Sarah Chorn's Blog, page 12

Review | Radio – J. Rushing

About the Book

Amid the music, lights and energy of 1928’s Paris, something sinister pulses through the æther. The Radio of the Gods manipulates minds across the continent and its creator, the arrogant god Marduk, will sacrifice everything to keep his kind from perverting his masterpiece.

Attempted treason and bitter betrayal force Marduk to escape into a new, unknown body. Worse still, the previous owner, an opium-addicted jazz guitarist, is still inside.

Desperate, drug-addled and fighting for control, Marduk is forced to rely on the few friends he has left – and one terrifying enemy — to see his mission to fruition. If Marduk and company fail, the gods’ vain machinations will destroy everything they’ve built, including civilization itself, all made possible by his RADIO.

408 pages (Kindle)
Published on April 4, 2020
Buy the book

I’ve wanted to read Radio for quite a while. You see, I have a huge soft spot for daring books that deal with fantasy in unique ways, and really, Radio fits the bill. There isn’t anything like it on the market, and that’s part of the appeal. It’s a sort of genre-straddler, which I also understand as that’s the kind of books I write. Is it historical? Is it fantasy? Is it historical fantasy? Who knows. Maybe it’s a bit of all of the above, and that’s part of its appeal. 

Radio tells the story of a group of gods who are creating a radio they plan to use to essentially get people to worship them again, all of this set against a backdrop of 1920s Paris. Marduk (M), is not keen on this idea and has some personal problems with it. Forced to vacate his preferred body, which is about to die, he ends up in the body of a passing stranger, an American opium addict named Del. Things do not happen the way he wants them to, and he ends up having to, in some ways, fly by the seat of his pants through this riotous early 20th century Paris while dealing with addiction and a bunch of gods after him. 

Now, if that doesn’t sell the book to you, I can’t help you. You are beyond saving. 

Radio was amazing. I was instantly entranced by the plot, the setting, and the characters. 1920s Paris is beautifully portrayed to readers. It’s a place steeped in jazz, and an influx of artists, opportunists and the like. People coming there from all over the world, and this really fascinating clash of cultures and thriving nightlife is one result. I really loved how Rushing never went overboard on his descriptions, but he always touched on things just enough for me to be able to “see” the setting and feel the realness in it. Furthermore, he added in small details here and there which not only showed his research, but also lent an air of realism to things. I was genuinely surprised by how much a street name thrown in here or there really helped cement the book in realism. 

M is a wonderful character. He’s arrogant and caustic, with some of that grim humor I truly love. He can’t trust anyone, and he’s in a body that’s addicted to opium. His one (sort of) confidant is someone he also can’t trust, so he has to rely on a bunch of monos (humans) to get by. He’s out of his comfort zone throughout the entire book, and I found it truly delightful to see how an arrogant god deals with something like having to (gasp) rely on us pesky humans to get by. 

I want to touch on the opium addiction a bit, because I was pretty nervous about how Rushing would handle something like that. It’s a serious, serious problem, and I didn’t want it to be brushed over or used as some campy plot device, especially because so many people all over the world suffer with such addictions. I will say, Rushing handled this element wonderfully, and with very real empathy. It wasn’t something that was brushed under the rug, but it was something that had to be dealt with throughout the book, and M, despite all of his flaws, handled powering an opium-addicted body quite well, and with understanding and genuine compassion that I truly admired. Yes, he could be caustic, and yes, he got fed up, but the way Rushing handled something like this impressed me. 

The plot itself moves at a fast clip. The book throws you into the deep end and by the end of chapter one, everything has changed and none of it is good. It took me a few chapters to really wrap my head around what was going on, but this didn’t bother me in the least because it was just so entertaining. After that warmup period where I was being introduced not only to the conflict, but to the idea of body hopping, and understanding the players in the game and what the game is, everything sort of clicked and the book itself was super easy to just sit back and enjoy. There is never a dull moment, from cover to cover, something is always happening somewhere, to someone, for some reason. Gods, as it turns out, do not play nice.

Rushing’s prose was wonderful. Descriptive without going overboard, emotional without really leaning into emotions too hard. The characters unfurled quite well, and were crafted with a healthy mix of realistic flaws. The ending was perfect for the tone of the book. I really found myself applauding his ability to just tell a really good story. Well written and carefully planned, Radio really exceeded my wildest expectations. 

Radio was a book I’d been looking forward to reading for a while now. A fellow SPFBO semi-finalist (we’ve got to stick together), I had my eye on it. I went into this book uncertain about what I expected and left it feeling like I just read the best genre-bending fantasy I’ve encountered in a while. Rushing is a huge talent, and I sincerely hope he continues exploring this world he’s crafted. I am anxious to revisit it. 

If you aren’t reading Radio, you really need to change that. Like, yesterday. This was the breath of fresh air I needed.

5/5 stars

Review | The Wolf in the Whale – Jordanna Max Brodsky

About the Book

A sweeping tale of clashing cultures, warring gods, and forbidden love: In 1000 AD, a young Inuit shaman and a Viking warrior become unwilling allies as war breaks out between their peoples and their gods-one that will determine the fate of them all.

“There is a very old story, rarely told, of a wolf that runs into the ocean and becomes a whale.”

Born with the soul of a hunter and the spirit of the Wolf, Omat is destined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps-invoking the spirits of the land, sea, and sky to protect her people.

But the gods have stopped listening and Omat’s family is starving. Alone at the edge of the world, hope is all they have left.

Desperate to save them, Omat journeys across the icy wastes, fighting for survival with every step. When she meets a Viking warrior and his strange new gods, they set in motion a conflict that could shatter her world…or save it.

544 pages (paperback)
Published on January 29, 2019
Buy the book

When I ran across this book, I knew I had to read it. I love mythology. I love lush prose. I love clashing cultures. I also know nearly nothing about the Inuit culture that is featured in this book, and I was instantly fascinated by that. I have this obsession with places in the world that are really remote, and Greenland is somewhere that has always fascinated me. This book, friends, set me down some serious, serious rabbit holes. 

Brodsky is an author I’ve heard of but I don’t really know a whole lot about her. Other than the premise of the novel, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had high hopes, and I was thrilled to realize that, regardless what my hopes were, she vaulted over them pretty much by the end of the first page. I love poetic writing, and Brodsky absolutely delivered. This was one of those books I long to lose myself in. The words were just as beautiful as the story. I read The Wolf in the Whale as much to admire how Brodsky used words, as for any other reason. 

“There are few sounds at night on the frozen sea besides the roar of the wind. No plants to rustle, no waves to crash upon the shore, no birds to caw. The white owl flies on hushed wings. The white fox walks with silent tread. Even Inuit move as softly as spirits, the snow too hard to yield and crunch beneath our boots. We hear little, but what we do hear is vital: the exploding breath of a surfacing seal, the shift and crack of drifting ice. But in the forest there is always sound. The trees, even in their shrouds of snow, are alive, and their voices–groans, creaks, screams–never cease.” 

There are some interesting things happening in this book, which I feel I should touch on. First, is the use of Inuit cultural elements, and second was gender fluidity. I will eternally fight for the right for an author to be allowed to write the other, and I will also always be a huge proponent of it. I even think it is a good thing to do, to learn about others, to see the world differently, to empathize. I will say, the research needs to be done well, and I think Brodsky did a really good job delivering on that front. There were details and notes, elements throughout the book that showed Brodsky’s extensive research and her empathy for her characters, the world, the plight of those you come in contact throughout the book is felt in every line. 

The story of Omat is a coming of age tale that is unlike anything you will have ever read. Magical realism is a solid categorization for what happens in this book, when myth and lore are reality, and magic is subtle and unshakable. From Omat’s wolf spirit, to her ability to shapeshift and the spirits that live inside her, which were all beautifully described and illuminated for the reader, I was enchanted by her life, and the life of her people.

Conversations with animal guides, and gods, then the ultimate clashing of cultures were done just beautifully, from stem to stern I cannot fault a single element of this book for any of that. I love understated magic systems that feel real in the world they are set in, and the way magic was used in The Wolf in the Whale was not only carefully planned and executed, where myth, lore, and tradition were treated with an immense amount of respect, and brought this world not many people know about to blazing life for the reader. 

“Spirit upon spirit curled one within the other like the spirals of a shell.”

Omat, however, was a fascinating character. As she grows from headstrong child to cautious adult, readers follow along beside her. The world is hard, and tradition dictates everything. When things start going bad for her family, and strangers come (bringing nothing good with them) it sets Omat on another journey. One no one anticipates, which ultimately brings Omat a ton of heartache and trauma, but also makes her a lot stronger. 

The woman Omat ends up being is not the person she started out as. It was fascinating to see how the author worked with trauma and strife, and used them to not only show how these happenings changed Omat. Brodsky does not shy away from showing the aftereffects of trauma, which I appreciated immensely. While there are some hard scenes, which will absolutely make you cry (I dare you not to), Omat doesn’t just move on from them. Brodsky shows how trauma doesn’t just go away. Omat struggles, but she also grows, and the trauma she suffers is never forgotten. It’s felt throughout. 

I want to say this is a slow moving book, but I also want to say I almost wish it moved slower so I could have savored it more. I had a really, really hard time becoming okay with the fact that The Wolf in the Whale had an ending. By the time Omat met Brandr, I was so engrossed in the book I couldn’t pull myself away for all the money in the world. The way the two managed to form their own unique kind of relationship, with language and culture standing in the way, was absolutely engrossing. And wolf pups. 

bangs hand on table WOLF. PUPS. 

The Wolf in the Whale was the kind of fantasy book I live for. Subtle, slow, gorgeous, and thoughtful, this one absolutely blew me away. It’s not a book I will forget anytime soon. My only regret is that it ended. 

5/5 stars

Review | Liefdom – Jesse Teller

About the Book

A zealous guardian in a peaceful city, Gentry Mandrake is a fairy unlike any other. Cast out and hated for his differences, his violent nature makes him wonder at the purity of his soul. He hunts for belonging while fighting to protect the human child bound to him. Explore the mythical realm of The Veil, the grating torture of the Sulfur Fields, and the biting tension between power and purpose in this wondrous struggle against a demonic wizard and his denizens. Can Mandrake overcome such terrible foes to defend those he loves?

260 pages (kindle)
Published on August 2016
Buy the book

Jesse Teller is a close friend of mine.

Before we dig into this review, reader, I want you to know that Jesse Teller is one of my best friends. That makes writing this review really weird, because he is my friend, as I said. However, when I read a really good book I want to yell about it because we all need good books. 

So, I read Liefdom. It was written by one of my best friends. I liked it a lot, despite that relationship, not because of it… but you should know because biases and all that. 

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started reading Liefdom. The prologue lead me to believe it would be some typical castle-centric fantasy and I was kind of prepared myself to smile enjoy it. Then, as soon as the prologue was over (which, let me add, by the end of it I was hooked) the book starts in this fae city of Liefdom, where fairies are birthed from flowers, and the like. From the description, it seems very much like how you’d picture a Disney fairy city. 

However. (and that’s a big “however”.)

As with all things Jesse Teller, you quickly learn that not all things are light and fluffy. In fact, I loved Liefdom, and how I was instantly transported by this fairytale feel and then BAM within just a few pages all the sudden all that fairytale beauty is steeped in rot. We meet Gentry Mandrake, a fae who is made for battle. He is abhorrent to the rest of his kind. He is shunned, and belittled. He is instantly loathed, and soon, he will be the savior the fae need to face whatever will come next. 

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was how human and fae were bound together. When something happens to one, it impacts the other. There is a theme throughout the book of the interconnected nature of things, whether for good or bad. There are ripple effects everywhere, and sometimes they are horrifying, sometimes not so much. However, I did enjoy this theme, and I did like the way Teller leaned into it. I found it to be thought proving and well done. There were, due to this, connections between various characters and plot points, even the world itself, that I didn’t expect. 

The world is a nice blend of haunting, horrifying, and sometimes even light and full of levity. As I said, at the start of the book I anticipated this to be one thing, and it ended up taking a darker, surprising turn almost right away. The world itself is unexpected, and nuanced. There are layers and depths, details here that made me feel as though I was just scratching the surface. There is more to this world of Teller’s creation than I can quite fathom in this one book. 

My favorite part of this book, however, is one I’m going to have a bit of a hard time articulating. You see, there’s something happening in Liefdom that just works for me on a very profound, soul-deep level. There is a marriage of beauty, wonder, pain, and strife that touched me profoundly. Nothing is what it seems to be, and I found myself very wrapped up in Mandrake’s struggle, his strife, and what he had to go through throughout the course of the book. Not only do we learn more about Mandrake, but you generally get a feel for someone who is thrust into a role, and the entire world is set against him. I felt for him. I felt for that plight, and it’s not really one I see so well done, nor so poignant in fantasy that often. There are certain times when I read when I feel like I can see the author’s soul, and I saw a bit of Jesse Teller in the story of Mandrake, and how he, despite all odds, does what he knows is right when the odds are set against him.

There is very much a sort of Hunchback of Notre Dame vibe to Mandrake, and I really enjoyed that as well. The flawed hero. The nearly perfect mixture of opposites in one character… this fractured but profound exploration of the human condition, in a character who is very much not human. 

I enjoyed how some of the characters in this book stayed rather nebulous. Not everyone nor everything was defined as “good” or “bad”. Plenty of things in Liefdom seemed to stray outside of a world of definitions and I appreciated how Teller seemed content to let things rest like that—just defined enough. Like our own world, some things stay nebulous. Hinted at, yet not fully understood. 

If I had some quibbles with this book, they are minor. I felt, occasionally, the plot bounced around a bit. There were details that felt skipped over that would have made some scenes a bit more powerful, make a bit more sense. 

Liefdom swept me away. As I have said, Jesse Teller is a friend of mine, so I have had long conversations with him about the interconnected nature of his world and I’m pretty excited to see how elements of this book will be found in other books in his vast and sprawling world. Liefdom instantly swept me away, but it was the brutal beauty of Mandrake’s story I truly loved. In this creature who wasn’t the least bit human, I found one of the most human stories of all. 

4.5/5 stars

Indie Author Interview | Matt Larkin

Indie Author Interviews is a series of interviews featuring indie authors. These interviews will drop once or twice a week. If you’d like to be part of this series, please contact me at Sarah (at) bookwormblues (dot) net. Please support the authors by clicking on the affiliate links in the interview, spread the word, and, of course, buy their books.

We’re all in this together, you know?

About the Author

Along with his wife and daughter, Matt lives as a digital nomad, traveling the world while researching for his novels. He reads approximately a bazillion books a year, loves video games, and relaxes by binge watching Netflix with his wife.

Matt writes retellings of mythology as dark, gritty fantasy. His passions of myths, philosophy, and history inform his series. He strives to combine gut-wrenching action with thought-provoking ideas and culturally resonant stories.

As a child, Matt read The Lord of the Rings with his parents. This sparked a lifelong obsession with fantasy and started him on a path of discovering the roots of fantasy through mythology. In exploration of these ideas, the Eschaton Cycle was born—a universe of dark fantasy where all myths and legends play out.

Contact Information

Facebook
Email
Newsletter
Website

Describe yourself in six words or fewer.

Mythology-obsessed introverted fantasy geek.

Tell me about your book. 

My most popular series is called Gods of the Ragnarok Era, which reimagines Norse mythology as continuous nine book epic that covers about 400 years of time. It takes a pseudo-Euhemerist approach in assuming Odin and the Aesir were mortals … at least until they eat the apples of Yggdrasil, which make them immortal humans. The series is a part of a greater universe called the Eschaton Cycle, which reimagines all kinds of myth and folklore as dark epic fantasy playing out through numerous eras of the world. 

What makes you and your books unique? Shine for me, you diamond. 

Epic fantasy grew out of mythology, so drawing from such sources isn’t new, but I’m not aware of too many series (in epic fantasy, urban fantasy does this) that try to reconcile disparate myths into a single coherent narrative. And all of this is underlaid by a cosmological framework built from Manichaeism, Gnosticism, and Buddhism which gives import to the whole struggle. So basically, it’s a blend of grimdark fantasy, mythology, and philosophy.

What are you working on now/any future projects you want to talk about? 

I’m working on an era of the Eschaton Cycle that draws heavily from Greek mythology, reimagining the whole thing mostly from the perspective of Pandora.

(Sarah’s insertion: Reader, I am currently editing a book in this new cycle and holy crap is it GOOD.)

Let’s celebrate. What’s one of the best things that’s happened to you as an author? Don’t be shy. 

Going indie has freed me in a lot of ways. I’m not on anyone’s publishing schedule but my own, and I can experiment (for good or ill) without anyone saying “this isn’t commercial enough.”

Let’s talk CRAFT

If you had to start over with writing and publishing, what would you do differently and why?

I’d stock up several books, maybe a finished series. People like finished series and having one makes it way easier to get new readers to take a chance on an unknown author. Of course, I’d also love to start now, since with every book, I think my writing improves.

What about self-publishing appeals to you? Why did you choose this particular path to publication? 

Higher royalties are a bonus, for sure. But there’s also always been this question of control. I always planned the Eschaton Cycle as an expansive, interconnected web of series. And I remember hearing this story from a trad author I was reading, where his series got cancelled by the publisher and they had the rights and he wasn’t even allowed to publish more of it. Reading his interview was just devastating.

What does your writing space look like?

These days I mostly write sitting on the bed with my laptop. That’s mainly a side effect of being a digital nomad and not owning too much.

Plotter or pantser, and why? 

Plotter, for sure. I have all these stories in my head, connected with each other. I mean, different series crossing over and so forth. So I couldn’t even turn off the planning if I wanted to and I’d never pull it off if I did.

(Sarah: I suggest you all go visit his website. It’s probably the best author website I’ve ever seen, and I’ve literally spent HOURS fiddling around with his maps. It is AMAZING.)

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve researched while writing a book? 

Octopus physiology. My Heirs of Mana series has sentient octopi as major antagonists and I did a fair bit of research into them for that. 

What does your research process look like? 

Usually I start with trying to find 2-4 books on the subject (a given book may require several subjects) and verify the author has some kind of credentials. Then I buy the books on my Kindle (I vastly prefer they be on Kindle both for my process and because of my minimalist lifestyle). I read through them tagging important parts with different color highlights, and make notes about any plot ideas stuff sparks. Then I collate all the highlights in Scrivener document for review.

When does research matter, and how do you incorporate it into your books?

The vast majority of my work involves retelling or reimagining myths or folklore, so, of course, I have to actually read said stories. In most cases—and people don’t realize this—there is no canon of a given mythology. There’s different versions by different authors with stories that changed over time. So, I have to figure out which version makes the most sense for the world I’ve created. Also, I believe none of these stories originate in a vacuum, so I research the historical culture that created them and usually create a rough stand-in for that culture in my setting.

Let’s talk about BOOKS

Tell me about the most recent book you’ve read.

I have been reading (nearly finished) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I read Circe a while back and really loved it. Both are retellings of Greek mythology told from the perspective of fairly minor characters and both are dream-like and poetic and super well researched. I actually don’t know which released first, but seeing both so brilliantly executed has Miller achieving must-read status for me.

What’s your favorite book as a child? 

As a kid, it was The Lord of the Rings, which I read with my parents. Those books sparked both my love of reading and of fantasy in general. Since I started writing fantasy stories around that time, say age six, I suppose one could say they brought me here.

What book(s) or authors have influenced you, and why? 

Dune had an immeasurable influence on my early conceptions of what I wanted to write about and why. In more recent years, I’m influenced by the prose and themes of R. Scott Bakker and Guy Gavriel Kay.

Hobbies & All Things WEIRD

When you aren’t writing, what can you typically be found doing?

Reading and playing video games. My wife and I usually choose one or two nights a week to binge a tv show.

How do your non-writerly hobbies influence your writing? 

I think—and I assume this is true for most writers—almost any means of consuming stories is likely to influence writing. Movies, tv, video games, they probably all have subtle effects on the mind. I tend to get really into whatever I’m experiencing—if it’s good—and think, “oh, I want to write a book set in this type of location!”

If you had to pick a superpower, what would you pick and why? 

The ability to share empathy between other people on a large scale. A lot of negative stuff we see in the world is because many people fail consider how they’d feel if someone treated them how they behave toward those who are different.

What’s your favorite food from a country you do not live in? 

That’s really hard to choose just one. Maybe Pad Thai. But honestly, I tend to really go for foods from many Asian countries. We have a lot of Indian (my wife is from India) and there are so many dishes I love from there.

Image from this website.

Any final thoughts? 

Randomly, I sometimes hear people say things implying some level of shock at seeing mythology (in particular my Norse stories) coming out so dark. And I get it—popular culture often bowdlerizes myths (and fairy tales, wow!) to make these things suitable for modern children, or make them funnier, or so forth. But our ancestors were tough people, living in harsh worlds, and these tales reflect that. Mythology is actually a perfect fit for grimdark fantasy, because it so often gritty, violent, and centered around characters we’d call morally gray (or downright reprehensible).

Thanks for stopping by, Matt! Remember to check out his website and buy his books!

Review | Windborn – Alex S. Bradshaw

About the Book

Drowning is only the beginning… 

Edda Gretasdottir is a raider, a fell-handed shield-maiden, feared along every coast. Hers is a life woven in battle scars.

But she never wanted to walk the warrior’s path. All she wanted was freedom, to earn enough gold to buy her family their own remote farm, and to escape their oppressive chieftain. Now, she has enough plunder so that she can finally hang up her shield and live in peace.

That peace is stolen from Edda, however, when raiders burn her home, destroy all that she loves, and toss her, wounded and bleeding, into the ravenous ocean.

But the fates are cruel and this is not the end for Edda: she rises from the bloody surf as a Windborn, a cursed warrior whose supernatural gifts are a poor exchange for everything she has lost.

Fuelled by rage and armed with strange new powers Edda will hunt for whoever sent the raiders, for whoever is responsible for taking everything from her. She will show them the sharp edge of her axe… or die trying.

Windborn is a dark, character-driven Norse fantasy packed with emotion, deadly foes, and vicious battles.

Publishing on April 28, 2021
Buy the book

I was the editor of this book. 

I’ve been trying to decide when the best time to talk about this book is, and I think I’ve decided it’s now, because I’m tired of not talking about it. 

Before I get into this review, you need to know something. Reader, I edited Windborn, so I am a bit biased in what I think about it. Keep that in mind. I truly love my job, and I truly want all of my authors to succeed. I like to shout about their books when they are coming out, so all of you can know how amazing they are, as well.

Windborn is Alex S. Bradshaw’s first book. I knew when I saw the few pages, I wanted in on this project. I am not hugely into Norse mythology, but every now and again, a Norse-inspired epic fantasy will come along that will just wow me. This was one such book. Once I saw the first few pages, I knew this one was something really special, and I’d do just about anything to get in on a project that looks this promising. 

So, with a deal struck, Alex sent me the manuscript and I started working. 

The first thing I noticed was the prose. Bradshaw has a way with writing that is descriptive with an edge of lyrical that I loved. The scenery came to life, but more, so did the emotions. In fact, that was one of my favorite parts of this book. It’s impossible to not feel. Edda is a character that is full of passion, and that passion can take many different forms throughout the book, but it is always there. You’ll ride her highs, and you’ll feel her lows. She’s not someone you sit back and enjoy from a distance. Edda is someone you experience. She got right in my blood and started haunting me. More real than real, she was an absolutely stunningly crafted character.

If you know anything about me, you’ll know that my favorite books are the ones that make me feel, and this book actually had me wiping away tears in a few parts. It isn’t often that a book I’m editing makes me cry, and when that happens, I tend to really savor the moment.

I have a speech I give the authors I work with a lot. Picture a big chasm. You have the writer on one side, and the reader on the other. The writer’s job is to build a bridge with their story, so somehow the two can meet in the middle. Sometimes, a truly special book will come along and the writer will build a bridge, and instead of meeting in the middle, the reader just walks over to the writer’s side of the chasm and camps there. Those are the special books. Those are the books that live, and breathe both on and off the page.

Those are the books like Windborn.

Edda is an interesting character with an unforgettable narrative voice, due, largely, to what she has to endure. Bradshaw takes you into the book on a high. Riding all of Edda’s hopes and dreams, feeling her burning love for her husband, and the promise in her future. Then, something happens, and all of that changes. In a blink, she loses literally everything. While she tries to make her way through her grief, you see her determination and feel her pain. Then, another tragedy strikes and she loses even more. She loses things she doesn’t even know she had. Everything changes, and Edda has to tap into a new, heretofore undiscovered well of strength. 

From this point on (which is pretty early in the book), Edda’s story changes. Edda becomes Windborn, or a cursed warrior with supernatural abilities who is, essentially, a sort of slave. Determined to strike back at the people who cost her so much, she ends up embroiled in a struggle she never saw coming, with her own thirst for vengeance powering her. Again, you see Bradshaw’s power for prose, not just in description, but in Edda’s emotions, the constant tug-of-war she has with herself, her struggle to find her own reason to keep going in a world that no longer feels like her own, being a stranger in her own skin.

I seriously, seriously felt for Edda. Her story touched every part of me, and it was impossible to not feel torn apart as I read not only about her outer journey but her inner one as well. I think Bradshaw did an incredible job balancing the two, never skipping over one to highlight the other. In summation, this book is as much about the internal as the external, and I absolutely loved it for that. 

There is a lot of action in Windborn, as you’d expect from a book based on a bunch of warriors. Some of it is unpredictable. I’m about 99% sure I cursed him eternally for some plot twists I didn’t see coming. There were some parts that were brutal and made me shrink back a bit. The ending is bittersweet and perfect for the story being told. Friends, the ending made me feel that burning deep inside, that sort of keening, hollow ache. Why? Because it was over, and I just wasn’t ready yet. I’m still not ready, truthfully. I want to go back and read this book for the first time all over again. I want to experience the highs and lows of Edda’s tale with eyes that have never seen it. 

It’s the kind of book that amazed me so much, it took a long, long time for me to move past it. In fact, I edited this book months ago, and I still find myself thinking about it. Just the other day, I was cooking dinner and the random thought, “I wonder what Edda is doing right now” popped into my head. I mean, that’s how real this book was. I edited it, and I lived it, and I breathed it, and now I’m still not quite okay with it being over. 

In fact, Alex Bradshaw, I think you and I need to have a conversation, because I need more of this series, and I will do just about anything to be the person to edit it. I’m putting that out there in the world, because that’s, right now, what I want to get out of it. 

This book is truly special, and I honestly cannot wait for all of you to experience the surreal, incredible, wild ride that is Windborn. 

Windborn releases on April 28. Right now you can pre-order it for $.99. I suggest you do that, because it is important to support authors (pre-orders are how you hug an author without invading their personal space). It’s also important because this book truly is amazing, and I really want it to explode on the charts. 

Alex Bradshaw is an author you need to watch. 

Alex, I need to read the next book. Like, yesterday. 

5/5 stars

Review | Gunmetal Gods – Zamil Akhtar

About the Book

They took his daughter, so Micah comes to take their kingdom. Fifty thousand gun-toting paladins march behind him, all baptized in angel blood, thirsty to burn unbelievers.

Only the janissaries can stand against them. Their living legend, Kevah, once beheaded a magus amid a hail of ice daggers. But ever since his wife disappeared, he spends his days in a haze of hashish and poetry.

To save the kingdom, Kevah must conquer his grief and become the legend he once was. But Micah writes his own legend in blood, and his righteous conquest will stop at nothing.

When the gods choose sides, a legend will be etched upon the stars.

475 pages (paperback)
Published on October 2020
Buy the book

I got this book on a lark. It was on Kindle Unlimited and it looked interesting so why not. I was immediately sucked into the nonwestern feel of the world. The Middle Eastern roots of this story are obvious from page one, and I loved it. In fact, the worldbuilding was my favorite part of this work. It was lush and layered, and large, expanding further and further as the book went on, hinting at things beyond the borders of this lone book. 

In fact, Gunmetal Gods truly astounded me in scope. The book was epic in every sense of the word. Nothing was simple or surface, from the world to the religions to the conflicts to the characters. Everything had other layers, other meanings, other reasons for being. Sometimes it was immediately obvious, but more often than not, the reasons would become clear as the book progressed. There are hints sprinkled throughout this word, and if you pick up on all of them, you’ll have an absolutely delightful experience connecting the dots, and understanding just how deep the world building goes.

Gunmetal Gods is not a book you’ll want to read if you want any lulls in the pacing. There are none, and this is both the benefit and the downfall of the book. Sometimes things were happening so fast, it was hard to keep track of what was going on where and why. Occasionally, the sequence of events was jarring, and I felt like things happened between point A and point B that I missed. There were instances where the character development lacked a bit. I would have appreciated a bit more time on some plot point, and characters, for example, so I could understand a bit more of who they were. I felt, basically, that slowing the pacing down, would have created a lushness to the execution that I did feel the book occasionally lacked. 

That being said, Gunmetal Gods is an all-out thrill ride. There’s never a dull moment, and as things really get spinning, the darkness just keeps getting darker. Told in two first-person points of view, the book gets into the psyche of its protagonists. As they advance upon their various quests, not only does the action ramp up and intensify, but both characters become darker and more violent as well. I will say, it got pretty exhausting toward the end. I would have appreciated more moments to take a breath, but I think a lot of readers won’t mind this at all. The pace is breakneck, and absolutely absorbing. 

The characters, Micah the Metal on one side, and Kevah on the other, are fascinating. Multi-layered and well-crafted, they really command the book in every respect, and steal the show when they take the stage. Most of this book is based on religion, belief, and various forms of redemption arcs through the characters. Both characters evolve over time, and get darker as the book goes on. Some of the graphic violence may be overwhelming to some readers, but it was true to the nature of the book itself.

There is a wide array of characters that populate this world, from paladins, to horse warriors, to janissaries, to djinn and evil spirits, and magi. The unique qualities, even the magical aspects of this world unfold apace with the book itself. As I mentioned before, the world building is some of the best I have come across, both firmly rooted in reality, with a nice dash of realistic otherworldliness thrown in for good measure. I found myself as interested in how the author worked these elements into his story, as finding out just what would turn up next. 

The writing was beautiful, and if you know anything about me, you know I am a sucker for books that marry beauty and pain. Gunmetal Gods did this beautifully. The prose dips a toe into poetic waters without going overboard. The scenery came to life, which was a huge plus for me because seriously, this worldbuilding was intense and amazing, and the prose made it truly shine. There were times when I felt like I was transported to the scene I was reading about. I could smell the air, and taste the food. It was so real to me. I honestly enjoyed this book as much for the style of writing, as for the plot itself. 

Gunmetal Gods is a book that reached out and grabbed me. It was impossible to put down once it got started. If I feel like the book could have used a bit slowing down, a bit more time spent on all its different elements, it was more than made up for with the story itself. Honestly, the book blew me away. For fans of bloody, dark, fast-paced epic fantasy full of layers and complications, you really don’t need to look further than this. 

I will be watching this author closely. I think he’s going to have a brilliant career ahead of him. 

4/5 stars

Review | Klara and the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro

About the Book

Klara and the Sun, the first novel by Kazuo Ishiguro since he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, tells the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her.

Klara and the Sun is a thrilling book that offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: What does it mean to love?

304 pages (Hardcover) 
Published on March 2, 2021
Buy the book 

Kazuo Ishiguro is an author who basically slayed me a few years ago. You see, I randomly downloaded the audiobook for Never Let Me Go and then went off to work the day job and listened to it. I had no idea what I was getting into. So I go to work, and I listen to that book and then I get to the end where you finally figure out what’s going on and holy mother of god, I have never in my life had a book undo me as much as that one did. I mean, I was bawling so hard my coworkers asked me if someone died. I laugh about it now, but the truth is, an author who writes books that can make a reader feel that profoundly is an author to notice. 

Ishiguro has won the Nobel Prize for literature, so that really says enough right there, doesn’t it? However, Klara and the Sun is his first book released since he won said prize, and because I love it when authors make me feel, I knew I had to read this one. 

First off, I listened to the audiobook of this, and I really enjoyed the narrator. She was easy to understand, and had a good flow and voice for Klara herself. She made it quite easy to sink into the book. So, if you’re an audiobook fan, give this one a listen. It’s well done, and you’ll likely enjoy it as much as I did.

Klara and the Sun is an interesting book. Told from the perspective of Klara, an AF (Artificial Friend). While this book is about friendship, and love, and various other deep themes of that nature, the story itself is told with the voice of a robot. Therefore, the book doesn’t quite shine on a sentence level the way some of his other books do. Klara has a bit of a, dare I say, robotic voice. It does loosen up as time goes by, but she never quite slips out of being what she is. 

That being said, I didn’t have a problem with that at all. In fact, while the prose did feel utilitarian, it was welded like a hammer, making a large impact with few words. Her voice was unique and it really helped hammer her own evolution and experiences home. 

In this near future world, the evolution of society is seen mostly in genetics, and the social stratification that results from genetic tinkering. This is one of those nebulous things, where you see hints of the world, the shape of these issues that are at the core of this book. In fact, this ability for Ishiguro to reveal in fits and starts, holding the big picture back until it will have the largest impact on the reader is one of my favorite things about this author. In so many ways, this world is so similar to our own, but when you do start seeing these differences, they are both subtle and monumental at the same time. And then, that last gasp when you finally understand everything you’ve been reading about is nothing short of amazing. 

Josie quickly enters Klara’s life, and becomes the core of it, and Klara is hired to be her friend, and also take care of her. In a lot of ways, Klara’s relationship with Josie is a lot about care, both physically and emotionally, and the friendship that evolves from that kind of selfless love. Josie, being a teenager, spends a lot of the book trying to figure out who she is. Her illness is hinted at, and like so much else in the book, slowly revealed to the reader. Through Josie, readers get a view of how school and socialization works in this new future. You get a sense of her yearning to belong, and how hard she fights against basically her own fate. You feel, deeply, how she is both a part of, yet apart from at the same time.

Klara is an interesting voice to throw into this changing and evolving stew. Klara, being what she is, is unchanging, and in many ways the love and kindness she bestows upon those around her are far more pure than anything a human could muster, and due to that, the moments of realization feel that much more emotionally impactful because such pure selflessness is at the heart of every part of this story. While the world changes around her, Klara remains the same and it feels like there is a message in that, and also a certain marriage of hope and sorrow that went right through me. Perhaps it says something that the person in the novel who impacted me the most was the one who was not, in fact, human. 

Klara and the Sun has a huge emotional impact, as all of this author’s books do. However, instead of breaking me down into buckets of tears, like Never Let Me Go, the emotional impact of this one was just as profound, if not quite as obviously so. The well this draws from is deep, but different, a kind of simmering below the surface rather than an outpouring. This book made me think, and haunted me long after I finished it. 

Klara and the Sun was a delight I lost myself to, and just like Ishiguro’s other work, it’s one that has me looking at love, and kindness, and what it means to be human in a completely new light. 

5/5 stars

Review | Subversive – Colleen Cowley

About the Book

In an America controlled by wizards and 100 years behind on women’s rights, Beatrix Harper counts herself among the resistance—the Women’s League for the Prohibition of Magic. Then Peter Blackwell, the only wizard her town has ever produced, unexpectedly returns home and presses her into service as his assistant.

Beatrix fears he wants to undermine the League. His real purpose is far more dangerous for them both.

Subversive is the first novel in the Clandestine Magic trilogy, set in a warped 21st century that will appeal to fans of gaslamp fantasy.

Published September 27, 2020
Buy the book

I randomly nabbed this book off of Kindle Unlimited. It looked different, and I enjoy alternative histories so why not. In the end, I was left largely pleased with the experience of reading it. It wasn’t what I expected, and I left it kind of off-balance because it was just such a large deviation in some respects, from what I’d anticipated. 

Reader, I love being pleasantly surprised.

Subversive tells the story of a woman named Beatrix, who, after her parents died in the last Great Depression, gave up basically everything to raise her younger sister, who is now a college student. Beatrix herself works in a local general store to make ends meet, and is involved in the League for the Prohibition of Magic. Into this mix arrives Peter Blackwell, an omnimancer who comes from Washington itself to help the people in this small town with potions and the like. 

Soon, it becomes clear that Peter is not exactly what he seems, and neither is Beatrix. The book itself follows their journey. Slowly, Peter’s true motivations are revealed, and just as carefully, so is Beatrix’s latent potential. 

I will say, a lot of this book focuses on relationships, both between characters, with family members, amongst the community and the like. Beatrix and Peter play really well off each other. Peter grew up with Beatrix before life happened and he moved away to do other things. These two characters have a shared history, but they are also very different people now, and while they get to know each other, in a lot of respects they are getting to know themselves as well, and I really enjoyed that dynamic. The author did an excellent job playing them off each other. 

The magic system was unlike any I have ever seen used before, which was a delight. Leaves are collected from trees, and are, basically, the fuel required to cast magic. From a leaf, a person could create a pen, and parchment to write upon, or any number of other things (though herbs, potions, incantations and the like are used as well). One of the most important social elements of this book is also reliant upon this magic system. You see, sometime in this alternative history, magic was not only discovered, but it was has been understood that only males can use it. 

So, we are dropped into this interesting alternative United States where males are given priority over females for many things, not just magic, but in this version of America, women’s rights are not a thing that exists. The standards of the time are very similar to the 1920s. For example, there is one point near the start of the book, after Beatrix has been strongarmed into being Peter’s assistant, where Peter gets harangued by one of the local busybodies about, basically, “What are people going to think about Beatrix with you alone in that big house and no chaperone?” 

Interestingly, this book is set roughly in our same day and age, but with this 1920s feel to things (think prohibition), so readers get an interesting mix of modern and historical. Cars are relatively modern, but instead of computers, people are still using typewriters and etc. It created a world I didn’t expect, and I both felt very excited about this unique blend of elements. Though, I have to admit, this is probably my biggest drawback to the novel as a whole. 

In some ways, I felt like this worldbuilding was supposed to be a bit more profound than it actually ended up being. Ultimately, I felt like this mix of elements muddied the waters more than it clarified them. I think it would have worked better if the entire book had just been set in the 1920s or somewhere around there (just pick a time period), because so many of the elements were true to that period, to the point they overwhelmed the modern details and I had to reread passages to pick the modern details up.

It took me a few rereads at the start of the book, for example, to understand cars were fairly modern. For another example, there were mentions of not wanting books about magic to fall into the hands of Germans and Japanese, at one point, and that’s something that’s very early to mid 1900s as well. When I really realized the book was set in the 2000s, I honestly was so surprised I had to re-read that a few times just to let that soak in. So it’s an interesting mix of modern and historical, but ultimately the historical overwhelmed the modern and I think it could have been a lot more meaningful and real if all the elements had been streamlined a bit. 

However, aside from that one drawback, I thought the book itself was a true delight to read. It wasn’t one that makes you work too hard to understand it. The author did an amazing job at weaving together elements of the plot, the characters, and the world so revelations came at the proper time. There were few infodumps, and it was easy to follow what was going on. If some plot points were predictable (I could smell the romance thread a mile away, for example) it was easy to forgive. Not everything needs to be a huge surprise to be enjoyable. This book is the kind of thing you’ll want to pick up when you need to just relax, and detach from the world. 

The writing was likewise well done. Never over-the-top, or purple, but just descriptive enough to bring scenes to life, and make the evolution of characters and situations really matter. I enjoyed, in fact, the way Cowley managed to make her story come to blazing life, without overwhelming any of the elements of it with overdone prose. Every word, every sentence, was carefully chosen for maximum impact.

Subversive is the start to a new series, and I fully intend on continuing on with it. Was it a perfect book? No, but it was extremely enjoyable, and a true gem. An absolutely enchanting marriage of Gaslamp fantasy and alternative history. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes me. 

4/5 stars

Review | The Lord of Stariel – A.J. Lancaster

About the Book

The Lord of Stariel is dead. Long live the Lord of Stariel. Whoever that is. 

Everyone knows who the magical estate will choose for its next ruler. Or do they? 

Will it be the lord’s eldest son, who he despised? 

His favourite nephew, with the strongest magical land-sense? 

His scandalous daughter, who ran away from home years ago to study illusion? 

Hetta knows it won’t be her, and she’s glad of it. Returning home for her father’s funeral, all Hetta has to do is survive the family drama and avoid entanglements with irritatingly attractive local men until the Choosing. Then she can leave. 

But whoever Stariel chooses will have bigger problems than eccentric relatives to deal with. 

Winged, beautifully deadly problems. 

For the first time in centuries, the fae are returning to the Mortal Realm, and only the Lord of Stariel can keep the estate safe. 

In theory. 

318 pages (kindle)
Published on November 1, 2018
Buy the book

You know how sometimes you need to read a book that is just… chill? It’s a book you can pick up, unplug from the world, and just enjoy. You might be going through something, you might be stressed, or really whatever. Whatever the reason, you need to read a book that is basically the equivalent of a mental vacation. 

That’s where I was recently. I needed a vacation. I cannot go on a vacation. 

Insert The Lord of Stariel. 

I will admit, it was the cover art that really did it for me. I didn’t know much about this book, but I was intrigued by that alone. It told me enough, without telling me anything at all. It made me want to know more. So, hats off to the cover art designer. You did a great job. 

The Lord of Stariel is one of those books that’s hard for me to put my thumb on. The world feels like it’s a half-step from our own, which was a lot of fun. It’s both familiar, but with enough unique to it to make it feel other. The magic system, because of this, felt natural, and I had a lot of fun imagining how some of the skills and abilities presented in the book would impact life in our world. In fact, as I read this book, I often found myself wandering down pathways of “what if”. I was surprised by how engaged I was, and how easy it was for me to visualize these characters, this magic, this world, outside of the setting in the book. 

The Lord of Stariel felt more character-driven than plot driven, and that was actually a benefit for me. I absolutely love character-driven books. In fact, I love them so much I write them. Hetta was a strong female protagonist I instantly loved. After spending years away, she learns her father dies and returns home for his funeral and for the Choosing, when the manner will pick the person who inherits it. It soon becomes clear her relationship with her father was less than ideal, and things are going on in her family that she doesn’t expect. In fact, there’s a bit of mystery in the book, but it sort of haunts the fringes of things. It’s there… just enough. 

Hetta, though, stole the show. While all of the characters were well-rounded and lifelike, Hetta was someone I could instantly get behind. She’s a mature woman who knows her own mind. That’s not saying she never had doubts or fears or the like, but her vulnerabilities were balanced well with her incredibly realistic strengths, and I loved how she knew what her limits were, not just with magic, but with her role in her family, her place in the world, really everything. She was just a delightful character to follow. 

This book does have romance in it, and it will probably, because of that, appeal to people who don’t mind that sort of thing more than others. For me, I loved it. It was real, and raw, and had none of the purple prose or over-the-top sex that people might equate with romance plotlines. In fact, this might be one of my favorite romantic fantasy stories I’ve ever read, and a good reason for that was how balanced the author kept things. She never let go of the reigns and focused too much one aspect of the story and not enough anywhere else, which kept the romance just as real as her characters. While I did get the warm fuzzies, and I did truly enjoy the romantic plot points, I never once felt any part of it was over-the-top, or forced, and that’s saying a lot. I… struggle with romance in my books. I did not struggle here. 

I also feel the need to touch on prose. Like everything else in the book, I was rather amazed by how well Lancaster balanced the different elements of her writing. She never got overly descriptive, and never got too purple. She kept things light and humorous when needed, but also managed to have serious moments that were packed full of powerful emotion. When it served the story, she kept things straightforward, and yet there were quieter moments where she vividly painted details, like how the light fell on a certain person, that just brought it to life perfectly. This had the added effect of engrossing me in the story, because so much of the important scenes were written in such a way I could actually “see” them in my mind’s eye. I felt invested. I was enraptured. 

I haven’t really touched on plot much, but there absolutely is a plot, and while I found it to be pretty predictable at points, I was so in love with the book itself and the characters in it, I didn’t mind at all. I loved the air of mystery that nipped at the fringes of the story… until it wasn’t, and the way it all came together in the end. I found Lancaster hit the right notes here as well, with just enough dark to make an impact, and enough light to make it matter. 

So, where does that leave us? 

The Lord of Stariel isn’t for everyone. If you’re a blood and guts fantasy reader, you’ll probably want to steer clear. However, if you’re in the mood for something that feels just a half-step away from our world, full of characters that breathe on and off the page, a romance that hits all the right notes, and a plot that keeps you engaged, then you’ll want to check this out. Fae magic, weird family dynamics, heartwarming points, and mystery… what more could you possibly want? 

I will absolutely continue reading this series. 

4.5/5 stars

Review | The Forever King – Ben Galley

About the Book

Revenge loves company. 

Mithrid Fenn wants nothing to do with magick. Magick is a curse word, banned by the vast Arka Empire and punishable by death. Its purging has finally brought peace to war-torn Emaneska. Only a stubborn rebellion, led by the warlord Outlaw King, raids and pillages the empire’s northern fringes.
 
To cliff-brat Mithrid, this is an age of tranquility and childhood games. That is until an illegal spellbook washes up on her shores, and she finds herself thrust into a war she never knew existed.
 
Now hunted by daemons and mages, she is dragged inexorably north to Scalussen and its rebels fighting doggedly to preserve a memory of freedom. Mithrid holds no such ideals. She fights for revenge and nothing nobler. If spilling blood means helping the Outlaw King, then so be it. Even if it means all-out war.

659 pages (paperback)
Published on December 1, 2020
Buy the book

Ben Galley is an author who has really rocketed to the top of my Need To Read list. He intimidates me a bit because in the indie scene, everyone knows who Galley is. His books are everywhere, and just about everyone I know has read at least one of them. Dude has attained a level of popular I admire, and yet somehow I know I will absolutely never reach with my own books. 

In truth, I’ve been a bit burnt out on epic fantasy. I love it, but I really need to be in the right mood. I was a bit reluctant to give Galley’s epic fantasy a shot, but I decided, since I’ve loved his other stuff so much, I wanted to give this one a try. He has a way with doing things just different enough to make it feel fresh and new, and his obvious passion for the stories he tells is felt in every page.

The Forever King was the book I chose. Reason being, I felt like it. I should also note, as soon as I finished this book I picked up The Written and devoured that beast in about three days flat. If you’re looking for an early summarization of this review, there you go. It was so good, I instantly went and read the first book in Galley’s other series because I wanted more. 

The Forever King is its own series, but it takes place years after the events of his Emaneska series. You do not need to read the Emaneska series to appreciate, understand, or enjoy this one. Though I will say, if you have read his Emaneska series, you might get a few more of the layers and nuances in this one. Don’t let that stop you. I haven’t read his Emaneska series before reading this book and I absolutely loved it. 

The action in this book kicks off almost from page one. Instantly, the reader is thrown into a situation full of tension and strife, where the government is pitted against a growing dissenting population who are looking for saving from an Outlaw King. War is in the air. In fact, the feel of impending strife and war fairly leaps off the page. If Galley does one thing really well, it’s working with tension, and moving pieces around a gameboard really well, and creating ripples with all those motions. 

The Forever King was so much fun to read. Galley takes readers on a nonstop ride. The plot is fast moving and addicting. There are a lot of twists and turns that I never saw. Probably what I loved the most was how Galley played with some of the themes he used to tell this story. For example, the emperor uses disinformation to manipulate public opinion about magic, and to manipulate the public in general. This sort thing finds its way into fantasy every now and again, but I think Galley really used it well. It is cleverly used and showed a division, of a sort, between message and reality, and the devastating consequences that result. 

Mithrid, our protagonist, has been raised a certain way, and throughout the book, you follow her as she finds herself embroiled in events that surpass anything she ever anticipated. Mithrid both ends up questioning her engrained beliefs, her place in the world, and herself. She was a fascinating character to follow, and Galley dealt with her development flawlessly. On the other side, Galley marches out a bunch of antagonists you can really love to hate. I absolutely love a good antagonist, and he really knows how to craft them. 

Mithrid, though, really grabbed my heart and pulled hard. She’s a strong female protagonist who is hellbent on revenge against the people who did her wrong. She’s got an axe and some magic no one has ever seen, and she goes all over the place on her quest. She joins up with a group of interesting characters, each of them well-crafted. Galley plays his characters off each other well, but Mithrid was really the star of the show. 

The magic in this book was both central to the plot, but also really interesting. It was darker than I expected it to be. One of my favorite things about really good magic systems is its balance. Positive and negative are balanced well, and while I expected that with Galley, I don’t think I expected it to get quite so dark (and sometimes horrific). I have to put the dragon in on the positive side. I know, I know, a dragon is its own thing, but this one talks so I’m counting it as part of the magic system. 

All in all, Ben Galley is an author who has breathed new life into epic fantasy. He knows how to tell a good story, and his writing is superb. Never too much, never too little. Each scene blazes to life. His characters live and breathe off the page. Galley is incredibly talented, and solidly falls on my Instant Buy list. The Forever King is one of the best epic fantasy books I’ve read in a while. In fact, it’s so good, I’ve basically began devouring all of Galley’s other work. 

If you haven’t read Ben Galley’s books yet, you really, really need to rectify that. 

5/5 stars