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Partial Function: A Wuxia-inspired Epic Fantasy
If Taken starred Michelle Yeoh and was set on a Jurassic Park - inspired Cradle. Monster hunter Akina Azure inherited the most powerful weapon in the martial world before retiring to a peaceful life raising her twin girls. The Reaver has them kidnapped, thinking Akina will trade that weapon for their safe return. Will she? Or will she use it to wreak a terrible retribution on the men who took her girls? You get one guess.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2023
12 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
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November 7, 2023
This review was originally posted on Before We Go Blog
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Berne is back and better than ever with Partial Function, his first foray outside of the Hybrid Helix series. It’s got a kick-ass and snarky mom out on a revenge quest, thrilling martial arts fights, dinosaurs, a loyal dog named Dog, heartwarming found family vibes, and, most importantly of all, SO much humour and heart. Honestly, this is the entertaining wuxia-inspired epic fantasy you didn’t know you needed.
Once, Akina Azure, better known as the Spiral Witch, roamed the Wilds as one of the legendary Five. Yet, despite inheriting the most powerful weapon in the martial world, she has left her monster hunting days behind and now lives a peaceful life raising her twin girls. That is, until her daughters are kidnapped by The Reaver, who intends to use them as a bargaining chip in exchange for that powerful weapon. Akina will do anything to get her girls back, and she intends to show everyone just how fearsome an angry momma bear can be.
Now, I normally tend to prefer my fantasy to be quite slow-burn, but leave it to Berne to make me absolutely adore a fast-paced story full of non-stop thrilling action. The kidnapping of the girls has already happened before this story starts, so we just hit the ground running and it’s a wild ride from start to finish. Not once did I get tempted to skim through an action scene, because all of these martial arts fights just came to life before my eyes and had me on the edge of my seat the entire way through.
That said, it ultimately was still the brilliant character work that fully hooked me, and I think it took me approximately one page to fall head over heels in love with Akina Azure. She easily shot straight to the top of the ‘best moms in fantasy’ list, rivalling characters like Misaki from The Sword of Kaigen or Orka from The Bloodsworn Saga. I think it can be hard to write a revenge-driven protagonist that doesn’t feel one-dimensional, single-minded, and utterly frustrating, but Berne absolutely nailed Akina’s character arc to a T.
Her joints might be aching and her best days might be behind her, but I loved how she continually proved that she still is someone just absolutely not to be fucked with. Akina’s snarky personality made her a very endearing character and her dry humour had me cackling out loud multiple times. And not only was her no-nonsense attitude entirely too entertaining, but it also helped ground the story when the plot went a bit off the walls at times.
The supporting characters also jump off the page, especially for a story that is so fast-paced, and I loved that they all really get their own time to shine. Some of the ‘bad guys’ might feel a tiny bit over the top, but it feels deliberate and somehow just absolutely works.
And if you’ve read the Hybrid Helix series, it should come as no surprise that the found family vibes are off the charts. The complex interpersonal relationships are so well-written and the sharp banter is just top-notch. Also, Akina’s loyal dog companion, with the creative name of Dog, is objectively the best character in this story and he just absolutely stole the show.
The world building was also surprisingly rich and immersive, with extensive backstories, history and lore to explore. The only other cultivation fantasy I have read is the hugely popular Cradle series, but I honestly prefer Berne’s take on this genre. There’s something so unique and fun about this story that just gives it that edge and makes it stand out from the crowd. I mean, there’s dinosaurs… come on!
I love how this story is quite self-aware and doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet somehow manages to never even come slightly close to feeling like shlock. It’s clear that the author has a huge love for the genre, as common tropes are lovingly mocked and turned on their heads in the most entertaining ways. And just a moment of appreciation for the funny (or, more accurately, punny) chapter titles, which are without a doubt some of the most hilarious and inventive ones I’ve come across yet.
Safe to say, this is another home run for J.C.M. Berne, and proves that the Hybrid Helix series isn’t a one-hit wonder. This was easily one of the most fun reading experiences I have had this year and I am now desperate for more adventures with Akina and co.
And while this story wraps up in a satisfying way and stands completely on its own, there were some subtle tie-ins to the Hybrid Helix series that have me incredibly excited to see how this universe is going to expand in the future.
If the amazing cover hadn’t already sold you, then I certainly hope this review did, because Partial Function is a book you seriously don’t want to miss out on. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants an entertaining, fast-paced, and action-packed cultivation fantasy with a whole lot of humour and heart.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Berne is back and better than ever with Partial Function, his first foray outside of the Hybrid Helix series. It’s got a kick-ass and snarky mom out on a revenge quest, thrilling martial arts fights, dinosaurs, a loyal dog named Dog, heartwarming found family vibes, and, most importantly of all, SO much humour and heart. Honestly, this is the entertaining wuxia-inspired epic fantasy you didn’t know you needed.
Once, Akina Azure, better known as the Spiral Witch, roamed the Wilds as one of the legendary Five. Yet, despite inheriting the most powerful weapon in the martial world, she has left her monster hunting days behind and now lives a peaceful life raising her twin girls. That is, until her daughters are kidnapped by The Reaver, who intends to use them as a bargaining chip in exchange for that powerful weapon. Akina will do anything to get her girls back, and she intends to show everyone just how fearsome an angry momma bear can be.
Now, I normally tend to prefer my fantasy to be quite slow-burn, but leave it to Berne to make me absolutely adore a fast-paced story full of non-stop thrilling action. The kidnapping of the girls has already happened before this story starts, so we just hit the ground running and it’s a wild ride from start to finish. Not once did I get tempted to skim through an action scene, because all of these martial arts fights just came to life before my eyes and had me on the edge of my seat the entire way through.
That said, it ultimately was still the brilliant character work that fully hooked me, and I think it took me approximately one page to fall head over heels in love with Akina Azure. She easily shot straight to the top of the ‘best moms in fantasy’ list, rivalling characters like Misaki from The Sword of Kaigen or Orka from The Bloodsworn Saga. I think it can be hard to write a revenge-driven protagonist that doesn’t feel one-dimensional, single-minded, and utterly frustrating, but Berne absolutely nailed Akina’s character arc to a T.
Her joints might be aching and her best days might be behind her, but I loved how she continually proved that she still is someone just absolutely not to be fucked with. Akina’s snarky personality made her a very endearing character and her dry humour had me cackling out loud multiple times. And not only was her no-nonsense attitude entirely too entertaining, but it also helped ground the story when the plot went a bit off the walls at times.
The supporting characters also jump off the page, especially for a story that is so fast-paced, and I loved that they all really get their own time to shine. Some of the ‘bad guys’ might feel a tiny bit over the top, but it feels deliberate and somehow just absolutely works.
And if you’ve read the Hybrid Helix series, it should come as no surprise that the found family vibes are off the charts. The complex interpersonal relationships are so well-written and the sharp banter is just top-notch. Also, Akina’s loyal dog companion, with the creative name of Dog, is objectively the best character in this story and he just absolutely stole the show.
The world building was also surprisingly rich and immersive, with extensive backstories, history and lore to explore. The only other cultivation fantasy I have read is the hugely popular Cradle series, but I honestly prefer Berne’s take on this genre. There’s something so unique and fun about this story that just gives it that edge and makes it stand out from the crowd. I mean, there’s dinosaurs… come on!
I love how this story is quite self-aware and doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet somehow manages to never even come slightly close to feeling like shlock. It’s clear that the author has a huge love for the genre, as common tropes are lovingly mocked and turned on their heads in the most entertaining ways. And just a moment of appreciation for the funny (or, more accurately, punny) chapter titles, which are without a doubt some of the most hilarious and inventive ones I’ve come across yet.
Safe to say, this is another home run for J.C.M. Berne, and proves that the Hybrid Helix series isn’t a one-hit wonder. This was easily one of the most fun reading experiences I have had this year and I am now desperate for more adventures with Akina and co.
And while this story wraps up in a satisfying way and stands completely on its own, there were some subtle tie-ins to the Hybrid Helix series that have me incredibly excited to see how this universe is going to expand in the future.
If the amazing cover hadn’t already sold you, then I certainly hope this review did, because Partial Function is a book you seriously don’t want to miss out on. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants an entertaining, fast-paced, and action-packed cultivation fantasy with a whole lot of humour and heart.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 7, 2023
I accepted a digital copy of this book from the author in consideration of a review. All opinions are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.
Any John Wick fans out there?
Then I have the book for YOU. Except in this case, we don't have a former hitman drawn back into the criminal world, guns a blazing after his dog gets killed. (Though we do have an animal companion who is - in fact - a dog...named Dog. More on that later.)
Instead, we have Akina Azure, a mother who was a knight errant of the Five Fangs that has been hiding from the world for the last decade or so. She's been drawn back out into the public eye to rescue her daughters after they were kidnapped by the Reaver - an individual who has been corrupted by the forbidden magic he's been using in search of power.
Akina may not have the marksmanship of John Wick, but what she does have is the Millennium Qi, a martial arts weapon that is the legacy passed down to her from her grandfather. She has also achieved the rank of Master of the Infinity Bagua technique - a mathematical fighting style that combines the Bagua style of training of walking in circles to train with the infinity symbol that is used in certain types of physical therapy and training by keeping your eyes focused on a certain point when walking the symbol.
The unique martial arts style is only one of the many interesting elements contained in this story.
You like books featuring loyalty in friendships? PARTIAL FUNCTION has you covered. Unforgettable characters that you're going to chuckle to yourself, remembering things they said and did in the days after you finish? Again, this has you covered. Fast paced action and adventure? It has it. End of the world at stake? Yep. Found family? Yep. Award winning animal companion? Dog has this covered AND THEN SOME. Seriously, all that's missing is the kitchen sink and knowing this author, I could probably flip one more page past the note at the end and there'll be a picture of a sink there.
PARTIAL FUNCTION is just one of those feel good books that has something every reader will love.
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Amanda L., Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Sharon A-B, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E. & Sarah C.
Any John Wick fans out there?
Then I have the book for YOU. Except in this case, we don't have a former hitman drawn back into the criminal world, guns a blazing after his dog gets killed. (Though we do have an animal companion who is - in fact - a dog...named Dog. More on that later.)
Instead, we have Akina Azure, a mother who was a knight errant of the Five Fangs that has been hiding from the world for the last decade or so. She's been drawn back out into the public eye to rescue her daughters after they were kidnapped by the Reaver - an individual who has been corrupted by the forbidden magic he's been using in search of power.
Akina may not have the marksmanship of John Wick, but what she does have is the Millennium Qi, a martial arts weapon that is the legacy passed down to her from her grandfather. She has also achieved the rank of Master of the Infinity Bagua technique - a mathematical fighting style that combines the Bagua style of training of walking in circles to train with the infinity symbol that is used in certain types of physical therapy and training by keeping your eyes focused on a certain point when walking the symbol.
The unique martial arts style is only one of the many interesting elements contained in this story.
You like books featuring loyalty in friendships? PARTIAL FUNCTION has you covered. Unforgettable characters that you're going to chuckle to yourself, remembering things they said and did in the days after you finish? Again, this has you covered. Fast paced action and adventure? It has it. End of the world at stake? Yep. Found family? Yep. Award winning animal companion? Dog has this covered AND THEN SOME. Seriously, all that's missing is the kitchen sink and knowing this author, I could probably flip one more page past the note at the end and there'll be a picture of a sink there.
PARTIAL FUNCTION is just one of those feel good books that has something every reader will love.
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Amanda L., Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Sharon A-B, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E. & Sarah C.
November 16, 2023
You know you’re in for a fun ride when the books starts with the opening chapter: Dog? Witch Dog?
”Girl, did you think I was the hero of this story? Or the villain?"
Akina Azure, Heiress to the Azure Dragon Clan, the Spiral Witch, Master of Infinity Bagua is out for revenge. back from retirement.
The Reaver has kidnapped her two daughters to get the Millennium Qi, her grandfather's legacy. With a weapon like that the Reaver could rule the martial world for a hundred years. But for him to get it, Akina would have to die. Which means it’s a trap. Kidnap the girls, draw her in, capture her, steal the Qi.
It’s cringy and over the top - I’d compare it to popcorn. It’s not the most incredible piece of literature out there, it’s not filling or dense, but it’s enjoyable and over way too soon.
”Doctor says you need a week to rest, so I assume we'll move on tomorrow.”
This would make one heck on an audiobook. It’s definitely more dialogue heavy with battle sequences being shouted out-loud and constant snarky one-liners.
I know Berne’s other series is available on audible, so I’m hoping later on, there will be opportunity for this to be narrated too!
The last part of the book became more philosophical which was quite refreshing after such an action-packed novel!
How do we justify our own actions if we’re acting in our best interests?
Overall, slightly too light and action heavy for me, but I know this is a perfect book to read in between longer books or series!
Thank you to the author for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
”Girl, did you think I was the hero of this story? Or the villain?"
Akina Azure, Heiress to the Azure Dragon Clan, the Spiral Witch, Master of Infinity Bagua is out for revenge. back from retirement.
The Reaver has kidnapped her two daughters to get the Millennium Qi, her grandfather's legacy. With a weapon like that the Reaver could rule the martial world for a hundred years. But for him to get it, Akina would have to die. Which means it’s a trap. Kidnap the girls, draw her in, capture her, steal the Qi.
It’s cringy and over the top - I’d compare it to popcorn. It’s not the most incredible piece of literature out there, it’s not filling or dense, but it’s enjoyable and over way too soon.
”Doctor says you need a week to rest, so I assume we'll move on tomorrow.”
This would make one heck on an audiobook. It’s definitely more dialogue heavy with battle sequences being shouted out-loud and constant snarky one-liners.
I know Berne’s other series is available on audible, so I’m hoping later on, there will be opportunity for this to be narrated too!
The last part of the book became more philosophical which was quite refreshing after such an action-packed novel!
How do we justify our own actions if we’re acting in our best interests?
Overall, slightly too light and action heavy for me, but I know this is a perfect book to read in between longer books or series!
Thank you to the author for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
November 4, 2023
When J.C.M. Berne put out a call for ARC readers for Partial Function, something inside of me said I needed to get on this one.
Far out am I glad I did. I think this is the most fun I have had while reading in 2023! This action packed, fast-paced, full of wit book had me laughing, on the edge of my seat and needing to turn the page, in each and every chapter.
Akina Azure's girls have been taken from her, and she wants them back. Unconcerned with what it costs her in the long run, even if it means giving the most powerful weapon the world has seen to another clan, Akina is one mamma you do not want to cross.
Wars will wage, wedge's will rise and dog will dog, you will love every second of it.
If you are looking for phenomenal Wuxia inspired world building, a cast of characters you can't help but love to follow and magic fuelled action, you are not going to miss out on Partial Function.
Far out am I glad I did. I think this is the most fun I have had while reading in 2023! This action packed, fast-paced, full of wit book had me laughing, on the edge of my seat and needing to turn the page, in each and every chapter.
Akina Azure's girls have been taken from her, and she wants them back. Unconcerned with what it costs her in the long run, even if it means giving the most powerful weapon the world has seen to another clan, Akina is one mamma you do not want to cross.
Wars will wage, wedge's will rise and dog will dog, you will love every second of it.
If you are looking for phenomenal Wuxia inspired world building, a cast of characters you can't help but love to follow and magic fuelled action, you are not going to miss out on Partial Function.
November 7, 2023
4/5 Stars
I received an eARC form the author in exchange for an honest review.
JCM Berne has become my go to author for fast-paced, action packed stories with heart, memorable characters, and humor.
Partial Function is a Wuxia-inspired epic fantasy that follows a retired monster hunter and mother, Akina Azure. When her daughters are kidnapped, Akina will do anything to get them back and remind any who stand in her way exactly why she was one of the legendary Five. With her loyal dog at her side, Akina sets out on an epic rescue mission.
As a mom, I completely felt for Akina and was fully invested in her efforts to get her daughters back. Something I appreciated was how Akina handles the entire situation from beginning to end. While she does care for those around her, there is a coldness to her character as she focuses on her mission. How this is portrayed in her character work and the impacts it had to the side cast added a layer of complexity I wasn’t anticipating.
The side cast, including the adorable dog (named Dog) were also thoughtfully done. They each had a distinct personality, brought something meaningful to the plot and their banter was spot on. Speaking of; with the stakes involved, the banter helped to lighten the tone and balance the overall pacing. This felt instrumental in making this a fun read that still packs a punch.
Something JCM Berne consistently excels at is action scenes and Partial Function is no exception. This is packed with action featuring the Bagua fighting style. It felt cinematic and often reminded me of the comic books I loved to read growing up.
Let’s talk about the worldbuilding as it showcased a unique setting with undead dinosaurs, martial artists, empires, and artifacts. There are familiar elements used within the worldbuilding and just enough of the world is explained to allow readers to fall into it easily. There were even recognizable elements for fans of JCM Berne’s other series The Hybrid Helix. While I was swept away with the characters and plot, I would have loved a deeper look into the world as it felt like we only scratched the surface.
I also appreciated the balance between action, fun and engaging storytelling and the deeper themes explored throughout the book. I can’t forget to mention the found family, heists, plotting, sassy characters, unexpected developments, and wit that goes into making this story stand out.
Partial Function is also a standalone that has potential to continue but remains a satisfying story on its own.
I’d recommend picking up Partial Function if you’re looking for your next action-packed fantasy read with heart.
I received an eARC form the author in exchange for an honest review.
JCM Berne has become my go to author for fast-paced, action packed stories with heart, memorable characters, and humor.
Partial Function is a Wuxia-inspired epic fantasy that follows a retired monster hunter and mother, Akina Azure. When her daughters are kidnapped, Akina will do anything to get them back and remind any who stand in her way exactly why she was one of the legendary Five. With her loyal dog at her side, Akina sets out on an epic rescue mission.
As a mom, I completely felt for Akina and was fully invested in her efforts to get her daughters back. Something I appreciated was how Akina handles the entire situation from beginning to end. While she does care for those around her, there is a coldness to her character as she focuses on her mission. How this is portrayed in her character work and the impacts it had to the side cast added a layer of complexity I wasn’t anticipating.
The side cast, including the adorable dog (named Dog) were also thoughtfully done. They each had a distinct personality, brought something meaningful to the plot and their banter was spot on. Speaking of; with the stakes involved, the banter helped to lighten the tone and balance the overall pacing. This felt instrumental in making this a fun read that still packs a punch.
Something JCM Berne consistently excels at is action scenes and Partial Function is no exception. This is packed with action featuring the Bagua fighting style. It felt cinematic and often reminded me of the comic books I loved to read growing up.
Let’s talk about the worldbuilding as it showcased a unique setting with undead dinosaurs, martial artists, empires, and artifacts. There are familiar elements used within the worldbuilding and just enough of the world is explained to allow readers to fall into it easily. There were even recognizable elements for fans of JCM Berne’s other series The Hybrid Helix. While I was swept away with the characters and plot, I would have loved a deeper look into the world as it felt like we only scratched the surface.
I also appreciated the balance between action, fun and engaging storytelling and the deeper themes explored throughout the book. I can’t forget to mention the found family, heists, plotting, sassy characters, unexpected developments, and wit that goes into making this story stand out.
Partial Function is also a standalone that has potential to continue but remains a satisfying story on its own.
I’d recommend picking up Partial Function if you’re looking for your next action-packed fantasy read with heart.
October 28, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
THE FIRST CHAPTER
Don't worry, I'm not about to go through this book chapter-by-chapter talking about each one—there are thirty chapters, and while I know I can go on and on about books that I like...
No, I'm going to focus on the first chapter for a moment for one reason—your reaction to the first chapter is going to tell you everything you need to know about this book. If you read that chapter (and everyone who's stumbled onto this post should do at least that) and you think "Yeah, I can see myself enjoying this book." You almost certainly will. If you read it and think, "Oh yeah! Give me more of that!!" You definitely need to read on. If you read this chapter and aren't that interested in going on—trust that instinct and move on with your life. Also, I feel bad for you. (but I say that without judgment, even if it doesn't sound like it).
This chapter isn't quite the novel in microcosm, but it comes close—it has the spirit, the humor, the action, the supernaturally-charged martial arts, and the panache that will characterize the rest of the book. Anddddd, best of all, it features a very good dog. The book will bring in more characters than just Akina Azure and her dog (frustratingly named Dog*), which is the biggest reason I can't say this chapter is a microcosm.
* It's not just this that Akina has in common with Walt Longmire—I actually could write a post comparing the two—but this is my biggest complaint with both of them. You two have great canine companions, they deserve a great name.
SO, WHAT'S PARTIAL FUNCTION ABOUT, ANYWAY?
I don't know that I can do better than the description I was given for the cover reveal a couple of weeks ago—I've tried, and I keep unintentionally borrowing elements from it, so let's just use it:
I'll expand a bit on that, though.
Akina was part of a legendary band of adventurers, The Five Fangs, and then she and her husband Petrick (also one of the band) retired to go live far away and start a family. None of their friends have seen—or heard—from them or of them in years. Long enough for them to raise twins into their teens before Petrick died of blood plague (I don't know what that is, but the name alone...).
Now, Akina tracks down one of the Fangs, Remy, to help her. She needs his connections to put her in touch with the people she needs to put her rescue plan into action. It wouldn't hurt to have one of the few people alive that she trusts to have her back, either.
Remy isn't crazy about the idea, but he can't say no to Akina. These two past-their-prime warriors are soon joined by a much younger fighter (who is not quite in her prime and has a lot to learn first) that they can't entirely trust, but can certainly use. Three people and a dog against the most powerful, feared, and twisted warrior (and his army) living. That's if they can dodge the kaiju-esque monsters along the way.
It's really not a fair fight.
FANTASY'S ANSWER TO SAM AXE
I predict that most people talking about this book are going to focus on Akina—as they should. And I'm tempted to spend a lot of time talking about Dog, because he's such a good boy.
But I want to hone in on Remy for a bit. He's so essential to the way this book works, and I think he's so easy to overlook. Sure, Akina and Zhu have some good, snappy, dialogue, and Dog being dog is amusing. Remy's easily the funniest character in the novel and can be seen as only comic relief. That's an error.
A couple of days ago, in an earlier draft of this post, I made a joke about him essentially being Sam Axe from Burn Notice. I haven't been able to get that comparison out of my mind. It's so on the nose. Remy serves as Akina's Devil's Advocate, voice of reason, conscience, and confessor. He's the only one she fully trusts anymore. He knows someone (or knows someone who knows someone) everywhere they go and can get them whatever resources they need. In a fight, he's almost as good as Akina and saves her on more than one occasion.
He covers all this with a commitment to doing nothing but drinking, womanizing, and lazing about all day—which is pretty much what he's been doing since Petrick took Akina off to who-knows-where. When called upon, he steps into action, griping the entire time about how it's cutting into his drinking. Again—Sam Axe.
If you've ever wondered what a wuxia-adjacent Bruce Campbell would be like, this is the book for you.
Okay, setting that all aside—at the end of the day, you're going to like Remy and trust him to do the right thing more than pretty much anyone else in the book (see the next section for a hint of that). His agenda is pretty clear—do the right thing by his friend, do the right thing in general, and then leave everyone to their business so he can get back to pickling his liver. He may not understand the nuances of everything going on—but he's honest, he's clever, and he's tough. Just the kind of guy you want to have around.
THE CENTRAL QUESTION OF THE BOOK
Most—possibly all—of the "bad guys" in this novel wouldn't describe themselves that way. They think they're doing the right thing to save the world, or at least civilization. Not just the right thing—the only thing that will save humanity.
But they're so focused on the ends that they cross all sorts of lines when it comes to means. They do things to increase their power that are repugnant to the reader and just about every character in the novel. Honestly, kidnapping Akina's twins in order to compel her to surrender her weapon is pretty much the mildest thing the "villains" like the Reaver do to secure the ability they think will help them.
It'd be easy to write them off here—ends don't justify the means and all that, right?
But when you stop and think about the steps that Akina takes to enable her to rescue the twins? It's hard to think of her as a hero (and she doesn't pretend to be one, in fact, she outright denies it).
The novel focuses on Akina; she's nice (generally) to Remy, Zhu, and her dog as they travel; she's funny; she defends young women from creeps and slavers...and so on. So you reflexively think of her as a "good guy" a "hero."
As we read Partial Function, we're thinking about things like Taken. So let's start there—are the actions that Bryan Mills takes to rescue Kim, the right thing to do? Sure some of them—but all of them? How about John Wick—think of the death and destruction that comes from him getting his vengeance? We're inclined to think of Mills* and Wick as the heroes—but are they? I'd ask the same thing about Akina.
* Who am I kidding? None of us think of him as Mills, we think "Liam Neeson"—or "Liam Neesons," maybe. No one thinks of him as Bryan Mills.
Now, that isn't a criticism of her as a character. I loved Akina. I wanted to see her win, her whole plan was brilliant, I enjoyed watching her fight, banter, be corrected, and wreak vengeance. Maybe even more than I enjoyed Neeson or Wick doing the same.
I'm just not sure I should.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT PARTIAL FUNCTION?
I have a couple of pages of notes that I can't get to. There are so many quotable moments—because of heart or laughs. Berne's got a way with words that I'm tempted to call Butcher-esque, and I just want more of it. But I need to get moving, so let's just say that I had so, so, so much fun with this. Between this, Chu's The War Arts Saga, and talking a little to Tao Wong this summer, I've decided I need to make more room in my reading for wuxia-inspired works.
The world-building deserves a paragraph or five to celebrate it (but it's taken me 2 weeks to get this much written, I'm not risking putting this off any longer). For example, I should talk about the kaiju-ish creatures, but beyond saying they're dinosaurish animals with powers that love snacking on humans (when they're not stomping on them), I don't know what to say. The political/clan system serves the whole thing well and I'd enjoy seeing more of it in a future installment.
Partial Function is a fast, enjoyable, action-packed read with a lot of heart and just enough humor to help you deal with the stakes and destruction. And these characters? I loved getting to know them and spending time with them. There's a lot to chew on in these pages if you're in a thoughtful mood, and if you're not? You don't need to, you can just enjoy the ride.
This was intended as a stand-alone, but the door is open for another adventure or so for the survivors. If we get a sequel, I'll be first in line for it. If we don't? This is going down as one of my favorite fantasy stand-alones. Either way—I'm encouraging you to read the first chapter and apply what I opened with. I'm sure there will be those who don't get into this, but I can't understand why.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from the author—after repeated requests—in exchange for this post and my honest opinion.
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THE FIRST CHAPTER
Don't worry, I'm not about to go through this book chapter-by-chapter talking about each one—there are thirty chapters, and while I know I can go on and on about books that I like...
No, I'm going to focus on the first chapter for a moment for one reason—your reaction to the first chapter is going to tell you everything you need to know about this book. If you read that chapter (and everyone who's stumbled onto this post should do at least that) and you think "Yeah, I can see myself enjoying this book." You almost certainly will. If you read it and think, "Oh yeah! Give me more of that!!" You definitely need to read on. If you read this chapter and aren't that interested in going on—trust that instinct and move on with your life. Also, I feel bad for you. (but I say that without judgment, even if it doesn't sound like it).
This chapter isn't quite the novel in microcosm, but it comes close—it has the spirit, the humor, the action, the supernaturally-charged martial arts, and the panache that will characterize the rest of the book. Anddddd, best of all, it features a very good dog. The book will bring in more characters than just Akina Azure and her dog (frustratingly named Dog*), which is the biggest reason I can't say this chapter is a microcosm.
* It's not just this that Akina has in common with Walt Longmire—I actually could write a post comparing the two—but this is my biggest complaint with both of them. You two have great canine companions, they deserve a great name.
SO, WHAT'S PARTIAL FUNCTION ABOUT, ANYWAY?
I don't know that I can do better than the description I was given for the cover reveal a couple of weeks ago—I've tried, and I keep unintentionally borrowing elements from it, so let's just use it:
If Taken starred Michelle Yeoh and was set on a Jurassic Park-inspired Cradle.
Monster hunter Akina Azure inherited the most powerful weapon in the martial world before retiring to a peaceful life raising her twin girls.
The Reaver has them kidnapped, thinking Akina will trade that weapon for their safe return.
Will she? Or will she use it to wreak a terrible retribution on the men who took her girls?
You get one guess.
I'll expand a bit on that, though.
Akina was part of a legendary band of adventurers, The Five Fangs, and then she and her husband Petrick (also one of the band) retired to go live far away and start a family. None of their friends have seen—or heard—from them or of them in years. Long enough for them to raise twins into their teens before Petrick died of blood plague (I don't know what that is, but the name alone...).
Now, Akina tracks down one of the Fangs, Remy, to help her. She needs his connections to put her in touch with the people she needs to put her rescue plan into action. It wouldn't hurt to have one of the few people alive that she trusts to have her back, either.
Remy isn't crazy about the idea, but he can't say no to Akina. These two past-their-prime warriors are soon joined by a much younger fighter (who is not quite in her prime and has a lot to learn first) that they can't entirely trust, but can certainly use. Three people and a dog against the most powerful, feared, and twisted warrior (and his army) living. That's if they can dodge the kaiju-esque monsters along the way.
It's really not a fair fight.
FANTASY'S ANSWER TO SAM AXE
I predict that most people talking about this book are going to focus on Akina—as they should. And I'm tempted to spend a lot of time talking about Dog, because he's such a good boy.
But I want to hone in on Remy for a bit. He's so essential to the way this book works, and I think he's so easy to overlook. Sure, Akina and Zhu have some good, snappy, dialogue, and Dog being dog is amusing. Remy's easily the funniest character in the novel and can be seen as only comic relief. That's an error.
A couple of days ago, in an earlier draft of this post, I made a joke about him essentially being Sam Axe from Burn Notice. I haven't been able to get that comparison out of my mind. It's so on the nose. Remy serves as Akina's Devil's Advocate, voice of reason, conscience, and confessor. He's the only one she fully trusts anymore. He knows someone (or knows someone who knows someone) everywhere they go and can get them whatever resources they need. In a fight, he's almost as good as Akina and saves her on more than one occasion.
He covers all this with a commitment to doing nothing but drinking, womanizing, and lazing about all day—which is pretty much what he's been doing since Petrick took Akina off to who-knows-where. When called upon, he steps into action, griping the entire time about how it's cutting into his drinking. Again—Sam Axe.
If you've ever wondered what a wuxia-adjacent Bruce Campbell would be like, this is the book for you.
Okay, setting that all aside—at the end of the day, you're going to like Remy and trust him to do the right thing more than pretty much anyone else in the book (see the next section for a hint of that). His agenda is pretty clear—do the right thing by his friend, do the right thing in general, and then leave everyone to their business so he can get back to pickling his liver. He may not understand the nuances of everything going on—but he's honest, he's clever, and he's tough. Just the kind of guy you want to have around.
THE CENTRAL QUESTION OF THE BOOK
Most—possibly all—of the "bad guys" in this novel wouldn't describe themselves that way. They think they're doing the right thing to save the world, or at least civilization. Not just the right thing—the only thing that will save humanity.
But they're so focused on the ends that they cross all sorts of lines when it comes to means. They do things to increase their power that are repugnant to the reader and just about every character in the novel. Honestly, kidnapping Akina's twins in order to compel her to surrender her weapon is pretty much the mildest thing the "villains" like the Reaver do to secure the ability they think will help them.
It'd be easy to write them off here—ends don't justify the means and all that, right?
But when you stop and think about the steps that Akina takes to enable her to rescue the twins? It's hard to think of her as a hero (and she doesn't pretend to be one, in fact, she outright denies it).
The novel focuses on Akina; she's nice (generally) to Remy, Zhu, and her dog as they travel; she's funny; she defends young women from creeps and slavers...and so on. So you reflexively think of her as a "good guy" a "hero."
As we read Partial Function, we're thinking about things like Taken. So let's start there—are the actions that Bryan Mills takes to rescue Kim, the right thing to do? Sure some of them—but all of them? How about John Wick—think of the death and destruction that comes from him getting his vengeance? We're inclined to think of Mills* and Wick as the heroes—but are they? I'd ask the same thing about Akina.
* Who am I kidding? None of us think of him as Mills, we think "Liam Neeson"—or "Liam Neesons," maybe. No one thinks of him as Bryan Mills.
Now, that isn't a criticism of her as a character. I loved Akina. I wanted to see her win, her whole plan was brilliant, I enjoyed watching her fight, banter, be corrected, and wreak vengeance. Maybe even more than I enjoyed Neeson or Wick doing the same.
I'm just not sure I should.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT PARTIAL FUNCTION?
I have a couple of pages of notes that I can't get to. There are so many quotable moments—because of heart or laughs. Berne's got a way with words that I'm tempted to call Butcher-esque, and I just want more of it. But I need to get moving, so let's just say that I had so, so, so much fun with this. Between this, Chu's The War Arts Saga, and talking a little to Tao Wong this summer, I've decided I need to make more room in my reading for wuxia-inspired works.
The world-building deserves a paragraph or five to celebrate it (but it's taken me 2 weeks to get this much written, I'm not risking putting this off any longer). For example, I should talk about the kaiju-ish creatures, but beyond saying they're dinosaurish animals with powers that love snacking on humans (when they're not stomping on them), I don't know what to say. The political/clan system serves the whole thing well and I'd enjoy seeing more of it in a future installment.
Partial Function is a fast, enjoyable, action-packed read with a lot of heart and just enough humor to help you deal with the stakes and destruction. And these characters? I loved getting to know them and spending time with them. There's a lot to chew on in these pages if you're in a thoughtful mood, and if you're not? You don't need to, you can just enjoy the ride.
This was intended as a stand-alone, but the door is open for another adventure or so for the survivors. If we get a sequel, I'll be first in line for it. If we don't? This is going down as one of my favorite fantasy stand-alones. Either way—I'm encouraging you to read the first chapter and apply what I opened with. I'm sure there will be those who don't get into this, but I can't understand why.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from the author—after repeated requests—in exchange for this post and my honest opinion.
November 28, 2023
“Your strategy, when confronted by an angry woman, is to tell her to calm down?“
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
This is probably the most fun book I’ve read all year. And along with the Green Bone saga, this is the book I most want to see a visual adaptation of: movie, TV, graphic novel, manga, any of it or all of it. The way the visuals and the combat has been written is chef’s kiss (especially the epoch bell scene.)
The author has mentioned that he wrote the first chapter specifically to give the reader a taste of how the whole book will be. I am confident that it won’t even take the whole of the first chapter for Akina to become an absolute fan favorite. Plus if you’re like me and have been wanting to read older protagonists, this is perfect for that; Akina is 40 plus. Or if you’re in the market for a fantasy with an animal companion or just want to see someone Kamehameha a bunch of dinosaurs…
One reason why I think the movie Taken holds universal appeal is it is a revenge tale and we see the bad guys get what’s coming to them. The blurb for this one is if Taken stars Michelle Yeoh and is set in a Jurassic Park inspired Cradle. There is something special about former badasses coming out of requirement and leaving a trail of destruction to seek revenge. And this book is one of the best realizations/novelizations of ‘I love my kids and will do anything for them.’
Two outright highlights for me are the banter and Dog the dog. The interpersonal dynamic between Akina, Zhu, and Remy is just fantastic. It is a relatively short book by fantasy (esp. standalone fantasy) standards but I took way too long to just savor the bants.
“I’m a parent, yes, but I never said I was a good parent. I’m just trying to settle into a fun family dynamic. You know, she complains, I threaten to kill her, you step into the middle and calm things with a joke or a snack.”
Now, I’ve commended authors for writing uber realistic human characters before and Berne is guilty of that too (see Zhu) but he also utterly and unconditionally nails writing about Dog, the dog companion. I’ve not seen a more accurate representation of what an actual dog would do all the time, in each scene of a fantasy adventure.
I missed it but the writing in itself is a highlight too. It is very well written and gets better chapter by chapter. It is not fancy and complex prose but it is funny, easy to follow and compelling.
“Zhu sighed; a dramatic, explosive exhalation that conveyed her complete displeasure with the state of the world in the way that only a teenager can ever adequately express.”
The world also is certainly unique and holds a lot of fantasy elements + martials arts stuff + dinosaurs. Even though this is a standalone I hold out hope that the author writes a prequel or a sequel, I’m fine with an upcoming surge event or the former surge event.
There are a lot of questions as one reads through and the author does a good job of answering them a few chapters later, one just has to carry on. I’m used to this style because of a similar story structure in the author’s Sci-Fi series (Wistful Ascending -The Hybrid Helix) but some readers might need a bit of an adjustment period.
My tiny nitpick is that the final conflict resolves too soon. It is still very good and is apt within the story, I just wanted more. Overall, it is a great fantasy-action flick that pits two former badasses and a 16 year old sassy teenager against a great world-upending evil. Does it work ? When the protagonist does deplorable things but you still cheer for them, you know it works. Read it for fun and read it for Dog.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
This is probably the most fun book I’ve read all year. And along with the Green Bone saga, this is the book I most want to see a visual adaptation of: movie, TV, graphic novel, manga, any of it or all of it. The way the visuals and the combat has been written is chef’s kiss (especially the epoch bell scene.)
The author has mentioned that he wrote the first chapter specifically to give the reader a taste of how the whole book will be. I am confident that it won’t even take the whole of the first chapter for Akina to become an absolute fan favorite. Plus if you’re like me and have been wanting to read older protagonists, this is perfect for that; Akina is 40 plus. Or if you’re in the market for a fantasy with an animal companion or just want to see someone Kamehameha a bunch of dinosaurs…
One reason why I think the movie Taken holds universal appeal is it is a revenge tale and we see the bad guys get what’s coming to them. The blurb for this one is if Taken stars Michelle Yeoh and is set in a Jurassic Park inspired Cradle. There is something special about former badasses coming out of requirement and leaving a trail of destruction to seek revenge. And this book is one of the best realizations/novelizations of ‘I love my kids and will do anything for them.’
Two outright highlights for me are the banter and Dog the dog. The interpersonal dynamic between Akina, Zhu, and Remy is just fantastic. It is a relatively short book by fantasy (esp. standalone fantasy) standards but I took way too long to just savor the bants.
“I’m a parent, yes, but I never said I was a good parent. I’m just trying to settle into a fun family dynamic. You know, she complains, I threaten to kill her, you step into the middle and calm things with a joke or a snack.”
Now, I’ve commended authors for writing uber realistic human characters before and Berne is guilty of that too (see Zhu) but he also utterly and unconditionally nails writing about Dog, the dog companion. I’ve not seen a more accurate representation of what an actual dog would do all the time, in each scene of a fantasy adventure.
I missed it but the writing in itself is a highlight too. It is very well written and gets better chapter by chapter. It is not fancy and complex prose but it is funny, easy to follow and compelling.
“Zhu sighed; a dramatic, explosive exhalation that conveyed her complete displeasure with the state of the world in the way that only a teenager can ever adequately express.”
The world also is certainly unique and holds a lot of fantasy elements + martials arts stuff + dinosaurs. Even though this is a standalone I hold out hope that the author writes a prequel or a sequel, I’m fine with an upcoming surge event or the former surge event.
There are a lot of questions as one reads through and the author does a good job of answering them a few chapters later, one just has to carry on. I’m used to this style because of a similar story structure in the author’s Sci-Fi series (Wistful Ascending -The Hybrid Helix) but some readers might need a bit of an adjustment period.
My tiny nitpick is that the final conflict resolves too soon. It is still very good and is apt within the story, I just wanted more. Overall, it is a great fantasy-action flick that pits two former badasses and a 16 year old sassy teenager against a great world-upending evil. Does it work ? When the protagonist does deplorable things but you still cheer for them, you know it works. Read it for fun and read it for Dog.
October 30, 2023
*ARC provided by the author
Magic infused with martial arts and a world filled with clans and deadly creatures make Partial Function a badass and super fun read!
Berne delivers a gripping story with the accessible prose we’ve come to know and love, filled with mystery and humorous banter.
Some things Berne does exceptionally well are plotting, twists/reveals and of course, humour! In addition, the concepts created in regard to magic and world-building are some of the best I’ve read.
In Partial Function, we explore themes such as found family, honour, discipline and good vs. evil. By the end of the story, the reader is granted the opportunity for deep reflection on the subject of these themes, which makes this book truly spectacular!
For fans of Hybrid Helix, this is a must read. Looking forward to more!
Magic infused with martial arts and a world filled with clans and deadly creatures make Partial Function a badass and super fun read!
Berne delivers a gripping story with the accessible prose we’ve come to know and love, filled with mystery and humorous banter.
Some things Berne does exceptionally well are plotting, twists/reveals and of course, humour! In addition, the concepts created in regard to magic and world-building are some of the best I’ve read.
In Partial Function, we explore themes such as found family, honour, discipline and good vs. evil. By the end of the story, the reader is granted the opportunity for deep reflection on the subject of these themes, which makes this book truly spectacular!
For fans of Hybrid Helix, this is a must read. Looking forward to more!
November 16, 2023
I heard this story pitched as Taken with martial arts and it ABSOLUTELY delivers on that. The protagonist, Akina, has had her two girls kidnapped. But she has a very particular set of skills - namely, asskicking. She will move heaven and earth to get her two girls back, consequences be damned. Along the way she's joined by her loyal friend Remy (a wonderful character), a younger companion who provides great quips, and her trusty dog Dog. The jokes keep coming almost as fast as the action and it's a fun ride the whole way through.
Read the first chapter. If you like that, you'll enjoy the whole book. I know I did!
Read the first chapter. If you like that, you'll enjoy the whole book. I know I did!
April 12, 2024
I normally only really put reviews up on my YouTube channel but this book is so criminally under-reviewed I had to do one here too.
Partial Function rules. It's a wuxia-inspired fantasy blockbuster that gave me vibes of Westerns, of the best stuff from 80s and 90s movie blockbusters I grew up on. You have a great central cast who are all really well thought out, and very funny. The book made me laugh out loud several times, which is very unusual - especially for books not explicitly written as comedy.
The story is great with some fun twists and turns, and a loveable animal companion who is a sweet dumb little guy called Dog. Read it now, or I will never stop talking about it.
Partial Function rules. It's a wuxia-inspired fantasy blockbuster that gave me vibes of Westerns, of the best stuff from 80s and 90s movie blockbusters I grew up on. You have a great central cast who are all really well thought out, and very funny. The book made me laugh out loud several times, which is very unusual - especially for books not explicitly written as comedy.
The story is great with some fun twists and turns, and a loveable animal companion who is a sweet dumb little guy called Dog. Read it now, or I will never stop talking about it.
November 14, 2023
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. It's exciting to see how this story has evolved and changed since I read the first few chapters as an alpha reader. I really enjoyed all the characters and Berne brings his usual humor into this story. The dog was a great character, along with Remy and Akina. The twists were great and the world was fun to explore. Berne also managed to bring bears into this story as well 🐻. This might be one of my favorite stories by this author so far. 4.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2023
This book kicked ass. I loved dog. Humor was spot on and I really loved the tie ins to the hybrid helix universe. I’m here for more.
October 30, 2023
Action and adventure with heart and humour. Full review to follow.
February 27, 2024
Amazing book. Thought Hybrid Helix was full of bones and was proven woefullly wrong on so many different levels. Was I expecting this to take place within the same universe as the Hybrid Helix Series? Not particularly, no. Did I want to lose my calm outwards demeanor to some of the puns in this book? Yup… yes… if you like weird sci fi worlds with strange magic laws and even stranger practices (I think the people in the book always went north and south, never east and west… well a bit, but not too far for it to make a difference), this book is for you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 1, 2023Partial Function feature some cool world-building, and a complex badass mother as the main character. I didn't connect to it super well, and I found the fight scenes to be too much, but I expect fans of Wuxia may not have those issues. Full review here: https://enthralledbylove.com/2023/12/...
November 3, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Loved the characters!
November 7, 2023
JCM Berne has done it again, but this time with the start of en entirely new series!
Partial Function follows the retrieval of Alina Azure’s children, kidnapped by an enemy she knows all too well. Forced out of retirement, and bearing one of the most powerful (if not the most powerful) magic in existence, she takes the role of crotchety old mother with a hidden heart of gold very seriously (if a little irreverently.)
This adventure will have you on the edge of your seat while laughing out loud regularly. The cast of characters she introduces will give every reader someone’s to relate to, if not every one of them.
And of course, let’s not forget Dog the dog. He’s a dog. And that’s his name. This may have been compared to John Wick, but the opening it not the same. Dog is a worthy companion, and a chief highlight of Partial Function by JCM Berne.
Easy five star. And JCM is an auto-read for me.
Partial Function follows the retrieval of Alina Azure’s children, kidnapped by an enemy she knows all too well. Forced out of retirement, and bearing one of the most powerful (if not the most powerful) magic in existence, she takes the role of crotchety old mother with a hidden heart of gold very seriously (if a little irreverently.)
This adventure will have you on the edge of your seat while laughing out loud regularly. The cast of characters she introduces will give every reader someone’s to relate to, if not every one of them.
And of course, let’s not forget Dog the dog. He’s a dog. And that’s his name. This may have been compared to John Wick, but the opening it not the same. Dog is a worthy companion, and a chief highlight of Partial Function by JCM Berne.
Easy five star. And JCM is an auto-read for me.
November 25, 2023
Even though I was lucky to get an ARC of this book, I didn't finish it until the paperback was in my eager little hands.
I knew almost nothing about this book going into it. It was, therefore, a pleasant surprise to find out that it shares a setting with the author's other series. I enjoyed learning more about the Ringgate and the people who live there.
One thing I really enjoy about reading Indie books is the ability to communicate with the authors while reading their books. It really enhanced the reading experience.
This was an excellent book. I continue to enjoy how well-written Berne's female characters are. The plot was easy to follow.
I knew almost nothing about this book going into it. It was, therefore, a pleasant surprise to find out that it shares a setting with the author's other series. I enjoyed learning more about the Ringgate and the people who live there.
One thing I really enjoy about reading Indie books is the ability to communicate with the authors while reading their books. It really enhanced the reading experience.
This was an excellent book. I continue to enjoy how well-written Berne's female characters are. The plot was easy to follow.
October 19, 2023
This was one of my most anticipated reads!!! If there was ever a book I would love to see turned into a movie or a Netflix series, it is this book. There was a little bit of everything in this book, plus dragons. If you do not have this added to your list of must reads, you are missing out! J.C.M hits it out of the park here. I am ready for book two of this series!!!!
November 29, 2023
Fun. Action packed.
Angry mother leaves a path of destruction to rescue her girls. Reads fast. Lots of fun.
Being a fan of The Hybrid Helix, I liked how this stand alone tied into the world of the Ring gate. Looking forward to reading more from Berne, either a continuation or something new. I don't think this guy can do wrong.
Angry mother leaves a path of destruction to rescue her girls. Reads fast. Lots of fun.
Being a fan of The Hybrid Helix, I liked how this stand alone tied into the world of the Ring gate. Looking forward to reading more from Berne, either a continuation or something new. I don't think this guy can do wrong.
December 17, 2024
Partial Function by JCM Berne is dog revenge martial arts extravaganza, and not the John Wick type of dog revenge, moreso in the manner that the main character’s dog is the star of the book. Not really, but Dog is a fantastic character and central to all the humor in this balls-to-the-wall revenge story.
Set in a martial art world of dragon/dinosaur-like beasties, PF follows renowned Wedge hunter/martial artist, Akina as she begins to start all-out chaos because her twin daughters have been captured. Akina is the Spiral Witch, the Azure Dragon, founding member of the legendary Five Fangs, and the last practitioner of the Millenium Qi — a ridiculously powered martial art technique. Her daughters have been taken by the Reaper, a man who believes another great surge of Wedge (the dragon/dinosaur-like beasties) is about to unfold and the only way to beat them is to possess the Millenium Qi. Akina goes all Liam Neeson by using her very particular set of skills, skills she has acquired over a very long career hunting Wedge, to stop at nothing in getting her girls back.
Akina is a wonderful main protagonist. Not only is her drive single-minded, she’s pretty snarky and plucky. She’s also a badass at martial arts, but most of all, she’s middle-aged and full of bones in need of a solid crack. She recruits BFF, Remy, one of the Five Fangs and master of the Bear Clan martial art techniques. Remy is the loyal friend, the voice of reason, and the big cuddly bear of the group who uses two rope darts as weapons. Along the way, Akina captures Zhu, an adept of the Star Clan, who agrees to help Akina for 100 days, creating portals as they traipse across the world starting shit. Finally, there is Dog, the aforementioned pooch. Dog is a simple canine that pretty much humps everybody, licks faces, and urinates on defeated villains. Dog is the bestest boy. 13/10.
If there is one thing that shines in this book, it’s the love letter to Wuxia films. This book is chock full of fight scenes, just one after the other until the big climax, and each fight is amazingly nostalgic of classic films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, and Kung Fu Panda. Each character is a master or adept at their own style and during the fights, the character will call out their move. Like Infinity Bagua: Major Wave or Way of the Bear: Greater Den. It seems kinda funny to picture these people announcing their moves while they jump thirty feet in the air before landing in hero pose or creating a force field of silence, but there was a meta joke in the story so I really enjoyed it. Also very cool that Mr. Berne was able to come up with so many different types of techniques. But each was unique and it was fun to witness people flying across the page.
The world was great. I liked the Wedge concept as the species ranged from small to mountain sized and it took Wedge hunters certain skill to kill them. I also liked that Wedge bones were the source of currency. And the Reaver’s fortress was the bony corpse of a massive Wedge killed in the last surge. There are a number of different clans using different techniques and we get to see many of them. Also, there’s griffins.
This story is brisk, going quickly from one location to the next as Akina starts shenanigans to rouse the other clans either into war or as allies. The writing is crisp and the descriptions are very simple, yet concise. If I had one criticism, it’s that while the main trio of characters are great, there isn’t a whole lot of introspection and at times it wasn’t clear who’s POV we were in as this story is told via 3rd Person Omniscient. We are not truly in anyone’s head (except from Akina a handful of times) as it’s more we are following the character as they perform an action. But that certainly never took me out of the scene as the dialogue is top notch, a mix of theory and sarcasm, giving us all the emotional responses we don’t get from being in a character’s head.
Partial Function is an excellent adventure that ends as a solid standalone while also leaving open the possibility of additional stories. I certainly enjoyed the heck out of this story and do hope there is more to come from Akina, Remy, Zhu, and Dog, especially Dog.
Set in a martial art world of dragon/dinosaur-like beasties, PF follows renowned Wedge hunter/martial artist, Akina as she begins to start all-out chaos because her twin daughters have been captured. Akina is the Spiral Witch, the Azure Dragon, founding member of the legendary Five Fangs, and the last practitioner of the Millenium Qi — a ridiculously powered martial art technique. Her daughters have been taken by the Reaper, a man who believes another great surge of Wedge (the dragon/dinosaur-like beasties) is about to unfold and the only way to beat them is to possess the Millenium Qi. Akina goes all Liam Neeson by using her very particular set of skills, skills she has acquired over a very long career hunting Wedge, to stop at nothing in getting her girls back.
Akina is a wonderful main protagonist. Not only is her drive single-minded, she’s pretty snarky and plucky. She’s also a badass at martial arts, but most of all, she’s middle-aged and full of bones in need of a solid crack. She recruits BFF, Remy, one of the Five Fangs and master of the Bear Clan martial art techniques. Remy is the loyal friend, the voice of reason, and the big cuddly bear of the group who uses two rope darts as weapons. Along the way, Akina captures Zhu, an adept of the Star Clan, who agrees to help Akina for 100 days, creating portals as they traipse across the world starting shit. Finally, there is Dog, the aforementioned pooch. Dog is a simple canine that pretty much humps everybody, licks faces, and urinates on defeated villains. Dog is the bestest boy. 13/10.
If there is one thing that shines in this book, it’s the love letter to Wuxia films. This book is chock full of fight scenes, just one after the other until the big climax, and each fight is amazingly nostalgic of classic films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, and Kung Fu Panda. Each character is a master or adept at their own style and during the fights, the character will call out their move. Like Infinity Bagua: Major Wave or Way of the Bear: Greater Den. It seems kinda funny to picture these people announcing their moves while they jump thirty feet in the air before landing in hero pose or creating a force field of silence, but there was a meta joke in the story so I really enjoyed it. Also very cool that Mr. Berne was able to come up with so many different types of techniques. But each was unique and it was fun to witness people flying across the page.
The world was great. I liked the Wedge concept as the species ranged from small to mountain sized and it took Wedge hunters certain skill to kill them. I also liked that Wedge bones were the source of currency. And the Reaver’s fortress was the bony corpse of a massive Wedge killed in the last surge. There are a number of different clans using different techniques and we get to see many of them. Also, there’s griffins.
This story is brisk, going quickly from one location to the next as Akina starts shenanigans to rouse the other clans either into war or as allies. The writing is crisp and the descriptions are very simple, yet concise. If I had one criticism, it’s that while the main trio of characters are great, there isn’t a whole lot of introspection and at times it wasn’t clear who’s POV we were in as this story is told via 3rd Person Omniscient. We are not truly in anyone’s head (except from Akina a handful of times) as it’s more we are following the character as they perform an action. But that certainly never took me out of the scene as the dialogue is top notch, a mix of theory and sarcasm, giving us all the emotional responses we don’t get from being in a character’s head.
Partial Function is an excellent adventure that ends as a solid standalone while also leaving open the possibility of additional stories. I certainly enjoyed the heck out of this story and do hope there is more to come from Akina, Remy, Zhu, and Dog, especially Dog.
July 19, 2025
A fun, fast-paced adventure that bursts plenty of stereotypes.
This short book opens with some explosive action that straight away eliminates all doubts that our forty-plus protagonist embodies just the right combination of fury and skill to keep the reader hooked throughout the tale. And I was proven correct.
The book does end with some open tangents, and I hope Berne decides to continue this with one or more sequels. I am especially looking forward to seeing the full extent of Millennium Qi in action.
Full review on SFF Insiders
This short book opens with some explosive action that straight away eliminates all doubts that our forty-plus protagonist embodies just the right combination of fury and skill to keep the reader hooked throughout the tale. And I was proven correct.
The book does end with some open tangents, and I hope Berne decides to continue this with one or more sequels. I am especially looking forward to seeing the full extent of Millennium Qi in action.
Full review on SFF Insiders
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