Kaylena Radcliff's Blog, page 6

Read, Reading, and To Be Read- March 2019 Edition

[image error]

2019 is just blowing by, and it’s already time for the March installment of Read, Reading, and To be Read! (To find other brief synopses of what I’m reading, check out here, here, and here.) Without further ado, here’s a look at the books my nose has been in lately:

Read

1. Stardust by Neil Gaiman

If you can believe it, this was my FIRST Neil Gaiman novel. Beautiful prose, immense and mysterious world, lovely story. You can read my full review here. Definitely would recommend, but keep in mind it is a bit different from the movie!

2.  The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

I’m reading through the Chronicles of Narnia with my daughter and we’re really enjoying it! I let her pick the books, so we’re hopelessly out of order. I’ve got to say, I might be loving the books more as an adult than I did as a kid. Minor note when reading aloud: Be prepared for the amount of times you’ll have to substitute a different pejorative for “ass.” 

3.  Rise of the Seer by Brandon Barr

I was blown away by this book. Look for a review soon, but just as a way of recommendation- if the first few chapters don’t ratchet up your anxiety levels, I’m gonna start wondering if you’re alive!

Reading

1. Bridge Beyond Her World by Brandon Barr

I tried to read something else before I got into the second book of this trilogy. Totally couldn’t. I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!

2. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

We also continue the Chronicles of Narnia with dear daughter’s next choice. Puddleglum is one of the best characters ever written. Go ahead and fight me.

3. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

I own all the Sherlock Holmes novels in a nice anthology, but I’m currently listening through on Audible starting with this first story. It’s narrated by the inimitable Stephen Fry (seriously though, his narrations are the best and I love them.) I’ve been told the middle gets so confusing that I might think I’m in the wrong story for a while, but I haven’t got there yet! We’ll see what happens!

To Be Read

1.  Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor

While I wasn’t overly impressed with the plot in the first book, Okorafor builds a beautiful, non-western fantasy world and writes such lovely prose. I’m willing to give the second one a try. It’ll be interesting to see where the story goes from where it left off!

2.  Her Father’s Fugitive Throne by Brandon Barr

Yeah, I’m gonna have to see how this one ends.

3. United by Trillia J. Newbell

Always gotta throw in a theological book every now and again. Given current events, it seems a timely writing. Can’t wait to dive into this one.

 

What else should I add? Any deals I need to snap up in the SFF realm? What’s on your lists? Let’s see ’em!

 

 

 

 

Audible’s Laudables: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

I’m sure most of you have already read it, but join me for a quick review of Stardust by New York Times bestselling author, Neil Gaiman! Here’s the book summary from Amazon:

Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria Forester—even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. Beyond that stone barrier, Tristran learns, lies Faerie…and the most exhilarating adventure of the young man’s life.

I first saw the movie version of this book some years ago and absolutely fell in love with the story. I didn’t have the time to sit down and read it like I wanted, but I did have an audible credit and places to drive, so use my credit I did!

Gaiman has a real gift for storytelling, which shines through in his beautifully eloquent writing and tight plot. Tristran is a likable protagonist, even with his flaws. The supporting characters are likewise complex and well-written, even as some of them, like Victoria Forester, Yvaine, and Una, differ slightly from the movie characterization.

It’s really marvelous from start to finish, and the 6 1/2 hours I spent listening to it passed far too quickly. The author himself narrated the audible version, which he does exceedingly well. I enjoyed his style and voicing of different characters and it was generally easy to get lost in the story. You also get a sense that Faerie is huge, complex, and full of hundreds of stories that Gaiman could (should?) have written.

According to Gaiman, Stardust is “a fairy tale for adults,” and it certainly does read that way. While there is a whole lot of delightful whimsy and lightness to the whole tale, there are definitely dark threads, as well as occasional sexual content and language. That’s not surprising for fantasy aimed at adults, but I think I was caught a little off guard because the movie really only included innuendo.

My only other reservation is the way the story ended, which was also different from the movie. It made sense in the context of the story, but as a romantic fairy tale ending, I found the movie version’s take much more satisfying. I think I’d still feel that way if I read the book first, but it’s hard to say for sure.

Altogether, I’d recommend this one and will now start looking into more of Gaiman’s writings– and yes, I know it’s very shameful that I haven’t read his other works already.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Stardust— movie or book? What did you like and what didn’t work for you? Share below!

 

 

Tuesday Frippery: I write like…

Tuesday Frippery isn’t as catchy as the alliterative Friday Frippery, I know. But given that it’s a lame Tuesday in southeastern PA thanks to some dreadful weather, I know I could use a little frivolity.

Thankfully, I stumbled upon this fascinating website: I Write Like.

The idea is you enter a writing sample, the algorithm analyzes it, and then you get paired with the famous author you write like the most. How does it do it? Check that out here.

This is what I got:

I write like

Agatha Christie

About Agatha Christie | Analyze your text

 

Just to be sure, I entered several different works of different genres. I got Agatha Christie every time. I guess it’s time to revisit one of my favorite mystery authors!

Anyway, try it out, and comment your results!

 

 

Book Review- Till We Have Faces

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis is the repackaged myth of Cupid and Psyche, told through the perspective of Orual, Psyche’s older sister. Set in the city-state of Glome, a small, primitive kingdom, the tale begins as an accusation against the gods for their injustice against Orual. She opens the narrative with glimpses into her life as the ugly princess under the cruel rule of her rash and wildly moody father, the King of Glome. When Orual’s mother dies, the King marries again, and the new queen also dies in childbirth with Istra, her beautiful daughter. Orual and her faithful tutor, a Greek slave nicknamed “the Fox,” raise Istra as lovingly as a mother and grandfather, and every day Istra, called Psyche by the pair, becomes more enchanting. So enchanting, in fact, that the people of Glome decided she must be sacrificed to the gods.

Orual’s complaint continues, not only because the gods take Psyche from her physically, but they seem to take her emotionally as well. Psyche seems delusional, and so Orual takes drastic action to get her back, resulting in unintentionally devastating consequences and a life lived in the shadow of colossal grief and haunting injustice. But as she nears the end of her life, Orual will have her chance to register her accusation and discover the truth of it all.

This critically acclaimed work was considered by both CS Lewis and his contemporaries to be the best thing he ever produced, and having read Lewis extensively, I have to agree.  The writing is undeniably beautiful and expertly reminiscent of the classical style Lewis purposely emulates. The story was so compelling that I finished the book in four days. And, in contrast to the original myth, in which Orual betrays Psyche purely out of jealousy, Lewis creates a layered and sympathetic main character whom the reader can easily identify with in her reactions, emotions, and decisions. I loved Orual as a narrator. She displays all the unreliability, skewed perspective, and fallibility of human nature even as she displays its best qualities. And the end? The catharsis, revelation, redemption; it is brilliant and magnificent.

If you are a Lewis fan and haven’t picked this one up, you are doing yourself a disservice. From its imaginative and original take on classical Greek mythology to its weaving in of a eloquent Christian narrative, Till We Have Faces very well could be Lewis’s magnum opus.

Audible’s Laudables: The Infernal City

Today is my blog-aversary! (That doesn’t work, does it? Oh well.)

The post below is my very first review, appearing on Far Kingdoms on this day one year ago. What a ride it’s been- and how many fantastic books I’ve read because of it. Happy Flashback Friday- go read a good book!

far kingdoms

A tale of two mornings:

It’s a lazy Saturday. You wake up at 10 to the gentle thrumming of rain outside your window and the smell of breakfast wafting through your door. Your significant other hands you a cup of coffee (or tea, if you like), and you curl up on the couch with a new book, drinking in that sweet caffeinated goodness and fresh imaginative world alike.
Your alarm bleats angrily and you come to, bleary-eyed and hungover (you weren’t drinking, of course, that’s just how morning feels now), and suddenly there’s a toddler standing on your pillow demanding pancakes.  You look at the clock– it’s 6:33 AM. Your significant other rolls over and somehow ignores the child and the wailing now coming through the nursery monitor. There’s a book sitting on your bedside table; you’re on page two.

Hyperbole aside, if your days look more like scenario #2…

View original post 554 more words

49 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Magazines Ranked from Best to Worst

Not only is this a great list to find new science fiction and fantasy reads, but if you’re a scifi/fantasy writer looking to submit your work, you can start here! Check it out!

Planetary Defense Command

In my last post, I explained why I’ve cut off my first round of magazine reviews at 49, and described my ranking method.  So, on to the results, giving my first issue of each magazine an Olympic-style score from 10 to 1:

[WARNING:  Do not go to the website of Red Sun Magazine, as its domain registration expired and was taken over by scammers.  The link below is to my review of the magazine, not to the scammer website.  It is still safe to go to their facebook or twitter accounts, or to buy their magazine at Amazon.]

10

Red Sun Magazine

Cirsova

9

Space and Time

Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Analog

Aurealis

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly

8

Sci Phi Journal

7

Perihelion SF

Andromeda Spaceways In-Flight Magazine

Fantasy Scroll

Astounding Frontiers

Albedo One

Mothership Zeta

Just a Minor Malfunction

6

Apex

Compelling SF

Nebula Rift

Plasma Frequency

Deep Magic

View original post 594 more words

Read, Reading, and To be Read: January 2019

[image error]

All you book bloggers out there are great, you know that? Not only do you share so many fantastic books I probably would not have heard of otherwise, but you also keep me accountable in my own reading. So book bloggers and those who benefit from your hours of sifting, reading, and analyzing- here’s to you in my January 2019 edition of Read, Reading, and To be Read!

 

Read
A Threat of Shadows by JA Andrews

A great book that I enjoyed from start to finish; emotionally relatable characters, interesting plot, thoughtful thematic elements. You can see more on my review here.

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

How have I never read this absolutely PHENOMENAL book by my favorite author before? Expect a full review soon, but spoiler: this book may be Lewis’s magnum opus.

Morning Glory by Rebecca Price Janney

This was an ARC I was asked personally to do, so I thought I’d give it a shot. It was definitely out of the genres I usually frequent (Christian historical fiction with a bit of inspirational romance), so it took me a bit to get into it, but I ended up enjoying it. Centered around the Great Awakening (think George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards), it was an uplifting, historically accurate, and at times, kind of sweet read. (A huge change from a lot of the stuff I normally read!) Would recommend for decidedly Christian or open to faith readers.

Reading
Rise of the Seer by Brandon Barr

I just started this today and WHOA IT IS INTENSE AND GRIPPING. I’m both terrified and excited to see where this fantasy novel will go.

Praying Together by Megan Hill

Working through this book meditatively and I love it. A theologically incisive and devotional treatise on prayer, this book does no soft-peddling when it comes to biblical fidelity.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford

I’m listening to this biographical account of the life of Genghis Khan on Audible. It is absolutely fascinating. Just as interesting as Genghis Khan himself is the life, religion, and culture of the tribes that would become Mongolia. I’m only a couple hours in, but I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for non-western history.

To be Read
 So, so so many kindle books
[image error]These are just my most recent downloads; NOT EVEN MY ENTIRE KINDLE LIBRARY

 

I have a rather enormous backlog of books I want to read this year and it’s embarrassing because I KEEP BUYING BOOKS. You can see some of the titles above- and ideally I’d like to get to most of them within the year. Well, we’ll see if that happens.

I also want to return to some of the series I’ve started; namely the Monster Hunter series (Larry Correia), the Keeper Chronicles (JA Andrews), the Ender Quartet (Orson Scott Card), the Space Trilogy (C.S. Lewis) and the Binti trilogy (Nnedi Okorafor). So many good writers out there…so little time. And with two little kids, a job, and writing on the side, I’m going to need to prioritize. So please help me and tell me what to read. I mean it- any favorites on my TBR? 

 

 

 

Book Review: A Threat of Shadows

I read and reviewed number of self-published books in the past twelve months. Some might be surprised at this, but the quality of these reads are often as good as your traditionally published novels; in fact, sometimes they are even better. And one of my absolute favorites is A Threat of Shadows by JA Andrews. Here’s the summary:

Alaric betrayed everything he believed to save Evangeline — and failed.

His last chance to save the woman he loves lies in an ancient Wellstone, a repository of power, buried and lost long ago.

Luck—or something more troubling—leads him to a small group searching for the same stone.

A disgruntled dwarf,

a bumbling wizard,

and an elf with an unsettling amount of power.

If he can gain their trust, they might help him find the cure.

But the Wellstone holds more than he knows, and a terrible evil he’d thought defeated is stirring again, searching for the stone.

Can the companions survive a traitor, a dragon, and their own pasts to reach the stone before time runs out?

A Threat of Shadows was 2018’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) Semifinalist (hosted on Mark Lawrence’s blog here) and I think it certainly earns it. Andrews’ writing style is amiable, clear, and engaging. I found it easy to slide into Alaric’s POV, understand his motivations, and empathize with his justifications for his actions, even while the author creates and holds tension about the morality of his emotional decisions.

Plot action happens right away and sets the stage for the rest of the book. Magic and monsters abound, and even with all the traveling that is endemic to epic fantasy, the narrative is exciting and delightfully fast-paced. Furthermore, Andrews displays exceptional emotional acuity through her relatable, well-written supporting characters and in her ability to make their tragedies impactful.

Overall, I thought A Threat of Shadows was an enjoyable book and easy recommendation for anyone who likes epic fantasy. While I’m still deciding if I liked the book’s conclusion (which I won’t give away here!), it was appropriate. I also appreciated that it wrapped up the plot without cliffhangers while simultaneously leaving the world open for its sequel, Pursuit of Shadows.

Have you read A Threat of Shadows? What did you think? 

 

Looking back: 2018 in review

[image error]

2018. What a year! Looking back, it was year of health crises, personal struggle, and financial frustration. But it was also a year of firsts; of groundbreaking achievements and tangible production.

The firsts I celebrated this year:

My son’s first birthday
My first round of publisher’s edits on my first fantasy novel
The Philadelphia Eagles’ first SUPERBOWL win
My first kidney stone (and hopefully the last!)
My first published short story
My first book blog with regular updates (psst, it’s this one!)

Wow, that looks nice in bullet points, doesn’t it? But the bullet points can’t show how much failure preceded success. (Looking at you, Eagles.) Failure was my teacher, and I’ve learned a lot this year. I know better now how to prioritize my time, the utmost importance of reading widely, and that everything I write is valuable but not necessarily print-worthy. I’ve learned that failure and success go hand-in-hand, and that every rejection is an opportunity to get better. Ultimately, 2018 made failure a lot less frightening.

As I step into 2019, I hope to embrace failure, and I hope you can, too. Happy New Year, everyone- and may failure bring many of your firsts.

 

 

 

 

Audible’s (sort of) Laudables: The Witcher Series

Disclaimer: I skipped Sword of Destiny and haven’t yet read Season of Storms

For the better part of this year, I ate, slept, and breathed The Witcher series. It’s easy to do on Audible- you finish one book and hey look! You’ve got another credit, want to buy the next book? To which I said, “YES PLEASE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT” thanks to Andrzej Sapkowski’s affinity for cliffhangers.

[image error]“Again, Andrzej?”

While I really enjoyed several of the individual books, my favorite being The Last Wish, I wanted to take a look at the series as a whole.

There are a lot of things to love about The Witcher series. Sapkowski builds an amazing and imaginative world, full of monsters, magic, and mystery. He wraps this around an intriguing, complex plot that spans the entire Continent, weaving politics, war, and espionage into the narrative. I also found the main characters to be well-developed and compelling, starting with Geralt, the Witcher himself. Still, as much as I loved the world, characters, and lore, I found some issues that made it harder for me to enjoy the story as it continued. As much as it pains me to write this post, I think it’s only fair to share my objections.

My first issue with the series is Sapkowski’s incredibly liberal and unnecessary use of flashback to tell the story. I didn’t mind it in The Last Wish, because it got us to where we were going and didn’t ruin the suspense, but by the time we get to Lady in the Lake, it was ENTIRE chapters of flashback. He does manage to tie some of this together in the end with his references to Arthurian legends and Ciri’s world/time hopping, but I’m not sure it was successful as a story-telling technique. He also interposes flashback in the middle of exciting narrative turning points that reveal the future result of said exciting plot-point and totally turn down the excitement. This stylistic choice seems to be influenced by the recurring themes of time, legend/fairy tale, and fate (there are constant allusions to all of these), but I think he could have done this better without interrupting and halting the narrative.

Second, tropes.

“Tropes, Woody. Tropes everywhere.“

Actually, I can easily dismiss this one more than the others, but it bears mentioning since I saw many other readers so bothered by them. Nothing is new under the sun, of course, and every book will have tropes somewhere. But here are my favorites to pick on in The Witcher:

-Geralt is BROODING and MISERABLE and takes it out on the people trying to help him

-Every sorceress ever wants to bed Geralt

-Ciri is STRONG and DEFIANT and DON’T NEED NO MAN, but all the boys looooooove her

-Why did thing happen? FATE

To be fair, these weren’t that bad, but I think the main problem was weak or lack of character development in the continuing series (and seemingly, in favor of connecting over-arching themes to the massive war/battle narrative.)

Finally (and this comes with a big ol’ SPOILER ALERT!) that ending. Not only was it a bit confusing– did Geralt and Yennefer die even though the unicorn…healed him? — it was so unsatisfying. I get some of it– it’s a commentary on how pointless death can be despite noble intentions and intentionally ambiguous to really hammer home the legends/fairy tale motif– but it still seemed trite despite trying to be so real. In my opinion, Lady in the Lake would have been much more successful AND would have better tied up the series if it ended in Vilgefortz’s castle. (Also, I think one of the absolute best twists in the series occurs here.) Instead, we get the following meandering chapters in which some of the bad guys wax philosophical around a campfire and there is extended commentary on senseless war atrocities and racism. And I understand Sapkowski’s reasoning behind adding that, but it seemed like it should have been another book, or at the very least, sprinkled with subtlety throughout instead of hyper-blasting the reader with it at the end.

Overall, I would still give a recommendation for the series, even though there are some issues throughout and especially in the concluding story. I have a lot more thoughts, but I’d love to hear your opinions. What did you think of The Witcher books?