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9 Fantasy Books from the 1980s You Might Not Have Heard Of

Jack Chalker, Terry Brooks, and more!

While the 1980s has always been described as a decade of decadence and corporate greed. One of the best parts of the 1980s was the rise of some of our favorite fantasy writers. It is the decade of Eddings, Brooks, and Wolfe.

But aside from these big household names, there are tons of captivating stories that you might not have heard of.

Check out these titles!

The Curse of Sagamore by Kara Dalkey

Everyone in the kingdom is battling over control of the throne except young Prince Abderian, who becomes trapped in a web of political intrigue involving ghosts and goddesses, demons and dragons, heroes and heretics, and a powerful but senile wizard.

The Mask of the Wizard by Catherine Cooke

When Kyellan led his troops north to guard the royal prince on his pilgrimage, he didn't expect to encounter an intriguing young priestess and a dangerous wizard invasion. Swords and sorcery lead to romance in this epic fantasy, in a new ebook edition with corrections by the author. Book One in a trilogy that includes "Veil of Shadow" and "The Hidden Temple."

The Winged Assassin by Catherine Cooke

Haunted by gods and demons, Arris flees from his destiny into a life of slavery and danger. Then he faces a mission to kill his childhood best friend—if he doesn't fall in love with him first. The first in a trilogy set in an imaginary ancient Middle East, the story continues in Realm of the Gods and The Crimson Goddess.

The Greenbriar Queen by Sheila Gilluly

The watchmen must guard Princess Ariadne, the future queen of Ilyria, from the wizard Fallen, who needs some of her blood to free the evil Dark Lord from exile.

The Sleeping Dragon by Joel Rosenberg

Seven college students meet for another night of role-playing games, where they will be cast as wizard, warrior, cleric, or thief. However, their conniving gamemaster has something entirely new planned for them. The seven gamers are cast into an alternate world of magic, fire-breathing dragons – and a quasi-medieval culture with slavery. The only way back to Earth is through a dragon-guarded Gate Between Worlds, about which little is known.The five men and two women face tough challenges – simple survival in a harsh environment as well as finding the mysterious Gate to bring them home. Publishers Weekly praised this series for its “energy, wit, and a strong moral sensibility.”

Did You Know?

Terry Pratchett published books in the 70s, but it was his Discworld novels, starting with The Colour of Magic in 1983, that brought him his greatest success. In the 90s he was the UK’s best-selling author.

Did You Know?

David Eddings originally wrote The Belgariad as three very long books, believing fantasy was meant to come in trilogies. His publisher Del Rey proposed he publish it in 5 volumes, saying booksellers wouldn’t accept 600-page books. While initially reluctant, Eddings eventually agreed.

Did You Know?

Magician is based on a role-playing game. Raymond E. Feist and his friends created the world of Midkemia as an alternative to Dungeons & Dragons and founded Midkemia Press. Feist eventually wrote a story set 500 years earlier than the RPG, which became the Riftwar Saga.

The River of the Dancing Gods by Jack L. Chalker

Something strange happens to Joe and Marge on the way to El Paso. They run into Throckmorton P. Ruddygore, a strange wizard who informs them that they are going to die in nineteen minutes and eighteen seconds.But they also have a choice. They can abandon the current world by taking a ferryboat across the Sea of Dreams to a new life in a new world, full of magic, fairies and wonder.But along with all its wonders, the new world is also the site of an ancient battle still being fought between the forces of Evil and Good, and the forces of Hell threaten to unleash perpetual darkness.Joe and Marge not only need their wits to survive in this unpredictable and dangerous world, but must somehow help prevent the oncoming Armageddon.

Thieves World, Edited by Robert Asprin and Lynn Abbey

A classic series for a new generation of fantasy adventure fans, Thieves’ World® paved the way for the shared-world anthology tradition with epic worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and nonstop action thanks to the legendary authors who contribute to it. The series’s groundbreaking debut features stories by John Brunner, Lynn Abbey, Poul Anderson, Andrew J. Offutt, Robert Lynn Asprin, Joe Haldeman, Christine DeWees, and Marion Zimmer Bradley, who populate the lawless city of Sanctuary with orphans and wizards, fortune tellers and emperors, merchants and madams, spies, assassins, and, of course, thieves.

Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold! By Terry Brooks

Landover was a genuine magic kingdom, with fairy folk and wizardry, just as the advertisement has promised. But after he purchased it, Ben Holiday learned that there were a few details the ad had failed to mention.The kingdom was in ruin. The Barons refused to recognize a king, and the peasants were without hope. A dragon was laying waste the countryside, while an evil witch plotted to destroy everything.Ben's only followers were the incompetent Court Magician; Abernathy, the talking dog who served as Court Scribe; and the lovely Willow—but she had a habit of putting down roots in the moonlight and turning into a tree. The Paladin, legendary champion of the Kings of Landover, seemed to be only a myth and an empty suit of armor.To put the final touch on the whole affair, Ben soon learned that the Iron Mark, terrible lord of the demons, had challenged all prospective Kings of Landover to duel to the death—a duel which no human could hope to win.The task of proving his right to be King seemed hopeless. But Ben Holiday was stubborn. . . .

A Malady of Magicks by Craig Shaw Gardener

"Guxx Unfufadoo is my name. And killing wizards is my game!"Thus spoke the dreaded rhyming demon, come from the Netherhells, to munch a bunch of the great Ebenezum.Only it didn't quite work out that way. Ebenezum lived, cursed by Guxx with a mighty curse that he should henceforth be allergic to magic.So Ebenezum and his hapless apprentice Wuntvor must journey to the City of Forbidden Delights to seek a cure. They find the road fraught with peril and dark magic, from tap-dancing dragons to enchanted chickens, slobbering trolls, winsome witches and sinister shrubbery.It's up to Wunt to see them through, to utter the sounds of power and speak the spells that will insure their health, wealth and continued life. It only he could remember the words...

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Review – Dreadnoughts: Breaking Ground by Michael Carroll, John Higgins

The art is beautiful and the story is dark as well as sad

JUDGE DREDD is one of those comics that suffers from a fandom that sometimes isn’t on the central joke of the premise: that its protagonist is a fascist who is working for a system that is utterly nonfunctional. Creator John Wagner was fully aware of the irony and deliberately wrote it as a bleak comedy about a man who desperately believed in the law like a priest while seemingly being utterly blind to the fact said law was created by falliable mortals. Even after stories like “The Day the Law Died”, “America”, “Democracy”, and the 19th or 20th corrupt Chief Judge there’s people who think the Judges have the right idea.

The premise of DREADNOUGHTS: BREAKING GROUND is pretty much a rather ham-fisted attempted to spell out for the reader that, no, it’s actually an utterly horrifying system to live under and terrible in every possible way. Whether such a story needed to be told or not is questionable since I’m of the mind that readers are generally not morons. If they support the authoritarian ruthlessness of the Judge System in RL or at least think the system is not hard enough rather than too hard, it’s because of their own political leanings versus not “getting it.”

Nevertheless, I admit I’m a fan of the more serious Judge Dredd stories. I’ll never like Judge Death and his cadre of lich Judges as much as I enjoy stories about failed democracies and Chief Judge Fargo realizing that he has utterly screwed the pooch. This one treats its premise as seriously as possible with the transformation of American policing and prisons to the horrors of Dredd’s world.

The premise is Judge Veranda Glover is sent by Chief Judge Fargo to the city of Boulder, Colorado to deal with protestors that have gotten out of hand. By which I mean they were protesting and Judge Glover shoots a bunch of them for virtually no reason. The local police are uncomfortable with her methods (no kidding, really) but are helpless to do anything about it. It only gets worse as Judge Glover is assigned the task of finding a kidnapped child.

From there, Judge Glover proceeds to wreck life after life ranging from sending the father of the kidnapped child to prison for fourteen years for helping his brother escape a rape charge (though he claims he had no idea what it was for), assaulting a religious commune that may or may not be a cult, and insisting that every decision she makes is 100% right no matter how stupid or asinine. Effectively, she’s Judge Dredd without his softer qualities and against people who aren’t insane violent criminals. If the author wanted to create a truly repulsive character, which I’m sure they did, they succeeded beyond their wildest imagination.

Still, I’m a fairly progressive person and even I found the graphic novel to be heavy handed. Not only is a big speech made about the loss of liberty and how the Judge System is a symptom of a sick society not the cure but SEVERAL people make said speeches. Judge Glover’s perhaps only genuinely “cool” moment is when someone starts making one of those speeches and she just walks past him, ignoring it as the self important sermonizing it is. We get it, fascism bad. I’d argue that the book also shoots itself in the foot by making Judge Glover eventually solve the case–collateral damage be damned.

The art is beautiful and the story is dark as well as sad. This isn’t a “fun” comic but it’s not meant to be. Indeed, the foreword to the comic describes it as a “horror story.” It’s overly preachy but I can’t fault it for not being true to its convictions. It also does tell a complete story that does have a number of interesting twists and turns. I just wish Judge Glover had ended up dead on the street because, well, she sucks. It says something that the Judge Dredd backup story at the end is incredibly lighter by comparison and it deals with nerve gas.

Previous Next Purchase Your Copy Here Check out some of our other reviews

#FebruarySheWrote Review: When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll

#FebruarySheWrote REVIEW – THE FIRES OF TREASON BY MICHELE QUIRKE

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Interview with Anna Mocikat Author of Behind Blue Eyes

interview anna MOCIKAT "...Often sci-fi is sterile and PG13. Behind Blue Eyes is dark, violent and very sexy. There’s plenty of bloody business and naked people doing things in there ...."

1. Tell us what Behind Blue Eyes is all about.

Behind Blue Eyes circles around its heroine Nephilim. She’s a cybernetically and genetically modified super-soldier who has been created to do all the dirty work for the mega-corporation she belongs to. Until she realizes one day that everything she had believed in was a lie and decides to take it up with the corporation and her creator.

Behind Blue Eyes is an action-driven sci-fi/cyberpunk story in the tradition of Ghost in the Shell and Deus Ex.

2. What separates Behind Blue Eyes from other science fiction series?

Often sci-fi is sterile and PG13. Behind Blue Eyes is dark, violent and very sexy. There’s plenty of bloody business and naked people doing things in there

3. What can you tell us about the protagonists?

Nephilim is the main character of the story. She’s a killer cyborg, a human-machine hybrid designed to destroy. She and her kind are almost unstoppable, the perfect weapon. However, Nephilim’s dreams aren’t as empty as they’re supposed to be. She experiences human emotions and begins doubting the system that made her a killer. She’s a very strong character, not only physically where she can snap an iron bar with her hand, but also mentally. She’s the kind of person who will defend what she loves to her death.

Then there’s Jake, a 100% bio-human Nephilim falls in love with. He convinces her to join a rebellion against the system but as it turns out he’s not what he seems to be.

And finally, Finwick, who’s the most popular character among readers. Finwick is an IT nerd who works for the Guardian Angels and develops a very unhealthy crush on a killer cyborg and stumbles into the adventure of his life.

4. What can you tell us about the setting?

The story is set in Olympias City, a mega-city of the future and HQ of the Olympias Conglomerate, the mega-corp that controls the American continents, or rather what’s left of them. It’s in a constant cold war with the two other big global players, Rosprom which controls Europe and TongbuaXiang which controls Asia, Australia and Oceania. Those three send cyborg troops against each other to infiltrate and sabotage.

Olympias is a dystopia coming disguised as a utopia. Poverty and inequality have been eradicated and everyone is free to be whatever they wish to be. But only as long as they obey the mantras the corporation feeds them and never question the lifestyle of hedonism, consumerism and promiscuity. Relationships and any deeper bonds are forbidden and people who want to have something as simple as a family have to risk their lives and flee the “utopia”. But there is no escape as Nephilim and her kind will find and kill them.

5. Who are the antagonists in your book?

Nephilim’s antagonist is Metatron, the leader of the Guardian Angels, the unit she belongs to. He’s a ruthless, cunning, sadistic genius. Metatron is also the only one who knows the secret of who Nephilim really is. He’s obsessed with her and will do anything in his power to stop her from breaking free.

6. What genre is your book? Action? Cyberpunk? Or Dystopian?

All three of those. It certainly is a very dystopian sci-fi story that belongs into the cyberpunk sub-genre. A lot of it has been inspired by Ghost in the Shell. But it also is an adrenaline filled action ride.

7. What do you think appeals to audiences about cyberpunk?

In my opinion, cyberpunk is the most exciting and innovative sci-fi subgenre. It’s often dystopian by nature and deals with existential questions such as what makes us human and where the human stops and the machine begins. It’s the main theme in Ghost in the Shell and also an important question in Behind Blue Eyes. I see myself in the tradition of Japanese cyberpunk which goes deeply into philosophical topics while still being filled with action. Other authors follow the western school of William Gibson and others from his time. Often those works center around socio-economic questions.

I think cyberpunk is the genre that combines intellectual questions with action and cool tech, which makes it unique in sci-fi. But the genre is incredibly diverse and there’s a whole new generation of young authors who are redefining it.

8. What sort of themes does your book possess?

The central theme in Behind Blue Eyes is freedom: freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom of thought. Is the perfect life possible without freedom?

9. What authors influenced you?

Besides Japanese anime and manga I think my biggest influences are George Orwell, Aldous Huxley and Isaac Asimov.

10. Behind Blue Eyes: Fallen Angels is already out. What’s the plot of that book?

The first book, Behind Blue Eyes, can be seen as a stand-alone story but it’s also the prologue to a much bigger story, which only really starts with book 2, Fallen Angels. The first book doesn’t end in a way anyone would expect and therefore the story continues in a different way than most sequels would. In the end, the freedom Nephilim seeks might come in a different form than she had expected.

The whole story is designed to be six books and everything that has happened since book 1 leads to the grand finale in book 6.

Fallen Angels starts with horrible murders being committed in the perfect city and the victims are no one less than Guardian Angels, the seemingly invincible killer cyborgs. Someone is hunting them down one by one. But this is only the tip of the iceberg of a massive conspiracy in which the other mega-corporations are involved to destroy Olympias. This is only possible with the Guardian Angels gone.

11. Is Behind Blue Eyes III coming out any time soon?

Yes! It’s set for release on March 23rd and I’m very excited about it. BBE3 – War Games will continue the story of Fallen Angels. Nephilim will have to fight her most challenging and most personal battle yet – and she won’t get away without scratches.

12. What else can we look for from you?

I’m also the editor of Neo Cyberpunk, an anthology series in which each book features 15 cyberpunk short stories by 15 authors. Besides, I also have two more series going on, Shadow City and Cyber Squad. And I’m about to co-write a sci-fi series with my friend and bestselling author C.T. Phipps.

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#FebruarySheWrote Review – Escape Reality by Kayla Frost

@Escape Reality is a science fiction novel written by Kayla Frost and was published in November of 2020.  It’s also the Gold Award Winner for the 2020 – 2021 Reader Views Literary Awards.

This book really impressed me with the amount of world-building that was in it, especially for a debut novel.  The universe that is created in this book is fleshed out and clear when you’re done with the story.  I almost pictured Kayla in front of a huge wall with strings and pictures with all the different character races, groups, locations, and characters.  She does a great job preparing us for the rest of the series, setting the table for the characters and what’s to come.

I’m pretty new to reading science fiction, especially what some people would call “hard” science fiction, the really deep and complex science fiction. This book definitely fits into that category.  If I’m turning the page and feel like I miss something or I don’t understand everything I feel like I should go back and re-read.  With this book, I tried to relax and go along for the ride and it paid off in a big way.

I’ve read other reviewers’ comments that the beginning is a little uneven with the amount of reveals and the amount of explanations but that didn’t bother me.  I had faith that everything would be explained and Kayla does a great job explaining the world, the rules, the races, the technologies, and conflicts.  The environments are described beautifully, jumping off the page at you.  I had a clear vision of what was happening in my mind from the page.  I could even hear the sounds described in the book in my own ears.  I was on the ship or the planet and could hear the automated voice we’ve all heard in science fiction movies on the page.

Something that takes me out of the story especially in fantasy or science fiction is when characters use modern slang.  I’m in this otherworldly environment and it’s jarring to hear characters use modern lingo. While I enjoyed the reveals and surprises, I think a few of them were drawn out a little too long.

I always prefer to go into books blind, knowing as little as possible so I usually avoid the synopsis.  In this case, I wish I could have read the synopsis before I read the book.  Reading the synopsis gives you a really good idea of what you’re in for and gives you some footing to stand on.

If you’re like me and you’re new to “hard” science fiction and you get lost in this book, be patient and go along for the ride – the payoffs are worth it.  I was enthralled by the amount of world-building, with all the different terminology, technology, and acronyms. Sometimes it takes a minute to get your bearings. Kayla develops a very lush, detailed, and complex world that blew me away.  There must have been a ton of time developing this world and she does a fantastic job.

If you enjoy complex and detailed science fiction with interesting characters and a ton of world-building, give this book a read.  Especially impressed that Kayla not only wrote the book but also created the artwork for the cover and interior.

The post #FebruarySheWrote Review – Escape Reality by Kayla Frost appeared first on BEFOREWEGOBLOG.

Review – Engine of the Empire by R.S. Ford

exciting story full of intrigue, worldbuilding, and power struggles

Engines of the Empire by R.S. Ford is a book that I have been eyeing with excitement for the last six months. It did not disappoint and was just as exciting as I had hoped with a few caveats. 

“How long do you think the battalions will carry on this war when it stops being profitable? This won’t last.”

From the first chapter, where we meet one of our protagonists, Tyreta, the reader becomes very aware of the depth of the storytelling Ford brings. The story is separated into multiple very distinct points of view, mostly revolving around three siblings, Tyreta, Fulren, and Conall. Their lives go on very different winding paths in service to the empire. They are the Hawkspurs, heirs of the Hawkspur guild in the nation of Torwyn. Multiple guilds rule the empire through Plutocracy, which is explained in the story. But I am looking forward to learning more about the various guilds and how they work. 

Additionally, the story is peppered with those who practice a craft with pyrstone that fuels the empire’s machines. This craft reads like part magic and part science. Those who practice get a “feel” for the device and can control the machines from afar. 

“By placing a number of pyrestones inside small conversion chambers, a webwainer could use them to imbue any piece of artifice to life.”

Encapsulating the story’s narrative is a blanket of political intrigue, unrest, and colonialism. While we are viewing the story through the eyes of mainly three members of the ruling class of Torwyn, it is evident that Torwyn has not always been on the side of angels when it comes to relations with neighboring areas. Specifically, the nation of Nyrakkis, who are foreign, differs in every way from the nation of Torwyn. 

The story starts with a random emissary from the country of Nyrakkis who has come to open up trade agreements with Torwyn. The deal that the emissary wants to broker would benefit both countries and start an age of great prosperity for the two nations. This kicks off a series of events that change the siblings’ lives forever.

Engines of the Empire is not an easy fantasy book to read; instead, it asks a lot of the reader. You need to parse multiple levels of intrigue and points of view. But even with these various paths, Ford masterfully curves all paths back to the empire. No matter what, the fates of this family are intricately entwined with the people, culture, and future of the Torwyn society. 

“There might be a price for this later. Lady Rosomon had never been a tolerant woman. Whatever that price was, Tyreta thought as a smile played across her lips, it had been worth it.”

When the 2/3rds through the book, the action sequences started to pick up, and it was like watching a movie. Even better, because the characters’ paths go not just away from each other, but into new cultures. Ford wrote the combat as distinctly as the settings. Characters do not just fight, but they fight in ways characteristic of their cultures. If the worldbuilding did not hammer home how different the cultures are, the action will. 

The one issue I had with the story, and is my caveat mentioned above, is that while these character paths expertly wind through the empire, the characters didn’t feel like they have narrative arcs. I couldn’t point to a goal for each of the characters except for lack of a better term, “level-up.” I needed more connection with the characters on an individual level that are less lofty than the empire’s health. Because the characters didn’t have that, the characters always felt at arm’s length from me. I admit this might be a preference for me as a reader, but it was a sticking point for this story. 

All in all, Engines of the Empire is an exciting story full of intrigue, worldbuilding, and power struggles. Any reader of classic fantasy will find a home inside Ford’s world. It was a captivating story, and aside from my difficulties with how the characters were written, it was enthralling.

I look forward to seeing what happens next in this world!

 

Purchase Your Copy HereCheck Out Some of Our Other Reviews

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ANNOUNCEMENT! Check Out CT Phipps and Michael Suttkus’s Newest Release – Daughter of the Cyber Dragons

Are You Ready! I am pleased to announce the newest release by author CT Phipps and Michael Suttkus. Check it out!  Where To Find It? What is it about?

FROM THE BEST SELLING AUTHOR OF THE SUPERVILLAINY SAGA:

Keiko “Kei” Springs is a Rider, a specialized form of delivery girl and mercenary all in one. They are among the most highly prized criminals in the dystopian neon city of New Los Angeles. Kei has been running from her past for years and has literally erased it from her mind using a popular street drug called lethe. Unfortunately, you can’t outrun your past forever, even on her specialized Nina cybercycle.

Strapped for cash, Kei accepts a job she probably shouldn’t after barely surviving a live fire test by a married pair of oligarchs. Teamed up with a group of other mercenaries and cyborgs, Kei is to seek out a stolen computer program that has the power to drive otherwise ordinary individuals to shocking acts of violence. Her team includes her ex, a handsome bioroid assassin, a teenage hacker, and a ruthless corporate exec that all have their own agendas. It’d be the worst time of her life if not for all the ones she can’t remember.

The Cyber Dragons Trilogy is set in the same world as the Agent G series and is an exciting action adventure cyberpunk thriller with plenty of humor.

Check Out Some of our Reviews

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Review – Red Shirts by John Scalzi

RED SHIRTS by John Scalzi remains one of my all-time favorite books so if you’re looking for an unbiased recommendation then you’re probably looking in the wrong place. I have some issues with the novellas in the back of the book but I consider the main story to be damn near perfect. Mind you, I am exactly the sort of person who would love this book as both a Star Trek fan as well as a satirist. If you don’t think making fun of weird ideas in Star Trek and cliched storytelling would amuse you then this is probably not the book for you but it is entirely my jam.

The premise is the Universal Union capital ship Intrepid is a death trap. Well, sort of. Nothing bad ever happens to its bridge crew that they don’t bounce back from. Murderous alien worms, horrifying parasites, terrifying plagues, and encounters with hostile alien planets. However, the rest of the crew dies at a horrifying and often nonsensical rate. They do stupid things that get them killed despite being trained professionals on a spaceship. Sometimes even when they’re incredibly smart and careful, events contort themselves to killing at least one of them a mission.

This is not good news for Ensign Andrew Dahl who shows up for work on the Intrepid with three new friends, only to find this “minesweeper in Baghdad” level of attrition is just the tip of the iceberg for weird stuff going on board this vessel. There’s a weird black box that can solve virtually all scientific problems in exactly thirty minutes (no more, no less) that none of the crew actually understand the workings of. There’s a guy living in the ship’s maintenance ducts trying to warn them of the insane rules that mean the difference between life and death. Finally, and this is something even Andrew hesitates to mention, does it feel like this is all a rehash of a mid-20th century TV show?

Redshirts is a delightful deconstruction of the various cliches that authors rely on in genre fiction. It would be easy to describe this as Rosencratz and Guldenstern vs. Star Trek but then you’d have to know both of these works to get what I mean. More likely, Trek fans will probably think this resembles Galaxy Quest and Lower Decks, which is also true. But beyond a parody of Star Trek, it is also a critique of laziness in storytelling.

The humor doesn’t require you to have a degree in Trekology to laugh but does need to be you to be familiar with the concept of “The Red Shirt” which is a character that exists to die horribly in order to make dangers seem more real while not harming the main cast. This is a joke that was common enough to show up in the TV show Lost so it shouldn’t be too big of a demand of readers.

I love this book and its oddball character development as well as the investigation of the surreal circumstances around our heroes. Despite this, I do think the book has some flaws. The four leads are largely interchangeable and all pretty much sound identical in dialogue. Also, I wasn’t a big fan of the epilogues as I think they detracted from the strength of the book’s ending. Otherwise, this book is darn near perfect. You won’t regret its purchase.

Purchase Your Copy HereCheck Out some of our other reviews

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#FebruarySheWrote Review: When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll

There once was a girl that lived in a deep and damp and dark celler…
 
About

“A castle, a killer, and prey all bound and blurred by lust and blood.”

Like many before her that have never come back, she’s made it to the Countess’ castle determined to snuff out the horror, but she could never be prepared for what hides within its turrets; what unfurls under its fluttering flags. Emily Carroll has fashioned a rich gothic horror charged with eroticism that doesn’t just make your skin crawl, it crawls into it.

 
 
 
My Thoughts

Emily Caroll has crafted another beautifully atmospheric and decadent novel that skirts the line of horror and gothic in When I Arrived at The Castle.

A curious and courageous cat-eared girl braves the castle of a vampiric countess with plans to destroy her. Plans change and go pear-shaped when the strange catgirl instead finds that the countess is waiting for her. Soon, the girl is sent into a maze of tragic fairy tales and stories that she must claw her way through holding as best she can on to her purpose and sanity. The tales are trapped behind red doors, the house, countess, and her; all is not what it seems and the cat-eared girl is doomed.

The vampiric countess reminded me of a cat stalking its prey. She was coldly seductive, dangerous, and beautiful. She batted around the girl, knocking her back and forth and toying with the cat-eared girl’s sanity. And underneath the exterior of the vampiric countess darkness lurks inside.

This story is a rich work that you need to read a few times to get all the meanings. It is beautifully executed, much is conveyed in the simple palette of three colors; bone white, black, and blood red. It is gothic; ornate when it needs to be and simple when it doesn’t. The backgrounds are simple with repeating patterns, but still very useful. The perspectives of the story zoom, twist and create dreamlike and violent panels.

It is a hauntingly scary work and an obvious nod to the gothic works of Mary Shelley and the Bronte sisters. This book is certainly not for everyone, it is difficult to understand on the first read-through and is a bit high and esoteric. But giving it a second read-through I found it to be extremely well done. The pages practically bleed horror and terror.

Carroll packs quite a bit of emotional punch in this short graphic novella and you can tell why she has won Eisner and Ignatz awards. When I arrived at the Castle is very much in the style of her other novels (Out of Skin, Through The Woods) and shouldn’t be missed.

 

Purchase A Copy Here
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#FebruarySheWrote Review – Wyrd Gods by Susana Imaginário

A clash of mythology married and merged into something exciting and new.

It was a surreal experience reading through Wyrd Gods. It felt very lucid and dream-like. For some reason, my mind was dancing thoughts of folklore, Shakespeare, and of course mythological tales that I enjoyed in my youth.

Psyche, is the Goddess of the soul. But has been punished by Chronos, the powerful God of time. Psyche is now a Wyrd, has a complicated mixture of memories because of the new body she is placed in and most wonder the Norse underworld to rediscover her crime and purpose.

To complicate matters further. The body Psyche is now inhabiting belonged to Ileana, a dryad. Now her thoughts and feelings are mixed in the Wyrd’s and there’s an internal struggle for Psyche. This was so exciting to watch unfold. Especially as Psyche encountered characters from Ileana’s past.

We soon begin to see how all these gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures are all connected. Ileana’s origin becomes a vital plot point and it soon becomes clear that there are plenty of schemes and games at okay between the gods.

There’s this unusual jump between first person and third person interludes. I didn’t find this jarring in the slightest. It actually turned out to be a very smart method in painting a much larger picture of the events that unfold. I encourage readers not to dismiss this but to embrace it as it will enhance the reading scope and experience.

The decision to merge cultural mythologies was genius. Something I found very resonant of Paternus and American Gods. We primarily explore Norse, Greek and Egyptian mythological figures. They’re blended seamlessly with no difficulty or plot holes. I’m curious to see if even more mythologies are integrated later.

I particularly enjoyed following the characters who were portrayed as the villains in these mythologies. Hades, Loki, and Hel all ooze charisma and personality. Imaginário adds creative little twists which really create some awesome dynamics.

The climax left me craving more. I wanted to know what was next for our protagonists and how the gods planned to react. I’ve really enjoyed the manoeuvrings of these characters. Yet, I feel like this is just the tip of the iceberg with what the author has in store for us.

Pick this book up if you like: Being a mythology buff. Prominent character conflicts. A twist on traditions. Interesting and unexpected character interactions. Dreamlike narrative and prose.

If you like the following books/series then you may also enjoy this one too: American Gods. Strange the Dreamer. Paternus. The Forever Sea. The Skin.

The Final Verdict: 8 out of 10

*I won a copy of this book but it also seemed like the perfect opportunity to provide an honest review.

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#FebruarySheWrote REVIEW – THE FIRES OF TREASON BY MICHELE QUIRKE

exceptionally-drawn characters and silky writing

 

In “The Fires of Treason”, Michele Quirke’s debut novel, an unshakeable bond between royal brother and sister, a quashed rebellion, an illicit affair, a scheming sister, an abusive king, an assassination attempt, and more, make for a very well-written and involving historical fantasy.

The story is set in a Renaissance-era fictional European-esque Kingdom, called Caracalla, where an insurrection against the ruling and villainous King Charles of the house of Cavendish has taken place. The king is despotic and wants the rebels ALL captured and executed. The widowed sovereign sends his eldest child and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Gregory Cavendish, to lead the forces charged with mercilessly crushing the revolt. Meanwhile, Gregory’s younger sister Elizabeth Cavendish, enjoys a life of relative leisure at court.

The siblings are very close, and those bonds are tested when Gregory, a reasonable, merciful, and compassionate leader, is exiled for failing in the eyes of the king to dispatch all the revolutionaries, accused of treason to the crown. Gregory’s other sister, the scheming Bernadette, is named heir in Gregory’s place. Gregory’s banishment sets in motion a series of events where Gregory and Elizabeth set off on adventure, filled with danger, and uncertainty in what was supposed to be two very certain futures for nobles originally destined to be at the very pinnacle their of society.

The novel is primarily a heart-warming exploration of sibling affection and loyalty. Like many brothers and sisters, Gregory and Elizabeth are two strong personalities who certainly have their flaws, idiosyncrasies, and opinions which put them at odds with each other. They can both be temperamental, stubborn, and impulsive. Yet, their relationship is a testament to fidelity and sacrifice for one another.

Elizabeth’s intelligence, bravery and decisiveness in the face of peril, ability to deal with living as a commoner, kindness, and capacity for growth and forgiveness make her a lovable character. Gregory is honourable, determined, and tries to take the moral high ground in all his decisions. Elizabeth is Gregory’s biggest fan and advocate, and in turn Gregory protects and nurtures his younger sister. With both of these main characters, their quirkiness, their fears and insecurities, and ultimately their integrity and care for humanity, shine through. Their relationship is touching, and their personalities are easy to like, even when they are at their most annoying. The two royal protagonists are assuredly the jewel of the novel.

But there are so many more positives about this book besides the exceptionally-drawn characters. The writing is silky, immaculate. The themes presented in the novel were compelling. Gregory and Elizabeth are forced to confront moral questions about self-preservation versus life-taking, stealing versus perishing from hunger, and the benefits, disadvantages, and limits of absolute power. I found how they dealt with these situations, and how Quirke put her characters in these uncomfortable dilemmas, fascinating. It was very interesting so see the choices the two young nobles made, when confronted with life-altering decisions that carried grave repercussions, not only for themselves but in some cases, for their country.

I was very impressed by “The Fires of Treason” and the writing of Michele Quirk. I am greatly anticipating the next chapter in the story of the Cavendish Royal Family of Caracalla.

 

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