Sarah Chorn's Blog, page 44

Quantum Night – Robert J. Sawyer

About the Book

Experimental psychologist Jim Marchuk has developed a flawless technique for identifying the previously undetected psychopaths lurking everywhere in society. But while being cross-examined about his breakthrough in court, Jim is shocked to discover that he has lost his memories of six months of his life from twenty years previously—a dark time during which he himself committed heinous acts.

Jim is reunited with Kayla Huron, his forgotten girlfriend from his lost period and now a quantum physicist who has made a stunning discovery about the nature of human consciousness. As a rising tide of violence and hate sweeps across the globe, the psychologist and the physicist combine forces in a race against time to see if they can do the impossible—change human nature—before the entire world descends into darkness.

368 pages (hardcover)

Published on March 1, 2016

Published by Ace

Author’s webpage

Buy the book

This book was sent by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

—

I really enjoy cerebral science fiction. I love the stuff that gets into your head and makes you wonder which way is up. Give me a social science fiction book that completely paints the world in different colors, and I’m there with bells on. Period.

Robert Sawyer is an incredible author, and his books are absolutely prolific. Just about every hard SciFi fan has heard his name or read some of his books. I’m ashamed to say that I believe this is the first book by Sawyer that I’ve actually read. I think I need to rectify that.

Sawyer has an incredibly confident, nothing held back style of writing, and I completely dig that about him. His prose flow smoothly and never turn purple. He knows exactly how much to say in any given situation, and he knows the perfect way to say it. He can infuse a passage with incredible tension, or make things light and breezy with an easy twist of some words. It’s quite magnificent. Sawyer is also heavy on the details, and I absolutely love that. This book largely takes place in Canada, and while I’m familiar with exactly 0% of any of the locals, his descriptions were detailed enough to allow me to picture some of the things that happened, and the places they happened in my mind.

Those details also play a huge role in the plot, and some of the tiny aspects of the book that people tend to overlook became huge and important later on. It’s quite artful how he managed to not just make everything shine, but make everything matter.

Quantum Night is pretty heavy on philosophy, and there are a lot of long, detailed discussions and personal musings about various aspects of quantum physics, consciousness, psychology. If you’re a fan of those sorts of topics, than this is for you. If reading about that sort of thing bothers you, or maybe weighs you down, then you’ll probably want to pass over this book. Not only does a lot of the discussion revolve around those topics, but they really are the linchpin that holds this whole book together.

This book has a lot going on. Sometimes it’s sort of in the periphery, but other times it’s all front and center. There is a lot of political tension, nations moving against nations and things of that nature. While none of this is explicitly happening in our world right now, it’s easy to see where some of these events are influenced from, and to see who influenced the development of some of the political leaders that Sawyer references in his novel.

That’s part of what made this book so captivating for me. Not only is it absolutely cerebral, and sort of creepy in some respects, but it’s so easy to see our world in the world that Sawyer created. There are a lot of heavy happenings going on in these pages, and the fact that it is so easy to put so many of these events in our own world makes it that much more poignant.

Perhaps my one drawback is that some of the characters felt a little flat, perhaps they lacked the same dynamic quality that so many aspects of the plot had. That really didn’t keep me from enjoying the book at all, though.

Quantum Night is a book that was right up my alley. It had absolutely everything I ever want to see in my social science fiction novels. Flawless writing, fantastic premise, a plot that refuses to quit, and all of those delightful, delicious details. This book sucked me under and just about drowned me in how fantastic it was. Most importantly, when I put it down, I looked at the world around me a little differently. That’s the mark of a really good book. You don’t just enjoy it while you’re reading it – somehow, the truly marvelous books change you long past its end.

Highly, highly recommended. This one rang all my bells.

 

5/5 stars

The Sight – Chloe Niell

About the Book

The paranormal war that engulfed New Orleans seven years ago is over. But the battle for the city is just beginning . . . 

Claire Connolly is a Sensitive, infected with magic when the Veil that divides humanity from the world beyond fell. Magic can easily consume and destroy a Sensitive, and if Claire’s secret is discovered she’ll be locked into the walled district of Devil’s Isle along with every other Paranormal left in the city.

Bounty hunter Liam Quinn discovered Claire’s secret, but refused to turn her in. Together they saved New Orleans from the resurgence of magic that nearly destroyed it. But now a dangerous cult is on the rise, and it will take both Claire and Liam—and magical allies within Devil’s Isle’s towering walls—to defeat the occult threat before magic corrupts them both…

330 pages (paperback)

Published on August 16, 2016

Published by NAL Trade

Author’s webpage

Buy the book



This book was by the publisher for an honest review.

—

Chloe Niell’s work has been hit or miss for me. On the one hand, her stuff is seriously enjoyable. If I’m facing a frustrating time, her urban fantasy tends to be the kind of stuff I’m wanting to read to get away from my life and enjoy something light and fluffy. On the other hand, they aren’t my go-to books.

The Veil was the first book in Niell’s new series, and I really enjoyed it despite my expectations not to. It’s a brand new feel, a completely fresh story, and I really enjoyed Niell’s new tone. Now, I do think it is absolutely essential to read The Veil before you move on to The Sight. There isn’t much of a recap, and while previous events are touched on, they aren’t summarized in any real way. The Sight just takes off, and you have to understand what happened before, to understand what is happening in this book. Personally, I appreciate that, as summaries tend to frustrate me in novels, but it is something that potential readers should be aware of before diving in.

The Sight is a little different than its predecessor. For one thing, it focuses more on the politics and the social implications of these two very different societies trying to live together and find some happy medium after a war, and everything else. In a lot of ways I view this book as more focused on world and character development. That’s not to say that this book is enjoyable, because it is, or that it doesn’t have an addicting plot, because it does. It’s really focused on relationships, on personal developments, and how people react in tense situations, and I loved it for that. I’m a sucker for all those little details, and this book had them in spades.

There are a lot of political issues, and there is a small group of individuals in the middle of it all. I really enjoyed Claire’s perspective in this novel. Her shaky understanding and passionate desire to learn more about the magical world that is interacting with her own really comes through in her voice. Liam is another interesting viewpoint, as a lot of his opinions and prejudices are made light. He’s a bit more jaded, a bit more wordly, and his rose glasses have absolutely been removed. Both characters react with each other quite well, and their different opinions and perspectives add some interesting dynamics to this complex world. I really enjoyed how well they managed to balance each other out.

The romantic tension between Liam and Claire follows a sort of frustrating path. It’s obvious where things are going to end up, but it’s taking forever to get there, and the constant ho-hum, should I/shouldn’t I inner monologue throughout the book got old, fast. This is pretty stereotypical of Niell, though. Her relationships evolve slowly, and with a whole lot of tension that can get redundant. I can see the appeal, but for me it got to the point where I wished they’d just sleep together already so we can move on and deal with other things. (How’s that for some honesty?)

There is plenty of other kinds of tension throughout the book. This is a who-done-it sort of novel, and Claire and Liam have to work together to figure out who is behind the attack from the start of the book. Throughout their investigation, a lot of these personal quirks and political issues come to light. Some of the politics felt a little too soon, and I could have used a bit more development on both sides of the issue before a parlay (of sorts) was attempted. The tension and the mystery was handled really well, and Niell’s world expanded and became so much more intricate and layered throughout their investigation. The world she created graduated from being interesting, to becoming genuinely fascinating.

The Sight, as I said above, felt more like a developmental novel than anything else. It’s the book that managed to be interesting while it was obviously building things up for more to come. The developments were, in many cases, shockingly well crafted, and the world and characters became so much more dynamic. The romantic interest frustrated me to no end, but this novel really set the groundwork for some interesting things further in the series. I honestly cannot wait for the next book.

3.5/5 stars

Macro Monday

I am EXHAUSTED. I just finished up a seven (7) day work week, and my brain is pretty much mush. So…. you get a Macro Monday and reviews for the rest of the week starting Tuesday.

Also, my email is kind of screwed up. I am SO backlogged from Cora’s illness drama, and apparently I’ve been GETTING email but every time I try to SEND email it gets sent back to me. I’m working on it. This week my number one priority is replying to all of my email… and I have a TON of it.

On to Macro Monday…

#SPFBO 2 | Finalists & The Winner

Ah, the end of the first round is in sight. Now it is time for me to talk about the finalists, and announce the overall winner. I’m going to keep this pretty short and sweet (mostly because I’m tired and ain’t nobody got time for my diatribes). Listed below are the six finalists, and then at the end of this post is the overall winner, the one book that will go on to the next round.

This was incredibly, unexpectedly difficult for me. It took me quite a few days of mentally going back and forth between a few of these books before I finally settled on the winner. It was a close call, and I had a lot of incredibly wonderful contestants. It gives me the warm fuzzies to see this much incredible talent.

Thanks to everyone who entered. Congratulations to the finalists, and good luck to that one book that moves on to the next round.

Without further ado, here are the six finalists.

It Takes a Thief to Catch a Sunrise by  Rob J. Hayes

It Takes a Thief to Catch a Sunrise is a re-issue of the previously released ‘The Northern Sunrise’. It is a stand alone book by the author of The Ties that Bind trilogy. Set in a new world of corruption, deceit and thievery; mixing magical fantasy and alchemypunk with a healthy smattering of airshippery.

“There comes a point in every thief’s life where one has to take stock of all that they have achieved. We have stolen almost everything there is worth stealing: Prince Henri’s Jadefire ring, the Marquisse d’Bola’s collection of prized toy soldiers, Elize Gion’s Living Autumn, the very first airship schematic, and who could forget we definitely made off with Baron Rivette’s pride.

The trick, I find, is not to break in. No. The trick is to convince the mark to invite you in.”

***

For the Love of their Children – Jason Dias 

A god fell from the sky, carving a line of blue fire across the night for weeks. Many followed it.

Flax brought his family as pilgrims, following the god north to the site where it landed. Among other pilgrims, it was easy to hide the fact that he was really no pilgrim at all but a fugitive. He thought to start a new life, a peaceful life with his wife, his children, his newest son. But his conscience weighed on him day by day. Every day of peace came at the cost of escaping justice.

Across the desert, in the kingdom of Hitai, another father worried about his own children. Ynn the king, knew his immortality hinged on being murdered and succeeded by one of his offspring. Yet none were ready for the task of ruling, and some were very much up to the task of murder. How to survive long enough to teach them wisdom?

But the god had plans for them all. It would throw them together, stretch them apart, remake them into warriors, heroes, and monsters. They would all do good things and bad. And how far will each of them go… …for love of their children?

***

Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan – Jeremy Marshall

Captain Hook has been captured by the British navy—and is soon to be hung.

As Hook tells his life story to his captor, it soon becomes clear that the fearsome pirate was once a scholarly, if sickly boy—until one fateful night in Port Royal, when he meets the volatile Peter Pan.

Raise the Jolly Roger and discover the book that opened thousands of eyes to the possibility that, once upon a time, Captain Hook was not the villain we know him to be.

Since its publication in June of 2012, this original story takes you through Captain Hook’s rise to piracy, including his first confrontation with Long John Silver and his service on the Queen Anne’s Revenge alongside Blackbeard at the Charleston Blockade.

This book is not a retelling of the events of J. M. Barrie’s beloved novel. Far from it. It’s a defense of the world’s most famous pirate, told by the man himself.

Captain Hook has reason and wit behind his hatred for Peter Pan. If only someone would listen.

***

Fionn: Defence of Rath Bladhma by Brian O’Sullivan

The Fionn mac Cumhaill Series – Book 1: Defence of Ráth Bládhma:

Ireland: 192 A.D. A time of strife and treachery. Political ambition and inter-tribal conflict has set the country on edge, testing the strength of long-established alliances.

Following their victory over Clann Baoiscne at the battle of Cnucha, Clann Morna are hungry for power. Meanwhile, a mysterious war party roams the ‘Great Wild’ and a ruthless magician is intent on murder.

In the secluded valley of Glenn Ceo, disgraced druid Bodhmall and her lover Liath Luachra have successfully avoided the bloodshed for many years. Now, the arrival of a pregnant refugee threatens the peace they have created together.

Based on the ancient Fenian Cycle texts, the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series recounts the fascinating and pulse-pounding tale of the birth and adventures of Ireland’s greatest hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill.

***

Six Celestial Swords by T.A. Miles

Inspired by the rising chaos in Sheng Fan, Xu Liang, mystic and officer of the Imperial Court, leaves his homeland for the barbarian outer lands in search of four magical blades to unite with two sacred weapons already in the possession of the Empire. His plan is to bring all of the blades together and return them to Sheng Fan’s Empress as a symbol of unity that will bolster the people’s faith in the Imperial family and assist against the surge of dark forces. Complicating his plan is not the finding of the blades, but finding them with bearers; foreigners who have no intention of parting with them and less intention of serving an Empire they’ve scarcely heard of. It becomes Xu Liang’s task to ally himself with these barbarians of the outer realms and unite them with his cause, as well as with one another. Only the complete reunion of all six blades and their fated bearers can stand against chaos, rising like a dragon from slumber beneath the foundation of a nation unprepared.

***

They Mostly Come Out At Night by Benedict Patrick

He locked himself away from the dark, but in the Magpie King’s forest nowhere is safe…

Lonan is an outcast, accused of letting the monsters that stalk the night into the homes of his fellow villagers. Now, he will not rest until he wins back the heart of his childhood love and reclaims the life that was stolen from him. However, locked safely in his cellar at night, in his dreams Lonan finds himself looking through the eyes of a young prince…

Adahy has a destiny, and it terrifies him. How can he hope to live up to the legend of the Magpie King, to become the supernatural protector of the forest and defender of his people? But when the forest is invaded by an inhuman force, Adahy must rise to this challenge or let the Wolves destroy his people.

Watching these events unfold in his sleep, Lonan must do what he can to protect his village from this new threat. He is the only person who can keep his loved ones from being stolen away after dark, and to do so he will have to earn back their trust or watch the monsters kill everyone that he holds dear.

They Mostly Come Out At Night is a Dark Fantasy novel from Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld series. If you like Neil Gaiman and Patrick Rothfuss then you will love this captivating, dangerous world in which ordinary people struggle to find their place in a land ruled by stories.

I chose my winner basically based on my gut. Honestly, this decision just about killed me because I couldn’t choose between two books. I kept waffling. In fact, I did this for days. I’d think I chose one book, and then I’d change my mind, and I’d do that over and over again. It was insane how much I loved these two books, and how desperately I wished I could just send both of them on to the next round. Therefore, I’m going to give an honorable mention, and then announce my final winner… because really, these two are so close it just about came down to a coin toss to decide the winner. In the end, I decided to choose a book that won me over with its subtle fantasy tones, low key magic system, incredibly researched and meticulously paced plot, strong women, and diverse relationships, though it takes some time to get used to a bit of the language.

Honorable Mention

They Mostly Come Out at Night by Benedict Patrick

 

Overall Winner

Fionn: Defence of Rath Bladhma by Brian O’Sullivan

 

 

 

 

Sleeping Giants – Sylvain Neuvel

About the Book

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved—its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.

But some can never stop searching for answers.

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery—and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

320 pages (hardcover)

Published on April 26, 2016

Published by Del Rey

Author’s webpage

Buy the book

—

I devoured this book, which is saying something considering how I haven’t really been going for this type of thing recently. I got it from the library, and chewed through it in two days. So really, that’s all you need to know. It was good enough for me to read it really fast.

On the other hand, there are other things you should know.

For example, Sleeping Giants is told in a very unique way, through a series of interviews, case files, journal entries and the like. If unique narratives are your bag, then pay attention to this one. If that sort of thing bothers you, then this book will drive you absolutely crazy. On the one hand, this was very effective story telling. The same characters are interviewed over and over again by a mysterious figure. Throughout these discussions, journal entries, etc., readers learn quite a bit about the inner workings of the characters that are involved in this story. That makes the moral and emotional dilemmas that crop up that much more poignant and jarring.

On the other hand, this format made some of the scientific bits of the story hard for me to really absorb. Instead of just reading about something, you’re reading these discussions where the characters are telling someone else about something. That’s kind of hard for me to explain any better than that. Basically, this requires these characters to go on some long tangents that felt a bit…awkward in places, and it made some of these bits of scientific jargon harder for me to absorb and fully understand. It also made some action sequences slightly jarring, like how I’d imagine reading an interview with my husband about a game he played.

So the question/answer format worked. It hooked me, it made this book absolutely fly by, and it really got me into the heads of these main characters. On the flip side, it made some of the action feel a bit videogame-ish, and made it harder for me to get into the scientific jargon with some awkward bits of dialogue.

The plot of the book is fantastic, and just as unique as the way the story is told. Basically it’s a sort of “first contact” book (kind of….sort of….?) where humanity is discovering something left behind by an advanced civilization. Interesting, and very well done, but it was really the impact of technology + civilization that really did it for me. There are a lot of moral issues that crop up throughout the book, really from the very start. Some of these moral issues are more subtle and unexpected, but some are quite loud and in your face, and it’s all handled very, very well. The fact that readers get so far into the heads of these main characters really helps many of these moral issues feel that much more important and real.

It’s a thought provoking novel, which surprised me. I thought this would be some sort of fun romp through a what-if scenario. I’d read it fast, and then leav it. I didn’t honestly expect Sleeping Giants to sink its teeth so far under my skin, and I absolutely didn’t expect such a thoughtful exploration of science, technology, and it’s impact on society, politics, and personal lives.

While I absolutely do not think this book is for everyone, I do think it is worth trying out if you’re into something different. It’s a shockingly absorbing book that readers are sure to breeze through at a quick speed. Sleeping Giants is one of those rare books that somehow combines deep themes with a fun, fast plot. The way this story is told is unique, and I think that format will make it or break it for readers, but I ended up enjoying this far more than I expected I would. Somehow this novel got under my skin. Yes, it has flaws, but those flaws made it even more interesting.

 

3/5 stars

#SPFBO 2 | Group 5 Mini Reviews

Alright folks, here you have it – the final round of mini reviews for this first group of #SPFBO contestants. Wow, this was a rough on. Very, very rough. These books were all very strong. The game plan after this is to sit on these books for a day or so, and then Wednesday or Thursday I will list all of the round winners (there will be five of them) and announce the overall winner that will go on to the next round of this contest.

Many thanks to everyone who stuck with me through this, despite the health issues that waylayed my progress a bit. Also, as a fantastic bonus, my wordpress updated and apparently it hates me now, and won’t let me upload cover images. I wrote these mini reviews in Word before I realized this was an issue, so I wrote them as though the cover art is right there. Well, it’s not, and I’m tired, so feel free to click on the titles to be sent to the Amazon page where you can feast your eyes on the cover art. I’m going to mess with this issue a bit tomorrow, and if I fix it I will update this post with cover art.

Here you go!!

—

Ravinor by Travis Peck

First things first, for some reason I really dig this cover. I don’t know why, but it just works for me. Secondly, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a solid foray into epic fantasy with good characters, believable characterization, and a really nicely paced plot. Other than some editing issues here and there, this book was pretty easy to get comfortable with and just enjoy. At its heart, this is your standard good vs. bad story, but there are plenty of twists here to keep it interesting. Some characters will appeal to readers more than others, and some plot points didn’t feel quite as thought out as I expected, but despite this, Ravinor was a pleasant surprise from an author who has the potential to make some real waves in the genre.

4/5 stars

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Six Celestial Swords by T.A. Miles

God, this last group of books just about killed me. I was actively looking forward to reading so many of them, and it’s just crazy that they all got randomly assigned to the same group. This is one of the books I was chomping at the bit to get to. This is another one where I just want to sit back and bask in the glory of that cover for a few minutes before I actually talk about the book itself. If there’s one thing I’m a sucker for right now, it’s fantasy set in nonwestern worlds, and this is very, very nonwestern. One of the strengths of this book was the descriptive writing stle. The world Miles crafted really came to life for me, which in turn made the characters that much more interesting, and the quest/adventure/various plot points really gripping. Honestly, I’m having a hard time not loving everything about this book. If I had to quibble about some points, I would say that some descriptions and plot points were a little confusing, maybe a ltitle too wordy at points, but otherwise this book was superb, and highly recommended.

4/5 stars

—

They Mostly Come Out At Night by Benedict Patrick

This book has my favorite cover out of all the books I got for the SPFBO this year. This book is very unique, and while that worked for me, I can see where it might be a tad offputting to some readers. This novel is short-ish, clocking in at around 200 pages. Between each chapter there is an interlude that tells some mythological story. These stories are fantastic world building tools, and sneaky in their own respect. The one problem I can see is that they take time away from some of the other plot points and character development going on. Some of this book felt a little rushed, which was okay, but I left this book wishing it was longer. It’s just so delightfully weird, so completely unique, with such powerful, fantastic writing that I wanted more. At the end of the day I’m not sure if that’s a criticism or a compliment.

4/5 stars

—

Before the Full Moon Rises by MJ Bell

I struggled a bit with this book, and I’m not sure if it’s a case of not-my-style or not. This book is geared toward a younger audience, and it’s a ton of fun. The plot moves at an absolutely relentless pace and there is a ton of adventure, lots of twists and turns, and a whole lot of heart. This book could have used a heavier hand with editing. There were some errors that didn’t need to be there, and there were some parts of the book that felt… stilted a bit. Maybe awkward pacing mixed with some tell vs. show writing combined to make this book good, but not quite there for me.

3/5 stars

—

Sparks and Shadows by Kendrick von Schiller

The vision of this book is grand and wonderful. It’s a sprawling epic that spans multiple societies and civilizations. The author really managed to suck me into the world, and I loved the vision and where she was going with everything. This book is long, and it really needed that length to tell the story that was being told. There were, however, some issues. The writing felt…uncertain, which made the characters seem uncertain, and various points of the plot reflected that as well. Furthermore, some of the descriptions had a tendency to turn a bit purple. So, while this book had a ton of strengths, and I loved its vision, there was this uncertainty throughout the narrative that I really struggled with.

3/5 stars

—

Shadows and Starstone by Cheryl S. Mackey

Another novella! Man, is this the year of novellas or what? I really appreciate that. Also, another book with a cover I adore. Shadows and Starstone does a few things incredibly well. It has a great tone, and fantastic world building. These two combine to suck readers in right away. The plot moves pretty quickly, and the action/adventure theme will work well with readers. It’s easy to fall into, and incredibly interesting – which is helped by some fantastic characters. My real issue with this one was that the second half of the novel felt way too over explained. I understand the value of knowing the details – I’m a huge detail person, but sometimes there can be too many details. In this case, it slowed the second half down until it grew a bit tedious. Regardless, this is a great opening to a series I will pay attention to.

3.5/5 stars

—

The winner is….

Okay, you’re going to all hate my guts for this, but this is my website so I get to bend my rules, right? Right. I can’t choose just one book this week. I’m flipping between two, and I just can’t make up my mind so I’m calling it a tie. If they can tie for gold and silver in the olympics, then by damn you guys can tie here too, right?

So, the winners are….

Six Celestial Swords by T.A. Miles

AND

They Mostly Come Out at Night by Benedict Patrick

You guys made this difficult.

#SPFBO 2: Round 4 Mini Reviews

Well, here it is… round 4 mini reviews. I apologize for taking so long, but wow, life has been crazy. If things go well and nothing unexpected happens, round 5 will be up tomorrow, and then the overall winner announced on Friday.

Fingers crossed that things stay boring over here…

—

Elona: Patterner’s Path – Steve Turnbull

Buy the book

Okay, I’m kind of divided on this one. On the one hand, I really enjoyed some aspects of the book. I liked the complex plot. There are a lot of twists and turns that honestly surprised me, and bravo for that. There was some very clever execution here. On the other hand, some of the writing was a bit clunky, and could have used a little bit of trimming down and editing. Some of the characterization was lacking, and the dialogue felt stilted in places. Despite that, this is a solid start to a series. It wasn’t perfect, but it was an enjoyable read.

3/5 stars

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Ocean Gods, Roman Blades – Andrew Knighton

Buy the book

This seems to be the year of the novella. This book clocks in at a mere 49 pages, which takes me just about no time to read. The busy mom in me absolutely loves that I can sit down and take in an entire saga in 49 pages, and be up and at ‘em after with no regrets. Novellas = good. This is a historical saga, and fans of all things Roman will probably really enjoy this. The pace is rather relentless, and there is a lot packed into a book this short. That being said, there were some overly descriptive moments, some scenes that could have been a little longer, and some that could have been a little shorter. That being said, I was quite satisfied with this one.

4/5 stars

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The Emerald Serpent – Karen Simpson Nikakis

Buy the book

At its heart, this is a romance book, and a bit of a historical one as it focuses quite a bit on Celtic lore. It’s quite a charming, intense love story with two characters that you can root for easily. I really enjoyed all of the historical detail in this one. It’s obvious that the author worked hard and did a ton of research to pull this book together, and it paid off. I did have some issues with pacing, which felt a bit uneven at times. Some parts of the plot confused me a little, and I think some aspects of the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. That being said, this book was ridiculously easy to sink into, and it sort of just took off and pulled me along with it.

4/5 stars

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Fionn: Defence of Rath Bladhma by Brian O’Sullivan

Buy the book

You know how some books come out of left field and just shock you? Well, this was one of those. If you’re looking for an action/adventure fantasy that is different than the normal, look no further. This book has some welcome diversity, and a story that is absolutely unforgiving. This is a novel based on some ancient Irish texts, and is full of myth and magic and I just loved it for that. The writing is tight and the book is well edited. I welcomed the strong female characters, the obvious twist on tropes, and the way the author genuinely owned the book he wrote. Some of the names were a bit of a mouthful to try and pronounce (even mentally) but that’s not the author’s fault, and as far as complaints go, that’s not even one that’s worth registering.

4/5 stars

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Blood Song by Robert Mullin

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Apparently this novella is based off of a character that was introduced in a novel I’ve never read. I’m saying that because I didn’t really ever fell like I missed out on much having not read the novel. I mean, I’m sure I’d get some of the world building and etc a bit more if I’d read that novel, but I haven’t, and that’s life. The other thing I want to say is that I loved the illustrations in this novella. Very well done, and they added a nice touch to the book overall. The writing is fantastic, and the world and culture building is interesting, though I could have used a bit more world building. This novella is dark, very dark, and it can be uncomfortable, but the protagonist has a lot of spunk and the writing is superb so I can’t complain. I was really glad I read this one.

4/5 stars

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Wrath of the Fallen by Kris Jerome

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I can’t stress this enough: Editing can make or break your book. It is completely worth spending the time and effort on good editing. Make sure it’s tight. There were issues in this book that could have been avoided, and they tended to take me out of the novel in general, which is unfortunate. The concept behind this book, the overall writing style was wonderful. This book was a bit unbalanced. The start of the book was better written, more tightly plotted than the second half. The ending was abrupt, some of the plot points felt a bit… unbalanced. So, great concept, the execution didn’t really match it, but for a debut novel it is a solid, unique work that is worth noting.

3/5 stars

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And the winner is….

Fionn: Defence of Rath Bladhma by Brian O’Sullivan 

False Hearts – Laura Lam

About the Book

Orphan Black meets Inception: Two formerly conjoined sisters are ensnared in a murderous plot involving psychoactive drugs, shared dreaming, organized crime, and a sinister cult.

Raised in the closed cult of Mana’s Hearth and denied access to modern technology, conjoined sisters Taema and Tila dream of a life beyond the walls of the compound. When the heart they share begins to fail, the twins escape to San Francisco, where they are surgically separated and given new artificial hearts. From then on they pursue lives beyond anything they could have previously imagined.

Ten years later, Tila returns one night to the twins’ home in the city, terrified and covered in blood, just before the police arrive and arrest her for murder—the first homicide by a civilian in decades. Tila is suspected of involvement with the Ratel, a powerful crime syndicate that deals in the flow of Zeal, a drug that allows violent minds to enact their darkest desires in a terrifying dreamscape. Taema is given a proposition: go undercover as her sister and perhaps save her twin’s life. But during her investigation Taema discovers disturbing links between the twins’ past and their present. Once unable to keep anything from each other, the sisters now discover the true cost of secrets.

384 (hardcover)

Published on June 14, 2016

Published by Tor

Author’s website

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False Hearts by Laura Lam was a book that I was really looking forward to reading, and it did not disappoint. This is a social scifi/near future mystery of sorts set in an incredibly gripping world, with a story told by two absolutely fascinating characters. It is obvious that Lam poured a lot of love and attention into this book.

False Hearts is the story about two women who were born conjoined, and spent sixteen years sharing the same heart. Despite the fact that the world they live in is advanced enough to take care of every medical issue you could imagine, Taema and Tila spent their childhood raised in Mana’s Hearth, a cult that shunned all modern technology and medicine.

The book starts with a scene that is absolutely emotionally poignant and gut wrenching, where the two sisters have just gone through surgery to separate them, and each are given false hearts. Somehow they find their way back to each other, and that really sets the tone for the story itself.

Ten years after that operation, both women are adults and have their own lives and livelihoods. In some ways they have grown apart, and in others they remain close. Taema is preparing a dinner for her sister, when Tila enters the apartment covered in blood and terrified, claiming she didn’t do what the police are going to convict her of. There is plenty of chaos, Tila is arrested and Taema is confused.

Anyway, things happen, and it is all very tense and incredibly hard to pull yourself out of. Taema is working undercover with the police, acting as her sister and Tila is in jail writing a journal of the history of her life up to that point. It’s an absolutely ingenious way to tell this complex story. Readers get to see the complex sibling bond from both sides. Sisterhood plays a huge role in this book but it’s not as straightforward as it seems on the surface. The two women are vastly different, and their paths diverged a long time ago. There is a lot of tension between them, underscored by their deep and abiding love and loyalty. At the end of the day, despite the fact that these two ladies have their own hearts, and are their own individuals, they often appear to be opposite sides of the same coin.

The mystery is incredibly compelling, and coming at it from two directions (past and present) really makes it that much more interesting. This book had a fantastically well-rounded approach to telling a story, and the fact that the characters telling this story are just about the most well fleshed out characters I’ve ever run across, adds a lot to story being told. It was hard for me to decide which I liked more, the the mystery, the story of their lives and evolutions, or the characters themselves as they grapple with who they are, their personal identities, and their relationship to each other.

This book is so incredibly atmospheric. It’s flooded full of tension, the kind of subtle tension that makes your hair stand on end and crawls under your skin before you even realize it is happening. It’s impossible to put down. But there’s also this deep and abiding love, and this incredible feeling of loss that is almost overwhelming. The story moves at a fast, addictive pace. The world building is phenomenal, subtle when its needed, and in-your-face when necessary.

False Hearts is an exploration of so many things, but the deep and emotional ties of kinship, and personal identity really blew me away. I was absolutely amazed by how this book managed to gut-punch me with overwhelming emotions and a captivating atmosphere. Perhaps what really impressed me the most, however, was how the story was told. It circles around on itself, and the way that two different, powerful women tell their stories in their own ways really just drives everything home. This is an exploration of personal identity, sibling relationships, and love.

This one really blew me away. False Hearts was stunning in every respect.

 

5/5 stars

An #SPFBO Update and Macro Monday

Okay, so the issues with my baby’s kidneys have been backing up my flow a ton. It’s about a million times easier to deal with my own health problems than my kid’s.

In that regard, my flow for the #SPFBO has also backed up. I’ve read the remaining books, but my head has been so flooded with other issues that I don’t feel comfortable (mini) reviewing them until I peruse them again. The plan is that this week I will breeze through the books again just to refresh myself, and next week I should be able to (mini) review the remaining books. Hopefully the week after I will announce the overall winner of my batch of books.

I’m really, really sorry it has taken me so long to do this. My life tends to be incredibly unexpected. Usually it’s my health problems that unexpectedly lambast us, but this time it’s my baby’s and I just was not equipped or prepared to deal with it.

Just because it should be stated plainly – due to my baby being in and out of the hospital right now, all of this might change. She’s doing really, really well right now, but we do have doctor appointments coming up to discuss things like kidney surgery, which might mentally take me out of the game for a few days to a week again. I will keep you posted. If life keeps plugging happily along, then my first round of the SPFBO will be done in two weeks.

Another side note: I have a ton of comments I just read and approved on my previous update post from last Thursday. I will reply to everyone today.

Now, onto photography.

When I really get stuck in my own head, I go do photography. I absolutely lose myself in it. Photography forces me to pay attention to the little things I normally overlook. It also makes me really assess the fact that I am not the center of the universe. The world is huge, and vibrant, and beautiful, and my problems are just a small, small fraction of it. It centers me, and puts me in my place, and most importantly, it gets me the holy hell out of my own head.

This week I really, really dumped myself into photography because I have been really, really struggling with all this stuff going on, and it has helped so much.

That being said, here is your obligatory Macro Monday photo dump. As always, to see more of my work (higher quality) visit this page. (Whoops! I forgot to add my name to that last photo and now I’m too lazy to fix it.)

An Announcement | Review Policy Changes and a Question

I’m going to be a bit scarily honest here, and there are two real points I need to make, but before I make either of them, I should make an update.

Cora has been officially diagnosed with a kidney/bladder disorder (after an absolutely brutal test at the hospital today that lasted several hours and won’t be forgotten by any of us anytime soon). It is a condition that is borderline severe, and may require kidney surgery to fix. We are looking at a long road ahead of us. It feels good to have a direction, and kind of daunting. Right now we are managing the symptoms and trying to keep her from having any more 107 degree temperatures by keeping her on a daily dose of antibiotics which will last a minimum of six more months. We are on a list to see a pediatric urologist to discuss potential kidney surgery/other treatment options to fix this. We are incredibly relieved to have a diagnoses and a direction… but also… it’s hard. She’s eleven months old, and no matter how you cut this, it sucks. There has absolutely been trauma involved in all of her tests and treatments so far, and that’s also really, really hard to deal with on multiple levels. She doesn’t trust many people anymore.

Now, onto my two main points.

First.

It’s interesting how chaos can change reading habits. Stress has a ton of ways it shows itself – there are tiny lines of strain all over my life right now. This has the added benefit of making my own disease flair up, which causes me to suffer from nearly constant (and incredibly painful) dislocations and subluxations. I’m dealing with chronic pain, a kid who is sick and potentially needing kidney surgery, and another kid who is kind of stuck in the middle of all of this. It causes some strain.

Stress, chronic pain, issues along those lines really, really change my reading tastes in ways that I don’t really notice until I realize all I’m reading is stuff that I explicitly say I do not review. Therefore, I think it’s time for me to stop being ashamed of what I read (Really, that’s pretty stupid. Read what you read and don’t ever feel like there is reason to be ashamed of it.) and expand my reviews to encompass….

Urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

Yes, folks, I’ve been reading an absolute metric ton of UF and PNR recently, which is something I never in a million years thought I’d say, but it’s true. I’m reading it, mostly because I really, really need happy endings, fuzzy feelings, and lighter mental distractions right now. I’m having a shockingly hard time getting into anything else at the moment. I am positive that once my life, and my chaotic emotions settle a little, I will get back to my usual stuff. I also think it is incredibly unfair for me to not mention the authors and books I am reading because I’m afraid to do so for various arbitrary reasons that really don’t matter a fig to a soul.

And, the more I read these types of books, the more I’m kind of amazed at the amount of skill it takes to sell me on a happily ever after, and the books and authors that manage it deserve recognition for their skills.

So as of today, you will officially see the occasional urban fantasy and paranormal romance book reviews on here, and yes, I will open my doors to accept those books to review.

Now, second point.

We have medical bills coming out the wazoo, as well as some other things going on. I can feel all of this pressing down on me, a very real weight and I need to do something to help a bit more.

I’m trying to figure out things to do to help my situation. I’m kind of stuck because I work part time, but we can’t afford daycare (seriously, costs for daycare are just stupid high) so I can’t work full time. I’m approaching various local venues about selling my photography/doing art shows/something and getting some nibbles in that direction. My other option is to put myself out there and offer my services as a freelance editor. So, really this point is just me asking if I did this, took this step into editing/proofing manuscripts, would anyone bite? Is it worth my time? Anyone have advice? I have six years experience in this genre, and I have (some) editing experience as well as experience alpha/beta reading, proofing, slush pile reading, under my belt, but really… I just don’t know. I’d love to edit, but I don’t know if anyone else would love that or if it is just me.

So there you go.