Heather Heffner's Blog, page 5
May 2, 2021
May 2021 Book Review: The Poppy War
THE POPPY WARBy R.F. Kuang~Book Review~
*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
IT’S MULAN MEETS NAME OF THE WIND MEETS…HARRY POTTER? Nah, The Poppy War’s heroine Rin has more in common with Jay Kristoff’s Mia from The Nevernight Chronicles or Nona Gray from Mark Lawrence’s Book of the Ancestor series. She’s not an assassin, but Rin is a tough-as-nails overachiever and morally gray decision maker—she doesn’t bat an eyelash over parting with an adorable pig she carries to the mountaintop every day for endurance training, she self-inflicts wounds to stay awake in order to cram for the Empire’s Keju test, and she is so devoted to being the best solider of her class that she gives up her ability to bear children.
In other words, we have a memorable heroine who makes messy and difficult choices! Rin is very much the heart of this story and I was heavily invested in Part I to see what our peasant underdog would do next to survive at Sinegard, the elite military school of the Nikara Empire (a fantasy depiction of China made up of provinces named after the Zodiac and influenced by the Second Sino-Japanese War and the consequences of the opium trade).
Part I of this book is an excellent thrill ride. Against all odds, peasant orphan Fang Runin “Rin” (Mao Zedong influenced) scores high enough on the Empire’s merit test to earn a spot in the elite military school Sinegard, where the best in the Empress’s army are forged to face threats from the Federation of Mugen (Japan influenced) and Hesperia (The West influenced). Rin is a firecracker. While she forges one friendship with the adorable and strategic genius Kitay, she’s largely set against a hostile upper class who despises everything about her from her dark skin down to her impudence to take a spot away from one of their own. Rin largely responds to these threats with her fists, especially tangling with wealthy rival Nezha more than once (and yet, she also can’t help but notice how handsome he is, cuing Zuko reform arch on the horizon!)
Rin is also drawn to the mysterious and powerful Altan, an upper classman who defeats any opponent he faces. He comes from Speer (Taiwan influenced), and is one of the only survivors of the island nation after a horrific explosion, rumored to be tied to the merciless deity known as the Phoenix. More painful still is the Nikara Empire’s hidden role in Speer’s demise. As Rin delves further into her studies, she discovers her own connection to the disturbing powers of the Phoenix and her aptitude for shamanism, which leads the eclectic and humorous Master Jiang to take her under his wing.
Like I said, Part I is a rousing page turner that doesn’t shy away from the consequences of war and establishing Rin as a character who will follow through on her actions no matter the cost. I loved the conversations about strategy and the tests of the academy, as well as her relationship with Master Jiang.
Unfortunately, the book detours in the second half. After developing Sinegard and Rin’s classmates so well in Part I, the story suddenly does an about face after the Federation attacks. Rin is dropped into the middle of war, which could have worked, except she’s assigned to a special Shamanistic branch of the Empress’s service called the Cike. Kuang now has to develop an entirely new set of characters in the Cike, who each have their own magical powers. We’re essentially starting over watching Rin build relationships with each of them—in the middle of a war, which should be when the urgency is at its highest. Instead, this approach to introduce an entirely new set of comrades throws off the pacing and tension, and also leaves the reader confused, not invested, and wondering what’s going on with Nezha, Kitay, and Venka. Rin as well undergoes a facelift of sorts being quite submissive toward her new leader, Altan, as the Phoenix pulls them in different directions and pushes them to answer how far they will go to win the war.
Nevertheless, this is great military fantasy and I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of Rin’s school friends and enemies. The series continues in The Dragon Republic and The Burning God. For more on historical influences behind The Poppy War , check out this great post by Kevin Kaichuang Yang here: https://readbytiffany.com/2020/11/15/everything-you-need-to-know-before-you-read-the-poppy-war-by-r-f-kuang/
Recommended for fans of: Fonda Lee, Alison Goodman, Mark Lawrence, and Jay Kristoff
April 11, 2021
April 2021 Book Review: Beasts Made of Night
BEASTS MADE OF NIGHT
by Tochi Onyebuchi
~Book Review~
*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
GUILT. RESENTMENT. SHAME. Our past mistakes can make us sick, and in Taj’s world, actually take the form of sin-beasts, shadowy creatures of nightmare that wage destruction. The city of Kos uses magicians to draw out the sin from the rich and makes the lower class sin-eaters destroy the sin-beasts, imprinting a memory of the sin in their skins.
Taj is the most talented of sin-eaters, who has withstood even the colossal sins that take on the forms of dragons. However, his skills and uncanny ability to connect with the sin-beasts earns royal attention and draws him into a plot to destroy Kos…
The idea at the foundation of Beasts Made of Night is excellent. Taj feels wholly organic, born from the city and does all he can to survive with cocky flair without ever sacrificing his loyalty to the community he’s grown up with. There were quite a few unique characters. With a bit more time and restructuring, this book has potential to be a truly exceptional book.
However, the execution fails it. The idea of “sin” manifesting as guilt that can make a person physically ill is so fascinating, but it’s never explored. For example, what is considered a sin in this world? There is a passing reference of a council that defines morality, but it is never articulated. If “sin” only comes from feeling guilty, then why the heck are so many of the rich upper class the ones with the most extravagant sin-beasts? Are they shaving their guilt over decisions they make for the city, and if so, why don’t we see more of that awareness battling within them? What about people who are sociopathic or psychopathic and don’t feel guilty about committing actions like murder? Is sin even the best word to describe what’s going on with these beasts?
While I was trying to figure this out, the story moved along at a lurching pace that just couldn’t find its plot. There were a couple key relationships that really stood out: Taj’s relationship with Bo, who is his lifelong friend and fellow sin-eater, and surprisingly, a meeting halfway through the story with the mysterious Zainab, an experienced sin-eater with a spider tattoo on her face. Honestly, I felt that in that meeting between Taj and Zainab, that’s where the story should have started. There was incredible potential there with the pitying look she gave him and her no-nonsense approach to training that could have organized the story in a more coherent way.
However, that’s a bit of the issue with this novel—there are many ideas circulating and too many characters, and the result is a discordant plot. If it was just a focus on these characters + Azru (loved the scene with the peppers!) and Aliya, who also had unique relationships with Taj, that would have been enough to unpack right there.
As it is, the book ends in a confusing battle, and although I wasn’t surprised by the “true” villain—can’t trust those overly sweet characters!—the impact fell flat since there hadn’t been any time spent on developing the villain’s motivations on a more complex level.
All in all, really excited to see what this author does in the future. The imagination and characters are fierce, but there needs to be more fine tuning in the execution.
Recommended for fans of: Nnedi Okorafor, Tomi Adeyemi, Rick Riordan
by Tochi Onyebuchi
~Book Review~
*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
GUILT. RESENTMENT. SHAME. Our past mistakes can make us sick, and in Taj’s world, actually take the form of sin-beasts, shadowy creatures of nightmare that wage destruction. The city of Kos uses magicians to draw out the sin from the rich and makes the lower class sin-eaters destroy the sin-beasts, imprinting a memory of the sin in their skins.
Taj is the most talented of sin-eaters, who has withstood even the colossal sins that take on the forms of dragons. However, his skills and uncanny ability to connect with the sin-beasts earns royal attention and draws him into a plot to destroy Kos…
The idea at the foundation of Beasts Made of Night is excellent. Taj feels wholly organic, born from the city and does all he can to survive with cocky flair without ever sacrificing his loyalty to the community he’s grown up with. There were quite a few unique characters. With a bit more time and restructuring, this book has potential to be a truly exceptional book.
However, the execution fails it. The idea of “sin” manifesting as guilt that can make a person physically ill is so fascinating, but it’s never explored. For example, what is considered a sin in this world? There is a passing reference of a council that defines morality, but it is never articulated. If “sin” only comes from feeling guilty, then why the heck are so many of the rich upper class the ones with the most extravagant sin-beasts? Are they shaving their guilt over decisions they make for the city, and if so, why don’t we see more of that awareness battling within them? What about people who are sociopathic or psychopathic and don’t feel guilty about committing actions like murder? Is sin even the best word to describe what’s going on with these beasts?
While I was trying to figure this out, the story moved along at a lurching pace that just couldn’t find its plot. There were a couple key relationships that really stood out: Taj’s relationship with Bo, who is his lifelong friend and fellow sin-eater, and surprisingly, a meeting halfway through the story with the mysterious Zainab, an experienced sin-eater with a spider tattoo on her face. Honestly, I felt that in that meeting between Taj and Zainab, that’s where the story should have started. There was incredible potential there with the pitying look she gave him and her no-nonsense approach to training that could have organized the story in a more coherent way.
However, that’s a bit of the issue with this novel—there are many ideas circulating and too many characters, and the result is a discordant plot. If it was just a focus on these characters + Azru (loved the scene with the peppers!) and Aliya, who also had unique relationships with Taj, that would have been enough to unpack right there.
As it is, the book ends in a confusing battle, and although I wasn’t surprised by the “true” villain—can’t trust those overly sweet characters!—the impact fell flat since there hadn’t been any time spent on developing the villain’s motivations on a more complex level.
All in all, really excited to see what this author does in the future. The imagination and characters are fierce, but there needs to be more fine tuning in the execution.
Recommended for fans of: Nnedi Okorafor, Tomi Adeyemi, Rick Riordan
March 7, 2021
March 2021 Book Review: Gods of Jade and Shadow
Gods of Jade and Shadow
By Silvia Moreno-Garcia
~Book Review~
*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING UNDERWORLDS is Xibalba, the Place of Fear (or Place of Astonishment), that holds a memorable place in Maya mythology. Ruled by the death gods Hun-Kamé and his brother Vucub-Kamé (older translations can be Hun-Camé and Vucub-Kamé), Xibalba promises the most tribulations and tricks a soul can find oneself up against, what with a treacherous Black Road, frightful Houses full of jaguars, bats, and flying blades, and a ballcourt where the losing team pays with their lives. It is evocative of the struggles of life amongst teeming jungles of biodiversity, but it has a softer side, too, as Moreno-Garcia explores in Gods of Jade and Shadow.
Set in the Jazz Age, the story begins with a Cinderella flair of sorts with Casiopea Tun stuck serving the whims of her grandfather’s demanding family in a small town in southern Mexico. While dreaming of a life far from this one, Casiopea finds a mysterious box in her grandfather’s house and unwittingly releases Hun-Kamé, deposed ruler of Xibalba. Turns out that Casiopea’s grandfather threw in with Hun-Kamé’s ambitious brother Vucub-Kamé to overthrow the death god and scatter his body parts so he could never return. Undaunted to find himself in the age of flappers and cabaret, Hun-Kamé wastes no time enlisting Casiopea to help him recover his missing body parts so he may retake his place on the Jade Palace throne. However, Vucub-Kamé is alerted to his brother’s release and enlists Casiopea’s loathsome cousin Martin to stop them.
Hands down, the most exhilarating part of the story is at the end when Casiopea competes against Martin to travel Xibalba’s Black Road and reach the World Tree first. Also, any part that features Xibalba. The writing style is lyrical but tells instead of shows, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The characters felt like they had no heart, and it was hard to tell Hun-Kamé’s voice/character apart from his brother (as opposed to the wonderful drawn rivalry of say, Mufasa and Scar in The Lion King). Indeed, there wasn’t much justification for why Vucub-Kamé should be overthrown—had the underworld eroded under his care? Was he oppressing his demon subjects or being more horrific to souls than usual? It’s not explored which brother would be the better ruler aside from birthright. Why did Vucub-Kamé want to get rid of Hun-Kamé aside from his own ambition? That’s the level we’re missing to really understand the heart of their relationship.
The plot doesn’t help, as it follows a simplistic formula of 1) collect this body part from forgettable demon minion A, and 2) repeat for demons B – C. There wasn’t much of a struggle or tension built up in any of these face-offs. The Jazz Age’s influence was told to us rather than flowing as a natural part of the story, and Martin is about as formidable as an old sock.
However, Hun-Kamé and Casiopea’s slow burn romance is sweet, and Casiopea refreshingly has plenty of spunk and agency. She doesn’t take sh*t and isn’t afraid to speak up in the overtly patriarchal world. The story wraps up in a satisfying conclusion, but the biggest drawback is the woodenness of the characters and the lack of heart, as we constantly feel like we’re being kept at arm’s length from any raw emotion. Granted, this is tough when writing “distant” god-like characters. Overall, Moreno-Garcia has spun a classic tale that expertly balances both the fear and beauty of Xibalba.
Recommended for fans of: N.K. Jemisin, Rick Riordan, and Aliette de Bodard
By Silvia Moreno-Garcia
~Book Review~
*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING UNDERWORLDS is Xibalba, the Place of Fear (or Place of Astonishment), that holds a memorable place in Maya mythology. Ruled by the death gods Hun-Kamé and his brother Vucub-Kamé (older translations can be Hun-Camé and Vucub-Kamé), Xibalba promises the most tribulations and tricks a soul can find oneself up against, what with a treacherous Black Road, frightful Houses full of jaguars, bats, and flying blades, and a ballcourt where the losing team pays with their lives. It is evocative of the struggles of life amongst teeming jungles of biodiversity, but it has a softer side, too, as Moreno-Garcia explores in Gods of Jade and Shadow.
Set in the Jazz Age, the story begins with a Cinderella flair of sorts with Casiopea Tun stuck serving the whims of her grandfather’s demanding family in a small town in southern Mexico. While dreaming of a life far from this one, Casiopea finds a mysterious box in her grandfather’s house and unwittingly releases Hun-Kamé, deposed ruler of Xibalba. Turns out that Casiopea’s grandfather threw in with Hun-Kamé’s ambitious brother Vucub-Kamé to overthrow the death god and scatter his body parts so he could never return. Undaunted to find himself in the age of flappers and cabaret, Hun-Kamé wastes no time enlisting Casiopea to help him recover his missing body parts so he may retake his place on the Jade Palace throne. However, Vucub-Kamé is alerted to his brother’s release and enlists Casiopea’s loathsome cousin Martin to stop them.
Hands down, the most exhilarating part of the story is at the end when Casiopea competes against Martin to travel Xibalba’s Black Road and reach the World Tree first. Also, any part that features Xibalba. The writing style is lyrical but tells instead of shows, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The characters felt like they had no heart, and it was hard to tell Hun-Kamé’s voice/character apart from his brother (as opposed to the wonderful drawn rivalry of say, Mufasa and Scar in The Lion King). Indeed, there wasn’t much justification for why Vucub-Kamé should be overthrown—had the underworld eroded under his care? Was he oppressing his demon subjects or being more horrific to souls than usual? It’s not explored which brother would be the better ruler aside from birthright. Why did Vucub-Kamé want to get rid of Hun-Kamé aside from his own ambition? That’s the level we’re missing to really understand the heart of their relationship.
The plot doesn’t help, as it follows a simplistic formula of 1) collect this body part from forgettable demon minion A, and 2) repeat for demons B – C. There wasn’t much of a struggle or tension built up in any of these face-offs. The Jazz Age’s influence was told to us rather than flowing as a natural part of the story, and Martin is about as formidable as an old sock.
However, Hun-Kamé and Casiopea’s slow burn romance is sweet, and Casiopea refreshingly has plenty of spunk and agency. She doesn’t take sh*t and isn’t afraid to speak up in the overtly patriarchal world. The story wraps up in a satisfying conclusion, but the biggest drawback is the woodenness of the characters and the lack of heart, as we constantly feel like we’re being kept at arm’s length from any raw emotion. Granted, this is tough when writing “distant” god-like characters. Overall, Moreno-Garcia has spun a classic tale that expertly balances both the fear and beauty of Xibalba.
Recommended for fans of: N.K. Jemisin, Rick Riordan, and Aliette de Bodard
February 7, 2021
February 2021 Book Review: Trail of Lightning
TRAIL OF LIGHTNING
By Rebecca Roanhorse
~Book Review~
*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME that a cataclysmic flood destroys the world as we know it, leading to the rebirth of the Navajo Nation in a mysterious and dangerous Sixth World where gods and monsters reclaim the earth? I am totally here for this. The tension is real!
On the world-building front, Roanhorse knocks it out of the park. The descriptions of the desert, the mesas, the forests of ponderosa and blue spruce carpeting lonely peaks, are all utterly gorgeous, and there is a constant air of menace as ghosts and children-eating monsters roam the hills. Descendants of clans inherit specific magical powers to help them survive their gritty and post-apocalyptic reality, and we get a wise-cracking Coyote who has an invested interest in our heroine Maggie Hoskie.
However, the plot quickly splits into too many threads as the book struggles with what it wants to be. What seems to be a promising monster slaying adventure/mystery gets derailed by an unnecessary love triangle that overtakes the initial premise. Someone is behind the release of increasingly dangerous monsters upon Dinétah, and loner monster slayer Maggie Hoskie teams up with medicine man Kai to investigate.
A common complaint I’ve had of late is the main character proves to be the least engaging, and Trail of Lightning continues my frustrations. Initially I liked Maggie Hoskie, Dinétah monster hunter with lineage gifts of supernatural speed and bloodlust. Despite being quite humorless, she kicked ass, and I was sucked in by the promise of a dark and tangled relationship with her former mysterious mentor, Neizgháni.
Here’s where the issue came in: this book seemed like it should have started with her training and adventures with Neizgháni. The flashbacks with him take up such a significant part of the book that it begs the question why this wasn’t the original storyline in the first place. The consequence is we keep being told about this deep connection they had, as well as how betrayed she feels by him, that we’re dying to have the two reunite already (Never mind what’s happening with Maggie and present day traveling companion Kai). The former mentor-student reunion doesn’t happen until the last quarter of the book, and when it does, it’s in this weird stand-off in a monster dueling ring where he kisses her out of the blue. It feels quite out of left field for someone who had been so carefully guarded about his emotions before.
It also leads to the book taking an abrupt turn toward romance and resolving the love triangle between Maggie, Neizgháni, and good guy healer Kai. This felt like such a departure from Maggie’s character to suddenly be so held up by boyz, and it left the end of the book feeling messy, as if it wasn’t quite sure what it wanted to be.
It would have been interesting for Neizgháni to have joined Maggie and Kai at the start of their investigation into the monsters, and keep these three as the focal point to really flesh out their relationships. Instead, the plot gets constantly distracted by side quests that we don’t really care about, and at the end, it’s a bit confusing when the main quest gets addressed almost as if by accident. I didn’t buy the villain’s true goal; it seemed a very complicated way to get what he wanted.
This book is still easy to get lost in, and although the urban fantasy aspects and romance’s fight to take over the driver’s seat distracted the plot, I am still excited to see where Roanhorse goes in future installments of The Sixth World series, such as Storm of Locusts.
Recommended for fans of: Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Karsten Knight, and Tony Hillerman
By Rebecca Roanhorse
~Book Review~
*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME that a cataclysmic flood destroys the world as we know it, leading to the rebirth of the Navajo Nation in a mysterious and dangerous Sixth World where gods and monsters reclaim the earth? I am totally here for this. The tension is real!
On the world-building front, Roanhorse knocks it out of the park. The descriptions of the desert, the mesas, the forests of ponderosa and blue spruce carpeting lonely peaks, are all utterly gorgeous, and there is a constant air of menace as ghosts and children-eating monsters roam the hills. Descendants of clans inherit specific magical powers to help them survive their gritty and post-apocalyptic reality, and we get a wise-cracking Coyote who has an invested interest in our heroine Maggie Hoskie.
However, the plot quickly splits into too many threads as the book struggles with what it wants to be. What seems to be a promising monster slaying adventure/mystery gets derailed by an unnecessary love triangle that overtakes the initial premise. Someone is behind the release of increasingly dangerous monsters upon Dinétah, and loner monster slayer Maggie Hoskie teams up with medicine man Kai to investigate.
A common complaint I’ve had of late is the main character proves to be the least engaging, and Trail of Lightning continues my frustrations. Initially I liked Maggie Hoskie, Dinétah monster hunter with lineage gifts of supernatural speed and bloodlust. Despite being quite humorless, she kicked ass, and I was sucked in by the promise of a dark and tangled relationship with her former mysterious mentor, Neizgháni.
Here’s where the issue came in: this book seemed like it should have started with her training and adventures with Neizgháni. The flashbacks with him take up such a significant part of the book that it begs the question why this wasn’t the original storyline in the first place. The consequence is we keep being told about this deep connection they had, as well as how betrayed she feels by him, that we’re dying to have the two reunite already (Never mind what’s happening with Maggie and present day traveling companion Kai). The former mentor-student reunion doesn’t happen until the last quarter of the book, and when it does, it’s in this weird stand-off in a monster dueling ring where he kisses her out of the blue. It feels quite out of left field for someone who had been so carefully guarded about his emotions before.
It also leads to the book taking an abrupt turn toward romance and resolving the love triangle between Maggie, Neizgháni, and good guy healer Kai. This felt like such a departure from Maggie’s character to suddenly be so held up by boyz, and it left the end of the book feeling messy, as if it wasn’t quite sure what it wanted to be.
It would have been interesting for Neizgháni to have joined Maggie and Kai at the start of their investigation into the monsters, and keep these three as the focal point to really flesh out their relationships. Instead, the plot gets constantly distracted by side quests that we don’t really care about, and at the end, it’s a bit confusing when the main quest gets addressed almost as if by accident. I didn’t buy the villain’s true goal; it seemed a very complicated way to get what he wanted.
This book is still easy to get lost in, and although the urban fantasy aspects and romance’s fight to take over the driver’s seat distracted the plot, I am still excited to see where Roanhorse goes in future installments of The Sixth World series, such as Storm of Locusts.
Recommended for fans of: Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Karsten Knight, and Tony Hillerman
January 23, 2021
January 2021 Book Review: Labyrinth Lost
LABYRINTH LOST (Brooklyn Brujas)
By Zoraida Córdova
~Book Review~
*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
THERE’S NOTHING IN A YOUNG WITCH’S LIFE like making your entire family disappear on your Deathday. Alex is a Bruja waiting to inherit her powers, but unlike her sisters (psychic Rose and healer Lula), she would rather not have anything to do with magic. After her attempt to rid herself of her powers during her Deathday goes wrong, banishing her family to the underworld of Los Lagos, Alex teams up with a mysterious Brujo named Nova and her best friend Rishi to save them from the power-hungry Devourer.
I’ve been on an underworld kick and can’t get enough! Los Lagos proves to be no exception, full of perils like a lost soul river, misunderstood harpies, and everlasting festivities with fairy folk in a seemingly cheerful meadow. It’s easy to get immersed in Córdova’s writing, which neatly balances plot with world-building and has an easy, straightforward style.
The most intriguing character by far is Nova. He’s the bad boy archetype who actually executes on it, and displays genuine remorse after. He felt the most fleshed-out and sympathetic to get invested in. Rishi was interesting as well, incredibly loyal and brave to pursue Alex into the underworld without magic powers. As is a common trend in YA novels, our main character Alex proves to be the weakest of the three. Suffering from insecurity, awkward dialogue, and a brooding, harsh personality, she’s difficult to warm up to, and indeed, the biggest mystery was why both Nova and Rishi would be so into her. It’s difficult to make the reluctant heroine character work when the audience is here for the magic and thrill of having supernatural powers, and Alex comes up short in this regard.
But it matters not! We have a great supporting group of characters including the spirited Lula, cynical harpies, and the mysterious world of Los Lagos itself. The Devourer is a bit one-dimensional but it’s nevertheless interesting to learn the backstory behind her desire to reshape the underworld in her image. Best of all, the other two books in Brooklyn Brujas (Bruja Born and Wayward Witch) focus on the more engaging characters of Lula and Rose, as well as include appearances by the enigmatic Nova.
Overall, this book is fun and all about Alex defining her place in her family, both blood born and made. Latinix influences (Alex is of Ecuadorian and Puerto Rican background) intermix with modern day Brooklyn to create an atmosphere brimming with magic and mystery, where Deos walk among skyscrapers and the spirit world is just a spell’s cast away.
Recommended for fans of: Daniel José Older, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Sarah Fine
January 10, 2021
The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) Published!
Hi Everyone,
I'm pleased to announce The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) is published on Amazon Kindle, with further eBook platforms to follow! Check it out here.
Ishmael Abajian was never supposed to be in Hell. He nearly escaped, too, before being betrayed by just about everyone. Now Heaven is noticing. The Doom Bell foretelling the coming of the Apocalypse tolls. And Lucifer Morningstar, more dangerous than ever with the cynical Riley Cyprus by his side, plots to steal the Unholy Relics of his fellow Fallen and declare rulership over Hell.
However, dreams begin to turn in the minds of demons drawn to the ways of Ishmael. Dreams of what could be, even in a place dark and despairing. Xercist’s tempter studies lead him to make an unexpected connection on Earth. Soldier Kantazsia’s convictions are tested upon encountering an angel claiming to be Ishmael’s guardian. And Ishmael must choose whether to pick up his staff once more.
He didn’t ask to be here. He didn’t want to be a savior.
Now that he is, he must decide once and for all what that means.
AFTERLIFE CHRONICLES
The Tribe of Ishmael (Book I)
The Staff of Aaron (Book II)
I'm pleased to announce The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) is published on Amazon Kindle, with further eBook platforms to follow! Check it out here.
Ishmael Abajian was never supposed to be in Hell. He nearly escaped, too, before being betrayed by just about everyone. Now Heaven is noticing. The Doom Bell foretelling the coming of the Apocalypse tolls. And Lucifer Morningstar, more dangerous than ever with the cynical Riley Cyprus by his side, plots to steal the Unholy Relics of his fellow Fallen and declare rulership over Hell.
However, dreams begin to turn in the minds of demons drawn to the ways of Ishmael. Dreams of what could be, even in a place dark and despairing. Xercist’s tempter studies lead him to make an unexpected connection on Earth. Soldier Kantazsia’s convictions are tested upon encountering an angel claiming to be Ishmael’s guardian. And Ishmael must choose whether to pick up his staff once more.
He didn’t ask to be here. He didn’t want to be a savior.
Now that he is, he must decide once and for all what that means.
AFTERLIFE CHRONICLES
The Tribe of Ishmael (Book I)
The Staff of Aaron (Book II)
December 29, 2020
December 2020 Book Review: The Star-Touched Queen
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! Last Book Review of 2020!
THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN
By Roshani Chokshi
~Book Review~
*Warning! Contains Spoilers!*
IMMERSE YOURSELF in a retelling of classic love-lost romance that is lush, atmospheric, and driven by mystery. Drawing from Hindu mythology such as the tale of Savitri and Satyavan, and Shiva and Parvati, Chokshi weaves an underworld adventure that takes you to a throne room woven of stars, down passages filled with doors whispering about secrets of the past, and into the heart of self-discovery.
Chokshi writes with vivid purple prose that flares into the over-dramatic at times, but at others it strikes just the right chord to illuminate heroine Maya’s struggles with self-worth. She is a princess, but despite being the son of the raja, her life is bleak due to being born under a dark horoscope that partners her with Death. The courtiers and the raja’s wives blame her for every misfortune.
On her wedding day, Maya chooses a mysterious suitor Amar who promises her a kingdom with magic and power beyond her wildest dreams, who swears that if she becomes his queen, she will be an equal in all decisions. However, it is in a land beyond the strange Night Bazar where wishes can be granted for your voice or first child, in a place entirely otherworldly. In this kingdom called Akaran, Maya must learn the inner workings of a beautiful tapestry that contains all the life threads of every being to preserve balance between realms. But a mysterious woman haunts Maya, warning that her new husband is really her captor.
I enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down. I found the mystery of Akaran and Maya and Amar’s past lives to be riveting, and I really wanted to know what the deal was between them and Nritti. This was quite a feat, since the characters of Maya and Amar are underdeveloped. Maya is self-loathing and makes many questionable decisions, including trusting Nritti (in both present and former lives when she has full knowledge of her motivations). The best scene is when Maya confronts her father in the underworld about their tragic relationship. Amar is a cardboard personality who I could never quite get a sense of, and the romance is vanilla. I thought it would have been an interesting twist if Nritti ended up being the “dark side” of Maya, or if Amar did have ill intentions, which would have spiced things up and given the main characters not only flaws but agency to act upon them.
However, the story works despite the lackluster leads since the world itself is a character in its own right, and I loved the little details like the elephant who knits clouds and the flesh-eating demon horse. I was hoping the makara (sea dragon) would show up—but maybe that is in the next book.
Speaking of which, Maya’s younger sister Gauri did have a great spark. While this book is a standalone, Chokshi’s second novel in this world, A Crown of Wishes , follows her and a boy Maya sees possible futures for.
Overall, Chokshi’s signature style is like an unfurling love letter, dreamy and full of little currents that delight, and you can expect to be fully submerged in worlds far beyond this one.
Recommended for fans of: Maggie Stiefvater, Renée Ahdieh, Laini Taylor, and Sarah J. Maas
November 25, 2020
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
I don't think there's ever been another year we've been more excited to see over, but 2020 is finally winding down. I am incredibly thankful for the miracle of good health among my family and the chance to continue to write for all of you. There have been so many hardships faced with the pandemic, unemployment, and suffering, that this year at times may feel like we're in a dystopian movie, but there have also been great acts of kindness, generosity, and tenacity. It is incredible to think of the minds at work on the vaccine for COVID-19 who have done so much in such a short time, and reminds us of our greatest strengths to adapt and persevere together. I wish all of you many blessings this holiday.
Thank you to all the writers out there helping everyone feel less alone.
Last sneak peek of The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) is up on Wattpad! Check out Chapter 4 here.
The Staff of Aaron will be available as an ebook on Amazon.com: January 10, 2021. Expansion to all major online ebook retailers to follow.
October 18, 2020
Read Exclusive Excerpts from The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II)!
This Halloween 2020 is scarier than we'd ever like it to be. Sending many well wishes to families around the world grappling with COVID-19. Everything has gone upside down and sideways, but I'm as grateful as always to the loving support of family and friends:
In staying with the world's Ultra Spooky theme, I'm excited to share a first look at the Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II), an apocalyptic dark fantasy about a boy named Ishmael Abajian who finds his hopes for a peaceful afterlife dashed by an untimely journey to Hell. Betrayed by everyone he considers a friend, Ishmael struggles to adapt to a world he does not understand, even as more sinister forces make a play to disrupt the Apocalypse Prophecy and all hopes of a Heavenly rescue...
Catch a sneak peek below on Wattpad. New excerpts to be released soon!
https://www.wattpad.com/story/244771170-the-staff-of-aaron
*Contains major spoilers for The Tribe of Ishmael (Afterlife Chronicles I)
In staying with the world's Ultra Spooky theme, I'm excited to share a first look at the Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II), an apocalyptic dark fantasy about a boy named Ishmael Abajian who finds his hopes for a peaceful afterlife dashed by an untimely journey to Hell. Betrayed by everyone he considers a friend, Ishmael struggles to adapt to a world he does not understand, even as more sinister forces make a play to disrupt the Apocalypse Prophecy and all hopes of a Heavenly rescue...
Catch a sneak peek below on Wattpad. New excerpts to be released soon!
https://www.wattpad.com/story/244771170-the-staff-of-aaron
*Contains major spoilers for The Tribe of Ishmael (Afterlife Chronicles I)
July 26, 2020
July 2020 Book Review: Welcome to Night Vale
Mostly Void, Partially Stars: Welcome to Night Vale Episodes, Volume 1
By Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
~Book Review~
WHAT IS NIGHT VALE, you ask? It is that quirky place at the intersection of the banal and the great unknown, waxing poetic about the lamentations of the living while mowing the lawn. A sci fi Monty Python, or Twilight Zone social commentary with humor. Dragons running for mayor. A domineering Glow Cloud heading up the PTA. And the interns, bless them; too many intern heads role. Such is life.
It’s great storytelling, and it’s great writing. We get to know the residents of this small town in the middle of a desert through the local radio broadcaster Cecil. We have Old Woman Josie, who is dealing with angels who’ve taken up in her home for mysterious reasons; the city council who forbids entrance to the Dog Park for mysterious reasons; outsider scientist Carlos, who is desperate to make sense of the mysterious reasons but in whom Cecil’s interests are not so mysterious—and even you, the reader, make an appearance.
Originally a podcast, each chapter is an episode with an introduction into the minds of the creators, and each episode ends with a humorously wise quote commenting on the absurdity and weirdness of life itself. One of my favorite episodes is about “the Dark Planet,” which filled me will all sorts of delicious chills and curiosity.
If I had any critique, I feel the segments on traffic could have been a bit more humorous and engaging. But, maybe that is me wanting to project my own frustrations about getting stuck in traffic so frequently.
For writers everywhere, this is a fantastic example of how to overcome writer’s block—introduce a bit of chaos. Turn things on their head. Make it wacky and fun. There is a Faceless Old Woman who Secretly lives in your home, a forest that does not want you to leave, and there may not be answers for any of these things, but we can take comfort in the very resilient human nature that insists on preserving through all of the strangeness by embracing it all.
Recommended for fans of: Monty Python, Twilight Zone, Twin Peaks
