics, the beginnings of a very complex and layered urban fantasy world and at its core, the exploration of what it is to intrinsically be human.
Read this book if you like: Powerful and rich family dynamics. Vulnerable protagonists. Complimentary, layered relationships. A unique urban fantasy magic system. Human character motivations.
If you like the following books/series then you may like this too: Dresden Files. Jade City. Paternus. Soul Keeper. Foundryside Bloodlines.
The Final Verdict: 9 out of 10.
Purchase Your Copy HereCheck Out Some of Our Other Reviews
#FEBRUARYSHEWROTE Review – Fortune’s Fool by Angela Boord
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu
The post #FebruarySheWrote Review – Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
February 23, 2022
Review – Rise of the Mages by Scott Drakeford
Rise of the Mages by first-time author Scott Drakeford is an epic fantasy story in the tradition of The Belgariad that will directly appeal to those who love the classic fantasy of that era. It is a combination of political machinations coupled with a quest for vengeance with found family vibes. All of this is nestled comfortably in a fascinating magic system based on infusori. Infusori is the electromagnetic energy and soul of everything around us. Practitioners can tap into this power and harness it for anything from tinkering to crumbling walls and battle magic.
The story starts with two brothers, Emrael and Ban. Two young men who are nationless refugees of a now-defunct royal bloodline. Emrael is working to keep his brother in materials used for tinkering and to further his crafting skill with infusori. At the same time, Emrael is learning daily to become a master warrior and political commander at training school. This training will allow the brothers to make something of themselves, and they would no longer have to rely on their mother for Ban’s support. No matter the two brothers’ work, they are constantly regarded as lesser by their peers, save for Ban’s best friend, Elle.
Due to the political machinations of the existing nations and the church’s influence, Governor Corrande, the governor of the state that Emrael’s school is located in, brokers a deal with the church to enslave users of infusori to build machines that will give him an edge in an upcoming war for territory. Corrande is setting himself up to consolidate the existing domains under his authority. Emrael and Ban, due both to their ability to use infusori and their political connections, get stuck in the middle of this war.
The crux of the story happens when Emrael and Ban attempt to flee the Citadel, the school they train at, and Ban is captured. Elle, Ban’s teacher, and Emrael’s master and trainer Jaina barely escape with their lives. The extremely close brothers are separated by the direst of circumstances. This separation sets Emrael on a quest for revenge on those who captured and enslaved Ban, and Emrael will burn the world to ashes before abandoning his brother.
There is a strong power in this familial bond between the brothers, especially in Emrael and how he relates to Ban. Ban is the younger brother, and while competent and a man in his own right, Emrael takes care of him as an older brother should. This helps drive the narrative of why Emrael will stop at nothing to save his brother. I think had the reverse happened; Ban would do the same. Although due to the story’s structure, we learn and get to know Emrael a lot more than we do Ban. I am hoping in the second and third parts of this trilogy, we will get to know Ban a lot more and learn what drives him.
In Rise of the Mages, behind the story of Emrael and his quest to become a warrior or Ban’s quest to learn to tinker and create are strong female characters. In the periphery, but no less important is the boy’s mother, who is more than she claims. But at this junction, we only know fragments and pieces of her story.
Jaina, Emrael’s master, is a warrior and one of the best fighters that the world has ever seen. Instead of slipping into convention, Drakeford gives her added depth by making her devoutly religious to the Ordenan religion. It is a beautiful contrast that she is not all hard planes but a soul beyond fierce battle. And finally, we have Ban’s best friend Elle, who is powerful also but very different from the brothers. While the narrative is always about Emrael, I couldn’t help but wonder about Elle in the backdrop of his extraordinary quest. Elle is in the background experiencing moments that bifurcate her life into the before and after. She is not the same character at the end that started the story.
I am thoroughly impressed by this story. I know that this story took ten years to craft and was a labor of love for all involved. With its rounded characters and exciting action sequences, you can tell this will have a gigantic appeal to lovers of classic fantasy stories. Author Scott Drakeford just stepped into the publishing world of SFF and slammed his ax down.
I am very much looking forward to the next book, so I may dive back into the world of Ire and watch the brothers come into their power.
Purchase A Copy HereCheck Out Some of Our Other ReviewsReview – Dreadnoughts: Breaking Ground by Michael Carroll, John Higgins
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Escape Reality by Kayla Frost
The post Review – Rise of the Mages by Scott Drakeford appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
February 22, 2022
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Oraiáphon by Marian L. Thorpe
As authors go, Marian Thorpe is very established and highly decorated. The first book in highly-regarded Empire’s Legacy series, entitled Empire’s Daughter, was a prestigious Eric Hoffer Finalist in 2021; an IndieBRAG recipient in 2021, and the entire series won Silver Medal, Historical Fantasy Box Set of the Year (as part of Empire’s Legacy) in 2019. Thorpe has also racked up a Book Bloggers Novel of the Year (BBYNA) semi-finals berth in 2021.
So Thorpe’s books inevitably wound up on my TBR by her reputation alone. I could think of no better time to get into Thorpe’s work than #FebruarySheWrote. My selection of Thorpe’s works for this special month celebrating books by female authors who use the pronoun she/her, was Oraiáphon.
The novella Oraiáphon is not a prequel to the Empire’s Legacy series, but rather a standalone sequel to the Empire Legacy series, set in the same universe of Thorpe’s signature books.
One does not need to have read the Empire Legacy series to appreciate this marvelous book. I would describe the setting of Thorpe’s world as an alternate ancient Rome & Europe. It’s fantasy, but not quite historical fantasy. Regardless, it’s beautiful writing.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Sorley, a minor nobleman and talented musician from the kingdom of Linrathe. Linrathe is a realm where same-sex relationships between men are widespread, however anathema, and out of necessity kept hidden. Following the events that conclude the Empire Legacy series, Sorley finds himself as a diplomatic envoy, and a major player in the political intrigue that is involved in the re-shaping of the continent, post-war.
Sorley assists the Western Empire leadership with a transition of power, though Sorley is not a native to that Empire, which is located on the other side of a great wall, from Sorely’s realm. In that part of the world, homosexuality is not frowned upon the same way it is in Linrathe.
With this newfound liberation, Sorley feels more empowered to be more open about his relationship with his new lover, Druisius, a former royal bodyguard, and possible deserter. Unfortunately, Sorely still pines for Cillian. Cillian, a brilliant politician, is a Major in the army, and a son of the Emperor, who is married to Lena (also a dear friend of Sorley’s), another military officer, who is carrying Cillian’s child.
Cillian seemingly does not return Sorley’s affections, and is devoted to Lena, though he considers Sorley his dearest friend. Sadly, Cillian has been wounded in battle, and lies near death, unlikely to survive. Yet perhaps Sorley playing his music for the dying Cillian, can inspire a recovery?
I am so impressed how Thorpe managed to pack in thought-provoking themes, detailed world-building, crisp and fluid dialogue, and stimulating political drama, seamlessly, into a book not much more than 200 pages. This book is no doubt a slow-burn, and romance takes centre stage, but there is much much more to this book. I found myself eating up this engrossing novella in two afternoons worth of reading.
Character-driven books will always capture my heart, and I understand many of the exceptional characters in this novella appear in the larger series of Empire’s Legacy. I can’t wait to learn more about Lena in particular, who is the principal character from the main series. But the secondary characters are very well-drawn, and interesting.
Among those who stand out: the Princip Casyn is a decent man, and an able administrator who is over his head; Druisius is brave, long-suffering, kind, patient, and a wonderful care-giver; the officious, vindictive Decanius, and the bigoted, conniving regent Liam are great antagonists for the story.
The poignancy of Sorley’s situation, though he is not perfect, since he is essentially a very good man, will pull at the reader’s heart-strings. He has been a person out of place in his homeland, due to his sexuality. Then Sorley finds himself in a situation where he can be free to be himself, and finds a potentially successful relationship with the extremely thoughtful and altruistic Druisius. But Sorley still wants Cillian, above all else.
The reader will find themselves rooting for Cillian’s survival, for the sake of Sorley, Lena, their unborn child, and the realm who needs Cillian’s leadership and savvy. And to see if there is any possibility that, if Cillian can live, the impossible could happen, and Sorley can fit himself somehow into Cillian’s life in a more meaningful, and unique way, alongside Lena. Or, will Druisius be able to win Sorley’s heart?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reading Oraiáphon has only solidified my resolve to buy the award-winning boxed set of the “Empire Series”, and learn more about the fascinating world that Thorpe has created.
Less (in terms of the size of the book) is definitely more here; five stars for Oraiáphon, an exceptional read!
Purchase Your Copy HereCheck Out Some of Our Other ReviewsBlog Tour Review – Shadow of a Dead God by Patrick Samphire
The post #FebruarySheWrote Review – Oraiáphon by Marian L. Thorpe appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
February 21, 2022
#FebruarySheWrote Review – The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies
“It wasn’t easy serving a melting pot of twelve unique domains, but that was why I loved Chime – and all it’s saints and sinners.”
Cruel Gods: The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies. This isn’t the first book by the author and that shows, as they demonstrate a wealth of worldbuilding and character experience.
Set in this deliciously more-ish and marvelous universe of it’s own, we have 12 realms, 12 species of humanoids who all worship their own individual but all powerful God. And at the centre of it all, we have Chime, a gaslamp metropolis where all these cultures and beings come together, holding together a connection to all the other realms.
It’s all so very intricate and absorbing. Each God has individual rules to their domain. Most are cruel (it’s kinda eluded to in the title) and assert their dominion over the entirety of their race. But the Godless are rising. A rebellious faction and collection of beings from completely different realms, come together for an individual cause, to sever their ties from the Gods that bind them.
Chime itself is a hotpot of so many cultures that it needs governing and regulating. That’s where the Wardens step in. They’re a collection of individuals come together from all these various domains to assert authority over residents in Chime. Their ultimate goal is to prevent chaos from erupting among the diversity of all these clashing cultures in the central realm that connects all the others.
Kayl, is a godless. She believes herself to be a Vesper, a being from the realm of Eventide. One day though, she discovers she has unusual powers for a Vesper. Now she’s being hunted for destroying another’s soul while attempting to uncover the truth to her existence. Only the gods have the answers.
Quen parallels Kayl. He is one of the most revered wardens in Chime. He’s investigating the Godless and Kayl, not realising that the two cases tie together. His shady past leaves him vulnerable and exposed to secrets he didn’t realise existed. And the truth will either bring together or tear chime apart.
There’s two things the author excels at here, worldbuilding and character work. The first is awe-inspiring. The vastness of this universe. The richness and uniquity of each individual species and the life dictated by their god. It’s outstanding! I cannot describe not praise Trudie Skies for the unbelievable level of love, thought and attention which has gone into this. I genuinely was excited to be learning more about this universe and everything contained within it. It was the individual quirks and charm that really enrich this story.
Then you have Kayl and Quen as characters. They are protagonists that you can’t get enough of. There are so many complexities and layers to them. Kayl is fun, liberating and rebellious to follow. She oozes charm and seduces with her passionate energy. Quen is a little more reserved but complex and defiant. You feel raw emotions with his struggles and almost compelled by his mannerisms and somewhat magnanimous attitude. Add some incredibly teasing mysteries that tangle up both these characters with one another and you’re onto a winner. Instantly they are one of my favourite partnerships in all of fantasy.
When it comes to the plot, it is a very slow paced but organic affair. As you conquer each individual act of the narrative we do see this immense build up in momentum and conflict. I rather cruelly and somewhat sickeningly relished in following Kayl and Quen’s inner turmoil. Don’t get me wrong, I was deeply and intimately invested in these characters and their well-being, but my god were their struggles absolutely fascinating to watch play out.
I wish I could say I had a favourite character but I loved these protagonists equally. Skies did an amazing job at endearing and attaching me to both of these characters. She is a master of manipulation. (More on that later).
I’m taking a quick tea and biscuit break while writing this review. This certainly has nothing to do with Trudie and how she built flavor into this world down to the last spiced brew or custard creme. BRB…
Right! After that digression I’m back.
So like I was saying Skies easily manipulates our emotions when it comes to attaching ourselves to characters. With our protagonists and supporting characters it’s almost impossible to resist their traits, behaviours and whimsy. But then the antagonists, my god! I’ve never quite hated any baddies as much as I have in this book. The gravitas and presence of these villainous characters is unreal. I felt so much bitter hatred whenever one of them specifically appeared on the page that my hands would tremble whenever he appeared. Skies also ties into the lore if the world too, giving these characters rich backstories, making their motivations a suspicious shade of grey, paralleling their goals with that of protagonist’s.
The Thirteenth Hour is a book that I feel has an incredibly broad and unique appeal. It won’t be for everyone. If you’re more a fan of hack and slash fantasy action. This might not be you’re kinda cup of tea (pun intended). Also, if you aren’t a fan of vivid and imaginative fantasy world’s it perhaps get overwhelmed by unfamiliar worldbuilding elements, then this may bea tad if a struggle. For me, I felt Skies did a stellar job at incorporating the worldbuilding in a very natural and non-preaching fashion. I understand that some readers switch off at the first sign of a ton of worldbuilding. But the author smoothly layers it in just like a delicious sandwich cake. It personally left me with an appetite for more and I hope it does the same to you.
This is truly an incredibly unique fantasy. And the level of care and craft into it really emanates passion project vibes to me. And that is what I adore. Trudie Skies had a story in mind, has carefully mapped it out and crushes it! So many readers will critically appreciate the complexities to this story in a way which isn’t overwhelming but well and truly absorbing. I’m floored by this, I really am. I think we can expect to see great things from this promising and hard-working author. This is the beginning of something truly exciting, different and and immersive. It’s enrapturing. Quite literally a book which you will want to savour the taste of.
Pick this book up if you like: Vibrant and rich characters. Creative, immersive and imaginative worldbuilding. Intimate pov’s. A slow, steady build-up to momentous storytelling. Complex inner character conflicts. Biscuits and tea.
If you enjoyed the following books then you may like this one too: Foundryside. The Lies of Locke Lamora. Legacy of the Brightwash. The Blade Itself. City of Stairs. Strange the Dreamer.
The Final Verdict: 9.5 out of 10.
Purchase Your Copy HereCheck Out Some of Our Other Reviews
#FebruarySheWrote Review -; Seraphina’s Lament by Sarah Chorn
Review- Dreadnoughts: Breaking Ground by Michael Carroll, John Higgins
The post #FebruarySheWrote Review – The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
February 20, 2022
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Seraphina’s Lament by Sarah Chorn
Sarah Chorn, the author of Seraphina’s Lament, is a very well-known, highly decorated author, editor, and blogger, who has a reputation for excellence in all of those aspects. A two-time Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) semi-finalist, and considered to be a top grimdark writer herself, she is also the editor of Grimdark Magazine.
Popular authors, irrespective of gender, etc. get on one’s radar, and then it’s all about when is the opportune time (i.e. based on mood, etc.) to read that particular author’s book. Yet since my February TBR is dedicated to #FebruarySheWrote, where I would be reading and reviewing exclusively authors using the pronouns she/her, I felt the time was auspicious to read Chorn’s work.
Best-selling authors like Mark Lawrence (of Broken Empire fame), and Micheal J Sullivan (best known for The Riyria Revelations) provide endorsements on the cover Chorn’s debut novel, Seraphina’s Lament. This made me only intrigued me more to read the book. So I took the plunge into this dark, sometimes disturbing, yet brilliant novel.
Part of the book appears to be inspired by the Holodomor Genocide (also called the Terror Famine), which occurred in the 1930s. Holodomor means, in Ukrainian, essentially, “kill by starvation”. In that horrific chapter in human history, it is estimated that approximately four to seven MILLION of Ukrainians died. The belief is that these people died due to a Russian-manufactured famine, designed on purpose for mass murder. It is presumed by many historians that Russia, at the time, forbade outside aid, seized household food, and curtailed movements of Ukrainians trying to flee the situation, in order to ensure Ukrainians died in staggering numbers.
But there is much more to the novel than perhaps an indicting commentary on this unfathomable atrocity.
“The goal had been to throw of the oppressor’s yoke, not trade one form of slavery for another.”
The Sunset Lands, setting for Seraphina’s” Lament, is a harsh, vicious, unforgiving place. But things are turning from bleak to portentous. In the beginning of the book, an immortal wakes up in his barrow, after sleeping for an eon, and wonders where his three other companions are, and if they still live.
Meanwhile, a starving man turns into essentially a zombie-like creature, driven, desperate by hunger that has morphed into something more sinister, during a famine, to kill, and to consume human flesh. But the consumption does nothing to satiate his hunger, it only makes him crave more.
Finally, in the affluent principal city of the Lord’s Reach, a crippled slave – Seraphina – with enormous magic, is constrained by a man even more powerful than her. That man who literally keeps her on a leash, is the Premier Eyad, who has ruled for ten years after violently overthrowing the previous noble regime. The totalitarian Eyad rules with an iron fist, surrounded by loyal ministers, completely committed to doing his bidding.
“It had started with small erosions of liberties years ago. First the Premier had imprisoned all the land owners, and sent them off to labour camps. He was ‘liberating the peasants’, he’d said, and how Taub rejoiced! Then he forced the peasants, farmers like him, to move onto communal farm plots where the government owned everything; from the grain they grew, to the tools they used, to the cows they milked, and the houses they lived in. They were given one small row of dirt to grow their own food on, and everything else went to the state, to be divided as the Premier saw fit. Ration cards were supposed to keep everything fair, but that didn’t last long either…”
Eyad’s vision of a world where the state reshapes the land into a perfect society, has failed miserably. Though, fanatically, he thinks his dream is coming to fruition. Famine is sweeping the land, and citizens are dying in droves.
There is little hope, mass refugee movement, forced labour camps, state-sanctioned slavery and execution of anyone who opposes Eyad’s regime. Eyad, with the help of his subordinate ministers and cronies, has disbanded religion, making it essentially a crime, is hunting down any opposition, labelled counter-revolutionaries and criminals, and is imposing a reign of terror. As the earlier quote indicates, Eyad’s idealism in deposing the former Lord and Lady of the Sunset Lands, has turned him into an even worse dictator.
One of Eyad’s other challenges, besides those who are defying his rule, is that there is new talent scarcity, among young intiaties of magic. Seraphina was part of an elite breeding program of magic-users, whereby her and her twin brother, Neryan, were selected amongst other slaves, to serve the needs of the Sunset Lands.
Seraphina’s power over fire and Neryan’s control over water are coveted assets by Eyad. But Seraphina, five years earlier, enabled her brother’s escape. In a fit of rage, Eyad assaults Seraphina, crippling her.
But now one of the counter revolutions is being led by Neryan, and the former husband of Eyad, named Vadden, and Neryan’s surrogate daughter Mousumi – known as Mouse. Yet the existential threat posed by the god awakened in his barrow, and those like him, could destroy everything everyone holds dear.
This book had almost everything I looked for in a novel. The characters were exceptional, flawed, and their arcs were in doubt, as to whether they would end up closer to hero or villain. Yet, every relationship, and the terrible things, and injustices, that happen to the characters, even the minor ones, will break the reader’s heart.
Chorn has a distinct knack of making you care about characters with conflicted and ambiguous morals. That is a rare skill. Fair warning, don’t tie your emotions to anyone in this book, for you will be devastated.
If you have ever read my reviews, you know beautiful prose will get me every time. In Seraphina’s Lament, the prose was, in many places, simply terrific, ineffable.
“Carve your pain into your bones and move on.”
The themes were riveting, and as mentioned, very very grim. If this is too much for you, look elsewhere. Cannibalism, obsession, torture, starvation, murder, enslavement, madness, despotism, the purported evils of communism, revolution, oppression, and more abound on the pages of the book. There are times the book feels like more horror than fantasy, but it is a subtle, addictive blend of the two, when it does.
Chorn is inventive and confident in her approach to these themes. For example, she takes some elements of real-life history (think America’s history of slavery) and flips them around, for example, involving race. The oppressors – the former revolutionary leaders-turned- dictators, are dark-skinned. The slaves are fair skinned. For example, liberated slaves are referred to at times as “freed-pale”. Chorn sensitively and adroitly handles disability in the book. Seraphina is disabled, yet perhaps the most potent character in the book. The way these elements written are indicative of a very skilled writer.
The magic system is surreal, harrowing, captivating. I have always loved the concept of elemental magic. Chorn depicts water, fire, and other elements wielded by those with talent, hard to control, and always threatening to destroy those the wielders wish to protect most. Moreover, magic is such a commodity, that even those with no talent have “null” marks on their faces, to delineate them from more valuable tools in society.
The book has a relentless plot, with lots of twists, and that feeling of dread hanging over the pages that pushes you to read just one more chapter, because you NEED to see what is coming next, while you are SCARED to see what is coming next. Yet somehow, it’s also a slow-burn read, that you want to soak up every beautiful word, the lovely, evocative writing.
Could this be yet another possible top ten book for me of 2022? I would not bet against it. Seraphina’s Lament is a grimdark tour de force. This is an extraordinary, incredibly well-written, and extremely haunting book.
Purchase Your Copy HereCheck Out Some of Our Other Reviews
#FebruarySheWrote Review: When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll
#FebruarySheWrote Review – Wyrd Gods by Susana Imaginário
The post #FebruarySheWrote Review – Seraphina’s Lament by Sarah Chorn appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.
