Sarah Chorn's Blog, page 94

Books I’m Eyeing

Books I’m Eyeing is a (hopefully) weekly series wherein I show you the books that have intrigued me, and the blogs and reviews we can all blame that on. My goal is to make my library hate me because of all the holds I have placed. This feature will show you just how I’m accomplishing that.

Do any of these books interest you? Or are there some that I’ve missed but should check out? Let me know!

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Raven Flight – Juliette Marillier

Discovery blamed on: The Book Smugglers

About the Book

Neryn has finally found the rebel group at Shadowfell, and now her task is to seek out the elusive Guardians, vital to her training as a Caller. These four powerful beings have been increasingly at odds with human kind, and Neryn must prove her worth to them. She desperately needs their help to use her gift without compromising herself or the cause of overthrowing the evil King Keldec.

Neryn must journey with the tough and steadfast Tali, who looks on Neryn’s love for the double agent Flint as a needless vulnerability. And perhaps it is. What Flint learns from the king will change the battlefield entirely—but in whose favor, no one knows.

 

 

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The Witch’s Daughter – Paula Brackston

Discovery blamed on: Civilian Reader

About the Book

My name is Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, and my age is three hundred and eighty-four years. Each new settlement asks for a new journal, and so this Book of Shadows begins…

In the spring of 1628, the Witchfinder of Wessex finds himself a true Witch. As Bess Hawksmith watches her mother swing from the Hanging Tree she knows that only one man can save her from the same fate at the hands of the panicked mob: the Warlock Gideon Masters, and his Book of Shadows. Secluded at his cottage in the woods, Gideon instructs Bess in the Craft, awakening formidable powers she didn’t know she had and making her immortal. She couldn’t have foreseen that even now, centuries later, he would be hunting her across time, determined to claim payment for saving her life.

In present-day England, Elizabeth has built a quiet life for herself, tending her garden and selling herbs and oils at the local farmers’ market. But her solitude abruptly ends when a teenage girl called Tegan starts hanging around. Against her better judgment, Elizabeth begins teaching Tegan the ways of the Hedge Witch, in the process awakening memories–and demons—long thought forgotten.

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The Abominable – Dan Simmons

Discovery blamed on: SFF World

About the Book

A thrilling tale of supernatural adventure, set on the snowy peaks of Mount Everest from the bestselling author of The Terror.

It’s 1926, and the desire to summit the world’s highest mountain has reached a fever-pitch among adventurers. Three young friends, eager to take their shot at the top, accept funding from a grieving mother whose son fell to his death on Mt. Everest two years earlier. But she refuses to believe he’s dead, and wants them to bring him back alive.

As they set off toward Everest, the men encounter other hikers who are seeking the boy’s body for their own mysterious reasons. What valuable item could he have been carrying? What is the truth behind the many disapperances on the mountain? As they journey to the top of the world, the three friends face abominable choices, actions–and possibly creatures. A bone-chilling, pulse-pounding story of supernatural suspense, THE ABOMINABLE is Dan Simmons at his best.

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Sixty-One Nails – Mike Shevdon

Discovery blamed on: Bastard Books

About the Book

There is a secret war raging beneath the streets of London. A dark magic will be unleashed by the Untainted…Unless a new hero can be found. Neverwhere’s faster, smarter brother has arrived. The immense SIXTY-ONE NAILS follows Niall Petersen, from a suspected heart attack on the London Underground, into the hidden world of the Feyre, an uncanny place of legend that lurks just beyond the surface of everyday life. The Untainted, the darkest of the Seven Courts, have made their play for power, and unless Niall can recreate the ritual of the Sixty-One Nails, their dark dominion will enslave all of the Feyre, and all of humankind too.

 

 

 

 

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Manifesto UF – Edited by Tim Marquitz and Tyson Mauermann 

Discovery blamed on: Lots and lots of people, but most recently The Founding Fields

About the Book

From angels to vampires, dragons to wizards, Manifesto brings together twenty-three stories full of action, snark, and unadulterated badassery.

Featuring stories from Lucy A. Snyder, Jeff Salyards, William Meikle, Teresa Frohock, Zachary Jernigan, Betsy Dornbusch, and more.

The time has come to make a statement, to define a genre. This is our manifesto.

 

 

 

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The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two – Catherynne Valente

Discovery blamed on: Tor.com (Note: I have to read the other two books in the series first, but this book put the series on my radar.)

About the Book

“One of the most extraordinary works of fantasy, for adults or children, published so far this century.”—TIME Magazine, on the Fairyland series

September misses Fairyland and her friends Ell, the Wyverary, and the boy Saturday. She longs to leave the routines of home, and embark on a new adventure. Little does she know that this time, she will be spirited away to the moon, reunited with her friends, and find herself faced with saving Fairyland from a moon-Yeti with great and mysterious powers.

Here is another rich, beautifully told, wisely humorous, and passionately [layered] book from New York Times-bestselling author, Catherynne M. Valente.

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Cover Art Reveal- Orbit’s Turn

Alright, earlier this week I posted the cover art from Tor that has me excited. Now it’s Orbit’s turn. Do any of these covers hit you just right? 

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Blaine McFadden survived six years in the brutal Velant prison colony, exiled for murder. When war devastates his homeland of Donderath, it also destroys the intentional magic on which Donderath and its fellow kingdoms rely. Blaine and a small group of fellow exiles return to a lawless wasteland where unrestrained magic storms appear and disappear unpredictably and monsters roam the ruins.

Yet rumors persist that the seeds of a new magic rests with a dangerous, ancient ritual and a handful of survivors who have disappeared. McFadden resolves to find these survivors and work the ritual, despite the danger, to restore the magic and end the chaos. He rallies a small and desperate army for a last stand, knowing that if they fail, the civilization of the Ascendant Kingdoms dies with them.

To be published on April 1, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Prove that you can stand against the darkness and live.”



Haern is the King’s Watcher, born an assassin only to become the city of Veldaren’s protector against the thief guilds.

When Lord Victor Kane attacks the city, determined to stamp out all corruption, foreign gangs pour in amidst the chaos in an attempt to overthrow the current lords of the underworld.

And when a mysterious killer known as the Widow begins mutilating thieves, paranoia engulfs the city. Haern knows someone is behind the turmoil, pulling strings. If he doesn’t find out who — and soon — his beloved city will burn.

Light or darkness: where will the line be drawn?

To be published on May 20, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

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Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her ‘our little genius’. Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don’t like her. She jokes that she won’t bite, but they don’t laugh. Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children’s cells. She tells her favourite teacher all the things she’ll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn’t know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad

To be published on March 27, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Expanse 4

No publication date or synopsis available yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Tarnished Crown Quintet, Book 1

A kingdom divided, a prince without a throne, a family torn apart — The Path to Power begins a ground-breaking new epic fantasy from international bestselling author Karen Miller.

In the distant past, the Kingdom of Harcia was torn apart by royal brothers who could not accept a lesser inheritance. Now, the consequences of their actions are coming to light.

Balfre, son of Aimery, Duke of Harcia, is his father’s heir. But he has dreams of a crown, not a coronet. He dreams himself the king of a Harcia re-united, but his brother Grefin, their father’s favorite, stands in his way.

Harald, debauched Duke of neighboring Clemen, is feared and despised by his nobles. He thinks he can trust his bastard-born cousin Ederic … but Ederic fears for the duchy and will do what he must to save it.

And caught between dangers is Harald’s infant son, Liam. Stolen by his nurse, vanished into the lawless Marches, he is the spark that will grow to set the world on fire.

To be published on July 8, 2014

 

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Lightbringer, Book 3

No publication date or book synopsis yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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From N. K. Jemisin’s blog:

The Fifth Season is set in a world which has suffered frequent, repeated Extinction Level Events for millions of years, and all life (and magic) in this world has adapted to it. Hundreds of years might pass between these events—easy, plentiful years in which great cities rise, and people have the leisure for art and science and rapid advancement—but then, again and again, the cities fall. The world is littered with the detritus of these times of plenty, and this cover hints at them: past ages of decadence, now decaying; stone that endures beneath flaking gilt.

Set to be published in August, 2014

(Full disclosure: This has to be my favorite cover I’ve seen in a long, long, long time. Props to the artist.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Dagger and the Coin, Book 4

No publication date or book synopsis yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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You can see all the covers if you click on this link and look at Orbit’s original post. 

An Open Plea

I just got another absolutely sick hate-mail, and I’m done. I’m just damn done. So I’m writing this little ranty diatribe which I may or may not take down soon.

Re: The endless author-critic commentary debate raging. 

While I think that a lot of what is being during this endless discussion is important, and a reflection of how the Internet is changing publishing, fandom, and whatever else, there are some things that are happening that are really revolting me.

Here’s the deal: 

There’s no reason for people to be assholes. People agree and disagree all the time. It’s a fact of life. Disagreements, in my opinion, are important because they cause those involved to challenge their thoughts. It’s fine. How do you expect progress and change to take place if no one is willing to examine the way things are? Adults disagree all the time. It happens. In fact, I’m pretty sure I basically disagree with everyone alive on one thing or another. That’s just how I roll. I don’t take this stuff too seriously. I say what I need to say, and move on.

The simple truth is, this discussion is enlightening, and yes, my viewpoint has changed and evolved a bit since Sunday. There are some fantastic points being made by concerned parties. It’s also really interesting for me to see just how much publishing and fandom is changing, and the challenges that face us all, despite what side of whatever line we are on.

I wrote my Authors Welcome post, because that’s how I feel/felt. This whole issue, and watching it get hashed over day after day, truly is expanding my understanding of the concerns people feel in the genre community. This discussion started out from one thing, and has now graduated into something much bigger, and much more important, that effects everyone who loves SFF. The internet is changing the face of publishing, and allowing author-critic relationships to change. That’s an interesting topic, and a valid point to explore from all angles. And all of these angles are truly enlightening me, and broadening my perspective.

I’m getting sick of it, but at the same time, it’s fascinating.

Then, I started getting some truly disgusting email which I won’t go into detail with here. I’m not the only one. I know others have received disgusting comments, as well.

The point is, discussion stops being valid and useful when people start with the sexual and insulting comments. It’s ridiculous.  People disagree, doesn’t mean anyone deserves that kind of talk. Period. I might not see eye-to-eye with a lot of people, but I recognize the fact that they are people, they contribute to the genre I love so much, and their viewpoints are just as valid as mine, for all that we disagree.

No one needs to be talked to, looked down on, pushed aside, marginalized, brow beaten, or sent sexually explicit email that makes me want to take a shower with bleach. No one. Period. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care how much you, or I disagree with (insert person/point here). No one deserves this crap over one issue that will be talked about for a few weeks and forgotten when the next uber-drama comes up.

This is an open plea to the genre community. 

I realize that there will always be disagreements in such a passionate community. I also realize that I will probably piss a few people off before I die. That’s okay. I’m sure you will piss a few people off, too. But please, for the love of (insert whatever here), keep it adult. Realize that disagreements aren’t actually insulting, they are challenging thoughts and preconceived notions and are a valuable tool to societies and people everywhere. They can be uncomfortable, but being uncomfortable doesn’t mean you get to lash out at someone. Disagreements are important and they are bound to happen frequently in such a dynamic, changing world. Just because someone disagrees, doesn’t mean that they are inherently an asshole, nor do they need to have their inbox flooded full of sick, vile, disgusting email.

Basically, what I’m saying is:

Can we please all grow up and act like adults now? 

Let me make this clear. You don’t have to like me. You don’t have to like anyone. I’m not asking for you to like people, or think everyone is amazing. I’m asking you to realize that people, no matter their viewpoints, are just people, and we all deserve respect. 

Hey, for what it’s worth, if I’m a reason anyone has been hated at, then I truly apologize. Here I was thinking we were just expressing ideas, challenging thoughts, and exploring a changing world. I guess all we were doing was having an important discussion so people could find reasons to send other people disgusting hate mail.

Silly me.

The Rose and the Thorn – Michael J. Sullivan

About the Book

TWO THIEVES WANT ANSWERS. RIYRIA IS BORN.

For more than a year Royce Melborn has tried to forget Gwen DeLancy, the woman who saved him and his partner Hadrian Blackwater from certain death. Unable to get her out of his mind, the two thieves return to Medford but receive a very different reception — Gwen refuses to see them. The victim of abuse by a powerful noble, she suspects that Royce will ignore any danger in his desire for revenge. By turning the thieves away, Gwen hopes to once more protect them. What she doesn’t realize is what the two are capable of — but she’s about to find out.

376 pages (Paperback)

Published on September 17, 2013

Published by Orbit

Author’s webpage

This book was sent for me to review by the publisher.

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There are a few authors running around that I think are truly inspiring for one reason or another. Blake Charlton is one because, really, look at where he came from and where he is now. Wow. Saladin Ahmed is another inspirational author because he truly embraces his cultural identity and infuses his work with it; making his books and stories some of the most unique, memorable works out there.

Another is Michael J. Sullivan. He started out self-publishing. Somehow he managed to get the attention of reviewers who are, by and large, not that interested in reading self-published books. Then he was noticed by my favorite publishing company (Yay, Orbit!), who then reprinted his series. Now he’s not only published by a huge, very amazing publishing house, but he has enough attention and readership to demand that he write another spin off series of his already popular series. Michael J. Sullivan has taken a journey so many writers dream of taking, and he’s done it with class and style. It’s inspiring. It truly is.

Perhaps what amazes me more is how well he’s managed to write his spin off series, which is also a prequel series, which are two things that usually turn me off right away. Another thing working for Sullivan is his ability to write a really engrossing sword-and-sorcery tale without adding a ton of language and over-the-top violence. Usually those are things I enjoy in my fantasy, but Sullivan’s books are books that I read out loud, on a regular basis, to my two-year-old. They also require minimal editing as I do so. Now, this really isn’t pertinent to my review, but my kid loves when I read to her, and it’s kind of refreshing for me to not have to say, “and then Jorg said, ‘Give her flowers,’” instead of “and then Jorg said, ‘F* you.’” or  instead of “let’s gut him” I say something like, “let’s have a barbecue!”. These things matter when your kid is in that delicious “repeating everything she hears anyone say” phase. Especially when she routinely throws books at me and has me read to her for hours on end. Sullivan’s books are go-to books when I’m reading out loud to the child. They have been for years now.

Honestly, it’s hard for me to be accurately critical of Sullivan’s work. He’s one of those authors that has found my sweet spot and dug in. He’s entered a sort of nostalgic realm that so few authors really hit anymore. I love his writing, because it’s easy, it’s fun, it’s deep but not too deep, and I am so emotionally engaged in the characters they have become part of me. As I also established above, I admire the author so much, for so many reasons. How could I possibly criticize the books that do that to me?

That being said, take all this for what it’s worth.

In The Crown Tower, much of the book focused on the developing relationship between Hadrian and Royce. Due to this, the start was kind of slow, and things didn’t really pick up until the second half of the novel. This did put off some readers, but tried-and-true fans of Sullivan knew to stick around because the good stuff was coming. In contrast, in The Rose and the Thorn, there is no lag where Hadrian and Royce hate each other. Their relationship has been established, so in that regard, it’s all good stuff. There is easy banter, the familiar quest-ish plot that readers will love, plenty of adventure, and some characters in Sullivan’s other series are introduced here. Readers will recognize them, and probably enjoy the book more for seeing how Hadrian and Royce met a few more recognizable figures.

That’s not to say that everything is peaches and cream between Hadrian and Royce, because it’s not. Their partnership is still new, and there are still growing pains throughout the book. Hadrian is still a little too naïve, but Royce is teaching him. And Royce is still an off-putting jerk at times, but Hadrian is teaching him. They both remain true to who they are, but their various growing pains are both humorous, and true to the partnership that is developing between them. I have to give Sullivan a tip of the hat for this, because I honestly expected him to introduce Hadrian and Royce in book one, and then book two would be a comfortable companionship that felt exactly like that in Riyria Revelations. It’s not. The Rose and the Thorn has just as much character and relationship development as the first book did; it’s just a bit subtler, a bit easier, and a little more exciting.

The Rose and the Thorn is a book where Sullivan really flexes his world-building muscles. The Crown Tower was fairly self-contained, taking place in a few specific locations. The Rose and the Thorn has an increased cast, multiple new perspectives, new lore and mythology is introduced, and new political systems and their various struggles, and a dash of religion for good measure. The Crown Tower would be an easy book for readers to start with, but The Rose and the Thorn will probably be enjoyed more if readers had read either Riyria or The Crown Tower first, preferably The Crown Tower. There’s a lot that goes into this book that could be confusing otherwise.

One point that readers might quibble with is the fact that, with all the new characters and perspectives, there isn’t as much of a focus on Hadrian and Royce, which is probably the reason most of us read the book in the first place. Some of these new perspectives are more exciting than others. They all give the story that is unfolding another layer of depth and perspective, but readers will inevitably like some more than others. However, one thing I always tend to enjoy with Sullivan’s books is that, no matter who the characters are, they all have flaws and strengths. They span the gamut of morality, and they make mistakes, which always impact the plot somehow. His characters, no matter who they are, are realistic in that way.

There’s a lot in The Rose and the Thorn, but Sullivan’s writing keeps it all easy to understand and keep straight. It’s a larger world, and a larger cast, but Sullivan never lets it get confusing or chaotic, and it never feels big for the sake of being big. No, Sullivan’s epic fantasy proves that not all epic fantasy needs a dictionary, notebook, and tons of time to read and understand. Perhaps some of the true beauty here is how Sullivan succeeds at both creating a world for new readers, but adding new depth to the world his tried-and-true fans already know and love, without ever seeming redundant.

As usual, the plot moves forward at a nice clip. Everything is paced perfectly, and Sullivan has already ironed out all of his writing flaws a few books ago, so it will be disgustingly easy for readers to pick up The Rose and the Thorn and lose a few days in the pages without even realizing it.

When I get to this point of my reviews I usually try to summarize my thoughts, but I don’t even know how to do that right now. Sullivan is an author whose books I pick up knowing I’ll love them. I recommend him to new readers all the time. He’s a classic fantasy author that fills some spot in me that craves something a bit more classic and comfortable, balanced with a shiny new edge. His books always cut right into me and no matter what points of his work I can pick on, it never, ever distracts from my absolute enjoyment.

 

5/5 stars

Delia’s Shadow – Jaime Lee Moyer

About the Book

A dark, romantic fantasy set against the backdrop of San Francisco devastated by the Great Quake

It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side.

Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest.

It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again.

And who is now aware of Delia’s existence.

336 pages (Hardcover)

Published on September 17, 2013

Published by Tor

Author’s webpage

This book was sent for me to review by the publisher.

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A book based on a young, single woman who can see ghosts is nothing new. No, that’s an old plot trope that’s been rolled out a few times in urban fantasy. In fact, it’s a trope that is so easy for me to be tired of. So, why didn’t Delia’s Shadow ever enter my ‘Jaded Books Zone’? Well, honestly, Moyer keeps it interesting.

Time and place is incredibly important for authors who are striving to write unique books. Why do you think so many books focus on torn apart lands, political turmoil, instability and the like? It’s a unique conflict that keeps readers engaged. Moyer plays to this in a different way. Delia’s Shadow takes place in San Francisco in 1915. For those of you who know your history of the area, you’ll realize that in 1915, San Francisco was recovering from a brutal, terrible earthquake that nearly destroyed the city and claimed a lot of lives. Enter Delia, who spent a few years away in New York and was returning to help her friend, and foster sister plan her wedding.

Moyer drops in some very realistic, somber details of post-earthquake San Francisco for readers throughout the book. For example: Delia was out of town with her aforementioned friend during the earthquake, so she was saved, but her parents perished. Moyer quite frequently drops in information about how many of San Francisco’s residents had lost loved ones, whether they are parents, family members, or friends. It’s brings a very intimate and emotionally engaging angle to the area and time period. Furthermore, one of the servants in Delia’s house is an African American. While I don’t usually equate California with racism, Moyer shows that it did exist and it affected lives through this woman’s shocking story. It’s all very well done, and a wonderful way for Moyer to engage her reader in the time and location of Delia’s Shadow.

That being said, there are tropes in this book. For example, Delia is an attractive, young orphan. I’m not sure why so many urban fantasy books involve protagonists that have no parents, but they do, and this one is no exception. Delia herself is an unassuming young woman who finds a ghost attached to herself and is then forced into an impressive investigation, of which she holds the various keys to solve the riddle. Again, nothing new there. I’ve read about more protagonists than I care to admit that are unassuming, but end up being pivotal in a mystery that effects countless people. And, the romance. I won’t elaborate on it so I don’t give plot points away, suffice it to say that it’s not incredibly unique or surprising.

The two perspectives that Moyer uses to tell the story do add different, but an equally important light on the mystery as it unfolds. Without both perspectives working together, I’m not entirely sure the novel would have worked as well as it did. On the flip side, this is a narrative issue that many books with romantic elements fall into that really bothers me. One perspective is Delia’s, the other is a gentlemen’s. Every time a book tells the story from two perspectives like that, I almost automatically know what is going to unfold between the two characters. A huge mystery, and plenty of tension, is bled out of the story almost automatically.

Moyer keeps Delia’s Shadow fun, fast, and engaging, despite it’s predictable, tropey points. Her writing brings Delia to life. The secondary characters, especially the psychic Theodora, are a lot of fun to read about. Theodora adds a nice levity to the plot, despite her occasional infodumps. A quibble regarding the characters is how long and drawn out their own internal struggles can be. For example, both Delia and her romantic interest struggle with their mutual romantic interest for much of the novel. That sort of thing gets rather frustrating and makes me feel like this book is more of a falling-in-love story with a murder-mystery background than a murder-mystery with a dash of romantic interest, which I’m sure is what the author was going for. Many of these internal dilemmas the characters face can distract from the original focus of the book. Generally it’s obvious how these dilemmas will end up, so lets get to the point already.

Delia’s Shadow is dark, but not oppressively so. This book does involve murder, and Moyer does describe it, so if blood and gore turn you off, you might want to avoid this book. However, if you’re like me, and you read Joe Abercrombie, then you probably won’t even notice the gore in Delia’s Shadow.

Delia’s Shadow moves relentlessly toward a powerful, neatly tied, if predictable ending. This book is a lot of fun, but all of the tropes and predictability really suck any depth out of it. This is one of those rainy-day reads. It’s brain candy, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There is both a time and a place for brain candy. Delia’s Shadow is interesting brain candy. The time and place used were absolutely brilliant. The writing brings it all to life and keeps readers engaged. I just wish the author had strayed a little further from such a well-worn path.

 

3/5 stars

Cover Art Reveal: The City Stained Red

Due to popular request, I’m going to continue with cover art. Why? Because I can, and you asked for it.

Over on Gollancz, Sam Sykes has revealed his cover art for his new book, A City Stained Red, as well as a nice post about the book, the cover art, etc.

Check it out here.

This is different from what I usually expect from Sykes. I typically pair his books with images of battles, people holding (insert weapon here), or an explosion. Sykes is a rather graphic writer. He’s not afraid of battles or gore, which is something I love about him. However, paired with that is his uncanny ability to write some of the most introspective, hauntingly descriptive passages I’ve ever read.

Basically, this cover is a total left turn from what I’d expect from Sykes, but I love it. The thorny crown on the cover has a sort of been-there-done-that feel to it, but the blood spatters are reminiscent of Sykes gritty style, and the symbolism of the crown makes me think of the deeper, more hauntingly beautiful passages that are peppered throughout his books. It makes me wonder if this isn’t going to be a bit different in tone and feel, and just as delicious as his Aeon’s Gate series.

I tend to be a sucker for covers like this. I like how mysterious they are, how they hint at something bigger, epic, bloody and political, all of which are elements I enjoy in my ideal fantasy.

So, it’s a win for me. What about you?

News: SF Signal & Special Needs in Strange Worlds

SF Signal is, in my opinion, as good as it gets for SFF fandom. It’s the website I’m endlessly jealous of. Their content and team of writers is top-notch and they’ve won two Hugo’s to prove it. Everyone in the SFF world knows who SF Signal is. They are, simply put, amazing.

Yesterday I was contacted by John DeNardo from SF Signal. He asked if I’d be willing to join the SF Signal team as a regular contributor. He explained that I could have a weekly or bi-weekly column revolving around one central topic, or I could review.

I jumped on it, in a sort of thrilled and panicked way. SF Signal is amazing and they want me! Little old me! This is the Bookworm who says over and over again that she’s not interesting or clever. Shock of shocks, they want this boring person to contribute on their illustrious website. I spent a few hours hemming and hawing over my various options. I wasn’t really thrilled about reviewing over there, because I review here and why be redundant? I can be nice and boring over here. On a website like SF Signal I want to try very hard to be at least partially interesting.

Then I had my vision.

I run Special Needs in Strange Worlds during the month of May. It’s an incredibly popular series which I truly wish I could elaborate on, and spend more time with. Special Needs in Strange Worlds is dedicated to shining a light on a very underexposed and incredibly important topic very near and dear to my heart. I love the discussion it generates, and the new perspective it gives the genre I love. The fantastic thing about all of this is that now that my own debilitating health issues (cancer, paralyzing back problems, etc) are over (I never, ever thought I’d see the end of that very dark, very depressing tunnel), I actually have the time and mental capacity to really focus on my website, my website/genre goals, and my various passions the way I’ve wanted to, but have been to sick to, for years.

I hope that makes some sense.

ANYWAY…

SF Signal is offering me a new outlet with a huge readership that I can use to explore Special Needs in Strange Worlds as much as I want. I offered to do a bi-weekly column focusing on applicable book reviews, author interviews, guest posts, commentary, and whatever else I can dream up. I sincerely hope this column takes off and that people actually read and enjoy it. I’m quite terrified that this effort of mine will absolutely bomb and it will be beyond humiliating to bomb on a site as incredible as SF Signal.

So, here’s what all this boils down to:

1. SF Signal offered little old me a position to be a regular contributor on their website (squee)!

2. I accepted said offer.

3. I will continue reviewing general SFF over here on Bookworm Blues, like I have been for three years.

4. I will move Special Needs in Strange Worlds over to SF Signal, where I will have a bi-weekly column exploring as many aspects of this important issue as I possibly can because, hey, now I have longer than a month to do it.

When will this excitement start? I have no idea. I’ll keep you posted. I just wanted to let you know the developments so you can all pretend to be as thrilled as I am.

And, lastly, if you have suggestions for this column, please share them.

Cover Art – A Discussion (or something)

I’d be lying if I said that cover art didn’t effect how badly I wanted to read a book. Tor’s winter catalogue was just released and I’m starting to go through it now. I’m impressed by the cover art, so I’m deciding to show some of my favorites.

I’m finding myself rather fascinated by cover art recently. I usually don’t post it on my website (I figure better websites like A Dribble of Ink can do that for me). That being said, as technology changes, cover art does, too. I find myself liking more than I used to, and this often gets me excited. That’s how I roll.

My mother always said, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” Well, I guess I do just that. (Sorry, mom.) So I’m writing this post to show you some cover art I saw in the Tor catalogue that has me all interested. It also might serve to wet your whistle for the upcoming reading year.

(Note: I figure that since these covers are also on Goodreads, they are fair game for me to post. If I’m wrong, all someone needs to do is shout at me and I’ll fix it by removing this post.)

Enjoy… or something.

—-

Welcome to the City Unspoken, where Gods and Mortals come to die.

Contrary to popular wisdom, death is not the end, nor is it a passage to some transcendent afterlife. Those who die merely awake as themselves on one of a million worlds, where they are fated to live until they die again, and wake up somewhere new. All are born only once, but die many times . . . until they come at last to the City Unspoken, where the gateway to True Death can be found.

Wayfarers and pilgrims are drawn to the City, which is home to murderous aristocrats, disguised gods and goddesses, a sadistic faerie princess, immortal prostitutes and queens, a captive angel, gangs of feral Death Boys and Charnel Girls . . . and one very confused New Yorker.

Late of Manhattan, Cooper finds himself in a City that is not what it once was. The gateway to True Death is failing, so that the City is becoming overrun by the Dying, who clot its byzantine streets and alleys . . . and a spreading madness threatens to engulf the entire metaverse.

To be released on February 11, 2014

—-

Lord Scott Oken, a prince of Albion, and Professor-Prince Mikel Mabruke live in a world where the sun never set on the Egyptian Empire. In the year 1877 of Our Lord Julius Caesar, Pharaoh Djoser-George governs a sprawling realm that spans Europe, Africa, and much of Asia. When the European terrorist Otto von Bismarck touches off an international conspiracy, Scott and Mik are charged with exposing the plot against the Empire.

Their adventure takes them from the sands of Memphis to a lush New World, home of the Incan Tawantinsuyu, a rival empire across the glittering Atlantic Ocean. Encompassing Quetzal airships, operas, blood sacrifice and high diplomacy, Three Princes is a richly imagined, cinematic vision of a modern Egyptian Empire.

To be released on February 4, 2014

 

 

 

—-

 

The thrilling adventure of Lady Trent continues . . .

Attentive readers of Lady Trent’s earlier memoir, A Natural History of Dragons, are already familiar with how a bookish and determined young woman named Isabella first set out on the historic course that would one day lead her to becoming the world’s premier dragon naturalist. Now, in this remarkably candid second volume, Lady Trent looks back at the next stage of her illustrious (and occasionally scandalous) career.

Three years after her fateful journeys through the forbidding mountains of Vystrana, Mrs. Camherst defies family and convention to embark on an expedition to the wartorn continent of Eriga, home of such exotic draconian species as the grassdwelling snakes of the savannah, arboreal tree snakes, and, most elusive of all, the legendary swampwyrms of the tropics.

The expedition is not an easy one. Accompanied by both an old associate and a runaway heiress, Isabella must brave oppressive heat, merciless fevers, palace intrigues, gossip, and other hazards in order to satisfy her boundless fascination with all things draconian, even if it means venturing deep into the forbidden jungle known as the Green Hell . . . where her courage, resourcefulness, and scientific curiosity will be tested as never before.

To be published on March 4, 2014

—

Eric Albright is leading a normal life until a small red door appears under a train bridge near his home. Then a ghostly being wakes him in the dead of night, with a message from another world: You are Shadow. In Levaal, the world between worlds, the dragon-gods grow restless in their sky prisons, and the Great Spirits struggle to contain them. Vous, the worlds Friend and Lord, simmers in madness as he schemes to join the ranks of gods. He and the Arch Mage have almost won their final victory over the Free Cities. A dark age dawns. But Eric and his friend Case are now Pilgrims, called to Levaal for a battle more ancient than the petty squabbles of men. And they will learn why some doors should not be opened

To be published on March 18, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

—

Caeli-Amur: an ancient city perched on white cliffs overlooking the sea; a city ruled by three Houses, fighting internecine wars; a city which harbours ancient technology and hidden mysteries. But things are changing in Caeli-Amur. Ancient minotaurs arrive for the traditional Festival of the Sun. The slightly built New-Men bring their technology from their homeland. Wastelanders stream into the city hideously changed by the chemical streams to the north. Strikes break out in the factory district.

In a hideout beneath the city, a small group of seditionists debate ways to overthrow the Houses. How can they rouse the citizens of the city? Should they begin a campaign of terror? Is there a way to uncover the thaumaturgical knowledge that the Houses guard so jealously? As the Houses scramble to maintain their rule, it becomes clear that things will change forever in Caeli-Amur.

To be published on April 15, 2014

 

 

—

Desperate to find a case to justify the team’s existence, with budget cuts and a police strike on the horizon, Quill thinks he’s struck gold when a cabinet minister is murdered by an assailant who wasn’t seen getting in or out of his limo. A second murder, that of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, presents a crime scene with a message… identical to that left by the original Jack the Ripper.

The new Ripper seems to have changed the MO of the old completely: he’s only killing rich white men. The inquiry into just what this supernatural menace is takes Quill and his team into the corridors of power at Whitehall, to meetings with MI5, or ‘the funny people’ as the Met call them, and into the London occult underworld. They go undercover to a pub with a regular evening that caters to that clientele, and to an auction of objects of power at the Tate Modern.

Meanwhile, the Ripper keeps on killing and finally the pattern of those killings gives Quill’s team clues towards who’s really doing this…

To be published on April 15, 2014

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be published March, 2014

 

 

So, do any of these covers do it for you? Have I missed any good ones?

(P.S. If this post goes over well, I might flaunt the cover art I like more often.)

 

Blackbirds – Chuck Wendig

About the Book

Miriam Black knows when you will die.

She’s foreseen hundreds of car crashes, heart attacks, strokes, and suicides.

But when Miriam hitches a ride with Louis Darling and shakes his hand, she sees that in thirty days Louis will be murdered while he calls her name. Louis will die because he met her, and she will be the next victim.

No matter what she does she can’t save Louis. But if she wants to stay alive, she’ll have to try.

384 pages (paperback)

Published on April 24, 2012

Published by Angry Robot

Author’s webpage

—–

I’ve been meaning to read Blackbirds for a while now, but I just got around to it recently. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why I put it off for so incredibly long. Blackbirds was unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and because of that, it was brutally beautiful.

I’m going to get one thing out of the way right now. Blackbirds is absolutely brutal. There’s a ton of very explicit violence and plenty of dark humor and language. If that sort of thing bothers you, then you’ll probably want to avoid this book. Wendig doesn’t hold back. Prospective readers should be aware of that. This book isn’t for everyone. That’s not a bad thing, but it should be known, because it could really disturb some people.

Now that that’s out of the way, lets move onto the actual review.

Miriam is one of the most interesting protagonists I’ve ever read about. She’s tough as nails on the outside, but inside, once you get to know her better, you realize how incredibly fragile and vulnerable she is. Wendig managed to create one hell of a tough exterior to one incredibly broken woman. A lot of readers might struggle with connecting to her, but that’s part of her magic. It’s hard to relate to someone so torn, someone who doesn’t even know who they are, and in that respect, Wendig makes Miriam incredibly realistic.

Miriam’s unique gift, the ability to see how people die, could easily be some urban fantasy trope – one of those books with the scantily clad woman on the cover holding (insert weapon of choice here).  Wendig never falls into that trope (thankfully). As I mentioned above, Miriam is a very broken person, broken by her past and by her ability. Everything about her is dark, unpredictable, and shattered. Her gift has turned her into a mystery that’s never really unraveled. Perhaps the cherry on top of Miriam is her caustic humor, her desire to overcome her ability mixed with her knowledge that it will never happen. This humor is laced throughout the book. It’s dry, subtle, stabbing, but there and despite it all, it does serve to assist the atmosphere, Miriam’s own self-perceptions, and adds a little levity on the occasion, as shown here:

She thinks, I want an orange soda. And I want vodka to mix into the orange soda. And while we’re at it, I’d also like to stop being able to see how people are going to bite it. Oh, and a pony. I definitely want a goddamn pony.

Miriam’s darkness bleeds into the plot, and her lack of compunctions regarding violence aides the atmosphere quite a bit. As I said when this review started, Blackbirds is one violent, bloody ride. That being said, I never felt like the violence was over-the-top. Wendig keeps it realistic to the situations Miriam finds herself in. Her reactions, and the violence that seems to follow her are well written, making them so realistic they’ll make you cringe, but it’s the exact sort of violence that would happen in these situations. In fact Wendig doesn’t glorify much. Blackbirds has almost no beauty in it, none of the sexuality you’d expect in urban fantasy. The filth (much of which is shockingly creative) as well as violence highlights the fact that nothing is sacred in Wendig’s world. I found this to be incredibly refreshing.

It’s obvious from the first page that Blackbirds will take off at a breakneck pace. Within the first few pages Miriam establishes her interesting ability for the reader, and her absolute loathing for said ability. The seedy hotel, the quick death, and the cockroach all add to the seedy, dark, lonely atmosphere. Wendig remains true to this throughout the book. Blackbirds is character and plot driven. One thing that readers might find lacking is a sense of place. Wendig is good about saying what state various parts of this book take place in, he describes the hotels Miriam finds herself in, an various other things, but he never really manages to make the locations pop. This might bother some readers, however, being such a character and plot driven book, I didn’t find the lack of “place” that annoying. Miriam is a drifter, and the unimportance of where she is and the scenery around her really highlights the fact that she’s been everywhere, and places stopped mattering or standing out to her.

Interspersed throughout the novel are chapters that tell the backstory of various characters. This helps give the reader some depth to each of the characters, as well as (obviously) creating a nice backstory that helps picture how each character finds themselves in the mess they are in. Wendig does this in unique ways. Miriam tells a lot of her story through an interview (while never really revealing the information readers will be dying to learn more about). Most of these backstories seem to be stories told to Miriam so she understands why (insert person here) is doing what they are doing. Now, while these stories do give a nice bit of perspective to the situations happening, what they didn’t really do is clear up the waters of motivation. For example, I never really gained a true and solid understanding of why Ashley was so focused on Miriam. Yes, the motivation he tells the reader is easy to believe and understand, but it never made complete sense to me. (I know that’s vague, but it’s an example, and I’m trying desperately not to give away too much of the plot).

Readers will find more questions asked than answered in Blackbirds. It’s obviously the first book in a series, but it never falls into the setting-up-for-books-two-and-three syndrome that tends to bother me so much with first books in a series. Wendig tells a full and complete story here, while doing a nice bit of world building and adding an almost subtle dash of “magic” to appeal to those of us who like their fantasy dark and rich. Wendig follows a nicely contained cast of characters, all of whom reach natural conclusions in an ending that will keep you wondering, “what’s next?” Blackbirds might not be for everyone, but for those who want to try something new, and aren’t afraid to get dirty while doing so, it is a must read.

 

4/5 stars

 

AUTHORS WELCOME

I try very hard not to weigh in on internet drama. Why? Because it’s not what I want my website to be about. That being said, there are occasions when I get so absolutely pissed off I can’t seem to see straight so I decide to go vocal. Plus, us redheads are good about going vocal when we feel the desire.

There was a big to-do about an author had the (*gasp*) audacity to engage in a fan discussion of his work. Evidently that’s beyond insulting (I missed the memo informing me that that sort of thing is supposed to piss me off).

I’m going to make a few things perfectly clear: 

1. I didn’t start Bookworm Blues so I could hear myself talk. I started this website to interact with people who enjoy the genre as much as I do. I don’t draw lines. I don’t kick people out of my special club. I don’t care. If you love the genre, I want to talk to you. Period.

2. I want my website to be fun. I enjoy and embrace discussion. I might disagree with you, but I enjoy that disagreement. What fun is the world if I’m not stretching my boundaries, understandings, and limitations? This is especially true with the interpretation of literature. Art is so reliant on perspective, and everyone’s perspective is different. I realize I am not a perfect being with absolutely flawless understanding, so I welcome discussions and comments that, perhaps, show me how flawed my understanding really is. That, to me, is fun.

3. I think it’s a horrible double standard to welcome authors in interviews, and discussions on Twitter, but kick them off of websites because they have the audacity to be an author. When you take the right to discuss work away from the creator, you’re laying down an impressive double standard. They can write, but they can’t discuss. Ridiculous. This thinking is ridiculous and insulting to me as a reader, genre fan, and website runner. Yes, websites like this are largely geared toward fans of the genre, but authors are fans, too. Probably the most impressive fans of all of us. Furthermore, if you take my previous two points into consideration, you’d probably realize that I think it would be a pretty stupid move to kick someone out as intricately tied to their work as an author from a discussion about their work. If you want to understand and know more about why a book does whatever it does, kicking an author who is brave enough to elaborate on some points you make is one of the dumbest, most closed minded moves I could imagine. It’s censoring, and censoring pisses me off.

The bottom line is, people can run their websites however they want. I, however, don’t run a special club. I don’t think it’s right to kick people out of it, and treat them poorly due to how they spend their daytime hours. It’s never, ever, right to treat someone poorly. I don’t care who they are or what they did. This whole to-do infuriated me. It paints so many people in a bad light. I read the comments and I was disgusted by how this author was treated. I’m appalled, and that’s the simple truth. I don’t weigh in on this stuff often, but it’s time I did, because I don’t want that sort of closed mindedness anywhere near my website.

I think bloggers, myself included, often take themselves (myself) too seriously. We aren’t the end-all-be-all of literature interpretation. What happened to letting go of the rules and having fun with our passion for the genre? Everything has to be psychoanalyzed, discussed, picked apart, and pulled over. Aren’t we losing something by being that analytical of everything (not just books)? When did discussion stop being discussion? When was it decided that there were rules to who could talk and who couldn’t?

Honestly, once people start to lose the “fun” of it all, I start wondering if the person who runs the website needs to really sit down and figure out why they still run a website.

We are vocal about our love of the genre because we love the genre. Period. End of discussion. We analyze, draw parallels, say things in neat ways, discuss the flaws and fantastic improvements of the genre, and whatever else. Bloggers have an important place in the marketing/fandom community. This website is a dream come true for me to run, and it’s allowed me to do what I never dreamed possible: talk to authors. That’s why I do this. I love the genre, and I want to interact with the movers-and-shakers. Bookworm Blues is a small genre website that keeps trucking despite all the issues I’ve had against me (thank you, cancer). I think one huge reason it keeps running is because I try very hard to keep this controversial, childish bullshit off of it. I try hard to not treat people like crap. I don’t think I’ve ever yelled at someone for commenting. Authors comment, and I welcome them. I try to do interviews, giveaways, I talk to publishers, editors, etc. I like to be informed, and being informed also allows my genre-love to grow. I’d be a fool to cut out an inside track to various genre issues, understandings, etc.

My only commenting rules: 

1. Be polite. We’re all adults. Put your adult pants on before you comment.

2. Opinions aren’t wrong. IE: You aren’t wrong for feeling the way you feel, and I’m not wrong for feeling the way I feel.

I’ll be Switzerland to other website’s Russia. I declare this neutral territory. I don’t care who you are. If you want to come over here, discuss (whatever) and have fun (I try very hard not to take myself too seriously, and just have fun with my obsession) then please do. I don’t run an exclusive club. Bookworm Blues is open to whoever, be you author, agent, publisher, or fan. I embrace discussion, and I realize that, due to my imperfections, your interpretations and perspectives might broaden my own interpretations, understandings, and enjoyments.

*Bear in mind that your comments are given weight based on their content, not your status.

Image courtesy of Gav Reads.